Aug 4

Japan America Society Roundup 08.04.09

Japan Society Round-up Comments Off on Japan America Society Roundup 08.04.09

Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Meadows, co-editor of the Hiroshima JET webzine Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of the various Japan America societies…

JAS of the State of Washington

• Wa in a Sports Bar — Best-selling author Robert Whiting, author of You Gotta Have Wa 2009, will be the featured speaker at JASSW’s cocktail reception. Whiting’s book is an updated version of the original 1989 book You Gotta Have Wa, a book about the cultural conflict between Japan and America, as seen through the common sport of baseball. In his talk, Whiting will address the question of whether Japanese and Americans understand (and like) each other more than they did two decades ago and the subject of how culture still manifests itself in baseball. Following the presentation, visitors can watch the Seattle Mariners play the New York Yankees on three large-screen plasma TVs in a private room. Cost is $20 for JAS members. Registration deadline is August 11. Click here to register.
  • Date: Thursday, August 13
  • Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Presentation starts at 6:20 p.m.,
  • Place: FOX Sports Grill, VIP Lounge, 1522 6th Ave., Seattle
  • For more information: http://www.us-japan.org/jassw/index.htm

JS of Boston

• Symposium on Historic Preservation in Kyoto & Boston — This symposium will include comments by the mayor of Kyoto and presentations by leading Japanese and American architects, urban planners and other specialists. Presentations will be in Japanese and English, with simultaneous interpretation. The symposium will be followed by a reception in honor of Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa at the Kyo-no-Machiya (Kyoto House) Boston Children’s Museum. Admission is free but registration is required.
  • Date: Wednesday, August 26
  • Time: Symposium 1:30 to 5 p.m. Reception 5 to 7 p.m.
  • Place: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, first floor theater, 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston
  • For more information: http://www.us-japan.org/boston/Calendar.html

JS of Northern California

• J-Pop Summit Festival 2009 — Mark your calendars for this pop culture-themed street far in San Francisco’s Japantown. The day’s festivities will include a Harajuku Kawaii makeover pageant and performances by Japan’s hottest girl bands. The celebration will be accompanied by the grand opening of New People, a center of Japanese cinema, retail and art.
  • Date: Saturday, August 15
  • Time: 10 a.m. to midnight
  • Place: New People, 1746 Post Street, San Francisco
  • For more information, click here.

Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event that you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.