PAGE 1 2015 / Issue 1

Japan-America Society of San Antonio

Spring Newsletter

JASSA wants to thank to its amazing member volunteers and Event Coordinator Kenji Palmer for creating

best-selling Yakisoba at events! If you are interested in donating your time for an upcoming JASSA event,

please contact events@jas-sa.org for more info!

A Word from the President Martha Fabrique

TABLE of CONTENTS

A Word from the President…..……………. pg 1

Japanese learners show their talent at SAC....pg 2

JASSA at Local Events………..……….……pg 3

Noh master visits San Antonio ……………. pg 4

Board Member Spotlight……….……...…... .pg 5

Announcements & Member Recognition…….pg 6

In the first three months of my tenure as JASSA’s President, my

schedule has been packed with monthly board meetings with our

outstanding volunteer board members, informative visits with members

of the Japanese Companies Association of San Antonio headed by Mr.

Yoshi Nagatani, participating in the fundraising food booth events at the

Asian Festival and Mizumi Con, and helping to host visitors like Mr.

Fumiya Igarashi from the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, who is based in New

York City. We have also co-hosted several events including the Japanese

Speech Contest held at San Antonio College, and the Japanese Play

Contest held at UTSA. As President, I try to attend and participate in as

many events as I can and represent JASSA to the best of my ability. Our

organization is a very important one in supporting the many activities

involving Japan that occur in San Antonio as well as promoting our own

events and reaching out to our membership. As a member, I hope you

are hearing from us via online communications on a regular basis, and

are able to participate in activities. Ongoing improvements are

happening at the JASSA website, including more information in

Japanese. Japanese language classes, Ikebana classes and other programs

can be registered for here http://www.jas-sa.org. Upcoming events

include our General Membership Meeting at the Thousand Oaks Library

on Sunday April 26. Come and hear our featured program by Dr. Kevin

Salfen from the University of the Incarnate Word on his excellent multi-

faceted project on Japanese Noh Drama called "Where Rivers Meet,"

enjoy refreshments and meet fellow members. I look forward to meeting

you on April 26 and to hearing from you at any time. Please contact me

at president@jas.sa.org.

会

長

か

ら

の

挨

拶

ようり？

2015 / Issue 1 PAGE 2

San Antonio College hosts 26th Annual Japanese Speech Contest Sponsored by Japan America Society of San Antonio, Japanese Teachers Association,

Consulate General of Japan at Houston, and San Antonio College

Announcement: Sound at the Center: Buddhist Music for the Shakuhachi Concert

featuring Martha Fabrique

Motherhouse Chapel on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word

Sunday, April 19 at 3 pm. Free and open to the public!

The classrooms at San Antonio College were filled with students

from San Antonio Middle Schools and High Schools, as well as

colleges and universities on February 7, 2015. The event was the

26th Annual Japanese Speech Contest, one of several held

throughout the state, successfully organized by Ms. Yuko Kawabe.

This competition will be followed the Texas state contest in March

in Houston, where San Antonio will be represented by Saturday’s

winners. Esteemed judges included the following: Pratt,

Nishikawa, Fukuda, Kawabe, Romanowich, O’Donnell, Balite and

Baxter.

第 26回

日本語スピーチコンテスト

サンアントニオ大会

There were 60 contestants plus about 100 family members and

friends who attended the awards ceremony. Dr. Amy Whitworth,

Chair of the Foreign Languages, ESOL and Culture Department,

welcomed the participants, and JASSA’s Dr. Fabrique outlined the

relationship between our organization and Japanese culture in San

Antonio. JASSA’s Ms. Costello provided a perspective on the high

achievement of the contestants, providing a measure of how

difficult Japanese is to learn for native English speakers. The

audience was entertained by two of the contestants who also sang

in Japanese. Certificates were presented to all contestants, followed by

presentation of awards to the winners. - Carol Costello (VP

Education)

Introducing: JASSA 2015 Board Members

Membership Vice President, Erina Romanowich; Business Vice President, Toru Nishikawa

Cultural Activities Vice President, Ian Cruz; Program Vice President, Toni Gustafson;

Education Vice President, Carol Costello; Events Coordinator, Krisopher Palmer

Kumamoto Sister City and Hospitality Chair, Miyako Wallace

Secretary, John Esparza; Treasurer, Victoria Herrera

IT Manager, Jonathan Macias; Parliamentarian, Tom Zabel

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY AND DEDICATION TO JASSA!!

