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JASC 6th Annual New Year Card Contest
Our Annual New Year Card Contest is back!
Open to children, teens, and adults! Share your artwork and help us welcome 2026 with creativity and joy.
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Celebrate the New Year at JASC's Kids New Year Day Camp!
Children will enjoy our popular Calligraphy and Ikebana activities, plus new this year, playing the traditional Hanetsuki game and making their own Hagoita paddle.
Lunch features JASC's special Teriyaki burger, with snacks also provided.
This is a very popular camp every year, so don't miss out!
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JASC is partnering with The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association for a special panel discussion featuring Ross Harano, Linda Kawano, Erik Matsunaga, and Mike Tanimura. Together, they’ll reflect on the lasting impacts of World War II incarceration on their families, their lives, and the broader Japanese American community.
Join us on January 19 at the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park to hear their stories firsthand. This event is free and open to the public!
Learn more about JASC’s Oral History Project on our website:
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Join us for an Adult Miso-Making Workshop and learn the art of making traditional Japanese miso from scratch.
Each participant will take home their own freshly made miso to ferment and enjoy!
*Our popular Family Miso Workshop will return in February. Please stay tuned!
Click below to register for the January Adult Workshop:
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Introducing Nihongo Table — launching January 2026!
Nihongo Table is JASC’s new monthly Japanese language & culture meetup designed to be low-pressure, social, and fun. Whether you’re learning Japanese, thinking about starting, or simply love Japanese culture, you’re welcome here.
Each session features a theme of the month and may include casual conversation practice, games, crafts, mini cultural activities, and plenty of conversation starters to help everyone feel comfortable. No language experience required—just curiosity! Japanese tea and snacks will be provided.
Join us for a relaxed, judgment-free space to practice, connect, and enjoy Japanese culture with others.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ruby Grillier at rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org
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Ikebana classes are resuming in January 2026!
Sign up today to claim your spot in a relaxing, interactive class that will introduce you to the art of Ohara style flower arranging!
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Tampopo Kai is currently in Winter Session 1. We have three more classes this year (12/13, 12/20, and 12/27). After that, we will have a long winter break in January, and Winter Session 2 will begin on February 7th.
Please stay warm, and I hope to see all of you a few more times in class before the year ends!
If you get a chance, please visit the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Some of you have already been there and admired the Japan Tree decorated by Tampopo Kai. The Japan Tree is one of more than 50 World Trees displayed at the museum.
Tampopo Kai has been presenting the beautiful Japan Tree since 1989, becoming the third group to represent Japan in this tradition. Two other organizations cared for the tree before us, as Japan joined the museum’s celebration in the mid-1950s, possibly as early as 1952.
This tradition has continued for decades and still brings joy to everyone during the season. I hope you will love our tree!
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Stay tuned for announcements for Donguri Kai
Winter Session registration!
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Japanese Conversation Table:
Thursday, January 8, 2026
1月の日本語お話会は1月08日（木）です
開催日：1月08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, January 8, 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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Interested in learning Japanese or building up your language skills?
JASC language classes are led by native Japanese speakers and are a great way to strengthen your comprehension with in-person and online options.
How do JASC Japanese classes work?
Our Beginners I and II classes operate in 4 sessions throughout the year with each session focusing on 3 chapters in the Genki I and II textbooks.
Beginners I Session 1 is the best match for introductory level Japanese, where students learn hiragana and basic vocabulary before building up to later sessions.
Join our Intermediate or Advanced Class - if you have studied Japanese for some time or have completed the Genki II textbook (or equivalent), you can try our higher level classes for more exposure and practice.
You can always join a class mid-session! It may require some self study of previous chapters to keep up with the class, but students can join sessions at any time so long as there is capacity.
Please reach out to Ruby at rgrillier@jasc-chicago.org for additional information on language classes or to arrange for a free trial class.
The next Beginner I Session 1 class is expected to start in February 2026 - Please stay tuned for registration dates or join our waitlist!
