• Art in The Japan-US Relationship: Preserving the Floating World
• JASP Spring Seminar & Golf Outing
• New Era Name Announced
• 2019 MEPPI Japan Lecture Series
• Asian American Heritage Month Mega Mixer
• The JASP Welcomes New Members
• Japanese-English Reading Circle
• Upcoming Community Events
• Volunteer Reflection
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Art in The Japan-US Relationship: Preserving the Floating World

Please join us for a special presentation of Japanese art as part of the Richard J. Wood Art Curators Series. The series brings attention to major collections of Japanese art in the U.S. and their role in the U.S.-Japan grassroots relationship.

Beyond his fame as Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Tales of the South Pacific and Hawaii, James A. Michener is well remembered as an enthusiastic collector of fine art. He managed to assemble the third largest collection of ukiyo-e in the United States, which he then gifted to the Honolulu Museum of Art. His donation now comprises approximately half of the museum's collection of more than 10,000 Japanese ukiyo-e.  Join us at the Carnegie Museum of Art to learn about Michener's collecting journey with Stephen Salel, Robert F. Lange Foundation Curator of Japanese Art at the Honolulu Museum of Art.

When: Thursday, April 18, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Where: Carnegie Museum of Art Theater, 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

The talk will begin at 6 PM and be followed by refreshments and a networking reception. Registration is free but donations are encouraged.

Thank you to the Carnegie Museum of Art for their partnership and the National Association of Japan-America Societies and the Japan~United States Friendship Commission for their support of this series at Japan-America Societies nationwide.

5:00 PM     Cocktail Hour, Raffle and Prizes

The Japanese-English Reading Circle is held on the first and third Saturdays of the month. In addition to discussing your reading in Japanese or English with other members, there are opportunities to play games and build your confidence and vocabulary in your second language.

University of Pittsburgh Undergraduate Research Showcase

When: April 18, 2019, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: 2500 Posvar Hall, 230 S Bouquet St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Volunteer Reflection

My name is Fumiko Tezuka. I volunteered with the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania for a year.

As a student of cross-cultural education in Australia and the States, I wanted to know how the JASP organizes education outreach and cultural programs to bridge Japan and the US.

Through this experience, I learned that the JASP contributes to a community where we learn about different cultures in person and appreciate our own. I mainly participated in Japan in the Schools visits and the Japanese-English Reading Circle.

In most Pittsburgh schools, Japan is a far away country for students; however, their eyes shone with excitement when they actually wore traditional yukatas or tried origami and calligraphy. Their questions even gave me insights about my culture and language. Thanks to them, I could see the beauty of my country despite the fact that I am outside of Japan.

At the Reading Circle, I met many people working hard to learn Japanese just as I do with English. We discussed a variety of social differences including AI technology, holiday traditions, body piercing and tattoos, fairy tales and literature, food waste, and the solutions to climate change. By having these opportunities, I realized that communication connects us to our culture and history.

Once I learned the saying “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.”  The JASP offers various programs that involve people in experiencing Japan, such as cooking sessions, lecture series, and networking events. Local efforts to embrace our cultural differences enable us to create better communities. I was glad to be a member of this organization and I do appreciate those who supported us.

Back in Japan, I will return to my job in public education. I am excited to tell the younger generation how people outside of Japan see our community and are interested in our culture. I am proud to share my experiences with them and give back to my country.