This event has reached its registration capacity. The waiting list is now open.
JASM is excited to partner with ceramic artist Juliane Shibata and Northern Clay Center (NCC) to offer two hands-on ceramic workshops! Join us in the NCC Handbuilding Studio to create beautiful artistic pieces inspired by Japanese culture!
Help make ceramic pieces for 2026 Obon Festival artwork! All are welcome to join; the goal is to include and showcase a wide range of styles and individual perspectives. No previous art or clay experience is necessary (those under 18 yrs. old must be accompanied by adult).
Participants will take part in two free hands-on ceramic workshops at Northern Clay Center.
A collaborative artwork created in the workshops will be displayed at JASM’s 2026 Obon Festival.
The installation will be featured in the Ordway Gardens at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.
The project celebrates community connections and the unique identities of JASM members and friends.
Thursday, February 5, 2026 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Individuals will make 1-2 clay stamps that represent(s) an aspect or aspects of their identity. These stamps will be fired and used in workshop 2.
(Right: Example of bisque stamp and impression on slab of clay)
Thursday, March 19, 2026 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The stamps from the first workshop will be used to transfer designs onto fresh slabs of clay. Participants will use cookie cutters shaped like cherry blossoms to create related installation components.
(Right: Cherry blossom cookie cutter used to form the overall shape of the piece)
Note: Participants are strongly encouraged to attend both workshops. However:
Location Northern Clay Center (https://northernclaycenter.org/) 2424 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406 (Google Maps)
*Free parking is available in NCC’s West lot (off 24th Ave.)
*We will meet in Handbuilding Studio (Studio C)
Important Details
Free to participate (Voluntary donations are welcome and help support JASM programming. To donate, please click here.) Registration required Workshop Capacity: Maximum 20 participants per session. First come, first served. A waitlist will be generated if the workshops fill. Material: Clay and tools will be provided. Age Policy: Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
A waitlist will be generated if the workshops fill.
Material: Clay and tools will be provided.
About the organizer of Taking Shape:
Juliane Shibata is a ceramic artist and educator based in Northfield, Minnesota. She was awarded a 2025 Center for Craft Teaching Artist Cohort Grant, a 2021 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Ceramic Artists, and Artist Initiative grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Juliane received the Tile Heritage Prix Primo award at the 23rd Annual San Angelo National Ceramic Competition and first place in the 62nd Arrowhead Regional Biennial. She has been a resident artist at Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Starworks Center, Art Omi: Artists, The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China, and the College of Biological Sciences Conservatory & Botanical Collection at the University of Minnesota. Her installations have been commissioned by, among others, Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis.
www.julianeshibata.com
Juliane Shibata is a fiscal year 2026 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This project is supported by Forecast Public Art through funding from The McKnight Foundation.
JASM is excited to host a fundraiser featuring an item that perfectly captures our Minnesota-Japan connection — the Minnesooota T-Shirts that were the talk of the 2025 Obon Festival! It sold out once — now it's back for a limited time by popular request! Grab one for yourself and share the love with friends and family during JASM’s Minnesota T‑Shirts Fundraiser Weeks!”
This fundraiser will be live from February 15 to February 28th and will be available through our marketplace.
Orders will be shipped out on the Friday following the order date.
All funds raised will go towards JASM's operation cost.
JASM Executive Director Rio Saito sharing the shirt on local news before Obon 2025
Pricing:
Member - $20
Non-Member - $25
Shipping:
Inside US - $10
International - $20
Shirt Options:
Standard Neckline (Men's Sizing) - S, M, L, XL, 2XL
V-Neck (Women's Sizing) - S, M, L, XL, 2XL
About the Design:
The calligraphy itself was done by Tetsuya Shimano, who we are grateful to have as our Calligraphy Master at our Obon Booth each year. Graphic Designer Ken Sakurai was our consultant for the overall design.
The calligraphy reads "Minnesoota" in hiragana - the extended "o" sound mimicking the Midwest accent.
み(mi) ね(ne) そ(so) ぉ(o) た(ta)
JASM will award the Takuzo Ishida Memorial Scholarship to a student enrolled in a Minnesota high school who wants to broaden their knowledge of Japan through a combination of study and travel. The application deadline is now extended.
Please click here to read the application details.
