LEADING U.S.-JAPAN EXCHANGE IN HOUSTON FOR 56 YEARS
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
JASH received a kind letter of sympathy from Mayor Akira Shinoda of Niigata City.
Niigata City and Galveston have enjoyed over 50 years of friendship as sister cities, and JASH is honored to be a supporter of this longstanding relationship.
Many thanks to Mayor Shinoda and our Niigata friends for their concern and support.
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
JASH friends Seiwa Market and Ramen Bar Ichi helped kick off the #JapanStandsForHouston campaign with a contribution of 300 handmade onigiri, bread, tea and treats.
All items were received by the Katy Police Department and distributed to first responders and victims in need in the Katy area.
Thank you, Seiwa and Ichi, for encouraging Texans to stay strong through your generous contribution.
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
JASH received a kind letter of sympathy from Mayor Toshihito Kumagai of Chiba City, Houston's Sister City in Japan.
Many thanks to Mayor Kumagai and our Chiba friends for their concern and support.
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
In the immediate aftermath of the terrible disaster that has affected the residents of Houston and its surrounding areas, we wish to extend to you our concern for your and your loved ones’ wellbeing.
A number of individuals, organizations and Japanese businesses have contacted us to know how they could contribute to local relief efforts and inquiring whether we have plans for a program to do so. We have responded that we are working to define how best we may be able to serve the community relief and recovery efforts.
We recognize that recovery will be an extremely long process. Victims, volunteers, members of relief organizations and government officials at all levels will be taxed to their limits of endurance. Accordingly, we hope to provide assistance at times and in areas we identify as needing attention.
We have established a fund to be utilized to promote our efforts, and we will inform you of account details and of opportunities for you to participate shortly.
In the meantime, please make safety your highest priority. If you believe we may be able to provide you assistance, please communicate with us.
この度のハリケーンHarveyによるヒューストン市や周辺地域への未曾有の被害に直面し、日頃からJASHをご支援くださる皆様への影響を心配しております。被害にあわれた方、避難をされている方、心よりお見舞い申し上げます。
現在JASHに、個人、団体、日系企業等から、地域の復興へどの様に支援、貢献すればいいのかという相談や問い合わせが寄せられております。私達自身も、地域の復興に最も有効な支援方法について検討しているところです。
私達は、今回の甚大な被害からの回復には非常に長い期間が必要であると認識しています。 被災者、ボランティア、救援組織のメンバー、市･郡レベルの職員等、すべてのレベルで、復興まで長期にわたる持久戦となるだろうと考えております。そのため適切な時期に、必要とする場所に、支援を届けたいと考え、慎重に状況把握に努めています。
私達は、JASHに寄せられる皆様の思いを生かせるような基金を立ち上げました。近日中にその詳細を皆様にお知らせ致します。
それまでは、皆様、どうかご自身やご家族の安全を最優先にしてください。もし現時点で何らかの支援を提供できると思われる場合は、私達にお知らせ下さい。
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
JASH's newest favorite summer treat is the LAVENDER MATCHA GREEN TEA POPSICLE from Popfancy!
Enjoy this and other fresh, handcrafted, gourmet flavors at a discount through October 31, 2017. Simply mention "Japan-America Society" at check out and get 15% off your purchase.
Click here for Popfancy locations.
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
Houston Ballet's 2017/18 Season celebrates the splendor of dance with exceptional ballet classics and intriguing contemporary work from across the globe.
JASH Members are invited to get a taste of what the season has to offer through discounts on tickets to select performances of season openers POETRY IN MOTION and MAYERLING.
Music by: Mozart, Rogers & Hammerstein II, George Bizer
Choreography by: Stanton Welch, Christopher Wheeldon, George Balanchine
The 2017/2018 Season opens with an exhilarating mixed-repertory program featuring a collection of 3 works that reflect different traditions and expressions in ballet. Stanton Welch’s contemporary ballet Powder for 14 dancers, done to Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major. Rogers & Hammerstein’s beloved Broadway musical Carousel, And George Balanchine’s Symphony in C Major, this neo classical ballet radiantly showcases the full company’s technical aptitude and poise.
Music: Franz Liszt, Arrangement by John Lanchbery OBE
Choreography: Sir Kenneth MacMillan
Houston Ballet’s premiere of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling. This 3-act narrative ballet is based on the historic 1889 incident involving the murder-suicide of the sole heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Crown Prince Rudolf, and his 17-year-old mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera. Set to John Lanchbery’spowerful arrangement of Franz Liszt compositions, Sir Kenneth’s last full-length balletboldly requires dancers to fully embody intense characters through dramatic acting and dancing. Houston Ballet is pleased to be the first North-American company to perform this historic and lavish production about disastrous obsession and unrequited love.
