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Crystal City Exhibit Opening Program - October 17
Open House Chicago - October 17-18
Crystal City Exhibit Closing Program - November 7
Holiday Delight & Kodomo Matsuri - November 14
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Give your kids a day of energy, culture, and fun!
Join JASC on Monday, October 12 (9:00 AM–3:00 PM) for our Fall Sports Day Camp (Aki no Undokai) for ages 6–14. Campers will form teams for traditional Japanese undokai games and make their own onigiri bento lunch, choosing their favorite side dishes. Special guest Kana Kendziera, a former member of Japan's national volleyball team, will join us to inspire our young athletes. Lunch and snacks are included. Spaces are limited. Sign up today!
10/12（月）秋の運動会キャンプ 参加者募集！
JASCでは「運動会」をテーマにした、楽しいアクティビティが盛りだくさんの秋のデイキャンプを開催します！お昼はおにぎり弁当作り。お子さんが好きなおかずも選べます。楽しく温かい雰囲気の中で、思い出に残る一日を過ごしましょう。さらに、スペシャルゲストとして、元バレーボール日本代表のケンジエラかなさんが来てくださいます！かなさんは、バレーボールを通してシカゴと日本をつなぎ、たくさんの子どもたちに夢と元気を届ける活動をされています。
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This October, JASC is joining Onigiri Action, a global campaign by TABLE FOR TWO that turns a simple rice ball into a meal for a child in need. From October 8 to November 17, every photo of onigiri posted on social media with #OnigiriAction provides 5 school meals to children in Africa and Asia.
We're bringing Onigiri Action to several JASC programs. Come make onigiri with us, enjoy them together, and snap a photo to share!
Can't make it? You can still take part! Make onigiri at home, or snap a photo of any onigiri you enjoy, and post it with #OnigiriAction by November 17.
With special thanks to our partners
- Onigiri fillings provided by Ichi
- Nori provided by Yamasho, Inc.
- With support from the Consulate General of Japan in Chicago
- Part of Onigiri Action by TABLE FOR TWO
Let's make onigiri, share the joy, and help feed children around the world, one rice ball at a time!
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Medicare Seminar | October 14
JASC is hosting a free Medicare Seminar in partnership with MedicareTeachers on Wednesday, October 14 at JASC from 6:30-7:30pm.
This seminar will cover the basics of applying for Medicare, navigating enrollment periods, and understanding important deadlines. It’s a helpful opportunity for those who are new to Medicare as well as caregivers assisting family members.
If you plan to attend in person, please email Peter DeSouza at pdesouza@jasc-chicago.org or join via Google Meet.
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JASC is hosting an Opening Program for the traveling exhibit Crystal City: America’s Last WWII Concentration Camp on Saturday, October 17.
Hear personal stories from Crystal City camp survivors and descendants, followed by a screening of the short documentary Then Becoming Now. The program will explore the experiences of incarceration, resilience, and the lasting legacy of Crystal City.
RSVP is required and seating is limited to 100 guests.
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Open House Chicago 2026
We’re happy to be participating in Open House Chicago again this year!
Join us on October 17–18 as we welcome visitors to JASC throughout the weekend. We will have several programs and activities going on throughout the weekend:
Saturday, Oct. 17
Ikebana Exhibition and Demonstrations
Origami Open Folding Session
Crystal City Opening Program
Crystal City Exhibit
Sunday, Oct. 18
Ikebana Exhibition
Tea Ceremony Demonstration
Crystal City Exhibit
Check out our site page for more details.
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Volunteer With Us for Holiday Delight!
It’s already that time of year again!
We’re getting ready for Holiday Delight & Kodomo Matsuri and looking for community members who can help make the event a success!
Donate to our Bake Sale
If you or someone you know loves to bake, we’d love your help filling our tables with homemade treats! Baked goods will be sold during Holiday Delight, with all proceeds supporting JASC’s cultural programming and social services.
Volunteer at Holiday Delight
We’re also looking for volunteers to help out during the festival! Whether you can help for a full shift or just a few hours, we’d love to have you join us.
