Mar
18
to May 16

JASH Japanese Language Program 2024 Session 2

Session II of the JASH Japanese Language Program begins on Monday, March 18, 2024. Registration is open for all levels on the Japanese Class Schedule and Class Descriptions pages.

NOTE: All Japanese Language Courses are currently being held remotely through Zoom Meetings.

Click on the button below to register:

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Mar
23
4:00 PM16:00

[ONLINE] おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! | Japanese Home Cooking with Table for Two and NAJAS

Join us for the March edition of the family-friendly online Japanese home cooking class series おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! – Japanese Home Cooking and cook along or just watch from your own kitchen! On the menu this month is Tonkatsu, Tofu Tonkatsu, and Katsu Sando! Originating in Japan during the Meiji Era in the late 19th century, tonkatsu is a type of yōshoku - Japanese versions of European cuisine - and has become one of the most popular dishes in Japan today.

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, participants will learn how to make the traditional fried pork cutlet, discover how tofu can be a healthy substitute, and also incorporate your creation in a katsu sando sandwhich. Accompanied by cabbage cole slaw and spicy edamame, this month’s dishes can be prepared vegetarian and/or gluten-free.

Tonkatsu & Tofu Tonkatsu Cooking Class Menu

  • Tonkatsu Fried Pork Cutlet

  • Tofu Tonkatsu

  • Katsu Sando

  • Cabbage Cole Slaw

  • Spicy Edamame

The class will be taught by Debra Samuels, lead curriculum and recipe developer for Wa-Shokuiku, a program of Table for Two.  Debra is an author of two cookbooks and the 2020 recipient of the John E. Thayer III Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cultural Exchange Between the United States and Japan.

Members of other Japan/Japan America Societies—please enter your society’s discount code at checkout for member pricing.


$10 JASH Members / $15 Non-members. JASH members use code "Houston" to register.


About the Instructor:

Debra Samuels leads the program content and curriculum development of TABLE FOR TWO USA’s Japanese inspired food education program, “Wa- Shokuiku -Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!”.

She was a food writer and contributor to the Food Section of The Boston Globe and has authored two cookbooks: “My Japanese Table,” and “The Korean Table.” She curated the exhibit, “Obento and Built Space: Japanese Boxed Lunch and Architecture,” at the Boston Architectural College (2015) and co-curated “Objects of Use and Beauty: Design and Craft in Japanese Culinary Tools,” at the Fuller Craft Museum (2018). Debra also worked as a program coordinator and an exhibition developer at the Japanese department of the Boston Children's Museum (1992-2000).

Debra has lived in Japan, all together, for 12 years and specializes in Japanese cuisine. She travels around the country and abroad teaching hands on workshops on obento, the Japanese lunchbox. During Covid 19 she is teaching live online cooking programs to youth and adults.


This program is made possible by:


Program Note: Photographs may be taken during the event for the records of the program host and for use in public media outlets. Registering for the event generally signifies acknowledgment that your likeness may be used in these ways.

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Mar
23
7:30 PM19:30

JASH at DASH: Enjoy a Game and Meet a Nadeshiko Legend

Join JASH as we welcome Japanese soccer legend Yuki NAGASATO to Houston DASH in the team’s first home game of the season against Racing Louisville FC!

Tickets are $75.00 and include seating in the East Club with unlimited food, soda, beer & wine as well as a Meet & Greet with NAGASATO-senshu after the game!

Additionally, the first 50 ticket purchasers will represent JASH on the pitch during the pre-game ceremonies.

Doors open at 6:30PM. Purchase tickets through the link below:

JASH at DASH Ticket
$75.00
Quantity:
Add To Cart

Kids 2 and under do not need a ticket to enter the stadium.


Read Houston Dash’s press release regarding Yuki Nagasato’s signing by clicking the button below:

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Apr
7
10:00 AM10:00

[VOLUNTEER] Hermann Park Conservancy Kite Festival

  • Miller Hill and Jones Reflection Pool (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Image courtesy of JAEKAE

Hermann Park Conservancy's Kite Festival will bring a day full of fun and, of course, kite-flying to Hermann Park. Activities include live music, a DJ, interactive games and activities, face painting and more. It is truly a special day in Hermann Park with fellow Houstonians! 

This community-favorite event is made possible through contributions from Host Committee members and sponsors. 


Volunteer with JASH and provide festival goers with the opportunity to make their own koinobori kite streamer.

To join the JASH’s volunteer team, please complete the form below:


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Mar
14
12:00 PM12:00

Wagashi Pop Up Day by Oyatsu Aoi

  • Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Treat yourself each month during Houston Chronicle highlighted wagashi maker Oyatsu Aoi’s Wagashi Pop Up Day at the JASH office.

The below traditional Japanese sweets will be available for purchase during the event:

  • Ichigo Daifuku (Fresh strawberry with mochi and sweet red bean paste)

  • Yomogi Mochi (Mugwort mochi with sweet red bean paste and soy powder)

  • Strawberry Dango (Strawberry flavored dumplings on a skewer)

  • Monaka (Soft rice crackers with sweet red bean paste)

  • Warabi Mochi (Tapioca and warabi mochi covered with soybean powder and brown sugar syrup)

Payment can be made by cash or card. While the sweets will be readily available to the public during the event, click the button below to contact Oyatsu Aoi directly to pre-order your favorite treats.

Pre-orders must be placed no later than Tuesday, March 12.


