LEADING U.S.-JAPAN EXCHANGE IN HOUSTON FOR 56 YEARS
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:
Installation view of Ruth Asawa Through Line. Photo: Paul Hester.
The Menil Collection presents Ruth Asawa Through Line at the Menil Drawing Institute from March 22 - July 21, 2024. Co-organized with the Whitney Museum of American Art, and in close collaboration with the estate of Ruth Asawa, the exhibition is the first to focus on Ruth Asawa’s lifelong drawing practice.
Ruth Asawa Through Line is the first exhibition to focus on the artist’s lifelong drawing practice. Widely recognized as a sculptor, Ruth Asawa (1926–2013) drew daily, referring to the act as her “greatest pleasure and the most difficult.” For her, drawing played a foundational role as she experimented with diverse materials and processes to develop a distinct visual language. Through drawing, Asawa explored the world around her and the boundaries of the medium itself, turning everyday encounters into moments of profound beauty, endowing ordinary objects with new aesthetic possibilities. Drawing emerged as a cornerstone of Asawa’s artistic quest in San Francisco, and later became a key component of her role as an arts educator and community leader in the Bay Area.
The exhibition presents drawings, collages, watercolors, and sketchbooks alongside stamped prints, paperfolds, and copper-foil works, showing the breadth of Asawa’s innovative practice. Many of the more than one hundred works from public and private collections have not been previously exhibited. Organized thematically, the presentation begins with foundational lessons that the artist absorbed and built upon at Black Mountain College in the late 1940s. Subsequent sections examine the function of repetition and the development of specific motifs and approaches—from the Greek meander to paper folded in structural patterns—and how they recur and change throughout her career. Surveying the artist’s impressive range and expansive approach, Ruth Asawa Through Line offers an unparalleled window into Asawa’s resourceful approach to drawing, with her particular attention to materials, line, surface, and space.
This presentation is accompanied by a copiously illustrated, scholarly catalogue co-published by the Menil Collection and the Whitney Museum of American Art, and distributed by Yale University Press. The book, with more than 200 illustrations, reproduces many previously unpublished works as well as archival materials.
Ruth Asawa Through Line is co-curated by Edouard Kopp, John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation Chief Curator, The Menil Drawing Institute and Kim Conaty, Steven and Ann Ames Curator of Drawings and Prints at the Whitney Museum of American Art, with Kirsten Marples, Curatorial Associate at the Menil Drawing Institute, and Scout Hutchinson, Curatorial Fellow at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Major funding for this exhibition is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation; The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; and Christie’s. Additional support comes from Judy and Charles Tate; David Zwirner; Eddie Allen and Chinhui Juhn; The Brown Foundation, Inc./Nancy Abendshein; Clare Casademont and Michael Metz; Hilda Curran; Barbara and Michael Gamson; Janet and Paul Hobby; Linda and George Kelly; Dillon Kyle and Sam Lasseter; Susan and Francois de Menil; Franci Neely; Susanne and William E. Pritchard III; Leslie and Shannon Sasser; Bill Stewart and Johanna Brassert; Mark Wawro and Melanie Gray; Ann and Mathew Wolf Drawing Exhibition Fund; Nina and Michael Zilkha; and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.
This program is part of Houston’s celebration of the U.S.-Japan Tourism Year 2024.
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。
May 1: “Peach Boy” and Rocking Koinobori Carp
May 5th in Japan is Kodomo no Hi or Children’s Day. Join us in celebrating the individual strengths and happiness of children with a reading of Momotaro, also known as “Peach Boy.” Following the amusing kamishibai tale of the most popular hero of Japanese folklore, make your own rocking koinobori carp. These flying fish symbolize strength and determination – a reminder to the young (as well as the young-at-heart!) that great things can be accomplished with courage and perseverance.
5月1日：紙芝居「ももたろう」と揺れるこいのぼり飾り
5月5日はこどもの日！紙芝居の主人公「ももたろう」の活躍にワクワクした後は、一緒に「揺れるこいのぼり飾り」を作って、みんなで元気にこどもの日をお祝いしましょう！
Courtesy of Table For Two
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) is celebrating world heritages at the Multicultural Festival on May 11. Sponsored by the Friends of the George Memorial Library, the Multicultural Festival returns to celebrate the rich and vibrant cultures that make up Fort Bend County! Sample food from Lebanon, crafts from Japan, music from West Africa, fashion from Vietnam, dance from India and Mexico, and more! There will be back to back performances in the Amphitheater featuring Joy of Djembe Drumming, Houston Parai Kuzhu, Kaminari Taiko of Houston, Lamar High School Mariachi, and Danzas Folkloricos de Solei.
