During this
new decade JASSA continues to support
annual events and develop new venues to
promote the cultural interchange between
Japan and San Antonio. In 2001,
JASSA participated for the first time as
an organization at the Texas Folklife
Festival held by the Institute of Texan
Cultures and placed 3rd in
food category. The 15th anniversary of
the Kumamoto Sister City relationship
was celebrated in 2002 by a
reciprocal exchange of JASSA and
Kumamoto delegations between the two
cities. That year also marked the
homecoming of the Jingu Family to the
Japanese Tea Garden, which was created
in 1917 by Eizo Jingu. The two Japanese gardens,
Kumamoto-en and the Tea Garden, are of
ongoing interest to the Society. In
2003, JASSA and the San Antonio
Public Library pooled resources to
co-host the October Matsuri at the
Central Library. This cooperation was
successful and continues to this day.
In September
2004, JASSA members attended a
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
luncheon held at the Marriott, one of
JASSA’s corporate members, where Mr. T.
J. Tajima discussed plans for the San
Antonio Toyota plant. JASSA member Dr.
Katsuhiko Shimizu discussed “Doing
Business with Japan” at a lecture held
in October. The Society also
participated in the planning sessions
for Japan Nohgaku Association’s San
Antonio performance of Noh and Kyogen
sponsored by the Japan Foundation, the
Consul General of Japan, the City of San
Antonio, and Arts San Antonio. Society
members personally welcomed the
performers with a luncheon and provided
translation service at a workshop held
at the International School of Art.
As JASSA
celebrates its 20th anniversary in
2005, it continues to work closely
with the community. The Institute of
Texan Cultures sponsored the Japanese
quilt exhibit “Transcending 9/11:
Quilters’ Reflections” in January. Over
100 pieces made by Japanese and Texan
quilters expressing their sympathy for
the 9/11 tragedy were displayed. JASSA
assisted by translating the Japanese on
the quilt pieces and sponsoring an
opening reception. The McNay Art Museum
opened the “Taisho Chic” exhibit in
March to show examples of western
influences in Japan from the early 20th
century. JASSA members assisted in the
planning, reception, flower arrangement,
and tea ceremony. The McNay Museum’s
"Family Day" featured JASSA members
performing Japanese and Okinawa dance as
well as Ryukyu Taiko Drum. In April,
JASSA and the San Antonio International
Affairs Department co-hosted Mr. Masaaki
Imai’s “Kaizen” lecture at San Antonio’s
International Center. In June, the
Society won 2nd prize in food
category at the Folklife Festival. In
2005, the Lenora and Walter F. Brown
Asian Art Wing at the San Antonio Museum
of Art
opened with 15,000 square feet of
Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Korean
exhibits and artifacts.
2006
begins with a very successful Shinenkai
at the Girl Scout Office. The Asian
Festival in February is heavily
attended, and JASSA provides a
successful food booth.
On
February 28, Mrs Shirane is recognized
as Citizen of the Year by the World
Affairs Council. JASSA sponsors a table
and has over a dozen members attend the
gala at the convention center.
JASSA is
accepted as a member of the
National Association of Japan America
Societies, joining the societies in
Austin, Dallas, Ft Worth. Over 55
volunteers participate in the
Kumamoto-En children's day on May 6. Two
weeks later, the Makhelat Hashachar
Japanese Christian Chorus from Kyoto
conducts a concert at the Josephine
theater. JASSA supports the golf
tournament sponsored by the Japanese
companies to support the Hoshuko
Japanese school on June 17. On Sep 22,
many JASSA members supported an evening
of Japanese Dance, Art and Culture" at
the Radius, for the San Antonio Dance
Umbrella organization. The fourth
Matsuri festival at the San Antonio
Public Library on Oct 14 is a great
success.
On October
26, JASSA conducted a Corporate
Membership Drive and Social at the San
Antonio Museum of Art. Dignitaries
included Mrs Anita Perry, First Lady of
the State of Texas, Consul-General Kamo,
Mrs Miho Tajima and other
representatives from Toyota. The event
raised over $10,000 for future JASSA
work and helped to raise the visibility
of JASSA in the business community.
In 2006,
JASSA established noncredit Japanese
language evening classes at beginner,
intermediate and advanced levels for
both students and adults. These began in
the spring of 2006 at the San Antonio
City Ferrari Learning Center, and due to
growth, moved to the St Anthony High
School in August 2008.
On November
17, Mike Nishimuta represented JASSA
along with 400 invited guests to the
"Line Off" of the first Toyota Tundra at
the new south side plant. JASSA
President Norio Seki is among JASSA
members who are working in support of
Toyota or its 21 onsite supplier
companies. On November 18, JASSA
supported the 3rd annual Asian American
Chamber of Commerce Awards Presentation
Gala at the Hilton Hotel.