About Oyatsu Aoi:

Originally from Kyoto, Oyatsu Aoi crafts handmade, all natural and additive-free, everyday wagashi, taking special care to incorporate seasonal ingredients.

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Mar
13
10:00 AM10:00

JAPAN JUNCTION Family Story Time & Craft

“Japan Junction” is returning to the Levy Park Spring Break Family Storytime lineup.

Join us for a reading of When the Sakura Bloom by Narisa Toga and take a springtime stroll through the streets of Tokyo!

The book highlights the cultural significance of cherry blossom season in Japan and provides insight into the unique mindset of Japanese people.

[“When the Sakura Bloom”] is an understated ode to an iconic Japanese cultural celebration, mindfulness, and the restorative power of the seasons. — Kirkus Reviews

Following the reading of When the Sakura Bloom, make your own sakura tree with cotton ball painting.

All craft supplies and instruction will be provided by the Japan-America Society of Houston.

Join us as we slow down to appreciate the fleeting, delicate beauty of nature and all the opportunities and rejuvenation changing seasons can usher in!


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Mar
11
to Mar 15

JAPAN JUNCTION Spring Break Daily Fold

  • Levy Park Event Pavilion (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

“Japan Junction” is returning to the Levy Park Spring Break lineup with the DAILY FOLD!

Join us daily to transform a flat square sheet of paper into sculpted creations!

Each program will feature a new design with two levels of difficulty, allowing kids of all ages to enjoy the art of origami.

As this year is the first official U.S.-Japan Tourism Year, DAILY FOLD participants will have the opportunity to explore Japan through origami!  Visit Mt. Fuji, see sakura in bloom, climb Tokyo’s Sky Tree, catch a glimpse of the big lantern at Sensoji Temple, journey to the Great Buddha in Nara, see Osaka Castle, walk the streets of Kyoto in Japanese dress and pick up traditional omiyage.

Origami paper and instruction will be provided by the Japan-America Society of Houston. Let the folding fun begin and celebrate this special year with us!


Monday | March 11 | Take in Japanese Nature

  • Mt. Fuji [Beginner]

  • Cherry Blossom [Intermediate/Advanced] *needs scissors

Tuesday | March 12 | Discover Tokyo

  • Big Lantern of Kaminarimon [Beginner]

  • Tokyo Skytree [Intermediate/Advanced]

Wednesday | March 13 | Visit Kansai

  • Great Buddha of Nara [Beginner]

  • Japanese Castle [Intermediate/Advanced]

Thursday | March 14 | Walk Kyoto in Kimono

  • Yakko & Hakama [Beginner]

  • Happi Coat [Intermediate/Advanced]

Friday | March 15 | Pick Up Traditional Gifts for Omiyage

  • Ninja Shuriken [Beginner]

  • Tsuru/Crane [Intermediate/Advanced]

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Mar
9
11:00 AM11:00

2024 Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest

  • Rice University | Anderson-Clarke Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

The goal of the Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest is to inspire Japanese language learners of all levels and ages to challenge themselves and improve their Japanese by providing an opportunity to demonstrate oral language communication skills. The contest also strives to bring together the Japanese and American communities to advocate for and to celebrate Japanese language learning, and to encourage students to further their understanding of Japan, its people, and its culture.

For more information on the format and content of the 2024 Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest, please review the contest handbook.


COMPETITION SCHEDULE (subject to change)

  • 11:00AM | REGISTRATION

  • 12:00PM | OPENING CEREMONY

  • 12:30PM | COMPETITION

  • 12:30PM | DIVISION 3 – FREE SPEECH HIGH SCHOOL AURORA

  • 1:15PM | DIVISION 2 - HAIKU

  • 2:00PM | DIVISION 5 - OPEN

  • 2:25pm | DIVISION 1 - POETRY

  • 2:55PM | DIVISION 4 – FREE SPEECH COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

  • 4:15PM | CLOSING CEREMONY & AWARDS PRESENTATION


Presented by:

 
 

Support is also provided by:

  • Rice University Center for Languages & Intercultural Communications

  • Japan Foundation, Los Angeles

  • Japan Business Association of Houston (JBAH)

  • Japanese Association of Greater Houston (JAGH)

  • Japanese Teachers Association of Texas (JTAT)

  • All Nippon Airways

  • Kinokuniya Books


Click on the button below to learn more about the contest.

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Mar
6
4:30 PM16:30

JASH & Levy Park Present: Japan Junction

Experience the wonder of Japan in Levy Park on the first Wednesday of every month with JASH at Japan Junction. Kids of all ages will enjoy expanding their cultural horizons through kamishibai “paper drama” storytelling and fun crafts that highlight Japanese traditions from origami to woodblock print making and more!

ヒューストン日米協会(JASH)は、毎月第1水曜日にLevy Parkで日本の素晴らしさを体験できるイベント“Japan Junction”を開催します。日本の昔話を紙芝居で紹介し、そして折り紙から木版画まで様々な日本の伝統文化を感じられるクラフト作りを通して、子供たちが楽しみながら文化的な視野を広げる機会を提供します。


March 6: “The Mouse’s Wedding” and Hanging Hina Doll Decoration

Hina Matsuri, also known as Doll Festival or Girl’s Day, is a special day in Japan celebrated each year on March 3. Families with daughters often display figurines of the imperial court to promote hope and happiness of the girls and to protect them against illness and misfortune.

Join us for a kamishibai reading of “Nezumi no Yomeiri” or “The Mouse’s Wedding,” an amusing story of self-discovery.

Following the kamishibai presentation, make your own Tsurushi Hina or hanging Hina doll decoration to wish for the well-being of all the young women in your life!