Call Pam Perry at the Houston Ballet, 713-535-3258, for discounted tickets for Japan-America Society.
To purchase tickets online at houstonballet.org, use Promo Code 3525 at checkout.
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
On May 27, 2017, Japanese language learners from across the country competed in the 14th Annual All-U.S.A. High School Japanese Language Speech Contest.
The event was presented by the Japanese Language Scholarship Foundation (DBA Aurora Foundation) and held at the University of California, Irvine.
Texas was represented by winners of the 2017 Texas State Japanese Language Speech Contest:
All competitors exhibited high proficiency in Japanese as they delivered speeches and answered questions on a variety of topics that ranged from personal interests and personal triumphs to broader discussions of the power of motivation and the colors of life.
Congratulations go the following winners:
FIRST PLACE
Yu Xuan CHEN
Stuyvesant High School
New York, NY, 12th Grade
SECOND PLACE
Heewon HUH
Newman Smith High School
Carrollton, TX, 11th Grade
THIRD PLACE
Carissa Nayun SEO
Glenbrook South High School
New York, NY, 11th Grade
We salute all of the students and educators who participated in the contest on a job well done. And a special "congratulations" goes to Texas' own HEEWON HUH! おめでとうございます！
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
The 24th annual Japan Festival Houston was held on May 6-7, 2017. Blue skies, warm sunshine and colorful koinobori welcomed over 20,000 visitors to Hermann Park and Houston’s Japanese Gardens for a special celebration of Japan’s National Children’s Day holiday.
The always-family-friendly event featured over 60 new and returning vendors that promoted Japan through authentic food, arts and crafts, merchandise, exhibits and demonstrations, and special “make-and-take” activities for kids.
Festivalgoers shopped for anime goods, handcrafted jewelry, and antique kimonos; sampled takoyaki, Milk Bread, kakigori, and Fuji-san cookies; tried their hand at kingyo tsukui, kabuto origami folding, koinobori bag making, and taiko; and experienced the art of Japanese tea, Japanese flower arranging, bonsai, various martial arts, and mikoshi. They even had the opportunity to meet a JAXA astronaut and to play the role of royalty in a Ryukyu Kingdom Imperial Parade.
Newcomers to the festival included Kendama USA, whose representatives shared their skills and gave away a number of kendamas. Hakutsuru also joined the festival to give Houstonians a sampling of sake from nigori to daiginjo. Glico provided Pejoy to guests through a dice roll game. And a special appearance by TV Tokyo’s “Who Wants to Come to Japan” program provided Houstonians with the chance to score a trip to Japan.
Other opportunities for travel to Japan were made possible by ANA through the “Show Your Heart for Japan Festival” campaign and the ever-popular Japan Festival Cosplay Contest.
While the activities were plentiful, one of the biggest draws of the festival was the entertainment. In keeping with this year’s theme, the Gulf States Toyota Waterfront Stage featured kagura dance and storytelling by Florida-based artist Surapsari. Young talent from Japan was also showcased through the performances of hip-hop dance and singing group Jr. Exile of Japan’s talent development program Project TARO.
Owing to the support of the community, Japan Festival proudly remains FREE and open to the public. To our sponsors and partners, vendors and volunteers, performers and participants, families and friends, we thank you for another wonderful year. Special gratitude goes to the 2017 Japan Festival Sponsors: Japan Business Association of Houston, Gulf States Toyota, Kuraray America, Inc., Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, JGC America, Inc., and ComputerDojo, among others.
来年もよろしくお願いいたします。
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
On April 13, 2017, the Japan-America Society of Houston joined the National Association of Japan America Societies and six other societies from across the U.S. in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Tokyo America-Japan Society at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
Their Imperial Majesties, Prime Minister Abe, Foreign Minister Kishida, and 500 other key supporters of the U.S.-Japan relationship attended the event to mark this important milestone in the history of the America-Japan Society, which has weathered both World War II and bilateral trade wars, and played an indispensable role in strengthening ties between our nations.
To watch video footage from the event, click here.
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
On Saturday, March 4, 2017, JASH and the Consulate-General of Japan in Houston hosted the 28th Annual Texas State Japanese Language Speech Competition.
51 participants - ranging from middle school students and life-long Japanese learners - gathered at Rice University to demonstrate their Japanese language skills.
