LEADING U.S.-JAPAN EXCHANGE IN HOUSTON FOR 58 YEARS
Session 4 of the JASH Japanese Language Program begins on Monday, August 10!
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:
The Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Texas and the Ikebana International Houston, Texas Chapter #12 presents the 2026 Ikenobo Visiting Professor’s Demonstration by Ms. Mizukako Arashi. Join us to experience Ikebana “Kado”, which was designated as the Intangible Cultural Property in 2024.
Ms. Arashi is the Visiting Professor from the Ikenobo Headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. She began studying Ikebana at the age of 10 under the influence of her mother. She received her Signboard (teaching qualification) at the age of 17 and opened her own Ikebana studio at 24, where she continues to teach today. Her experience teaching at an international reaserchers’ residence led to opportunities to instruct Miss International delegates from around the world, conduct workshops overseas, and teach international visitors to Japan. To date, she has taught students from more than 70 countries. She has also introduced Ikebana to more than 1,000 elementary school children through hands-on workshops. In addition, she is active in outdoor Ikebana projects and creative works inspired by the world of picture books, having contributed to more than 300 floral installations and artworks. She currently teaches at four locations, including two in Tokyo and others in Chiba.
RSVP is required to attend this demonstration. Please email ikatayama@jas-hou.org with the names and number of attendees no later than Monday, September 28 at 5 PM.
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。
October 7: “The Old Man and The Fox” and Chochin-Obake Candy Bag
Halloween season is here! Looking for a unique way to celebrate? Meet the yokai, mysterious and magical beings from Japanese folklore. Some are silly and playful, some are a little spooky, and others are friendly and helpful!
Join us for a kamishibai storytelling of “Jiisama to Kitsune” or “The Old Man and The Fox,” a fascinating Japanese folktale filled with tricks and surprises. Discover what happens when a mischievous fox plays a clever prank on an old man in this fun tale with a touch of Halloween mischief.
After the storytelling, create your own candy bag inspired by one of Japan’s most recognizable yokai, the Chochin-Obake – a traditional paper lantern that has come to life. Take your creation home and use it to collect treats during Halloween!
10月7日: 紙芝居「じいさまときつね」とちょうちんお化けバッグ
いよいよハロウィンの季節！日本で不気味でいたずら好きなものといえば妖怪！個性豊かで、少し不思議な妖怪たちは昔からさまざまな物語に登場し、今でも多くの人々に親しまれています。
今月の紙芝居「じいさまときつね」の物語では、おじいさんにいたずらをされたきつねが、あの手この手でおじいさんを驚かせます。ちょっぴりこわくて面白いこの物語を、みんなで一緒に楽しみましょう！
紙芝居の後は、「ちょうちんお化けバッグ」を作ります。今年のハロウィンは自分のオリジナルバッグをもって、家族やお友達と一緒にトリックオアトリートに出かけましょう！
Photo courtesy of GKIDS
Join the Houston Cinema Arts Festival for a special screening of Look Back, a live-action feature film by Hirokazu Koreeda based on the celebrated coming-of-age manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto.
Filmed primarily in Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture across all four seasons, the movie features changing landscapes of spring, summer, autumn, and winter that play an integral part in the story.
Playing Fujino is Natsuki Deguchi, known for her leading roles in the Netflix series The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House and the films I Have a S/e/c/r/e/t/ and ALL GREENS. Aju Makita, who has starred in Happiness and VANISHING WORLD and appeared in numerous Koreeda works including AFTER THE STORM, takes on the role of Kyomoto. The younger versions of Fujino and Kyomoto are played by Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada, respectively. Bound by their devotion to drawing manga, Fujino and Kyomoto spend an irreplaceable period of growth and loss in their lives together.
Screening will take place on Friday, October 9, at 7 PM at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Brown Auditorium Theater. Click the button below to purchase tickets.
Synopsis
Fujino, a young girl with complete confidence in her talent for drawing manga, and Kyomoto, a reclusive classmate whose artistic ability far surpasses her own, are brought together by their shared passion for creating manga. As in the original work, the film follows the thirteen-year journey of the two characters from their elementary school days onward, portraying it with remarkable sensitivity and a vivid sense of youth.
Photo courtesy of GKIDS
Photo courtesy of GKIDS
Photo courtesy of GKIDS
DIRECTOR’S BIO & COMMENT – HIROKAZU KOREEDA
© Mikiya Takimoto, Photo courtesy of GKIDS
DIRECTOR BIO
Born in Tokyo in 1962. After graduating from Waseda University’s Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences, he joined TV Man Union and directed documentary programs. He made his feature film directorial debut in 1995 with Maborosi, which won the Golden Osella Award at the Venice International Film Festival. He has continued to create works focusing on family dynamics and social issues, including Nobody Knows, Like Father, Like Son, Our Little Sister, and Shoplifters, earning great acclaim both domestically and internationally. In 2018, Shoplifters won the Palme d’Or at the 71st Cannes International Film Festival. Koreeda has expanded his activities to include international co-productions, anchoring his worldwide reputation as a leading figure in Japanese cinema.
DIRECTOR COMMENT
On a return trip from Kyoto by bullet train, I was attracted by “the back” on the cover of a book, stacked up on display at a bookstore in Shinagawa station, and instinctively picked it up—that was how I first encountered the original manga Look Back. That night, I read it in a breath. The manga strikingly delivers the author’s determination. Although manga and film are different genres, as a fellow creator, I felt with a searing clarity that author Tatsuki Fujimoto simply couldn’t move forward without creating this work. For me, Nobody Knows was that kind of work.
