News

On Monday, November 3, we held our Annual Dinner at Missouri Botanical Garden's beautiful Bayer Event Center. It was our largest annual dinner (at least in recent memory), with more than 140 people in attendance.

Guests were treated to a delicious meal of sushi and a plated Japanese meal courtesy of Taberu STL, remarks from recent JAS Study Scholarship recipient Grace Kahler, and a rousing taiko performance by family taiko group Peaceful Forest. President Greg Gorman provided a recap of the year's programs and accomplishments, and Honorary Consul Stephen Knapp presented our scholarship updates and recipients. We were also honored to receive remarks and a kanpai toast from Deputy Consul General of Japan Naoya Kishi, who travelled from Chicago to be with us.

The Japan America Society enjoyed the generous support of our corporate membership, community partners, and many individuals who made the evening possible through table sales, sponsorships, and auction donations.

We offer a sincere Thank You to everyone who attended or otherwise supported the 2025 Annual Dinner.

Congratulations to Chris Wagner and Heather McGhee, winners of the 3rd Annual JASSTL Sake Cocktail Contest! Platypus hosted the event on Sunday, October 19 and arranged perfect weather for us!

The annual contest is intended to highlight the versatility and adaptability of Japanese sake as a cocktail ingredient. This year, we added a "People's Choice" element to the contest, allowing ticket holders to taste each of the five cocktails and vote for their favorite. Heather McGhee's (of The Royale) Go Touch Grass proved the most popular, while Chris Wagner's (of Platypus) Melon Baller, Shot Caller earned the "Judges' Selection" prize.

McGee's Go Touch Grass featured Kawatsuru Olive Junmai-Ginjo Sake, olive-oil-washed Citadelle dry gin, lemongrass, and cucumber. The drink was served warm with a cool cocktail foam garnish and came with a sake-glazed cookie  (perhaps showing that The People can be bribed as well as judges).

Wagner's Melon Baller, Shot Caller featured Tozai's Snow Maiden nigori (unfiltered) sake, Citadel dry gin, honeydew melon, lemon, celery bitters, and egg white. Wagner said he wanted to pair a couple of underdogs in his cocktail: sake is underrated outside of Japan, while honeydew is the "last pick of a fruit salad."

We are planning to bring this contest back for a fourth year on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Last week, JASSTL provided a Chado (tea ceremony) presentation for one of our corporate sponsors, Safety National. We are happy to work with our sponsors to provide unique cultural programs for their employees and admins to enjoy. 

This spring, the Government of Japan announced that past president and current chairperson of the Japan America Society of St. Louis (JASSTL), Dr. Chikako Usui, has been selected as a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for her contribution in strengthening relations between the United States and Japan.

The government announcement cited Dr. Usui's "significant contributions to Japan-U.S. cultural relations and... activities introducing Japanese culture on the grassroots level through her proactive involvement in the St. Louis-Ishinomaki City cultural exchange program, the 'Japan Update' Business Lecture Series, as well as the Japanese Festival hosted at the Missouri Botanical Garden."

Dr. Usui is also a high-ranking Ikenobo Ikebana instructor who has held workshops throughout the Missouri area, fostering a love for Ikebana and Japanese culture in many people. Furthermore, as an associate professor of sociology, Dr. Usui has taught classes on Japan-related topics including Japanese economics at the University of Missouri - St. Louis and Washington University, and she has written various publications on Japan.

We at JASSTL join with the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago in celebrating Dr. Usui's remarkable achievement, representing the diversity and depth of relations between Japan and the United States.

We joined the Buder Branch of the St. Louis Public Library for their debut festival, Buder in Bloom for cultural showcases. This event was free and welcomed anyone who came in order to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. 

On March 13th and 20th this year, Lindenwood University hosted Shodo, Kado and Chado sessions to help educate people on traditional Japanese culture. The event was a success and recorded in the video below. 

St. Louis Fude no Kai was founded on January 2017, in response to the energy and passion of Seiran Chiba, a Japanese calligrapher from Fukushima. Seiran has visited St. Louis every year since 2013 to participate in the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden. 

Fude no Kai meets once a month. In addition to the Japanese language-based Thursday sessions, we are now offering English-friendly sessions on the second Saturday of each month. If you are new to the Japanese calligraphy and English instructions are preferred, please come to the Saturday sessions. Everyone is welcome to try this ancient art! (Saturday sessions are also open to those who are not able to come on Thursdays.) 

On May 2nd, 2024, Fude no Kai with support from the Japan America Society, hosted "Calligraphy with Seiran" in which 30 people attended, making the event a success.

The Japan America Society of St. Louis continues its study scholarship for the second year. To apply, applicants must complete this form by February 25, 2024.

This scholarship is offered to support study in Japan. and could be used for a high-school exchange trip, a university semester abroad, or even a course of independent study. As long as there is a clear educational objective, we will consider the application.

We are again partnering with Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) to bring you Sake and Sakura on April 5, 2024. Tickets and more information are available on the MOBOT website.

Join the Japanese tradition of o-hanami (flower viewing) under the lush beauty of blooming cherry trees (sakura) by sipping sake. Specialists will be on hand to guide your sake sampling adventure. Attendees will receive a keepsake masu tasting cup and will have the rare opportunity to explore the Japanese Garden's Teahouse Island.

Some samples are included in the admission, but additional sake and traditional Japanese cuisine will also be available for purchase. This event is for guests age 21 and older, obviously.

The Sake Cocktail Contest we inaugurated last year will return on April 15, 2024!

Bartenders in MO and IL are encouraged to submit your creations by March 14, 2024. See this submission guide for rules and links to the submission form.

The event will be held at Platypus in The Grove and will feature a panel of 4 judges, cash prizes, and tons of fun! Look for tickets to go on sale soon.