JCC Nyusureta!

Instead of having to deal with the e-mails which seems to be a source of a lot of problems, the JCC has decided to instead post the newsletters up on the blog. Don't worry, we are STILL going to E-MAIL these to you every month. Next semester promises to be a lot more organized now that we've figured a lot of things out.

Thanks a BUNCH for being so patient and loyal. You guys are the best.

Martial Arts work outs

Hello, this is Aaron again. This Friday I'll be doing training from 7pm to about 8pm or so. If anyone wants to come and work out or just see what kind of things I do when I practice I'll probably be working at the top of Fogleman Hall. Unless you live in the building if you want to come and check it out you'll need to let me know ahead of time so I can let you in.

My phone number can be found in your newsletter and I can be reached at my school email

radney_aaron@mcastudent.org

I will also post an announcement on our facebook page later in the week.

The art of calligraphy

Hello again one and all. I've got something new for everyone. I know most of
us would like to learn the Japanese language given the chance and while I can't
really do that I thought some of you might be interested in a bit of calligraphy.
Basically the art of beautiful writing. As artists and Japanese enthusiasts it can be a
particularly interesting avenue to look at. If you're interested here are two links
to articles I found on the subject.


This first one gives a broad overview and also gives some basics of calligraphy and
 what separates good calligraphy from bad.
http://www.connectedglobe.com/ohmori/intro1.html

This one gives a broader overview of the history of the art itself.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/calligraphy1.shtml

Discussion is wanted and encouraged :)

November [CLUB REVISIONS]

This month is going to revolve mostly around our members and their input. November 5th is going to be an open discussion and we will talk about whatever information everyone feels like bringing to the meeting.We've also extended the discussion portion of the meeting to accommodate for time to make sure everyone gets the chance to talk and so no one feels rushed about what they bring.

With that said, please don't make this a wasted meeting. At our first meeting many of our members asked for the opportunity to know the discussion topics in advance so that they could bring their own information and research yet no one has taken advantage of that yet. And many portions of the discussions have fizzled because it appears that our members want the officers to do all of the work. We would very much appreciate it if you did bring material- even in the form of a list of questions- to the round table discussions. If it is a matter of simply being disinterested in the discussions, please inform us so that can be changed in the future. If you think that the meetings are too structured like a classroom, tough luck. This was how we established the meeting layout and there were no objections at the first meeting. If any of our members have ideas and/or believe that they have a better solution, please do not hesitate to contact us. That's what the blog, the e-mail and the Facebook page are for.

The November newsletter is going to change slightly. Instead of simply being an elaborate e-mail, we are going to try creating an image file (to allow more room for a creative layout) and the e-mail sent out will instead be a link to the blog and the post containing the newsletter. Likewise, I think we will do the same with our announcements.

Discussions are continued on the Facebook page under the discussion boards. If you feel as though you may have been cheated out of valuable information or perhaps came up with more questions, please take advantage of the boards for they are lonely and full of dust.

We really do put a lot of effort, time and enthusiasm into this group through the discussions, through the blogs, the Facebook and through everything else that it is very disheartening to see it wasted. Please take advantage of everything that is available to you so that we can make next semester more fun and eventful.

Thanks, guys.
-Melissa
Wakagashira


ALSO: If you have ideas for events that you would like to have or places that you would like to go, please e-mail the officers at mcajcc@gmail.com

November screening lineup: http://whats-new-anime.blogspot.com/2010/10/november.html

K-pop J-pop blog!

Hey, it's kamilah! I'm hosting a k-pop j-pop blog called Kami Pops You! It's on blogger also, so if you wanna tune in you are welcome too! http://kamipopsyou.blogspot.com/

Friday's Screening

http://whats-new-anime.blogspot.com/2010/09/fridays-screening-lineup.html

Cultural Resource Books

Hello all, I'm Aaron and this year I'm the JCC's treasurer/law advisor. My focus within the club aside from my official duties with managing and creating out treasury is on Japan's culture from a more historical and martial arts based perspective. If you are interested there are two books I recommend that might open some insights for you that you didn't have before. The first is this one:

The Chrysanthemum and the Sword by Ruth Benedict. An early Anthropologist, Ruth Benedict studied the Japanese culture around World War 2. Though she was never able to visit the country her studies through reading books, letters and accounts are still considered quite valuable and the book is required reading for a number of Japanese school children. Even the title itself speaks to her understanding of the culture, looking at it both through the warrior tradition that helped define the culture and the ideas of beauty and simplicity.

Now here is the second book:

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin no Sho in Japanese) was written by Myamoto Musashi, a powerful swordsman who in his entire life of 60 duels lost only one and still was not killed. In the book he wrote his personal beliefs on swordsmanship and spirituality as well as his philosophy of winning. The book is still widely read in many parts of the world, has been applicable to business as well as the battlefield and life and is considered in some circles one of the definitive books on dominating your opponent.

Hello, Kamilah Here!!!!!!