JASH is pleased to host a #EdamameChamp Chopstick Challenge Booth at the festival to represent Japan and introduce Japanese Food Education, or Shokuiku, to the community at the Fort Bend County Libraries’ Multicultural Festival. Please visit the JASH booth and enjoy the fun #EdamameChamp Chopstick Challenge game by moving edamame beans to create as many circles as possible in one minute using only chopsticks.
JASH is looking for volunteers to help out at the booth, please sign up below:
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.
May Theme: Children’s Day Origami
May 5 is Kodomo no Hi or Children’s Day in Japan. The national holiday is celebrated to wish for the healthy growth, happiness, and prosperity of all boys and girls. Children’s Day is known for its unique decorations including koinobori or carp streamers, gogatsu-ningyo or samurai dolls along with their armaments, and kabuto or samurai helmets. A symbol of both strength and durability, the kabuto is used to inspire Japanese youth to do their best and succeed.
The three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Stop by and craft three different styles of kabuto to experience Children’s Day at the park!
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Every spring, we come together to ensure the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park looks its best!
From cleaning the teahouse and raking leaves to recovering the trails and weeding -- 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.
Complete the form below to register:
春の日本庭園清掃を、5月18日（土）午前8:30時より 実施致します。当日は、公園スタッフの指導のもと、落ち葉集め、除草、通路の清掃などの作業を分担して楽しく行う予定です。清掃に必要な道具はすべてHermann Park Conservancyより提供されます。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！
恐れ入りますが、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。
Come out with JASH to support the Houston Dynamo as they take on the FC Dallas on May 18 at Shell Energy Stadium. This game, in conjunction with the Dash vs the NC Courage on May 24, is one of two events celebrating AAPI Heritage Month.
JASH will be on hand offering Dynamo fans with an opportunity to engage with Japanese culture.
Tickets are still available for this exciting game! Click the button below to purchase:
Join us for the May 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 Tofu Miso Curry!
We are excited to announce May’s Ouchigohan class featuring guest chef and cooking teacher of her own online cooking school, Miwako Kishi, of the very popular website “Miwa’s Japanese Cooking.” Her recipes are often plant based and feature balanced meals that embrace the Japanese concept ichiju sansai: one soup, three side dishes. This month, Miwa will be showing us how to make a simple and delicious vegan Tofu Miso Curry and Miso Yogurt Pickles. Our Debra Samuels from Table for Two, will be cooking alongside Miwa-sensei who will be joining us from her home kitchen in Japan. Q & A will follow the class.
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.
$10 JASH Members / $15 Non-members. JASH members use code "Houston" to register.
Miwako KISHI, or “Miwa,” was born in Kamakura. She spent one year in Texas, US and another year in California, US during high-school and university respectively.
The concept of Miwa’s Japanese Cooking Class was born when Miwa lived in Cambridge, UK in 2016. While her husband was studying at the University of Cambridge, Miwa started to utilize her previous experience in cooking and opened her first Japanese cooking class at home for the locals. The first class was only with 3 people, but it then grew its popularity by word of mouth. Later, a cooking class company in Cambridge offered her to host a Japanese cooking class gathering more than 10 people (with some waitlisted).
Coming back to Tokyo, Japan in summer 2017, Miwa wanted to continue teaching Japanese cooking to tourists to Japan and opened Miwa’s Japanese Cooking Class in May 2018. She is currently a mother of two sons.
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.
Defining Courage is a journey into the legacy of the Nisei Soldier, Americans of Japanese ancestry who served in the segregated military units of the 100th IB, 442nd RCT, MIS, and 522nd FAB. Considered the greatest fighting units in American military history, most have never heard their extraordinary stories.
Join Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Jeff MacIntyre and ABC7-Los Angeles News Anchor David Ono, as they immerse you into the tragic, yet uplifting world of these heroes who fought prejudice at home and the enemy abroad.
You’ll fly over World War II battlefields in Italy, France, Japan, and Germany, in an unforgettable live Docu-Theatre Experience that includes: Stunning Cinematography, Live Music & Choir, Historic Film and Eyewitness Interviews.
“The story witnessed in Defining Courage is one that sits forever in your soul.”
-Kim Godwin, President, ABC News
SEE, HEAR, and EXPERIENCE their incredible heroics through this piece of innovative storytelling. Far from a history lesson, it is a testament to inner strength, one that inspires us in our search for courage in today’s world.
This program is presented in partnership by:
Come out with JASH to support the Houston Dash as they take on the NC Courage on May 24 at Shell Energy Stadium. This game, in conjunction with the Dynamo vs the FC Dallas on May 18, is one of two events celebrating AAPI Heritage Month.
JASH will be on hand offering Dash fans with an opportunity to engage with Japanese culture.
