SYDNEY SAMURAI 1

Thursday Nov 4. Nagoya day in Sydney City. Part of the performances and attractions held at Customs House at Circular Quay included a calligraphy demonstration by Japanese Sydney resident, Ren,...

As bilingual MC for the event, I also interviewed the artist,...

...and another Samurai pre battle ceremony took place out front of the old customs building....
Quite a good crowd braved the cold and wet conditions to enjoy the Samurai show....
Explaining Samurai armour and weapons, prior to a demonstration of donning the armour...

SYDNEY SAMURAI 2

While in Sydney, the samurai team took part in a model photo shoot for a Brazilian fashion designer ...
...and as part of the Nagoya Day event, members of the public could try on replica suits of Samurai armour...

...could try their hand at Japanese calligraphy...

....have their photos taken with the Samurai members,....

...and generally entertain the cameras and visitors,....

SYDNEY SAMURAI 3

Thurs. Nov. 4 ...Sydney! The Samurai team, ready to go!
Members of Nagoya's various political parties, distinguished guests, Sydney City representatives and elite were all in attendance for the event...
MC was, of course, in Samurai armour, and doing Japanese and English announcing,...Chris!
... with speaches... and even a song or two,... by Nagoya's mayor Kawamura...
...and Sydney's representative too... before the samurai Pre war Ceremony took place in Customs House.

SYDNEY SAMURAI 4

Enter the Shogun! At Customs House, Sydney, as part of the Sydney Nagoya Sister City Celebrations
First the Vanguard Captain announces his arrival, and pledges his troops, followed by the rear guard captain,...

...and finally the rally cry with swords drawn....

Meanwhile, out front of Customs House, Mayor Kawamura commits Hara Kiri, while I act as second and take his head...
The Samurai team in front of Customs House. Many thanks to the staff of Customs House for all their hard work and hospitality!

BUNDY BEER

Toasted ham and cheese sandwich and,.... Australia's famed Bundaberg Ginger Beer! Made with real ginger,...you can feel it going down!

BRILLIANT!

SYDNEY CUSTOMS HOUSE

After touching down in Sydney, the Samurai team and I went to Customs House at Circular Quay where we'll be doing some events on Thursday.
The wide courtyard out front of Customs House will serve as our Samurai base and Nagoya Day celebrations.
Customs house contains an impressive collection of Japanese comics and DVD's...
The team and coordinators meeting in the courtyard was interrupted by.........

......Nagoya's Mayor Kawamura and his staff!

MELBOURNE CUP IN SYDNEY

The Race That Stops A Nation! That's what they term the Melbourne Cup, Australia's most famous horse race held on the first Tuesday in Nov. That's today! All over Sydney, preparations were underway for the 3pm running of the race that provides the nation with a 10 minute national holiday...
All over Sydney people were dressed up to the nines for the various functions being held...
Some of the top bars and hotels had been booked out by associations and companies looking to entertain clients and staff.....
Big screens were set up all over the city to add to the fun and excitement....
Patrons at the hotel we were staying in all crowded around the TV in the lobby for the running!

Australia really stops for about 10 minutes during the running of the annual cup!