Upon making the film adaptation, I tried to carefully depict the span of the time in which the two girls, Fujino, who draws the characters, and Kyomoto, who draws the backgrounds, meet as if destined to do so, and together nurture a strong bond. The film captures the two (four actors) for about a year and a half through the four seasons of the Tohoku region. As the story follows the growth of these two manga artists, sound is also a crucial element. The sound of them drawing manga, changing overtime, plays a major role in the film as a non-verbal form of expression, alongside the music.
The encounter with the original manga demanded a sense of determination from me—both as a creator and as a person—and gave me encouragement. I hope this film will be that kind of work for others as well.
ABOUT THE HOUSTON CINEMA ARTS SOCIETY (HCAS)
HCAS engages, enriches, and empowers Houston’s diverse cultures and communities by programming and supporting filmmaking and the arts. Our goal is to uplift the importance of film as an accessible device for storytelling and raising awareness; we work to empower regional and underrepresented filmmakers, and to showcase Houston’s diversity and cultural riches via community programs that highlight the intersection of film with other art forms and global issues.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) presents the 18th annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival! Under this year’s theme, My Eyes Are Playing Tricks on Me, the festival examines an increasingly complicated relationship between image and truth; from artificial intelligence, surveillance and political manipulation to memory, identity, performance and communities reclaiming the ability to author their own stories.
Across more than 35 feature films, six short-film blocks, filmmaker conversations, workshops, live performances, experimental cinema and multidisciplinary events, the 2026 festival brings acclaimed international work from Cannes and Venice into conversation with films and artists whose stories are inseparable from Houston.
Theatrical one-sheet for NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Join the Japan-America Society of Houston for a special screening of Never After Dark, a Japanese-language haunted house thriller written and directed by Dave Boyle and starring SAG Award and Critics’ Choice Award Winner Moeka Hoshi (SHOGUN), Kurumi Inagaki, Kento Kaku, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Bokuzō Masana and Tae Kimura.
Produced in Japan with a largely Japanese cast and crew, Never After Dark has received high praise from some of horror’s most recognizable voices, with Stephen King calling it “amazing and haunting,” and THE BLACK PHONE and SINISTER director Scott Derrickson hailing it as “intelligent, unpredictable and bone-chilling” and “one of the best of the year.” The film has also won awards at film festivals all over the world, including SXSW’s Midnighter Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize for Feature Film at the Overlook Film Festival.
Kick off your October by experiencing this acclaimed thriller on the big screen. Screenings will take place at select Houston-area cinemas, including the River Oaks Theatre, Greenway Grand Palace Stadium 24 Cinemas, Willowbrook 24 Theatres, and Regal Benders Landing. For the most up-to-date cinema list and tickets, please click here.
Synopsis
A wandering medium, Airi spends her life guiding restless spirits out of the world of the living.Summoned to an isolated country house, she comes face to face with a grotesque apparition with powersthat defy Airi’s experience. As she digs deeper into the house’s past, a secret comes to light—and Airi finds herself hunted by a far more unpredictable force. For the first time, her greatest adversary is not the supernatural, but the living.
Moeka Hoshi in NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Moeka Hoshi in NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Moeka Hoshi and Kento Kaku in NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Moeka Hoshi in NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Moeka Hoshi in NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
104 MIN. • JAPAN • JAPANESE • COLOR • 2.39:1 • 5.1 SURROUND
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT – DAVE BOYLE
Dave Boyle, writer/director of NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
I’ve always been fascinated by mediums, seers, and spiritualists. I love the moment in any ghost story when things get rough, and it’s time to call in an expert. The seed of Never After Dark began with a desire to tell a story about a professional, following step-by-step in procedural detail how they get rid of a pesky spirit.
Only to have the rug pulled out from under them.
For a spiritualist trained to deal with the spirits of the dead, what could possibly be scarier than having to fight a living antagonist? With Never After Dark, I decided to have my cake and eat it too by combining two genres I deeply love: a haunting ghost story and a visceral home invasion thriller.
This story also scratches another itch for me: to create a new set of rituals and visual grammar around ghost stories, mediums and seances. Our main character is neither a Western-style psychic, nor is she a Japanese onmyoji… She is from a fictional tradition that we’ve created in meticulous detail. All of that would be in vain without the ferocious commitment of the one-and-only, irreplaceable Moeka Hoshi.
Within the boundaries of this small-scale story, I hope audiences find themselves transported to a world they’ve never seen before.
PRODUCER STATEMENT – KENTO KAKU
Kento Kaku in NEVER AFTER DARK, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
When Dave Boyle and I work together, the questions we always return to are whether a project speaks to something universal and deeply human—and whether it offers a sense of uniqueness and originality.
Never After Dark is a film that draws on the classic foundations of horror while presenting a fresh perspective on the fear inherent in human nature itself. With our combined sensibilities, my hope is that we were able to blend Japan’s distinctive sense of horror with a Western style of visual storytelling. The result feels to me like something fresh and new.
Our goal, first and foremost, is to make a piece that functions as entertainment. That said, even for me as a producer on the project, I found the resulting film has a lingering impact that is difficult to describe. I hope that each viewer discovers their own way of engaging with and enjoying it.
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 artform through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.
