JASI Hinamatsuri 2024 was held at the Des Moines Art Center from March 1st to March 3rd. Over 20 sets of Hina dolls, both large and miniature, were displayed in the Atrium of the museum, bringing the joy to the festive beginning of the spring season. Additionally, a tea ceremony, origami workshop and kimono fashion show were presented. It was a wonderful opportunity to share hands-on Japanese cultural experiences.

To view Kimono fashion show, click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR0uLIp1Arw

Hoto is the noodle from the Yamanashi region of Japan. Our guest chef, Dr. Shohei Kurata showed us how to make the noodle, and we cooked it in a stew with vegetables and enjoyed it together. Participants also learned about our sister state Yamanashi, its natural beauties, culture, and Shingen Takeda, a war-load of the Yamanashi region who is still well respected even today. His philosophy is “be swift as the wind, calm as the forest, fierce as the fire and stable as the mountains.”

The event was held on 2/17/24.

Eho is the lucky direction for the year, and maki is a roll. We made sushi roll and ate it together facing the lucky direction, wishing for good health and happiness. The challenge was you were not supposed to talk till you finished your roll. Some people made their rolls in a very generous size, and were taking a long time to finish. It was great that all of us finished eating the lucky roll.

The event was held on 2/3/24.

What fun it was to play with whipped cream! Fruits were like gem stones that brought the beautiful and bright colors. It was sweet to taste and fun to see the design of everyone’s sandwich. Making the Fruit Sandwich brought a little spring day in the cold winter.

The event was held on January 20, 2024.

Shodo is the way of writing in Japanese calligraphy. Students learned about the history of Japanese writing styles and gained hands-on experience by writing with a brush and ink on rice paper. Held on January 7, 2024.

On December 31, as Japan welcomed the new year, we commenced ringing the friendship bell 108 times. Despite the windy and chilly morning, all participants enjoyed celebrating the moments of 2023 and became ready to welcome 2024.

Friendship and laughters filled the air as JASI members gathered for the year-end celebration. The White Elephant game captivated everyone’s attention.

What is Kanji? How to write kanji with a brush and ink? There is always something new to learn, and we had a great time doing it. November 20, 2023

Learning how other businesses are doing and reconfirming comradery in the Japan US business relationship among participants have been a long waited experience. JASI hosted bi-annual business conference on November 18, 2023. Questions, please contact JASI.

Sake is an integrated part of Japanese culture. It takes craftsmanship in sake making passed down in generations, effort in preserving natural resources of high quality clear water and rice, and love and passion for constantly pursuing the perfection in brewing by sake masters that make great sake. Respect and care in how sake is handled in events and daily life is also an important element of the tradition. It was wonderful to share sake’s versatility that goes with the western meal, while sharing other cultural experiences including the Kimono Fashion Show and the Taiko performance. November 17, 2023 at Krause Gateway Center.

Halloween…. hallowee…hallo….Hallo Anime!! On 10/29, the event showcased the Anime culture from different angles, from Anime music and singing, hiphop dancing in collaboration with Des Moines Breakers, anime goods, kimono experience and Cosplay competition. Old and new friends were united in the love of Anime.

Onigiri Action by Table for 2. JASI sponsored the event to share how to make Onigiri. Fun to make them, and yummy to eat them. More of onigiri events coming in the future. October 22, 2023

What fun to learn to play with Kendama game, one of the traditional children’s toys. It looked hard at the beginning, but participants learned how to catch the ball on a scoop after a few tries. The Windsor Heights Fall Festival in collaboration with CultureAll.

Furoshiki is one of a hidden gem of Japanese wisdom in a daily life. A piece of cloth can wrap items of any shape, and when the cloth is not used, it does not take any space in your bag. Participants learned how to wrap different items in efficient way at the Furoshiki Workshop on 9/24/2023 at the Mainframe studio.

JASI's first movie night at Varsity Cinema with an Anime movie that received huge response at the Canne Festival. The audience here was also captivated by the experiences the heroine Suzu went through. You are no longer alone.

New members and existing members mingled over curry and conversations. A little spice always makes life more fun.

August 23, 2023 World Food and Music Festival. Manabuya students danced with a taiko to a traditional fisherman dance song. Soten Taiko also performed on the stage, while Kendama and Origami workshop tables entertained children of all ages.

What a fun afternoon! September 3 was JASI Summer Festival. A ring toss, ping-pong ball challenge, Kingyo sukui (goldfish catching), water yo-yo pick up and cup-noodle stacking contest, followed by watermelon smashing and Bon dancing. The festivity was enhanced by the taiko performance on video by the high school students of Yamanashi Norin High School. Beautiful smiles on everyone’s face. For more photos https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VUw7KryNOIYoJ1_DQoasuWRJxwCBl8k5/view?usp=sharing

People gathered for a movie night with popcorn. The titled movie by courtesy of the Japan Foundation.

Biggest class ever. Beginners and advanced, all enjoyed speaking in Japanese. Thank you for participation in the last 4 months.