JASGA hosted its first Oshogatsu, the Japanese New Year's Celebration, on Sunday, Jan. 7. New Years is considered the most important holiday in Japan, and most Americans don't realize that the Japanese celebrate the solar rather than the lunar new year. Of the great variety of osechi ryori, the traditional and symbolic dishes the Japanese prepare for the New Year, Oshogatsu guests enjoyed kuromame amani (black soy bean in a light chestnut syrup) which symbolizes health; homemade ozoni (dashi with daikon, naruto, scallion, and chicken served over toasted, puffed-up mochi) which is traditionally served during New Year celebrations; and genmaicha tea with daifuku mochi.

In addition to a number of door prizes, including an antique set of three lacquered panels with inset mother-of-pearl depicting ikebana arrangements, oshogatsu guests enjoyed learning about and handcrafting kadomatsu, Shinto New Year ornaments crafted from diagonally cut bamboo culms tied together with palm rope and decorated with pine branches and nandina. Kadomatsu (which translates to "pine gate") are generally placed outside the door to people's homes to allow kami (Shinto gods) to enter and bless the home for the year.

JASGA members and volunteers exchanged New Year's greetings and enjoyed socializing for a few hours, and JASGA President Barry Cotton announced the new monthly series on "Exploring Japanese Culture," which began in February 2007 (see below for more details on the series).

Mark the date in your spring calendars. JASGA will host its Third Annual Satsuki Matsuri from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 6, in the Garden Center at Zilker Botanical Garden. We will keep you updated on plans and details. We are currently looking for JASGA members and friends to help us make the Satsuki Matsuri a great experience that will expose Austinites to the richness and beauty of Japanese culture.

Please contact us about volunteering (to join or chair a committee) - or just help out for a few hours in the weeks leading up to or during the festival. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Our work is fun, friendships are created, and it's a great opportunity to share your appreciation of Japanese culture with others. To volunteer, please contact Jayne at .

Come join your JASGA friends and associates for an informal networking event at the Iron Cactus North at 10001 Stonelake Blvd. in North Austin. The restaurant is next to NxNW and across from Lexus of Austin. We will meet in the bar room, to the left as you enter the restaurant, from 5:30 until about 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19. Meet new members, renew old friendships and speak or practice Japanese and/or English. Everyone is welcome to this very informal gathering to have fun. JASGA WILL BUY A DRINK FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THE MAY FESTIVAL! Please RSVP to Tomoko Hall at (512) 970-3953 or .

One of our goals is to have the JASGA website automatically send members a notice to renew their memberships. Until then, we ask all members to log in to the JASGA website to check their membership status and renew their membership if necessary. If your company has a Matching Gifts Program, please mail a copy of the form we need to submit to JASGA, 201 E. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701 or email it to .

Our new monthly series, "Exploring Japanese Culture," was scheduled to begin on Jan. 16 with an exciting presentation of ukiyo-e prints from the private collection of Darryl Howard, a talented Austin woodblock artist who studied in Japan and was featured in the Austin America-Statesman in December 2006. Ms. Howard's presentation in January was cancelled due to the dramatic ice storm. We are happy to announce that this presentation on Japanese woodblock prints has been rescheduled for 6 to 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at the Yarborough Branch of the Austin Public Library.

JASGA members and guests alike enjoyed both Alisan Clarke's presentation on ikebana in February and David Cater's presentation on bamboo in March. Those attending in February watched as Ms. Clarke demonstrated the fundamental relationship and ratios of the heaven- earth-man relationships incorporated in ikenobo, a particular school in ikebana. Two audience members who graciously volunteered to publicly work on their first ikebana arrangement were able to take their flowers and vases home with them! Guests enjoyed good conversation, sipping genmaicha and nibbling on daifuku mochi.

Many of the same guests and members came back to enjoy the March presentation on bamboo by David Cater of Utility Research Garden and The Earth Company. Mr. Cater, an Austin-based farmer of both ornamental bamboo and edible bamboo shoots, talked about how he came to appreciate the beauty and utility of bamboo, and the horticultural and cultural importance of this giant grass which holds the record for the fastest growing plant on earth!

The topic of the April presentation in the series is "Haiku" and will be presented by internationally published poet John Snyder. Mr. Snyder has been a part of the Austin poetry scene for over a decade, with readings at the Austin International Poetry Festival and works appearing in a variety of printed and online venues around the world. For the past five years, he has devoted himself entirely to the haiku and related forms. His haiku chapbook First Light appeared in 2004. He was an invited poet at the 2004 World Haiku Festival in the Netherlands, where he won first place in the festival competition. He currently serves as co- editor (with Gary Gach) of the young people's haiku section in the World Haiku Review. Mr. Snyder opens his discussion on "Haiku: Windows on the World" with the view that while Haiku are the smallest poems in the world, at their best they can also be among the most powerful. The haiku form, still the most popular form in Japan, has found a home in many countries and languages around the world. The internationalization of the haiku has meant changes for modern poetry and changes for the haiku form itself. We will outline the practice of haiku as it currently exists in the English-speaking world, with special emphasis on what has changed and what has remained the same as haijin (haiku poets) have worked to bring the haiku form authentically into the English language and Western culture.

We look forward to seeing you at the Yarborough Library from 6:00 to 8:15--not just April 17th but the 3rd Tuesday of each month! In addition to exposure to different aspects of Japanese culture and snacking, we hope to create an informal community of friends for Austinites who are interested in Japanese culture. If you are unable to attend, we ask that you help us spread the word by telling your friends and colleagues about the series.

A part-time job opening in Austin requires a retired or semi-retired applicant with business experience who is bilingual in Japanese and English.

Gov. Rick Perry and the Governor of Shimane Prefecture in Japan signed an accord to promote business between the two locations and the Shimane Prefecture Government is seeking someone to represent them in Texas. An office has been established in Austin for this purpose. The Japan-America Society of Greater Austin has been asked to help find a suitable candidate. Please forward your resume with a letter of interest (before April 20) to .

Please join us for a fun-filled Japanese drumming event benefiting UT GinDaiko, the university's new student taiko ensemble! See a short performance by GinDaiko, then learn to play a song on the drums! This event is perfect for all ages, all athletic abilities. Please wear loose-fitting clothes and tennis shoes. $40/person, proceeds benefit the ensemble's drum-building fund.

April 22
5pm - 7:30pm
Taiko Drumming! (and fundraiser)
600 Las Lomas Drive
(512) 963-8324

RSVP by April 15 to Megan Clark .

1. Texas Global Education & Cultural Exchange Program
Texas families have the opportunity to host a Japanese youth for a short summer homestay from July 22 - Aug. 18, 2007. The Japanese youth (ages 11-16) must be placed with a host family who has a child of the same gender and close in age. Your kids will learn about patience, kindness, international friendship and Japanese culture too. Adult chaperones are available to be placed with singles or older couples for just two weeks. This is an excellent opportunity to expose one's family to the Japanese culture and share about life here in the United States. Bring home the world!

For more information about this program, please contact Japan America Society of Dallas-Fort Worth member, Wendy Wallace at 817-994-3335 or e-mail: .

2. The SHARE! High School Exchange
This program is looking for volunteer families, with or without children, to host Japanese international exchange students. Families are able to review student applications and invite the candidate of their choosing. Students are from the ages of 15-18, have their own pocket money, insurance, and a desire to learn about the American way of life. They arrive in August for the academic school year or semester. Families are expected to provide a bed, meals, and a loving home. Open your heart and home to a cultural experience!

For more information, call Greta James Maxfield, Area Coordinator, at 1-800-394-3738 or visit www.sharesouthwest.org.