October Theme: Sports Day
The second Monday in October is Sports Day in Japan, a holiday that promotes health, fitness, and an active lifestyle. To mark the occasion, join us in creating origami inspired by national sports in Japan and the United States. This fun, hands-on activity is a great way to celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship and cultural exchange while enjoying the art of origami with family and friends.
Three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Make a baseball glove and a ball, a bull’s head representing the Houston Texans, and a sumo wrestler!
Origami:
Beginner: Baseball Glove and Ball
Intermediate: Bull’s Head – Houston Texans symbol
Advanced: Sumo Wrestler
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Experience a unique evening at Morgan Lewis’ Houston office where the wit of traditional Japanese storytelling opens a conversation about the lives of young people affected by conflict and the possibilities for peace.
Enjoy a live rakugo performance by Jitsuro Morishita who has performed at Expo 2025 in Osaka. Rakugo is a traditional Japanese form of comic storytelling performed by a single seated storyteller.
Then, hear from Dr. Yosuke Nagai, Executive Director of Accept International, as he shares the stories of young people in Somalia and Yemen and his work supporting those who leave armed groups and rebuild their lives.
Admission to the Rakugo performance and Seminar are free. Please register below to secure your seat.
Event Timeline
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Registration
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Rakugo and Seminar
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Reception
Session 5 of the JASH Japanese Language Program begins on Monday, October 19!
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 the Japan-America Society of North Carolina (JASNC) for this family-friendly online Japanese home cooking class series, おうちごはん OUCHIGOHAN, and cook along or just watch from your own kitchen!
This month’s theme is Onigiri Action, an annual global campaign that provides school meals to children in need. When participants post an onigiri (rice-ball) photo to social media with the hashtag #OnigiriAction, Table for Two’s partners will donate to deliver 5 school meals to children in need around the world.
We will be putting a modern twist on the classic onigiri with two onigirazu —a sandwich-style version of onigiri that is easy to make, fun to customize, and perfect for lunch or a light meal. First, we’ll make a ham, cucumber, and egg onigirazu, followed by a savory shiitake mushroom and spinach onigirazu. To round out our menu, we will also prepare kabocha no nimono, a Japanese home-style dish featuring tender kabocha squash simmered in a savory-sweet soy-based broth.
Whether you're looking for a new dish for family meals or to impress your guests, this month's recipes are sure to become seasonal favorites.
Join us as we cook, taste, and celebrate the flavors of fall—right from the comfort of your own kitchen.
The recipe card with ingredients list and Zoom link will be provided a week before the event.
Advance ticket purchase required. One registration per family.
$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.
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 artform through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.
November Theme: Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is a special time for family gatherings and sharing a delicious meal together. To add a Japanese touch to the festive season, join us in creating special Thanksgiving-themed origami to share and enjoy with family and friends. This hands-on seasonal activity is a fun way to celebrate the holiday, express your creativity, and make your Thanksgiving even more memorable.
Three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Make a turkey, a roasted turkey, and a pumpkin!
Origami:
Beginner: Turkey
Intermediate: Roasted Turkey
Advanced: Pumpkin
PROGRAM PARTNER:
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 artform through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.
December Theme: Holiday Season
December is one of the happiest and most exciting times of the year as people prepare for the holiday season. Families decorate their homes with festive ornaments and get ready to welcome the New Year. This month, three festive holiday patterns have been prepared for you to fold. After the event, take your origami creations home, enjoy them as holiday decorations, and share the fun of origami with your family and friends throughout the season.
Three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Make a reindeer, a Christmas tree, and a candle!
Origami:
Beginner: Reindeer
Intermediate: Christmas Tree
Advanced: Candle
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Join the Japan-America Society of Alabama (JASA) for this family-friendly online Japanese home cooking class series, おうちごはん OUCHIGOHAN, and cook along or just watch from your own kitchen!
This month’s theme is Otsukimi (お月見), which is a celebration that honors the autum harvest moon. In Japanese folklore, a rabbit lives on the moon, endlessly pounding rice into mochi with a wooden mallet. This connection influences treats often eaten during Otsukimi, such as tsukimi dango.
We will be making otsukimi meatballs, okura pickles, and mitarashi dango. Mitarashi dango is a popular dango (rice dumpling) on a stick glazed with sweet soy sauce.
Whether you're looking for a new dish for family meals or to impress your guests, this month's recipes are sure to become seasonal favorites.
Join us as we cook, taste, and celebrate the flavors of summer—right from the comfort of your own kitchen.
The recipe card with ingredients list and Zoom link will be provided a week before the event.
Advance ticket purchase required. One registration per family.
$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.
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 artform through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.
September Theme: Otsukimi (Moon Viewing)
Otsukimi or moon viewing, is a traditional Japanese Festival celebrating the beauty of harvest moon. During this seasonal event, families decorate with pampas grass called Susuki and enjoy special rice dumplings known as Tsukimi Dango. Japanese folklore also imagines the shadow on the moon as a rabbit pounding mochi! Join us for a fun and creative origami workshop and make festive decorations to bring a touch of autumn moonlight into your home.
Three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Make a full moon, a rabbit, and a Sanpō – traditional Japanese wooden tray!
Origami:
Beginner: Full Moon
Intermediate: Rabbit
Advanced: Sanpō
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Experience one of Houston's largest and most anticipated cultural celebrations at Japan Festival Houston 2026!
