Interview: Hitoshi Murakami

Hitoshi MurakamiHitoshi Murakami is a JET who has started his own photography school in downtown Toronto. How can a person be this brave? Who is this quiet genius? You will surely only find out by reading our interview with Hitoshi.

Q. What made you decide to start your own school?

It just kind of happened… It was one of those things where we started talking about it on a whim and as we continued the conversation we realized that we could actually make something out of it. It all came together when we planned out the curriculum and found that we had something that we really wished was available when we first started out.

Q. You are an administrator at the school, how did you find your teachers? Who are they?

The teachers are actually co-owners who I felt had the ability to impart their knowledge. Stephen Caissie has taught photography workshops in the Beaches and is doing some amazing work with product and portrait photography. Johann Bona is a fashion photographer who trained in Milan and I love his visual signature. You can find out more on our website www.focalpointphotoschool.ca

(more…)

Continue Reading

Post-Hanami Picnic

Hanami

On Sunday, May 6th, 2012, members of JETAA Toronto, JAVA, and U of T’s JCSA gathered at High Park for the 6th annual Hanami Picnic. Unfortunately, this year’s weather had been a little warmer than usual in the earlier spring months and the cherry blossoms bloomed weeks ahead of its scheduled time. However, that didn’t stop everyone from enjoying the beautiful weather and turning the event into a Post-Hanami Picnic instead.

Hanami (more…)

Continue Reading

From Our Chair: Year In Review

Commendation

In April we officially started our new fiscal year. There is a lot of excitement about our plan for the year. It also is wonderful to see so many new faces on the executive committee, many of whom have just returned recently from Japan. This time of year also brings us some departures which always comes with mixed emotions. Many of the departing executive are becoming busier with their life, career and grad school – but hopefully not too busy to still come out to our events!

David Namisato, Website Coordinator (6 years)
Benjamin Singer, Communications Coordinator (2 years)
Angela Libby, Membership Coordinator (1.5 years)
Yuriko Fujita, Events Coordinator (1 year)
Kaki Narh, Conference Coordinator (1 year)
Samantha Russell, Treasurer Support (1 year)

(more…)

Continue Reading

Restaurant Review: Ikki Sushi

Ikki Sushi

Rajie Kabli’s on the search for delicious Japanese food in the GTA. Here’s her take on Ikki Sushi in Scarborough.

Standing detached from the nearby strip mall and possessing good signage, Ikki Sushi caught my eye while driving on Kingston Road in Scarborough. I stopped in for lunch to check out their Japanese cuisine.

Walking in, I immediately found the interior decoration to be interesting and actually reminiscent of Okinawa. The obvious Japanese paraphernalia placed generously around the restaurant brought me back to fun quirks that Japan has to offer. They had a cool sake dispenser which made me believe they might even make their own!

(more…)

Continue Reading

JETs Climb High

Rock Climbing

A hardy group of rag-tag JETAA-ers set off to conquer mountains on March 10th. Alas, since mountains are scarce in the GTA, we settled for walls of rock at Joe Rockhead in Liberty Village!

(more…)

Continue Reading

Folks, Curling Is Not Hard!

Curling

On February 18th an enthusiastic group of JET alumni and friends headed out to learn a very Canadian Sport: curling. We gathered at a local pub where we enjoyed good food and amazing company. With some people having a bit more courage (the liquid kind), we headed over to the curling club.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Book Launched!: Life After the B.O.E.

Life After the B.O.E. the Book launch party

A chilly Toronto’s eve didn’t stop friends and fans of one artistically inclined JET alum from dropping by the Good Fellas Gallery to celebrate the launch of his new book “Life After the B.O.E”. JETAA Toronto’s own David Namisato was the cause of some serious hurrah on February 8.

(more…)

Continue Reading
  • 1
  • 2
Close Menu