3月6日:紙芝居「ねずみのよめいり」と吊るし雛作り

3月3日はひなまつり!女の子の健やかな成長を願い、そしてお祝いする日です。

今月の紙芝居は、かわいいねずみの女の子が主人公の「ねずみのよめいり」。そして女の子も男の子も一緒に吊るし雛を作ってひなまつりを祝いしましょう。

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Mar
2
11:00 AM11:00

JASH and Evelyn's Park Present: FAMILY FOLD

Join JASH at Evelyn’s Park on the second Saturday of every month to experience the art of origami!

Each session will have a theme highlighting a specific Japanese holiday or celebration. Participants of all ages can enjoy mastering this art form through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.


March Theme: Farm Animal Origami

Rodeo season is here! Let’s celebrate and add the Japanese touch to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this year by creating origami related to farm animals.

The three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy.

Make a Baby Chick, a Pig, and/or a Cow to get ready for Houston Rodeo 2024!

 

PROGRAM PARTNER:

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Feb
25
11:30 AM11:30

[VOLUNTEER] MFAH Winter Festival

  • The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s family-friendly Winter Festival!

Start the day with fiery drums, and end with a thrilling performance by lion and dragon dancers.

Enjoy art-making activities with family and friends: Create paper lanterns, practice calligraphy, decorate wooden plaques for good fortune, paint cherry blossoms, and more. Plus indulge in foods representing East Asian cuisines, available for purchase from local vendors.


While Japan’s official and cultural New Year’s Day now falls on the first day of January, this was not always the case. In fact, prior to the Meiji Period, Japan observed the new year in accordance with the lunisolar calendar. A few traces of Japan’s once celebrated lunar new year traditions have survived through the commemoration of setsubun (節分) — literally meaning the seasonal (節) division (分) that marks the change from one season to the next.

This day, which falls on February 3, is celebrated with mamemaki, or bean throwing, at home, schools and in the community. Mamemaki is a symbolic act meant to drive away evil spirits and misfortune. Roasted soybeans are thrown at an oni or ogre while shouting “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” meaning “Out with the demons! In with good fortune!”

JASH would like your help in introducing Japan’s Setsubun traditions to Winter Festival attendees.

Volunteer with JASH and provide kids of all ages with the opportunity to make their own oni mask and participate in mamemaki through an game of oni cornhole.

To join the JASH’s volunteer team, please complete the form below:


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Feb
23
11:30 AM11:30

Japan Currents Houston Conference 2024

JASH is pleased to present the Japan Currents Houston Conference, on Friday, February 23, 2024.

In October 2023, Japan and the United States held the second annual Japan-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue (ESD).  Building on historic climate investments contained in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Japan’s GX Promotion Act, both countries emphasized the importance of rapidly decarbonizing their economies, in particular through the deployment of clean energy technologies and energy efficiency measures. 

The 2024 Japan Currents Houston Conference will provide insight into the current state of Japan’s energy security situation and explore how the strong partnership between Japan and the United States/Texas is driving the clean energy transition.

This conference is made possible with support from The Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. and the National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS).


KEYNOTE SPEAKER

  • Naomi HIROSE

    Chair, Japan Energy Association

    Vice Chair, World Energy Council

    Former President/CEO, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)


SPEAKERS

  • Jane NAKANO

    Senior Fellow, Energy Security and Climate Change Program

    Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)


  • Jane STRICKER

    SVP and Executive Director, Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI)

    The Greater Houston Partnership (GHP)

Click here to read the speaker’s bios.


TICKETS

$55 Individual Member Ticket*
$65 Individual General Public Ticket*

*includes lunch


TABLES OF TEN

$500 Member Table*
$600 General Public Table*

*includes lunch for 10 & listing as an event sponsor


SPONSORS


PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS


This program is part of Houston’s celebration of the U.S.-Japan Tourism Year 2024.


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Feb
21
6:00 PM18:00

[ONLINE] JSNC & NAJAS Friends Present: Japanese Houses: Stories of Remarkable Homes and the People Who Made Them

Image courtesy of JSNC

Since the end of World War II, Japanese architects have been creating some of the world’s most exceptional dwellings. Admired by architects and homeowners on both sides of the Pacific, these innovative mini-buildings are the subject of Naomi Pollock’s new book, The Japanese House Since 1945.

Naomi Pollock is a world-renowned expert on contemporary Japanese architecture and design. Her recently published book highlights some of Japan’s most inspiring homes which illustrate the country’s design ingenuity and experimental construction capability. Join JASH, Japan Society of Boston (JSB), Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) and Japan America Society of Minnesota for an educational online lecture with the author, who will share stories about the making of these residences and the people who made them their homes. 

Following the presentation, she will discuss her work with Yoko Kawai, an expert in Japanese design, Lecturer at the Yale School of Architecture, and the principal of Penguin Environmental Design.

Come hear this fascinating take on groundbreaking residential design in Japan – and change the way you think about space.

This program is FREE with registration. Click the button below to register:

About the Speakers:

Naomi Pollock is an American architect and author who lived in Tokyo for 30 years. She writes about design and architecture in Japan. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Dwell, Kinfolk, Nikkei Asian Review, Wallpaper* and Architectural Record, for which she is a Contributing Editor. In addition to Japanese Houses Since 1945, Pollock has written Modern Japanese House, Jutaku: Japanese Houses, Sou Fujimoto and Japanese Design Since 1945: A Complete Sourcebook. She was also the editor of NUNO: Visionary Japanese Textiles. She holds Masters degrees in architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering. In recognition of her contributions as a journalist and critic, Pollock was invited into the College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects in 2018.