For more than 30 years, Japan Festival Houston has celebrated the enduring friendship between Japan and the United States by sharing the beauty, traditions, innovation, and spirit of Japan with the Greater Houston community. Following a record-breaking attendance of 80,000 visitors in 2025, this year's festival promises an unforgettable weekend of culture, entertainment, and discovery.
Visitors can enjoy:
Live musical performances
Traditional and contemporary Japanese arts
Authentic Japanese cuisine
Martial arts demonstrations
Cultural workshops and exhibits
Family-friendly activities
Shopping featuring Japanese goods and crafts
Educational programming celebrating Japan's rich heritage
Japan Festival Houston 2026 is proud to welcome an extraordinary lineup of internationally acclaimed performers making rare appearances in the United States:
Yano Akiko – acclaimed pianist, composer, and vocalist
Agatsuma Hiromitsu – internationally renowned shamisen virtuoso
Together, these celebrated artists will showcase an inspiring blend of contemporary and traditional Japanese music, making Japan Festival Houston 2026 one of the most exciting festivals in its history.
Greater Houston is home to more than 150 Japanese-affiliated companies, making it one of the largest Japanese business communities in the United States. Japan Festival Houston reflects these longstanding ties while creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to experience and celebrate Japanese culture together.
Whether you're a lifelong admirer of Japan or discovering its culture for the first time, Japan Festival Houston offers something for everyone.
Join us for two unforgettable days of music, food, culture, and community as we celebrate the friendship between Japan and the United States.
Japan Festival Houston is almost here, and we need your help preparing one of Hermann Park’s most treasured spaces to welcome thousands of festival visitors!
Join the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) and Hermann Park Conservancy for a special volunteer cleanup in the Japanese Garden on Saturday, September 5.
Together, we will lend a hand with garden beautification as we get this Houston landmark ready for Japan Festival Houston 2026, taking place September 12–13.
Whether you are a longtime JASH volunteer or looking for a new way to give back, we hope you’ll join us for a morning of community, teamwork, and care for the Japanese Garden.
Complete the form below to register!
Note: Hermann Park Conservancy has transitioned to an online platform where volunteers can register, sign waivers, and review the volunteer guidelines. We request that everyone participating in the volunteer event register through the link provided below. You will also find below a link to an instruction guide to help navigate the website as well!
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.
NOTE: If you would like to register as part of a group, please email JASH Volunteer Coordinator Ikuyo Katayama directly at ikatayama@jas-hou.org before completing 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。
September 2: “Kaguya-hime” and Otsukimi Kakejiku
The night of the harvest full moon, or Jugoya, falls on September 25 this year. Considered one of the most beautiful moons of the year, the “Mid-Autumn Moon” is celebrated in Japan through otsukimi (moon viewing), a tradition of giving thanks for the harvest and wishing for good health and prosperity.
The moon also holds a special place in Japanese folklore. Join us for a kamishibai storytelling of Kaguya-hime (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter), one of Japan’s best-known and most beloved folktales. Discover the enchanting story of a mysterious princess found inside a glowing stalk of bamboo—and her extraordinary connection to the moon.
After the kamishibai storytelling, create your own Otsukimi Kakejiku (hanging scroll) featuring the autumn moon to take home and enjoy throughout the fall season.
9月2日: 紙芝居「かぐや姫」とお月見掛け軸
今年の十五夜は9月25日！一年で一番美しい月を眺めながら、お団子を食べたりススキを飾って、秋の実りに感謝をする日本の伝統行事です。今月の紙芝居は「かぐや姫」を読みます。竹から生まれたかぐや姫は、月を見上げながらどのような気持ちで過ごしていたのでしょうか？
紙芝居の後は、「お月見掛け軸」を作ります。作った掛け軸をお家に飾って、家族やお友達と一緒に十五夜を楽しみましょう！
Join the Japan-America Society of Houston at Shell Energy Stadium as the Houston Dynamo take on the LA Galaxy.
Don’t miss this chance to watch Japanese stars Maya Yoshida, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Miki Yamane take the pitch. All three have played for the Japanese National Team (Samurai Blue).
Tickets for this exciting game are available for $24.35 (taxes and processing fees included). Click the button below to purchase your tickets. Tickets are limited, so buy yours before they sell out!
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 artform through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.
August Theme: Good Fortune Seafood
August in Japan is every bit as hot and humid as a Houston summer. During the summer holiday season, families flock to the beach to enjoy the ocean breeze, fresh seafood, and seaside strolls. Let’s celebrate the spirit of a Japanese summer through colorful seafood-themed origami inspired by the treasures of the sea! Many sea creatures are associated with good fortune, abundance, and prosperity in Japanese culture, making them both meaningful and fun subjects for paper folding. Join us for this hands-on seasonal activity and bring a touch of Japan’s summertime traditions to Houston!
Three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Make red snapper, crab, and prawn!
Origami:
Beginner: Red Snapper
Intermediate: Crab
Advanced: Prawn
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Join the Japan-America Society of Houston for a special screening of The Samurai and the Prisoner, the latest historical suspense film from acclaimed director Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
Set during Japan's turbulent Sengoku period, the film follows the rebellious Lord Murashige Araki, who finds himself trapped inside his own castle by an invading army. When a series of mysterious murders threatens to unravel the fortress from within, he is forced to rely on Kanbei Kuroda—the brilliant strategist he has imprisoned—to uncover a hidden traitor in a tense battle of intellect, loyalty, and survival.
