West Wolds U3A

Speaker Review by Jan Reade

This month’s speaker for u3a was Jennifer Ichikawa. Jennifer is now living in Cleethorpes, after  a very interesting life that included emigrating to New Zealand as a “£25 pom”. New Zealand is where she met her Japanese husband. Jennifer explained that her husband’s career took them to many places around the world, including Washington, USA, and of course his homeland – Japan. 

The talk Jennifer gave, was all about the Kimono, the traditional Japanese garment and national dress of Japan.  Kimono is worn by both men and women, but the talk concentrated on those worn by women.

 We heard about the symbolism of the patterned fabrics, patterns which are seasonal, usually four are needed although careful choice of the fabric pattern can reduce this, which is just as well as these traditional garments can cost thousands of pounds.

We heard about the feudal roots of the kimono and the repression it brought to women, Jennifer told us – that many Japanese women hate it. The reasons for this became apparent when Jennifer demonstrated the many layers and complex construction of the garment necessary to wearing it. Wearing a kimono considerably restricts movement, which means when wearing one, for example, driving is impossible. 

The whole ensemble has 3 layers the first two being plain white ‘body linens’ each having a top and skirt, that is meant to flatten the body shape, the second layer being of finer, better-quality fabric. The visible patterned outer layer is then added – all layers are folded left over right, very important! And all the layers are constructed from simple rectangles of fabric. The fold at the back of the neck is extremely significant – it must reveal the nape and back of the neck,  and the hair must be pinned up to allow this.

 The last layer is the Obi – a wide sash around the middle – this is 4 ½ metres long!  At weddings the Obi is bought by the groom. There is a belt that ties on a small bustle at the back to support the Obi.

The final ensemble is full of symbolism, for example, a single lady, will have long sleeves on her kimono, once she is married they are cut short. There are many other features that have significance, such as “dot”  details that denote family and status, and  as the movement of the wearer also acquires ceremonial nuances, Jennifer told us that it would be very easy for her to make a faux pas when wearing a formal kimono, so to avoid this, she prefers to wear a simpler, traditional garment, the Yukata, a more casual or informal version of the kimono.

We were shown the footwear, designed to make feet appear small, the specially shaped divided toe socks – Tabi – which are usually white. Zori are the sandals are worn with a kimono for formal occasions.  Ingeniously the zori sandal has a hidden “trapdoor” compartment beneath allowing access to replace the toe thong.  Geta are raised wooden clogs that are worn with the informal yukata. 

Jennifer told us, if you wear Kimono, probably you need a bag. There are rules for bags for formal occasions but you can choose freely for casual scenes, traditional bags are drawstring, a  Kinchaku – is a traditional Japanese handbag.

What a wonderful insight into Japanese tradition and culture, very interesting  and factual interspersed with personal experiences, Jennifer was thoroughly entertaining, whilst imparting her unique view of modern Japan. Thank you Jennifer!

Because of the Coronation and bank holidays we were only able to have one Digital Photography Meeting this month on the 15th May, so here are the photos of the month chosen from our April themes of ‘Circles’ and ‘Minimalism/Negative Space’ plus a monthly favourite as voted on by the group.

For further photos taken by our group through the months go to our challenge page https://westwoldsu3a.org/?page_id=8458

Circles

Tractor

Taken by

Steve McCarthy

Minimalism/Negative Space

Tree and Daisies

Taken by

Dave Ebbage

Best of the month

Chair Shadows

Taken by

Steve McCarthy

As part of the Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival, some of our groups will be showcasing and performing at the South Ormsby Estate this Saturday 20th May as shown below, see their website here.

The May newsletter is here…

You can access the newsletter from this post or from the email the majority of our members will receive by the 9th May 2023

If you haven’t told us your email address or if it has changed… to avoid missing out send your updated email details to membership@westwoldsu3a.org.

If you would like to make comment on this newsletter or submit an article for the next issue then please send details to newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org by Friday 26th May 2023.

We would really like to hear from you about any events your groups are involved in. The Newsletter is only as good as the articles submitted by members. We relish any feedback.

The Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival runs from 20th May to 11th June, it is an ideal way to explore and appreciate all that the Wolds has to offer. Designated as an AONB in 1973, this year they are celebrating 50 years since the official recognition of this beautiful and cherished landscape.

On 2oth May various West Wolds u3a groups will be showcasing their groups activities, see the attached flyer for further details.

For further details of the outdoor Festival and what’s happening on other dates go to www.woldsoutdoorfestival.com.

You may notice that the Speaker Review is missing this month. That is because our excellent reviewer Nadia Dawson is taking a well-deserved break, after writing them for many years.

Nadia may be persuaded to resume next year, but in the meantime any keen writers out there who would like to write a short ‘guest’ review from time to time, please get in touch – we would be very grateful.

Sharon, Secretary.

The April newsletter is here…

You can access the newsletter from this post or from the email the majority of our members will receive by the 5th April 2023

If you haven’t told us your email address or if it has changed… to avoid missing out send your updated email details to membership@westwoldsu3a.org.

If you would like to make comment on this newsletter or submit an article for the next issue then please send details to newsletter@westwoldsu3a.org by Friday 26th April 2023.

We would really like to hear from you about any events your groups are involved in. The Newsletter is only as good as the articles submitted by members. We relish any feedback.

Here are the photos of the month chosen from our March themes of ‘Beginning with a T’ and ‘Dappled Light’ plus a monthly favourite as voted on by the group.

For further photos taken by our group through the months go to our challenge page https://westwoldsu3a.org/?page_id=8458

Beginning with a T

Terrible Towers

Taken by

Brian Ward

Dappled Light

Woodland Bridge

Taken by

Steve McCarthy

Best of the month

Cloud Shadows

Taken by

Suzanne Barker

You are invited to take part in ‘Their Finest Hour’, a Heritage Lottery-funded nationwide campaign organised by the University of Oxford to collect and preserve the everyday stories and objects of the Second World War.

As these personal stories are fast fading from living memory, it is vital to preserve them and the wartime objects that often accompany them. As well as artefacts from the front, there are the experiences of those at home, including women and children.

How can you help?
• Subscribe to a national email group where u3a members can share views, air your Q&As with ‘Their Finest Hour’, and generally keep in the loop at https://forms.office.com/e/ctt2eu6v2c
• Attend the u3a Online Learning Event, date tbc.
• Share this message in your u3a, on Facebook, and in your newsletters.
• Go to a ‘Digital Collection Day’ to bring your stories or volunteer at it.
• Run a collection in your activity group over several meetings.
• Go online and upload your war-related stories and materials at https://theirfinesthour.english.ox.ac.uk/

‘Digital Collection Days’ are being run at a host of museums, libraries, services charities, and schools across the country, from Belfast, Cumbria, and Edinburgh down to Essex, London, Oxfordshire, and South Wales. u3a members volunteered at one of the first ‘Days’ in Oxford:
“It’s like ‘Flog It!’ or ‘Antiques Roadshow’ without the valuation! There’s so much you can do, from meet-and-greet to what I enjoyed the most, showing someone their husband’s war record online – he flew Lancasters – helping them understand more about their family story.”

Ally Edwards, u3a Evesham and District, 10 March

There are connections between ‘Their Finest Hour’ and u3a groups, for example, genealogy, local history, creative writing, photography, storytelling, getting our members confident in using technology, and combating loneliness. Find out more on https://theirfinesthour.english.ox.ac.uk/