Japan America Society of Minnesota

The Tsūshin is a membership publication of the Japan America Society of Minnesota

January 2014 VOL. 23, No. 01

Bonnenkai 忘年会 Shinnenkai 新年会

With the year 2013 fading in the

background and 2014 just over the

horizon, JASM held its annual

Bonenkai celebration at the Fuji-

Ya Restaurant on December 18,

2013. Bonenkai is a tradition in

Japan to forget about the past

year woes and look forward with

hope to the opportunities of the

year to come. JASM held its

annual Bonenkai event with a diverse gathering of JASM

members and guests to celebrate the end of the year for the

JASM community.

The Bonenkai tradition is practiced faithfully in Japan

with companies and organizations celebrating the passing of

the year with a gathering of co-workers and friends. JASM

was pleased with the turnout of 40 attendees that made for an

exciting and fun event in the bustling restaurant of Fuji-Ya in

Uptown. Joining the event were JASM Board Members, Liz

Brailsford, Vice President of JASM; Bill Paterson, and his

wife, Jocelyn; Dick Stahl, Past President of JASM; Deanna

Bassett, Tom Haeg and his daughter, Brittany; Marc Blehert

and his wife, Amy; Maki Kawase and Don Martin, who

brought four members of his company, including one from

Japan. Former JASM Board Member, Seigo Masubushi, of the

Saint Paul Saints Baseball Club, also joined the event.

Everyone was served a plate of appetizers that

contained samplings of gyoza, a seaweed salad, yakitori, and

sushi. As the evening progressed, JASM members and friends

exchanged toasts to remember the old year and to ring in the

new year. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to share stories of

their endeavors during the past year and to meet other JASM

members with a special interest and connection to Japan.

The Bonenkai, now it its 6th year as a JASM event, is

a popular gathering for the JASM community. Everyone

enjoys the opportunity to mingle and to share conversation

over Japanese cuisine and beverages. Following this Bonenkai,

JASM looks forward to an exciting year in 2014 with more

opportunities for JASM members to gather, make friends and

celebrate the cultural traditions of Japan.

JASM is bringing the sights, tastes, and sounds of a Japanese New Year to Minnesota through our Shinnenkai celebration. Shinnenkai is JASM’s annual New Year Celebration in which we celebrate the New Year by bringing the traditions of Japan to Minnesota. The 2014 Shinnenkai will be held on Sunday, January 19th at Hopkins Eisenhower Community Center. 1001 Minnesota 7, Hopkins, Minnesota 55305. The event is from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be dazzling cultural performances, delicious Japanese food, silent auction, exhibitions, and children and adult activities. We hope to create a fun family atmosphere that allows people of all ages to come together and experience the New Year Japanese style! If you make reservations by January 15th, you will get an Early-Bird discount! For more information, visit the JASM website.

The Japanese language completion known as J-Quiz in February is open to all high schools that teach Japanese in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The competition tests knowledge of Japanese Language and Culture. Students will utilize their Japanese skills to write compositions, participate in cultural activities, and compete against the other schools to win the Grand Prize, a trip to the annual Sakura Festival and the National Japan Bowl in Washington D.C. There will also be a Flea Market offering Japanese items to support the winners’ trip to Washington. If you wish to donate curios or Japanese crafts, please contact the JASM office. Thank you!

J-Quiz

Happy New Year! 新年あけましておめでとうございます！

Membership News

Thanks to the following renewing JASM Members:

Rosemary Heim, Ned Smith,

Sarah Wilbert

Thanks to the following Contributing Members:

Kathryn Klibanoff

Thanks to our renewing

Corporate Members:

Gray Plant Mooty Mooty & Bennett, PA St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Minneapolis Japanese School

ミネアポリス日本語補習校、おひさま組

（未就学児クラス）幼児募集

１）対象：平成26年4月2日時点で満２歳である幼児

誕生日が平成23年(2011年) 4月2日から平成24年

(2012年) 4月1日までの幼児

２）予約受付期間：平成25年12月19日（木）から平

成26年1月25日（土）まで

３）面接実施日： 平成26年3月1日 10時から

12時まで（時間が多少前後する可能性があります）

面接ご希望の方は以下までご連絡下さい。

総務担当：スタウファー seito@minneapolisjapaneseschool.org

Enrollment Interview for Pre-school at

Minneapolis Japanese School Date: March 1st 10:00~12:00pm Who: Child who was born between 4/2/2011~4/1/2012 Place: Mounds Park Academy School, 2051 Larpenteur Ave. E. Saint Paul, MN 55109 If you are interested in attending, please contact Emi Stauffer at seito@minneapolisjapaneseschool.org by 1/25/2014. Feel free to share this information with your friends and families!