Dignitaries
including Dr Henry Cisneros, Mayor
Hardberger, and Judge Nelson Wolff were
on hand as Mrs Naoka Shirane was
presented with a lifetime achievement
award. In his remarks resenting the
award, Dr Cisneros emphasized the role
of Mrs Shirane in the important
groundwork which is now coming to
fruition with the opening of the Toyota
Factory. He said the Japanese community
will be even more important in this
community in the coming years.
2006 concluded with the annual Bonenkai
dinner at Sushi-Zushi restaurant, and a
presentation to outgoing president Norio
Seki by incoming president Rosemary
Kowalski.
2007 began
with the annual Shinenkai Dinner at
Trinity Baptist Church, with over 80
participants, and presentation of the
newly installed officers and board
members. Ms Rosemary Kowalski, as
returning president, led a group to the
Houston Regional meeting of the National
Association of Japan-America Societies.
In February,
JASSA supported the UTSA fundraising
"Great Conversations" event at the
Institute of Texan Culture. Ms Naoko
Shirane was the table discussion leader
for the table that JASSA and the RK
Group sponsored.
In the
Spring of 2007, JASSA was notified that
it was selected to receive one of the
Outreach Coordinators sponsored by the
Japan Foundation Center for Global
Partnership and the Laurasian
Institution. Ms Tamaki Masuda is to
assist JASSA for the next two years
in public outreach and support of JASSA
goals.
Mr Tom
Willems orchestrated a gala evening to
bid farewell to Consul General Kasuhiko
Kamo and his wife, who are ending their
time in Houston. A large crowd of civic
leaders, including Dr Henry and
Councilmember-Elect Alice Cisneros, Ms
Naoko Shirane, local business leaders,
and members of JASSA honored Consul
General with a stunning gala. The new
President of Toyota Manufacturing Texas,
Mr Ken Fukuta, joined JASSA for this
event.
In November,
2007, Mr. Max Navarro chaired a fund
raising event for the JASSA Educational
Scholarship fund, raising over $53,000
in donations. Mr. Ken Fukuta, President
of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas,
serves as Honorary Chairman, and Ms.
Suzanne Peterson of Frost Bank is the
Scholarship Committee Chair for the fund
to will be used by local students for
Asian Studies.
2008
The annual Shinenkai was held at the
new Girl Scout Regional Headquarters. In
February, President Rosemary Kowalski
and VP of Business and Economic
Development, Mitsu Yamazaki, attended
the 6th International Symposium of
Japan-America Societies in Washington
D.C., where they attended a reception
with Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato.
JASSA members participated in the 2008
Asian Festival to celebrate the year of
the Rat.
In March,
JASSA participated in the re-opening of
the Japanese Tea Gardens at Brackenridge
Park. The $1.6M restoration to the
gardens and ponds was marked by the
return of Mabel Jingu Enkoji and 15 of
her family members. The 2008 Japanese
speech contest is now held in each of
the four Texas cities each year. San
Antonio was the only city to have
contestants from elementary and middle
schools. JASSA members continued the annual tradition of an award-winning booth at the Texas Folklife Festival in June, with numerous volunteers contributing to the popular booth with various Japanese foods and crafts. JASSA participated in the opening of the "Counter-Photography Contemporary Japanese Photography" exhibition at the Blue Srar Art Center, and Kuji Kobe gave an instructional Kiki-Zake Matsuri in October.
The annual Matsuri festival drew record crowds to the San Antonio Central LIbrary in October, with over 30 separate performances, booths, and demonstrations by JASSA members. JASSA hosted the showing of the Documentary Film "Gift of Beate" and Rakugo Comedy presentation at the University of the Incarnate Word.
In November, 2008, a delegation of 80 visitors from Kumamoto arrived for a "Wings of Friendship" visit. JASSA hosted the visitors at the Tejas Rodeo Company for a BBQ lunch and a rich Texas experience with horses and lariats. In the evening, JASSA joined the visitors and the City of San Antonio International Office viewing of the River Parade. The city council surprised all by pulling out Japanese flags as they passed by.
The Radius Cafe was the home for the December Bonenkai, hosted by Sushi Zushi, with music performed by Tomiko Warren on the Koto.
2009 The annual Shinenkai was held at the
Girl Scout Regional Headquarters, with new President Taeg Nishimoto greeting the membership. The Asian Festival in January was extremely well attended, with all food vendors selling out of food before the close of the event. Howard Hu, the new VP for Business and Economic Development, hosted a corporate social and membership meeting at Sushihana in January. In February a record number of students participated in the Japanese Language Speech Contest, and several winners from San Antonio traveled to the State contest. In May 2009, JASSA participated in the 20th anniversary of the construction of the Kumamoto-en Garden at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens and the 85th anniversary of the San Antonio Conservation Society at the Japanese Sunken Gardens.
JASSA is a
member of the Greater San Antonio
Chamber of Commerce and the Alamo Asian
American Chamber of Commerce. JASSA welcomes
new members – individual, family,
students, seniors, non-profit, and corporate – to join in
promoting educational, cultural and
economic exchanges between San Antonio
and Japan.