The contest showcased students reciting poetry and presenting original speeches and, moreover, will feature a creative display of student determination, devotion, and tenacity as language learners through carefully crafted haiku and skits performed in Japanese.
Special recognition was given to the top three contestants in each competition division. The top two contestants from the region will advance to State.
Congratulations to the following students:
POETRY
1st Teagan WALTERS Winston Churchill High School (San Antonio) 9th
2nd Brennan MOHRER Claudia Taylor "Ladybird" Johnson (San Antonio) 10th
3rd Pirzada HASNAIN Morton Ranch High School (Houston) 12th
HAIKU
1st Elena MILLS Johnson High School (San Antonio) 12th
2nd Santiago HOFFMANN BREUSTEDT Winston Churchill High School (San Antonio) 10th
3rd Carlos VAZQUEZ Richardson High School (Dallas) 10th
SKIT
1st “The New Year’s Race for the Kagami Mochi” Bellaire High School (Houston)
Courtney COLLIER, Leslie DIAZ, Tin-Yi LII, Rebecca PARSONS
2nd “A Principal’s Perplexity” Bellaire High School (Houston)
Ruth BEAUBRUN, Seven BUNCH, Julia GAY, Arlenn MALDONADO,
3rd “Where’s the Money” L.V. Berkner High School (Dallas)
Kevin CO, Grayson DELUCAS, Syed FARDEEN, Basmah SAWALHI
FREE SPEECH WITH TEXT
1st Olivia ESH L.V. Berkner High School (Dallas) 11th
2nd Jiaqi ZHU Bellaire High School (Houston) 12th
3rd James SAGUN William P. Clements High School (Houston) 11th
FREE SPEECH AURORA
*1st Heewon HUH Newman Smith High School (Dallas) 11th
*2nd Hannah AL-NATOOR Clements High School (Houston) 12th
3rd Justin NGUYEN Richardson High School (Dallas) 12th
*1st and 2nd place winners will go on to compete in the National Aurora Japanese Language Speech Competition in Los Angeles, CA.
FREE SPEECH - COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
1st Andy XU University of Texas at Austin (Austin) Senior
2nd Ziqing Rika YU Baylor University (Dallas) Junior
3rd Cyrus GHAZNAVI Rice University (Houston) Senior
FREE SPEECH - OPEN
1st Chun JUN
2nd Rochelle BREEN
3rd Angolaoluwa OLUTIMEHIN
SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT MADE THE CONTEST POSSIBLE:
· The Consulate General of Japan in Houston
· Rice University Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication
· Japan Foundation
· Kanagawa-Shintech Fund
· Japanese Teachers Association of Texas
· Japan Business Association of Houston
· Japanese Association of Greater Houston
· Texoma JET Alumi Association
OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF TEXAS STATE JAPANESE LANGUAGE SPEECH CONTEST
SPECIAL SPIRIT SUPPORTER
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
On February 10, 2017, as President Trump and Prime Minister Abe, met at the White House for the first U.S.-Japan summit of the new administration, we gathered for the 2nd annual JAPAN UPDATE HOUSTON CONFERENCE to hear experts from the U.S. and Japan weigh in the future of U.S.-Japan trade relations.
At the forefront of the conversations were the challenges, trends, and strategies shaping U.S.-Japan trade. Discussions also touched on the impact of U.S.-Japan trade on the Houston area and the relevance of U.S.-Japan trade in maintaining security in the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr. Mireya SOLIS, senior fellow and the Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies at the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies, addressed issues pertaining to the U.S. domestic atmosphere on trade. While the U.S. and Japan has had a long history of trade friction, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) provided a compromise in the form of an alignment of interests. In SOLIS's view, a post-TPP agenda will see Japan maintaining the TPP while they gauge changing U.S. trade policies.
Yorizumi WATANABE, Professor of International Political Economy at Keio University, highlighted benefits of free trade between the U.S. and Japan in the automotive sector. WATANABE also stressed that reinforcing economic cooperation between the U.S. and Japan is critical to ensuring China becomes a responsible partner in the international community.
Click here to view WATANABE's presentation.
Bob HARVEY, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, shared how the Houston-Japan relationship is the most mature relationships Houston has with a foreign country. Japanese investment in Houston has doubled in the last decade, and there is now over $4.9 billion in trade between Houston and Japan.
