Welcome to JASGA

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Welcome to the website of the Japan-America Society of Greater Austin.  Please feel free to explore our calendar of events and newsletter information.

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Latest News

2017 Fall Japanese Language and Shodo Programs

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Thank you for your interest in Japan-America Society of Greater Austin Japanese Language Classes. We currently offer Japanese language and Shodo, Japanese calligrapy classes at various levels in Austin. Registration is now open!

At a glance

Class location this Fall 2017 - Anderson High School
The start date: Wednesday, 9/13/2017
Levels from total beginner to advanced
12 meetings of 1-hour or 1.5-hour classes, once per week
Hiragana and Katakana workshop
Business Japanese (Advanced)
Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) preparatory course
Classes of 5 - 12 students
Experienced, native Japanese-speaking instructors and college degree holders
Tailored private tutoring classes available
Offers Corporate Program
Young kids class or Children/Teens class are avaialble
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, September 6, 2017

 

Class Information

Beginning I - Austin 9/13-12/6    6:00-7:00pm
Beginning II - Austin 9/13-12/6    7:00-8:00pm
Beginning III - Austin 9/13-12/6    6:00-7:00pm
Beginning IV - Austin 9/13-12/6    8:00-9:00pm
Intermediate II - Austin 9/13-12/6    7:00-8:00pm
Intermediate IV - Austin 9/13-12/6    8:00-9:00pm
Pre-Advanced I - Austin 9/13-12/6    7:00-8:00pm
Advanced I - Austin 9/13-12/6    7:30-9:00pm
Shodo Calligraphy I / II-III 9/13-12/6    8:00-9:00pm
Japanese for Young Kids 9/13-12/6    4:30-5:30pm
Japanese for Children/Teens 9/13-12/6    6:00-7:00pm

Additional Information

No Classes : November 22, 2017

Language Class discounts are available to all Japan-America Society of Greater Austin (JASGA) General Members and employees of Corporate Members.

Note: The benefit offers depends on the Corporate Membership Level

2017 Summer Japanese Language and Shodo Programs

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Thank you for your interest in Japan-America Society of Greater Austin Japanese Language Classes. We currently offer Japanese language and Shodo, Japanese calligrapy classes at various levels in Austin. Registration is now open!

At a glance

Class location this Summer 2017 - O. Henry Middle School
The start date: Wednesday, 5/3/2017
Levels from total beginner to advanced
10 meetings of 1-hour or 1.5-hour classes, once per week
Hiragana and Katakana workshop
Business Japanese (Advanced)
Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) preparatory course
Classes of 5 - 12 students
Experienced, native Japanese-speaking instructors and college degree holders
Tailored private tutoring classes available
Offers Corporate Program
Young kids class and Older children class are avaialble
Registration Deadline: Sunday, April 30, 2017

Traditional Cultural Arts in Japan: Chanoyu and Ikebana Hands-On Workshop

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JASGA cultural program in April 2017 presents Japanese traditional arts - Chanoyu (tea ceremory) and Ikebana (flower arranging) hands-on workshop. This hands-on workshop will provide an introduction to Chanoyu (茶の湯), Japanese tea ceremony and ikebana (生け花), the Japanese art of flower arranging.

Date:  Saturday, April 15 2017
            Chanoyu (Tea Ceremony) 12:00-1:30 pm
            Ikebana (Flower Arranging) 2:00-3:30 pm

Place: Greene Room, Zilker Botanical Gardenn Center

Register for the Chanoyu and/or Ikebana Hands-On Workshop.

Limited Seating:  Advance Registration Required (to purchase matcha, sweets, or flowers and prepare the necessary utensils and tools in advance.)

The World Heritage Sites in Japan - Photography Exhibition and Opening Reception

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世界遺産フォト展覧会
THE WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN JAPAN PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

Dates:  April 6 ~ April 21, 2017
Reception: Thursday, April 6 6:30pm
Venue: Tokyo Electron USA Lobby
Admission: Free   

https://vimeo.com/215337514 (videographer: Yu Otsuka)

Overview: In order to preserve humanity’s cultural heritage for future generations, the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Culture and Natural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1972. The countries which ratified the treaty have pledged to protect and preserve the World Heritage Sites within their borders.

As of July 2016, 20 sites in Japan have been added to the World Heritage List: 16 cultural sites and 4 natural sites. In addition, the category of “intangible cultural heritage” has been created to preserve oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, and festival events. Recently, UNESCO declared washoku (Japanese cuisine) to be an intangible cultural heritage.  (Photo ©Kazuyoshi Miyoshi/PPS: Itsukushima‐jinja Shinto Shrine, Hiroshima)

The country’s mountainous geography and four distinct seasons mean that the physical environment of Japan can be harsh. The Japanese people have dwelt in harmony with this environment for millennia. The wooden architecture of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, sacred and holy places for Japanese people, stands as a monument to this heritage of adaptability and harmony. From ancient times, Japanese have believed nature and all objects contain “神- kami” (spirits). We hope that the beautiful photographs by Kazuyoshi Miyoshi will enable you to feel the reverence inspired by these carefully preserved sites.  Download the Poster.   Download the Exhibition Flyer.

Spring 2017 Japanese Language and Shodo Programs

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Thank you for your interest in Japan-America Society of Greater Austin Japanese Language Classes. We currently offer Japanese language and Shodo, Japanese calligrapy classes at various levels in Austin. Registration is now open!

At a glance

Class location this Spring 2017 - Anderson High School
The start date: Wednesday, 1/25/2017
Levels from total beginner to advanced
12 meetings of 1-hour or 1.5-hour classes, once per week
Hiragana and Katakana workshop
Business Japanese (Advanced)
Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) preparatory course
Classes of 5 - 12 students
Experienced, native Japanese-speaking instructors and college degree holders
Tailored private tutoring classes available
Offers Corporate Program
Kids Class (younger than 6 years old)
Registration Deadline: Saturday, January 21, 2017

Kakizome and Tsugaru Shamisen Performance

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For its second cultural and educational program of 2017, JASGA joined the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum family day on January 8th.  We invited a shamisen player, 17-year-old Ryuto Koike, who is from Sapporo, Hokkaido.  He has been practicing Tsugaru shamisen for 13 years.  He played traditional Tsugaru Shamisen pieces. It was a rare opportunity to have a traditional Shamisen player during the new year's days in Austin.  Many of the audience enjoyed the Japanese traditional instrumental music despite the cold weather.  

We also invited a certified calligrapher Aya Koga to share with us the traditional Japanese New Year's custom of kakizome.　Kakizome (in Japanese, "first writing" 書き初め) is the first calligraphy written at the beginning of the yea. Kakizome is traditionally held on January 2nd in Japan when people write positive and encouraging words and phrases with calligraphy brush and ink.  Some audience members were invited to participate to write own Kakizome after the demonstration.  

Thank you for coming by the January family day and share the experiences with Tsugaru Shamisen performance and Kakizome, Japanese first calligraphy of 2017!

(Click on each photo to view photo albums.)