Yoko Breckenridge
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Japan America Society of Minnesota The Tsūshin is a membership publication of the Japan America Society of Minnesota February 2018 VOL. 27, No. 02 Shinnenkai Celebration Welcomes 2018 J-Quiz 2018: Students Test their with Fun for Everyone! Knowledge on Feb. 17th Despite the J-Quiz is an event for High School student teams snow and the from all over the upper Midwest to compete using incredible Vikings their knowledge of Japanese Language and Culture. game, JASM’s Increasing cultural awareness and understanding is annual 2018 one of JASM’s main goals, and by bringing together Shinnenkai Celebration on young people with an interest in Japan, we hope to Sunday, January encourage the next generation of Japan experts! 14th was well- J-Quiz will take place on February 17th at attended. The 2018 Normandale Community College with competing Shinnenkai was held at Washington Technology Magnet School in St. Paul, Minnesota. Shinnenkai is JASM’s High Schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin. annual traditional Japanese New Year’s celebration, an Students utilize their Japanese skills to write event in which cultural exchange is promoted through compositions, participate in cultural activities, and various activities. Shinnenkai is a fun environment filled compete against the other schools to win the Grand with delicious Japanese food, live performances, a silent Prize, a trip to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in auction, and activities people of all ages can enjoy. Washington D.C., and a chance to compete in the The venue hosted a wide-array of exhibitors, such National Japan Bowl. as the JASM marketplace, where generously donated items (Japanese trinkets, ceramics, toys, etc.) could be Everyone is welcome to watch the Final Rounds in purchased. If one wished to satisfy their fabric and the afternoon on February 17th. For more kimono needs, then SilkAddict, Folding and Wrapping +, information, please contact the JASM office at 612- and Kimono Studio Rin were the places to be at the 627-9357. Shinnenkai. The Bloomington Sister City Organization, MN Nihonjinkai/Japanese Library, Mori no Ike/Concordia Language Villages, St. Paul - Nagasaki Sister City Committee, and the Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) provided a wonderful gateway to connecting the cultures and people of Japan and America at the Shinnenkai Celebration. Thanks to Mami Russel, Shinnenkai had an assortment of delicious food. Ozouni Soup was free for the first 150 people, and Ramen was very popular among attendees. Also on the menu were curry rice, curry udon, gyoza, spring rolls, and sushi. As for sweets, Tomoko Drake expertly prepared the dessert items. Attendees had their options of cream puffs, dango mochi, strawberry mousse cake in a cup, anpan, melon pan, and vanilla and green tea panna cotta. Tomoko Drake managed the “JASM kitchen” for over ten years, and to show appreciation for all her hard work... -Continued on Page 2 Shinnenkai Celebration Welcomes 2018 Executive Director to Retire in June with Fun for Everyone! Dear JASM Members, ...throughout the years, JASM acknowledged her and gave her a certificate of appreciation on the Ben Van Lierop, our kind, stage. outstanding, dedicated Attendees were entertained with live Executive Director for the demonstrations and activities. There was mochi past 13 years will be pounding, an ikebana demonstration provided by the retiring at the end of June Sogetsu Study Group, and a JanKenPon tournament! After eating during the fun activities, guests could 2018. We wish Ben all the enjoy a massage provided by Zen Matsuda at the Zen best as he transitions to Healing Center. Sakura Kai gave guests a wonderful koto retirement and will never performance, and Akiko Ostlund captivated the audience be able to thank him with her belly dancing. New Thunder Wave, a student enough for all he has done dance troupe, amazed the audience as they danced in for JASM over his tenure. Ben has certainly taken colorful festival attire. Sweets Kendamas provided a fun this organization to new heights! Omedeto kendama demonstration, and Yuki Tokuda gave a lovely Gozaimasu and Domo Arigato Ben! ballet performance. Taiko Arts Midwest wowed the audience with their drumming talent as well! New JASM I am now leading a search for the next JASM Vice President Elizabeth Fuhrmann expressed thanks to Executive Director. We are looking for an volunteers and attendees for contributions to the individual with strong leadership skills with the successful event. Afterwards, retiring JASM Member Hiroshi Nakato led the “Tejime”, the Japanese custom of acumen to serve our Individual and Corporate ceremonial hand clapping performed at the end of a Members. special event. Shinnenkai brought people of different Most importantly, we are searching for a leader backgrounds and cultures