John MOSELEY, General Manager of the Trade Development Department of the Port of Houston Authority, noted how Japan is the largest exporter to Houston in terms of tonnage per year. Japan also ranks as the 4th largest export destination in terms of volume. With the opening of the Panama Canal, the Port of Houston Authority's anticipates even more interaction with Japan.
Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER, founder and CEO of Envoy International LLC, turned attention to the underappreciated points of the U.S.-Japan alliance and free trade. Noting that 20% of all U.S. jobs are from Japan, SCHIEFFER declared that "the time to improve trade with Japan is now."
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
On Saturday, February 18, 2017, middle school, high school, and college/university students from the Greater Houston area and neighboring towns competed in the 28th Annual Houston Regional Japanese Language Speech Competition.
A record 75 participants showcased their determination, devotion and tenacity as language learners for the chance to advance to the TEXAS STATE JAPANESE LANGUAGE COMPETITION, which will be held on March 4, 2017.
Special recognition was given to the top three contestants in each competition division. The top two contestants from the region will advance to State.
Congratulations to the following students:
POETRY:
1st Natalia Garcia Sanchez | George Bush High School
2nd Pirzada Hasnain | Morton Ranch High School
3rd Thomas Girardet | Bellaire High School
HAIKU:
1st Mario DePavia | Clements High School
2nd Doris Tang | Clements High School
3rd Melany Santos | Westside High School
SKIT:
1st “The New Year’s Race for the Kagami Mochi” | Bellaire High School
– Courtney Collier, Leslie Diaz, Tin-Yi Lii, and Rebecca Parsons
2nd “A Principal’s Perplexity" | Bellaire High School
– Ruth Beaubrun, Seven Bunch, Julia Gay, and Arlenn Maldonado,
3rd “Valentine’s Vending machine: A love story" | Cinco Ranch High School
– Andrew Giang, Zoha Hussnain, and Nadaa Koubaa
FREE SPEECH WITH TEXT:
1st Jiaqi Zhu | Bellaire High School
2nd James Sagun | Clements High School
3rd Gustavo Rivera | Westside High School
FREE SPEECH – AURORA:
1st Hannah Al-Natoor | Clements High School
2nd Hui Song | Clements High School
3rd Anthony Chang | Clements High School
FREE SPEECH – COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY:
1st Cyrus Ghaznavi | Rice University
2nd Chardonae Givens | University of Houston
3rd Jessica Ramirez | Texas A&M University
SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT MADE THE CONTEST POSSIBLE:
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
November is Washoku (和食) Month! And as this month of celebrating Japanese cuisine happens to fall close to World Food Day, our friends at the charitable organization Table For Two have started a campaign that combats world hunger through onigiri (おにぎり), i.e., rice balls.
Through November 30, 2016, every social media posting in which a photo of an onigiri appears with the hashtag #OnigiriAction, Table For Two will provide five school meals to children in need.
In support of the campaign, the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) has partnered with IZAKAYA WA to bring you the "WA Special Onigiri Set." For a limited time, IZAKAYA WA will be offering on its dinner menu the "WA Special Onigiri Set" composed of one (1) "Hakusai Onigiri" (a rice ball containing marinated mountain vegetables wrapped in pickled Nappa Cabbage) and one (1) "Sake Onigiri" (a rice ball containing grilled salmon with yuzu pepper seasoning).
All you need to do is:
No social media presence? No problem! You can still support the cause in integral fashion by moving your photos over to the Onigiri Action website and uploading them directly to the site.
It's an excellent opportunity to do some good in an age as obsessed with cellphone photography as it is with food, so tell your onigiri to smile, and feed a child in need.
To learn more about the campaign, visit tablefor2.org.
10月16日は国連が設定した世界食糧デー、そして11月は和食月間。今年もヒューストン日米協会（JASH)は、開発途上国の飢餓と先進国の肥満や生活習慣病の解消に同時の取り組む日本発の社会貢献運動「TABLE FOR TWO」の「おにぎりアクション2016｣をサポートします。
日本食のシンボルであるおにぎりの写真やおにぎりと一緒の写真を１枚投稿することで、アフリカ・アジアの子供達に給食５食分が寄付されるこのキャンペーン。JASHはメモリアル地区にある日本食レストランIzakaya Waと協力して、ディナーメニューに期間限定で、Wa スペシャルおにぎりセット「山菜の白菜巻きと鮭のゆず胡椒おにぎり」をご用意致しました。
ご家族、お友達と一緒においしいおにぎりの写真を投稿して、アフリカ・アジアの子供達に給食を届けませんか。
｢おにぎりアクション2016｣、及び写真投稿については、下記のリンクをご参照下さい。
http://jp.tablefor2.org/campaign/onigiri/
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
Photo credit: Daphne Yuanidis of Daphne Design
On October 29, 2016, JASH Gala 2016 was held to celebrate the spirit of kizuna - the human ties that connect and unite - and honor an individual who embodies this spirit, Dr. Ritsuko Komaki, Associate Director, Thoracic Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
After Japan's Great East Earthquake of 2011 and the resulting tsunami and nuclear crisis, the kanji character for kizuna - 絆 - became a symbol of strength. The character itself is made up of two parts: the kanji for rope/thread (糸) on the left and the kanji for half (半) on the right. When these parts are combined, two halves become stronger by being woven together - 絆.