Yoko Kawai, Ph.D., is Lecturer at Yale School of Architecture and principal of Penguin Environmental Design, where the focus is on “Designing places from the outside in”. Its works include a residential project that received CTC&G Award in 2015 and a Japanese garden at Frost Valley YMCA in 2014. Yoko researches, educates and designs architecture to promote and develop “space for well-being” by applying Japanese spatial concepts. She co-founded Mirai Work Space to bring this idea into the contemporary workplace.


This program is organized by:

Program promotional support is provided by:


Images and biographies courtesy of Japan Society of Northern California.

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Feb
17
11:30 AM11:30

2024 Houston Regional Japanese Speech Contest

  • University of St. Thomas - Anderson Hall (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Japanese language learners of all levels and ages in the Greater Houston area are invited to demonstrate their oral Japanese communication skills for a chance to compete at the Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest at the 2024 Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest

The contest strives to bring together the Japanese and American communities to advocate for and to celebrate Japanese language learning, and to encourage students to further their understanding of Japan, its people, and its culture.

For more information on contest divisions, format, eligibility and rules, please review the contest handbook.


COMPETITION SCHEDULE (subject to change)

  • 11:30AM | REGISTRATION

  • 12:00PM | OPENING CEREMONY

  • 12:30PM | COMPETITION

  • 12:30PM | DIVISION 1 – POETRY

  • 12:55PM | DIVISION 3 – FREE SPEECH HIGH SCHOOL AURORA

  • 2:40PM | DIVISION 2 - HAIKU

  • 3:05PM | DIVISION 4 – FREE SPEECH COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY

  • 4:15PM | CLOSING CEREMONY & AWARDS PRESENTATION


Sponsored by:

Support for the 2024 Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest is provided by:

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Feb
10
11:00 AM11:00

[CANCELLED] JASH and Evelyn's Park Present: FAMILY FOLD

Join JASH at Evelyn’s Park on the second Saturday of every month to experience the art of origami!

Each session will have a theme highlighting a specific Japanese holiday or celebration. Participants of all ages can enjoy mastering this art form through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.


THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THE NEXT FAMILY FOLD WILL TAKE PLACE MARCH 2.

February Theme: Setsubun Origami

Bring some luck into your home by celebrating Setsubun, the official end of winter and start of spring in Japan, at Evelyn’s Park.

Observed annually on February 3, at home, in schools, or at shrines throughout Japan, people wish for good luck through mame-maki or bean throwing. 

The three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy.

Make traditional Setsubun symbols like a Lucky Girl Fuku face, an Oni face, and/or a mameire box to hold your Setsubun beans! “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!  Out with the Oni, and in with good fortune!”

 

PROGRAM PARTNER:

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Feb
8
12:00 PM12:00

Wagashi Pop Up Day by Oyatsu Aoi

  • Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Houston Chronicle highlighted wagashi maker Oyatsu Aoi is hosting a wagashi Pop Up Day at the JASH office.

The below traditional Japanese sweets will be available for purchase during the event:

  • Ichigo Daifuku (Fresh strawberry with mochi and sweet red bean paste)

  • Mame Mochi (Salty red kidney bean mochi with sweet red bean paste)

  • Odango (Dumplings on a skewer)

  • Monaka (Soft rice crackers with sweet red bean paste)

  • Warabi Mochi (Tapioca and warabi mochi covered with soybean powder and brown sugar syrup)

While the sweets will be readily available to the public during the event, click the button below to contact Oyatsu Aoi directly to pre-order your favorite treats.


About Oyatsu Aoi:

Originally from Kyoto, Oyatsu Aoi crafts handmade, all natural and additive-free, everyday wagashi, taking special care to incorporate seasonal ingredients.

View Event →
Feb
7
4:30 PM16:30

JASH & Levy Park Present: Japan Junction

Experience the wonder of Japan in Levy Park on the first Wednesday of every month with JASH at Japan Junction. Kids of all ages will enjoy expanding their cultural horizons through kamishibai “paper drama” storytelling and fun crafts that highlight Japanese traditions from origami to woodblock print making and more!

ヒューストン日米協会(JASH)は、毎月第1水曜日にLevy Parkで日本の素晴らしさを体験できるイベント“Japan Junction”を開催します。日本の昔話を紙芝居で紹介し、そして折り紙から木版画まで様々な日本の伝統文化を感じられるクラフト作りを通して、子供たちが楽しみながら文化的な視野を広げる機会を提供します。


February 7: “Why do We Throw Beans on Setsubun?” and Oni Masks

Setsubun is a festival marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring in Japan. It is observed annually on February 3, at home, in schools, or at shrines throughout Japan.

Join us for a kamishibai reading of “Naze Setsubun ni Mame wo Makuno?” or "Why do We Throw Beans on Setsubun?” to discover why the Japanese people celebrate the coming of spring in a unique way.

Following the kamishibai presentation, make your own Oni Mask and learn how Japanese families wish for good luck through mame-maki or bean throwing.  “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!  Out with the Oni, and in with good fortune!”

2月7日: 紙芝居「なぜ、せつぶんに豆をまくの?」と鬼のお面作り

 「鬼は外! 福は内!」一緒に節分をお祝いしましょう!