Immediate Past Preident, Makiko Fukuda

Speech contest Judges and Organizers

A Top Prize Winner!!

2015 / Issue 1

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

More than Just Noodles – JASSA at Events

ねえ知ってる？Kumamoto prefecture’s famous mascot Kumamon generated 64.3 billion yen in

sales of products in 2014. Kumamon currently appears on over 8,200 items across Japan!

The JASSA yakisoba booth is a well-

known staple at various events in San

Antonio. So far, in 2015, the popular

booth has made an appearance in two

large-scale festivals.

In February, JASSA participated in the

Institute of Texan Culture’s Annual

Asian Festival. As well as feeding

hungry people, JASSA members were

also in attendance showing off their

talent - offering workshops ranging

from tea ceremony to shakuhachi

(bamboo flute) performances,

kamishibai and ikebana demonstrations.

In March, JASSA also participated in

Our Lady of the Lake University’s

annual Mizuumi-Con selling yakisoba.

Miyako Wallace (Hospitality Chair)

was also in attendance, providing an

ikebana workshop. Her experience and

mastery of ikebana added a traditional

flavor to the primarily anime and video

game-centered festival.

Event coordinator Kris Palmer has done

a great job executing these events and

welcomes anyone who would like to

volunteer to be a part of the fun!

Contact him at events@jas-sa.org to get

involved.

It’s already been a busy year for

JASSA, but there is more to come!

Planning has already begun for the 2nd

annual Aki Matsuri in the fall. Stay

tuned for more information and how

you can help out! - Ian Cruz!

Mrs. Rieko Johnson at the Asian Festival Tea Ceremony

Mr. Toru Nishikawa, Vice President of Business, cooking Yakisoba at Mizuumi-Con!

SAVE THE DATE:

Our Fall Festival, Aki Matsuri, will be held on October 26 at the Jingu Gardens of San Antonio. If you would like to

participate as a volunteer, vendor or performer, please contact events@jas-sa.org.

2015 / Issue 1

Noh Master Visits San Antonio Page 4

On March 29th, the San Antonio Central

Library hosted a special exhibit dedicated to

the Japanese dramatic art of Noh. Part of the

international performance project ‘Where

Rivers Meet,’ the exhibit featured a Noh

performance as well as a demonstration from

master artisan Hideta Kitazawa.

Thirteen of Mr. Kitazawa’s beautifully

handcrafted masks will be on display at the

San Antonio Central Library until November

8th, 2015.

Hideta Kitazawa

SAVE THE DATE:

General Membership Meeting, Sunday April 26, 2 – 4 PM Special Program on Noh project “Where Rivers Meet”

Thousand Oaks Library, 4618 Thousand Oaks Dr, San Antonio, TX 78233 (210) 207-9190

Always wanted to learn how to make beautiful Ikebana arrangements?

JASSA offers classes led by master Ikebana artist Makiko Wallace. Look for these dates at the website

to register!

April 23, April 30 and & May 7

Thursdays at 6:30 pm at The McNay Museum Learning Center

$100 (member fee), $125 (non member fee).

All materials will be provided.

2015 / Issue 1

PAGE 5

Board Member Spotlight

Bo

ねえ知ってる？Noh has been performed in Japan since the 14th

century!

Just who are the mysterious people who work

behind the scenes on the board of the Japan-

America Society of San Antonio?? In this section,

we aim to provide some more information about

ourselves so members can feel comfortable

knowing who we are and why we are a part of this

great organization. Who knows, you may want to

be a board member yourself one day!

For this edition of the JASSA newsletter, I was

volunteered to write about myself – Ian Cruz! Many

people have surely seen me around at JASSA

meetings and other events, running around like a

curly-haired wild man.

My connection to Japan is quite personal. From

2010 until 2013, I participated in the JET (Japan

Exchange and Teaching) Program and lived in

Kumamoto, Japan. I taught English in local

elementary and junior high schools and fell in love

with the culture of Japan and its day-to-day life.

