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• Placement Orientation: Level 3 Online Japanese Language Course

  • Start
    Fri, November 13, 2026
  • End
    Fri, November 27, 2026
  • Location
    Online
  • Spaces left
    13

  Register

  

  
  

  Placement Consultation

  Level 3 Japanese Language Online Course

  
  

  JASM is pleased to offer Level 3 of our Online Japanese Language Course!

  If you have studied Japanese elsewhere and have language skills equivalent to Level 2, Level 3 may be a good fit for you.

  Since Level 3 builds on the skills developed in the previous levels, students who have not completed Level 2 at JASM are required to complete a brief one-on-one consultation with the instructor, Kawakami-sensei, before registering.

  During the consultation, Kawakami-sensei will ask you a few questions and provide her recommendation on whether Level 3 is the right fit for you. Please note that her recommendation is advisory. Even if she suggests waiting, you are still welcome to enroll if you feel confident in your readiness.

  To schedule your consultation, please sign up through this site. We will contact you after you register.

  Please click below to review the course description and terms & policies.

  Please Note: Confirmation of eligibility for Level 3 through the Placement Orientation does not guarantee a spot in the course. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to register early to secure your spot.

  
  

  COURSE DESCRIPTION
  

  
  

  Schedule

  Dates: December 2, 2026 – March 31, 2027

  (December 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026; January 6, 13, 27; February 3, 10, 24; and March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2027)

  
  

  Day: Wednesdays

  No Class: December 30 (Year End Holiday), January 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day week), and February 15 (Presidents’ Day week)

  
  Time

  • Class: 6:00 – 7:30 PM CT

  • Office Hour: 7:30 – 8:00 PM CT

  Each session includes 90 minutes of class, followed by an optional 30-minute office hour for individual questions and support.

  
  

  Level

  Beginner (Level 3)

  
  

  This course is the second course in JASM's eight-level Japanese language curriculum. 

  Beginner (Level 1) Genki 1-3

  Beginner (Level 2) Genki 4-6

  Beginner (Level 3) Genki 7-9 ←This course

  Beginner (Level 4) Genki 10-12

  Intermediate (Level 5) Genki 13-15

  Intermediate (Level 6) Genki 16-18

  Intermediate (Level 7) Genki 19-21

  Intermediate (Level 8) Genki 22-23 

  
  

  Price

  $400 (Non-member)

  $350 (JASM members)

  
  

  About the Course

  • This Beginner-Level Japanese Course is intended for learners who can read and write Hiragana and Katakana with Diacritical Marks, Contracted Sounds, Double Consonants, Long Vowels, and Foreign Sound.

  • You are supposed to know the vocabulary and the conjugation from “Before Lesson 1” through “Lesson 6” you can find here.

  • The class will have a minimum of 6 students and a maximum of 10 students.

  
  

  Additional Support (Optional Tandem Partner Program)

  JASM wants every participant to succeed in this course. To provide additional support, we offer an optional tandem partner or volunteer support service for those who are interested. Participants may be matched with a tandem partner for mutual language practice or with a volunteer who wishes to assist learners in an informal setting. Tandem partners and volunteers will be native speakers or individuals who are fluent in the language. Tandem partners and volunteers do not provide formal instruction or tutoring. Participation in this service is completely optional and available upon request.

  
  

  Required Materials

  Genki I (3rd Edition), The Japan Times

  • Textbook
    ISBN-13: 978-4-7890-1730-5

  • Workbook audio files are available through the free OtoNavi App)
    ISBN-13: 978-4-7890-1731-2

  • A small whiteboard and marker, or alternatively, paper and a thick marker (such as a Sharpie) for use during class activities.

  All required materials, including the textbook, workbook, and a small whiteboard and marker (or paper and a thick marker), must be available from the first day of class. 

  
  

  Textbook and workbook may be purchased through Amazon or other (online) bookstores.

  
  

  ----------------------------------------------------------------

  
  

  Course Objectives

  This course is designed for those who know the vocabulary, grammar points, and conjugation, Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji that you can find in “Before Lesson 1” through “Lesson 6”here. It aims to develop the four communication skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing as well as culture-specific skills: Do’s and Don’ts. Based on the guidelines that theAmerican Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has made, you will aim to reach the level of Novice Mid or Novice High by the end of this course. 

  
  

  This course will cover Lessons 7 through 9 of GENKI I (refer to “Required Materials”), including both “Conversation and Grammar” and “Reading and Writing.” The following topics are covered in this course: 

  1. Describing appearance,

  2. Short forms (Casual speech), and

  3. Reporting.

  
  

  It is expected that, by the end of this course, you will have basic conversation skills in situations noted above. 

  
  

  To facilitate literacy, 43 Chinese characters, Kanji, will be introduced besides two types of Japanese characters, Hiragana and Katakana, and 58 characters of Kanji, which you need to know before taking this course. When you learn characters in class, you will show your handwritten characters to the instructor through the camera.

  
  

  Respectful interactions are critical to successful professional conduct, and facial expressions are very important to avoid misinterpretation and miscommunication. It is strongly encouraged to turn on your camera throughout class to help build our classroom community.

  
  

  About Instructor

  Keiko Kawakami is Director of Japanese Language Instruction in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Japanese Language and Literature, and a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics with Bilingual Education and Diversity Studies. She has taught Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Japanese courses in higher education, and she teaches private lessons to those from children to the elderly.

  
  

  Besides teaching, she enjoys translating documents and has done several works including “Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story” published in 2016 and "A Bowl Full of Peace" published in 2020 written by Caren Stelson.

  
  

  She is an active member of Minnesota Council of Teachers of Japanese (MCTJ) , American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ), and Saint Paul – Nagasaki Sister City Committee (SPNSCC) as well as Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM).

  
  

  
  

  TERMS & POLICIES 

  
  

  Make-Up Classes

  If the instructor knows in ternative date will be noted in the course description. Make-up classes will be held on another date mutually agreed upon by the instructor and the class.

  
  

  Registration Deadline

  Monday, November 23

  
  

  Membership Requirement
  

  JASM membership is not required to register for this course; however, we encourage participants to become members and support JASM’s mission and programs.

  • Individual: $50

  • Family: $75

  • Individual-Sustaining: $25/month

  • or more

  Memberships are valid for one year from the date of payment.

  Join here: https://japanamericasocietyofminnesota.wildapricot.org/Join-JASM

  
  

  Textbooks

  JASM does not place textbook orders on behalf of students. Please purchase your required textbooks independently and have them ready before the first class session.

  Students are expected to have both the textbook and workbook from the first day of class. Delays in obtaining course materials may affect both your learning experience and the pace of the class.

  
  

  Registration

  Register online at

  https://japanamericasocietyofminnesota.wildapricot.org/event-6554922

  
  

  Class Size

  The class requires a minimum of 6 students and has a maximum of 10 students.

  
  

  Online Meeting Platform
  

  JASM’s Japanese language class is conducted via Zoom, unless otherwise specified.

  • Students are responsible for securing a quiet and appropriate space to participate in the full 90-minute class session. The additional 30-minute office hours is optional.

  • The instructor will email the Zoom link prior to the first class.

  • The Zoom link will remain the same throughout the term unless otherwise announced.

  Classes may be recorded at the instructor’s discretion and shared only with enrolled students for a limited time of up to one month for review purpose or in case of absence. Sharing Zoom links or recorded class materials with third parties is strictly prohibited.

  
  

  Recommended Device

  Students are strongly encouraged to use a computer or tablet. Mobile devices are not recommended, as they may limit Zoom functionality.

  
  

  Cancellation & Refund Policy

  All cancellation and refund requests must be submitted by email.

  • By November 23, 2026: Full refund

  • November 24 – November 29, 2026: 50% refund

  • After November 30, 2026: No refunds

  No refunds or credits will be issued for missed classes.
  (All times are Central Standard Time.)

  
  

  Waitlist Policy

  If a class is full at the time of registration, students will be placed on a waitlist. Students will be notified if space becomes available.

  
  

  Tandem Partner Policy

  Tandem partners will be matched by the JASM office. Requests for partner changes may be made up to two (2) times, subject to availability. Please contact us at jasm@mn-japan.org. Participants are responsible for arranging meeting format (in person or online), schedules, and communication directly with their tandem partner. Tandem partners and volunteers provide informal language exchange only and do not offer instruction or tutoring. JASM is not responsible for arrangements or interactions that occur outside of official class sessions.

  
  

  Additional Notes

  • Tuition is not prorated. Missed classes cannot be made up, and no refunds or private tutoring are provided for absences.
  • If a class receives fewer than 5 registrations, it will be canceled. In that case, registered students may request a full refund.
  • If multiple sections of the same level are offered on different days, all sections will observe the same scheduled breaks and holidays. Please refer to the dates listed in the Class Description for the specific class schedule.
  • Class schedules may change due to instructor availability or unforeseen circumstances. Any make-up classes will be scheduled in consultation with the class.
  • A certificate of class completion may be issued upon request for students with 60% or higher attendance.
  • This course is designed primarily for adult learners. High school students are welcome to participate; however, participants under 18 years of age must be registered by a parent or legal guardian.

  
  

  Show details
• Announcement: Ben van Lierop, Mondale Award 2026 Recipient

  • When
    Sat, November 14, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Oak Ridge Country Club, 700 Oak Ridge Rd, Hopkins, MN 55305

  

  JASM is pleased to announce that J. Bernard “Ben” van Lierop has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Mondale Award. We look forward to honoring Ben at the 29th Mondale Gala on November 14.

  A Message from the Mondale Award Selection Committee Chair

  Mondale Award recipients are judged on four criteria: 

  1. Made a lifetime contribution to the Japan-Minnesota relationship through a variety of activities, projects, and initiatives

  2. Provided leadership in a pivotal project which accelerated significant public awareness of Japan and/or Minnesota in the reciprocal region

  3. Played a crucial role in developing a lasting partnership between Japan and Minnesota

  4. Served as an official representative in fostering closer ties between Japan and the United States

  J. Bernard van Lierop, fondly known as Ben, easily checked off all of the boxes for these criteria through his decades of service as an Executive Director, member and board member of JASM, as a board member of the Saint Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee, and through his collaboration with other Japanese American organizations such as Concordia Language Village, the Japanese American Citizens League and JET Alumni Association.

  Ben was instrumental in establishing and/or enhancing many of the JASM programs we have today, including J-Quiz, the Mondale Scholarship and the Obon Festival, and he was instrumental in forming the close relationship we have with the Japanese Consulate.

  We congratulate Ben on yet another career achievement, and we thank him for embodying the very meaning of the word "service" with both humility and enthusiasm.

  Kat Dalager, JASM President and Mondale Award Selection Committee Chair

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  

  J. Bernard (Ben) van Lierop

  Ben first traveled to Japan in June of 1950. He was two years old. The circumstances were harrowing. Ben’s family had moved to Korea in 1949 where his parents were beginning missionary service. A year later the Korean War broke out. The American military arrived on the family’s doorstep, informing Ben’s parents that all the foreign missionaries were to be evacuated immediately to Japan.

  So, Ben arrived in Japan where he developed the bulk of his early memories. He attended local kindergarten and absorbed Japanese quickly. Ben often speaks of acting as his mother’s “little interpreter” for shopping and routine daily interactions.

  
  

  At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the missionary families returned to Korea where Ben lived until he graduated high school. Then he attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

  
  

  Ben returned to Japan in 1972 where he initially worked in the travel business, honing his language skills and developing familiarity with Japanese cultural and business mores. Ben’s two eldest children were born during early years in Japan. One lives now with her family in Sydney, Australia. The other lives now with his family in Tokyo.

  
  

  Later, Ben entered other industries, specializing in outside sales. He interacted routinely in Japanese with his counterparts in the marketplace. His language, business and cultural fluency flourished.

  
  

  In 1990 Ben met his wife, Chris Nelson, in Tokyo. They were married in 1991 in Tokyo. Their first child was born in Tokyo in 1992. Three weeks later they moved to Minnesota, Chris’ home.

  
  

  Upon arrival, Ben immediately joined the Japan America Society of Minnesota and the St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee. In 2006, Ben became Executive Director of JASM, a position that became the pinnacle of his professional life.

  
  

  In 2022, Ben was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, by the Government of Japan in recognition of his contributions to strengthening relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

  
  

  Ben has always considered himself a bridge between cultures. If you have ever spoken with Ben, you understand that he has been a competent and compassionate bridge.

  —————————————————————————

  Register Today for the Mondale Gala

  Please join us for the Mondale Gala 2025 to celebrate the Mondale Award recipient and take part in this special evening on Saturday, November 15th at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins.

  
  

  
  

  Reception: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  Banquet & Program: 6:30-9:00 p.m.
  Dress Code: Business Attire, Cocktail Attire, or Kimono

  
  

  
  

  Early Bird (register by Oct. 11)

  $160/ Non-member

  $110/ JASM member

  
  

  Regular (register Oct. 12 - Oct. 30)

  $190/ Non-member

  $130/ JASM member

  
  

  Post-Deadline (register Oct. 31 - Nov. 6)

  $210/Non-Member

  $150/Member

  
  

  JASM invites you to become a member! Please sign up here and then register for the Mondale Gala 2026.

  
  

  Sponsors

  Matsu/ Pine Tree Sponsors

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Miller Milling Company
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Ume/ Sponsors

  

  
  

  
  

  Charles Breer

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Show details
• 2026 Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala (In-Person)

  • When
    Sat, November 14, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Oak Ridge Country Club, 700 Oak Ridge Rd, Hopkins, MN 55305
  • Spaces left
    67

  Register

  We invite you to join us for the 2026 Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala, which will be held in person on Saturday, November 14th at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins.

  
  

  Both the Mondale Award and Mondale Scholarship will be presented at this annual fundraising event. 
  

  
  

  The Mondale Award recognizes outstanding contributions to building understanding, cooperation, and respect between the people of Japan and Minnesota. The Mondale Scholarship is presented to students enrolled in Minnesota colleges and universities who want to broaden their knowledge of Japan through a combination of study and travel.

  
  

  Join us for the 29th Mondale Gala as we celebrate this year’s honorees and come together to support future generations of Mondale Scholarship recipients.

  
  

  Please note that we will be using a new platform for our silent auction this year. More details will be shared closer to the event.

  Reception: 5:30 p.m-6:30 p.m.
  Banquet & Program: 6:30 p.m-9:00 p.m.
  Dress Code: Business Attire, Cocktail Attire, or Kimono

  Do you need Kimono dressing assistance? Please click here to register.

  Assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As space is limited, we appreciate your understanding if we are unable to accommodate your request.

  
  

  Mondale Award Recipient: J. Bernard (Ben) van Lierop

  

  Ben first traveled to Japan in June of 1950. He was two years old. The circumstances were harrowing. Ben’s family had moved to Korea in 1949 where his parents were beginning missionary service. A year later the Korean War broke out. The American military arrived on the family’s doorstep, informing Ben’s parents that all the foreign missionaries were to be evacuated immediately to Japan.

  So, Ben arrived in Japan where he developed the bulk of his early memories. He attended local kindergarten and absorbed Japanese quickly. Ben often speaks of acting as his mother’s “little interpreter” for shopping and routine daily interactions.

  
  

  At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the missionary families returned to Korea where Ben lived until he graduated high school. Then he attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

  
  

  Ben returned to Japan in 1972 where he initially worked in the travel business, honing his language skills and developing familiarity with Japanese cultural and business mores. Ben’s two eldest children were born during early years in Japan. One lives now with her family in Sydney, Australia. The other lives now with his family in Tokyo.

  
  

  Later, Ben entered other industries, specializing in outside sales. He interacted routinely in Japanese with his counterparts in the marketplace. His language, business and cultural fluency flourished.

  
  

  In 1990 Ben met his wife, Chris Nelson, in Tokyo. They were married in 1991 in Tokyo. Their first child was born in Tokyo in 1992. Three weeks later they moved to Minnesota, Chris’ home.

  
  

  Upon arrival, Ben immediately joined the Japan America Society of Minnesota and the St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee. In 2006, Ben became Executive Director of JASM, a position that became the pinnacle of his professional life.

