2012 | ISSUE 5 Japan-America Society of San Antonio ARCIHTECTURE STUDENTS ON STUDY ABROAD TRIP TO JAPAN .…………… 1 TOYOTA TOUR REPORT & THE 20TH TEXAS KOI FESTVAL …...…………… 2 HISAGO GALLERY JAPANESE POTTERY, September SAN JAPAN ANIME CONVENTION …… 3 GRASSROOTS JAPANESE AMERICAN CON- FERENCE IN DALLAS ……………….. 4 FOSTERING INCREASED UNDERSTANDING ANDNewsletter COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE CITIZENS OF JAPAN. JAS-SA celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the San Antonio and Kumamoto City Sister City relationship with a se- ries of articles and events in 2012. Japanese Architecture Study Trip The fall of 2009, nine graduate and senior The program concluded with a visit to Ku- UTSA College of Architecture students mamoto City, the sister city of San Antonio. enjoyed a 19-day study abroad trip to The group was officially received by Mayor Japan with Professor Taeg Nishimoto. Seishi Kohyama in city hall, where The itinerary included a tour of Tokyo, Nishimoto presented a letter from San An- Nikko, Sendai, Yokohama, Ise, Kyoto, tonio Mayor Julian Castro to Mayor Kohya- Nara, Osaka, and Kumamoto City. They ma. The group also visited Kumamoto Uni- were exposed to traditional and contem- versity where Dean Mitsuo Morozumi of porary Japanese lifestyle, space, and the Faculty of Engineering gave a special architecture, learning the uniqueness of reception for them. The students also did a the relationship between culture and the home stay for two nights. built environment in Japan. Along with their exposure to the unique The intense urban experience of taking architecture and culture of Japan, the stu- public transportation - from crowded sub- dents experienced the real Japanese life- ways to bullet trains between the cities - style and participated in the traditional was also a new experience. Highlights of dancing parade of Hinokuni Matsuri, which contemporary architecture included the proved to be very similar in spirit to San works of Kenzo Tange, Toto Ito, Tadao Ando, and Yoshio Tanigu- Antonio’s own Fiesta celebrations. chi. Traditional sites included the oldest shrine in Ise, early Bud- dhist temples of Nara, and the most sophisticated temples, Taeg Nishimoto is Associate Dean for Research, Outreach, and Graduate Studies for the UTSA College of Architecture shrines, and Zen gardens of Kyoto. SEE YOU THERE! Fall General Meeting - Come to vote for your 2013 Board of Directors on September 16th, from 2-4 at Igo Li- brary. Program to be announced. 20th Annual Koi Festival - October 13-14 at Water Garden Gems. Exhibits, vendors, seminars along with koi and fancy goldfish auctions. Events & parking free. See jas-sa.org for more info. San Antonio Founders Day Celebration is October 20th and celebrates this community and those who created it. JASSA will participate again this year. See www.sanantoniofoundersday.org for details. If you are interested in volunteering, contact [email protected]. ISSUE 5 | PAGE 2 Toyota Tour: 100 Trucks in 2 Hours! Being Toyota car owners for 25+ years, we were particularly anxious to be a part of this tour. So at noon on July 27, along with other JASSA mem- bers, we began a safety brief- ing at the Toyota Visitors Cen- ter. We were then escorted to carts that drove through the assembly floor to see Tundras and Tacomas put together. TRY THIS! particular section needed attention. This OKONOMIYAKI (Japanese pancake) The “new car smell” was in the air as the was called “Jidoka” (loosely translated as computer-directed, robotic welded truck “automation with a human touch”). This dish is lots of fun to cook-your-own right at the table if you have a portable griddle. Okonimiyaki can be pre- frames and parts moved effortlessly by pared many ways. The name means ”as you like it.” gigantic robotic arms at a measured pace. Each day, a production order was filled. 3/4 cup Dashi (or 2 tsp dashi powder in 3/4 c water) In fact, during the whole tour, that pace The precision was amazing! Can you imag- 2 lg Eggs (or Egg substitute) was set for the two assembly lines as indi- ine that every truck coming off the line had 1 cup Okonomiyaki Flour 1 oz Beni Shoga (pickled ginger) vidual trucks took form. In other areas, already been sold? Every 64 seconds at 1/3 whole Chinese Cabbage plastics molded into various shapes and the end of the line, a truck was “brought to 2 stalks Green Onions, thinly sliced diagonally ¼ cup Tenkasu (Tempura bits) colors, sheet metal stamped into required life” by a human starting it up and driving it ½ lb thin sliced pork or bacon, cut in ¼” strips shapes and sizes, and parts placed into off to a final operational check before it was Optional: shrimp pieces or other seafood. specific carts and bins were all ready to be to be