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Great Success of J-Quiz

Posted by Kanna on Feb 22, 2012 in Events, Featured, Fundraising | 0 comments

On Saturday, February 18^th, J-Quiz, the Upper Midwest High School Japan Language and Culture Competition, was held at Normandale Community College in Bloomington. Students from high schools in Minnesota were invited to compete in this competition.  8 high schools, 83 students and 30 teams competed this year for the Grand Prize: a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the Sakura Festival and to compete in the National Japan Bowl. Like the J-Quiz, this nationwide contest tests high school students in their Japanese language and culture skills. Participating in this program can have a lasting impact on the lives of young people.

In order to make this program possible, JASM need your help to raise $10,000 to fund the competition,  and to send the winning students to Washington, D.C, April 12-14, 2012. Students and teachers value the trip as a unique incentive for students to study Japanese and for schools to continue offering courses in Japanese at the high school level.

Please help us with a donation! For more information, call the JASM office at 612-627-9357.

Winners of 2012

Level2 Edina high school in Minnesota

Level3 Shakopee high school in Minnesota

Level4 Memorial high school in Wisconsin

Also, we would like to thank  corporate sponsors which accepted to support this program :

The 6th Kanna Club in March

Posted by Kanna on Feb 21, 2012 in Events, Featured | 0 comments

The January Kanna Club was at the Sajiya Restaurant in St. Paul with 28 participants coming out to partake in delicious food and good company.  It was memorable event that welcomed many new faces an JASM members as well.

Unfortunately, we canceled the February Kanna Club though we come back in March 20th at Kikugawa. More information will be given on this page next month also on the March JASM Newsletter!

The 5th Kanna Club

Posted by Kanna on Jan 18, 2012 in Events, Featured | 6 comments

The January Kanna Club will be held on Tuesday, January 24th, at Saji Ya in St. Paul.  The doors will open at 5:30 pm, and the program will run from 6-8 pm.  For this Kanna Club, there will be games! Registration will start on the 16th of January, so sign up early to make sure we have enough room for you! We look forward to welcoming you on the 24th!

The Bonus question for the month is:  The Japan Soccer Association and Wakayama Kumano-Nachi Shrine contain a symbol of a bird. What is the name of this bird?

What is Kanna Club!?

Price: $10 members, $12 non-members 

Japanese Movie Information

Posted by Kanna on Jan 18, 2012 in Featured, General, Newsletter | 0 comments

Norwegian Wood:Japanese Movie Comes Town!

**Special price of $6 for JASM member!!
For Immediate Release

Minneapolis, MN, January 17, 2012 – The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul presents Norwegian Wood, showing theatrically on Screen 3 at St. Anthony Main Theatre Fri, Jan 27 through Thu, Feb 2. The film is based on Haruki Murakami’s bestselling novel Norwegian Wood, published in 1987 and since translated into 33 languages.

ノルウェーの森：Norwegian Wood tells the story of a teen romantic triangle set in tumultuous 1960′s Tokyo. Beautifully directed by Tran Anh Hung (Academy Award nominee for The Scent Of Green Papaya and Golden Lion winner for Cyclo), the cast includes Japanese rising star Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City) and Oscar-nominee Rinko Kikuchi (Babel), alongside newcomer Kiko Mizuhara. Mark Lee Ping Bin (In The Mood For Love) provides the gorgeous cinematography; and the genius soundtrack for string quartet and orchestra was composed by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, known for his outstanding work on There Will Be Blood (2007).

Set in a time of global instability, Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood pulls three young people into an emotional story of loss and heartbreak. As students around the world unite to overthrow the establishment, Toru Watanabe’s personal life is similarly in tumult. At heart, he is deeply devoted to his first love, Naoko, a beautiful, intelligent and introspective young woman, whose angst lays the groundwork for Watanabe’s inner conflict. Their complex bond was forged by the tragic death of their best friend years before, and Watanabe lives with this memory and an influence of death everywhere. That is, until the outgoing, vivacious, supremely self-confident Midori marches into his life, and Watanabe must choose between his past and his future.

Norwegian Wood, Director Tran Anh Hung, 133 min, Japan, 2010,

In Japanese with English subtitles.

Showing – Fri, Jan 27 through Thurs, Feb 2

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul presents the very best of national and international independent cinema on Screen 3 at St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 SE Main Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414. www.mspfilmsociety.org 

J-Quiz Japanese Competition Quiz for High School Students

Posted by JASM Interns on Dec 19, 2011 in Events, Featured | 2 comments

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, high school students from all over Minnesota and Wisconsin will gather together to put their knowledge of Japanese Language and Culture to the test!
 
Teams of students from each school will compete in 3 levels of difficulty.  Students will first write an essay, then participate in a preliminary round of questions regarding Japanese Language and Culture. The winners are sent to Washington D.C. to compete in the national Japan Bowl and attend the Sakura Festival.
 
This year again, we are inviting family of the students, and any interested parties to come and watch the finals of J-Quiz!  Please come and support your student, or all students with an interest in Japan.
 
There will also be a Flea Market offering Japanese items to support the winners’ trip to Washington DC. If you wish to donate curios or Japanese crafts, please contact the JASM office. JASM is also recruiting event sponsors. For more information, please feel free to contact the JASM office.
 
When:
Saturday, February 18, 2012

7:30 am – 7:55 am Registration
8:00 am – 8:30 am Opening Ceremony
8:40 am – 11:40 am Project & Preliminary & Culture Class
12:30 pm – 3:20 pm Final Round
3:20 pm – 3:30 pm Closing Ceremony & Award Presentation

The Final Rounds begin at 12:30! All are invited to watch the finals!
(If you are a parent, please ask your student which level they are in, and at what time their final round is!)

