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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 missionFounded in 1972, JASM is a member of the National Association of Japan-America Societies.


Calendar

    • 2024-03-21
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Online Cultural Event
    • 60
    Register

    Please join us for “Furoshiki Demo” with Kazumi Kataoka on Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom.


    In this presentation, Kazumi Kataoka will introduce us to the world of furoshiki, and how it can be used in everyday scenarios.


    Furoshiki come in many sizes, but if you have one that is around 30 x 30 inch (give or take a few), it would be ideal for practicing. 


    Ticket Price

    $8 for Non-Members

    Free for Members


    Kazumi Kataoka has lived in Minnesota for more than 20 years. She is a furoshiki enthusiast and wants to promote the use of furoshiki as an alternative to wasteful wrapping paper and plastic bags. 

    She founded a website called "BAGSTITUTE.COM" and spreads awareness on how multifunctional and versatile a furoshiki is. 

    (Photo: Kazumi Kataoka )



    Please support JASM to continue to help us further our mission and make events like this possible.

    • 2024-04-11
    • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
    • 10050 Crosstown Circle, Suite 350 Eden Prairie, MN 55344
    • 30
    Register

    Mark your calendar to join us for Corporate Roundtable on Thursday, April 11, 2024! We invite you to join us for a presentation provided by our corporate members, Miller Milling Company.


    This event will feature the following topics: 

    • US Agriculture and Grain Market update - The wheat market has seen significant disruption with conflicts in Ukraine, once in a century weather events, and significant inflation. We will talk through how this has impacted the US wheat market, causing generational increases in grain prices.  We will also discuss how food manufacturing like Miller Milling Company are navigating this new and changing business landscape. 
    • We will also include an overview of Miller Milling Company and our relationship with Nisshin Seifun Group.


    Price

    $20: Non-Members

    $15: Members

    **Tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferable.


    Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 8  to 9 am

    7:30 – 8:00 - Registration & Continental Breakfast

    8:00 – 9:00 - Presentation


    Address

    Miller Milling Company

    10050 Crosstown Circle, Suite 350 

    Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (Google Maps)


    SPEAKERS


    Ben Oertel, Miller Milling Company CFO – Ben has worked with various manufacturing companies for 20+ years in finance roles supporting operations and sales, along with mergers & acquisitions.  This included stints building paint mixers, roofing shingles, hearings aids (twice!) and most recently as CFO of Miller Milling Company, the 4th largest flour miller in the United States.  He currently lives in Inver Grove Heights, MN with his wife, Jessica and three kids (Colin – 11, Kate – 9, and Lucas – 14 months). 


    Will Untereker, Miller Milling General Counsel –  Will has over 15 years’ experience as trusted liaison between U.S. and Japanese businesses in multiple industries and roles on both sides of the Pacific. He joined Nisshin Seifun Group in 2015, who transferred him to Miller Milling Company in 2020. He currently lives in Edina, MN with his wife Wakana and two children (Billy – 11 and Noa – 7).




    We look forward to seeing you there!

    • 2024-04-18
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • TBD
    • 97

    This is new JASM member only event.

    Welcome new JASM Members!


    (Picture: New Member Social 2023 at  Upsher-Smith/Sawai Pharmaceutical in Maple Grove, one of our corporate members)

    New members who registered from May, 2023 to April 17, 2024 will be invited!

    Please save the date for New Member Social 2024 on April 18th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (CT)This event will be IN-PERSON. The location is TBD.       


    This event will help you get to know JASM a little bit better and become acquainted with other Japan enthusiasts in Minnesota and the surrounding area. 

    The registration will be open in March.

    • 2024-06-18
    • Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

    The 2024 Obon Festival will be on Sunday, August 18th at Como Park. We will look for volunteers starting in June/July.

    Please find information below on the various booths you can volunteer at and make this event successful together!

    (Picture: 2023 Obon Festival first shift volunteers)

    • 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 before the festival to get necessary information.  Time and location to be determined.

    We're looking forward to working with you!

    • 2024-08-18
    • 3:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

    Please save the date  for Obon Festival 2024 at Como Park on Sunday, August 18 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!

      


    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!

    • 2024-09-21
    • 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Pioneer Creek Golf Course 705 Copeland Rd #9787, Maple Plain, MN 55359
    • 72

    JASM will be holding our 3rd annual charity golf scramble event in September at Pioneer Creek Golf Course in Maple Plain, MN on September 21st.

    Please save the date for this event!

    We will announce the details as soon as we know.

    Enjoy a fun day of competition with friends while supporting JASM. This event is limited to 72 participants. 



    • 2024-11-16
    • 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Oak Ridge Country Club 700 Oak Ridge Rd, Hopkins, MN 55305

    Please mark your calendars for the 2024 Mondale Award and Scholarship Gala will be held in person on Saturday, November 16th at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins.


    Both the MondaleAward 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.



    • 2024-12-12
    • 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
    • TBD
    • 50

    The 2024 Annual Meeting  is scheduled on December 12th at 6:30 pm this year. The location is to be dermined.

    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.

    Mark your calendar!


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 Patron


Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Miller Milling Company

MGK INC


Corporate Sustaining Members

 

Hamre, Schumann,  Mueller & Larson PC   

Japan Lifeline Co.Ltd

Mall of America

Metropolitan Airports Commission

Naigai Industries U.S.A. Inc. 

Satellite Industries, Inc.

Surdyk's Liquor & Cheese Shop

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.


Corporate Contributors


Satellite Industries, Inc. UMEI    


Partners in Service


JK's Table     Kiku Enterprises, Inc.     

Metoree   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.


Recent Blog Posts

 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.


Contact Us

 jasm@mn-japan.org


P.O. Box 26639

Minneapolis, MN 55426


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