Japan America Society Calendar

Japan America Society of Minnesota
The Tsūshin is a membership publication of the Japan America Society of Minnesota
September 2014 VOL. 23, No. 09
Lantern Lighting Festival Charms Crowd
On Sunday, August
17th, 2014, the
annual Lantern
Lighting Festival
rocked Como Park.
It was rainy, but that
didn’t stop the more
than 5,000 festival
goers from attending and enjoying all that the festival
had to offer. The festival is modeled after Japan’s
traditional O-Bon celebration, which welcomes back
the departed spirits of ancestors every August with the
lighting of lanterns.
Excitement was building as JASM team
members joined together with the abundant volunteers
to set up booths. JASM sponsored several of its own
booths, which included the JA SM Main Booth,
Calligraphy Booth, Kingyo (Goldfish) Sukui Booth, JQuiz Booth, Yo-yo Tsuri Booth, and the Chopsticks
Challenge Booth. Each booth was bustling with
activity as the festival began. The Chopsticks
Challenge Booth even had a cheer to encourage
participants as they attempted to use chopsticks to
transport as many small dry beans as they could from
one bowl to another in a short amount of time.
Families flocked to the Kingyo Sukui Booth to win
goldfish with a small paper net.
Among the JASM booths were many other
festival booths hosted by several other organizations.
These booths ranged anywhere from martial arts
demonstrations to authentic and delicious Japanese
cuisine. The Gyudon Booth (beef bowl), hosted by
Tomoko Drake and friends of the Minneapolis
Japanese School, was an especially popular choice
among those in attendance. After getting a bite to eat,
festival goers could walk over to the stage and watch
an endless number of performances. The line-up
included Taiko drumming and dances by Thunder
Wave, a Japanese children’s dance group, and
Mikaharu-kai, who performed several versions of the
traditional Bon Odori dance. Funding for the Bon
Odori dance performances was provided by the
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC).
- Continued on page 5 -
Mondale Gala Ramps Up
Former Vice President and Ambassador Walter Mondale
presents the Mondale Award to Yoshie Babcock
The 17th annual Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala
will be held on Saturday, November 1st, 2014 at the
Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins, Minnesota.
This year’s event is expected to draw over 175
corporate and individual members and community
leaders. The Gala pays tribute to the contributions that
former Ambassador and Vice President Walter
Mondale has made to building relations between Japan
and the United States. This year the keynote speaker
will be Mr. Matthew Welch, the Deputy Director and
Chief Curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in
the Director’s Office and Asian Art Department.
Additional highlights of the evening will be the
Mondale Award for Japan-Minnesota Partnership, the
awarding of the Mondale Scholarship to three
Minnesota students for study in Japan, a silent auction,
and a live auction. Proceeds from the auctions will
enable JASM to continue to offer social and
educational programs that promote cultural exchange
between Minnesota and Japan.
For the upcoming Gala we will be offering an
exciting early bird special. Registration will be $90 for
JASM members and $115 for non-members if you
register before October 2nd.
For information about how to donate to the
silent or live auction please contact the JASM Office
612-627-9357 or at [email protected].
Personal Reflections from the President
A Trip Through Time
Japanese summers can be
oppressively hot and humid.
On a recent extended business
trip, I found myself in Japan
over a long weekend. I
decided to head to the
mountains to beat the heat.
Before the advent of
cars and high-speed trains,
Japanese walked and traveled
on horseback. The Nakasendo
is a historic trail through the mountains between
Tokyo and Kyoto. There are 69 stations that stretch
over 332 miles. Many of these station towns are well
preserved and are a throwback to a simpler time.
For my journey, I chose the well-preserved
section between Tsumago, Nagano Prefecture and
Magome, Gifu Prefecture. This section transverses a
high mountain pass and meanders through several
waterfalls and bamboo forests as well as lush rice
fields.
Each Nakasendo station is approximately one
half-day trek between stations. Along the route one
can still find many historic Ryokan that offer
comfortable traditional Japanese accommodations as
well as exceptional breakfast and dinner meals fit for
the most discriminating daimyō! In addition, many
stations have a service that permits you to send your
suitcases to the next station so you only need to hike
with your daypack!
