Thank you to Mirella who presented Japan at last month’s meeting. She said that it was a surprising country as it was so different from most people’s perceptions. The people are very welcoming, gentle and polite, and the country is very clean, modern and well-ordered; it is difficult to reconcile our experiences of wartime Japan with the country as it is today. Mirella was impressed by the beautiful well-kept gardens and temples, and the punctuality of the bullet trains. The Group discussed Japan’s social and demographic problems: its mono-ethnicity and its ageing population, low birth rate and declining economy.

April’s meeting will take place on the second Friday of the month, the 10th, when Lorna will be presenting Estonia at her home. For further details, call Lorna on 8948 0411.