Hello,
Wikimedians in Kansai ([[m:WiKansai]]) hosted a WP10 event in Kyoto, on Saturday, January 22nd. The event consisted of two parts, lecture and party, at Hatena Inc. HQ and an izakaya, casual tavern in Japanese style, respectively. Around 30 people attended in a sum and had a good time. The audience included hard core Wikimedians, students, business people, engineers and academics. Most of them are living in Kansai region, but some came from other cities like Tokyo.
The event is titled ウィキペディア10周年感謝のつどい in Japanese, literally meaning Wikipedia 10th Anniversary: Appreciation meeting. Appreciation from volunteers, readers and any other people who feel Wikipedia benefit their lives, to everyone who made it come in reality.
Lecture part: Hatena Inc. (http://hatena.ne.jp) Kyoto HQ offered us the venue for free as well streaming which three staffers of them took care. I gave a short welcoming and thanking message, then we watched Jimmy's video letter, subtitled by User:Whym Ting Chen aka Wing on skype video chat gave also a welcoming, thanking and encouraging message to be committed to make Wikipedia much greater: he surprised the audience with introductory in Japanese and his message was received very warmly.
And a keynote: a local academic, Hideo Toyama gave a lecture titled "Meaning of being sincere intellectually", how his view toward Wikipedia has changed, how academics and students consider and use Wikipedia, what on Wikipedia they notice and not, how Wikipedia could enlighten and alter our epistemological view - before Wikipedia who could have imagine an encyclopedia changed minute by minute? - and overall how we should treat Wikipedia. His analysis and proposal "use Wikipedia in an appropriate way with full knowledge how it works" were thoughtful and positive, on contrary of a popular view to Wikipedia "unreliable so don't use".
Social hours: after Toyama's keynote, we had a good time there with beer and pizza briefly. Shinji Tanaka Hatena Inc. CTO gave his best wishes toward us at Wikipedia for toasting. During social hours at Hatena, some Japanese Wikipedians in other regions took minutes to give their friendly messages on skype. Some expressed their own view and opinions on Wikipedia and the audience in venue seemed to take it interesting as testimonials from hardcore Wikipedians. At the closing of Part 1 and for transmitting to Part 2, User:VZP10224 who led the organizing team gave a small speech.
Then we walked down in the early evening Kyoto and went into an izakaya. We occupied a tatami room and enjoyed chatting, good taste dishes and sake and so on :) People showed their enthusiasm to the project, brought opinions and proposals, or asked opinions on their own projects and ideas which could collaborate with Wikipedia. Overall, it was very amusing and exciting hours and we entertained each other.
Lecture part has some online records, enjoy :) video: http://vimeo.com/19253436 (mostly in Japanese, very long) Jimmy's video letter subtitled: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idquQGVVwao photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/takot/sets/72157625828438525/
On behalf of Wikimedians in Kansai, I'd appreciate everyone who helped us to make happen.
Cheers,