Apparently, the route is well known in Europe
seeing as about 30% of my fellow trekkers were from
France, the Netherlands and Germany. Along the
route, I also met numerous Japanese hikers enjoying
some exercise in this scenic place.
Along the way, I particularly enjoyed taking a
break at a historic farmhouse near the summit of the
mountain pass between Nagano and Gifu. The resthouse attendant sets the mood by wearing traditional
farmer’s clothing and welcomes guests with black tea
and bitter plums. He also encourages travelers to sign
the guestbook and share stories of their journey. The
traditional dress, old farm implements, crackling fire,
warmth of the
hibachi, and the
refreshing tea
transported me
back several
hundreds years
to a simpler
time.
-David Smith
JASM Professional Group Strikes Again!
On August 13th, we held our
bi-monthly JASM
Professional Group at the
restaurant Origami
Downtown in Minneapolis.
The leaders Ryan Polzin,
Yuhgo Maruta, Elizabeth
Fehrmann, and Rio Saito
organized this fantastic
event, which drew a
wonderful turnout! A special
thank you to Origami
Downtown for letting us host
this event at their restaurant. With the
accompaniment of delicious food, people mingled
and told stories about their ties to Minnesota and
Japan. Participants dined on scrumptious tempura,
amazing sushi, and incredible appetizers from the
happy hour menu. This casual mixer facilitated many
friendships and connections. If you were unable to
attend this month’s JASM Professional Group, please
join us for our next gathering in October! It promises
to be just as fun!
Please visit us at mn-japan.org for more
information on the October JASM Professional
Group meeting.
Membership News
Thanks to the following
new JASM Members:
Mei Singer, Evan Franzwa, Martin Graefe,
Sayaka Yamazaki, Jacob Campbell, Aki Masaoka,
Reuben Scott, Jayme Lundeen, Ariel Kaiser
Thanks to the following
renewing JASM Members:
Ann McCarthy, Ken & Paula Port, John Babcok,
Luke Walbert, Lisa Wedell Ueki,
Jonathan & Tracy Wiese, Naoko Kakagawa,
Asako Hirabayashi, Barbara Shields, Cynthia Lee,
Andrew Urano, David Blattner, Sarah Walbert,
Jane Powers
Thanks to renewing Sakura Circle Members:
Sam & Mirja Hanson, John & Hiroko Shade,
Takuzo & Noriko Ishida
Thanks to the following
Renewing Corporate Member:
Briggs & Morgan, P.A.
Scott Smith’s Presentation Compares, Inspires and Sheds Light on Post3/11 Japan
th
On Wednesday August 20 JASM held its
Summer Corporate Roundtable in the bright, new
and expanded Mooty & Bennett conference room
at Gray Plant Mooty in their downtown
Minneapolis headquarters. The speaker was 20year veteran Scott Smith of Taiyo International a
company that provides natural ingredients for
energy drinks and supplements for the food industry. Smith mentioned that he
started working for Taiyo Kagaku, parent company of Taiyo International, 20
years ago by working in various departments, including manufacturing, of the
company as part of Taiyo’s “horizontal training” process. Scott was the only
foreigner in the company and soon learned not only the language, but much
about living in Japan and the role of the worker in the Japan of the 1980’s.
Scott Smith returned to the U.S. to open the American branch of Taiyo, first in
San Francisco and later in Minneapolis.
Smith returned to Japan again to work for 2 years in 2011, just days
after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The meeting focused
on Smith’s observations of how the Japanese business world has changed over
the past 20 years. He shared a number of stories and details comparing the
work life and business styles between Japan and the U.S.
Scott Smith contrasted American work ethics and practices,
representing “individualism” compared to Japanese work practices
representing “group and consensus building” behavior. He mentioned the
unique Japanese concept of “toban” in which everyone in the company,
including the senior executives, become involved in doing housekeeping or
other chores to maintain the factory and office environment. He continued by
mentioning that fewer work hours (now 1417 hours per year, compared to
2097 hours in 1984) has resulted in more leisure time and opportunities for the
father to be involved in the life of the Japanese family; more holidays for
Japanese workers compared to their American counterparts; and the expanding
roles of women in the Japanese workplace.
Smith also talked about what it was like to live in Japan following
2011. Scott and his family were safe in a lovely traditional Japanese-style
home in western Japan near Nagoya – far from the earthquake area of Tohoku.
