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EVENT FOLLOW-UP
4/23/15
The Train to Crystal City: Reading and Discussion with Author
Book reading at AARC
Author Jan Jarboe Russell presented for a book reading and discussion from her latest book, The Train to Crystal City, which tells the dramatic and never-before-told story of a secret FDR-approved. American internment camp in Texas during World War II, where thousands of families-many US citizens-were incarcerated.
Mr. Isamu Taniguchi, who built the Taniguchi Japanese Garden in Zilkar Botanical Garden and donated the garden to the City of Austin stayed this internment camp.
April 23 @6:30 pm
Asian American Resource Center (AARC)
8401 Cameron Rd
Austin TX 78754
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EVENT FOLLOW-UP
6/16/15
Japan Economy and Business
Tuesday
June 16 @10:00 am
Organized by
Greater Asian Chamber of Commerce
&
Asian American Resource Center
8401 Cameron Rd
Austin TX 78754
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EVENT FOLLOW-UP
6/17/15
June 17 @5:30 pm
62108 Robert Dedman Dr.
Austin 78705
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EVENT FOLLOW-UP 6/28/15
Koto and Shakuhachi Concert
by Yoko Reikano Kimura and
James Nyoraku Schlefer
Click on the photo to see more
Click on the photo to see more
Sunday
June 28 @ 3:00 pm
8134 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78759
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EVENT FOLLOW-UP 7/7/15
Tanabata Japanese Star Festival
Co-hosted by the Children's Museum, Consulate General of Japan in Houston, and the Japan American Society of Houston (JASH), the Star Festival was free to the public,
Tuesday
July 7 @ 10:00 am
The Children's Museum of Houston
1500 Binz
Houston, TX 77004
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UPCOMING EVENT
Tue, 7/21
Tuesday, June 21
7 :30 pm
Open to the public
Refreshments will be provided.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Sun, 8/9
US-JAPAN
FRIENDSHIP
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Sunday, August 9
8:00 am
10500 Avery Club Dr. Austin, TX 78717
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JASGA Newsletter
Summer 2015
is compiled and edited by:
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Kako Ito
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Dear Kako,
Happy Summer days!
Hope you enjoyed the Fourth of July and the fireworks.
The temperature is getting high and we have entered summer!
In Japan, Mountain-opening (yamabiraki) and Beach-opening (umibiraki) ceremonies take place at the beginning of July. It's finally climbing season -- the trails leading up Mt. Fuji are only open from the beginning or middle of July until the middle of September.
Japan's native religion, Shinto, is polytheistic, in which there are many gods and goddesses. These gods and goddesses are believed to reside in a number of places, including tall mountains and ocean. There are Shinto ceremonies to wish for the safety of visitors at their mountains and beaches. Both yamabiraki and umibiraki signal the unofficial start of summer.
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ONGOING AND UPCOMING PROGRAM
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ONGOING and UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Summer 2015 Japanese Language Program
JASGA has Japanese language classes that began in the middle of May. The classes continue to meet every Wednesday until July 29th.
AUSTIN:
Lamar MiddleSchool & Fine Arts Academy
6201 Wynona Avenue
Austin, TX 78757
Fall 2015 Japanese Language Program
The registration for Fall 2015 Japanese language and Shodo classes will start in the beginning or Middle of September. Please visit our home page (www.jasga.org) and calendar in the mid of August. You will also receive a registration info via email. Please watch your email box!
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The Japan-America Society of Greater Austin (JASGA) was organized a Central Texas and Austin delegation to attend the 25th Japan-America Grassroots Summit 2015 which is currently held on July 6-13 in Oita Prefecture, Japan.
This Grassroots Summit is an annual large-scale meeting of Japanese and American citizens, held alternately in Japan and America. The summit aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between Japan and America by fostering grassroots friendships. The Summit is managed jointly by the CIE (Center for International Exchange) and the Summit Volunteer Committee. This week-long trip, which is open to the general public, includes a homestay in a Japanese community.
Oita prefecture is located in the southern island, Kyushu. The region is blessed with natural treasures, as it is close to both the mountains and the sea, and it has a rich history and cultural heritage. Oita is famous for onsen (hot springs) such as Beppu and Yufuin and is known as the "Onsen Capital of Japan".
Three delegates from Austin are currently visiting Beppu and will visit other cities in Oita Prefecture.
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TIEC/TIEP
Homestay Host Opportunity and Conversation Exchanges with Japanese high school students
The Texas Intensive English Program (TIEP) is hosting a group of 49 high school students from Mishima, Japan.
They will have a weekend homestay experience with local hosts (Friday afternoon 7/31- Sunday afternoon 8/2.) .
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Opportunity to host Japanese high school students or their teachers for one weekend
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Dates: July 31 -August 2, 2015
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Stipend offered to help defray cost of hosting
Download the form for the Homestay Host Responsibilities program.
TIEP is planning three English conversation exchanges for the Japanese students to meet people from the Austin area. (Thu 7/23, Mon 7/27, & Mon 8/3 from 3-5pm
at TIEP).
For details, contact Texas Intensive English Program
1103 West 24th Street
Austin, Texas 78705
Dr. Woody Smith, Associate Director
Woody.Smith@tiec.org
or
Dr. Sarah Wagner, Academic Coordinator
Sarah.Wagner@tiec.org
512-477-4511 ext 137
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July 29 - August 8, 2015
Temple University Japan Campus invites high school students to a summer of language and cultural experiences in dynamic Tokyo. The 10 day program includes a unique mix of Japanese language classes and one of three exciting electives. With field-trips in Tokyo, an overnight excursion to Nikko, and a trip to DisneySea, this will be your Tokyo story to remember.
For any questions, Contact here.
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Please join the Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA) for their fundraising program at Asian American Resource Center (AARC).
The Japan America Society of Greater Austin (JASGA) will be a support partner for this AFSSA event on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at 11:00am.
Sunday
July 19 2015
11:00 am -2:00 pm
8401 Cameron Rd.
Austin, TX 78754
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Guest Essay
Tanabata Festival
2015/07/07
Center for Complex Quantum Systems
The University of Texas at Austin
The most romantic festival in Japan is the Tanabata (七夕) Star festival that takes place every year on July 7. This festival is similar to Valentine's Day in that it celebrates love.
Tanabata festival originated from China during the Nara period of the 8th century. It was originally a ceremony of services for the departed souls of ancestors. At some point, the ceremony began to include an old Japanese legend of a weaving princess. In this legend, a girl works on a loom in a shed next to a river and waits for a visit from a god on the evening of July 6. When he comes to her, the girl becomes his wife and, thus, a goddess herself. A similar romantic story of a Chinese weaving princess meeting and falling in love with a cowherd living among the stars in the Milky Way on July 7 combined with the Japanese legend to eventually become the Tanabata festival as we know it today.
 The weaving princess and cowherd
Tanabata dance at Shiramine Shinto shrine
On this day, Japanese people write their wishes on strips of colorful paper and hang them on bamboo trees. In the picture presented above, the girls are dancing around a decorated bamboo tree at Shiramine Shinto shrine in Kyoto.
 Tanabata decoration at Sendai tanabata festival
Many Japanese towns compete for the most beautiful decorated bamboo tree. Among them, Sendai in northern Japan and Hiratuka near Tokyo claims to have the best and attract many tourists throughout the season.
A western woman wearing yukata, summer Kimono
at Hiratuka Tanabata Festival
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Stay active and see you at JASGA's upcoming program and events! We'd love to see all of you!
Sincerely,
Japan-America Society of Greater Austin
www.jasga.org
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