Upon my return to the U.S., I wanted to keep the

strong connection that I created with Japan alive, so

I joined JASSA as the Cultural Activities V.P.

In my time with JASSA, I’ve mostly helped secure

JASSA’s participation in large city-wide events

like: The Asian Festival, King William Fair,

Mizuumi-Con and, most recently, JASSA’s own

Aki Matsuri. Some of the other things I’ve helped

organize are member socials and movie screenings.

In my free time, I like to read, write, work out and

dance around to Japanese or Korean pop music. I

also have a slight obsession with Kumamon,

the adorably vacant-eyed bear mascot of

Kumamoto prefecture.

Working with JASSA has really been a great

opportunity to meet so many different kinds

of wonderful people. It’s also been a

wonderful outlet for me to talk about my

experiences in Japan (my family and friends

are most definitely tired of hearing about it).

Please don’t hesitate to strike up a

conversation with me at the next general

meeting or at any event! Likewise, if you

have any ideas about cultural events or

activities that JASSA can do, I’d love to hear

them! よろしくお願いします！

JASSA supports the Japanese Supplementary School of San Antonio!

2015 / Issue 1

Japan-America Society of San Antonio

サンアントニオ日米協会 P.O. Box 460444

PAGE 6

San Antonio Texas 78246-0444

Announcements:

Change in Renewal Dates and Membership

Levels

The Board of Directors for the Japan America Society San Antonio (JASSA) has decided that all memberships will renew at one year from the initial join date. Additionally, the Board has voted to change the number of bundled members for Corporate Members to the following: Corporate level - $150, 5 members bundled Corporate Non profit level - $100, 5 members bundled Corporate 1 level - $250, 10 members bundled Corporate 2 level - $500, 20 members bundled Corporate 3 level - $1,000, 50 members bundled Corporate 4 level - $1,500, unlimited members bundled Administrators for corporate memberships may add up to specified number of individuals who can then use membership benefits. Some sponsored events may have a restricted number of members allowed to attend at Corporate Level 4. JASSA encourages use of the member benefits available including restaurant discounts, class discounts, Imperial Hotel in Tokyo discounts, free attendance at sponsored events and more. Visit http://www.jas-sa.org for more information.

Welcome and Thank You to New and Renewing JASSA Members!

Melissa Arellano

Chiemi Ash

Joseph Bacal

Malachi Baxter

Noriko Baxter

Tim & Lucia Cassler

Fumiko Castillo

Maurice Castro

Michael Cayas

Yoshiko Chaisson

Aya Cho

Chiya Cloutier

Carol Costello

Cathleen Crab

Ian Cruz

Regina Dukes

Martha Fabrique

Cassandra Fujimoto

Adalira Garcia

Yoshie Green

Antoinette Gustafson Lauren Hanna Alexandria Hernandez

Michelle Hernandez

Jorge Herrera

Socorro Herrera

Victoria Herrera

Fredrick & Leona

High

Kyle Hutcheson

Carl Johnson

Carol Johnson

Rieko Johnson

Yuko Kawabe

Chiyoko Kilhefner

Joji Kitaura

Risa Kitaura

Jonathan Macias

Yasuno McNab

Jean Luc Mette

Akiko Monro

Sister Margit Nagy

Toru Nishikawa

Taeg Nishimoto

Don Olsen

Sakiko Oyama

Chris Packham

Mark Page

Kris Palmer

Veronica Perez

Cong-Dat Pham

Scott Phillips

Toma Phillips

Roger Pratt

Jan Puckett

Don Pylant

Leslie Pylant

Eileen Ramirez

Amanda Revillas

Philip Ross

Kristen Sharp

Daniel Tan

Rocio Torres

Anabell Vernier

Alvin Wallace

Miyako Wallace

George Wilborn

Vincent & Berzah

Williams

Jonathan Williamson

Liang Wong

Ming-shih Wong

Masayoshi Yokosuka

Mimi Yu

JASSA appreciates its wonderful corporate sponsors!

River City Iaido &

Kendo Kyokai

City of San

Antonio

International

Relations Office