And yet, he noticed how the people around him took seriously the suffering of
the people of Tohoku and practiced solidarity by lowering air-conditioning
levels. Nowadays Mr. Smith visits Japan on a regular basis, serving as the
representative for Taiyo International.
JASM was very fortunate to have such a passionate and talented
speaker for the Corporate Roundtable. JASM wishes to thank Gray, Plant,
Mooty for their generosity in hosting the Corporate Roundtable.
Please stay tuned for future JASM Corporate Roundtables!
Please thank our members
with your support!
Corporate Benefactor Members
Daikin Applied
Delta Airlines, Inc.
Corporate Sustaining Members
3M Company
American Medical Systems, Inc.
Boston Scientific Corporation
Bowman and Brooke, LLP
Design Ready Controls, Inc.
Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
Fredrikson & Byron, PA
Gray Plant Mooty
Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, PC
Hubbard Broadcasting
Japan Lifeline Co. Ltd.
Lion Precision
Mall of America
Medtronic, Inc
Naigai Industries U.S.A. Inc.
Proto Labs, Inc.
St. Jude Medical
Taiyo International, Inc.
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
Corporate Contributing Members
Aveda Corporation
Briggs and Morgan, P.A.
Compart Family Farms
Deloitte Tax, LLP
Leonard, Street and Deinard
Minnesota Orchestra Musicians
Satellite Industries
Sysco Asian Foods
Wilson Learning Worldwide
Partners in Service
Kiku Enterprises
Origami Restaurant
Sakura Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Saint Paul Saints Baseball Club
Suishin Restaurant
The Voyager Group
Tiger Sushi
Tomodachi
Nonprofit Members
Aikido of Minnesota
Anime Twin Cities, Inc.
BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
Concordia Language Villages
JETAA Minnesota
JETRO Chicago
KCC–Japan Education Exchange
Macalester College Asian Language &
Culture Department
Minneapolis Japanese School
Minnesota International Center
Minnesota Trade Office
Mu Performing Arts
U of MN Dept. of Asian Languages and
Literatures, Japanese Language Program
US-China Business Connections
Winona State Univ. Global Studies Dept.
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaka and His Years
of Pilgrimage / Tom Haeg
Remember as a teenager when you lined up at the
record store for the next Beatles album? Or waited
overnight in a sleeping bag for the new Mac
computer? Or how about getting a ticket to the latest
rock concert?
Well, this iconic, devotional anticipation was
resurrected in St. Paul last week when Moon Place
Books collaborated with Common Goods and Majers
and Quinn bookstores for the English translation
release of Haruki Murakami’s latest novel, Colorless
Tsukuru Tazaka and His Years of Pilgrimage. It was
billed as the ‘Lit Up Late’ party to promote the
book’s sale in Minnesota. At the stroke of midnight
there was food, refreshments, live music and
(impromptu) dancing. Similar fanatical responses
occurred in several other major metropolitan areas in
the United States. Take that, Harry Potter!
And Murakami does not disappoint. Colorless
is another marvelous attempt to seamlessly weave
dreams into reality, couple love quests to spiritual
endeavors, and wed allegory to the commonplace.
He craftily interjects musical themes to promote
patterns of insight into the human condition (See:
Franz Liszt’s Le Mal du Pays) and to enable smooth
reading at a rhythmic pace. But, more importantly,
Murakami exposes the fragility of the individual’s
condition, this time by embarking on a Dantean
descent into a living (or imagined) hell.
Without revealing too much of the plot,
Tsukari’s pilgrimage is a distancing of himself from
his adolescence, a place once ensconced in
companionship, meaning, and love. Now ostracized
from this boyhood support system, without an
apparent clue, he loses harmony ̶ his wa. The
withdrawal creates doubts about his purpose and
meaning in life while he endlessly searches for
succor to repel this self-imposed depression and
despair. You are right, there is a sliver of Holden
Caulfield here. And a hope. And a lot more.
There was fault as well, yes, but only minor
and perhaps rooted more in the struggles typical of
an English translation. For example, some similes are
strained, such as, “…like tying up a horse to a
hitching post, he tied the dog’s leash to a streetlight.’,
or “…an orgasm engulfs Tsukuru like a huge wave
crushing over him.”
