| | | | Adriana Jerome Joins Board as Secretary We are delighted to announce that Adriana Jerome has joined the JASSC board as our new Secretary. She is replacing Eric Basco who is moving to Japan. We really appreciate all the great work that Eric has contributed to our organization, and wish him (and Jennifer) all the best moving forward! Here's a short note from Adriana: Hello everyone, I am more than excited to be working with you as your secretary. I will do my best to make sure the transition from Eric to myself is smooth. Thank you to everyone who believes in my work. Adriana Jerome | | | 2025 U.S.-Japan Sister Cities Summit in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture September 16 - 19 JASSC Board members, Eric Basco, Jennifer Basco and Wayne Stout, joined the 2025 U.S.–Japan Sister Cities Summit in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture. The four-day event, themed “Honor, Bridge, Reimagine, and Empower,” brought together leaders and volunteers to celebrate the power of citizen diplomacy. We participated in sessions exploring the origins of “sister cities,” opportunities for new educational exchanges, and sustainability initiatives showcased at the Osaka World Expo. Representatives from Fujiyoshida were Saki Yamanaka and Andy Smith. Also, we were able to meet with the Denver delegation for the Takayama Committee as well the mayor of Boulder. We were given a precious opportunity to witness and experience citizen diplomacy at the forefront of U.S.–Japan relations. This experience has inspired me to continue contributing, in my own small way, as a member of the Fujiyoshida Committee. M. Wayne Stout President of Japan America Society of Southern Colorado | | | | | Memories of Injustice with Sam Mihara Please join us for a virtual webinar this Thursday with Mr. Sam Mihara, 2024 National Endowment for the Humanities Jefferson Lecturer. Hear Mr. Mihara tell his personal story about being confined behind barbed wire as a 9-year-old child in a WWII incarceration camp in desolate northern Wyoming. He'll reveal serendipitous connections and modern day ramifications of the unconstitutional confinement of over 125,000 Japanese Americans. NAJAS colleague Robin Hattori, whose own identity was influenced as a Japanese American descendant of internees, will give an introduction. Join us on Zoom on November 13, 10:30AM-11:30AM MST with advanced registration required. Register for the Webinar We want to thank Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation for co-hosting this event with us. We also thank Robin Hattori for her participation and facilitation. We give special thanks to Mr. Mihara for his storytelling and dedication to educating the public on the Japanese-American experience during WWII. | | | | | The Online Japanese College Fair – Fall 2025 is Next week! November 18 (Tue) & 19 (Wed), 2025 (Pacific Standard Time) We would be delighted for you to take part in this unique opportunity to learn about studying in Japan directly from university representatives. For more details about the participating universities, how to join, and the fair program, please visit the link below: https://japan-universities.com/en/event/2025fall.html Advance registration is required. Please register using the registration form below or the QR code on the flyer. Details will be sent after registration. Registration Form This fair will feature 13 leading Japanese universities that actively welcome international students. Participating Universities - Aoyama Gakuin University
- Eikei University of Hiroshima
- Keio University
- Kaishi Professional University
- International Christian University (ICU)
- Chukyo University
- Temple University, Japan Campus
- Tokyo Online University
- Doshisha University, Institute for the Liberal Arts (ILA)
- Yamanashi Gakuin University, International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA)
- Rikkyo University
- Ritsumeikan University
- Waseda University
