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SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL
Sunday, September 26th, 2010 | 11 AM – 6 PM
Upper East Side
Every culture and people has its soul food—food that comes from recipes that have been passed down from generations that can be called the authentic flavor of a people.
The different regions of Japan all have their own soul food specialties. In this festival, several restaurants and companies will introduce some of Japan’s most best-kept gastronomic secrets.
Come visit the JapanTown Soul Food Festival on September 26th to taste the unique character of Japan’s diverse regions.
Directions to Soul Food Festival
Location:
Lexington Avenue between 94th and 96th Streets
Subway:
6 train to 77th Street
4, 5, 6 train to 86th Street
6 train to 96th Street
News »
The efforts of JETAANY’s campaign to save JET have made it to the Mainichi Shimbun! Click on the link below for interviews and comments from your fellow alumni.
Events, News »
The organizers of the First Annual Japanese Heritage Night are looking for JETAANY volunteers to represent the JET Alumni Association!!
Volunteers are needed for
1. Information Tables: setting up and manning two tables with info on Japanese and Japanese Americans
2. Pre-Game performance: coordiinating taiko and bon dance participants
3. Mets Spirit Awards: coodinating Award participants
4. Transportation: JET members w/cars driving Award participants &others to & from Citi Field
5. Partnership outreach: generating ticket donations/ funding / services from companies & individuals
6. Program: assisting with writing and production for printed program
7. Outreach: reaching communities who are not yet aware of Japanese Heritage Night
8. Press/media: assisting with media needs, individual interviews
9. Documenting:video, photo & reporting coverage of the event
SCHEDULE FOR JAPANESE HERITAGE NIGHT
Friday, August 27, 2010
4:15 Material for Information tables can be dropped off at Mets office
4:40 Information tables set up
5:40 Performers enter Bullpen Plaza Gate, escorted by Mets staff
6:30 Pre-game entertainment begins (20 min)
Taiko drumming by Soh Daiko “Hachidan Uchi” (10 min piece)
Obon dance “Tanko Bushi” led by Japanese Folk Institute of New York. Dance participants include people from the Japanese heritage community and friends (3 min piece)
6:50 Spirit Award Ceremony (5 min)
Awards given to the following communities and received by members of those communities.
Baseball – received by Satoru Tsufura (Nisei ballplayer) and Shuji Kato (JAA baseball league)
Military Service – Kaz Yamagushi (WWII vet) and Lt. Janelle Kuroda (Navy, active duty in Iraq)
Community Service – Suki Terada Ports and Sam Kiyomi Turner (activists, HIV AIDS, Ninth Ward)
In attendance: Ambassador Nishimiya
6:58 National Anthem sung by Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa
7:10 Game starts
(5th inning Information Tables broken down)
Also, for our pre-game event, JET alumni are invited to dance the Tanko Bushi on the Mets centerfield! It is a simple and fun bon dance honoring one’s ancestors. Here are the online instructions for the dance and an an mp3 of the song for you to practice.
TICKETS: All JET alumni volunteering and/or dancing at Citi Field must have a ticket to the game. The Mets have made available discounted tickets in specific areas of the stadium. I believe your website has a draft of the flyer with outdated information saying that the ticket purchase cutoff was August 5. Please inform your members that discount tickets are now available until Thurs, August 26. Regular tickets can be bought on the day of the game.
To purchase:
http://www.mets.com/japan
Sign in ID: JAPAN (in caps)
Password: METS (in caps)
Discounted tickets to sections reserved for us are:
$26 – Promenade Reserved Infield (sec 508)
$41- Pepsi Porch (sec 305)
$58 Baseline Box (sec 106)
(prices do not include service charge)
Group discount sales of 25+ receive scoreboard recognition. For group sales of 25+ contact John Hazelett at 718.559.3046, Jhazelett@nymets.com. I encourage JET to have 25 alumni come as a group and support this event – this will enable you to get “JETAANY” featured on the Big Stadium Screen. A photo of this with JET alumni in foreground would be an impressive visual to show the contributions of JET-NY to Japan.
Alumni who cannot attend the game can purchase a ticket and we can give it to one of our constituents, possibly WWII veterans or Japanese families suffering from domestic violence – the children would love a night at a ballgame.
If you are interested, please contact Donna Tsufura at thedayako[at]gmail[dot]com (put JETAANY in your subject line)
News »
Here are some upcoming concerts and shows for those interested in Japanese music!
D’espairsRay, Aug. 12-13 @ The Studio at Webster Hall
Dir En Grey (with Apocalyptica), Aug. 24 @ Nokia Theatre Times Square
http://nokiatheatrenyc.com/eventdetail.php?id=28422
Ken Hirai, Aug. 25-26 @ B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
http://www.bbkingblues.com/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=5120
Puffy AmiYumi, Oct. 10 @ Irving Plaza
http://www.livenation.com/event/000044ECAE537CC9?artistid=930134&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60
News »
NYCNDA (NYC nihongo de asobou) is hosting a natsu matsuri (summer festival) to celebrate summer. Looking for a way to expose your kids to the Japanese language and culture? The natsu matsuri is the perfect way to sample Japanese summer! Activities are geared towards children ages 18 months to 6 years old, but of course all are welcome!