In its first week in 2013, this novel sold one
million copies in Japan. It will be interesting to see
the number of copies sold in the U.S. last week for
this English translation. If St. Paul is any indication, I
think it will do quite well.
はじめまして
Hello Everyone,
My name is Virginia Kreisle and I am
delighted to be the Media Relations
Coordinator for JASM. I recently
graduated from Lawrence University
with majors in Linguistics and East
Asian Studies and minors in Japanese and Teaching
English as a Second Language. I am excited to be
returning to the Twin Cities where I grew up. I have
had a lifelong interest in Japan and was fortunate
enough to visit Tokyo and Kyoto this past winter. I
am looking forward to meeting and working with
others interested in Japanese culture.
はじめまして
I am Amelia Maple, the new
Membership Coordinator at JASM.
Some of you may have seen me at the
Lantern Lighting Festival on August
17th, where I spent a lot of time working
at the Chopstick Challenge booth. I am
a senior Illustration major at the
Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I have been
interested in Japan since junior high, where anime and
manga were very popular! I started to study Japanese
in high school, and in my junior year of high school I
spent 10 months studying at Kagoshima Daiichi High
School in Kirishima, Kagoshima prefecture via
American Field Service (AFS). Kirishima is very
close to Kagoshima city, and right on Kinkou Bay, so
I got to visit Mt. Sakurajima several times while I was
there. If you ever get to visit, you should check out
the cute Sakurajima komikan mascot!
I’m excited to be working in the JASM office
for the next several months. I hope I can help you
with all of your membership needs!
どうぞよろしく！
JASM Office Team August 2014
Change the Date for Sushi Social!
MCTLC Recognizes JASM
The date for the Sushi Social has
been changed! The time for the
next Sushi Social has moved to
Wednesday, September 17th
from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. JASM
will be sponsoring the Sushi
Social, “Su-cial”, at Origami Uptown this month. This
event functions as a fun, informal session that brings
JASM members and non-members together to share their
stories and experiences, as well as being able to connect
with each other. You can still sign up for this fun and food
-filled event! Bring your appetite for Japanese cuisine
when you join us for what is sure to be an incredible
evening.
JASM is excited and honored to share the news
that we have been awarded the Pro Lingua
Award by the Minnesota Council on the
Teaching of Languages and Cultures (MCTLC).
This award recognizes outstanding service to and
support of education in world languages and
cultures. We are delighted by this recognition
and nomination. As an organization, JASM
promotes the
teaching and
learning of
Japanese
through the
annual J-Quiz
event in
February. This
year, J-Quiz welcomed 75 participants from nine
different high schools in Minnesota and
Wisconsin. We hope to have even more
participants join us for the 2015 event in
February .
Thank you for all of your support!
Where: Origami Uptown at 30 North First Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
When: *CHANGED* September 17th 6:00-8:00pm
Cost: $25 for JASM members, $30 for non-members
To ensure that a space is reserved just for you, please
RSVP by September 11th at mn-japan.org/blog
Lantern Lighting Festival 2014 - Continued from page 1 - Continued from page 1 Despite the rain and ominous thunder, as night fell a
crowd grew at the Frog Pond in Como Park to watch the grand
finale of the festival. Slowly, illuminated paper lanterns were
released onto the water in a magical and picturesque scene.
Onlookers were enchanted by the glimpse of Japanese beliefs
and culture being demonstrated before them.
JASM would like to thank all of the volunteers that
helped make this year’s Lantern
Lighting
Tomoko Drake and friends of the Minneapolis Japanese School
posing in front of the Gyudon Booth
Festival possible. We appreciate all
of your hard work and your positive attitude that withstood each rain shower of
the day. With your help, we were able to accomplish many of our goals for the
festival, such as having an inviting and fun atmosphere, and raising funds to help
sponsor future JASM events.
We hope that you enjoyed the 2014 Lantern Lighting Festival and we look
JASM board member Don Martin
forward to seeing you again at the festival next year!
volunteering at the
Chopstick Challenge Booth
Thank you to all of the volunteers who worked with us at the Lantern Lighting Festival this year! We
appreciate all you do!
