News

  • 08 May 2019 2:05 PM | Anonymous

    The Japan Information Center is delighted to announce that applications for the 2020 Japanese Government MEXT Research Student Scholarship are now available! This scholarship provides for college graduates to conduct an independent research project at a university in Japan under the supervision of a professor for 18 to 24 months. Any field of study is eligible for the scholarship, but applicants must find a professor at a Japanese university willing to supervise their research.

     

    "Being able to further my education in Japan has truly been an experience of a lifetime." -Catherine Shasteen, MEXT Research Scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Tokyo (click the link to read Ms. Shasteen’s full account)

     

    The application is available online at the Study Japan website: https://www.studyjapan.go.jp/jp/smap_stopj-applicationsruts.html.  Applications are due on Wednesday, June 5th. Applications should be submitted to the Japan Information Center in Chicago (737 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000; Chicago, IL 60611).

    Those who pass the initial application screening will be asked to sit for an interview and Japanese language exam at the Japan Information Center in Chicago on Tuesday, June 11th. Final selection will come from MEXT in February, with scholarship recipients departing for Japan in April or September of 2020.

     

    Please feel free to pass this information along to your students and colleagues. For more information, please see the MEXT Scholarship website (https://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/mext.html), or the Study in Japan website (http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/).


  • 19 Sep 2018 11:14 AM | Anonymous

    St. Louis Japan Society and St. Louis Japan-America Society will present Mr. Atsushi Niigata from the Mizuho Research Institute to speak about international politics and business in the Trump era.  This event will take place on Thursday, October 11 from 2-4 pm in the Schoenberg Theater at the Missouri Botanical Garden.  To access the PDF flyer, click here.

  • 08 Aug 2018 8:11 AM | Anonymous

    George Arbanas was 15 when he participated in the 2014 St. Louis-Ishinomaki Friendship Program. He is currently working as a summer intern with a company called Education First. George was able to meet with his host family from the exchange in March of this year. Please see his message below.

    "Usui-sensei,

    Hello again! I’m emailing you while on the Shinkansen to Sendai — I was able to take some time off from my internship this week to visit everyone in Ishinomaki! Looking at memories on Facebook, it’s hard to believe I was there last 4 years ago. As today is the start of the Kawabiraki Matsuri, I’m feelig quite nostalgic already. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again, and I’ll send photos when I’m able!

    Thank you again for allowing me to be a part of the TOMODACHI project. To say that it has changed my life would be an understatement. I’m hoping to become fluent enough in Japanese to be able to join a company in Tokyo once I graduate, and I would have never been able to make such a decision had I not visited Ishinomaki and Sendai with TOMODACHI. So thank you again!

    Sincerely,

    George Arbanas"

    Photographs Courtesy of Hiroshi Abe



  • 23 May 2018 7:25 AM | Anonymous


    "There is a 'before Chikako, and after Chikako' when it comes to the JAS."

    The Japan America Society's Chairman (and former president for 10 years) was recognized this year by the Asian American Chamber of  Commerce in St. Louis (AACC) for the Connector of the Year Award. Each year, the AACC has a connection dinner to reflect on the accomplishments of the Asian community in St Louis. We are very proud to have Dr. Usui to work with the Japan America Society and also the larger Japanese community in St. Louis.  Congratulations Dr. Chikako Usui!


  • 09 Apr 2018 8:55 AM | Christopher Meyer (Administrator)

    George Arbanas - one of the students in the first group of American students to travel to Ishinomaki back in 2014 - recently revisited Japan and returned with some wonderful news about the ongoing benefits of the TOMODACHI Program.

    On Japan, George reconnected and spent a weekend with the Hayashi family, who hosted him at the end of the TOMODACHI trip four years ago.  Unfortunately, due to a snowstorm that hit a large part of Japan that weekend, he was unable to travel to Ishinomaki and visit everyone there. However, George also learned that he has been awarded a summer internship at a company called Education First in Tokyo.  He will return to Japan at the beginning of the summer 2018 and intends to take a personal trip to Ishinomaki following the end of his internship..  

    This report from one of the TOMODACHI alumni is a welcome affirmation of the exchange program as a fulfillment of the mission of both JAS and the TOMODACHI Initiative. Way to go, George!