Kizuna embodies the strength of the shared valued and interest of the American and Japanese peoples that underpin the U.S.-Japan alliance.
This solidarity was evidenced in the many friends of JASH who were present at the annual event.
The work of JASH to further understanding and personal relationships between Americans and Japanese living in the Houston area is its expression of the spirit of kizuna.
JASH gratefully acknowledges the support of:
PARTNER KIZUNA SPONSORS
ADVOCATE KIZUNA SPONSORS
ALLY KIZUNA SPONSORS
KIZUNA HOST COMMITTEE
KIZUNA UNDERWRITERS
KIZUNA DONORS
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
Students of the Japanese language from across Texas competed in the 27th Annual Texas State Japanese Language Competition on March 12, 2016.
Over 50 participants from eleven schools showcased their determination, devotion and tenacity as language learners.
While all contestants are winners in JASH's book, special recognition was given to those placing in the top three in each division.
Congratulations to the following students:
POETRY:
1st Santiago HOFFMAN, Churchill High School, San Antonio
2nd Elena MILLS, Johnson High School, San Antonio
3rd Khanh VU, Morton Ranch High School, Houston
HAIKU:
1st Camilla CHEN, Cinco Ranch High School, Houston
2nd Sadie WARD, McCallum High School, Austin
3rd Andrea LOPEZ, Churchill High School, San Antonio
SKIT:
1st “Unexpected Result,” Bellaire High School, Houston
– Harvey GAO, Anthony HOANG, Eunice VALENZUELA, Susan YU
2nd “Ghost in School," L.V. Berkner High School, Dallas
– Olivia ESH, Daniella LIM, Gillian POST
3rd “Restaurant Manners," Richardson High School, Dallas
– Jing LIU, Leila MILLER, Genny WHIDBY, Kitty YU
FREE SPEECH WITH TEXT:
1st Justin NGUYEN, Richardson High School, Dallas
2nd Bernice TSAO, Bellaire High School, Houston
3rd Cynthia CORSIGA, L.V. Berkner High School, Dallas
FREE SPEECH – AURORA:
1st Heeyong HUH, Newman Smith High School, Dallas
2nd Amy NGUYEN, Richardson High School, Dallas
3rd Fiona YEUNG, Bellaire High School, Houston
FREE SPEECH – COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY:
1st Sean NIXON, Baylor University
2nd Jessica RAMIREZ, Texas A&M University
3rd Melissa PEREZ, University of Texas at San Antonio
FREE SPEECH – OPEN:
1st Kirti SHARMA
2nd Julia HOLZ
3rd Suji HONG
Special prizes were also awarded those placing first in the POETRY RECITATION, HAIKU, FREE SPEECH WITH TEXT, AURORA, COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY, and OPEN Divisions.
In addition, the AURORA Division 1st and 2nd place winners will be flown to LA to represent Texas in the AURORA All-USA High School Japanese Speech Contest.
**If you would like more information on the annual competition, please email pybrown@jas-hou.org.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THE CONTEST POSSIBLE:
Co-presenter
Sponsors
Judges
Dedicated volunteers
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
Over the last several years, Houston and Harris County have welcomed a large number of new Japanese companies and residents. During this period, the greater Houston area has witnessed substantial new Japanese investment in the areas of oil and gas exploration, construction and ownership of LNG facilities, air conditioning, electrical equipment, manufacturing, petrochemicals, environmental services, aerospace, medical technology and services and process engineering.
The inaugural Japan Update Houston Conference, which was held on February 19, 2016, at the Petroleum Club of Houston, allowed JASH to draw attention to this growth in Japanese-affiliated business in Houston and to share with the Houston community information on the evolving opportunities for U.S.-Japan cooperation.