Mario Actio ♦ Mimi Berhe ♦ David Blattner ♦ Jacob Campbell ♦ Vanessa Esaw ♦ Noriko Freeman ♦ Derek
Feriancek ♦ Yasuaki Fujita ♦ Jamie Grimm ♦ Tosca Grimm ♦ Cody Hou ♦ Takuzo Ishida ♦ Taiki Iwasaki ♦
Bora Leng ♦ Chris van Lierop ♦ Christiaan van Lierop ♦ Leif van Lierop ♦ Don Martin ♦ Seigo Masubuchi ♦
Heidi McCallan ♦ Yumi Mizuno ♦ Shuzo Murakami ♦ Jeff Peterson ♦ Andrea Porter ♦ Tetsuya Shimano ♦
Koichi Shiozawa ♦ Yvonne Shiozawa ♦ David Smith ♦ Olivia Smith ♦ Brett Stembridge ♦ Sophia Stembridge
♦ Jun Takeuchi ♦ Luagntxhi Yang ♦ Tony Zeng
Graphic Design Exhibition
This October, the 2014 Tokyo Type Directors
Club (Tokyo TDC) Exhibition will be
traveling to St. Paul, Minnesota for the first
time ever. This exhibition recognizes today’s
best Japanese and international graphic and
typographic design work. The exhibition will
be on view at Concordia Art Center from
October 13th – 31st with a presentation lecture and gallery
reception on October 15th. The gallery reception is free and
open to the public. Tickets to the lecture range from $5-20.
The lecture will feature a discussion between Ryan
Hageman, graphic designer and founder of Gurafiku, and
Jon Forss, one half of the design studio Non-Format. As a
special treat a limited number of JASM members can
participate in a private tour lead by Ryan Hageman on
Thursday, October 16th at 6:00pm.
Lecture
Where: Buetow Music Center Auditorium
When: October 15th 6:00-7:30pm
Cost:$20 for adults, $15 for AIGA/MIA members, and $5
for students
Exclusive Private Tour
Where: Concordia Art Center Galleries
When: October 16th at 6:00pm
Cost: Free for JASM members, $5 for non-members
For more information on the lecture or to buy tickets, visit
http://tokyotdc-stp.squarespace.com/
For more information on the JASM tour please check the
JASM website at mn-japan.org or contact JASM Program
Manager Rio Saito at [email protected].
八十一歳の手
老木の樹皮の様に皺深く荒れ黒ずんだ手を醜いと思っ
ていたが今朝ふと懐かしく美しく見えた。指輪は85歳
での死目に会えなかった母の遺品。時計はWalmart特売
品$50。緑の腕輪は ”Here Yoko”と宝石店主のお客さ
んが棚から選んでくれた（無料）但し通すために石鹸
液を塗って無理したので火葬場で骨と一緒に拾われる
まで体の一部になってしまった翡翠。関節がごつく
なった今日まで81年間絶え間なく働いた手だ。
4－5歳の時母の膝に凭れてた手の写真は行方不明10歳
頃北満の全校生20人の学校玄関で「あんたがた何所さ
肥後さ肥後何所さ熊本さ熊本何所さ九州さ」と手毬を
ついた友達は何所？「おじちゃんタバコ買ってよ」と
街角でソ連兵を追っ駆け、首から吊った引き出しの中
の「小餅（しょうびん）買って」と厳寒の中国人街の
戸を叩いた12歳の手。家庭不和の家に帰りたくなく図
書室に隠れて「戦争と平和」のページをめくった16歳
の手、朝4時から夜の9時まで3本鍬を握って涙で耕した
18歳の手。新潟理美容学校で器用さと美的感覚がある
と認められお客様を美しくし25年間鋏と櫛とで経済的
余裕を作ってくれた手。46歳肉体労働から知能労働へ
切り替える決心に協力してくれた手。それから35年間
私の手は年寄りの手習いで車の運転とコンピューター
のキイを叩く苦労を分ち合った。何時の間にか俎板の
上で包丁と踊り始めた手。今も八手観音が孫悟空の如
意棒を握った様に活躍し続ける老いた手。苦労し続け
てくれました有難う！この先何年私の為に頑張れる？
と感謝する。
Yoko Breckenridge
B-952-431-9811 M-612-839-0008
E-mail– [email protected]
For latest JASM updates, visit our website at
www.mn-japan.org, find us on our Facebook
(Japan America Society of Minnesota),
or follow us on Twitter (@MNJAPAN).