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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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Starting this Sunday, December 14th, is the Chicago Japan Film Collective’s Backstreet Cinema Series Vol. 2: “The Cinematic Roar”
Both screenings feature special guest appearances:
December 14th: Honda Experts Ed & Steve Join Us on Dec 14!
December 21st: Rhythm & Spirit: Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai Joins Us After the Screening!
Roar No. 1
(In-Theater & Online)
Sunday, December 14, @ 10:30 AM
at FACETS, Chicago, IL
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Friday, December 12 - Sunday, December 21 (10 days)
Virtual Screening
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director explores the life and career of Japanese director Ishiro Honda, focusing on his films, war experiences, and friendship with Akira Kurosawa…
Post-Screening Guests: Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle
Michael Foster will serve as the panel moderator.
Roar No. 2
(In-Theater Only)
Sunday, December 21, @ 10:30 AM
at FACETS, Chicago, IL
Shiver
戦慄せしめよ
This 89-minute invisible sound by TOYODA Toshiaki vibrates the mind and soul, capturing the powerful collaboration between HINO Koshiro and Kodo, the world-famous taiko ensemble from Sado Island…
Post-Screening Guests: Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai — Live Performance
Movie venue: FACETS
1517 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Roar No. 1 (on December 14) focuses on Honda Ishirō, the original director of Godzilla (1954) and a longtime right-hand collaborator of Akira Kurosawa.
If you are a fan of classic Japanese cinema, his personal story and legacy may be especially interesting to you!
Please use the $2 off code:
BS12MA
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Taiko Legacy 22 & Reduction 11
Taiko Legacy 22 | Saturday, December 20th | Edlis Neeson Theater | 2PM
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Asian Improv aRts Midwest & Tsukasa Taiko present Taiko Legacy 22 with a return to the original essence of theatrical taiko. Tsukasa's performance unit Gintenkai is joined by the next generation of community performers and longtime collaborators Melody Takata and members of GenRyu Arts from San Francisco to present the simplified grandeur of contemporary taiko with traditional aesthetics.
Featuring: Melody Takata & GenRyu Arts, Yoshinojo Fujima, Ikunojo Fujima, Kioto Aoki, & Tsukasa Taiko.
Purchase Tickets HERE.
Reduction 11 | Friday, December 19th | Edlis Neeson Theater | 7PM
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
In tandem with the exhibition Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Asian Improv aRts Midwest & Tsukasa Taiko is delighted to present Reduction 11, as part of our annual end-of-year concert series.
This year's program features the music of Yoko Ono's SKYLANDING, a project recorded by Tatsu Aoki's The MIYUMI Project in 2016 and a collaboration with Yoko Ono for her sculpture in Jackson Park. The MIYUMI Project plays with Tsukasa Taiko to present this project on the theatrical stage with traditional Japanese music & dance.
Reduction 11 also marks the last of 30th anniversary of the Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival programming, celebrating three decades of jazz and experimental music by Asian and Asian Americans in Chicago.
Featuring: Nicole Mitchell, Dee Alexander, Michael Zerang, Hamid Drake, Mwata Bowden, Edward Wilkerson Jr., Rami Atassi, Jamie Kempkers, Tatsu Aoki, Eigen Aoki, Kioto Aoki, and Gintenkai at Tsukasa Taiko
Pre-show programming at 6:30pm will be the final public presentation for Kioto Aoki & Helen Nagata's Folk Arts Mentorship program grant received from the Illinois Arts Council.
Purchase Tickets HERE.
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If you’re a Japanese–English bilingual speaker—or know someone who is—here’s a great opportunity to support important research!
PhD candidate Onae Parker from the University of Iowa is conducting a study on the communicative strategies used by Japanese-English bilinguals, with a special focus on heritage speakers and the diverse language experiences within our community. Their research aims to highlight and better understand the rich, lived experiences of bilingual speakers.
Onae is still working towards their recruitment goal, and every participant makes a difference.
If you’d like to support their work, you can take part online in one or both 30-minute studies.
Participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card for each study completed.
Thank you for helping uplift bilingual voices in our community!
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