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding this event, please feel free to contact us at the email address below. Contact: seminar@us-lighthouse.com ATTN: Tomomi Nakamura | | | | | Conversation over Cookies Free for members! If you're a member, just log in to enable the free ticket option. $5 for non-members Want to practice Japanese with real native speakers? Come join us for Conversation Over Cookies (COC), hosted on one Saturday every month! Regularly entertaining between 10 and 20 guests, this monthly conversation event allows everyone to practice their language skills, no matter what their skill level.  Each table will have at least one native Japanese speaker, and groups are split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Bring a dessert or snack to share, and a water bottle to keep your talking muscles hydrated~~ (aka your lips and throat). Any level of speakers are welcome! This event usually takes place at the CreateSpace at Library 21C (1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920) December 27, 2025, 1:30pm to 3:00pm Register January 3, 2026, 1:30pm to 3:00pm Register February 7, 2026, 1:30pm to 3:00pm Register Note that there will be no March meeting See the Events page on our website for details and to register. | | | | | Customer Appreciation Weekend at Rainy Day Anime Nov. 28-Nov. 30th, 10am-6:30pm We hope you can make it to this event by one of our JASSC sponsors! In the Store: -A bonus $5 gift certificate with every $30 spent (before tax) -Raffle ticket entry with every $30 spent (before tax) -Over $1500 worth in awesome anime merch being given away. -Free Rainy Day tote bag when you spend over $200 (a $10 value!) In the Annex (next door): -An Artist Alley featuring local art for sale from 9 different artists and craftspeople! -Tons of unique gift Ideas, and money spent goes right back into the community -A Free gift just for stopping by! | | | | | Join USJETAA for The Religion of Anime
| | | Join USJETAA for The Religion of Anime, a virtual cultural discussion with Prof. Jolyon Thomas (UPenn), the voice of Sasuke in Naruto, Yuri Lowenthal (Shiga, 1993-1995) and author and Japanese pop-culture scholar, Roland Kelts (Osaka 1998-1999). Explore the cultural and emotional impact of anime and why it inspires such devotion around the world. Event Details: US Date/Time: Tuesday, November 12 @7-8:30pm ET JP Date/Time: Wednesday, November 13 @9am JT Registration: $15 general | $0–10 for USJETAA members Details & registration: https://www.usjetaa.org/news/religion-of-anime Format: Online We've created a special discount ticket price for Japan-America Society members (discount code: JAS2025). We are not heavily guarding the discount code, so please feel free to share it widely within your JASSC community. | | | New Members in October -- Welcome! Gabriel Ahnee Heidi Lovejoy Dawnellen Dotson Megan Bunge Thank you for joining us and we look forward to seeing you at one of our events! | | | | | NHK Shows From Tokyo to the World The Deaflympics’ Hope for an Inclusive Society November 15 Sat. 5:10/11:10/17:10/22:10 (UTC) This November, the Summer Deaflympic Games will be held in Tokyo. We meet some of the athletes who will take part, and look at local efforts toward inclusivity for people with hearing disabilities.
Dive in Tokyo Wednesdays (weekly show) 0:30/5:30/10:30/15:30/21:30 (UTC) Tokyo: where both tradition and the latest trends coexist. Join us on a journey to discover the real Tokyo as we dive into its historic old towns and encounter many fun surprises along the way. | | | Information and Resources from the Japan Foundation The next several sections come to us from the Japan Foundation and their Japanese Film Festival. See their website for more information and for additional things we couldn't include here. In general, all this content is in English. | Now Accepting Applications for:
Grants for Arts & Cultural Exchange Applications due Dec. 1, 11pm (EST) There is officially less than a month left until Grants for Arts & Cultural Exchange applications are due! These grants provide researchers, professionals, and organizations and institutions support for their projects pertaining to Japanese arts and culture. We are accepting applications for the following grant programs for 2026-2027: Exhibitions Abroad Support Program Ishibashi Foundation / The Japan Foundation Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art Support Program for Translation and Publication Grant Program for Dispatching Artist and Cultural Specialists International Creations in Performing Arts →LEARN MORE | Now Accepting Applications for: Grants for Japanese Studies Applications due Dec. 1, 11pm (EST) Less than a month until the Grants for Japanese Studies application deadline! The Grants for Japanese Studies is a group of several grant programs and fellowship opportunities supporting institutions, researchers, and students aiming to deepen the understanding in the United States. Accepting applications for the following programs for 2026-2027: Japanese Studies Fellowship Programs Institutional Project Support (IPS) Program Institutional Project Support (IPS) - Small Grant Program *NEW THIS YEAR* U.S.-Southeast Asia-Japan Collaboration and Exchange Initiative →LEARN MORE | | | New line-up now on JFF Theater! Streaming until Feb. 2, 2026 (9pm ET) New films are now available for FREE streaming on JFF (Japanese Film Festival) Theater! This selection is divided into two features - All-Out School Days & Meals that Heal and Connect.  Feature: All-Out School Days