Advertise in the Tsushin!
月例日本人会のお知らせ
Advertisement Rates
毎月日本語図書館で日本人会の昼食会（Monthly Nihonjinkai ）を行っています。電話などでお誘い合わせの上、お
友達やお知り合いとご一緒においで下さい。可能の方は
どうぞ料理を1品ご持参願います。ミネソタ州在住の日本
人達で良い事を考え、ご馳走と日本語で楽しい時間を持
ちましょう。
日程：毎月第2月曜日正午より
場所：日本語図書館
(4231 Bloomington Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55407)
Style
1/4 page
1/2 page
Full page
Classified
Size Cost/issue
5 x 3.5 in $50.00
5 x 7.5 in $90.00
10 x 7.5 in $150.00
80 character line $10/ line
(min. 2 lines)
Ad production and design available in both
Japanese and English for an additional charge.
Deadline for completed ads and classifieds is the
20th of every month.
Questions? Contact
the JASM Office
Tel: 612-627-9357
[email protected]
Japan America Society Calendar
September
Sushi Social “Su-cial” - September 17th
October
Tokyo TDC Exhibition Lecture - October 15th
Tokyo TDC Exhibition Private Tour - October 16th
JASM Professional Group - October 22nd
*If you would like to let JASM know about an
upcoming event, e-mail us at
[email protected]*
Japanese Speaking Club
The Japanese
Speaking Club is
an informal meeting place for
those wishing to
practice Japanese.
We encourage
those just beginning the language
as well as
native speakers to gather at the Espresso Royale Café
in Downtown
Minneapolis to meet new people, discuss experiences
in Japan, or simply to speak Japanese. Come when you
can, leave when you must.
Date/Time: Ever y Satur day,
any time after 3:00 p.m.
Place: Espr esso Royale Cafe
1229 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403
また、毎週土曜日午後2時からは、日本語図書館のお手伝
いしてくださる方の集まりがあります。是非ご参加くだ
さい。この図書館には、漫画や宗教誌約25000冊や約2500
本のビデオDVDがあり、希望者にはセルフサービスで日
本人会と同じく無料で貸出しています。お問い合わせは
下記までどうぞ。
Yoko Breckenridge
Cell phone: (612) 839-0008 E-mail: [email protected]
Nihonjin-kai monthly meeting on 2nd Monday noon
at 4231 Bloomington Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55407
Become a JASM Member online!
1.
2.
3.
Support our mission and become a
member!
Go to mn-japan.org
Click on ‘Membership’ at the top
Select your membership type and read the
benefits and instructions.
Japan America Society of Minnesota
O Membership Application O Change of Address
O Tax-deductible Donation
_____________________________________________________
Name
_____________________________________________________
Name (2nd adult of a household membership)
_____________________________________________________
Address
_____________________________________________________
City
State
ZIP
___________________________
E-mail
___________________________
Phone
I would like to make an additional taxdeductable donation of
Individual Membership
Patron……………………$1,000+
Sustaining……………… $500+
Contributing……………. $100+
Individual ………………. $30
Student/Senior ………… $20
Household ……………... $50
(2 adults plus children under 18)
Amount Enclosed:____________
(Please make checks payable to JASM)
Japan America Society of Minnesota
43 Main Street SE Suite EH—131
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Japan America
Society of Minnesota
Riverplace EH-131
43 Main Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1031
Tel: 612-627-9357
Fax: 612-379-2393
[email protected]
www.mn-japan.org
Tsūshin
September 2014
The Japan America Society of Minnesota is a
non-profit, non-political association engaged
in bringing the peoples of Japan and the
United States closer together in mutual
understanding, respect, and cooperation.
Through programs and interchange, it
endeavors to promote an appreciation of
cultural, educational, economic, public, and
other affairs of interest to both peoples.
Membership in the society is open to
individuals,
corporations,
and
other
organizations interested in furthering its
programs.
The Japan America Society of Minnesota is a
member of the National Association of
Japan-America Societies.
(Please report any inaccuracies you find in
this publication to [email protected])
Photos from Lantern Lighting Festival 2014