After 9 months of construction, JASC is thrilled to invite the community to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of our new “Forever Home” on 5700 N. Lincoln. We are honored and grateful to the support of our community for making this possible!

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 12th at 9:00 AM. Coffee and donuts by 2D Donuts will be served. The program will begin at 9:30 and will include remarks from community leaders, the official ribbon cutting, and a ceremonial Kagami Biraki sake barrel breaking. After the program, guests are welcome to walk through our space.

Please RSVP by November 28th if you plan on attending as spots are limited. We’re looking for volunteers to help during this event - please sign up if you are interested.

Following the ceremony will be a luncheon celebrating the retirement of Michael Takada. Mike was instrumental in the search and purchase of 5700 N. Lincoln Ave., which will be the new home of expanded social services and destination center for Japanese American culture, history, and tradition. Please help us honor Mike by sharing a message, photo, or video to send him off to retirement!

Spread the word! Tell your friends and family that Holiday Delight & Kodomo Matsuri is in December this year. You can download a flyer to share HERE.

We are still in need of volunteers for this special event! If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please email us at events@jasc-chicago.org for more information.

Interested in becoming a sponsor for Holiday Delight? You can access our sponsorship application form here.

Any additional information can be found on our website.

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Applications for JASC Scholarships for the 2025-26 Academic Year are now open! Awards for undergraduate or graduate studies range from $1,000 - $5,000 awards. Click here for details, guidelines, and the application form. Applications are due by 5 pm on Thursday, April 1, 2025.

Email programs@jasc-chicago.org with any questions.

Tampopo Kai Winter 1 Class registration will open on 11/17! Join us this session for fun and engaging activities with your child! Classes will continue to be held at the Ravenswood Fellowship church until the end of Winter Session 1.

Please note: There will be no Saturday classes on 11/30 for Thanksgiving Weekend and 12/14 for JASC’s Holiday Delight Fundraiser. The Winter 1 term will end on 12/28.

The Donguri Kai kids have been hard at work creating beautiful art for our 2025 Calendar series! 

Calendars are currently for sale as part of our Holiday Delight fundraiser. You can purchase calendars online via our website and during our Holiday Delight event on December 14th. 

This year we have two sizes available: a desk calendar featuring art from Donguri Kai Little Kids (K-2nd grade) for $10 and a wall calendar featuring art from the Donguri Kai Big Kids (3rd-5th grade) for $20.

Skip the lines and buy online today!

If you would like to receive your calendar prior to December 14th, please reach out to Ruby Grillier at rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org to arrange for either shipping or early pick up.

Our Adult Japanese Language Classes are continually welcoming new students! Most classes are online at this time. Expanded in-person classes will return after the new building is open in January 2025.

Interested in a class? Take a trial class any time at no cost. Contact Ruby Grillier for help in determining the best level for you. Reach her at the JASC office, (773) 275-0097, ext. 229, or by email rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org.

Adult Cooking Classes will start at JASC’s new building in January 2025! These monthly classes will be a great opportunity to learn about Japanese food and culture through instructor-led demonstrations. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. 

Priority registration for cooking classes will open on 11/19.

We’re so excited to announce that Kids Cooking Classes are coming soon to JASC! Classes will be held once per month on Sundays from 4:00 to 6:30 pm. Plan to explore seasonal Japanese dishes while learning about Japanese culture and cooking!

Priority registration will open 11/19.

Check our website for more updates in the future!

Registration opens 11/19 for our upcoming Kids New Year Day Camp, which will feature calligraphy and ikebana activities at our new building!

When: January 20, 2025

Where: 5700 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60659 from 9 am - 3 pm

Save the date for this super fun cultural day camp!

Help Shape JASC’s Future!

We want to hear from you! Our Community Interest and Needs Survey is your chance to tell us what kinds of programs, events, and services you’d like to see at JASC. Whether you’re interested in cultural events, intergenerational programs, or new offerings at our 5700 Lincoln Ave. location, your feedback will guide our next steps. The survey only takes a few minutes, and every response makes a difference—let’s build a stronger community together!

Your responses to this survey are completely confidential. All information collected will be used solely for research and improvement purposes by JASC. Individual responses will not be shared, and data will be reported in aggregate form only, ensuring your anonymity. Your participation is voluntary, and you are free to skip any questions or withdraw from the survey at any time. Thank you for your valuable input.  

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Your input is valuable to us and will directly inform our future programs and services. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 

*All survey participants will be entered into a raffle to win a $50 Visa gift card! Please enter your email at the bottom of the survey to qualify"

Until our new building is ready, please note the following updates:

• Our 4427 N. Clark St. office will be closed to the public. JASC staff will be working remotely. To reach us, you can email jascinfo@jasc-chicago.org.
• Please send all mail to P.O. Box 25380, Chicago, IL 60625
• For questions about mailing checks & donations, please reach out to development@jasc-chicago.org

For updates on Programming, Adult Day Services, & Legacy Center, please go to our website.

Thank you for your patience and understanding! For any moving questions, please contact operations@jasc-chicago.org.