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Northside Origami Meet - July 26
Senior Health & Wellness Fair - July 30
Japanese Community Picnic - August 1
Bon Odori Workshop - August 3
MBT Ginza Fest - August 7, 8, 9
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Senior Health & Wellness Fair
July 30, 2026 | 10 AM - 3 PM at JASC
Join the Chicago Mabuhay Centennial Lions Club and JASC for a free Senior Health & Wellness Fair! Learn about valuable health care resources and services to support your everyday well-being, connect with community organizations, and enjoy raffle prizes, giveaways, and more.
To register, please contact Ruby Romero at (773) 517 - 8137 or chicagomabuhay@gmail.com
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Saturday, August 1, 11AM-5PM | Busse Woods Grove #26, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
The entire Chicago Japanese community and Friends are invited to share in a day of games, food, sports, sunshine, good times and more food!
Bring a dish that’s big enough for your family (plus a little more) to share with everyone at our community food table buffet. BYOB allowed (beer, wine, etc.) – but no glass containers. The non-stop fun begins at 11 a.m. and includes games for kids and adults, karaoke (until 4 p.m.), volleyball, kickball, and tug-of-war. This event is FREE!
Volunteers are needed for set up, food service, children's games, trash duty, and take down. The volunteer sign up sheet is now live:
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Free Bon Odori Workshop | August 3 7:00 - 8:30 PM
JASC and AIRMW are hosting a free Bon Odori workshop! All are welcome to attend regardless of experience. Join us as we welcome Obon season through beautiful traditional dancing.
Please RSVP online to let us know you will be attending.
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Volunteers Wanted for Tabling Assisting!
JASC will be tabling at Ginza Fest this year and could use your help in sharing our mission with the community! If you or someone you know is available to volunteer with us, please use the form below to choose a shift and we will reach out to you!
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Bring the Japanese Summer Festival to your kitchen!
Join us on Sunday, August 16, as our young chefs learn to whip up iconic festival street food favorites like savory Yakisoba noodles, chocolate-dipped bananas,
and fluffy cotton candy. It’s a fun, interactive way for kids to practice real kitchen skills like chopping and mixing.
They'll gain hands-on experience, build cooking confidence, and enjoy a delicious afternoon of learning!
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Defining Courage Tickets On Sale Now!
Tickets are on sale now! Secure your seats today for this one-night-only performance.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organizations and individuals looking to support this important event.
For sponsorship information or additional questions, please email info@jasc-chicago.org.
To learn more about the Defining Courage project and subscribe for updates, visit the Defining Courage website.
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Step into the vibrant world of casual Japanese dining!
In Japan, an Izakaya is the ultimate spot to relax after a busy day, sharing a variety of small, flavor-packed savory dishes over good conversation.
Join our interactive, hands-on cooking class to recreate iconic, crispy, and savory pub-style tapas from scratch!
You'll learn the secrets to authentic, comforting bar bites!
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Join Our Team!
We are looking for a Social Services Coordinator to join our team.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to info@jasc-chicago.org.
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How is your "Natsu Yasumi" (summer break) coming along?
Despite the heat and the poor air quality Chicago experienced recently, I hope you're still enjoying the best season the city has to offer.
Did you attend the Tanabata (Star Festival) event we held at JASC? If so, did you and your little one enjoy it? We spent a long time planning and preparing for the event, and I truly hope it brought smiles to you and your child's faces!
Please stay cool, stay safe, and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Naomi Negi / Tampopo Kai
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Japanese Conversation Table
Thursday, August 13, 2026
8月の日本語お話会は8月13日（木）
です
開催日：8月13日
開催時間：午後12:00から2:00まで
参加費：１人/１回10ドル
日本語で交流したい方へのお知らせです。（日本語の会話クラスではありません。）
普段あまりほかの方との交流のない方、一人でお住まいの方、思いっきり日本語でおしゃべりしてみませんか？
楽しい話題や暮らしのアイデアを分け合い、ちょっとした悩みや不安など、皆で話し合えば解決法がでてくるかも知れません。いろいろなことを日本語で話し合い、英語社会で溜まったストレスを解消しましょう。
このプログラムに興味のある方、参加したいと思われる方は、Eメールで川口ケイclasses@jasc-chicago.org とルビー・グリリエー rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org
または電話：773-275-0097内線226, までご連絡ください。
Calling all native Japanese speakers to our monthly gathering of fellowship and connection with other native Japanese speakers! Please note this is not a Japanese language class but rather a time for fellowship while speaking in fluent Japanese.
Date: Thursday, August 13, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Cost: $10 per person, per session
Location: JASC 5700 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60659
JASC's Conversation Table welcomes everyone to share their experiences, ideas, and stories through social interaction and offers an opportunity to expand their social networks with others in the local community.
If you know someone who would like to participate, please contact Kay Kawaguchi by email at classes@jasc-chicago.org or call her at 773-275-0097 x 226 and leave a message to RSVP. Kay can answer any questions about the program in Japanese or in English. You may also reach out to Ruby Grillier at rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org
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Join our Ikebana class!
Discover the beauty and simplicity of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. Learn the fundamentals of the Ohara School of Ikebana as you create your own beautiful floral arrangement. Each class is a complete, stand-alone experience, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced participants. Explore seasonal flowers, develop new skills, and express your creativity in a welcoming environment.
New August class date available! Click below to register.
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August Nihongo Table
Nihongo Table will have a special 2 hour meet up in August featuring a special Japanese summer festival experience! Come enjoy karaoke, delicious food, and other fun activities!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ruby Grillier at rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org
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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 2,900 cranes! Almost triple our goal!
We are still collecting cranes into August 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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Emma Wilkinson is a PhD student at Northwestern University who is working with Dr. Annette D'Onofrio to research Chicago-based JAs and their sociolinguistic contexts.Please consider helping her with her research!
If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please fill out the survey linked here or navigate to the following url: https://tinyurl.com/nikkeilang . It will ask for some demographic information to check study qualifications and will also ask for your availability. The interview typically takes about an hour to an hour and half. Please also let me know if you would like more information about the project, or if you have any questions.
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Taiko Beginner Workshops
AIRMW Cultural Hub (4875 N Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60630)
$60 / person Payment is non-refundable. We accept Paypal / Venmo / Cash / Checks.
All adult workshops from 6:30-8PM
*Kids class from 5:30-6:15pm (ages 4-10) when offered
Instructors will vary depending on the workshop date.
Minimum of 7 participants required for workshop to proceed. Maximum of 20 participants.
Tuesday, July 28th (+ kids)
Monday, August 17th (+ kids)
Register for a workshop HERE.
Payment due upon registration and nonrefundable*
*If you are no longer able to attend the workshop, please consider your registration fee a donation to AIRMW and Tsukasa Taiko. We appreciate your understanding & support.
If you'd like to pay via Venmo / Zelle, send us an email.
For questions email: tsukasataiko@gmail.com
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