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 COVID-19 Update

In the interest of the health and safety of our staff, members, and broader Japanese community, we have made the decision to close the JASM office. For the time being, we have been providing online activities.  Staff members are working remotely and will continue to be available as much as possible via e-mail.


Upcoming events

  • 2022 Mondale Award Nominations

    • 2022-08-15

    Currently we are looking for nominations for the Mondale Award for Japan-Minnesota Partnership. If you think you know an individual or organization who is perfect for this award, please let us know! 


    Please click here for a list of criteria for the Mondale Award and here to nominate someone. 

    The due date for nominations is August, 15 2022. 

    Every year, the Japan America Society of Minnesota presents the Mondale Award for Japan-Minnesota Partnership to an individual or organization that has been nominated by the membership and selected by a committee of the Board of Directors. Purpose: The Mondale Award for Japan-Minnesota Partnership is presented by JASM to recognize outstanding contributions to the building of understanding, cooperation and respect between the people of Japan and Minnesota. 


    After Walter Mondale returned to Minnesota in 1997, having served with distinction as Ambassador to Japan, JASM created the Mondale Award for Japan-Minnesota Partnership. The award was first presented to Joan and Walter Mondale to recognize his work as an ambassador to Japan and her ongoing efforts to promote the arts in both countries. The Mondale's epitomized JASM's core value of fostering meaningful connection between Minnesota and Japan. Through this award, JASM celebrates individuals and organizations who are dedicated to bringing Japan and Minnesota closer together.


    Recent awardees include: 

    Sarah Walbert (2021) 

    Bill Deef (2020)

    Patricia Katagiri (2019)

    You can find a complete list of awardees by clicking here.

    We cannot wait to receive your nominations! 

    Show details

  • 2022 Obon Festival Volunteers Needed!

    • 2022-08-21
    • 1:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    • Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

    With the 2022 Obon Festival coming up on Sunday, August 21 at Como Park, we are looking for volunteers! Please find information below on the various booths you can volunteer at. 

    Please use this google form to sign up.


    • Calligraphy - assist calligraphy master and help people do calligraphy (previous experience with calligraphy preferred) 
    • Yo-Yo Tsuri - a game where participants fish for floating balloons. Volunteers will need to organize booth, prepare water balloons, prepare hooks, and help run game. 
    • Balloon Makers - help make balloons for Yo-Yo Tsuri 
    • Kingyo sukui - our version will involve participants fishing for rubber fish with scoopers. Volunteers will need to prepare tubs of water, and help run game. 
    • Japanese Quiz - conduct J-quiz by asking participants questions and encouraging participants
    • Main Booth - sell variety of JASM merchandise and conduct membership outreach 

    Everyone is welcome to volunteer, as long as you are 18 years or older. Both newcomers and experienced Obon volunteers are welcome!

    Please note that all volunteers need to attend a volunteer workshop via zoom on Thursday, August 11 at 6 pm before the festival to get necessary information. 

    We're looking forward to working with you!

    Show details

  • 2022 Japanese Obon Festival

    • 2022-08-21
    • 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

    After two years, the 2022 Japanese Obon Festival is finally back! Please join us at Como Park on Sunday, August 21 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. 


    Beginning this year, attendees will be required to prepurchase tickets online. Please visit the Como website here to buy the tickets.

    If you are interested in volunteering at one of the JASM booths, please click here.

    Show details

  • 2022 JASM Charity Golf Tournament

    • 2022-09-17
    • 12:00 PM
    • Pioneer Creek Golf Course 705 Copeland Rd #9787, Maple Plain, MN 55359
    Register

    Pioneer Creek Golf Course - Maple Plain, MNFORE!!! JASM will be holding our annual charity Golf Scramble Tournament at

    Pioneer Creek Golf Course  (705 Copeland Rd #9787, Maple Plain, MN 55359) on Saturday, September 17th.


    This tournament will follow a scramble format where the best ball per foursome is the one that counts. Regardless of your handicap, all teams have a shot at birdie on every hole in a scramble! The tournament will begin at 1:00pm. All tournament proceeds will go to the benefit of JASM operations and programming.

    Please invite your friends, family and co-workers to this safe, fun, outdoor event!The tournament is limited to 18 foursomes. You can arrange your own foursome or we'll get one for you.

    Tee off will be at 1:00pm Saturday, September 17. Registration and check-in begin at 12:00 noon. Please arrive no later than 12:30pm

    $75/$90 (JASM member/non-member) per person who enroll on or before August 19. Registration fees will be increased to $100/$115 (JASM member/non-member) per person after after August 19. Registration deadline is September 9th.

    We will send you a confirmation email after your payment.

    Registration includes:

    • Driving range
    • Golf cart
    • Green fees
    • Prizes and lots of fun!!