節分に豆をまく理由を知っていますか?紙芝居「なぜ、せつぶんに豆をまくの?」を観て、節分と豆まきの由来を学びましょう。そして紙芝居の後は、鬼のお面を作ります。そのお面を使って家で家族と一緒に豆まきを楽しんで、たくさんの福を呼び込もう!

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Feb
4
4:00 PM16:00

[ONLINE] おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! | Japanese Home Cooking with Table for Two and NAJAS

Join us for a special edition of the family-friendly online Japanese cooking class series おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! – Japanese Home Cooking. We will start by learning how to make a type of wagashi, which a traditional Japanese confection that pairs well with tea. Cook along with our instructor, Deb Samuels, to make daifuku, a mochi ball with anko or sweet red bean paste filling.

After preparing our treat, we will be joined by Tomoko Honda of Ippodo Tea to learn all about the teas that they make, and how Japanese people enjoy them in their daily lives. Honda will teach us the differences between three kinds of classic Japanese teas; sencha, matcha, and hojicha, and how to best prepare them.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about everyday Japanese Teatime as it is enjoyed by families and friends in a relaxed setting. 

If you'd like to brew along using the same teas and tools as our instructor, please feel free to check out the following products from Ippodo that can be shipped directly to you! However, purchasing is not required to participate in the program. Please allow for at least two weeks for shipping. 

Teas:  Sencha | Matcha | Hojicha

Tools:  Matcha whisk (chasen) | Tea ladle (chashaku) | Tea strainer (chakoshi) | Tea bowl | Teapot (kyusu) | Glass teapot

The recipe card with ingredient list and Zoom link will be provided a few days before the event. 

The Japan Society of Boston is pleased to work with our friends at The Japan-America Society of Houston, The Japan-America Society of Georgia, The Japan-America Society of Washington DC, The Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia, The Japan America Society of Colorado, Japan-American Society of Indiana, and The Japan Society (New York) in this special installment of the family-friendly cooking series おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! - Japanese Home Cooking with TABLE FOR TWO USA, part of the innovative food education program, Wa-Shokuiku: Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!, where participants make simple, healthy, homestyle Japanese food to enjoy with friends and family. This Ouchigohan event is part of #EdamameChamp, TABLE FOR TWO USA’s annual campaign to promote healthy eating through Japanese cuisine focusing on SOY.

Members of other Japan/Japan America Societies—please enter your society’s discount code at checkout for member pricing.


$10 JASH Members / $15 Non-members. JASH members use code "Houston" to register.


About Ippodo:

Ippodo is a Japanese tea purveyor founded in Kyoto in 1717, over 300 years ago. At the time, the store went by another name and carried ceramics and other things besides tea, though over the years it became known especially for its teas. Then, in the mid-1800s, it received recognition from Prince Yamashina, who bestowed it the name Ippodo, meaning, “Uphold one thing: tea.” Under its new name, Ippodo has been a dedicated tea specialist ever since, while adapting to meet the demands of subsequent eras.

Today, in addition to flagship locations in Kyoto, Tokyo, and New York (temporarily closed), Ippodo has opened an online shop dedicated to customers in the USA and Canada, shipping directly from warehouses in the USA.

Our speaker for this event is Tomoko Honda, from Ippodo’s New York office. She began working at Ippodo 10 years ago and is a certified Nihoncha Instructor. From 2014 – 2016 she worked in Kyoto, and from 2016 – 2022 she came to New York to work at the New York Store, to help introduce the pleasures of tea to customers in America.


About the Instructor:

Debra Samuels leads the program content and curriculum development of TABLE FOR TWO USA’s Japanese inspired food education program, “Wa- Shokuiku -Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!”.

She was a food writer and contributor to the Food Section of The Boston Globe and has authored two cookbooks: “My Japanese Table,” and “The Korean Table.” She curated the exhibit, “Obento and Built Space: Japanese Boxed Lunch and Architecture,” at the Boston Architectural College (2015) and co-curated “Objects of Use and Beauty: Design and Craft in Japanese Culinary Tools,” at the Fuller Craft Museum (2018). Debra also worked as a program coordinator and an exhibition developer at the Japanese department of the Boston Children's Museum (1992-2000).

Debra has lived in Japan, all together, for 12 years and specializes in Japanese cuisine. She travels around the country and abroad teaching hands on workshops on obento, the Japanese lunchbox. During Covid 19 she is teaching live online cooking programs to youth and adults.


This program is made possible by:


Program Note: Photographs may be taken during the event for the records of the program host and for use in public media outlets. Registering for the event generally signifies acknowledgment that your likeness may be used in these ways.

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Feb
3
7:30 PM19:30

Nihon Buyo in the 21st Century: From Kabuki Dance to Boléro

  • The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

For one-night only, Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) in partnership with Japan Society, New York present Nihon Buyo (literally “Japanese Dance”), an elegant, refined art form performed by artists skillfully trained in kabuki dance.

This presentation will feature dance pieces Toba-e and Boléro, along with performances by Japanese musicians playing traditional Japanese instruments.

Toba-e is a charming comedic work in the style of kabuki dance, based on the animal-centric Japanese caricatures of the same name.  Boléro is a riveting new dance set to French composer Maurice Rovel’s score, retelling the heartbreaking and vengeful legend of Anchin and Kiyohime.  Expertly choregraphed by esteemed Hanayagi Genkuro, the works will offer a unique insight in Japanese culture and deliver indelible, ravishing images featuring esteemed performers.

Prior to making its Texas debut, NIHON BUYO in the 21st Century will be presented in New York at Japan Society and in Washington, D.C. at The Kennedy Center.