In addition, the Japan Update Houston Conference served to bring together over 100 high-level American and Japanese business people in a way that allowed for meaningful exchange.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Admiral Dennis Blair
Chairman of the Board and CEO of Sasakawa USA
Former director of U.S. National Intelligence
Former Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command
PANELISTS
Ambassador Thomas Schieffer
Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Bob Harvey
President and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership
Marc Watts
President, The Friedkin Group Inc.
George Avdey
President, Kuraray America, Inc.
Prof. Hisanori Nei
Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Study
Dr. Michelle Foss
Chief Energy Economist, Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin
Tadashi Ishizuka
Chief Operating Officer, Mitsui & Co. LNG Investment USA, Inc.
PRESENTATION MATERIAL
Click here to access Prof. Nei's presentation.
For material presented by Dr. Foss, click here.
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
Students of the Japanese language from across Greater Houston and neighboring cities competed in the 27th Annual Houston Regional Japanese Language Competition on February 13, 2016.
Over 60 participants from eleven schools showcased their determination, devotion and tenacity as language learners for the chance to advance to the TEXAS STATE JAPANESE LANGUAGE COMPETITION, which will be held on March 12, 2016.
Special recognition was given to the top three contestants in each category. The top two contestants from will advance to State.
Congratulations to the following students:
POETRY:
1st Khanh Vu, Morton Ranch High School
2nd Alice Liu, Bellaire High School
3rd Gustavo Rivera, Westside High School
HAIKU:
1st Yu Sun, Bellaire High School
2nd Tin-Yi Lii, Bellaire High School
3rd Camilla Chen, Cinco Ranch High School
SKIT:
1st “Unexpected Result,” Bellaire High School
– Susan Yu, Eunice Valenzuela, Anthony Hoang, and Harvey Gao
2nd “Nina’s Heart," Bellaire High School
– Yenny Nguyen, Emma-Leigh Crooks, Anh Nguyen, and Alan Barron
3rd “Untitled," Bellaire High School
– Hana Bryson and Kendra Shelvin
FREE SPEECH WITH TEXT:
1st Bernice Tsao, Bellaire High School
2nd Daniel Hingco, Westside High School
3rd Indah Rahmadina, James E. Taylor High School
FREE SPEECH – AURORA:
1st Fiona Yeung, Bellaire High School
2nd Danna Najjar, Cinco Ranch High School
3rd Aisha Aslam, Westside High School
FREE SPEECH – COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY:
1st Jessica Ramirez, Texas A&M University
2nd Amanda Petty, Texas A&M University
3rd Yves Perez, Lone Star College
SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE THE CONTEST POSSIBLE:
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
JASH Gala 2015 was held on October 31, 2015 at the Omni Hotel and Resorts Galleria Houston.
Co-chaired by George Avdey, CEO and President of Kuraray America, Inc., and Miwa Sakashita, the event showcased Japan's splendid blend of traditions and modern culture through a "Journey Through Japan: From Antiquity to Today."
Joining in the celebration was Honorary Chair Hideki Kunugi, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Americas of All Nippon Airways (ANA), who played a key role in making possible the daily non-stop flight between Houston and Tokyo by ANA from June of this year.
Keynote Speaker Harris County Judge Ed Emmett also honored JASH with his presence and special stories from his own Japan journeys.
The annual gala, which features a cocktail reception, a silent auction, and a seated dinner, is JASH's primary fundraiser and secures support for programs that highlight the important and increasingly dynamic cooperation between Japan and the United States.
We are grateful to all our sponsors, donors, guests and volunteers for their generous support.
CHIYODA SPONSORS
HANZOMON SPONSORS
MITA SPONSORS
UNDERWRITERS
HOST COMMITTEE
DONORS
Special thanks go to:
Japan-America Society of Houston ·
After two-years in Houston, The Honorable Consul-General Nozomu Takaoka and Mrs. Yumi Takaoka will be returning to Japan.
JASH bid farewell to Consul-General and Mrs. Takaoka in a Texas-themed soiree on November 19.
At the event, Consul-General Takaoka was named an honorary member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) by HLSR President and CEO Joel Cowley. President Cowley was joined by HLSR Board Members Jim Brock and Sharleen Walkoviak to present Consul-General Takaoka with an HLSR jacket and belt buckle.
We thank Consul-General and Mrs. Takaoka for their support of JASH and their dedication to the promotion of friendship and ties between Houston and Japan.
Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.
Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.
-Lyrics to "Happy Trails" by Dale Evans Rogers