WHEN: Sunday, August 8th 2010
TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WHERE: The White Box @ 440 Studios, 440 Lafayette Street & Astor Place
COST: $10/child advance ($15/child at door)
EVENT DETAILS: We have a variety of activities lined up to keep the kids engaged and entertained. Games, crafts, dance, musical performances, gifts and prizes!
To order tickets please call 646-334-7426 or wrote to events.nycnda@gmail.com
For more info on NYCNDA check out http://www.nycnda.com
News »
Updated!
–Sorry for the confusion folks, we just put up information as it’s given. Thanks to Susan for fixing the error! -Ed.
THE FIRST ANNUAL JAPANESE HERITAGE DAY AT THE NEW YORK METS
AUGUST 27th, Friday
7:10pm, Pre-game events begin at 6:30pm
Houston Astros vs. New York Mets at Citi Field
The NY Mets have invited the Japanese American and Japanese communities to join in their Heritage Day events. Japanese pitchers Takahashi Hisanori and Igarashi Ryota make the Mets one of the few MLB teams with more than two Japanese players.
Traditional Taiko Drumming by Soh Daiko will be featured as the Pre-Game on-field entertainment, special Mets Spirit Awards ceremony and a Scoreboard Welcome.
Participating organizations include (in formation) US-Japan Council (USJC),
Japanese American Association of New York (JAA), Japanese American and
Japanese in America (JAJA), and the National Japanese American Memorial
Foundation. Corporate sponsorship by Two Twelve Associates.
INDIVIDUAL DISCOUNTED TICKETS are available for online purchase at: www.mets.com/japan
Sign in ID: JAPANESE
Password: METS
Pepsi Porch @ $41/ea
In-field Reserved @ $26/ea
GROUP TICKETS of 25 or more: Call John Hazelett 718.559.3046
Includes Discounted Group ticket rates
Scoreboard welcome for your group
Tickets must be purchased by August 5th.
Please to friends, family and colleagues – we want to make this a memorable 2010 event. We welcome sponsors who support our community to make Japanese Heritage Night an even more enriching event. Look for our upcoming Facebook page with up-to-date information. Let’s have fun with a show of our pride and support for baseball and our Japanese Community!
Check out the flyer for more information.
News »
Ambassador Nishimiya’s Residence
July 23, 2010
News »
Check out this article in the Washington Post (free registration required to view the entire article) about the future of the JET Program.
The article mentions our very own JetWit.com creator and member of the Board of Directors, Steven Horowitz, as well as photos of Vice-President Monica Yuki, and US Country Representative Shree Kurlekar!
Unfortunately, according to the article, the future does not seem to bode well for the future of the JET Programme.
Said Motoyuki Okuda, head of the budget review panel examining JET, “our opinion has been issued, so (JET) will probably shrink.” It was his view that JET exists to maintain “amakudari” (a plush place where senior bureaucrats are sent to retire.)
Read it for yourself and and check out our post on Save the JET Program to see what you can do to help!
Update: Also, check out a response to this article by Steven Horowitz on JetWit.com.
News »
What: A day of demonstration and competition to show case Shorinji Kempo
Where: 55 Lexington Avenue, Baruch College Gymnasium
Admission: Open to the public, $5
Shorinji Kempo is a totally unique non-competitive Japanese martial way, designed to help practitioners realize their potential, by exercising three elements; healthy mind, healthy body and effective self-defense. The system is based around realistic, challenging and enjoyable training, incorporating punches, kicks, blocks, locks and throws combined with seated meditation, philosophy and remedial massage. Practitioners work in harmony with others creating confident well-intentioned individuals that will leave a positive effect on society.
Message from a member:
Dear JETAANY,
During my stay in Kanazawa I was introduced to a very interesting Japanese martial art called Shorinji Kempo. I’ve been practicing for over ten years now at our New York branch. On September 5th, 2010 we are having our first taikai in New York. Shorinji Kempo, while technically is a martial art, is focused on making strong leaders who can help create a peaceful society.
- Steve
For more information: www.shorinjikemponyc.org
News »
Dear Connected and Savvy Alumni,
The JETAA USA National Conference is taking place in NYC this year, sponsored by your very own JETAANY team. In order to welcome and wow our guests from other chapters around the country, we are putting together a swag bag full of snacks, gifts, and other goodies. We are also holding a prize raffle. If your company can make a donation, or if you have a contact at a company that can, please contact kendall.murano@gmail.com ASAP!
In-kind donations are tax deductible and we can provide all the needed documentation. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Examples of already donated items include:
Bottles of tea
Subway maps
Pens
Folders
Books
If you can help, please contact us today! In particular, we’re looking for food items or snacks. Please help make this one of the best National Conferences ever!
Best,
JETAANY