Tickets are available for purchase starting on December 11 at 10:00AM CST through The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. JASH members receive a $10 discount with code.

Click the button below to learn more and purchase:


The January 24th performance at Japan Society, New York has been featured as a Critic’s Pick in The New York Times.

“If you have to watch another dance to ‘Boléro,’ this one, at least, is full of drama, danger and brittle, seething anger. As the music builds so does Kiyohime’s rage, which Tokuyo illuminates with icy solemnity as the fire of passion is turned into despair and, ultimately, revenge.”

“Kiyohime, rooted and fierce, stands her ground as a bell sounds, washing away the Ravel and making room for a subtler sensation: This is one eerie ‘Boléro.’”

-Gia Kourlas, The New York Times

Read the full review by clicking the button below:


The North American tour of Nihon Buyo in the 21st Century is produced and organized by Japan Society, New York, NY, and is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan through the Japan Arts Council, The JEC Fund, and the National Endowment for the Arts.


This program is part of Houston’s celebration of the U.S.-Japan Tourism Year 2024.


This performance of NIHON BUYO in the 21st Century: From Kabuki Dance to Boléro is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.



Performed in Japanese with English supertitles.
The cast in the photo differs from the program.

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Jan
20
4:00 PM16:00

[ONLINE] おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! | Japanese Home Cooking with Table for Two and NAJAS

Have you ever tried a Japanese dish called Donburi? Donburi are bowls of rice with delicious toppings – a meal in a bowl. Oyako Donburi is called “Mother and Child Rice” Bowl. This savory dish is made with both chicken and eggs, and the words oya and ko refer to parent and child. Tender chunks of chicken are cooked in a dashi broth and when just hot enough, beaten eggs are poured over the top and cooked briefly until the eggs are silky and just set.

Which came first? The chicken or the egg? We don’t know, do you?

Tickets:

Members of other Japan/Japan America Societies can enter their society’s discount code at checkout for member pricing. One registration per family. The recipe card with the ingredient list and Zoom link will be provided a few days before the event. Please contact info@japanphilly.org if you have any questions.

About Ouchigohan:

Join us for this family-friendly Japanese cooking class series おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! – Japanese Home Cooking. Step-by-step cooking instruction and demonstrations are provided by Debra Samuels from TABLE FOR TWO USA, which leads the innovative series “Wa-Shokuiku 和食育: Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!,” dedicated to making simple, healthy, homestyle Japanese food to enjoy with friends and family.

This collaborative monthly program is hosted by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, The Japan Society of Boston, The Japan-America Society of Georgia, Japan America Society of Houston, Japan America Society of Colorado, Japan-America Society of Indiana, The Japan-America Society of Washington DC and Japan Society New York.


$10 JASH Members / $15 Non-members. JASH members use code "Houston" to register.


About the Instructor:

Debra Samuels leads the program content and curriculum development of TABLE FOR TWO USA’s Japanese inspired food education program, “Wa- Shokuiku -Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!”.

She was a food writer and contributor to the Food Section of The Boston Globe and has authored two cookbooks: “My Japanese Table,” and “The Korean Table.” She curated the exhibit, “Obento and Built Space: Japanese Boxed Lunch and Architecture,” at the Boston Architectural College (2015) and co-curated “Objects of Use and Beauty: Design and Craft in Japanese Culinary Tools,” at the Fuller Craft Museum (2018). Debra also worked as a program coordinator and an exhibition developer at the Japanese department of the Boston Children's Museum (1992-2000).

Debra has lived in Japan, all together, for 12 years and specializes in Japanese cuisine. She travels around the country and abroad teaching hands on workshops on obento, the Japanese lunchbox. During Covid 19 she is teaching live online cooking programs to youth and adults.


This program is made possible by:


Program Note: Photographs may be taken during the event for the records of the program host and for use in public media outlets. Registering for the event generally signifies acknowledgment that your likeness may be used in these ways.

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Jan
14
7:00 AM07:00

JASH HOOPLA Brigade: Houston Marathon 2024

Every year, more than 25,000 racers from across the globe descend upon Houston for the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon.

As runners tackle Houston’s highly acclaimed course, JASH will be joining the more than 250,000 supporters and spectators in sharing Houston’s hospitality.

Come help us cheer on the runners to the finish line in Japanese fashion!

JASH has been placed on MILE 7 of the course at the intersection of Bissonnet & Hazard in front of Picnic Box Lunches. Please click here to view the 2024 course map with road closures. 

To join the JASH HOOPLA BRIGADE, please complete the form below. 

Should you wish to register as a group, please contact Ikuyo Katayama at ikatayama@jas-hou.org.

We look forward to seeing you on January 14!


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Jan
13
11:00 AM11:00

JASH and Evelyn's Park Present: FAMILY FOLD

Join JASH at Evelyn’s Park on the second Saturday of every month to experience the art of origami!

Each session will have a theme highlighting a specific Japanese holiday or celebration. Participants of all ages can enjoy mastering this art form through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.


January Theme: New Year Resolution Origami

Looking for a fun way to make a New Year’s resolution or shinnen-no hofu? Join the monthly “Family Fold” at Evelyn’s Park for a unique way to commit to your 2024 goals!

As you begin the new year, drive away bad luck and wish for good with origami.

The three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy.

Make an ema, a daruma, and/or a shishimai!

