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 Previous: ARRL Responds to Implied Threat to 222-225 MHz Band |  Next: Amateurs Activate for Duty During September 11 Remembrances |
By Dave
Patton, NT1N
September 13, 2002
Over the weekend of August 24 and 25, 2002, more than 17,000 individuals purchased over 28,000 daily passes to Asia's largest Amateur Radio event--The Japan Amateur Radio League's "Ham Fair," or "Ham Festival." Held in Tokyo's Big Sight convention center, a fabulously large and modern facility overlooking Tokyo Bay, attendees enjoyed "Dayton Hamvention in one huge room." There were 172 clubs, 38 distributors, flea marketeers, special interest clubs, and manufacturers occupying the spaces surrounding a central forum area where presentations and lectures were ongoing both days. Dave Patton, NT1N, representing the ARRL, presented a talk entitled "The ARRL and Amateur Radio in the 21st Century" which drew a standing room only crowd. JARL Director Masao "Mike" Matsumoto, JA1AYC, provided excellent translation services for the crowd. Many regional dignitaries attend Ham Fair, and are welcomed by JARL President Shozo Hara, JA1AN, included Nguyen Bac Ai, XV2A/3W6AR President of the Viet Nam Amateur Radio Club; Chen Ping, BA1HAM, Secretary General of the Chinese Radio Sports Association; and Boulla Mohamed, 5T5BM, who is helping Amateur Radio grow in Mauritania.
The JARL is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and including a nice display of memorabilia and nostalgia at Ham Fair, the organization is supporting a special station, 8N1OGA, operating from the Ogasawara Islands, that will be active for around four months while keeping two complete stations busy the whole time. Operators will rotate in and out of the islands during this time. See http://www.fivenine.com/8n1oga/eng/ for more information about this operation. The Ham Fair is a wonderful event that should be on everyone's list of "something to do at least once." See the JARL website to learn about JARL, Ham Fair, and reciprocal licensing.
Following are a selection of photos from the event. I hope they help provide some of the atmosphere of this great experience!
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The Tokyo Big Sight, or Tokyo International Trade Center, the location for Ham Fair 2002. The monstrous structure known as the Tower Building contains most of the conference rooms including a 1000-seat room for international meetings. | On Friday before Ham Fair, I visited JARL HQ to help check DXCC QSL cards. These were a happy bunch of DXers who were waiting patiently for our arrival. |
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Masa, JA1DM, JARL volunteer, ARRL DXCC Card Checker Captain, and the number one DXer in Japan with 382 countries, gets a laugh and a peace sign from another veteran DXer. | JARL Card Checkers Sam, JJ1SKG, and Yama, JA1SGU, inspect cards from Don Miller, W9WNV, from his operations from Geyser Reef and Blenheim Reef. Old cards continue to surface as DXers update their earlier records. |
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A crush of photographers capture the moment as President Hara makes the first QSO from Ham Fair station 8N1HAM. Sitting (L-R) behind Mr. Hara are Mr. Nguyen Bac Ai, XV2A and Mr. Boulla Mohamed, 5T5BM. Standing (L-R) are Mr. Shim Kuroda, XV3AA, NT1N, and Mr. Tokuzo Inoue, JA3FA, Founder and President of ICOM. [JARL Photo on right] | |
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The opening ceremony ribbon cutting that occurs just before the waiting masses of Hams hits the red carpet (L-R) Mr. Takenobu Kaieda, JH1HNH, Chairman of Ham Fair Executive Committee; Mr. Tokuzo Inoue, JA3FA, President of Japan Amateur Radio Industries Association (JAIA); Mr. Shozo Hara, JA1AN, President of JARL; Mr. David Patton, NT1N, ARRL Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President; and Mr. Nguyen Bac Ai, XV2A, President, Viet Nam Amateur Radio Club. [JARL photo] | Kenwood employed some special help for Ham Fair. |
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Photos with Honor Rollers. It was a pleasure to meet many of the top DXers in Japan. (L-R standing) Toshi JO1PSX; Kazu, JG3QZN (top of Honor Roll); (L-R seated) Masa JQ3DUE (Top of Honor Roll); and NT1N. | And some of Japan's top contesters stopped by for a photo opportunity (L-R), Saty, JE1JKL/9M6NA; Hiro, JA1WSX/T88WX; NT1N; and Naoki, JM1LPN. |
