Japan Society kicks off annual JAPAN CUTS film fest
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By JQ Magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
July is here, and that means hot dogs, fireworks, and a horde of Japanese films served up by New York’s Japan Society for their annual JAPAN CUTS contemporary Japanese cinema festival. Launched at the tail end of the New York Asian Film Festival, Japan Society and NYAFF have teamed to co-present a whopping 24 films from July 1-16.
“JAPAN CUTS presents the roughest, sharpest, and smoothest of today’s cutting-edge Japanese film scene,” notes Japan Society’s chief film curator Samuel Jamier. “This year the lineup includes psycho dramas, thrillers, period pieces, bizarre comedies, refined melodramas, artistically adventurous indies, j-horror, and even anime. But when the lineup came together, I realized a number of these great films were made by female directors or featured a large number of prominent women’s roles and powerful performances by women–a reflection of industry trends in the last ten years, and the impact women have been making in Japan’s film industry. Overall, I like to think this year’s festival is exemplary of where Japanese cinema is today.”
For this week’s list, see the full article here.
Japan America Society Roundup 5.30.10
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Cetnar Meadows, Editor of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of Japan America Societies…
Piano concert performances — JSNC members are invited to attend the Kurosawa Piano Music Foundation’s two upcoming concert performances. The foundation has organized a piano ensemble festival designed to promote U.S.-Japan cultural exchange through music. The festival’s mission is to provide a “trading post” where musicians exchange music from both countries and promote friendship and mutual understanding through musical performances.
- Date: Monday and Tuesday, June 21 and 22
- Time: For a complete listing of performances, see the KPMF website.
- Place: Tateuchi Hall at Finn Center Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA), 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, California
- For more information, click here.
- Technology Showcase of Hiroshima University and Western Japan’s Innovative Academia — JETRO New York invites Japan Society members to this free half-day event featuring a selection of biomedical technologies with commercial potential developed by scientists at Hiroshima University and other innovative academic institutions in Western Japan. This will be the first time these institutions come to the U.S. to present innovative technologies originating in their laboratories. The universities will explain these new technologies through presentations and poster sessions. Following the event, there will be an opportunity to network with the representatives from these universities.
- Date: Friday, June 11
- Time: Program 1:30 to 5 p.m. Reception 5 to 6 p.m.
- Place: The Nippon Club 145 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
- For more information, click here.
Texas Folklife Festival 2010 — JASSA is participating in this cultural festival with more than 40 different cultural groups represented at the event. This three-day event showcases Texas’s diversity and heritage with a wide variety of ethnic food, music, dance, arts and crafts. Volunteers are needed!
- Date: Friday to Sunday, June 11 to 13
- Time: June 11 — 5 to 11 p.m. June 12 — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 13 — 12 to 7 p.m.
- Place: Institute of Texan Cultures on the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus
- 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 Cetnar Meadows the info.
Examiner.com NY Japanese culture roundup: 5/19
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By JQ Magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
Japan Society serves up annual sake lecture/tasting Wednesday (5/19)
Japan U.S. Media Professionals launch networking debut Thursday (5/20)
Salon Series offers Joy of Okinawan Music and Dance Sunday (5/23)
Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Cetnar Meadows, Editor of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of Japan America Societies…
Stories from Space: International Space Station Mission — Come hear stories that are out of this world. Koichi Wakata, an astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, trained at the Johnson Space Center in 1992 and qualified as a Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle. Dr. Wakata is a veteran of three space flights and has logged more than 159 days in space. He originally is from Saitama, Japan, and attended Kyushu University.
- Date: Saturday, June 19
- Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
- Place: Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg Area (Main Floor), 3405 Algonquin Road, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
- For more information, click here.
- Japanese Conversation Forum — If you love football, this event’s for you. Pro- and college-level football trainer Naohisa Inoue will talk about his climb to his current profession and offer insight into what happens behind the scenes at a football game. This program will be in Japanese only, but people of all skill levels are encouraged to join.
- Date: Wednesday, May 19
- Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Place: Tates Creek Branch Public Library, 3628 Walden Drive, Lexington
- For more information, click here.
Japanese Girl Stuff: Trends and Innovations in Popular Culture — We all hear a lot in the media about manga, anime and Japanese street fashion, but when it comes to Japanese girl culture, dig a little deeper and you’ll find a whole world of activities that deserve your attention. This presentation by Laura Miller, a professor from Loyola University Chicago, will highlight some of the fascinating but frequently overlooked cultural activities found in Japanese girl culture, including self photography, the divination boom and Abeno Seimei.
