About
Background / Introduction
AJAMCA was created following discussions about Japanese culture in Anime and Manga during talks given by Helen McCarthy and Akemi Solloway at Fuyucon in Nottingham in October 2007.
The organisation is currently made up of:-
Founding Members
Akemi Solloway
Akemi's Website
Akemi is the daughter of a samurai family and a lecturer in Japanese culture. It is her aim to present authentic Japanese culture in a way that is accessible and enjoyable for people in the UK. Akemi’s topics for demonstrations, talks and workshops include Chanoyu (the Tea Ceremony), Shodo, (brush-writing calligraphy), Kimono (the costume of Japan) Gyogi saho (Japanese etiquette), Keigo (formal spoken Japanese), Bushido, (the Way of the Samurai) and Shinto (Japan’s indigenous religion). Akemi is also happy to discuss the role of women in Japanese society, as well as the way they participate and are depicted in the arts both traditional and modern. Akemi is a member of Equity and the ATL (Association of Teachers & Lecturers)
Ian Rudd
Ian has a wide interest in Anime, Manga, Comics and Music. He regularly attends the London Anime Club and has attended most of the Anime and Comic conventions held over the last 12 years. He is currently learning Japanese with help from Akemi in her language classes. He has visited Japan three times and is already planning his next trip there.
Core Members
Simon Bland (The Chair of MinamiCon)
Duncan Law-Green (The Chair of AyaCon)
Will Blewitt (The Chair of AmeCon)
Stephen "The Weird One" Johnson (The Chair of FuyuCon)
The Weird One as well as been the industry liaison officer for FuyuCon, is also the webmaster for AJAMCA, a founding member and the industry liaison officer for the East Midlands Anime Group.
Michael Towers (The Chair of Alcon)
David "Dragon" Cotterill
Dragon is president of the London Anime Club and co-chair of Minamicon. He has been deeply involved in Anime and Japanese culture for as long as anyone can remember he teaches origami and papercraft, has done talks on the Tea ceremony and even battled tiny radio controlled tanks and Godzillas at Minami. He has written a popular guide book on Anime shopping in Tokyo and has organised trips to Japan for the London Anime Club.
Aims and objectives.
AJAMCA has a number of aims and objectives:-
1) Unite together people in the UK who are interested in Anime and Manga and the aspects of
Japanese culture contained within them.
2) Promote awareness and understanding of Anime and Manga in the UK
3) Promote the understanding of Japanese culture and history in Anime and Manga.
4) Discuss how British Anime fans are interested in all aspects of Japanese culture.
5) Create links between fans and organisations involved in Anime and Manga in the UK and Japan.
6) Contact and communicate with official cultural and educational organisations in the UK and Japan
7) Exchange information on events, exhibitions and conventions related to Anime and Manga in the UK.