Sep 4

Japan America Society Roundup 9.05.09

Japan Society Round-up Comments Off on Japan America Society Roundup 9.05.09

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

JAS of St. Louis

• Japan Robot Night — Not only is Japan on the cutting edge of the robotics industry, but it even manages to make its robots so kawaii!  One example is PARO, a baby seal robot that interacts with people and makes them feel emotionally attached. PARO is part of a new track of Japanese robotics that has taken off — service robots assisting humans. You’ll have a chance to see this therapy robot for yourself at this event, which will feature a lecture by Dr. Takanori Shibata, inventor of PARO. The program also will include a presentation on service robotics trends in Japan. The event is free and open to the public.
  • Date: Thursday, Oct. 15
  • Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
  • Place: University of Missouri-St. Louis, Millennium Student Center, Century Room C, One University Boulevard, St. Louis
  • For more information: http://www.us-japan.org/jasstl/images/Japan_Robot_Night.pdf

JAS of Houston

• 13th Annual Grand Taiko Concert — Witness the grace of an authentic Japanese classical dance master and the acrobatics of beautiful aerial silk performers at this annual taiko drum performance. Admission is free.
  • Date: Sept. 18-19
  • Time: 7:30 to 9:45 p.m.
  • Place: Miller Outdoor Theatre, Hermann Park, Houston
  • For more information: http://www.ilovetaiko.org/

JAS of Southern California

• Japan America Kite Festival — Go fly a kite! Bring your own to this event, or purchase one from the variety of kites available for sale. Enjoy international kites of all sizes and colors, and don’t miss the huge 50-foot by 100-foot kites on display. There will be a Rokaku kite battles, stunt kite demonstrations, kite “ballet” and precision synchronized kite team performances.
  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
  • Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Place: Seal Beach Pier, (North side of the Pier), Seal Beach, CA 90740
  • For more information: http://www.jas-socal.org/jas/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=2&tabid=3#13th

JS of Northern California

• Life for Foreign Workers in Japan — If you’ve wondered what life is like for non-Japanese blue-collar workers in Japan, check out this presentation by Dr. Harumi Befu, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Stanford University. Dr. Befu will present his current research on foreign workers’ lives in Japan — the support they receive as well as the challenges they face. This event is free and open to the public.
  • Date: Thursday, Sept. 17
  • Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
  • Place: Union Bank Hospitality Room,
22 Peace Plaza, Miyako Mall,
San Francisco
  • For more information: http://japansocietyofnortherncalifornia.myshopify.com/products/foreign-workers-in-japan

JAS of Dallas/Fort Worth

• Japanese Fall Festival — Enjoy stage events including karate, taiko, iado and kendo, as well as plenty of food booths, games and cultural demonstrations.
  • Date: Sunday, Sept. 20
  • Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Place: Dallas Japanese Association, South Side Parking Lot, 4100 Alpha Rd., Dallas
  • For more information: http://jasdfw.org/downloads/ffest.pdf

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