Where:
Normandale Community College
France Avenue South and 98th Street in Bloomington

Entrance
Please use the main entrance in the College Center.

2012 New Year’s Celebration: 新年会 Shinnenkai

Posted by lbrailsford on Dec 7, 2011 in Events, Gallery | 0 comments

On Sunday, January 15th, JASM will hold its annual New Year Celebration Shinnenkai. This year’s event will be held at the Eisenhower Community Center at 1001 Minnesota Highway 7, Hopkins, MN 55305. The event will run from 4 pm to 8 pm and feature a wide variety of entertainment, cultural presentations, and fun activities. Japanese food and concessions, prepared by members and friends of JASM, will also be available for purchase. Mark your calendars now for this exciting event on January 15th!

-Karaoke Competition

We are going to have the Karaoke Competition as one of the Stage programs. There will be prizes for the winner of the competition! We will use the Karaoke from Youtube this year. Please check out Youtube for any songs you may wish to perform. If you would like to sign up for this competition, or if you can’t find your songs, please contact Kanna Sato, kanna09@us-japan.org.

Samples;
-SMAP 世界に１つだけの花/Sekai ni Hitotsudake no Hana  Japanese Sub
-嵐/Arashi Happiness Japanese Sub
-坂本九/Kyu Sakamoto上を向いて歩こう/Sukiyaki English Sub Japanese Sub
-レミオロメン Remioromen 粉雪 Konayuki Japanese Sub
-EXILE 二つの唇 Futatsu no kuchibiru Japanese Sub
-いきものがかり Ikimono gakari ブルーバード Blue Bird Japanese Sub
-テレサ・テン Teresa Ten 時の流れに身をまかせ Tokino nagare ni miwo makase Japanese Sub
-小林明子 Akiko Kobayashi 恋に落ちて Koi ni ochite Japanese Sub
-米米クラブ Kome Kome Club 君がいるだけで Kimi ga irudakede Japanese Sub
-Dreams Come True 未来予想図Ⅱ Mirai yosouzu Ⅱ Japanese Sub
-エヴァンゲリオン　Evangerion 残酷な天使のテーゼ　Zankoku na tenshi no Te-ze Japanese Sub
-セイラームーン Sailor Moon ムーンライト伝説 Moonlight Densetsu Japanese Sub
-GLAY Winter Again Japanese Sub
-宇多田ヒカル Hikaru Utada First Love Japanese Sub
-サザンオールスターズ Southern All Stars Tsunami Japanese Sub
-Do as infinity 深い森 Fukai mori English Sub
-葉っぱ隊 Happa tai Yatta Japanese Sub
-ゆず 栄光の架け橋 Japanese Sub

-The Stage Programs and Exhibitors information are coming soon! 

Please make your reservation now!
Reservations:

$10 - Adult, College Students, & Seniors  ($15 for Adult non-members)

$5  -  Children (6-17 Years)

Free - Children (5 & Under)

$20 - Family Package – 2 adults & 2 children in same household ($25 for non-members)

Please download, print out the 2012 Shinenkai Flyer, and send the Registration Form by mail to the JASM office.

Bonenkai 忘年会 & Kanna Club

Posted by lbrailsford on Dec 6, 2011 in Events | 0 comments

Join us to celebrate for the traditional end of the year JASM gathering! This has been a favorite event for those who miss the Japanese end of the year party: the Bonenkai tradition.  New members have a chance to mingle with long-term members at this fun event!  The price is $10 for JASM members and $15 for non-members for the event that includes appetizers.  Beverages are on your own account.  Make reservations early to reserve your seat!

This event will also be combined with December’s Kanna Club.  Kanna Club is a monthly event that is designed to help people who are interested in Japan network and meet people with the same interests.  We decided that as the event dates are very close on the calendar, it would be convenient and fun to combine the events for a night of excitement and entertainment.
 

Kanna Club

Posted by JASM Interns on Nov 22, 2011 in Events | 0 comments

The next Kanna Club is Tuesday, January 24th at Saji Ya in St. Paul.  More information is coming soon!

次回のかんな倶楽部は1月24日、セイントポールにあります「さじや」で行います。詳細は後日お届けします。お楽しみに！

What is Kanna Club!?

The 2nd Annual Career Day & Sushi Social

Posted by JASM Interns on Oct 25, 2011 in Events | 0 comments

We would like to thank  you for coming to the second annual Japan Career Day co-sponsored by the Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM) and JET Alumni Association Minnesota (JETAA MN).

The Career Day was held in the Alexander Hill Ballroom at Macalester College in St. Paul from 1:00-4:15 pm on Saturday, November 12, and featured speakers, panel discussions, and workshops on career options for students and young professionals with an interest in or experience with Japanese language and culture.

Following the Career Day was a Sushi Social networking event from 5:00-7:00 pm at Sakura restaurant in St Paul. This was one of our many excellent opportunities for Career Day attendees to network with established Japan professionals from around the Twin Cities Metro Area.

Corporate Roundtable Wednesday, November 9th

Posted by JASM Interns on Oct 20, 2011 in Events | 0 comments

The November Corporate Roundtable event highlighted a presentation by Mr. Tatsuhiro Shindo, Chief Executive Director of JETRO Chicago.  Shindo-san’s presentation delineated the concerns and progress of the Great East Japan Earthquake cleanup.  His insights on social trends, as well of the development of Japan’s economy, Shindo-san brought light to new understanding of Japanese culture.  His presentation was not only informative, but gave a sense of ambition to Japan’s road ahead. The participating members’ backgrounds and interests in Japan brought a sense of compassion to the event’s atmosphere as well.  The presentation was warmly received as the discussion after the event gave members an opportunity to meet the JETRO representatives, along with other guests.

We would like to thank Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, P.A. for hosting this event.