Minneapolis Japanese School Emi Stauffer

Happy New Year! As we look ahead in 2014, we remember that 2013 was an exciting year for JASM. In December, we held the “Forget the Year” Bonenkai party to celebrate the year. Before we put 2013 in the record books, let’s reflect on some of JASM’s 2013 activities and accomplishments. JASM programs in 2013 were the result of countless hours of planning, preparation and execution by a large team of dedicated JASM volunteers and interns that make our many programs a success. Our J-Quiz competition continued to attract impressive high school students throughout the greater Twin Cities. Thanks to the committed, engaging and professional high school Japanese language instructors, the Twin Cities continues to develop worldly, well-rounded and highly qualified students. The Lantern Lighting Summer Japanese Festival continued to attract large crowds with a wide variety of interests in Japanese arts, music, crafts, sports, and food! It is heart warming to see the many families enjoying stage performances by talented musicians and dancers. The location near the Como Park Japanese Garden further enhances the mood and Japanese setting. In honor of our Mondale Award recipient Yoshie Babcock for her great contribution to the arts community, the 2013 Mondale Scholarship Dinner Gala set record attendance and fundraising to support students interested in studying in Japan as well as supporting JASM programs and initiatives. To better serve the needs of the growing Japanese business community, in 2013 we started quarterly “NIchibei” business focused programs in Japanese. Through these programs we engage, support and foster relations with these important JASM Members. The JASM team is busy preparing for our 2014 programs including our “Shinnenkai” New Year festival. This is another great event for the whole family. Thank you for your active participation and commitment to the JASM mission.

David Smith President of JASM

Letter From the President

Please thank our members with your support!

Corporate Benefactor Members Daikin Applied, Inc. Delta Airlines, Inc.

Corporate Sustaining Members 3M Company Amano McGann, Inc American Medical Systems, Inc. Andersen Corporation Boston Scientific Corporation Dorsey & Whitney, LLP Design Ready Control, Inc. Fredrikson & Byron, PA Gray Plant Mooty Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, PC Hubbard Broadcasting Lion Precision Mall of America Medtronic, Inc St. Jude Medical Taiyo International, Inc. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

Corporate Contributing Members Bloomington Sister City Organization Briggs and Morgan, P.A. Compart Family Farms Devicix, LLC Fish & Richardson, P.C. Japan Lifeline Co. Ltd. Leonard, Street and Deinard Minnesota Orchestra Musicians Professional Instruments Company Proto Labs, Inc. Sysco Asian Foods Satellite Industries

Partners in Service Fuji-Ya Restaurant Kiku Enterprises Origami Restaurant St. Paul Saints Sakura Restaurant & Sushi Bar Saint Paul Convention & Visitors Authority Suishin Restaurant Tiger Sushi Tomodachi

Nonprofit Members Aikido of Minnesota Anime Twin Cities, Inc. BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota Concordia Language Villages JETAA Minnesota JETRO Chicago KCC–Japan Education Exchange Macalester College Asian Language & Culture Department Minneapolis Japanese School Minnesota International Center Minnesota Trade Office Mu Performing Arts N-Dimensional Japan US-China Business Connections Winona State Univ. Global Studies Dept.

Exclusive JASM Interview with Maestro Eiji Oue

“It feels like I never left.” Eiji Oue was the music director of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1995 to 2002. On December 14-15, he returned as a guest conductor for the Tchaikovsky Spectacular! Series with the Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra. The musicians are nearing the 15th month of their lockout, and continue their season in the new year with Mozart’s Requiem and an All-American Composer series featuring Rhapsody in Blue. “It’s been almost 11 years, and the orchestra is in as greatest shape as ever. I felt incredible energy from each individual person- it’s not just another gig. These musicians show true musicianship. Despite what they’re going through right now, they have not lost their love for the music. They love music like family, where everybody has a different function, but somehow it works. Each member has the same kind of idea for a musical phrase, such as an afternoon, a love story, a folk song- all those incredible images are put together in the music and produce something huge like earth, space, or nature. Together they make endless possibilities.” Mr. Oue currently conducts five orchestras around the world. “Every orchestra is different. Do you wear the same clothes everyday? Same haircut? Once they are working together, keep it. Whether fast or slow, if they’re walking together, don’t touch them. Some orchestras, they can play [a piece] faster or slower, that’s fine, it’s flexibility- unlimited possibility.”

