September 7, 2014
Japan Writers Conference Upcoming in October
The Japan Writers Conference (JWC) has just announced more details on its 2014 Japan Writers Conference event, which are now up on the JWC website. Over the next few weeks, schedules and maps will be posted.
This year’s conference will be held on October 25 & 26 at Iwate National University (“Gandai”) in the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture. Sessions begin at 10:00 in the morning and last to mid-afternoon. There will be over 25 lectures, readings, workshops, performances, and Q&A sessions, among others. As before, the conference will be free and open to all those who wish to attend. There are only a few items that require preregistration.
Highlights of the upcoming conference include Australian poet and editor David Gilbey, who will return to lead his closed “Reeling and Writhing” Poetry Editing Workshop. This is open to poets of all levels of accomplishment, but is limited to a small group that will have to read the work of attendees in advance. To join this workshop, contact David directly. He will send the details. The workshop will meet for two hours on Saturday morning.
In addition, there will be a gathering on Saturday night, featuring food, drink, discussion, and a reading. Details will be forthcoming. Previous costs were 3,000 to 4,000 yen per person. To reserve, please contact John Gribble.
Regarding Saturday night's reading, at “In My Secret Life, I’m...” eight people each will read/perform the work of someone else for five minutes. Sign-up is free; however, those wishing to attend must sign up in advance, present the work of someone else, and be done in five minutes or less. Those wishing to attend are asked to contact John Gribble (see above).
The program also includes a “Town Hall-type” meeting where people can voice opinions, complaints, or suggestions, etc., about the conference and thus have a hand in shaping its future.
The JWC is looking for a site in order to hold its 2015 Japan Writers Conference. Parties interested to assist should contact the JWC.
(Abridged from information provided by John Gribble, Japan Writers Conference)