 

PROGRAM PARTNER:

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Jan
12
to Jan 14

[FILM SCREENING] MFAH Presents: Monster

  • MFAH | Caroline Wiess Law Building (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Image courtesy of MFAH

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is hosting two (2) showings of director Kore-eda Hirokazu’s latest film, Monster.

After a mother (Ando Sakura) discovers that a teacher’s bullying is behind her young son’s sudden strange behavior, she storms into his school demanding an explanation. Continually left without satisfactory answers—and with an increasingly distressed child—she furiously escalates her concerns to the school board and the media. As the story unfolds through the multilayered perspectives of mother, teacher, and child, the truth gradually emerges.

This complex drama was awarded Best Screenplay and the Queer Palm at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and features the final film score by legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamato, to whom Monster is dedicated.

PLEASE NOTE: This film is for mature audiences. The film will be in Japanese with English subtitles.


Screening Dates and Times:
Friday, January 12, 7 PM - 9 PM
Sunday, January 14, 5 PM - 7 PM

Both screenings will take place in the Brown Auditorium Theater of the Caroline Wiess Law Building. Tickets are available $9.00/Adult or $7.00/Senior. Click the button below to purchase tickets:

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Jan
6
11:00 AM11:00

JASH & Levy Park Present: Oshogatsu 2024

Celebrate the start of 2024 at the second annual JAPAN JUNCTION OSHOGATSU NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION.

The FREE, family-friendly event will feature live performances, traditional Japanese games, omikuji fortune telling,  and craft stations.

Try your hand at kakizome (the first Japanese calligraphy of the year).  Decorate your own hagoita/battledore.  Make a daruma woodblock print.  Fold an origami dragon. Pound mochi.  And more!!

Live performances and food concessions will also be featured.

Make Japan a part of your new year festivities and ensure good fortune stays with you throughout the whole year. 


VOLUNTEER

JASH is looking for volunteers to help make this Oshogatsu Celebration a success! Sign-up through the form below:

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Dec
9
4:00 PM16:00

[ONLINE] おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! | Japanese Home Cooking with Table for Two and NAJAS

Join us for the December edition of the family-friendly online Japanese cooking class series おうちごはん!Ouchigohan! – Japanese Home Cooking and cook along with us from your own kitchen! On the menu this month is okonomiyaki, a crispy and fluffy savory pancake made from crunchy cabbage mixed with batter. “Okonomi” means “as you like it” and “yaki” means “grilled,” so you can pick and choose the fillings: keep it vegetarian with mushrooms or add shrimp, thinly sliced pork or bacon—however you like it! Learn how to make traditional okonomiyaki sauce to put on top, along with a drizzle of mayonnaise. Kids will love designing and decorating their very own special okonomiyaki! Then, a simple wakame soup rounds out the meal. Participants can cook their own dishes with step-by-step guidance from TABLE FOR TWO’s Debra Samuels. This month’s dishes can be prepared vegetarian and/or gluten-free.

This month’s program is hosted by Japan Society New York and joined by The Japan Society of Boston, The Japan-America Society of Georgia, Japan America Society of Houston, Japan America Society of Colorado, Japan-America Society of Indiana, The Japan-America Society of Washington DC and Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia. Step-by-step cooking instruction and demonstrations are provided by TABLE FOR TWO USA, which leads the innovative series “Wa-Shokuiku 和食育: Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!,” dedicated to making simple, healthy, homestyle Japanese food to enjoy with friends and family.  

Members of other Japan/Japan America Societies—please enter your society’s discount code at checkout for member pricing. Advance ticket purchase required. One registration per family. The recipe card with ingredient list and Zoom link will be provided a few days before the event. Recommended for children ages 5-10 and their caregivers. Adult supervision required.


$10 JASH Members / $15 Non-members. JASH members use code "Houston" to register.


About the Instructor:

Debra Samuels leads the program content and curriculum development of TABLE FOR TWO USA’s Japanese inspired food education program, “Wa- Shokuiku -Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!”.

She was a food writer and contributor to the Food Section of The Boston Globe and has authored two cookbooks: “My Japanese Table,” and “The Korean Table.” She curated the exhibit, “Obento and Built Space: Japanese Boxed Lunch and Architecture,” at the Boston Architectural College (2015) and co-curated “Objects of Use and Beauty: Design and Craft in Japanese Culinary Tools,” at the Fuller Craft Museum (2018). Debra also worked as a program coordinator and an exhibition developer at the Japanese department of the Boston Children's Museum (1992-2000).

Debra has lived in Japan, all together, for 12 years and specializes in Japanese cuisine. She travels around the country and abroad teaching hands on workshops on obento, the Japanese lunchbox. During Covid 19 she is teaching live online cooking programs to youth and adults.


This program is made possible by:


Program Note: Photographs may be taken during the event for the records of the program host and for use in public media outlets. Registering for the event generally signifies acknowledgment that your likeness may be used in these ways.

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Dec
9
11:00 AM11:00

UPDATED JASH and Evelyn's Park Present: FAMILY FOLD

Join JASH at Evelyn’s Park on the second Saturday of every month to experience the art of origami!

Each session will have a theme highlighting a specific Japanese holiday or celebration. Participants of all ages can enjoy mastering this art form through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.


December Theme: Holiday Origami

Looking for a fun way to decorate the tree this year? Join the monthly “Family Fold” at Evelyn’s Park to make some unique origami holiday ornaments!

There will be cheery paper and festive glitter on hand to give your creations an extra bit of sparkle.

Take a moment during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season – or Shiwasu in Japanese – and practice mindfulness with origami.

The three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy.

Make a wreath, a Santa and / or a stocking!

