| | | | Saturday, October 25, 2025, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM New Location: PPUW Family Success Center, 1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910 Join us for the 2025 Japanese Cultural Bazaar~ Saturday, October 25th from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center (1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs)! Admission and parking are free, so everyone is welcome to enjoy cultural performances and browse authentic Japanese goods from community vendors. Cosplay is highly encouraged, but please be considerate of the family environment for this event~ No gruesome or bloody costumes please! We still need many more volunteers, performers, workshop hosts, and vendors - so please help us spread the word and share this application link widely with your networks! Follow JASSC on Facebook and Instagram to stay tuned for more updates and shareable content. Visit www.japanamerica.org or search for @JapanAmericaSOCO online! Important Change in Location! Like our other major events this year, we are moving the Bazaar to the Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center (1520 Verde St., Colorado Springs). We've enjoyed working with UCCS for over 12 years, but the cost of holding events at universities and colleges has risen exponentially, and in order to keep this event low cost to vendors and free for visitors, we decided to make the move for this event, like our other big ones this year. Registration Now Open for All Roles We're looking for Volunteers, Vendors, Performers, and Workshop Hosts for this culture bonanza! -
Please fill out the application form here for each role that you plan to participate in (i.e., please fill out the form twice if you are going to be a volunteer and a performer). -
Our team should confirm your application in one to two weeks. -
If you don't see an email confirmation in that timeframe, please check your spam box, and then contact us at bazaar@japanamerica.org. -
Vendors, performers, and workshop hosts must demonstrate a clear connection to Japanese culture. Please share this information and the application form widely, and with anyone you know who is interested in joining the fun! | | | | | Conversation over Cookies At this event, Japanese speakers will stay in place at a table with a board/card game and English speakers will jump around where they want to play. We will try to speak in Japanese as much as possible! 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) Saturday, November 8, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Event page) Saturday, January 3, 2026, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM See the Events page on our website for details and to register. | | | Baskets in IkebanaYou are invited to a program using baskets as containers for Ikebana arrangements. Our local chapter of Ikebana International is hosting this program on October 15th at the Broadmoor Community Church at 12:00 pm. You are welcome to join the program and bring your baskets. Our members will be arranging in their own baskets and then discuss their history if known. Our full Program listing is now available on our website. | | | | | Archeologists find that people sent to Amache during WWII sought respite in the Arkansas River The federal government kept detailed records of every crop in Amache’s agricultural program, but overlooked the ways incarcerees cultivated personal gardens Here's a fascinating (and touching) article written by Parker Yamasaki (whose grandmother was incarcerated at Amache) in the Colorado Sun on 10/6/25. It focuses on archeological work into the personal and community gardens at Amache, and their connection to the nearby Arkansas River. You can go directly to the article online here or download a PDF here. Published by permission from the Sun. | | | | | Taiko master Kenny Endo in performance Kenny was honored by the Japan America Society of Hawaii in 2024 with its prestigious "Bridge Award" for helping to bridge Japan and Hawaii through Japanese culture and music. As jazz percussionist and early innovator in Japanese taiko, taiko master Kenny Endo embodies the evolution of taiko in America. With an adventurous spirit, he continues to push the boundaries of the art form--seamlessly blending elements of funk, jazz, Afro-Cuban & Hawaiian music--all while staying deeply rooted in tradition. With infectious rhythms, his performances are dynamic, brilliant, and masterful. Celebrating 50 years of taiko, Kenny Endo and his contemporary ensemble will be performing in the following areas this FALL 2025. Please join Kenny in this momentous celebration! Friday, October 24, 2025, 7:30 pm in Loveland, CO Rialto Theatre in Loveland Colorado 228 E 4th Street, Downtown Loveland, CO featuring: taiko, vibes, guzheng (Chinese zither), drumset, ukulele, shakuhachi, percussion and more! Kenny Endo, Abe Lagrimas Jr, Jay Lai, David Wheeler, Chizuko Endo Tickets: $51-$61 970-962-2120 https://tickets.rialtotheatercenter.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=52 More information at the Taiko Arts website. | | | Sad News from Nancy Day JASSC member Nancy Day (who no longer lives in this area but many of us know her) wrote us with this news from her son, Patrick Harlan: Patrick Harlan of the comedy duo Pakkun Makkun in Japan has tragic news. His wife Mei Koinuma Harlan, age 47, died on September 29, 2025. The cause of death was liver failure; however, it was totally unexpected. Mei is survived by Patrick Harlan (Rampart HS 1989 and Harvard University 1993), her son Rigel Akira Harlan (18) and daughter Arista Akari Harlan (16). The funeral will be October 6 near their home in Shinjuku, JP. This notice is from Nancy Day, current member of JASSC, but I now live in North Carolina. I miss my JASSC friends. | | | | | | The United States-Japan Foundation’s signature initiative, the US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP), is now accepting applications for its 2026–2027 Delegate cohort through Monday, January 5, 2026. Since its founding in 2000, USJLP has brought together emerging and established leaders from both nations to build trust, foster dialogue, and shape a more connected, collaborative future. |  |  | The USJLP Delegate Experience Each year’s binational cohort of 40 Delegates (20 from each country) embarks on an immersive two-year experience that blends substantive dialogue with personal connection and cultural discovery. Alternating between the United States and Japan, the Annual Conferences mark the beginning of each Delegate’s USJLP journey, introducing them to a vibrant network through curated programming that inspires collaboration on shared challenges and fosters connection through community-building activities and cultural excursions. Every Delegate plays an active role, bringing their voice, leadership style, and lived experience into the collective learning space. Over the course of two summers, Delegates form lasting bonds with approximately 60 peers across their two cohorts and connect with Fellows (alumni) through interclass programming that links multiple generations of leaders. Delegates selected for the 2026–2027 cohort will participate in: -
2026 U.S. Conference: July 25–August 1, 2026 | Palo Alto, California -
2027 Japan Conference: Late July / Early August 2027 | Location TBA After completing their second conference, Delegates become USJLP Fellows, gaining lifelong access to a cross-sector network of 550 Japanese and American thinkers, creators, and changemakers who share an enthusiasm for learning, growing, and challenging themselves as leaders—and as global citizens. |  | Candidate Profile Eligible candidates must hold U.S. or Japanese citizenship and be 28–42 years old as of July 25, 2026. USJLP seeks proven leaders who are accomplished in their fields, comfortable communicating in English, and ready to commit to two consecutive weeklong conferences and sustained engagement with the program’s network. The program values a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives, welcoming applicants whose unique experiences contribute to a balanced and dynamic cohort. Prospective Candidates Prospective candidates are invited to apply by Monday, January 5, 2026, for the opportunity to join the network as Delegates. | | Applicants are asked to submit a CV, personal statement, brief self-introduction video, and up to two personal references. All applicants will be notified of results in March 2026. | Nominations and Referrals The United States–Japan Foundation continually seeks rising leaders and innovators from every sector and welcomes your partnership in identifying exceptional candidates from the United States and Japan to join the USJLP network. Whether you’re introducing a promising prospect or formally supporting a candidate’s application, please click here to learn more. | | United States-Japan Leadership Program United States-Japan Foundation
1816 Jefferson Place NW Washington, D.C. 20036 USA | Click here to go to the website. | | | | | 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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