together, all sharing a common with a strong passion and vision for fulfilling interest in celebrating a traditional Japanese New Year. JASM’s mission of building bridges between the This event could not have been possible without the people of Minnesota and Japan. support of our donors, exhibitors, performers, and volunteers! The generosity and support is greatly Please contact me directly if you would like to appreciated. JASM looks forward to another great learn more about the Executive Director position or Shinnenkai Celebration next year, and hopes to see have any recommendations for JASM’s next everyone in 2019! leader. New I can be reached at: [email protected] Thunder Wave Thanks again Ben for all you have done and continue to do for JASM! Membership News Marc Blehert JASM President Thanks to the following New JASM Members: LeRoy “Lee” Love and Jean Shannon, Tammy Morimoto Thanks to the following Renewing JASM Members: Darrel and Yukiko Magree, Tadako Pratt, Setsuko Rittmiller, Michelle Watanabe Thanks to the following Renewing Corporate Members: Bloomington Sister Cities Organization, M.T.S. System Corporation, Sakura Restaurant, Wanner Engineering, Winona State University, Global Studies Dept. Marc Blehert (L) with Ben van Lierop (R) Please thank our members with Gabrielle Gerbaud to Speak at Corporate Roundtable: Feb. 21 your support! Corporate Benefactor Members In February, we are very pleased to welcome Gabrielle 3M Company Gerbaud to speak about her role as the Executive Director of Daikin Applied the Minnesota Trade Office. Ms. Gerbaud will share Delta Air Lines, Inc. MTS Systems Corporation initiatives that she is developing to support the relationship Sawai Pharmaceutical, Co. Ltd. U.S. – Japan relationship and to increase trade between Taiyo International Minnesota and Japan. She will discuss how the Minnesota Trade Office views Japan as a key partner in its overall trade Patron Members: St. Jude Medical, Inc. initiatives. Corporate Sustaining Members We look forward to the presentation by Ms. Gerbaud and the Anime Twin Cities, Inc. Deloitte Tax, LLP discussion of the initiatives her team is developing to enhance the strong trade Dorsey & Whitney, LLP relationship that Minnesota enjoys with Japan. Please join us for an Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. informative presentation! Gray Plant Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, PA Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, PC Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. Price Japan Lifeline Co. Ltd. $20 Non-Member Mall of America $15 JASM Member Medtronic, Inc. Metropolitan Airport Commission $7 Students (with ID) MGK, Inc. Naigai Industries U.S.A. Inc. Date: Wednesday, Feb. 21 The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. United Noodles Time: 7:30–9:00 a.m. With Registration starting at 7:30 a.m. Place: Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, P.A. Corporate Contributing Members IDS Center, 5th Floor Briggs and Morgan, P.A. Microbiologics, Inc. 80 S 8th St. Minneapolis, MN 55402 Nagomi Ya Senior Living Sysco Asian Foods Satellite Industries, Inc. Wanner Engineering, Inc. Corporate Spotlight: Sawai Pharmaceutical, Co. Ltd. Partners in Service JK’s Table Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Kiku Enterprises, Inc. began as Sawai Pharmacy in 1929. Minnesota Trade Office Pharmacies were rare in Japan during that era, Origami Restaurant so Sawai initially contributed to the health of Osaka Roseville Restaurant the local community by selling Sakura Restaurant Saint Paul Saints Baseball Club pharmaceuticals. When Japan experienced a Suishin Restaurant shortage of medicines before, during and after Tomodachi World War II, Sawai began mass manufacturing and supplying over-the-counter Zen Healing Center (OTC) pharmaceuticals. Upon the introduction of Japan’s National Health Insurance System in the 1960s, the company again shifted focus and began manufacturing Nonprofit Members Concordia Language Village ethical pharmaceuticals. Economic Club of Minnesota In more recent years, Sawai has achieved rapid growth due to its prior Global Minnesota investment in production facilities and personnel in anticipation of increasing demand Greater MSP for generics, and because of a Japanese government policy that has supported the JETAA Minnesota promotion of generics. In 2017, Sawai marked its first step toward overseas JETRO Chicago KCC–Japan Education Exchange expansion—and its first step toward a goal to become a globally recognized generic Macalester College Asian Language & pharmaceutical company—by acquiring Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC, a U.S.- Culture Department based pharmaceutical company that shares a similar heritage of family ownership and Minneapolis Japanese School a common patients-first philosophy. Minneapolis Institute of Art Minnesota Orchestra NDSU-Emily Reynolds Historic