Relive the romance, passion, and friendship of youth in these all-out high school stories. No Longer Heroine (2015) TEIICHI -Battle of Supreme High- (2017) MY love STORY!! (2015) #HandballStrive (2020)  Feature: Meals that Heal and Connect
From kitchens to hearts, films about meals that heal, connect, and make life warmer. Bento Harassment (2019) MEGANE glasses (2007) Restaurant From The Sky (2019) Mottainai Kitchen (2020) Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we introduce (or re-introduce) each film! →LEARN MORE | Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief at Anime NYC 2025 Archive video now available on YouTube! This past August, we co-presented with Shueisha a special panel featuring Shonen Jump’s Editor-in-Chief Yu Saito at Anime NYC! The editor-in-chief shared his experiences editing legendary series, thoughts on the heart of Shonen Jump’s storytelling, and what makes a “good” manga. We would like to again thank Shueisha for their cooperation, Yu Saito for taking the time to share his insights and stories, Deb Aoki for moderating, and Mari Morimoto for translating. If you couldn't attend the panel, great news: the video is now available on our YouTube channel! Don't wait - watch today! →WATCH NOW | | | New Cookbook Release: Japanese Cooking with Kids 2023 Salary Assistance Grantee publishes new book! Our friends at TABLE FOR TWO USA has partnered with Tuttle Publishing to release Japanese Cooking with Kids: 50 Kid-Tested Recipes to Make Together! — a fun, hands-on cookbook featuring recipes and concepts from their flagship food education program, Wa-Sho – Learn. Cook. Eat. Japanese. It was recently shortlisted for the 2025 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, often called “the Oscars of the cookbook world.” Perfect for families and young chefs ages 8 to 14, this book makes learning about Japanese food and culture easy and enjoyable. With 50 kid-tested recipes that get “two thumbs up” (and empty plates!) every time, it’s a great way to spark excitement about healthy eating. Adults who are interested in Japanese cooking will also find it approachable and inspiring. All proceeds from the book sales support bringing TABLE FOR TWO USA’s Wa-Sho program to more children nationwide. →LEARN MORE | | | | | Other Interesting Organizations Want more news? Check out these other organizations supporting Asian Americans in Colorado and beyond!
- Golden Lotus Foundation - The GLF is working hard to build a botanical garden and tea house in Colorado Springs. They are always looking for volunteers, so sign up for their newsletter if you are interested!
- NAJAS - the National Association of Japan America Societies is the hub of all other JAS in the US.
- Japan America Society of Colorado (Denver) - JASC is our closest sibling organization, with most of their happenings located in Denver. They have a community e-bulletin which they send out monthly as well.
- El Pomar Foundation - Elevating Leadership Development Program. The ELD program is run by the El Pomar foundation and creates "greater access and support for people of color in Southern Colorado to tap into their leadership potential for the benefit of community." Their quarterly meetings are free to attend and convene advisory councils for the following groups: Asian / Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, and Native American.
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- Asian Pacific Islander Business Community of Colorado Springs - this new organization is building better connections to and awareness of Asian-led businesses in Colorado Springs. The link is to their linktree, which includes a newsletter signup.
| | | | | About JASSC JASSC web site Send us your news! Let us know what you’d like to see in the next newsletter. Please email the editor, Rayna Lindsey
rayna@japanamerica.org Did you know that you can edit your own address, phone and email information right on the japanamerica.org website? Simply enter your email and password in the upper-right corner and click Login. Don't know your password? Click Forgot Password and the website will help you out. You will also find a secure password-protected online member directory. Use it to look up names, addresses, phone numbers and emails for other members.
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