As a bonus you can decorate a special crane ornament!

 

PROGRAM PARTNER:

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Dec
8
6:00 PM18:00

Friends of Asian Art & JASH Present: Curators' Perspectives | Preserving the Heritage of Hokusai from Meiji Japan and Beyond

  • Museum Fine Arts, Houston | Audrey Jones Beck Building (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join the Friends of Asian Art and Japan-America Society of Houston for insight into the work of Hokusai as the Canon Tsuzuri Cultural Inheritance Project provides an up-close view of Hokusai Katsuhika’s “Country Scenes and Mount Fuji.”

While Hokusai (1760-1849) died shortly before the Meiji Period began, he is associated with Meiji Japan largely because of his popularity in the West during the era.  Like artwork of the Meiji Period, as both artistic and technological achievements, Hokusai’s art is unrivaled in its intricate detail, technical mastery, precious materials, and inventive adaptation.  These artistic traits are evident in “Country Scenes and Mount Fuji,” arguably the only pair of six-panel folding screens produced by Hokusai with his own hands.

“Country Scenes and Mount Fuji” also serves as an introduction to Ernest Fenollosa, as the Hokusai screens came to be a part of the collection of Charles Lang Freer through Fenollosa.  Fenollosa, an American poet and art critic who assumed important cultural positions in Meiji-period Japan, affected both the production and reception of what constituted “Japanese art” in the Meiji period.

Join Dr. Bradley Bailey, the MFAH’s Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Curator of Asian Art, and Dr. Sarah Thompson, curator of Japanese art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as they examine Hokusai’s influence and discuss preservation of cultural heritage.

The program is made possible by a grant to the National Association of Japan-America Societies from the United States-Japan Foundation and is supported by the Kyoto Cultural Association.

The event is FREE with registration. Fill out the form below to register:

Thank you for your interest in this event. The registration portal has been closed.


This program is made possible with support from:

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Dec
7
10:30 AM10:30

Holiday Ikebana Class at JASH

  • Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Image courtesy of Nanako Tingleaf

Join Ikenobo instructor Nanako Tingleaf on December 7 from 10:30AM - 12:00 PM at the JASH office and create a beautifully festive arrangement for the holidays during this special Holiday Ikebana Class.

Class size is limited to ten (10) participants on a first come, first serve basis.


Please note that the arrangement created in class may not be the same as pictured above.

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Dec
6
4:00 PM16:00

JASH & Levy Park Present: Japan Junction

Experience the wonder of Japan in Levy Park on the first Wednesday of every month with JASH at Japan Junction. Kids of all ages will enjoy expanding their cultural horizons through kamishibai “paper drama” storytelling and fun crafts that highlight Japanese traditions from origami to woodblock print making and more!

ヒューストン日米協会(JASH)は、毎月第1水曜日にLevy Parkで日本の素晴らしさを体験できるイベント“Japan Junction”を開催します。日本の昔話を紙芝居で紹介し、そして折り紙から木版画まで様々な日本の伝統文化を感じられるクラフト作りを通して、子供たちが楽しみながら文化的な視野を広げる機会を提供します。


December 6: “Hats for the Jizos” and Festive Holiday Kasa Hat

Join us for a kamishibai reading of "Kasajizo” or “Hats for the Jizo" to learn about Shiwasu, the ancient name for December in Japan.

Shiwasu (師走) directly translates to monks (師) running about (走). While monks are known for being wise, calm and serene, toward the end of the year, they, like everyone else, become wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Take a moment to relax and find inner peace by making your own Festive Holiday Kasa Hat with wishes for a peaceful year end.

12月6日:紙芝居「かさじぞう」とホリデー仕様の笠

今年もあっという間に師走。楽しくも何かとあわただしい時期ですが、お子様と一緒に紙芝居“かさじぞう”と、かわいいホリデー仕様の笠作りをゆっくり楽しみませんか。

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Dec
2
9:00 AM09:00

2023 Fall Garden Cleanup

Courtesy of Ikuyo Katayama

Every fall, we come together to ensure the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park looks its best!

From cleaning the teahouse to pulling weeds and clearing ball moss -- there is so much to be done and only a short period of time to do it in!  Tools & instructions will be provided by the Hermann Park Conservancy staff.  Volunteers are encouraged to bring your own gloves, individual water bottles, sunscreen, and insect repellent, if needed.

Each volunteer must register individually. Please fill out the form below to register:


毎年恒例になりました、秋の日本庭園清掃が、12月2日(土)午前9時より Hermann Park内日本庭園で行われます。当日は、清掃に必要な道具は公園側で用意されております。公園スタッフの指導のもと、楽しく作業をする予定です。屋外での作業となりますので、各自お飲み物、日焼け止め、虫除け等をご準備されることをお勧めします。ご家族、お友達をお誘いの上、是非ご参加ください!

グループで参加をご希望の場合も、お申し込みはお1人ずつお願い致します。

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Nov
30
6:00 PM18:00

[CANCELLED] City of Bellaire Presents: Holiday in the Park

Graphic courtesy of City of Bellaire

This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.


The City of Bellaire will bring in the holiday season and welcome Santa at Holiday in the Park! Come and enjoy a fun evening of crafts, live music, snow slides, food, and more! 

This event is FREE and OPEN to the public. Download the event flyer by clicking the button below:

JASH is teaming up with Evelyn’s Park to help event visitors create Christmas and Hannukah origami crane ornaments. Be sure to stop by the JASH table and make some great holiday memories!

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