- Date: Friday, May 21
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Place: Ohio State University Jennings Hall, 1735 Neil Ave., Room 155
- For more information, click here.
- Book Reading — Join JSNC members at Noe Valley’s Omnivore Books to hear author Sarah Marx Feldner read from her new cookbook, A Cook’s Journey to Japan. Sarah spent time teaching English in Japan and later returned to explore her love of food, cooking and Japanese cuisine. In this book she recounts her adventures traveling throughout Japan, sampling home cooking and collecting recipes from everyday people.
- Date: Friday, May 21
- Time: 6 to 7 p.m.
- Place: Omnivore Books, 3885a Cesar Chavez St., 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.
This Weekend at Japan Society: STEIM Electronic Music Lab
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By JQ Magazine‘s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
From Yellow Magic Orchestra to Cornelius to the current wave of chiptune artists inspired by classic 8-bit video games, Japan has a rich legacy of electronic music whose influence continues to grow in the age of globalization. Seizing this trend, New York’s Japan Society will close out its spring 2010 performing arts season with a concert by STEIM (Studio of Electro-Instrumental Music) and related events on May 7 and 8.
Based in Amsterdam, STEIM is “the natural course of what we have presented under the category of ‘music,’” said Yoko Shioya, Japan Society’s artistic director. “In fact, there are many internationally active and acclaimed Japanese musicians and composers in this area, and that is why I started to make the program of this genre several years ago.”
The envoys of this sonic summit are Takuro Mizuta Lippit, STEIM’s artistic director, originally from Japan; Yutaka Makino (Japan/Germany), a musician and artist who works in the convergence of sound, science and architecture; ABATTOIR (U.S./Netherlands), a duo comprised of American cellist/vocalist Audrey Chen and Dutch musician/composer Robert van Heumen; digital media composer Yannis Kyriakides (Netherlands) and guitarist Andy Moor (U.K./ Netherlands) of the legendary Dutch punk band The Ex; and dj sniff (Japan/Netherlands), the performer alter ego of Takuro Mizuta Lippit.
“Put it this way,” said Shioya, “the layer of the musicians and composers in electric music in Japan is very thick—therefore, many types of musicians emerge…Japanese musicians in this genre have been quite influential in the international music scene.”
The program kicks off the night of Friday, May 7 with the Artist Talk + Demo, with STEIM artists Yutaka Makino and dj sniff discussing the process of crafting their sounds and sharing their perspectives on the latest international collaborations in electronic music. Japanese sound poet Tomomi Adachi rounds out the panel. Also, a free STEIM Mobile Touch Exhibition on May 7 and 8 will allow visitors the opportunity to make music on some of the artists’ instruments.
Saturday, May 8 showcases STEIM’s Workshop for Youth for ages 10 to 18, giving them a chance to learn more about their methods and test drive some of the instruments themselves. The night’s centerpiece is the Electronic Music Lab concert, a one-time only performance.
What will it all sound like? According to Shioya, “The music you will hear in STEIM’s concert is music which may make some people wonder, ‘Do you call it “music”’…? But…the definition of ‘music’ can be varied, and many Japanese musicians are not intimidated by the conventional perception of ‘music.’
This program shows that this genre of music—improvisational and experimental—is truly borderless.”
STEIM: Electronic Music Lab takes place Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8, with complete schedule and ticket information here. Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street between First & Second Avenues. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (212) 715-1258 or in person at Japan Society (M–F / 10 AM–4:45 PM). For more info, call (212) 832 -1155 or visit www.japansociety.org.
Japan America Society Roundup 4.22.10
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Cetnar Meadows, Editor of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of various Japan America Societies…
Agatsuma: Not Your Father’s Shamisen! – This concert, presented by JASI and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, features world-renowned musician Hiromitsu Agatsuma, who plays the tsugaru-shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument. His performance fuses the traditional sound of the shamisen with blues, rock, dance music, folk, flamenco and funk, and he’ll be accompanied by taiko drums and the electric piano. Tickets for JASI members are $10.
- Date: Saturday, May 8
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Place: The Toby Theatre, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
- For more information, click here.
- Origami Card Making – It’s not just about folding up pieces of paper to make those little cranes anymore. There’s a whole science to this ancient Japanese art. Attend this workshop and learn how to make three different origami patterns and create your own cards from washi, Japanese paper. The fee is $10 for JASGA members. RSVP required.
- Date: Sunday, April 25
- Time: 2 to 4 p.m.
