What can Japan’s global success teach us about cultural diplomacy and soft power?

From Anime and J-Pop to Zen, Japan’s status as a cultural superpower is well recognised across the region. Yet Japan isn’t just ‘cool’, its ability to leverage the widespread fascination of its culture has translated into significant economic and soft power gains. Exploring the thriving space challenges us not only to reconsider the importance of our cultural industries, but also what a successful career in international relations can look like.

Asia Society Australia and The Japan Foundation, Sydney, invite you to celebrate the softer side of global power, with Erin McCullagh, Co-Chair of the Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue, Iori Forsyth, Senior Advisor at Austrade and Cultural Influencer, Kathryn Hunyor, Curator and Director of Arts People, and more to be announced.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network at an intimate cocktail reception following the discussion.  

Date: Tuesday 14 March 2023
Time: 5:45pm arrival for 6:00pm - 7:00pm event, followed by networking drinks until 8:00pm
Venue: Angel Place Sydney.
Registration: https://invtdu.to/_rln5k

Registration is essential. For any enquiries, please contact [email protected]

This event is in partnership with The Japan Foundation, Sydney

About our Speakers 

Iori Forsyth, Senior Advisor, Australian Trade and Investment Commission

Iori is a Japanese-Australian bilingual and bicultural professional specialising in the international education sector. She currently works for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) based in Sydney, promoting Australia as a destination of choice for international students from around the world.

Growing up equally in both Japan and Australia, Iori has experienced living, studying and working in both countries. Iori serves as a bridge between the two cultures in both personal and professional settings, having recently served as a delegate of the Australia-Japan Youth Dialogues (AJYD), and as a current Future Leader delegate for the Australia Japan Business Cooperation Council (AJBCC).

In her personal endeavours, Iori also manages a YouTube channel with over 86k + subscribers, promoting cross cultural understanding between Australia and Japan, through topics such as education, lifestyle, language and more.

Erin McCullagh, Co-Chair at the Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue

Erin is the Co-Chair of the Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue, a role which sees her lead a team to convene a biannual Dialogue, bringing diverse cohorts of Australian and Japanese young professionals together to strengthen people-to-people relationships. 

Outside of the Dialogue, Erin works as an Assistant to Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Canberra. In this position, she is responsible for running school visits to educate students about Japanese culture, managing social media channels, translation, and sports exchanges between Australia and Japan. 

Pre-COVID, Erin lived on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, working in new business development and regional revitalisation for a Japanese human resources company. She holds a Bachelor of Languages/International Relations (Honours) from the Australian National University and is fluent in Japanese. 

Kathryn Hunyor, Founder and Director of ArtsPeople 

Kathryn Hunyor is a Japanese-speaking Curator and Consultant with over 25 years’ experience working with Japan.

Founder and Director of ArtsPeople she curates contemporary arts experiences between Australia and Japan, and beyond. She also works as a consultant with some of Australia’s major arts companies including the Sydney Opera House, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Former Head of Creative Programs at the Australian Design Centre (ADC), Kathryn led the ADC’s artistic program, devising and commissioning key curatorial, learning & audience engagement projects.Previously Cultural Officer at the Australian Embassy Tokyo, Kathryn managed the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade’s cultural diplomacy efforts in Japan.

Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Asian Studies & Masters in Japanese Literature from the University of Sydney. She is currently on a PhD scholarship at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researching the symbiosis of art and business in Japan 1880 – 2030.

Tae Gessner, Founder and Director of the International Kimono Club, Sydney 

Tae Gessner was born in Aichi, Japan. She grew up helping her mother with her Kimono business. She learned Kitsuke (Kimono wearing) since she was about 7 years old when her mother had weekly lessons at her house.

Tae’s mother had her own business selling kimono in Japan. She graduated from the Kimono division of Tokiwa-Jyogakuin. She learned about how to make kimonos, kimono history and Kimono design for two years. She worked for one of the biggest Kimono wholesale companies in Nagoya and used to wear and sell Kimonos for big department stores, Kimono shops and exhibitions. Together with her mother, she also used to do Kitsuke for Karaoke shows, Kimono Fashion Shows and Nihon Buyou (Japanese traditional dancing) back stage.

She has created Kimono shows and Kimono wearing demonstrations, Kimono displays, conducts Kimono workshops where she presents real kimonos and explains about the history and how they are made. She runs the International Kimono Club Sydney for Kimono lovers organising various activities and excursions to learn about Kimonos and Japanese Culture every month.
 

Asia Society Australia acknowledges the support of the Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue