Mondale Scholarship applications open!
The Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM) will award the Mondale Scholarship to undergraduate students enrolled in Minnesota colleges or North Dakota State University who want to broaden their knowledge of Japan through a combination of study and travel. Former Ambassador Mondale continually promoted a deeper understanding of Japanese business, government, culture, and language among corporate leaders and employees in America. The Japan America Society of Minnesota is proud to have this opportunity to assist Minnesota/North Dakota students in their quest for a study experience in Japan since 1998.
Picture from a Mondale Scholarship Recipient 2023-2024: Livvy Peters (second from right), Wearing Kimono with friends in Arashiyama, Kyoto
July 17, 2025 - Application Deadline July 27, 2025 - Send interview invitations to candidates Aug 8, 2025 - Complete interviews of candidates Aug 11, 2025 - Award scholarships
July 17, 2025 - Application Deadline
July 27, 2025 - Send interview invitations to candidates
Aug 8, 2025 - Complete interviews of candidates
Aug 11, 2025 - Award scholarships
Please join us for our Harukaze Concert 2025 - a cultural and musical experience!
Harukaze 2025 concert: Solo, songs and duets by Leyna Marika Papach
Leyna Marika Papach will be presenting her smaller chamber compositions consisting of a solo piece written for violin, viola and electronics, as well as duets and songs performed by guest artists: Maiya Papachーsister and principal violist of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Isabella Dawis (voice), and Asako Hirabayashi (piano).
Register today!
Saturday, June 7th | 3:00 PM Doors open at 2:30 PM
Click Here For a Special Preview Video!
Tickets:
At the Door: $20 (Non-Member), $15 (Member)
Online Pre-Sale: $15 (Non-Member), $10 (Member)
Tickets are non-refundable but transferable. For questions, contact us at jasm@mn-japan.org.
Location: Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University 1531 Hewitt Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104
** Sundin Music Hall is Accessible for All
Leyna Marika Papach is a composer, interdisciplinary artist and violinist from Japan and the United States. With music being her central lens, she has created a body of work that spans across theater, dance, poetry and the visual arts. Her many works have been presented in Europe, Japan, West Africa, US, and her projects and creative explorations have been supported by programs such as the MAP Fund, NEA, HERE Arts Center, Minnesota Opera, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, and ACF and others. In 2024, she received the McKnight Composer Fellowship. As a collaborator and performer, she has worked with inspiring artists across a wide range of disciplines and continues to be inspired to make interdisciplinary work. Leyna studied violin at the Prague Academy of Music and received an MA in Theater-Dance studies form DAS Theater (Amsterdam), and an MFA in sound/music/interdisciplinary studies from Bard College. www.leynamarikapapach.com
Maiya Papach is the principal violist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. She has made frequent national and international appearances as a chamber musician, with a versatile profile in her performances of both traditional and contemporary repertoire. She is a founding member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), and has toured extensively with groups such as the Da Capo Chamber Players, Musicians from Marlboro, and has made appearances at Prussia Cove (UK), the Boston Chamber Music Society amongst many others. She is also a member of Accordo, a Twin Cities-based chamber music group. Papach is a 2013 recipient of the McKnight Fellowship and is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory and the Juilliard School of Music.
Isabella Dawis is a Filipina-American singer who both performs and writes music and theater of all kinds. She currently holds a 2023-25 Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship with the Jerome Foundation and is a 2026 Loghaven Artist-in-Residence. As a soprano, Isabella has been featured with the Minnesota Opera, the Minnesota Chorale, the Schubert Club, the Center for Contemporary Opera, the New York Philharmonic Biennial, Skylark Opera, and more. She has performed as an actor with Ten Thousand Things, the Guthrie Theater, Theater Mu, the Jungle Theatre, Trademark Theater, New Ohio Theatre, the Children's Theatre Company, and many more. Also a playwright and composer, Isabella is the recipient of the Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre, the Fred Ebb Award for musical theater songwriting, the Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award, and the American Opera Project's Composers and the Voice Fellowship. She is also a member of the rock band Kiss the Tiger (keys and vocals). www.isabelladawis.com
A harpsichordist and composer, Asako Hirabayashi's first recording on Albany Label, whose program is entirely composed and played by herself, was selected as one of the top ten albums of the year 2018 by the Global Music Awards and received 7 favorable reviews internationally. She won two McKnight Fellowships, Jerome Fund for New Music by American Composers Forum, Schubert Club Composer Award, Opera America’s Discovery Grant, MNiatures award by MN Opera and several first prizes in Alienor International Harpsichord Composition Competition. Her live performance of own composition was featured in Performance Today. She holds a DMA from the Juilliard School.