2025 Timeline:
Past winner:
2025: Abdulla Abdulaziz and Pajtshiab Yang
2024: Bennie Tornoe (Click here to read her report on Tsushin Nov. 2024 issue on page 4)
2023: Walter Barlow (Click here to read his report on Tsushin Nov. 2023 issue on page 3)
If you would like to make a contribution to the Takuzo Ishida Memorial Scholarship's endowment, please click here.
Takuzo Ishida was a researcher, carpenter, chef, and bonsai enthusiast who served as President of JASM and Founder/Principal of the Minneapolis Japanese School. The Takuzo Ishida Memorial Scholarship was established in 2019 by Mr. Ishida’s family and friends to recognize his contributions to the Japanese community in Minnesota and to support his passion for youth education. (To read a special edition of the Tsushin dedicated to Mr. Ishida, please click here. )
Mondale Scholarship applications will open in Mid-March!
Picture from a Mondale Scholarship Recipient 2024-2025: Molly Turley (second from right), Making Pottery in Unnan City (雲南市 )
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.
The selection committee has the discretion to award up to $2,000 for each scholarship. In a typical year, between 3 and 5 scholarships are awarded. The awards are specifically to be used for travel to or within Japan before, during, or after the student’s specified term(s) of study.
July 16, 2026 - Application Deadline July 26, 2026 - Send interview invitations to candidates Aug 7, 2026 - Complete interviews of candidates Aug 10, 2026 - Award scholarships
Registration will open on Thursday, February 19.
We are happy finally to announce that JASM will launch its inaugural online Japanese language course. This course will meet once a week in the evening for twelve weeks and will be offered online via Zoom.
This is a pilot course offered exclusively to JASM members.
Dates: April 6 – June 22, 2026 (12 weeks) Day: Mondays Time:
Each session includes 90 minutes of class, followed by an optional 30-minute office hour for individual questions and support.
Beginner
$350* (JASM members only)
*This pilot course is available exclusively to JASM members.
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.
Genki I (3rd Edition), The Japan Times
Please prepare a small whiteboard and marker, or alternatively, paper and a thick marker (such as a Sharpie) for use during class activities.
Textbooks may be purchased through Amazon or other (online) bookstores.
This course is designed for those who have no previous knowledge of Japanese, and 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 the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has made, you will aim to reach the level of Novice Mid by the end of this course.
This course will cover Lessons 1 through 3 of GENKI I (refer to “Required Materials”), including both “Conversation and Grammar” and “Reading and Writing.” The following topics are covered in this course:
Meeting people for the first time,
Shopping and eating out, and
Describing activities and extending/declining invitations.
To facilitate literacy, two types of Japanese characters, Hiragana and Katakana, and 15 Chinese characters, Kanji, will be introduced. 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 a Senior Teaching Specialist of Japanese in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) at the University of Minnesota since 2010. 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).
If the instructor knows in advance that she will be unable to teach on a regularly scheduled class date, an alternative 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.
Monday, March 23rd
JASM membership is required to register.
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
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.
Register online at
https://japanamericasocietyofminnesota.wildapricot.org/event-6554922
The class requires a minimum of 5 students and has a maximum of 10 students.
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.
Students are strongly encouraged to use a computer or tablet. Mobile devices are not recommended, as they may limit Zoom functionality.
All cancellation and refund requests must be submitted by email.
By March 23, 2026: Full refund
March 24 – April 5, 2026: 50% refund
After April 6, 2026: No refunds
No refunds or credits will be issued for missed classes.(All times are Central Standard Time.)
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 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.
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 4 registrations, it will be canceled. In that case, registered students may request a full refund.
Class schedules may change due to instructor availability, holidays, 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 is an adult language program. Classes are open to individuals 18 years and older.
Obon Festival 2026 ticket will be available at Como Park website.
Please save the date for Obon Festival 2026 at Como Park on Sunday, August 16 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.
The Obon Festival will take place rain or shine!
Please stay tuned for updates!
To find details, including parking information, and purchase 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
Wanage - Enjoy Japanese ring toss with friends
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!
Please mark your calendars for the 2026 Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala. It will be held in person on Saturday, November 14th 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 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.)
jasm@mn-japan.org
P.O. Box 26639
Minneapolis, MN 55426
