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  • 5 Jun 2018 2:41 PM | Anonymous

    The Alabama community is saddened by the passing of Dr. Bob Wendorf, 70, on May 22, 2018 in Birmingham, Alabama following a brief illness.  He held a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Illinois and was teaching at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
    Dr. Wendorf spent the past 25 years studying the art of Bonsai and was a board member and the president of the Alabama Bonsai Society.  He was a frequent volunteer at the Birmingham Botanical Garden’s Japanese garden and tea house and kept his own Japanese style garden in his backyard.  Dr. Wendorf’s family asks that any donations be sent to the Japanese Garden at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223, or to The Karl Wendorf Scholarship Fund at Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road, Mountain Brook, AL 35213.
    Read more about Dr. Wendorf’s life and work here

  • 1 Jun 2018 2:40 PM | Anonymous

    Consul General Takashi Shinozuka presented recognition and appreciation award to Daikin America President Yasuhiro Utsumi at Daikin’s Japanese Festival in Decatur


    On Friday, May 25th,  Daikin America received a recognition and appreciation award at the Daikin Festival in Decatur, AL from the Consul General of Japan in Atlanta, Takashi Shinozuka. This prestigious award is given to those who have made outstanding efforts to promote goodwill and advance business, cultural interchanges, and mutual understanding between people of Japan and America.

    Daikin America has continuously supported local Japan-related organizations around Alabama such as the Japan-America Society of Alabama and tirelessly promoted grassroots relationships between Japan and America. One of their significant contributions to local communities is the Daikin Festival in May where people learn about Japan through music, food, and cultural activities.

    Additionally, Daikin offers a Japanese homestay program to local teachers and students. Those who have been selected as participants will stay at Daikin employees’ houses in Japan for 10 days to become immersed in Japanese culture.


  • 8 May 2018 2:37 PM | Anonymous

    Winter Days– From the recently passed Director Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli fame, the film is based on one of the renku (collaborative linked poems) in the 1684 collection of the same name by the 17th-century Japanese poet Bashō.

    The Tale of Princess Kaguya– Takahata’s last film, based on the folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the movie features breathtaking animation and an emotional story.

    The Makioka Sisters– Adapted from Junichiro Tanizaki’s classic novel, the film follows the decline of the once-prominent Makioka family.

    Tokyo Olympiad– This impressionistic documentary of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics pays as much attention to the crowds and workers as it does to the actual competitive events.

    Jiro Dreams of Sushi– In this documentary, revered sushi chef Jiro Ono strives for perfection in his work, while his eldest son, Yoshikazu, has trouble living up to his father’s legacy.

    The Twilight Samurai– Nominated for the academy award for foreign film in 2002, this historical drama follows Seibei Iguchi a low ranking samurai turned bureaucrat and the subsequent turmoil that ensues in his life.

    YOJIMBO– In this comedic samurai film directed by Akira Kurosawa a rōnin arrives in a small town where competing crime lords vie for supremacy. The two bosses each try to hire the newcomer as a bodyguard.

    Godzilla– The original monster movie, a fire-breathing behemoth terrorizes Japan after a bomb awakens it from its centuries long sleep.

    The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness- A documentary offering an inside look at Japan’s most famous animation company, Studio Ghibli.

    Tokyo Idols– A recent documentary examining Idol culture.

     

    Which movie do you want to see for our movie night? (映画会で見たい映画を選んでください) *

    • Winter Days (冬の日)
    • The Tale of Princess Kaguya (かぐや姫の物語)
    • The Makioka Sisters (細雪)
    • Tokyo Olympiad (東京オリンピック)
    • Jiro Dreams of Sushi (二郎は鮨の夢を見る)
    • The Twilight Samurai (たそがれ清兵衛)
    • Yojimbo (用心棒)
    • Godzilla
    • The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (夢と狂気の王国)
    • Tokyo Idols


  • 8 May 2018 2:36 PM | Anonymous

    The Alabama community is saddened by the passing of Dr. Ichiro Miyagawa, a former professor of physics at the University of Alabama and a resident of Trussville, AL.  Among numerous other awards and merits, in 1998 Dr. Miyagawa received the JASA’s Samuel Ullman award.  He is survived by his children Dr. Shigeru Miyagawa (Reiko) of Boston, Haruyo Miyagawa of Birmingham, and Mari Songer (Hal) of Clay, and four grandchildren.  Read more about Dr. Miyagawa’s life and accomplishments here.

  • 25 Mar 2018 2:34 PM | Anonymous

    Are you a tutor? Do you have experience with ESL and an interest in working with Japanese families and children? Do you speak Japanese and want to share your knowledge with Alabama natives with an interest in Japan? If any of these apply to you, you’re in luck! We’ve received many inquiries from Japanese families looking for English tutors and from Americans interested in learning Japanese on the side.

    If you have experience as an English or Japanese tutor and would like to work with more Alabama students, send us your resume at executivedirector@jasaweb.org!

    Stay tuned for more information.


  • 8 Mar 2018 2:33 PM | Anonymous

    Country Day School will be hosting an International Festival in Huntsville on March 10. We are going to give a presentation in the Great Hall about Japanese culture, tradition, and lifestyle for students coming to the event. This is open to the public, so visit the festival and enjoy our presentation as well as various performances from different cultures!


  • 6 Feb 2018 2:32 PM | Anonymous


    Thanks to the 2018 Guest Speaker Grant given by the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS), we were able to host Dr. Brian Woodall from Georgia Tech University at the University of Alabama in Gorgas Library on Tuesday, January 23rd, at 3:30 pm. Dr. Woodall gave a captivating presentation on Japan-US relations under the administrations of President Trump and Prime Minister Abe.

    Read more about Dr. Woodall here.

     

    Thank you to the University of Alabama for hosting us!


  • 2 Feb 2018 2:31 PM | Anonymous

    JASA Member Nitto Denko from Jasper, Alabama will be represented at the Japan-America Society of Georgia’s Japan Update on February 14th! Nitto Denko Board Member Takashi Hatchoji will be joining as a guest speaker. Register for the event (Atlanta, GA) by 2/9

    Wednesday, February 14, 2018

    11:00 AM

    Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

    1000 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta 30309

    Non-Member Registration – $25.00

    Click here for more information!


  • 2 Feb 2018 2:30 PM | Anonymous

    Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) announced they will hold a seminar on business strategies to Latin American countries in Atlanta. The guest speaker, 水野 亮(Mizuno Ryou), is an Executive Researcher and Consultant of TWI Global business, and will present a lecture about the effects of renegotiation of NAFTA and changing foreign trade policies in the region. They also have webinar for those unable to visit. This event is free and given only in Japanese.

     

    Register Here

    Location: Phipps Tower, Conference Room on the 2nd floor.

    3438 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

    Date: 3. 12. 2018

    Webinar: Monday, 12th in March. 14:00~16:00 (Eastern Standard Time)

    Webinar Register Here

    Language: Japanese Only

    Contact: ama@jetro.go.jp / 404-681-0600


  • 30 Jan 2018 2:29 PM | Anonymous

    Consul General of Japan Takashi Shinozuka and Honorary Consul General of Japan Mark B. Jackson visited the University of West Alabama. They had a campus tour and a roundtable discussion with campus leaders and UWA students. Check out the whole article here!

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