  
  

  In 2022, Ben was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, by the Government of Japan in recognition of his contributions to strengthening relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

  
  

  Ben has always considered himself a bridge between cultures. If you have ever spoken with Ben, you understand that he has been a competent and compassionate bridge.

  
  

  Keynote Speaker: 

  

  Karen Tanaka Lucas is a Sansei, third-generation Japanese American, born in post WWII Occupied Japan where her father was stationed with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service. She considers herself a native Californian and received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. But since attending graduate school, medical school and residency at the University of Minnesota, she’s been a Minnesotan for over 50 years. She retired after over 30 years as a family physician with HealthPartners. She is a board member with the Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens League and volunteers on their education committee.

  Most Minnesotans are unaware that Japanese was the first language ever taught by U.S. Military Intelligence and that 6,000 Japanese linguists, mostly second-generation Nisei, were secretly trained here in our state for military language intelligence during WWII. Tanaka’s father was in the first class at Camp Savage in 1942 and she shares his story.

  
  

  Mondale Scholarship Recipients 2026-2027

  

  It is with great pleasure that JASM presents the 2026-2027 Mondale Scholarships to the following students:

  • Lennon Austin​ (University of Minnesota)
  • Cayden Granger​ (University of Minnesota)
  • Kara Lazar​ (St. Olaf College)
  • Kumiko Muro​ (St. Olaf College)

  
  

  Congratulations!

  
  

  
  

  Support JASM

  Your gift helps support the Mondale Scholarship Fund and JASM’s programs and operations.

  

  
  

  Registration:

  Early Bird (register by Oct. 11)

  $160/ Non-member

  $110/ JASM member

  
  

  Regular (register Oct. 12 - Oct. 30)

  $190/ Non-member

  $130/ JASM member

  
  

  Post-Deadline (register Oct. 31 - Nov. 6)

  $210/Non-Member

  $150/Member

  
  

  JASM invites you to become a member! Please sign up here and then register for the Mondale Gala 2026.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Sponsors

  Matsu/ Pine Tree Sponsors

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Miller Milling Company
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Take/ Bamboo Sponsor

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Ume/ Plum Sponsors

  

  
  

  Charles Breer

  
  

  Kevin and Kathleen Hollahan

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Announcement: Karen Tanaka Lucas Named 2026 Mondale Gala Keynote Speaker

  • When
    Sat, November 14, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Oak Ridge Country Club, 700 Oak Ridge Rd, Hopkins, MN 55305

  

  JASM is happy to announce Karen Tanaka Lucas as the keynote speaker for the 29th Mondale Gala on Saturday, November 14th at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins.

  In her keynote, Karen will share an important chapter in Minnesota history.

  Most Minnesotans are unaware that Japanese was the first language ever taught by U.S. Military Intelligence and that 6,000 Japanese linguists, mostly second-generation Nisei, were secretly trained here in our state for military language intelligence during WWII. Karen’s father was in the first class at Camp Savage in 1942, and she will share his story.

  About Karen Tanaka Lucas: 

  

  Karen Tanaka Lucas is a Sansei, third-generation Japanese American, born in post WWII Occupied Japan where her father was stationed with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service. She considers herself a native Californian and received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. But since attending graduate school, medical school and residency at the University of Minnesota, she’s been a Minnesotan for over 50 years. She retired after over 30 years as a family physician with HealthPartners. She is a board member with the Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens League and volunteers on their education committee.

  
  

  Registration for the 29th Mondale Gala will open soon! Keep an eye on your inbox and the JASM website for registration details.

  We look forward to seeing you at the Gala!

  
  

  —————————————————————————

  Mondale Gala Informaion

  Please join us for the Mondale Gala 2026 to celebrate the Mondale Award recipient and take part in this special evening on Saturday, November 14th at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins.

  Reception: 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. 

  Banquet & Program: 6:30 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

  Dress Code: Business Attire, Cocktail Attire, or Kimono

  
  

  
  

  Early Bird (register by Oct. 11)

  $160/ Non-member

  $110/ JASM member

  
  

  Regular (register Oct. 12 - Oct. 30)

  $190/ Non-member

  $130/ JASM member

  
  

  Post-Deadline (register Oct. 31 - Nov. 6)

  $210/Non-Member

  $150/Member

  
  

  JASM invites you to become a member! Please sign up here and then register for the Mondale Gala 2026.