Sponsors
Noriko Ishida
David Mixon
This picture is from last year's workshop
Please join us for activities including a "Yosakoi Workshop" and Making Origami Sakura on Sunday, July 13th at the Mia Family Day!
We are lucky to have this in-person dance workshop by the wonderful instructor, Ms. Maria Traxler, from the Kizuna International Yosakoi Team.
In this workshop, Ms. Traxler will introduce the Tokyo Ondo, a simple and fun dance that everyone can join in and enjoy together, regardless of age or experience!
JASM will also be operating a booth for making paper Sakura flowers! This is to go alongside Mia's Hokusai | Monet Exhibition. Feel free to join us and make some pretty flowers. We will be building a large tree filled with Sakura together as a community.
This is a family-friendly event. No prior experience is necessary to participate. Please wear clothes that are easy to move in.
This event will be a fun way to get some exercise and learn about a regional dance of Japan. Please sign up today! We are looking forward to seeing you there.
Maria Traxler is a current member of the Kizuna International Yosakoi Team. She danced in the 2019 Kochi Yosakoi Festival as a Kizuna member, as well as in the 2015 Kochi Yosakoi Festival as a member of the Shimanto Town team Shimamuta.
(Photo: Maria Traxler)
You can watch the video from last year.
This event is free for all and open to the public!
Your donations are greatly appreciated!
We invite you to join us for an informal get-together at JASM Connects!
Thursday, July 17 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Fredrickson & Byron, JASM Corporate Member
60 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500
Minneapolis, MN 55402-4400 (See the parking info below.)
JASM Connects is a relaxed opportunity to meet new people, catch up with old friends, and enjoy a casual conversation in any language. Light appetizers and beverages, beer and wine will be generously provided by Fredrickson. There are no agendas, no formalities. Feel free to bring your meishi (business cards), though if you don’t have one, don’t worry — just come along and join the fun!
Free for JASM members
This event is brought to you by JASM, the bridge-building organization between Minnesota and Japan. We look forward to seeing you there!
Parking & Directions:
Click here for Fredrikson’s Minneapolis office visitor information.
Fredrikson is located at 60 South Sixth Street in downtown Minneapolis. The JASM Connects event will be on Floor 15. Please note, the building includes valet service. Gratuity for the valet is not expected. The 60 South Sixth Street ramp entrance is on 5th Street (one way). Be careful not to drive on the light rail tracks. There are three ramps in close proximity to the office, Gaviidae Commons Garage (61 South 6th Street), 517 Marquette Avenue Garage (517 South Marquette Ave), or the Midtown Garage (11 South 4th Street).
Obon Festival 2025 ticket will be available at Como Park website.Please save the date for Obon Festival 2025 at Como Park on Sunday, August 17 from 3 PM to sundown for a celebration of Japanese culture and tradition. There will be food, singing, dancing, martial arts, and of course, lantern lighting! This is a family friendly event perfect for everyone.
Please stay turned for the update!
To find the detail and purchase the tickets please visit Como Park website.
JASM Activities that will be at Obon Festival:
Calligraphy - Try your hand at calligraphy or ask the calligraphy master for a message on a fan (with a donation of $15 or more)
Yo-Yo Tsuri - A game where participants fish for floating balloons
Kingyo sukui - In our version, fish for rubber fish with scoopers
Japanese Quiz - Test your knowledge of Japan and win a prize
Main Booth - Find variety of JASM merchandise and other fun items.
Visit JASM Main Booth for Obon Festival Masks!
We hope to see you there!
When: Wednesday, October 29th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Sponsor: Satellite Industries, JASM Corporate Member
Who should attend: This event is open to all Japan America Society members, guests, and friends.
JASM Connects is a relaxed opportunity to meet new people, catch up with old friends, and enjoy a casual conversation in any language. There are no agendas, no formalities. Feel free to bring your meishi (business cards), though if you don’t have one, don’t worry — just come along and join the fun!
Please mark your calendars! The 2025 Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala will be held in person on Saturday, November 15th at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins.
Registration will open at the end of September.
Both the Mondale Award and Mondale Scholarship will be presented at this event. The Mondale Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the building of 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.
Please keep an eye out for registration information which will come in September.
The 2025 Annual Meeting is scheduled on December 11th at 6:30 pm. The place is TBD.
At the meeting, we will be reflecting on the year as a whole and looking forward to next year. We’ll discuss additional ways we can further JASM’s mission and will hold elections for board members.
Please mark your calendar!
JASM’s Community Engagement: Connecting Minnesota with Japan
Explore the events and organizations JASM visited in 2025 to share Japanese culture and strengthen ties between Minnesota and Japan.
February
March
April
May
June
July
jasm@mn-japan.org
P.O. Box 26639
Minneapolis, MN 55426
