First-Ever JAS Trivia Night Was a Big Success

Thank you to all of the 152 participants, many sponsors, and volunteers for making our first Trivia Night, at St. Louis College Prep, a great success! We had 19 tables of competitors, including five Premium Tables, who enjoyed Japanese bento, beer, and sake as well as beautiful ikebana centerpieces.

This was a trivia night with a Japanese twist, so participants enjoyed a jankenpon (think rock-paper-scissors) minigame, several authentic Japanese auction items, a few Japan-themed questions and everyone's friendly company!

Thank you to Steve Mitori for emceeing the event and providing all the questions and to our sponsors Summit Distributing, Lohr Distributing, JACL, Jazz St. Louis, The Mosaic Project, Washington University's East Asian Languages and Cultures, Honorary Consul Stephen Knapp and Diana Knapp, Animeggroll, and Better Life.

Congratulations to the table from The International Institute on their big win of the $500 cash prize. We hope to see everyone - and more - at next year's trivia event.

JAS offers nine annual programs each calendar year. They are scheduled throughout the year, and include a range of events from business/economic forums, cultural events, and social programs:

• January - New Year’s Celebration (Shinnenakai)
  
• February/March - Japan Update
  
• May – Japanese Cultural presentations at the Missouri History Museum
  
• August/September – St. Louis Ishinomaki Friendship Program
  
• August/September - Japanese festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden
  
• September - Fund-raising golf tournament
  
• September/October – Shibusawa-Arai Japanese Studies Lecture
  
• November - Annual Dinner/General Meeting
  
• December - JAS Night at the Ballet: The Nutcracker