- Place: Casa de Luz, Cielo Room 1701 Toomey Road, Austin Texas
- For more information, click here.
Kumamoto En Day – Celebrate Children’s Day with games and children’s arts and crafts, including paper kabuto Japanese warrior hat making, uchiwa paper fan making and koi nobori flying carp coloring. There also will be Japanese arts demonstrations for Japanese brush painting, origami and calligraphy, as well jewelry and other Japanese gift items for sale.
- Date: Saturday, May 8
- Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Place: San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston, San Antonio, Texas
- For more information, click here.
- Asian Culture Fest – Check out the Asian market, cultural presentations and performances as this festival. There will be craft activities for kids, henna hand painting, a puppet show and more. And of course don’t forget to swing by the Japan America Society booth while you’re there.
- Date: Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25
- Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 24. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 25.
- Place: Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio
- 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.
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
This weekend Japan Society hosted the inaugural 12-hour extravaganza known as “j-cation”. The line-up of events was kicked off by the movie Flavor of Happiness (幸せの香り or Shiawase no kaori), the story of a father-daughter relationship between an aging Chinese chef and his young female apprentice. A bit long and sappy, but the food images were to die for! In various corners of Japan Society several workshops were simultaneously taking place, such as Read More
Japan America Society Roundup 4.10.10
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Cetnar Meadows, Editor of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View, shines a light on some of the upcoming events of Japan America Societies…
Sumo Night — Have you packed on a few pounds since you left Japan? Ever find yourself dreaming of going back and thinking, “Hey, I wonder what it actually takes to be a Sumo wrestler, anyway?” Well, come find out. At this event you can learn all about this traditional Japanese sport, its history and the techniques required to become a Sumo pro.
- Date: Tuesday, April 20
- Time: 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
- Place: University of Texas San Antonio, on the lawn area between the Arts Building and the Main Building by the flag poles (or UC 2.212 Harris Room if there’s inclement weather).
- For more information: http://www.utsa.edu/eai/2010/Sumo.pdf
- Concert by the Columbus Japanese Women’s Chorus — The name of this group, Hanamizuku no Kai, translates to “Dogwood Group”, chosen in honor of the early 1900s exchange of Yoshino cherry trees and Dogwood trees between the people of Japan and the United States. The trees symbolize the friendship and sharing between Japan and America. With an aim to share the gift of music and friendship, Hanamizuki no Kai sings a variety of lyrical songs, nursery rhymes, pop music and folk songs in both Japanese and English.
- Date: Sunday, May 2
- Time: 3:30 p.m.
- Place: Church of the Redeemer Moravian, 3883 Summitview Road, Dublin, Ohio
- For more information: http://jasco.osu.edu/events/2010/HANAMIZUKINOKAI.pdf
Sushi class — Learn the basics of making your own sushi from Sake Bomb, the sushi supplier to the Cincinnati Reds. The fee is $25 for members, $40 for member couples or $38 for non-members.
- Date: Sunday, April 18
- Time: 2 to 4 p.m.
- Place: 3572 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio
- For more information: http://jasgc.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=22
JAS of the State of Washington
- Teaching Responses to Catastrophe: Hiroshima and the Holocaust — Professor Alan Tansman of the University of California, Berkeley, asked scores of university students to consider how individuals and cultures respond to the devastation of large-scale violence. Students closely examined the words and images created by individuals who chose to express their suffering, and considered the psychic, cultural, historical and political dimensions of responses to violence. Professor Tansman’s work focused on comparative context through the cases of Nazi violence against European Jews, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as other forms of violence experienced by the Japanese in World War II. In his presentation, he will discuss the pedagogy of teaching this material.
- Date: Friday, April 16
- Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m.
- Place: University of Washington, Seattle campus, Communication Building, Room 226
- For more information: http://jsis.washington.edu/japan/events.shtml#_2288
Does your Japan America Society have an upcoming event that you’d like to share with JetWit readers? Email Gail Meadows the info.
Japan America Society Roundup 3.20.10
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Current Hiroshima-ken JET Gail Meadows is Editor of Hiroshima JET webzine the Wide Island View. The Wide Island View is looking for Hiroshima JET alumni to answer a short questionnaire to share their post-JET experiences with current JETs. Email her at wideislandview (at) gmail (dot) com if you’re interested! And now, Gail shines a light on some of the upcoming events of various Japan America Societies…
Reading by JET author — JET alumna Malena Watrous lived for two years in the small, rural Japanese town of Shika-machi, the nuclear power plant town in which she set her debut novel, If You Follow Me, described as “at once a fish-out-of-water tale, a dark comedy of manners, and a strange kind of love story.” Ms. Watrous will give a reading from her book at this event.