Experience Kiyoshi Kurosawa's masterful blend of historical drama and psychological suspense on the big screen at the River Oaks Theatre.
Tickets are available through the link 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。
August 5: “Urashima Taro” and Moving Sea Turtle
August brings hot summer days to both Houston and Japan , making it the perfect time to visit the seaside ! Join us as we journey beneath the waves with one of Japan's most be loved folktales, “Urashima Taro.” When the kind -hearted Urashima Taro rescues a sea turtle, he is swept away on an unforgettable underwater adventure filled with wonder and magic.
After the kamishibai storytelling , you can create your own Rocking Sea Turtle featuring Urashima Taro riding atop his sea turtle companion . Dive into the world of Japanese folklore and celebrate the joys of summer through storytelling and hands -on creativity !
8月5日：「浦島太郎」とゆらゆら海がめ工作
8月はヒューストンも日本も暑い日が続きます！夏になると、多くの人が海へ出かけて夏を楽しみます。紙芝居「浦島太郎」を楽しみながら、海の中の涼しくワクワクする世界へ出かけましょう。主人公の浦島太郎は、カメと一緒にどんな冒険をするのでしょうか？
紙芝居の後は、お話の世界を想像しながら、ゆらゆら揺れる「カメに乗った浦島太郎」を作ります。日本の昔話と楽しい工作で、暑い夏を元気に過ごしましょう！
Join the Japan-America Society of Georgia (JASG) for this family-friendly online Japanese home cooking class series, おうちごはん OUCHIGOHAN, and cook along or just watch from your own kitchen!
This month, we will prepare 3 refreshing and delicious Japanese favorites perfect for summer. Yakitori is a Japanese comfort food made of chicken skewers grilled and glazed with savory-sweet tare sauce. Hiyajiru is a chilled miso-based soup traditionally enjoyed during Japan’s hot summers. We’ll finish with Ice-Brewed Green Tea (koridashi-cha), a style of tea brewed slowly over ice.
Whether you're looking for a new dish for family meals or to impress your guests, this month's recipes are sure to become seasonal favorites.
Join us as we cook, taste, and celebrate the flavors of summer—right from the comfort of your own kitchen.
The recipe card with ingredients list and Zoom link will be provided a week before the event.
Advance ticket purchase required. One registration per family.
$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 is pleased to invite its Corporate Members to an exclusive Japan–Texas Business Leaders Roundtable Breakfast featuring Hiroki Inagawa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Monstarlab.
Founded in Japan and now operating across more than 20 countries, Monstarlab is a global digital transformation partner helping organizations navigate innovation, technology adoption, and business growth in an increasingly connected world. Under Inagawa's leadership, the company has evolved from a startup into an international enterprise serving clients across a wide range of industries.
Designed as an intimate, executive-level conversation, this special roundtable offers JASH Corporate Members the opportunity to engage directly with one of Japan's leading entrepreneurs and technology executives. Discussion topics will include global business trends, digital transformation, innovation strategy, leadership, and the growing economic relationship between Japan and Texas.
In addition to the featured discussion, participants will enjoy breakfast and valuable networking opportunities with fellow corporate leaders from across the JASH business community.
Registration is FREE for JASH Corporate Members with code, and $45 for non-members (breakfast included). Space is limited and advance registration is required.
The Japan-America Society of Houston is pleased to invite its Corporate Members to an exclusive Japan–Texas Business Leaders Roundtable Breakfast featuring Hiroki Inagawa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Monstarlab.
Hiroki Inagawa
Hiroki Inagawa founded Monstarlab in 2006 with the mission to "Empower talent everywhere to engineer awesome products, services and ecosystems; building a brighter world for us all." What started as a single consultancy is today a global digital consulting and product development firm operating across 12 countries working with companies navigating the intersection of technology, commerce, and transformation.
Alongside Monstarlab's client work, Hiroki leads social impact initiatives bringing digital skills and IT training to underserved youth across Asia — efforts that reflect the same belief that founded the business: that technology, in the right hands, builds a brighter world.
Join us at Summer Jam 2026 hosted by Rice University’s Moody Center for the Arts for family-friendly activities, scavenger hunts, face painting, bubble play, and art exhibitions.
The Japan-America Society of Houston is looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to help lead family-friendly activities at the event. We will be folding origami inspired by the Summer 2026 exhibition Masako Miki: Shapeshifters, Sprites, and Spirits, which will introduce participants to the imaginative world of Japanese yōkai (spirits).
This opportunity is open to high schoolers and above. Shifts will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sign up to volunteer below by Wednesday, July 15.
Photo courtesy of night.sky.creative.
Steeped in legend, Tanabata (七夕/ star festival) honors the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi.
According to folklore, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar.
With the stars aligning for this reunion, wishes are destined to come true. Therefore, on this day, Japanese write their own wishes on colorful paper (tanzaku) and hang them from bamboo branches.
JASH, in collaboration with the Consulate-General of Japan (CGJ) in Houston, will be giving young Houstonians an opportunity to make a wish and learn more about Tanabata on Sunday, July 12 at the Children’s Museum Houston (CMH).
Join us in helping run the Tanabata activity stations that will be available! All volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Shifts will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sign up to volunteer below by Wednesday, July 8.
Volunteer registration for this event is now closed. We appreciate your interest.
For questions, please contact Program & Volunteer Coordinator Ikuyo Katayama at ikatayama@jas-hou.org
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 artform through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.
