The Japan America Society of San Antonio, or JASSA, was established in 1985 to foster increased understanding and cooperation between the citizens of San Antonio and the citizens of Japan. As a non-profit, educational and cultural group it has tried in numerous ways to make Japanese culture become better known in San Antonio. | Download June 2009

Japan America Society of San Antonio Statement by JASSA on the Earthquake in the Republic of Haiti (January 2010) On behalf of JASSA, we would like to share our condolences to members of the Haitian and Haitian-American community in the San Antonio area and share in the bereavement over the tremendous losses caused by the large-scale earthquake of January 13, 2010. Japan and Haiti have maintained friendly relations and reopened diplomatic ties in the mid 1950’s, with frequent visits made by dignitaries in both countries since the early 1990’s.  Japan has agreed to extend assistance to the Republic of Haiti consisting mostly of emergency grant aid totaling a maximum of 5 million USD as well as emergency relief goods, to be carried out through cooperation with international agencies such as the United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP).  JASSA urges all its members to consider helping local and global organizations bring necessary assistance to Haiti and will attempt to assist, within its current capacity, the efforts of JASSA members, including students, individuals, families, non-profit organizations and corporations, who can provide direct medical and other humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. As part of the international community in San Antonio, JASSA acknowledges that we all share common experiences as a human race.  Loss and bereavement knows no nationality.  It is with this understanding that JASSA extends its warmest hopes for recovery to the Republic of Haiti and its community in San Antonio.   Sincerely, Myra S. Dumapias, MSW                                                                    Taeg Nishimoto Executive Director                                                                                Board President Japan America Society of San Antonio

JASSA Selects First Executive Director

San Antonio, TX – The Japan America Society of San Antonio (JASSA) is pleased to welcome Myra Sheila V. Dumapias, MSW as newly assigned Executive Director. President Taeg Nishimoto announced that JASSA has hired Ms Dumapias as the first Executive Director of the 25-year old organization under a grant awarded by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership. Nishimoto stated "Ms Dumapias has extensive experience and involvement with different non-profit organizations and their management. I am sure that she will bring her organizational skills to JASSA which will help JASSA to move forward to the next level of pursuing our mission." Ms. Dumapias brings a ten-year background in the community service sector, including five years experience in non-profit administrative management.  Ms. Dumapias has worked extensively with the homeless population, World War II veterans, and trafficked women.  She contributed to the development of one of the early protocol and procedure manuals funded by the Department of Justice for use by government entities working with trafficked persons.  In Los Angeles, Ms. Dumapias previously served as the Program Development Director for the Filipino American Service Group, Inc.  Ms. Dumapias also has three years experience in community research, as an independent consultant for focus group projects of Magna Systems, Inc., a private research firm, and as a Public Administrative Analyst at the University of California, Los Angeles at the School of Public Health.  In San Antonio, Ms. Dumapias served as Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas’ first Foundations and Corporate Relations Manager, utilizing her background in grant management.  Ms. Dumapias has a Bachelor of Arts in English and World Literature from Pitzer College, of the Claremont Colleges and completed her Masters in Social Work at University of Texas in San Antonio.   “I am honored to work with a group of highly committed board members and volunteers who have kept JASSA active for almost two and a half decades,” says Dumapias.  “I look forward to helping them help JASSA fill out the shoes that will bring JASSA and its supporters into new and exciting territories, relationships and opportunities.”   JASSA is a non-profit organization that was established in 1985 to foster increased understanding and cooperation between the citizens of San Antonio and the citizens of Japan, with Kumamoto City, Kyushu as San Antonio’s sister city.  JASSA builds a community for those who support, facilitate and promote Japanese culture, education and business in the greater San Antonio area.  JASSA has participated in the local Folk Life and Asian Festivals and co-sponsored events with the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Kumamoto-En garden at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Sunken Gardens. Working with the City of San Antonio International Affairs department, it has hosted visitors from the commercial, medical, and educational sectors. In 2009 JASSA began an annual $1000 college scholarship award. JASSA welcomes membership from individuals, families, non-profit organizations, small businesses and corporations.

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JASSA Awards First $1,000 Scholarship JASSA awarded its first $1,000 scholarship to Jennifer Moyes at the General Business Meeting on September 13. Jennifer gave a remarkable acceptance speech which demonstrates that she was a great recipient of this first scholarship from JASSA. Read Jennifer's Comments. (L to R) Hiroko Fay, Scholarship Chair Suzanne Peterson, Past President Rosemary Kowalsky, Education Chair Yuko Kawabe, Jennifer Moyes, Fundraising Chair Max Navarro, and President Taeg Nishimoto.

JASSA Madama Butterfly Reception On September 2, JASSA joined with the East Asia Institute and the Alamo Asian Chamber of Commerce to honor Jee Hyun Lim and Mika Shigematsu, who play the lead role of Cio-Cio-San and Suzuki in the San Antonio Opera production of Madama Butterly. Pictured below with the actors is Mimi Yu, left and Taeg Nishimoto, right.

JASSA Awarded $30,000 Grant The Center for Global Partnership and the Japan Foundation announced the award of a two-year Grant in the amount of $30,000 for the Japan America Society of San Antonio. The intent of the grant is to assist JASSA in building infrastructure and program capacity and further the work of JASSA.

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The San Antonio Museum of Art hosts the largest collection of Asian Arts in the Southern half of the United States. In 2005, the Lenora and Walter F. Brown Asian Art Wing opened, with 15,000 square feet of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Korean exhibits and artifacts. (Link)  

It regularly assists the office of the Consulate General in Houston with the Japanese Speech Contest at three of the four year intervals when it is San Antonio’s turn to host the event. In other years, it encourages participation in the contest and helps to find qualified native speakers to serve as judges.

In support of Kumamoto En, the Japanese garden at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, it has been an active participant in the Garden’s annual Viva Botanica, and has been the co-sponsor of Kumamoto En Day by providing Japanese foods, calligraphy, origami, miniature sand garden construction, and tours of the Japanese garden. Any profits from these activities are donated to the Botanical Society to help support and maintain Kumamoto En.

The Hoshuko, or weekend school, is supported and operated by the Japanese Companies Association primarily so that Japanese children who are here temporarily will not fall far behind in their studies. The curriculum followed is that of the Japanese Ministry of Education. JASSA has helped to publicize the school and includes the students in performance at its events, especially the Matsuri.

Meetings of the Society are an opportunity to gather with others who are interested in Japan and its culture, whether it is for planning, networking, or just the chance to visit in English and Japanese with others who share that heritage.