A Brief Background to the New Zealand-Japan Society of Auckland

The NZ-Japan Society of Auckland is one of a number of loosely-affiliated, voluntary organisations found in some areas of New Zealand. The common aim of these groups is to promote understanding and goodwill between the people of Japan and New Zealand. Membership and attendance at meetings of the Auckland society is open to all nationalities.

The first group formed was the Japan Society of New Zealand in Wellington in 1959. The Japan Society of Auckland was formed in 1960. The name was changed to The New Zealand-Japan Society of Auckland in 1981.

Over the years, members have had social, cultural, economic and educational interests. A wide variety of activities have addressed these interests and provided opportunities for further interests to develop. Examples are golf tournaments, ikebana displays, hosting goodwill mission visits and the Business Group set up to build personal relationships between business people.

Currently there is an associated taiko drumming group, a yosakoi soran dance group, a softball group and opportunities to learn Japanese, take part in conversations in Japanese and English and join social outings. The Society holds a “Taste of Japan” festival usually once a year.

As interests change and other opportunities arise, so the activities will continue to change.

NZ-Japan Society of Auckland members may also have formal and informal relationships with other Japanese interest groups. Members have links to Nihon-jinkai, a group for Japanese long-term residents in Auckland; the Auckland- Fukuoka sister City programme, which is funded and managed by the local bodies of Auckland City and Fukuoka and to a number of local groups with an interest in a particular aspect of Japanese culture e.g. martial arts, ikebana and bonsai.