Tickets are still available for this exciting game! Click the button below to purchase:
Come out and support the Sugar Land Space Cowboys as they take on the Round Rock Express at Constellation Field during their AAPI Heritage Night game on Saturday, May 25.
Tickets are still available for this exciting game. Click the button below to purchase:
Session III of the JASH Japanese Language Program begins on Tuesday, May 28, 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:
Join us for the April 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 Fruits Sando!
Is it a dessert? Is it a sandwich? It’s both! It’s Fruits Sando, the famous Japanese edible works of art. A kaleidoscope of fruit, strawberries, orange, kiwi and bananas, is arranged on pillows of homemade whipped cream and sandwiched between pieces of fluffy bread. Sliced at a precise angle and you get a gorgeous cross section of delicious fresh fruit. Join this family friendly activity and learn how to make fresh whipped cream and how to select and place the fruit to maximum effect when cut.
These delightful treats can be served for snacks, instead of birthday cake, or at brunch.
Members of other Japan/Japan America Societies— select the “NAJAS Member” option and please enter your society’s discount code at checkout for member pricing.
For NAJAS members, select “NAJAS MEMBER” and be sure to enter your Society’s code in the Discount Code box at Checkout.
NAJAS friends can enter their Society-provided code at checkout for a discounted rate.
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.
Treat yourself each month during Houston Chronicle highlighted wagashi maker Oyatsu Aoi’s Wagashi Pop Up Day at the JASH office. This month will be a special collaboration with Sugar and Wheat Authentic Japanese Bakery.
The below traditional Japanese sweets will be available for purchase by Oyatsu Aoi during the event:
Ichigo Daifuku (Fresh strawberry with mochi and sweet red bean paste)
Dango (Rice dumplings on a skewer)
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, April 16.
In addition, the below baked goods will be available for purchase by Sugar and Wheat:
Melon Pan (Japanese sweet bun with melon skin design)
Scones
Assorted Baked Goods
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 Sugar and Wheat directly to pre-order your favorite treats.
Pre-orders must be placed no later than Tuesday, April 16.
Originally from Kyoto, Oyatsu Aoi crafts handmade, all natural and additive-free, everyday wagashi, taking special care to incorporate seasonal ingredients.
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.
April Theme: Flower Origami
Spring in Japan is both beautiful and colorful, with a variety of flowers to be found across the country. Sakura or cherry blossoms in full bloom are symbolic of Japanese springtime and their annual return is followed with great anticipation.
Friends, families, classmates, and even co-workers gather under the sakura trees each year to appreciate the transient beauty of these blossoms through hanami or flower viewing.
The three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Stop by and craft flowers like Sakura, Tulip, and/or Iris to experience hanami this spring at the park!
PROGRAM PARTNER:
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:
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。
April 3: “The Magic Rice Paddle” and Daruma Rice Paddle
April is not only the start of cherry blossom season in Japan, but also the start of a new school year. This month, children will meet new teachers, make new friends, and set goals for themselves.
Join us for a kamishibai reading of “Fushigi na Shamojii” or "The Magic Rice Paddle," to discover why the rice paddle or shamoji is considered to be a lucky charm in Japan.
Following the kamishibai presentation, make your own Daruma Rice Paddle! The rice paddle is meant to bring happiness and prosperity while the daruma face will help you keep track of your goals.
4月3日：紙芝居「不思議なしゃもじ」とだるましゃもじ
4月、日本は桜の季節と共に新年度、新学期がスタートし、子供も大人も気分を新たに新年度の目標にむかって進み始めます。紙芝居「不思議なしゃもじ」に出てくるしゃもじはどんな不思議を引き起こすのでしょう。そして紙芝居の後は、目標達成やさらなる幸運、開運を願って、「幸せをめしとる」として縁起の良いしゃもじにだるまをあわせた「だるましゃもじ」を作りましょう！
The Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) offices will be closed on Friday, March 29, in observance of Good Friday and the Easter Holiday.
Normal business hours and classes will resume on April 1.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
Originally from Kyoto, Oyatsu Aoi crafts handmade, all natural and additive-free, everyday wagashi, taking special care to incorporate seasonal ingredients.
“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!
“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]
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.
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.
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。
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:
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
Originally from Kyoto, Oyatsu Aoi crafts handmade, all natural and additive-free, everyday wagashi, taking special care to incorporate seasonal ingredients.
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！
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Japanese private tutoring sessions and group Japanese classes have also been cancelled.
Normal business hours and classes will resume on January 16.
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!
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:
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:
Session I of the JASH Japanese Language Program begins on Monday, January 8, 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:
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.
JASH is looking for volunteers to help make this Oshogatsu Celebration a success! Sign-up through the form below:
