Japan America Society of Minnesota

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1 Japan America Society of Minnesota 通信 The Tsūshin is a membership publication of the Japan America Society of Minnesota The annual J-quiz language competition sponsored by JASM and the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Japanese was held Saturday, February 18, at Normandale Community College. The only one of its kind in the region, J-Quiz had over 80 high school students from 8 high schools in attendance. Teams of two to three were tested on a variety of Japanese subjects, including culture, reading, writing, identification, listening, and speaking. The Event This year s J-Quiz was once again a full day of activity, with students arriving as early as 7:15 a.m. to register their teams and prepare for the competition. Their morning started off with an opening ceremony before branching off to their designated rooms to begin the preliminary rounds essay questions that would qualify three teams for the finals. While they waited for the results, students were treated to short cultural classes and a lush flea market full of donated Japanese goods, followed by a delicious bento lunch provided by Kikugawa. The afternoon marked the beginning of the final rounds, and finalists were announced for each of the three levels before the competition resumed. The competition was exciting as students strived to achieve maximum points with questions on language and culture. Needless to say, the final rounds were filled with suspense and a silent audience (lest they should accidentally give away any hints). The competition came to a close with a speech from Honorary General Consul of Japan at Minneapolis, Mirja Hanson, who thanked students and teachers for putting in their time and effort to learn and teach such a rich (yet sometimes difficult) language. The winners were announced shortly after. March 2012 VOL. 21, No J-Quiz Challenges Students in Exciting Language and Culture Competition Cultural Classes Students had the opportunity to attend two out of three cultural classes offered at the event. Long time favorite Anime Twin Cities offered its insights on anime as both a culture and an industry, in Japan and locally. N- Dimensional Japan, a Japanese-student group from the University of Minnesota, presented on the culture and industry of the world-famous Ghibli Studio. Asobou Japanese Immersion Club (AJI), also a University of Minnesota student group of Japanese-culture enthusiasts, demonstrated the art of making onigiri. Ashley Stucky, member of AJI, preparing rice for onigiri The Winners Our 2012 J-Quiz winners are as follows: Level IV (pictured left to right) - Roman Mroczek, Bre Garcia, and Aaron Brown from Memorial High School of Eau Claire, WI; Level III Huy Tram, Sumanth Ravikumar, and Alexis Monticillo from Shakopee High School; Level II Eric Huft and Daniel Halmrast from Edina High School. The winners from each level will now go on to compete in the National Japan Bowl, hosted by the Japan America Society of Washington, D.C. this spring. Like J-Quiz, contestants will be tested on their knowledge of the Japanese language and culture. Winners will also attend the Sakura Festival, the largest Japan related celebration in the U.S. JASM is currently raising money to send the students to Washington. Please help JASM with a donation! For more information, call the JASM office at Finalists from Levels II-IV, accompanied by JASM Executive Director Ben van Lierop (very left) and Honorary Consul General Mirja Hanson (very right) Sponsors and Volunteers We would like to thank the following sponsors who have contributed to the winners trip to Washinton, D.C.: Delta Airlines, Andersen Windows, Electromed, McQuay International, Dorsey & Whitney LLP Taiyo International, Lion Precision, Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. and the Japan Foundation Los Angeles. Special thanks to all the volunteers and J-Quiz Planning Committee co-chairs Michiko Dressen and Hiroko Shade!

2 2012 A Year of Activities and Opportunities Recent Events 2012 is off to a flying start for JASM. Our first two events were quite successful. The Shinnenkai was held on January 15 th at the Eisenhower Community Center with approximately 300 attendees. This is my favorite JASM event. It has it all: family, fun, great entertainment, tasty food, and the chance to meet your friends and wish them a Happy New Year. Our second event was J-Quiz held on February 18 th at Normandale Community College. Close to 85 students signed up to participate, representing eight schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin. This was a very competitive event with the students demonstrating an impressive understanding of Japanese. It is important to stress that JASM is the only Japan America Society in the Midwest that sponsors a language competition, with the winning teams being awarded a trip to Washington to attend the national competition. This is a significant commitment, both financially and in time by volunteers and JASM Office staff. It is a commitment I think is vital for JASM to make in order to support the teachers and students maintaining their Japanese language programs. We are grateful for the corporate and individual contributions that help make J-Quiz possible. Upcoming Events Discussions are underway for several upcoming events, both our usual events and some new ones as part of our 40 th anniversary celebration. An invitation has been sent to a distinguished speaker for the Mondale Dinner. We will announce more information once we get confirmation from the invited guest. We have started to plan a sake-tasting event for this spring. Discussions are also underway for two arts-related events this spring and/or summer. These events are in addition to our ongoing Corporate Roundtable, Young Professionals group, and Kanna Club events. Opportunities JASM events do not just happen. They come about through the hard work of Ben, Kanna, our interns, and many, many dedicated volunteers. THANKS to all involved. If you have not yet volunteered for a JASM event, please consider doing so. It is a great opportunity to have fun, meet attendees at the event and make new friends. You Are the Boss As JASM President I work for you, the members of JASM. Let me know your suggestions, ideas and complaints. I can be reached by at LTCBDick@aol.com or by cell phone Dick Stahl Letter From the President Remembering 3-11 As we come up on the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11 th, many of us are filled with sadness over the tragic events that took place on that day in Tohoku. The earthquake and the tsunami caused enormous destruction on a level that Japan had not experienced with such force ever before. We want to pause to express our deep sense of sadness for those who experienced such loss and devastation. The water from the tsunami, in some areas quoted as high as 130 feet, dealt destruction 6 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. It was said the force was so great that it affected the rotation of the earth. We also want to share our admiration for many around the world, and especially in Minnesota, where people contributed financially to support the relief efforts in areas most affected in Northern Japan. The Kizuna Event last April helped to channel expressions of concern and compassion as people gave donations to relief agencies in Japan. Others in the community, including members of Nihonjin-kai and members of the Minnesota Orchestra, also contributed donations that were sent to relief organizations doing volunteer work in Japan. Ross and Mandy Meisner generously donated their Delta airline tickets that they won at the Mondale Dinner in 2010 to JASM members with families in Tohoku. The U.S. Navy through Operation Tomodachi brought relief to the troubled areas. All of these, and more, illustrated the compassion and intense desire to help that was felt by many people in Minnesota. Finally, the sense of hope and determination to rebuild in Japan are sources of inspiration to the world as we face the challenges of the future. Ben van Lierop Executive Director JASM Membership News Many thanks for your continued support to enable JASM to develop and expand programs that build bridges of understanding and cultural awareness. Please welcome the following new JASM members: Christopher Khounbanam, Helen Truax, Jay Corrao Thanks to the following renewing JASM members: John & Carly Born, Darryl & Yukiko Magree, Magara Maeda, Jonathan Ellgen, Hisako Bickner, Yoko Breckenridge, Jon Wilbrecht, Kyoko Haines, Aki Yonehara & Carol Anderson, Kyoko & Teruyuki Morimura, Nao Ikeda, Sakae Hinataya, Patricia Thornton, Jon Wilbrecht, Cody Nelson Thanks to our renewing corporate members: Tomodachi, McQuay International, Hubbard Broadcasting, Mall of America Thanks to our renewing non-profit members: Aikido of Minnesota Total Private Members: 317 Total Corporate Members: 60

3 2012 Midwest U.S. Japan Association Conference To Be Held in Minnesota In September, Minnesota will serve as host to the 2012 Midwest U.S. Japan Association Conference, which brings together governors and top business executives from all over the Midwest and Japan. The conference, hosted alternatively every year between Japan and the Midwest, provides the opportunity for top political and company leaders to meet and exchange ideas on global and regional concerns. This is also a excellent chance to showcase Minnesota as a state with much to offer in the realm of business and commerce, both globally and regionally. This is the first time in twenty-seven years that the conference has been held in Minnesota and it is expected that 400 people will attend the conference. The theme of the conference is Global Strategies for Economic Growth. In 2010, the conference was held in Michigan where five U.S. governors from Midwestern states were joined by two governors and several top executives from Japan, including Toyota, Kikkoman, Teijin, Mitsui, and Takenaka Corporation. For forty-four years this conference has drawn leaders from Japan to build on strong economic and commercial opportunities that exist in the Midwest. The Minnesota Trade Office is leading the host committee in making preparations that will provide opportunities for the visitors to experience the commercial, as well as the cultural, attributes of Minnesota. JASM is pleased to participate as a member of the host committee and to support the efforts to make this conference an outstanding success for Minnesota. Sakura Centennial Celebration in the Planning One hundred years ago, Japan donated trees to the U.S. that were planted in Washington D.C. and have since graced the city with their blossoms every spring. The gift of these cherry blossom trees from Japan is one of the two major gifts given to the United States from foreign nations. The other is the Statue of Liberty. As part of the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the giving of the trees, the Japanese government is again presenting cherry blossom trees, this time to twenty cities across the nation. St. Paul and Winona, MN were chosen to receive twenty trees each to participate in the centennial celebration. Consul General Yoshifumi Okamura and his staff have helped to organize the tree planting initiative in the Midwest region. City officials and Japan-related community and business leaders will be invited to participate in a tree planting ceremony in St. Paul. Honorary Consul General Mirja Hanson has organized a committee with JoAnn Blatchley of the Saint Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee (SPNSCC); and Bill Pesek, Board Member of SPNSCC and a landscape architect from the City of Saint Paul; and Ben van Lierop from JASM participating in making preparations for the tree planting celebration. The event will be held on Saturday, June 9 th on the grounds of Como Park and will be open to the public. Everyone will be invited to view the saplings and the renowned Japanese garden at Como Park. Winona will hold its tree planting celebration on June 10 th. Look for more information about the Como Park celebration in future issues of the Tsushin. Cherry Blossom trees along the Jefferson Memorial the National Cherry Blossom Festival Please thank our members with your support! Corporate Benefactor Members McQuay International, Inc. Delta Airlines, Inc. Corporate Sustaining Members 3M Company American Medical Systems, Inc. Andersen Corporation Boston Scientific Corporation Dorsey & Whitney, LLP DRC, Inc. Gray Plant Mooty Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, PC Hubbard Broadcasting Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren Ltd. Mall of America Medtronic St. Jude Medical Taiyo International, Inc. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. Vital Images, Inc. Corporate Contributing Members Briggs and Morgan, P.A. Comcast Cable Compart Family Farms Davisco Foods International, Inc. Devicix, LLC Electromed, Inc. Fish & Richardson, P.C. Fredrikson & Byron, PA Japan Lifeline Co. Ltd. Leonard, Street and Deinard Lion Precision Proto Labs, Inc. Greater Minnesota Partners Bondhus Corporation Partners in Service CrossingPaths Intercultural Inc. Dave Steffens Automotive & Conway Auto Clinic Fujiya Restaurant Genesis Business Centers, Ltd. Gnarus Medical Consulting, Inc. J&K Trading, LLC Kikugawa at Riverplace Kiku Enterprises KW Commercial Midwest Origami Restaurant Otis Associates, Inc. St. Paul Saints Sakura Restaurant & Sushi Bar Saint Paul Convention & Visitors Authority Satellite Industries Tomodachi Nonprofit Members Aikido of Minnesota BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota Bloomington Sister City Organization JETAA Minnesota JETRO Chicago KCC Japan Education Exchange Macalester College Asian Language & Culture Department Minneapolis Japanese School Minnesota International Center Minnesota Trade Office Mu Performing Arts N-Dimensional Japan US-China Business Connections Winona State Univ. Global Studies Dept.

4 Girl in a Box. By Sujata Massey (HarperCollins Publisher; 296 pp.) The charm of a good mystery novel is often revealed in subliminal, counter intuitive clues that trace a surreal protagonist in subtle plot. Quite a task, ne. But Sujata Massey succeeds at this in Girl in a Box. It is a thrilling, cloak and dagger story that explodes into contemporary women s fiction. This is quite a combination and the JASM reader will not be disappointed. Massey s other novels, -The Salaryman s Wife, Zen Attitude, The Flower Monster, The Floating Girl, The Bride s Kimino, The Samurai s Daugher, The Pearl Diver and The Typhoon Lover (did I say prolific, too?), has a geographical distinguishing feature: all of them are set in Japan. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (see: Sherlock Holmes) had the streets of London and Agatha Christie (see: Miss Marble) a railroad car on the Orient Express, but, they have nothing over our Ms. Massey. She superbly uses the Japanese urban environment to create a tone and mood quite unique to our memories of Japan and essential to the story. Sujata Massey -Author of the Girl in a Box Book Review: The Girl in a Box, by Sujata Massey Girl in a Box finds our heroine, Rei Shimura, in a C.I.A. related, sub rosa mission ( If she is willing to accept ) to solve crimes in an upscale Tokyo department store that have suspected connections to yakuza (Japanese organized crime), money laundering and international corporate espionage. She is sometimes vulnerable, oftentimes curious and always lonely for love. May I say Bond, James Bond, too? Shimura demonstrates clever resourcefulness, women s intuition and unorthodox methods. Massey uses Shimura s persona to both showcase and contrast Japanese and American norms. What is remarkable is that Ms. Massey, -and Rei Shimura, is not Japanese. She was born in England to a German father and an East Indian mother and was raised in California. In fact, the time she actually spent in Japan was quite brief. But, she is a keen observer. She was once a reporter for the Baltimore Evening Sun newspaper. You can identify her journalistic skills in her novel writing. May I say Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway, too? She is attentive to detail and chronology and frequently allows physical surroundings to tell the story. Perhaps her gaijin (foreign) status makes her a better authority to comment on Japan because she does not take anything for granted and has a more objective perspective. Massey is a self admitted nihongophile. We sense that cultural harmony and individual self-denial are something to admire. But she does not let this affection prevent her from exposing some of the dark sides in modern Japan. She is not shy in drawing attention to a Japanese woman s role in Japanese society. She is not hesitant to illustrate the stifling corporate culture. Another attraction for the JASM reader to Massey s novels in general and Girl in a Box in particular is her frequent recitation of Japanese phrases to convey tone and mood. For example, everyone who has visited a morning opening of a Japanese department store recalls cho-rei, or sinking your teeth into a soft, sweet yakimono, or sensing the bucolic wa mood created by a ryokan. Also, she draws us into romanticized Japanese neighborhoods that we all experienced, -Roppongi, Ueno, Ginza. The clever use of romaji names and phrases throughout the book provides a delightful, inside view of Japan. But you already know or have met Sujata Massey. She is the young woman in the tank top who was probably in line in front of you at the market. Or, maybe you saw her while walking around the lake. Or picking up her daughter at school. She is the first in line to volunteer to host a Japanese visiting Minnesota. She lives right here in Minnesota and is a member of JASM. Which begs the next question, what in Minnesota could possibly inspire her literary curiosity to write about Japan? Good question deserving a good answer. And you will have the opportunity to ask her, too. She will be available for a book signing at the Author s Studio at the Edina Art Center, 4701 W. 64 th St., Edina, Minnesota on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, and at Edina Reads, at the Edina Senior Center at the Edina Library on Saturday March 12, 2012 at 7:00 pm. - Tom Haeg JASM Board Member Please click like for Sujata Massey Author s Facebook page; Author/ ?sk=wall Sujata Massey s Blog ; March 12, :30 PM An Edina Reads event: Sujata discusses her mystery series, focusing on The Typhoon Lover. Edina Senior Center, underneath the Edina Library 5280 Grandview Square Edina, MN April 14, AM Sujata discusses the tenth Rei novel, Shimura Trouble. Edina Art Center 4701 W. 64th Street Edina, MN

5 Local Minnesota The County Seat Theater of Carlton, located in Cloquet, MN, is a small, non-profit community theater that has been invited to participate in the World Festival of Children s Performing Arts in Toyama, Japan. The t h e m e o f t h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l, children s cultural festival is We Build the Future and is set to be held July 31st- August 5th, It should be noted that the County Seat Theater of Carlton is the only theater from the United States that is invited to perform. The theatre has earned 13 awards throughout its lifetime and most recently won Best of Festival in the Minnesota State and Region V theatre festivals in 2011 for its production of Wiley and The Hairy Man, directed by Cheryl Kramer-Milder. This is also the production that will be performed at the festival in Toyama. The theatre is trying to raise $30,000 towards their travel expenses to participate in this festival. If you would like to help the theatre achieve their goal, please contact Frank Milder, the Technical Director at encoreincloquet@aol.com, or call 親孝行 日本人の電話電話のモシモシモシモシ位にアメリカアメリカ人の電話電話は I love You が頻発頻発するする 結婚在米 50 年になのにになのに 私の口からは出ないない 親孝行親孝行の記事記事を書こうとこうと思ってって日本日本からから持ってきた重たいたい箱入箱入りのりの研究社研究社の和英辞典和英辞典を力ずくでずくで開けたらけたら ローマ字で書いたいた日本語日本語の英訳辞書英訳辞書だっただった 不審不審ながらながら表紙扉を開けたら To Yoko who I love you very much Roger 6/6/1962と書いてあったいてあった 結婚結婚を前にしてにして英語英語ゼロの私のアメリカアメリカ生活生活の為に贈ってくれたのだったってくれたのだった 50 年も気が付かずかず全く恐縮. だけど I love you とは言えないえない OyakodonduriとOyakoroshiの行間行間に Oyakoko はあったが意訳なしなし 合理主義合理主義の社会社会にはには不要不要か? 仏教と共に と中国からから渡ってって来た儒教儒教は今年今年で千年目千年目 日本日本の文化文化となった親を大切大切に思う心謙譲心心謙譲心などなど東洋人東洋人の思想思想を美しいと思う 最近最近ベトナムベトナム避難民避難民の成長成長したした子供達子供達が特別特別な家探しをしを依頼依頼してきたしてきた 既に各々立派立派な家を持っているのにと質問質問したらしたら厳寒厳寒の異国異国で苦労苦労し続けたけた親の老後老後のために子供達が協力協力してして素晴素晴らしいらしい家を買いたいのだそうだいたいのだそうだ 英語に不自由不自由な両親両親を老人老人ホームホームに入れないでれないで最後最後までまで自分達で世話世話をしたいとのをしたいとの事 親孝行親孝行の為に買う家 いいいい話でしょう? 遺産争いのいの代わりに I love You と言ったらどうかしら? Make Dream come home. Yoko Breckenridge GRI.CRS.CDPS yoko@yoko4home.com MCBA and JASM member, Sheila Asato, are conducting a number of Japanese book and paper art workshops this spring in anticipation of the upcoming Shin Jidai exhibition and Harukaze ("Spring Wind") Japanese Arts Festival, both in May Please contact MCBA or go online for more information and to register for classes. (PHONE): ( ): mcba@mnbookarts.org (WEB): Japanese Papermaking and Paper Decoration With Jana Pullman Sat. & Sun., March 3-4; 10am-5pm All skill levels welcome Learn how to make thin, beautiful sheets of long-fibered paper. Then, use your hand-made sheets to learn the decorating techniques of dragon paper, marbling, and fold dye. Technique is easy to learn. Dress for mess with water-safe shoes and rubber gloves. $210 ($190 members) + $20 supply fee Japan America Arts Forum With Sheila Asato Sunday, March 18; 2-4pm All skill levels welcome A collaboration between MCBA and JASM. People interested in Japanese visual art forms, related materials, and processes gather at MCBA for learning, fellowship, and hands-on fun. $10 ($5 MCBA or JASM members). No need to pre-register, just drop in! Minneapolis Center for Book Arts Introduction to Design: Notan a Japanese Approach to Composition and Design With Sheila Asato Five Wednesdays: March 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18; 6-9pm Learn how to transform a flat two-dimensional surface into a dynamic visual composition through the use of Notan ( lightdark design ). Notan focuses on the interaction between positive and negative spaces, as exemplified in the ancient Yin-Yang symbol. $225 ($205 members) + $20 supply fee Multi-Color Japanese Wood Block Printing With Emily Hoisington Six Mondays: March 26, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; 6-9pm All skill levels welcome Make a multicolor woodblock print from start to finish while learning a water-based, portable printing method that is easy to practice at home. $280 ($250 members) + $60 supply fee As the largest and most comprehensive center of its kind in the nation, Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) celebrates the book as a vibrant contemporary art form that takes many shapes. From the traditional crafts of papermaking, letterpress printing and bookbinding to experimental artmaking and selfpublishing techniques, MCBA supports the limitless creative evolution of book arts.

