We were excited to co-sponsor the Red Lantern Night Market put on by Izakaya Club on June 11 and 12. The market exceeded all expectations, selling out the capacity of 350 people each night ahead of the event.
Japan America Society of St. Louis provided three of the most popular experiences of the event. Guests stood in line for hours to have their fortunes told by Dr. Chikako Usui, who provided uranaishi (street-side fortune teller) services. Yuko Kitajima's Matcha Society (Ai-Ko-Kai) of St. Louis performed tea ceremony demonstrations in the venue's small jail cells-turned-chashitsu. They always had a line to get in and sold out both nights! And Hiroko Yoshii demonstrated shodo to guests into the wee hours of the morning.
Izakaya Club is sharing proceeds from the event with JAS and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). The event was a huge success and rumor has it, they are planning another one for late summer or early fall. Be on the lookout for details as that comes together.
The JASSTL has hired a new student assistant, Joel Fecke. Joel is currently a student at UMSL pursuing his master's degree in Economics. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineer from Mizzou. Joel is coming to us from SpaceX, where he worked for 5 years as a Test Equipment Reliability Engineer. He is originally from Missouri and grew up in LaMonte, MO.
If your school or group would like a Cultural Presentation, go to our new Japanese Cultural Programming page, found here.
JAS works with many independent presenters and groups and can provide referrals or help arrange programs for schools, communities, libraries, and other organizations.
Who can request these activities? Schools, libraries, museums, groups of ten or more, and other organizations may request a presentation, demonstration, or hands-on activity of the options below.
Is there a fee? Some performers or groups may be contacted directly and may require a performance fee, negotiated on a case by case basis. For JAS-coordinated programs, JAS appreciates modest donations to cover gratuities.
Go to our new page to view descriptions of the activities and presentations available. Fill out the form at the bottom of the page to request a presentation! Click here to take a look!
Kakehashi Program Applications for the Japan Cultural Immersion Program are now available.
The program runs from Mar 2-10, 2019. Applications are due by Dec 13, 2019.
For more information on the program, requirements, and how to apply, please click here.
Applications for the Japanese Government's 2020 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program are now available. Online applications are available here: https://www.jetapplication.com The deadline is Friday, November 15th.
The Japan Information Center will also be holding a JET Program Information Session on Saturday, October 12 from 12-3pm in downtown Chicago.
For more information on the applications or the information session, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1146417092225366/
The Japanese American Citizens League are offering the Kakehashi project and a trip to Japan (Dec 16-24)! December applications are now available. Up to 92 participants will be selected to go on a 9-day trip to Japan. While in Japan, participants will visit a number of historical and educational sites, experience traditional and cultural activities, and participate in lectures and workshops.
Requirements:
Don's miss out on this great opportunity! Apply by September 22nd, 2019!
For more information, please click here.
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/).
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.
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
"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!
"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
