Unless Charles schedules some meetings, which he might, this will be our last meeting of the year, so I thought I'd do something special. The special part is not that it is in a karaoke bar. We've done that before. The special part is that as I do every year, I will give away prizes for behaviour that I consider good, like RSVPing for meetings, or giving me feedback.

The prizes will be awarded to the best in each category THAT ATTENDS THIS MEETING, so you may be surprised that you receive a prize because no one else higher in that category attends.

Please read the following carefully. We will have a pre-meeting meeting at 6:00pm, at Sushi Hiro Japanese Restaurant, 727 5th Av SW. When you reply please indicate clearly in your comment whether you will also come to the restaurant before the karaoke. This is important, because I will reserve a table. Please RSVP as EARLY as you possibly can. Please be ACCURATE. You can make your reply ACCURATE by coming back to the site five or six days ahead of the event, and checking your reply. If your situation has changed, please change your reply, so that I do not reserve a place for you at the restaurant.

A couple of years ago, ALL of the people that said that they would come to the restaurant were no-shows, leaving me sitting alone at an empty table looking like an idiot. That is extremely inconsiderate, and you should think that I will be very upset if you do something like that to me.

I think that most of us are considerate and respectful, so it would probably not even occur to most of us to do such a thing. I merely emphasize that we need to reply EARLY and ACCURATELY.

Ii o-toshi-wo mukaete kudasai!

1:00pm to 4:00pm
Free admission
Japanese food, and crafts suitable for Christmas gifts.
Makizushi, saba (mackerel) sushi, rice cakes, boxed lunch (o-bento), sweets, and various crafts.

There will be food to eat there, but note that the makizushi, and saba sushi is in uncut rolls and slabs wrapped in plastic, so I figure we're supposed to take them home. These are $7:00 each. Also, these two items are only available by pre-order, so be sure to contact Ms. Taeko Nagao 403-251-1762, or taeko@3web.com by Thursday, November 12, if you want makizushi or saba sushi.

Japan Film Festival 2009

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. We will gather in The Higher Ground. How long we stay in The Higher Ground depends on whether there is a line-up. If people are already lined up outside of The Plaza Theatre at 6:00pm, we will leave The Higher Ground together right away SO PLEASE BE ON TIME.

The films are showing across the street at The Plaza Theatre, 1133 Kensington Rd NW.

Presented by the Japan Foundation, Plaza Theatre, and the Consulate General of Japan

All Films are in Japanese with English Subtitles. Free admission to films, but it is first come, first-served, limited by seating capacity of theatre.

7:00pm: Dog in a Sidecar / 「サイドカーに犬」 / 94 MIN / Kichitaro Negishi / 2006
Based on an award-winning short story by Nagashima Yu.

9:00pm: The Milkwoman / 「いつか読書する日」 / 127 MIN / Akira Ogata / 2005
Stars legendary actress Tanaka Yuko.