  Sponsors

  Matsu/ Pine Tree Sponsors

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Miller Milling Company
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Ume/ Sponsors

  

  
  

  
  

  Charles Breer

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Show details
• 2026 Annual Meeting (in-person)

  • When
    Thu, December 10, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    1601 Utica Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55416
  • Spaces left
    50

  The 2026 Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 10, at 6:00 p.m. at our Corporate Member, Taiyo International, Inc.’s office (Google Maps).

  At the meeting, we will reflect on the past year and look ahead to the next. We’ll discuss new ways to further JASM’s mission and hold elections for board members.

  Registration priority will be given to voting members.
  If you wish to bring a guest, please contact jasm@mn-japan.org.

  
  

  We look forward to seeing you there!

  
  

  Parking information:

  Please use Lilac Drive S to enter the parking garage on the east side. If arriving from Utica Street, take the road in front of the Taiyo office building, which will lead you to Lilac Drive and the parking garage entrance. There is no charge for parking. (Click here for a sky view map and here for the street view image of the parking garage.)

  
  

  

  
  

  Show details
• Making Okinawa-style Onigiri with Erina Tōyama (online)

  • When
    Thu, January 28, 2027
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    Online
  • Spaces left
    86

  New Date Announcement!

  Registration opens in late December 2026.

  

  Originally planned for June 2026, this special online cooking event has been rescheduled. We are pleased to announce that it will now take place on Thursday, January 28, 2027, from 6:00–7:00 PM (CST)!

  Join us as we explore Okinawan food culture through one of its most beloved local specialties — Pork & Egg Onigiri.

  Led by Erina Tōyama, JOI Coordinator. During the session, Erina will introduce the historical background of postwar Okinawa and share how local food culture developed, highlighting the popular “Pork & Egg Onigiri,” often made using SPAM® — a brand headquartered in Minnesota.

  Participants will learn how to make several Okinawa-style onigiri variations, while also enjoying a short presentation about Okinawan cuisine and cultural context. Whether you cook along at home or simply watch and learn, this is a fun opportunity to connect food, history, and community.

  
  

  Menu (Planned Flavors)

  • Plain
  • Tuna Mayo
  • Andansū (Okinawan Pork Miso)
  • Chikinaa Stir-Fry

  Ingredients List (Organized by Onigiri Type)

  Base Ingredients (for all onigiri)

  • Cooked Japanese rice
  • Nori (seaweed)
  • Salt

  Pork & Egg (Spam Onigiri)

  • SPAM® or luncheon meat
  • Eggs

  Tuna Mayo Onigiri

  • Canned tuna
  • Mayonnaise

  Andansū (Okinawan Pork Miso)

  • Pork belly
  • Miso
  • Sugar
  • Mirin
  • Ginger

  Chikinaa Stir-Fry Onigiri

  • Chikinaa greens (or substitute mustard greens/leafy greens)
  • Oil
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Dashi powder

  
  

  Tickets:

  JASM Member: FREE

  Non-JASM Member:  $10

  Please note that tickets are non-refundable. However, they are transferable. Please contact jasm@mn-japan.org for transfers

  
  

  

  
  

  Erina Tōyama was born and raised in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Her first experience living outside Okinawa was in Shanghai, China, when she was 24 years old. During her university years, she took a two-year leave of absence and worked at the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai. These valuable experiences helped her to realize the importance of grassroots international exchange for maintaining good relations between the two countries, and led her pursue a career in the field. She says that encountering different cultures and values through international exchange is not only enjoyable but also deepens one’s understanding of oneself, and she believes it can surely be helpful to others as well. Being from an island herself, she has personally experienced how access to information can vary depending on one's location. Through her experience as a JOI coordinator, she expects to learn what kind of efforts are needed to create more opportunities in such a regulated environment. Now, she says, she is very excited to create many opportunities for international exchange from Martin, Tennessee.

  
  

  
  

  　　　

  
  

  Show details