shipped. Rieko Johnson could be Garnish: Kewpie Mayonnaise, Okonomi Sauce, Aonori installed. heard saying “Toyota is the best”! (Seaweed Flakes) In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs & add dashi stock. There were nearly a thousand employees Bob & Patty Brown Add flour and blend until smooth. With a large sharp knife, cut cabbage into thin pieces and fold in along with on each shift. Every two hours, each work- onions, tenkasu, ginger, shrimp or other seafood. It looks er would switch tasks for which they were like a lot of cabbage but it cooks down! Preheat a griddle or heavy pan to 400F and coat with fat or oil. certified. All truck models moved along the line as electrical harnesses, axles, truck Add Okonomiyaki mixture to the griddle and shape into two 10” - 12” “pancakes”. Flatten slightly and lay bacon cabins and beds, wheels, engines, dash- or pork over the top. After the bottom is browned, (about boards, window shields, doors and all the 3 minutes) flip each pancake and cook for about 4 minutes or until meat is done and pancake is lightly specific items and colors were installed. browned, then flip again and cook 3 more minutes or until The assembly floor was clean, cool, and crispy on the outside but moist on the inside. surprisingly quiet except for the occasional Remove to plate and drizzle with Kewpie mayonnaise, unique sounding chimes to alert that a okonomi sauce and sprinkle with Aonori and Katsuobushi and watch it dance! Oishi! Welcome New & Renewing Texas Koi & Fancy Goldfish Show! Members for September 2012 Held at Water Garden Gems on October 13-14 (just east of San Antonio on IH 10, be- CORPORATE DONOR INDIVIDUAL & tween exits 593 & 595). All events and parking are free and open to the public. Hours San Antonio Port Authority FAMILY are 9 to 5 Saturday & 10 to 3 Sunday. The Koi & Goldfish shows and vendor/exhibition areas are covered. There will be a range of seminars on Saturday with topics provided John Enyeart STUDENT by experts in filtration, pond maintenance, and fish care. Vendors from across the coun- Dr. Sheila Fling try will be selling koi, goldfish, and pond & water gardening products, and non-pond Joseph Bacal Kay Hetherly items. Robert Fisher Diana Orozco Kelsee McVey Debbie Pfarr JASSA will be participating again this year. If you wish to volunteer, let us know at Stephen Apolinar Roger Pratt [email protected]! More information on the show and TKFG Society at TexasKoi.com. DID YOU KNOW? The San Antonio Museum of Art hosts the largest collection of Asian Arts in the Southern half of the United States. The Lenora and Walter F. Brown Asian Art Wing contains 15,000 square feet of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Korean exhibits and artifacts. ISSUE 5 | PAGE 3 Hisago Gallery Tour was GREAT! On Saturday, August 25th, JASSA held an ed JASSA president Mimi Yu, “I think when event at the Hisago Japanese Art Gallery with you throw pots you really feel like you’re one 18 participants. Located in Boerne, the gallery with the clay. He’s been doing this for so long was opened in 2007 by Gus and Hisayo that he really has an understanding of the clay McCloskey. Gus graduated from New York’s and the Japanese techniques.” Guests were Pratt Institute of Art, then apprenticed in Ja- able to purchase his beautiful ceramic pieces pan under mas- from the gallery ter potters. He store in the next has participated room. in shows and exhibitions in We then return- both Japan and ing to the the United McCloskey’s States. The home and en- Gallery offers joyed o-bento fine handmade prepared by pottery, as well Hisayo. She August 10th, 11th, and 12th marked the fun-filled as classes prepared and weekend of an annual anime convention known as covering pot- arranged the San Japan. Since its beginning 5 years ago, San tery, cooking, food on antique Japan has become more and more popular, and this Japanese lan- trays in a very year's convention counted over 9,000 attendees! guage, origami aesthetic man- and calligraphy. ner. Hisayo, the cultural director, I was able to go with a few friends on Saturday and The event be- also folded all we all had a blast. Not only were there fun activities gan with a slideshow presentation by Gus. He the origami decorations, including a rabbit such as shopping, playing videogames, watching spoke on the concept of beauty paired with shaped chopstick rest and an umbrella with anime, having foam sword battles, and even live functionality, and about his experiences as an the name and address of the gallery stamped pokemon battles, it was really amazing to see people apprentice. Gus explained the processes on the inside. “I thoroughly enjoyed this cultur- all dressed up as their favorite anime, movie, or involved in creating pots and glazes.