Use the buttons below to donate baked goods or sign up to volunteer.
Thank you for helping us make this year’s Holiday Delight a wonderful event for the community!
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Fall Session Tampopo Kai in Full Swing!
Tampopo Kai’s new Japanese Immersion Class has been going very well!
It’s a small, cozy class, but the children are eager to speak Japanese and follow my directions.
They are all enthusiastic about learning the lessons in Japanese, and it has been wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement.
The children are also beginning to learn Hiragana, the Japanese writing system. Right now, they are spending time learning how to hold their pencils properly and practice making all kinds of lines with the right amount of pressure.
Before we introduce the actual Hiragana characters, they need to learn how to control their pencil strokes, make different kinds of lines, and maneuver their pencils in whatever direction they want.
So far, everyone has been working very hard, and I’m so proud of them!
I hope more children between the ages of 3 and 5 will join us and become part of our little Japanese Immersion Class!
Naomi Negi / Tampopo Kai
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In Person & Virtual Medicare Session | October 29
JASC is hosting a Medicare Information Session in partnership with Lizzy Care on October 29th in the JASC building from 10 -11 am.
Click Below to RSVP for either in-person or virtual attendance.
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Thank You, Youth Volunteers!
This past year, 43 youth volunteers gave more than 330 hours of service to JASC, from Holiday Delight and Hinamatsuri to the Tanabata Festival and the Block Party. Congratulations to our Star Volunteers, Special Award winners, and 10+ Hours Club members! We will celebrate them at our Youth Volunteer Awards Ceremony at Holiday Delight on Saturday, November 14.
We are now welcoming youth volunteers for the new school year. From cultural workshops to cultural festivals and family events, there are many ways to get involved. Scan the QR code or apply below!
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October Nihongo Table
The October meet-up will feature a special onigiri-making workshop in support of Onigiri Action, a campaign by Table for Two!
We’ll spend the evening making onigiri and side dishes together in our demo kitchen, then enjoy what we’ve made as a group.
We’re thrilled to partner with Ichi by Torino, who is generously joining us and providing delicious fillings for our onigiri, and YAMASHO INC., who is providing the nori. We’d also like to extend a big thank you to the Consulate General of Japan in Chicago for supporting this project!
What is Onigiri Action?
Onigiri Action is an annual social good campaign organized by TABLE FOR TWO, connecting a simple photo of a Japanese rice ball with school meal support for children in need. During the campaign, each qualifying onigiri photo shared with #OnigiriAction helps provide five school meals to children in need through TABLE FOR TWO’s partners.
You Can Participate Too!
It’s easy to join! From October 8–November 17, take a photo of an onigiri—whether homemade, store-bought, or creatively made—and share it on social media with #OnigiriAction. You can participate more than once, and there’s no cost to post.
Grab an onigiri, snap a photo, and join us in making a difference, one rice ball at a time!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ruby Grillier at rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org
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Join Our Team!
We are looking for a Director of Development to join our team.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to info@jasc-chicago.org.
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Join Our Team!
We are looking for Japanese Language Teachers to help us grow the Adult Language Program.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to info@jasc-chicago.org.
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New JASC Community Spotlight Series
Introducing JASC’s new Community Spotlight series!
We’ll be highlighting the guests and community members who are sharing their passions, doing meaningful work, and making an impact in Chicago and beyond.
Click to read more about Ryosuke Kawamura, a Japanese exchange student from Kyushu University, and his experience at JASC.
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JASC’s Adult Day Services provides older adults with a safe, engaging environment that supports their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through customized care plans and daily activities like art, music, and dance. Located at 5700 N. Lincoln Ave., our program also offers respite for family caregivers and the added support of two on-staff Registered Nurses.
Interested in Adult Day Services?
For more information, you can contact us:
We urge prospective clients and their families to tour our new facility on 5700 N Lincoln Ave and check out this wonderful program.
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Cranes for Peace Project
A new project has been launched by the Japanese Culture Center and the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, and the Japanese American Service Committee is proud to be a partner!