- Date: Tuesday, April 6
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Place: Kepler’s Books & Magazines, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, California
- For more information, click here.
- Sakura Social — Celebrate the arrival of spring with drinks food and good people. There will be plenty of Kirin beer, sake, and Japanese, Thai and Western food. $35 for JASGP members. Register online.
- Date: Friday, March 26
- Time: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Place: The Headhouse, 122 Lombard St., Philadelphia
- For more information, click here.
- Hanami Party — Pack your lunch and picnic under flowering cherry trees while enjoying live koto (floor harp) and shakuhachi (Japanese lute) music.
- Date: Sunday, March 28
- Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Place: Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas
- 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.
Japan-America Society Roundup 2.21.10
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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…
Hina Matsuri Festival — Long ago in Japan it was believed that wizards drive away evil on the first day of the snake in March. The wizards transferred the evil to paper dolls and then placed the dolls in the river to float the evil away to the sea. Eventually the day became known as Hina Matsuri and dolls to represent the Emperor and Empress were displayed. Today, Hina Matsuri is known as the Doll Festival and is also referred to as Girls’ Day in Japan. Come see JASSA’s valuable set of dolls on display during this event.
- Date: Saturday, March 6
- Time: 9 a.m. to noon
- Place: Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center, 811 N. Coker Loop, San Antonio
- For more information, click here.
- Yamamoto Kyogen — Designated “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO, Kyogen, much like Noh, is a world-renowned form of traditional Japanese theater with a more than 600-year history. The Yamamoto Kyogen Company, on their debut U.S. tour, will feature two plays that are unique to the Okura School of Kyogen. This event is sponsored by the Japan Society.
- Date: Wednesday, March 24
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Place: Hall of Flags, University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St., Philadelphia
- For more information, click here.
Bourbon Distillery Tour and Fusaichi Pegasus — Did you know that 90 percent of the world’s bourbon is distilled in Kentucky? Did you know that Kentucky Derby winner, Japanese-owned Fusaichi Pegasus, lives near Lexington at Ashford Stud Horse Farm? JASGC has partnered with the Japan-America Society of Kentucky to create a family event including tours of two bourbon distilleries (Four Roses and Woodford Reserve) and Ashford Stud in one day. Sounds like a true “Bluegrass Kentucky” experience.
- Date: Saturday, March 27
- Time: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Place: In the Greater Cincinnati area, meet at 7300 Turfway Rd., Florence, Kentucky (Exit Turfway, I-75) no later than 7:45 a.m. In the Lexington area, the bus will pick people up at the Candlewood Suites at 603 Adcolor Dr., Lexington, Kentucky. Participants are asked to arrive no later than 9:15 a.m.
- For more information, click here.
- Tea Program — Melinda Varner, a doctoral student in Japanese history at the University of Kansas, will discuss her personal and professional involvement in the study of chanoyu, the Japanese way of tea. She will offer personal insights on the tradition drawn from 15 years of study in the Urasenke school and place these in historical perspective based upon her current research in early modern tea texts.
- Date: Tuesday, March 23
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Place: Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, Missouri
- 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.
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
In Japan measures are being taken to address the phenomenon of 畳離れ (tatami banare), or moving away from tatami. Many of us probably saw it when we lived over there, as friends’ houses were largely Western style except for the token 和室 (washitsu), or Japanese style-room. In order to make sure this integral part of the culture does not disappear, a certification has been created for eligible tatami craftsman which gives them the title of “doctor.”
One such craftsman in the prefecture of Tochigi, who estimates that over the last 29 years he has worked on more than 120,000 mats, received his certification just last year. He is now called a 「畳ドクター」 (tatami doctor), a designation that he admits he is not quite used to. However, like an MD he Read More
Japan America Society Roundup 2.7.10
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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…
Paper Art Workshop — This one-of-a-kind Paper Art Workshop features the famous Japanese paper cutout artist Shu Kubo, who is well regarded in Japan’s modern art scene with work that has appeared on postage stamps and New Year’s greeting cards in Japan. Participants in this workshop will be provided with tools and materials to produce their own kirié creation.
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 27
- Time: Morning session 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Afternoon session 1 to 2:30 p.m.
- Place: Chaya Japanese Cuisine, 2032 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh
- For more information, click here.