  • 26 Feb 2018 8:38 AM | Anonymous

    JAS presented its spring Japan Update program featuring three expert speakers on urban agriculture. Professor Eiji Goto of Chiba University spoke about trends and technology in factory farming in Japan, highlighting the efficiencies and financial aspects of the industry. St. Louis's own Mary Ostafi of Urban Harvet STL focused on the specific efforts and adaptations required for urban farming in St. Louis and the broader social impact of this trend. And, Kevin Erickson of Loyola University in Chicago presented an overview of the challenges and opportunities of urban agriculture, from small-scale community gardens to the latest advances in aqua- and aeroponics. About 70 people braved the wind and rain to hear our speakers and enjoy our signature sushi and sake receptions afterward in the gorgeous lobby of Novus Internationl, Inc., one of JAS's corporate members who generously hosted the event.  

  • 15 Feb 2018 3:00 PM | Anonymous

    JAS and UMSL's office of International Studies & Programs, the Department of Language and Cultural Studies, and the Japan-America Student Association hosted Dr. Steven Gan for a free talk and book signing chronicling his amazing experience. Mr. Gan ran a highly successful debt collection business in Japan for 12 years - the first foreign-owned business of its kind in Japan. He told the riveting story of starting his business organically and growing it to employ 30 people. His business was so successful, he drew the attention of the media, but also the ire of his competition, which used an obscure and ambiguous clause in the law to shutter his company. He now has a consulting business in Chicago, Stellar Risk Management. Following his talk, he took questions from the audience and offered auto graphed copies of his book, "Making it and Breaking it in Japan" for sale to about 30 audience members. 


  • 29 Jan 2018 7:36 PM | Anonymous

    Noriko McLeer, the president of the St. Louis Japanese Language School, wrote a letter of thanks to the Japan America Society St. Louis for our continuing support of the school through our annual fundraising golf tournament in September. Ms. McLeer invites all to attend the upcoming Shinnenkai (New Year celebration) at the language school on Feb 3, please see the 2018 New Year Celebrarion for Friends .pdf and Map 新年会マップ 2017.pdf 

  • 26 Jan 2018 1:13 PM | Anonymous

    The Japan America Society of St. Louis began the new year with a wonderful Shinnenkai at Sushi Sen in Lake Saint Louis on January 21. This year's Shinnenkai was well-attended, including Deputy Consul General of Japan from Chicago, Kenji Tanaka, and three full tables of our corporate members Nidec, Novus, and CSI. Once again, our attendees had the pleasure of hearing the insights of guest speaker Dave Lowry, an expert on Japanese culture. This year, Dave spoke of the concepts of omote, or "surface-level meaning," and ura, or "deep meaning." He explained this in the context of some interesting unpublicized (ura) Shinto practices concerning the emperor, as well as practices concerning the coming and unprecedented abdication, as Emperor Akihito will "retire" oApril 30 and Crown Prince Naruhito will become the new emperor.

    Deputy Consul General of Japan Tanaka spoke in glowing terms of JASSTL's commitment to strengthening relations between St. Louis and Japan, and in particular outgoing JAS President Dr. Chikako Usui's tremendous efforts and successes in strengthening the JAS in St. Louis. Dr. Usui retired at the end of 2017 and now serves as Chairman of the Board. So this year's event was also the first in 10 years to feature a new president, Mr. Greg Gorman of Nidec Motor Corporation.

    Of course, no JAS Shinnenkai would be complete without the kagami-biraki (sake barrel opening ceremony), a raffle of fukubukuro bags, and Chef Ken's osechi ryori - special New Year's meal (and sake!). This is always a treat, and a good time was had by all!

    To view more photo's from this event please click here.


  • 26 Jan 2018 9:15 AM | Anonymous

    At the request of the St. Louis Public Library, JAS arranged a presentation at the Schlafly branch in January about Seijin-shiki, the Japanese Coming of Age celebration. Seijin-shiki is the second Monday of January, a national holiday in Japan to honor and celebrate 20-year-olds as adults. They gain the right to vote and are of legal age to drink alcohol. Our speaker modeled the elegant, long-sleeved furisode kimono worn by young women and showed a video and slides of family photos from her special day. After the presentation, several women in the audience enjoyed trying on kimono and yukata. JAS was pleased to partner with the library to share Japanese culture.


"Japan America Society of St. Louis" is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
University of Missouri - St. Louis
362 SSB
1 University Boulevard
St. Louis MO 63121-4400

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