So I haven't posted on this thing yet lol, so I've decided that I might as well now ^_^; I love love asian music ( K-pop, J-pop, J-trance, C-pop), I mean dance music is my focus but for the sake of this group's ear I'll try to get into J-rock haha. J-pop and K-pop artists are sometimes popular in each others places but their not the same in sound or fashion. Each part of Asia has it's own distinct popular style and though it has some similarities to America's pop the subjects, fashions, and frequently used tempos for pop music are different. .....Gosh, I could talk for days on this O_O, but I'll shut up...for now lol  I'll post videos...once I figure out how >_>;

Yay Meetings!

Hey everyone!

I'm just letting you all know that the meeting on Friday the 10th will be held in DA Media.

Here's a summary of what's in store:

• Introduction to the club
• Round table discussion concerning upcoming club topics
• SCREENING!

Hope to see you all there!

Peace.
-Melissa

NOTE: We aren't allowed to eat in DA media so bring your own food or plan on going out to eat during the break between the meeting and the screening!

Activities Fair!... also a few words.

To those of you who signed up,

Thanks a lot for joining us! We look forward to seeing all 32 of you at our first meeting on Friday September 10th. even though you all signed up for the japanese "cluture" club apparently...

As a side note: While wandering around the fair and collecting stickers I met up with Michael Shaw who was stationed at the Animation Club booth. I pitched the idea of possibly having joint events since our interests cross over. He said he was very much interested in the idea and is willing to work with us. Don't know about you, but I find that idea rather spiffy, no? You can thank Adrian Duran who suggested it at the officers meeting.

On another note, I would like to just say a few words to returning members who considered not joining us for a second year and to those who are new and may have heard or inevitably will hear some negative things about us:

The club is, in fact, under new management! Year one of the Japanese Culture Club was very rocky, but that is to be expected (no offense to the previous years officers, of course). No one is perfect and I doubt you can name me an organization that didn't have its rocky moments- especially in the beginning. Mistakes were made and yes, there was a fair share of drama amongst the officers and that bled into the overall well being of the group as a whole. I also recall some returning members who scoffed at the fact that we still call ourselves the Japanese Culture Club rather than "Anime Club" due to the fact that it was the only topic we touched on last year. Unfortunetely that's what happens when very few people are motivated to show up and there wasn't enough emphasis put to other topics. Honestly, their irritability on the subject is justified.

Our goal this year is to change that.

We will have more meetings with round table discussions with our members, we will host fun events and we will focus on the culture. Not just anime... However, we can not even hope to accomplish this without our members.

And with that, I say thank you to those 32 that signed up today at the activities fair. You're in for a fun semester.

See you all on the 10th.

Peace.
-Melissa

What's New? - New club page!

What's New?

Upcoming anime to Japan's television and U.S. shelves as well as previews for future JCC screenings...

Club Charter and Functions

Club Functions

1. A bi-weekly meeting of all members featuring a round-table discussion of anything and everything Japan related, occasionally guided by pre-meeting determined themes.

2. A bi-weekly screening of either animation or live action programming from Japan, possibly held after the club meeting.

3. A contest held once a semester with a $1 entry fee (although the Saiko-komon reserves the right to change this if needed) and a reasonable prize going to the winner- May take place before/during/after the screening.

4. A monthly newsletter sent out to all members containing information about all new things Japan related.

5. Other functions to be determined when desired

Club Charter

1. Should any member or officer offend the club or another member to a degree which internal club strife is caused, the member will have two chances. First chance will be a verbal warning. Second chance will be a one week ban. If actions continue past the ban, the member, regardless of position, will face expulsion from the club.

2. Should the Oya-bun receive the one week ban, the Wakagashira will take the Oya-bun's place during the Oya-bun's absence.

3. If the Oya-bun is expelled from the JCC, the Wakagashira will assume the Oya-bun's role, with the Shateigashira taking the Wakagashira's place and a new Shateigashira being elected.

4. New members will be permitted to join at any time, but will need to have an introduction meeting with the Officers.

5. The first meeting of each semester will include a 'bonding ceremony'. This will be where everyone is introduced to one-another, rules are gone over, and a (non-alcoholic) drinking ceremony will be held. At the end of the semester another 'bonding ceremony' will be held, this time so as to raise the spirits of the members and wish them luck during the summer/winter break.

6. E-mail and phone contact information will need to be provided from every member and officer so that the officers will be able to get a hold of someone if needed. This information will remain confidential to the officers and will only be used when absolutely needed or for the weekly/bi-weekly e-mail.

7. Should the Oya-bun fall ill or otherwise be unable to perform a function of the JCC, the Wakagashira, with the supervision of the Kami (if the Kami is not already on site for the function), will fill in for the Oya-bun during the function.

8. Officers will have a private meeting once a month before the first screening or club meeting to discuss upcoming events and any concerns needed Additional meetings will be held as needed. At the first meeting of the semester a 'officer drinking ceremony' will be held with non-alcoholic beverages used.

9. The Kami will need to be present at all major functions that require the use of school property (primarily screenings) unless the Kami feels that the Oya-bun can be trusted to run things without the presence of the Kami. This is mandated by the current rules of MCA.

10. More rules to be determined at a later time or as needed.