Hope everyone is well! Just wanted to let you know about some upcoming events in our block that you should all check out. Don’t let the cold winter months make you a hermit. Getting out and about and participating in all the fun stuff going on will help the time fly!

January 31 to February 14 – Nagasaki Lantern Festival

Location: Nagasaki city (various locations)

Celebrating the Chinese New Year, this festival is possible one of the most spectacular and enchanting in Kyushu, not to mention easy to access. Lanterns of all shapes, sizes and colours adorn the entire city across multiple key locations, with various shows/events also taking place. Definitely worth checking out.

Official website (JP)

8 February – Loca Loca Latin Party

Location: BODY II SOUL (B1F Ide building, 1-19 Tsuki-machi, Nagasaki City)

Latin party from 8pm to 2am including a free Salsa dance lesson from 9pm by Mi-na (from Sasebo). Beginners are welcome! Charge ￥1500 (with one drink) or FREE (incl drink) if your birthday is in February.

February 15 – Fukuoka AJET Valentine’s Day Party

Location: TBA

Looking for love? Or maybe just an excuse to party? Get along to Fukuoka’s annual Valentine’s Day Party. More details to come on Facebook soon.

February 15 – April 13 – Huis Ten Bosch Tulip Festival

Location: Huis Ten Bosch (Sasebo, Nagasaki)

This year the annual tulip festival at Huis Ten Bosch will be the largest ever, with 650 different types of tulips adorning the whole complex, not just the tulip garden itself. During the peak tulip time (21 Mar-6Apr) there are special events and guided tours, and en evening light-up of the tulips until Mar31.

For more info visit their website.

February 20-21 – After JET Conference

Location: Pacifico Yokohama Convention Centre in Yokohama

If you’re finishing up on JET this year and not sure what the future holds, consider getting along to the AJC in Yokohama. Put on by CLAIR, the conference will feature multiple presentations as well as an information fair where participants can network and find out about study and job opportunities. The conference itself is free, but participants must cover all their own travel/accommodation expenses.

The deadline to register for the conference is this Friday, 24 January. For more information, contact CLAIR via the JETLine 03-5213-1729

Mar 15 – Block 10 Shinnenkai

Location: Fukuoka city, venue TBC

Although we are well into January already, there’s no reason we can’t still welcome in the New Year with our friends…. in March, right?! Organised in the past by some cool peeps in Fukuoka, this year in the absence of any other plans SagaAJET is picking up the slack and organising a huge bash. Come along and party with JETs from around the Block as we celebrate 2014 and the year that will be.

Venue, time, cost etc TBC, but in the meantime SAVE THE DATE!!

March 21-22 – Oita AJET Charity Bike Trip

Location: Oita, starting in Beppu city

Every year JETs and friends from all over Japan come to Oita to take part in a tremendously fun 2-day sponsored bike ride. This will be the 17th annual Charity Bike Ride, and is being run as the next AJET Block 10 event, with all proceeds being donated to the Red Cross in the Philippines. We are still looking for more riders as well as drivers and other volunteers for the support crew.

Facebook event page. To register, fill in this form.

Sat April 19 – Second Annual Fukuoka AJET Skills Auction/Luau

Location: TBA

Join Fukuoka JETs for a night of camaraderie and purpose as they auction off their MAD SKILLZ. All funds support a Fukuoka SHS 1st or 2nd year student on a two-week homestay to an English-speaking country of their choice!

Facebook event page.