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I gave a presentation to the crowd entitled "The ARRL and Amateur Radio in the 21st Century." Mike Masamoto, JA1AYC, a JARL Director and DXCC Honor Roller, performed the translation. Mike speaks at least four languages well! [JARL Photo] | Some true OTs got together: Goro, JA1AX, and Shozo, JA1AN. I thought it was neat to have two of the early two-letter "JA1A" calls in the same room! |
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Nguyen Bac Ai, XV2A, the President of the Viet Nam AR Club was on hand. As the world opens up, international cooperation and friendship flourish. The Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Ham Club had a nice display and booth | |
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The Tokyo International Amateur Radio Association was out in full force at Ham Fair (L-R) Dan, 7J1ABD; NT1N; Ron, 7J1ABC; and Frank, 7J1AAL. TIARA also had a booth celebrating the organization's 30th anniversary | (L-R) Kei, JR1NNV and his 10 year old son Ryo, 7N4QWK; and George 7J1AKH/N5WOL). |
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I had a good time pitting these great guys and FB contesters against each other: Hiro, JS3CTQ of ICOM, and Shige, JH7AJD/1, of Kenwood. | Mitsu, JN1LQH, JARL's International Section Manager is shown here with Mike, JA1AYC. Mitsu was a big help as my host during the trip, and is often a point of contact for foreigners contacting JARL. |
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On the roof of the convention building, Ham Fair organizers and manufacturers built a few towers with antennas that are both displayed and used at 8N1HAM. Here is a night shot (okay, the antennas wouldn't show but the huge Ferris Wheel did!). | Here is a daytime shot of the antennas with the Ferris Wheel in the background. |
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The special event station 8N1HAM was always buzzing with activity on all bands and modes with many operating positions. | |
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There was also parking on the roof near the antennas. Somehow I think Toyota's Harrier won't be able to take off vertically! And I really like the small vans in Japan | |
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Still on the roof, here is the view looking west including the Ferris Wheel, some of downtown Tokyo, and a monorail. | Still exploring the roof, I found the Yaesu Van. And got a little closer... |
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Portable and mobile operating in Japan is hugely popular--in fact, a 50 watt license is issued just for this style of operation. | Back inside. One of the clubs with a booth were the 6 Meter AM enthusiasts. Shown here are Kazu, JF2UJG, and Yoshi, JF2QKA. |
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Another active group are the RTTY guys at the Japan Amateur Radio Teleprinter Society. Shown (L-R) are Nori, JA1WSK; Aki, JA1EUL; NT1N; and Fumio, JA1IQV. | Yes, there are some fanatic followers of cubical quads in Japan! And they have a club booth to prove it. |
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Very popular at Ham Fair is the Home Brew and "learning how to build" area. Always full of families working together, it was hard to find room! | |
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Always a bundle of energy, the island hunters and providers of Japan were busy searching the charts for the next island to activate for the RSGB/Yaesu "Islands on the Air Program! (IOTA)." (L-R) Take, JI3DST; Kazu, JM1TUK; and Jim, JA9IFF/1. | My DXCC hosts and I gathered for several hours of DX talk after it was all done (L-R), Masa, JA1DM; NT1N; Sam, JJ1SKG; Katsumi, JI1JMK, and Yama, JA1SGU. |
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Each year JARL sponsors a children's art contest, with the drawings including some sort of communications theme. The winning entry was this beautiful drawing by a 9-year old girl. The title is sort of "Asking a witch, Hello, Where are you?" | |
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Then it was off to home including 2 sunsets in 15 hours! Leaving the Land of the Rising Sun is always hard, and I certainly recommend a trip to Japan and Ham Fair to anyone! [ARRL Photos unless otherwise noted] | |
| Previous: ARRL Responds to Implied Threat to 222-225 MHz Band | Next: Amateurs Activate for Duty During September 11 Remembrances |
