Welcome to DIGI-AKI!
Join us on October 17 for JETAA Ottawa’s second ever DIGI-AKI, a celebration of Japanese culture online! Come discover and support Ottawa-based wonderful artists, performers and businesses, and learn more about Japan, Japanese culture and Japanese community!
On this page, you will find the official link to the live event on October 17 from 1 PM as well as links to DIGI-AKI’s participants and partners.
*Due to embedding issues, please click on the link above to watch the stream on YouTube. We apologize for the inconvenience. Enjoy the show!
We also invite you to kindly participate in our survey so we can improve upon our future events.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY
Embassy of Japan in Canada
The Embassy of Japan in Canada, located in Ottawa, has been a close partner to JETAA Ottawa throughout the years. We are thankful for all their support and their continued collaboration for Natsu Matsuri and other events organized by JETAA Ottawa.
Japan National Tourism Organization
JNTO is involved in a broad range of activities both domestically (in Japan) and worldwide, to encourage international tourists from all over the world to visit Japan.
Shodo Journeys
Shodo Journeys is comprised of Ms. Johanne Léveillé and Ms. Yukari Snyder. Ms. Johanne Léveillé started practicing shodo in 1985 while living in Japan. She received a teaching certificate from Tokyo Daito Shogakuin (東京大東署学院). She is now based in Ottawa where she has participated in several exhibitions, including at the Embassy of Japan.
Ms. Snyder is a licensed teacher of Shodo and has received the gold prize in the Shodo Canada annual Japanese calligraphy contest. Their organization Shodo Journeys provides shodo lessons in Ottawa, which can be conducted in English, French, or Japanese.
Tokushikai Canada
Tokushikai Canada is dedicated to the development and promotion of Iaido as passed down through generations of instructors. While the lessons and principles that come from traditional Japanese martial culture are timeless, at Tokushikai, we focus the application of this learning on developing your mind and body for the modern age.
Members of Tokushikai Canada have led and organized national and international Iaido initiatives and programs, including the 1st Canadian National Iaido Championships, 1st Pan-American Iaido Championships, Team Canada Iaido, as well as countless seminars and community events.
We have dojos in Ottawa and Toronto, and are a subsidiary branch of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Tokushikai (Tokyo) in Japan, under Atsumi Hatakenaka Sensei (Kyoshi 8-Dan).
Visit us at https://www.tokushikai.ca/
Komachi Montréal
Based in Montreal and founded in 2007, Komachi Montréal brings traditional Minyo dancing to Canada with the goal of making Canadians experience Japan in a fun and unique way. Minyo dancing is diverse, with many songs and dances coming from all over Japan. Komachi Montréal is a frequent performers at JETAA Ottawa’s Natsu Matsuri and we are happy to welcome them once again for DIGI-AKI Matsuri!
Komachi Montréal performs at events and festivals. They also offer group classes. (Classes are currently suspended due to COVID-19 health and safety measures in place).
Ottawa Kyudo Association
The Ottawa Kyudo Association aims to make kyudo an integral piece of Ottawa’s diverse culture and community; to promote the virtues of discipline, modesty, gentleness, self-restraint and reflection through kyudo and help others realize these qualities in their own lives; and to use kyudo to help others create well-being, train the body, and bring enhancement and cultivation to their lives.
Budo Yoseikan Aikido
Practice empty-handed or with weapons, Yōseikan Budō or Yōseikan Aikidō is a form of martial art developed by Minoru Mochizuki. Budo Yoseikan Aikido has performed at JETAA Ottawa’s Natsu Matsuri in the past, offering demonstration to the public and teaching about the technique directly to the people of Ottawa.
Budo Yoseikan Aikido has dojos in uOttawa, Gatineau and Orleans.
Knifewear
Knifewear’s Knife Store (Hamono-ya) opened in 2008 in Calgary. More than a knife shop, they also offer expert knife knowledge, after-sale support and they love to share their passion for knives. Knifewear is a regular exhibitor at JETAA Ottawa’s Natsu Matsuri and we are happy to see this collaboration continue online with DIGI-AKI Matsuri.
Knifewear has stores in Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Edmonton.
Melody of Japan
Melody of Japan Women’s Choir is based in the city of Ottawa. The group sings Japanese songs and brings a part of Japan to many events, notably last year at the National Art Gallery. JETAA Ottawa is very excited to have Melody of Japan join our event this year!
Melody of Japan is a part of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA) who organizes and participates in events across the city throughout the year.
Takako Segawa
Takako Segawa draws on traditional Japanese culture to inspire her career in contemporary dance. Her latest piece, “Echoes: Vibrations from Japan to Canada,” is a work-in-progress funded by the City of Ottawa to celebrate Japanese culture in Canada. The theme is inspired by the chaos theory that even the smallest flutter of a butterfly’s wing ripples around the world to effect global change. Accompanied by taiko drumming, “Echoes” reflects years of cross-cultural pollination between Japanese and Western cultures, and commemorates the upcoming 80th year anniversary of Canadian-Japanese experience in internment camps.
Takako is a contemporary dancer and choreographer who owns Fluid Elements. She has toured Europe and Asia extensively, and currently lives in Ottawa with her family. Fluid Elements – Home | Facebook
Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA)
Ottawa Japanese Community Association is a non-profit organization established in 1976. Their mission includes maintaining and sharing the Japanese cultural heritage of the Japanese and Japanese Canadian communities in the Ottawa. For more information, consult OJCA’s webiste!
OJCA has been a valued partner of JETAA Ottawa for many years. They have been involved in Natsu Matsuri as well as other JETAA events for many years and we are happy to partner with OJCA again for DIGI-AKI!
Ottawa Shotokan Karate-Do
For over 15 years, OSKD has been offering Karate-Dō training to the people of Ottawa. Their focus on personal development both physically and mentally. OSKD has been a performer at JETAA Ottawa by offering demonstration their skills and technique in this Japanese traditional martial art.
OSKD offers classes for students who wish to start or continuer their training in JKA Shōtōkan Karate. (Classes are currently suspended due to COVID-19 health and safety measures in place).
The World of Japanese Ghosts – Painting Exhibition
For the third time in a row we have the pleasure to invite you to our (on-line) exhibition of Asian ghost paintings.
We have been studying ghostly traditions and legends of Japan and surrounding countries for many years.
Geneviève Dupont, painter and keen on Japanese literature, fulltime devotes herself to the paintings, from the working out of the initial ideas to the varnishing.
Régis Olry, creator of the concept of these exhibitions and author of ghost movie reviews in the Korean magazine Gwangju, writes the historical/traditional explanations that come with each of the paintings.
Click here for more information
If you wish to learn more about Japanese (Futakuchi-Onna, 二口女), Chinese (Ye Peixiang, 葉佩纕 ) or Korean (Kwishin,귀신) ghosts, please visit our website.
Japan-related Groups in Ottawa
Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA)
Ottawa Japanese Community Centre (OJCC)
Ottawa Japanese Language School (OJLS)