- US-Japan Clean Tech Symposium 2010 — The theme of this symposium is “Why Being in Japan and Partnering with Japanese Companies are Essential for Clean Tech.” The event will highlight clean tech opportunities and encourage collaboration between U.S. and Japanese companies through discussion and sharing of strategies and plans.
- Date: Thursday, Feb. 18
- Time: 1 to 5:30 p.m.
- Place: Hotel Nikko 222 Mason Street, San Francisco
- For more information, click here.
- How Carbon Constraints Impact Manufacturing in Kentucky — On Dec. 7, the U.S. EPA declared that GHG (including carbon dioxide and related gases) are a danger to human health and the environment. Because of this finding, the EPA now must regulate GHG under the Clean Air Act. Many industries in Kentucky will be especially vulnerable to changes that will result from this announcement. Learn more about these changes and how businesses can adjust.
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 23
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Place: DoubleTree Guest Suites, Lexington
- For more information, click here.
JAS of the State of Washington
Educator’s Workshop: Teaching About Japan and Japanese-American Experiences — There are many free educational programs about Japan and the Japanese-American Experience provided by non-profit organizations throughout the Puget Sound region. This workshop will raise awareness about these resources, and each organization will discuss what resources are available for teachers to use in the classroom and how these resources can be utilized.
- Date: Friday, March 19
- Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m.
- Place: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP 22nd Floor Conference Room, 1201 Third Ave., Suite 2200, Seattle
- 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.
Japan America Society Roundup 1.28.10
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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…
Japanese Table Manners 101 — Quick quiz! Can you answer these true or false questions about Japanese table manners? 1.) When your soup bowl is hot, it is a good idea to squeeze it to help open the lid. 2.) When someone offers you sake during a meal, it is good manners to put your sake cup down on the table to allow him/her to pour it for you. 3.) When eating a whole fish, you should carefully turn it over to eat the other side. Not sure of the answers? Then this free Japanese culture salon could be for you.
- Date: Monday, Feb. 1
- Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
- Place: Casa de Luz, 1701 Toomey Road, Austin
- For more information, click here.
- U.S. Immigration Basics and Hot Topics — This seminar will cover the latest in U.S. immigration law, updates, and other employment issues related to hiring and retaining foreign workers.
- Date: Friday, Feb. 12
- Time: 2:30 to 5 p.m.
- Place: Ice Miller LLP, Conference Room 29A/B, One America Building – 29th Floor, One American Square, Indianapolis
- For more information, click here.
Whale Watch Cruise — Join JASSC for the annual migration of the Pacific Grey Whales as they make their 12,000 mile journey along the North American coast. There will be narration in English and Japanese.
- Date: Sunday, Feb. 28
- Time: Registration at 9:30 a.m., departure at 10 a.m., return to harbor at 12:30 p.m.
- Place: Long Beach Marina Sport Fishing (Seaport Village in Alamitos Bay), 180 Marina Drive, Long Beach
- 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.
Japan Society (NY) Weekly e-Newsletter 1.25-1.30.10
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Japan America Society Roundup 1.17.10
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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…
Kakizome Event — Kakizome is one of the old traditions to celebrate the New Year in Japan. It literally means “the first calligraphy of the New Year.” The subjects tend to be auspicious words or phrases. Originally, Kakizome was performed at imperial court and expanded to the locals in the Edo period. Paper, ink and brushes will be provided at this event, and you will see calligraphy demonstrations.
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 24
- Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
- Place: Essencha Tea House & Fine Teas, 3212a Madison Road, Cincinnati
- For more information: http://jasgc.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=9
- Kimono and Obi Program — Learn about Japan’s rich textile arts as embodied in the kimono and obi during this program, which is open to the public. DecorAsian’s Mami Yamamoto and Vintage Kimono’s Janine Thormann will show participants how these delicate fabrics can enhance the modern home. RSVP by Friday, Jan. 22.
- Date: Friday, Feb. 5
- Time: Japanese reception at 6 p.m. Presentation at 6:45 p.m.
- Place: DecorAsian’s new Denver branch, 1787 South Broadway, Denver
- For more information: http://www.jascolorado.org/upcoming.php
Japanese Speech Contest — Did you make a new year’s resolution to improve your Japanese? Now’s the time to submit your application to participate in JASCO’s 11th annual Japanese Speech Contest. Write an original speech under three minutes, tape it and mail it in with your application. Selected finalists will compete on March 6.
- Date: Saturday, March 6
- Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Place: The Ohio State University, 180 Hagerty Hall, 1775 College Road, Columbus
- For more information: For the application and all the details, click here.
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