Regarding his own musical ambitions, he found it by his hunger to learn. 「年

を取る事は良い事、お年寄りにはならないように」[It is good to age, be careful not to become old] “We should never choose to stop learning. No great composers stop learning...Mahler, Bruckner, Schubert - they have unfinished symphonies and works. They never stopped. Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. This [Minnesota] Orchestra, is doing exactly that. They have hope, and they are living for today. ” - Article by Eri Isomura

For latest JASM updates, visit our website at www.mn-japan.org, find us on our facebook (Japan America Society of Minnesota), or follow us on Twitter (@MNJAPAN).

Maestro Eiji Oue (center right) with Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra and fans from left: Ben van Lierop, Adam Kuenzel, Sachiya Isomura, Holly Slocum, Oue, Taichi Chen, and Seifei Cheng at Welcome Reception, Dec. 11. Photo courtesy of Akiyoshi Yonehara.

More Pictures from the Japan Garden Tour in November 2013 Photos Courtesy of Frans Officer and Louise Lystig Fritchie

Nichibei Lecture Series Begin with a Music Theme

The Nichibei Lecture Series held its first program for the JASM community on Friday, October 11th with a personal presentation by professional musician and composer, Dr. Asako Hirabayashi. The event conducted in Japanese was held at the Baroque Room located in downtown Saint Paul, near the farmer’s market. Ms. Hirabayashi shared her early experience studying piano as a child in Japan. While she started with the piano, she decided to began studying the harpsichord because she felt her petite hands better suited the keyboard of the harpsichord. She then mentioned her own experiences studying music in her childhood and the challenges that she faced rehearsing for many years. Ms. Hirabayashi believes that practice is key to a child becoming proficient in learning to play a musical instrument. Rather than long practices, she feels that beginning with short practice sessions keeps the child’s interest and is less tedious for the child to learn to play the instrument. It can become a routine for the child, and fun, as the child becomes better at playing the instrument. During the presentation, the attendees were encouraged to share their ideas and experiences about music education and learning to play an instrument. Ms. Hirabayashi mentioned how studying an instrument helps a child to be creative, learn discipline and increase intellectual pursuits. Following Ms. Hirabayashi’s presentation, she was joined by Ms. Margaret Humphrey, a talented violinist who performs regularly with Ms. Hirabayashi. They performed several compositions written by Ms. Hirabayashi, that included “A Suite for Children”, and delighted the audience with their musical performance. Past President of JASM, Takuzo Ishida, closed the event by mentioning the background of the Nichibei Lecture Series. Takuzo Ishida, Ronald Leonhardt and Michael Nilan planned this first program for the Nichibei Lecture Series. The plan is to have at least two programs a year. The next program on Social Media is already being planned for early 2014. JASM is pleased to have this event as a new program to reach the Japanese speaking community in Minnesota.

The Tour Group in front of Nijo Castle, Kyoto JASM member Sharon Bigot views pottery in Arita

The group poses before departing for a garden visit Altogether at Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto

