2018 Paul J. Wilhelm Memorial Golf Outing

Register today for the Paul J. Wilhelm Memorial Golf Outing on May 14 at Butler Country Club in Butler, PA. This is a great opportunity to spend the day with a client, treat employees, or network with industry colleagues while supporting a noble cause. Golfers compete for winning team trophies, individual skill prizes, and hole-in-one prizes. Non-golfers can join the group for dinner and the raffle. The Grand Prize Raffle is two $500 gift certificates from Delta Airlines!
This year's event will be held at Butler Country Club for the first time. The 18-hole championship golf course is both walkable and beautiful, and the practice range is conveniently located. The course can be explored with an in-depth course tour on the Club’s website.

We are looking for raffle items! 
Items needed for the raffle include gift certificates, theater tickets, golf items, electronics, etc., which help to make this program - our largest fundraiser - a success. Your donation is tax deductible. Proceeds from the Golf Outing enable the JASP to provide informative, innovative programming in order to encourage a better understanding of the US-Japan relationship in Western Pennsylvania.
Please contact Setsuko Hayes or call 412-856-8608 if you'd like to donate raffle items or have questions.

Pittsburgh Taiko at Sakura Taiko Takeover

The 6th Annual Sakura Taiko Takeover in Washington, D.C. tripled the number of the Japanese drumming performances at the National Cherry Blossom Festival on March 25th to honor the 50th year of taiko in the United States.
Pittsburgh Taiko joined the lineup of eight East Coast taiko groups who performed separately and in mixed ensembles. From traditional community favorites to modern Japanese-African fusion, the groups wowed an audience that included students, families, members of the Japanese-American community, artists, and many folks experiencing taiko for the first time. There was also a presentation on the history of the cherry trees in DC, a calligraphy performance, and an opportunity for the audience to try taiko drumming.

Tekko

Tekko (formerly Tekkoshocon) is an annual Japanese Pop Culture convention, currently in its 16th year, held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Tekko is presented by a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society (PittJCS). For more information, see http://www.teamtekko.us/.

When: April 5-8
Where: David Lawrence Convention Center

The Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival

Row House Cinema presents the third annual Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival!

This year the Festival will highlight eleven films across many time periods and genres. Two screenings will be in Japanese with no subtitles so that native speakers can enjoy the film and Japanese learners can test their skill: Yojimbo at 10 AM on April 8, and Your Name at 10 AM on April 15.

Six of the films will run for the whole two week festival, and four will be special one-night-only screenings. The Festival also features a special screening and discussion of the in-production documentary "Day of the Western Sunrise.” Produced by local Pittsburghers, the film is an animated, Japanese language documentary about the crew of the tuna trawler Daigo Fukuryu Maru, or The Lucky Dragon No. 5. On March 1st, 1954, the fishermen onboard the Lucky Dragon survived the biggest explosion ever caused by man, the Castle Bravo thermonuclear test in the Pacific Ocean. This sneak preview will feature a discussion by director Keith Reimink.

For the full schedule and tickets, see http://jffpgh.org/.

When: April 6-19
Where: Row House Cinema, 4115 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Japanese-English Reading Circle

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. 

Saturday, April 7, 5:00-6:30 PM
Saturday, April 21, 5:00-6:30 PM
Saturday, May 5, 5:00-6:30 PM
Saturday, May 19, 5:00-6:30 PM *Different location

Kenmawr Apartments, Community Room, Ground Floor
401 Shady Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

The JASP Welcomes New Members

Individual Member:

Not a member yet? Join the JASP today!

Cherry Blossom Festivals in April

Pittsburgh Sakura Project Hanami Party

Pittsburgh Sakura Project will hold a hanami party on April 22. Planting maps, walking tours, and refreshments will be available. Be sure to bring your camera, as the group will hold a contest for photos taken during the Hanami party.  Please bring your own folding chair and dress for the weather.

Where: North Park, near the Boathouse
When:  April 22, 2:00 to 4:00 PM

Please RSVP to PittsburghSakuraProject@gmail.com.

National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. 

Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring in Washington, DC, the gift of the cherry blossom trees, and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. The Festival features diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit.  Events are primarily free and open to the public until April 15.

Sakura Matsuri—Japanese Street Festival
 
The Sakura Matsuri—Japanese Street Festival, the largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the U.S., returns to the streets of DC, this time in a coveted downtown location! Held the same day as the Parade, this rain-or-shine event brings vibrant performances to four stages showcasing 30 cumulative hours of programming.

The daylong cultural celebration, presented by the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, welcomes more than 80 cultural groups, arts vendors and food booths to our celebration.

When: April 14, 10 AM - 6 PM
Where: Pennsylvania Avenue, Between 3rd & 7th Street, NW
Cost: Adults $10, Children 12 & under free

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia

A project of the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration not only of these beautiful blossoms, but of Japanese music, art, food, and culture.

From April 7-15, the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates both traditional and contemporary Japan with a variety of events, including demonstrations of martial arts, ikebana flower arranging, as well as live musical and dance performances.

The main event, Sakura Sunday, is held at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park and features two stages of performers, arts & crafts, Little Akiba, tours of Shofuso, and much much more. Other major events include a Silent Auction, Japanese Culture Week, and the Cherry Blossom 5K.

7th Annual Tomodachi Festival

Tomodachi is a Japanese word meaning “friends.” Help us celebrate the spirit of friendship through activities, art and food that showcase Japan, its people and rich history. Activities will include Kamishibi storytelling, singing and dancing, origami art, kimono try-ons, and Japanese inspired refreshments.

When: April 28, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Where: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Main, Children's department.

Upcoming Community Events

Storytelling with Motoko  

Parents’ Choice Award-winning storyteller Motoko has regaled children of all ages across the US for 25 years with folktales from her native Japan. Motoko has appeared on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” and has been awarded numerous grants for her arts-in-education programs. She is the author of A Year in Japan: Folktales, Songs and Art for the Classroom. In 2017 Motoko received the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award. More info available at www.motoko.folktales.net. Registration is free on the Alphabet City website.

Where: Alphabet City, 40 W. North Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15212
When: April 7, 3 - 4:00 PM

CMU Matsuri Japanese Festival

Japanese Student Association at Carnegie Mellon University is proud to announce MATSURI, their biggest event of the year. Enjoy a variety of foods and performances by student groups and members of the Pittsburgh community, while immersed in traditional Japanese decorations and festival games! Last year, more than 600 people showed up to the celebration. The profits from this event will be donated to Minato Junior High School in Ishinomaki, Japan. Attendance is free. Tickets may be purchased to redeem for food or games at the door or in advance for a discount.

Where: CMU Cohon University Center, Wiegand Gymnasium
When: April 10, 3:30 - 8:00 PM

Hiroshige's Tokaido Road

Master printmaker Utagawa Hiroshige’s Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido is among the most celebrated works of Japanese art. For the first time in 25 years, CMOA presents a complete set of 55 prints from the first (Hoeido) edition, created between 1831 and 1834. This series depicts the spectacular landscapes and fascinating characters encountered on the journey from Edo (now Tokyo) to the imperial capital of Kyoto.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania will partner with the museum for two more events, Children's Day on May 5 and Tanabata on July 7, but check out the many complementary events during this great exhibit!

Where: Carnegie Museum of Art
When: March 31 - July 22

See What’s Trending on the JASP Facebook Page

Join 757 people who like the JASP on Facebook to get updates on Okinawan dyeing, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and the Ukiyo-e lecture at the CMOA!

Like our page today!
 

Did you know we're on Twitter? Follow us and tweet at us to connect. Stay on top of JASP news and events as they happen!