Japan America Society of Minnesota upcoming events

Announcement: Ben van Lierop, Mondale Award 2026 Recipient (Sat, November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

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.

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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.

2026 Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala (In-Person) (Sat, November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Announcement: Karen Tanaka Lucas Named 2026 Mondale Gala Keynote Speaker (Sat, November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

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:

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!

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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.

2026 Annual Meeting (in-person) (Thu, December 10, 2026)

Fri, 11 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

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.)