A meeting in Japan 2007

Gandalf Café

Four members of the Tolkien Society journeyed to Japan to the World Science Fiction Convention, Nippon 2007. There were Andrew Armstrong (webmaster) Helen Armstrong (who answers the more scholarly questions about Tolkien), Trevor Reynolds (ex membership secretary), and Pat Reynolds (archivist). In due course we all met with some Japanese Tolkien enthusiasts at the Gandalf Café. Because she has a light touch with words, Pat was persuaded to write the next part of this report.

A group of the Japanese Tolkien Society met with we British Tolkien Society members at the Gandalf Café in Kobe, Japan. Pat was late as she left the file with all her holiday plans behind at Kobe station, and had to go back to fetch it. She looks hot and red in these pictures because of having to rush back and forth - it was in the mid-30s, and felt quite humid.

As with fans around the world, there was a great deal of eating - and this being Shoko's coffee shop, we drank fine coffee. There was also the usual passing around of 'things Tolkien' - including a "Middle Earth Times" - printed to publicise the film. Miko had a phial of Galadriel. Did it, Andy asked, light up? Pat suggested that he should make it do so. Andy said that he could do it only by taking it home to his electronics laboratory, whereupon Miko clutched it protectively!

Miko had been to Oxonmoot 2004, and fondly recalled Merry and Pippin's Dance Workshop, and had photographs of that occasion.

We gave our Japanese friends some honey tablet fudge, and Shoko a framed picture of the ford at Sarehole (the model for the ford in the Cleansing of the Shire).

Then we departed for Osaka and dinner ... which turned out to be a Hobbit feast of a very high order.

Gandalf's Coffee shop displays various memorabilia and posters - including an original John Howe sketch. Tolkien books jostle for space with the coffee grinder, and there is just enough space left over for the patrons (and, today, us).

I am afraid I cannot report on the discussions in Japanese - fantasy novels and fans were definitely discussed. The English discussed the meaning of I Robot, Ursula Le Guin, programme books for cons, the BBC World Service and (perhaps) even Tolkien.

Pat Reynolds

In the café we had food and drink. Some special delicacies were prepared for us, but this was only the start. Then our new friends from the Cuiviénen Smial took us to a restaurant where we had the best feast I can remember. Pat and Trevor departed as the feast was drawing ot a close, to continue their tour of Japan, while the rest of us filled up the corners in true hobbit style.

When Shoko returned she gave us delectable rice cakes for the following day's breakfast.

Tolkien enthusiasts; friendly the world over.

Andrew Armstrong