JASM is continuing its fundraising via our web shop. We are offering  Japanese festival masks including a fox, rabbit, or Hello Kitty option. We are offering these beautifully-designed masks, kimonos, flower vases, and other items for pick-up with your donation. Please click here to view the store on our website. We are adding new items weekly, so check the shop often to discover new items.

Japanese Festival Masks:  For a $12 donation ($10 for members), we are offering these beautiful and uniquely designed festival masks made in various colors and patterns and are made of plastic material. The dimensions of the fox masks are: width: 6.5 inch/ 16.5 cm height: 6 inch/ 15 cm. Please check the item details for more information regarding the dimensions of each item.

Please stay tuned for other items on the JASM Marketplace page on our website!

Please join us on March 9th from 3-4pm as North Dakota farmer and businessman, Bob Sinner, shares how he and his partners diversified their family farming business to take advantage of growing and unique agricultural trade opportunities abroad and specifically with the country of Japan. 

Building on a family farming heritage that began in 1906, SB&B Foods, LLC. has expanded by creating an international business to supply food-quality soybeans and other food-grade commodities directly to food manufacturers.

Bob will share his first-hand experience working with Japan customers and how Upper Midwest farmers are providing key ingredients for Japanese products, including a tofu produced in Japan that is named after Bob himself.

Additionally, Bob will share key insights on relationship management, leveraging the advantages of North Dakota’s agricultural capabilities, taking advantage of IP trends and navigating the challenges and opportunities in the current international trade climate.

Robert (Bob) Sinner has spent his entire life in North Dakota. After graduating from North Dakota State University with a degree in agricultural economics , Bob joined the family farming operation. Before SB&B actively pursued an expansion into international business, Bob served on the executive committee of the United Soybean Board and as chairman of its International Promotion Committee. In 1989, SB&B expanded by creating an international business to supply food-quality soybeans and later other food-grade commodities directly to food manufacturers globally. Japan has been a primary market with some unique success in the tofu industry. 

Bob serves as President of both SB&B Foods, the company marketing entity, and Identity Ag Processing, the state-of-the-art processing company, with two locations. In 2007, SB&B Foods received the North Dakota Exporter of the Year Award. Then in 2009, SB&B was presented with the North Dakota Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Bob currently also serves as president of SSGA (Specialty Soya & Grains Alliance), a national association of identity-preserved agriculture food ingredient suppliers . He has been and remains active in a variety of civic, state, regional, and national organizations including the North Dakota Trade Office board of directors and the National Agriculture Transportation Coalition advisory board. His three sons are also involved in the business.

Available in Japanese, the Web Labo Co-op offers more information about Japanese products which have been made in part by North Dakota farmers, including a tofu variety named after Bob Sinner. Bob also guest-blogs on the site. 

This event is free thanks to the sponsorship provided by the National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS) and the Embassy of Japan.

Supporting organization: North Dakota Trade Office.

Mark your calendars for March 14th from 3-5pm! In place of Shinnenkai this year, we will be holding an online entertainment event for Shinshunkai, or the spring festival. We are looking forward to it!

$10: Non-member

$8: Member

Stay tuned as we announce more information on performers for this amazing event!