6 Bloomington Sister City Organization: Taste of Japan Annual Fundraiser Dinner Join the Bloomington Sister City Organization for their annual Taste of Japan event taking place at the Hilton in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 24th from 6:00-10:00 p.m. Programming for the evening will include live music, dance performances, dinner with complementary wine, a silent auction, and door prizes. RSVP or Learn More at their website: BSCO Members: $50/adult; $20 student (22yrs & under) Non-Members: $55/adult; $25 student (22 yrs & under) Reservation Deadline: March 15, 2012 Japanese Attire admired but not required. Questions? Call or bloomingtonsistercity@gmail.com $30 of the registration fee is tax deductible. BSCO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization Kanna Club in March We are sorry we were unable to hold the February Kanna Club, but we are back for March! This month s Kanna Club is the half anniversary so we are going back to the starting line: Kikugawa at Riverplace! Let s enjoy wonderful Japanese food and connecting to new people through networking games! The Question for March Kanna Club is: What is the prefecture fish of Wakayama? Don t forget the answer to get an extra point on your Kanna Club card! 先月のかんな倶楽部は残念ながらお休みさせていただきました 今月からまた新たにスタートするのでよろしくお願いします 今回のかんな倶楽部は6ヶ月記念としてRiverplace のKikugawaさんから再スタートさせていただきます すばらしい日本食を楽しみながら ゲームを通して新しい友人たちとのネットワーク作りを楽しんでください 今月のクイズは 和歌山県和歌山県の 県の魚 は何でしょう? です どなた様もご回答をお忘れなく それでは 3 月 20 日 ( 火曜日 ) にお会いできるのを楽しみにしています *Please save the date! When: Tuesday, March 20 th Where: Kikugawa Restaurant at Riverplace (43 Main St SE Minneapolis, MN 55414) Doors open 5:30pm, Program starts at 6pm Price: JASM member $10, Non-member $12 Arranged by Kanna Sato and Liz Brailsford Kanna Club

7 Advertise in the Tsushin! Advertisement Rates Style Size Cost/issue 1/4 page 5 x 3.5 in $ /2 page 5 x 7.5 in $90.00 Full page 10 x 7.5 in $ Classified 80 character line $10/ line (min. 2 lines) Ad production and design available in both Japanese and English for an additional charge. Deadline for completed ads and classifieds is the 15th of every month. Questions? Contact Sadie Cornforth, Tsushin Editor, at the JASM Office Tel: Jasm.interns@gmail.com Community Events Japan Talks presented by N-dimensional Japan "MADE IN JAPAN" Dates: March 2 and 30 April 6, 13, 27 Time: 19:00-20:00 Location: 115 Nicholson Hall, 216 Pillsbury Dr SE University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN Lecturer: Suganuma, Takuhiro (NDJ officer) Topics: "Toyota Management" (March 2) "Made in Japan and SONY" (March 30) "Japanese Convenience Store" (April 6) "Automated Ticket Gate" (April 13) "Instant Noodles" (April 27) 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis Date: March 3 Time: 10:45am-12:00pm; 2:15-3:30pm Location: Augsburg College (morning) University of Minnesota, West Bank (afternoon) Lecturer: Mark Tiedeman, Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies Topic: Post-War Japan: The Creation of a New Identity from Ground Zero Up Information: Registration Required Japanese Speaking Club The Japanese Speaking Club is an informal meeting place for those wishing to practice Japanese. We encourage those just beginning the language as well as native speakers to gather at Espresso Royale Café in Downtown Minneapolis to meet new people, discuss experiences in Japan, or simply to speak Japanese. Come when you can, leave when you must. Date/Time: Every Saturday, any time after 3:00 p.m. Place: Espresso Royale Cafe 1229 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN Corrections Please report any inaccuracies you find in this publication to jasm.interns@gmail.com. We are always striving to provide our members with the best possible product and your input is important to us! Japan America Society of Minnesota O Membership Application O Change of Address O Tax-deductible Donation Name Name (2nd adult of a household membership) Address City State ZIP Phone Tsushin Corrections We would like to make a correction to our last Tsushin February On the second page in our Acknowledgements for Shinnenkai 2012 the group Mikaharu-kai was accidentally left out of the Performers list. We would like to thank Mikaharu-kai for their participation in the 2012 Shinnenkai and a wonderful performance. To list Japan-related events in the Tsushin, information by the 15th of the month to: jasm@us-japan.org I would like to make an additional taxdeductable donation of Amount Enclosed: (Please make checks payable to JASM) Japan America Society of Minnesota 43 Main Street SE Suite EH 131 Minneapolis, MN Individual Membership Patron $1,000+ Sustaining $500+ Contributing. $100+ Individual. $30 Student/Senior $20 Household... $50 (2 adults plus children under 18)

8 Japan America Society of Minnesota Riverplace EH Main Street SE Minneapolis, MN Tel: Fax: Tsūshin March 2012 The Japan America Society of Minnesota is a non-profit, non-political association engaged in bringing the peoples of Japan and the United States closer together in mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation. Through programs and interchange, it endeavors to promote an appreciation of cultural, educational, economic, public, and other affairs of interest to both peoples. Membership in the society is open to individuals, corporations, and other organizations interested in furthering its programs. The Japan America Society of Minnesota is a member of the National Association of Japan-America Societies. Special Thanks to all those who volunteered their time, energy, and resources to the 2012 J-Quiz