July Theme: FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup has reached the final tournament stage! Looking for a fun way to add a Japanese touch to your watch party decorations? Join us to create soccer jerseys representing your favorite teams while celebrating one of the biggest sporting events. Wear your team color, bring your soccer spirit, and enjoy the excitement together with fellow fans!
Three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Make a soccer uniform, a Soccer Ball, and Yatagarasu – the mythical three-legged crow and symbol of Japanese National Soccer team!
Origami:
Beginner: Soccer Uniform
Intermediate: Soccer Ball
Advanced: Yatagarasu
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Celebrate the biggest tournament in the world at Levy Park! The Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) will be helping Levy Park host a free watch party for the Round of 16 knockout game (played by the winners of Match 81 and Match 82).
This exciting event features a large LED screen with professional sound, art installations, photo opportunities, DJ entertainment, face painting, merchandise, and concessions.
We are seeking dedicated volunteers to help us showcase Japanese hospitality — omotenashi — to make the watch party an unforgettable experience for our guests! Volunteers will work alongside the event team to support the concessions and merchandise booths. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the work of JASH.
This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community and experience the unifying power of sports.
To join the JASH volunteer team, please click the link below. Each participant must register individually.
Age Requirement: All volunteers must be at least 18 years old to volunteer independently. 16-17 year olds may volunteer if their legal guardian also registers and volunteers at the event.
If you are not able to volunteer for the full shift, please contact JASH Program & Volunteer Coordinator Ikuyo Katayama at ikatayama@jas-hou.org before registering.
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。
July 1: “The Story of Tanabata” and Cheer for Your Team Tanabata Streamer Craft
July 7 is Tanabata, Japan’s Star Festival, which celebrates the annual reunion of Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, the two meet across the Milky Way for one night each year. People celebrate by writing wishes on colorful strips of paper called tanzaku and hanging them with festive decorations on bamboo branches.
Following the kamishibai performance sharing the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi, make your own Tanabata streamer! Decorate it with the colors or flag of your favorite team, then add messages of encouragement and good wishes on the hanging tanzaku strips.
As Houston welcomes athletes and fans from around the world this summer, celebrate the spirit of teamwork, friendship, and international connection through this festive Japanese tradition. Send your wishes to the stars and cheer on your favorite players with a handmade Tanabata wish to take home!
7月1日：紙芝居「七夕ものがたり」とサッカー応援七夕飾り
7月7日は七夕。織り姫と彦星が天の川を渡り、1年に1度だけ会える日です。紙芝居「七夕ものがたり」を楽しんだあとは、オリジナルの七夕飾りを作りましょう！
この夏、ヒューストンでは世界各国の代表チームによる国際サッカー大会が開催されています。自分の応援するチームや選手たちへの応援メッセージを短冊に書いて、スペシャルな七夕飾りを完成させます。願いを星空に届けながら、お気に入りのチームや選手を応援しましょう！
Discover the creativity and craftsmanship of kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting.
Combining folding and cutting techniques, kirigami transforms simple sheets of paper into intricate designs and decorative works of art. In Japan, fireworks—known as hanabi—are a cherished symbol of summer, bringing communities together for seasonal festivals and celebrations.
Guided by the Japan-America Society of Houston at the Fort Bend Museum, participants will learn about the traditions of kirigami and create their own colorful hanabi-inspired paper artwork to take home. This hands-on activity offers a fun and creative way to explore Japanese culture while celebrating the beauty of summer.
MULTICULTURAL TUESDAY is a Fort Bend Museum summer initiative that celebrates the diverse cultures that have shaped our global community.
Held every other Tuesday during June and July, each session highlights a different cultural tradition through interactive activities, crafts, stories, and demonstrations.
This summer, participants will explore the traditions, arts, and customs of Japan while enjoying hands-on experiences designed for learners of all ages. Multicultural Tuesday offers a fun and engaging way for families to discover new cultures during the summer break.
One Sheet. One Ball. One Houston.
As Houston celebrates the global spirit of soccer, the Japan-America Society of Houston and Hermann Park Conservancy invite visitors to discover the art of connection through origami. At this hands-on activation, guests can transform a simple sheet of paper into a geometric soccer ball inspired by Japanese paper-folding traditions.
Set against the backdrop of Hermann Park’s soccer-themed festivities, the experience highlights creativity, teamwork, and the shared joy of the beautiful game. Just as a soccer ball brings players together on the field, each fold is a reminder that meaningful connections are built one step at a time.
About Kicking It In Hermann Park
As Houston welcomes the world for the FIFA World Cup, Kicking It at Hermann Park brings together sport, culture, and community in the heart of the city. Presented by Hermann Park Conservancy, this free public festival transforms The Commons into a vibrant gathering place featuring live performances, international food, interactive activities, and cultural experiences that reflect Houston’s global character. Running throughout June and early July, the celebration invites visitors of all ages to connect, explore, and experience the diversity and hospitality that make Houston one of the world’s most international cities.
Each volunteer must register individually. Sign up to volunteer below by Wednesday, June 24.
Age Requirement: All volunteers must be at least 16 years old to volunteer.
Practice kanji and score a chance to win a Samurai Blue prize pack!
The World Cup excitement is heating up! To join in on the fun, JASH is sharing an exciting resource created by the Japan Football Association (JFA) and the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Association. Download and complete the PDF worksheets linked below and submit it to JASH for a chance to win a Samurai Blue prize bag.
