About JWC

The Japan Women's Club, JWC, is a non-profit organization established 1989 in Amstelveen. Its founding members were women of the Japanese business community in The Netherlands. Their intention was to create a club that would help to introduce its members to the culture of their new surroundings and, with various activities, help to stay in touch with the local people.
Most prominent were the various goodwill activities organized every year. We raised funds to donate to several local and international organizations.
In the year 2000 a special activity was organized to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the "The Netherlands – Japan Friendship Treaty". JWC donated 400 cherry trees to the local communities. These trees were planted in the Amsterdamse Bos. This location is now named the Blossom Park. More cherry trees were also planted in the Museumplein, near van Gogh Museum, and along the Deshima Street in Amstelveen.
Presently, JWC offers two regular activities: “Nihongo Kaiwa” and “Handcraft Club”. The first is our oldest volunteer activity. We meet twice a month with enthusiastic participants for an informal session of spoken Japanese. The Handcraft Club is organized once a month to introduce new skills as beading, knitting, needlework, among others.

If you are interested to find out more about JWC or want to join, please contact jwcholland.org☆gmail.com
blog:JWC☆blog in English.

■ About Nihongo-Kaiwa

Nihongo Kaiwa, is literally conversation in Japanese. This group was created as an initiative of the JWC as a support session for the students of Japanese Studies at Leiden University, to provide them with an opportunity to use Japanese on a more colloquial level.
Currently, our group consists of people from various backgrounds, and who all have different reasons for joining the sessions. There are current and former language students, people who have lived in Japan, or people who developed an interest for the Japanese language through its calligraphy, martial arts or "manga", just to mention a few.
Whatever the reason may have been for joining, the enthusiasm in our conversation group has always created a great atmosphere, since the day we started in 1990's.
We gather twice a month, on the first and third Friday of the month from 10:30 till 12:30 in EGCC, Schokland 14, 1181 HV, Amstelveen.
You are very welcome to join us as a native or aspiring speaker.

We can be reached via e-mail jwcnihongokaiwa☆gmail.com
blog:JWC☆.blog.nihongo-kaiwa ; for any further questions.

■ About Sakura-Matsuri

Sakura Matsuri or Cherry Blossom Celebration
This event is held a day in April aiming to coincide with the blossoming of cherry trees.
For this event, the JWC members are invited to participate wearing the traditional "kimono" to brighten up the festivity.
Its location is the Blossoming Park where the 400 cherry trees are thriving and definitely becoming one of the preferred spring destinations for many of local residents.

■ About Origami Workshop

The origami workshop was first realized in 2014 as a part of the JWC 25th year celebration. The idea was gladly accepted by the Central Library of Amstelveen and now, a year after, it has become twice a year scheduled event to the delight of young participants and ourselves. We expect that the interest in the paper folding will create many future experts!

■ Past Donation

European Go Cultural Center; Liliane Fonds; Groningen Special Youth Center; Romanian Orphanage; Nepalese Eye Camp; Dutch Womens Shelter Against Domestic Violence; Sea Lion Rehabilitation Center in Harderwijk; Mytyl Tyltyl School; Daycare Center for the Children with HIV in Cape Town, S.A.; Doctors Without Borders; NPO Rocinantes; Niigata Earthquake Assitance Fund; Kamaishi Kokusai Kouryu Kyoukai via Sakura Stichting

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