    If you have questions, please contact:

    Tom Haeg, tomhaeg@msn.com, 612-940-3351

    Marc Blehert, mblehert@yahoo.com, 763-280-2108

    Hope to see you there! Have a blast playing golf while supporting JASM!


    Show details

  • Smart Agriculture and its Benefits (Online)

    • 2022-10-27
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Online
    • 30

     JASM is pleased to announce an online event: "Smart Agriculture and its Benefits" by Katsutoshi Mizuta on October 27 at 6 PM. 


    Smart agriculture has demonstrated its great possibilities to enhance crop productivity, economic returns, and environmental quality. The farmers use various sensors and data to optimize fertilizer application, irrigation, and soil nutrient leaching. This presentation reviews some advanced practices and technologies implemented in the US and world. A drone flight will follow to be demonstrated in a field nearby.

    Katsutoshi Mizuta, originally from Japan received a PhD, is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota Precision Agriculture Center. He is leading a multistate precision nitrogen management research project in collaboration with Purdue University. He received his BS in environmental engineering in 2014. He also received both his MS majoring in soil and water sciences (SWS) in 2016 and his PhD majoring in SWS (minoring in food and resource economics). He also has experience in research from a local to regional scale with cutting-edge technologies (machine learning; proximal, airborne, and satellite remote sensing) based on big data of soil, crop, biome, climate, terrain, and geology.

    In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his family.

    We are looking forward to seeing you there!

    $8: Non-member

    $0: Member

    The ticket is not refundable, but transferable.

    Show details

  • Save the date for the 2022 Mondale Gala (in-person)

    • 2022-11-19
    • Oak Ridge Country Club 700 Oak Ridge Rd, Hopkins, MN 55305

    We are pleased to announce that the 2022 Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala will be held in person on

    Saturday, November 19th at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins.

    Please mark your calendars.

    The 25th Mondale Gala will pay tribute to Ambassador Mondale who greatly strengthened the relationship between Japan and the United States and was an avid supporter of JASM. The Mondale Award was created 25 years ago as a way to recognize individuals who walked in Amb. Mondale's footsteps in their outstanding achievements in continuing to build the bond between Japan and Minnesota. At the same time, the Mondale Scholarship was created to provide  financial support for the students studying in Japan. 

    We have not been able to recognize Bill Deef and Sarah Walbert, the award winners in 2020 and 2021 respectively, as well as scholarship recipients in person due to COVID. Therefore, they will also be recognized alongside the 2022 winners in this year's gala. Please join us to celebrate award and scholarship recipients as well as JASM's 50 years of strengthening Minnesota-Japan relations.

    Please keep an eye out for registration information which will be coming soon.

    Show details

Connecting Japan and Minnesota for nearly 50 years

The Japan America Society of Minnesota is a member-supported, non-profit organization established to promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japanese and US citizens. Through our programs and events, we endeavor to promote an appreciation of cultural, educational, economic, public, and other affairs of interest to both peoples. JASM also connects and supports Minnesota's seven Japanese sister cities, two Japanese-language Saturday schools, over 100 Japanese corporate subsidiaries, and a host of other organizations dedicated to Japan-related topics from Anime to Zen. JASM is open to individuals, corporations, and other organizations interested in supporting its mission. Founded in 1972, JASM is a member of the National Association of Japan-America Societies.

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THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS

JASM is supported by hundreds of individuals and over 40 Companies and Non-Profit Organizations. Special thanks to the following sponsors:

Corporate Benefactors


Daikin Applied 

Delta Air Lines, Inc.  

Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd     

Taiyo International, Inc.

Corporate Contributors


Satellite Industries, Inc.     UMEI    

Corporate Sustaining Members

 

Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, PC     Japan Lifeline Co.Ltd

Mall of America     Metropolitan Airports Commission     MGK, Inc.

Naigai Industries U.S.A. Inc.     Satellite Industries, Inc.

Surdyk's Liquor & Cheese Shop

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.


Partners in Service


JK's Table     Kiku Enterprises, Inc.     Minnesota Trade Office

Origami Restaurant     Sakura Restaurant

Saint Paul Saints Baseball Club     Saji-Ya Restaurant

Suishin Restaurant

Tomodachi     Voyager  Group Inc.


Nonprofit Members


Concordia Language Villages     Economic Club of Minnesota     Global Minnesota

JETAA Minnesota     JETRO Chicago     JP Network, St. Cloud State University

KCC-Japan Education Exchange     Macalester College Asian Language & Culture Department

Minneapolis Japanese School     Minneapolis Institute of Art

Minnesota Council of Teachers of Japanese     Minnesota Orchestra     

NDSU-Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection     Twin Cities Aikido Center

UMN Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

University of North Dakota-Grand Forks     Winona State University Global Studies Dept.


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Contact Us

 jasm@mn-japan.org


P.O. Box 26639

Minneapolis, MN 55426


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