This is a great opportunity to practice writing kanji, learn more about the Samurai Blue’s history and players, and cheer them on as they compete in the World Cup!
There are 3 worksheets attached, and each submitted worksheet will earn you 1 entry to the raffle for a maximum of 3 entries per person. See below for the PDF kanji worksheets and the submission form to enter your name in the raffle:
Samurai Blue Kanji Worksheets
Learn more about the history, meaning and symbolism behind the SAMURAI BLUE uniforms, and player names with this kanji worksheet. Download the PDF via the button below and complete it to the best of your ability. Upload the completed worksheet to the form linked below to enter your name for the drawing
Worksheets must be submitted no later than Sunday, June 28 to be eligible for a raffle entry.
Submit Your Completed Worksheets Below
Please submit each worksheet individually (e.g.: one submission for Worksheet #1, another submission for Worksheet #2, etc)
All pages of the worksheet must be attached and completed to earn an entry.
All worksheets must be submitted no later than Sunday, June 28 to be eligible.
Experience one of Japan’s most beloved traditional games—Karuta.
Karuta is a fast-paced card game that challenges players to listen carefully, think quickly, and match cards based on poems, phrases, or images. Popular in schools and family gatherings throughout Japan, karuta offers a fun and engaging way to explore Japanese language, culture, and history.
Join the Japan America Society of Houston at Fort Bend Museum to learn the rules and test your skills in this interactive cultural experience.
Other Multicultural Tuesday Dates at Fort Bend Museum
Tuesday, June 30 | 11:00AM - 2:00PM | KIRIGAMI
Tuesday, July 7 | 11:00AM - 2:00PM | JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY
Tuesday, July 21 | 11:00AM - 2:00PM | ORIGAMI
MULTICULTURAL TUESDAY is a Fort Bend Museum summer initiative that celebrates the diverse cultures that have shaped our global community.
Held every other Tuesday during June and July, each session highlights a different cultural tradition through interactive activities, crafts, stories, and demonstrations.
This summer, participants will explore the traditions, arts, and customs of Japan while enjoying hands-on experiences designed for learners of all ages. Multicultural Tuesday offers a fun and engaging way for families to discover new cultures during the summer break.
Join the Japan-America Society of Washington DC (JASWDC) for this family-friendly online Japanese home cooking class series, おうちごはん OUCHIGOHAN, and cook along or just watch from your own kitchen!
This month, we will prepare two refreshing Japanese favorites. Harusame Salad combines glass noodles and fresh vegetables in a light, flavorful dish that is perfect for summer. We'll finish with Coffee Jelly, a classic Japanese dessert that offers a cool and delicious way to enjoy coffee. These recipes are simple to make and sure to become seasonal favorites.
Whether you're looking for a new side dish for family meals or a simple dessert to impress your guests, this month's recipes are sure to become seasonal favorites.
Join us as we cook, taste, and celebrate the flavors of early summer—right from the comfort of your own kitchen.
The recipe card with ingredients list and Zoom link will be provided a week before the event.
Advance ticket purchase required. One registration per family.
$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.
One Bowl. One Ball. One Houston.
As Houston welcomes visitors from around the globe, the Japan-America Society of Houston and Hermann Park Conservancy present One Wan, a traveling Japanese tea experience that celebrates the power of gathering together.
Inspired by the tradition of outdoor tea gatherings, visitors are invited to share matcha, conversation, and community in the heart of Hermann Park's Japanese Garden.
Whether through a ball on the field or a bowl of tea in the garden, meaningful connections begin when people come together.
Demonstration Times
June 13 | 3PM & 5PM in Japanese Garden
June 14 | 3PM & 5PM in Japanese Garden
About One Wan
One Wan is a traveling Japanese tea project created by sisters Nana and Mey, who are journeying across the United States to share the spirit of connection through a single bowl of tea. Inspired by the tea philosophy of “Peacefulness Through a Bowl of Tea,” they transform public spaces into welcoming gathering places where people can experience matcha, conversation, and community.
Through the tradition of nodate—outdoor tea gatherings—one wan introduces Japanese tea culture in an approachable and accessible way. By sharing tea under the open sky, the project encourages mindfulness, communication, and cross-cultural friendship, demonstrating how a simple bowl of tea can bring people together.
About Kicking It In Hermann Park
As Houston welcomes the world for the FIFA World Cup, Kicking It at Hermann Park brings together sport, culture, and community in the heart of the city. Presented by Hermann Park Conservancy, this free public festival transforms The Commons into a vibrant gathering place featuring live performances, international food, interactive activities, and cultural experiences that reflect Houston’s global character. Running throughout June and early July, the celebration invites visitors of all ages to connect, explore, and experience the diversity and hospitality that make Houston one of the world’s most international cities.
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 artform through three designs of various difficulty. From beginners to advanced practitioners, there is an origami pattern for everyone.
June Theme: Rainy Season
June marks the rainy season in Japan, known as Tsuyu (梅雨). During this time, the weather is often humid, cloudy, and rainy. It is custom to wish for sunny weather before important outdoor events using teru teru bozu—small handmade dolls believed to bring good weather. They are typically made from tissue paper or cloth, tied with string, and hung outside facing the sky.
Let’s make origami teru teru bozu to wish for sunny day, while also enjoying the rainy seasons with animals like snails and frogs that thrive in the rain.