We’re setting a goal to fold over 1,000 origami cranes to contribute to this collaborative art project—and we’re calling on our community to help us reach it.
You can participate by:
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Folding cranes at home (please leave wings up and unfolded for storage)
- Joining upcoming folding workshops at JASC, where we’ll provide the origami paper and guidance
If you’d like to drop off your folded cranes at JASC, please contact Ruby at rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org, and we’ll make sure they are transported to the Japanese Culture Center.
We are proud to announce that thanks to our amazing community, we have collected over 6,000 cranes! Thank you so much for your help!
We are still collecting cranes if you would like to join.
Click below to learn more about the project and how to participate!
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Could You Have Missing Money Waiting for You?
Did you know that 1 in 4 Illinois residents has unclaimed funds waiting for them? The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is currently holding over $5 billion in forgotten cash, stocks, and property. This includes things like forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, utility deposits, and life insurance proceeds.
The state's ICash program is a free service dedicated to safety-keeping these assets
until they can be returned to their rightful owners or heirs. The average claim paid out is $1,000—and it costs absolutely nothing to get your money back! For more info visit https://icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/ or reach out to the office at 800-961-8303.
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AIRMW ARTS INITIATIVES:
LISTENING INTO SONGS AND BODIES
WITH AINE NAKAMURA
Friday, Oct. 23th | AIRMW Cultural Hub | 6:00PM
4875 N Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60630
AIRMW Arts Initiatives presents: a movement workshop "Listening into Songs in Bodies " with Aine Nakamura.
This will be a performance workshop of body/movement and voice, paying attention to sensing and listening bodies.
Songs in bodies are constantly changing because senses and feelings in bodies are changing and as inner and outer change their shapes in relations and through experiences.
Do these shape changes impact details in art-making? How can these impacts be translated again through bodies and keep changing for potentialities. Sometimes we might want to trust the senses of soles of our feet. The feet that have walked the soil. The feet that we used to lick as babies. Sometimes we might want to give a new meaning to our fingers as if they are flower petals or guiding lights.
Voice is now free from how they should sound but emitted out simply from a membrane. Words are what we choose and we would like to listen to them. What are the edges and where are the grounding, how much can we explore, and how can we transform freely.
We would listen to and explore these questions through a performance workshop of body/movement and voice. We may further use shapes and words.
*Please bring two sheets of paper or notebook (something to write on) and pencil/pen (something to write with).
*No experience is required.
For tickets visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/listening-into-songs-in-bodies-tickets-2001827316391?aff=oddtdtcreator
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AIRMW PRESENTS: FUJIMA YOSHINOJO
PERFORMANCE & TALK
Tuesday, Oct. 13th | The Edge Theater | 7:00PM
5451 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
AIRMW presents:
Fujima Yoshinojo solo performance as part of the ongoing 50th Anniversary Celebration of Shubukai Fujima-style Japanese Classical dance, with artist talk afterwards.
Reservations requested
Free Admission, donations accepted
RSVP HERE
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SHUBUKAI ANNUAL STUDENT RECITAL
Saturday, Oct. 13th | The Edge Theater | 3:00PM
5451 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
The Shubukai 50th year celebration continues with the annual Student recital with performances from new and current Shubukai students; and support from Toyoakimoto Shamisen.
Admission free, limited seating
RSVP requested
For questions email rika@airmw.org
http://www.shubukai.org
RSVP HERE
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One-Day Beginner Shamisen Workshop
AIRMW Cultural Hub (4875 N Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60630)
$180 / person (workshop fee includes instrument rental) Payment is non-refundable.
A 3 hour one-day beginner workshop intensive in ozashiki style shamisen with Toyoakimoto to learn fundamentals of how to hold and play the Japanese three-stringed lute.
Sunday, October 4th (+ kids)
5:00 - 8pm (adults)
Open to all ages and experiences. Maximum of 5 participants.
Workshop fee includes instrument rental.For questions email: info@airmw.org
REGISTER HERE
Payment due upon registration and nonrefundable*
If you would like to pay via Zelle, please send us an email before
completing the registration form.
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