Three (3) origami patterns ranging from beginner to advanced are available for participants to enjoy. Make a teru teru bozu, a snail, and a frog!
Origami:
Beginner: Teru teru bozu
Intermediate: Snail
Advance: Frog
PROGRAM PARTNER:
Join National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) leaders from across the Japan-America network for a conversation on how local communities and organizations are strengthening U.S.-Japan ties through cultural exchange, educational programs, public affairs initiatives, and people-to-people connections.
The discussion will highlight successful grassroots efforts from around the country and explore how community engagement can foster deeper understanding and cooperation between the United States and Japan. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with colleagues and peers from across the U.S.-Japan community.
Agenda (in EST)
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM | Welcome & Opening
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | (In-Person) Driving U.S.-Japan Ties in Local Communities by Japan-America Society Leaders
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | (Virtual) From Sea to Shining Sea: Japan-America Societies from Across the Country Share Their Stories
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Coffee and Tea Networking Closing
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。
June 3: “The Tubmaker Who Flew to the Sea” and Teru Teru Bozu paper craft
June in Japan is known as Tsuyu, the rainy season, when gentle rains and cloudy skies become a part of daily life. But what do you do when you are hoping for sunny weather before an important day?
In Japan, people often hang Teru Teru Bozu, a traditional handmade decoration believed to bring good weather. Usually made from tissue paper or cloth, these cheerful little figures are displayed near windows or doors to wish for sunshine.
Join us for a kamishibai reading of “Okeya no Ten Nobori” or “The Tubmaker Who Flew to the Sky,” a whimsical tale featuring a sleepy thunder god, Kaminari-sama, whose storms bring rainy weather.
After the story, make your own Teru Teru Bozu out of craft paper to chase away the rain and Kaminari-sama and invite sunny skies!
6月3日：紙芝居「おけやのてんのぼり」とひらひらてるてるぼうず
6月になると、日本は梅雨の季節を迎え雨の日が多くなります。そんな中でも雨に負けないように、日本ではてるてるぼうずを作り次の日が晴れるようにお願いをします。
紙芝居「おけやのてんぼり」の物語を楽しんだ後は、かみなりさまや雨に負けないように「ひらひらてるてるぼうず」を作って、お家に飾りましょう！
Join JapanCraft21 for a free online Zoom presentation by Steve Beimel on Japan’s Metalcraft Superstars: Ten Master Artists.
Drawn from 2,300 years of Japan’s rich metalworking heritage, today’s leading metal artists are redefining tradition for the 21st century. The presentation will explore remarkable casting and forging techniques while highlighting the work of ten extraordinary artists — men and women whose creativity bridges history and innovation through a dazzling range of original works and contemporary processes.
Beimel and his team at JapanCraft21 are passionately committed to revitalizing traditional Japanese arts. Don’t miss your chance to learn about Japanese metalwork master artisans!
Discover the customs and etiquette that shape Japanese dining culture.
In this interactive program presented by the Japan America Society of Houston in partnership with Fort Bend Museum, participants will learn proper chopstick use, table manners, and the cultural values behind everyday meals in Japan.
Through hands-on activities and demonstrations, guests of all ages will gain a deeper appreciation for the traditions that make Japanese dining both meaningful and memorable.
Other Multicultural Tuesday Dates at Fort Bend Museum
Karuta | Tuesday, June 16 | 11:00AM - 2:00PM
Kirigami | Tuesday, June 30 | 11:00AM - 2:00PM
Session 3 of the JASH Japanese Language Program begins on Monday, June 1!
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:
[English description to follow below]
帰国生入試を熟知した早稲田アカデミーNY校が海外受験講演会を開催します。一般入試の最新動向から、NY校スタッフによる帰国生入試の徹底分析まで、合格に直結する情報を公開します。首都圏の中学・高校入試をお考えの方は必見です！
日時（アメリカ中部時間）
5月31日（日）
13:00～14:30 中学受験の部
15:00～16:30 高校受験の部
会場
Houston Marriott Energy Corridor
概要
本セミナーは、日本での帰国生中学入試・高校入試を検討されている保護者の方を対象とした説明会です。海外在住のご家庭に向けて、最新の入試情報や具体的な準備方法についてご説明いたします。
対象
日本での中高帰国生受験を考えている保護者様
Waseda Academy New York, renowned for its extensive expertise in returnee entrance examinations, will be hosting an overseas education seminar. Covering the latest trends in general admissions as well as in-depth insights into returnee entrance exams from our New York campus staff, this seminar will provide essential information directly tied to successful admissions outcomes. It is highly recommended for families considering junior high or high school entrance examinations in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Date and Time
Sunday, May 31
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Elementary School Session)
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Middle School Session)
Location
Houston Marriott Energy Corridor
Description
This seminar is designed for parents considering returnee entrance examinations for junior high and high schools in Japan. It will provide the latest information along with practical guidance on how to prepare effectively while living overseas.
Target Audience
Parents considering returnee middle school and high school entrance examinations in Japan
Join the Japan-America Society of Houston at Constellation Field for AAPI Heritage Night as we cheer on the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a special Year of the Fire Horse Jersey. Enjoy a night at the ballpark for baseball, community, performances, and more.
Tickets for this exciting game are available starting at less than $22. A portion of all tickets sold through the link below directly supports JASH. Click the button below to purchase your tickets:
Doors open: 4:30 PM
First pitch: 6:05 PM