Tom Haeg’s Book Review: In Search of Sugihara; Hillel Levine; The Free Press, 1996; 323 p. There are unseen, random acts of kindness occurring all the time, everywhere, -like trees falling in forests with no witnesses. Some who observe the reposed remains on the arboreal floor may be curious to ask the obvious: how did it fall, why did it fall, when did it fall…. Hillell Levine is such a person. Sugihara is the object. Chiune Sugihara was a diplomat consular assigned to the Japanese embassy in Lithuania during World War II. By 1940 the Third Reich occupied most of Western Europe and Imperial Japan was aligned with Nazi Germany. Notwithstanding this alliance, Sugihara individually processed over 2,000 foreign transit visas for Jews escaping German death camps. He was aware of the genocide perpetrated by the Nazis and knew that time was of the essence. So he wrote the visas at such a frantic pace that his writing hand actually became numb. There is no proof that he did this for economic gain. There is no evidence that he had any personal relationship with the refugees. And, certainly, he did not do it for publicity. To the contrary, his actions were contrary to the protocol dictated by Tokyo. He was quite aware that his actions warranted dismissal, discipline and punishment. Which begs the obvious: why? On the surface, there seems no apparent reason for this most unusual outburst of altruism from a loyal servant to the Emperor. Levine’s indefatigable scholarship levitates a wealth of cryptic information to establish that Sugihara’s entire life prior to the War was somehow predestined for these heroic tasks. Levine traveled to four continents, conducted a thousand interviews and sifted through archives throughout the world for clues in Sugihara’s background. In Search is a riveting, historical non-fiction biography of Sugihara to explain these genuine acts of humanity amidst squalor. Certainly, there are other, more prominent rescuers such as Oskar Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg. The former had an economic reason, the latter political. Sugihara had neither. Remarkably, Levine portrays Sugihara as a somewhat quixotic yet multi-dimensional person who had the unique, visceral ability to recognize evil for what it was. He was a man for all seasons, -teacher, soldier, bureaucrat, spy, diplomat, soldier, womanizer, interpreter, and more. Warning: this biography does not pull any punches. Our author is not hesitant to reveal Sugihara’s sins in searching for the truth. Levine posits that this complete, renaissance intuit might help explain Sugihara’s remarkable, empathetic heroism in Lithuania. In other words, Sugihara possessed a world view that he translated into the universal ethos, -do no harm. After the War, Sugihara was quite remote and even shy to take credit for his courage. He did not seek out fame nor was he attracted to attention to profit in any way for his heroism. When asked about his good deeds, all he could simply muster was that he just wanted to prove that modern Japan “…could be as civilized as the West”. His family and acquaintances laconically remembered him as someone who just wanted “to be kind to all people. - Tom Haeg, JASM Executive Secretary

2014年もう一年生きたいなあ

Yoko Breckenridge 952-431-9811 612-839-0008

yoko@yoko4home.com

2013年私は一体何をしていたのだろう? 先ず思い出す

Dorothy Anderson に出会い亡くなった弟の沖縄女性と

の悲恋物語を聞かされ５月にTexas のGeorge Bush Li-

brary を見学７月には図書館隣接のアパートに４年も

Care TakerだったTenantが麻薬に手を出してぼんやりの

私に目をつけて現金２回小切手芝刈り機３回除雪機２

回カメラ一個を一ヶ月の間で盗んでも法律は彼を追い

出せなく警察も被害者に詳細尋問はしたけどこそ泥が

悠々と消えた後でパトカーは“Can we help you”と現れ

た。盗まれた小切手が偽署名で使用されたので以後

３ヶ月間地球上のCash Machineは私の小切手を受け入

れなかった在米５１年来の新体険（私はクレジット

カードは使ず小切手帳に記録するのです）落ち葉搔き

きに精を出した後新暖房機を２台入れてからJASM の

日本庭園巡りに加わった。３年ぶりに新潟の弟や旧友

を訪れて１１月２５日に帰米してから波乱が待ってい

た。本格的なミネソタで雪と氷と低気温の中で年末行

事が相続く中で10日間に夏に更新したタイヤが3回も

Flat Tireになり又コンピューターはバイレスに犯された

のだそうな。27日高齢の衰が見え始めて居られたRev.

Russell Sanoden 先生、10日後には先刻「さよなら」と

言ったばかりの弟の嫁文子さん診断されて病状急転下

し子宮頸癌が腎臓の機能を停めてしまったとか69歳可

憐な花嫁姿から縁の下の力持ちになり舅、姑の長い看

護を辛抱強く勤め家の為に尽くし続けた女性だった。

1994年Minneapolisで催されたJapan Week に娘の恵美子

さんと郷土名物白根の大凧を担いで来Boom Islandで揚

げて見せたのが唯一の訪ミネソタ記録だった可哀想に.

10歳上の私も死を考える「我一生に悔い無し」で終わ

りたい。渡米以前どん底に生きた私は「出来ない」に

怖気なかった雑居家族のアメリカは全く無能力な私の

猛烈な努力を認めてくれ学歴ゼロに寛大だったのだ。

No Speak English

から始まって

Computer追っかけ

る80歳だけれども

もう一年生かして

ください。此れが

最後の家族写真に

なった弟嫁文子弟

好徳娘孫娘2人に

文子商売やのお上

さんらしく何時も陽気な電話声の持ち主だった。「ご

苦労様私達はあなたに感謝しておりました。」神様私

にもう１年をください。一生懸命働きます。

Japanese Speaking Club

The Japanese Speak-ing Club is an infor-mal meeting place for those wishing to prac-tice Japanese. We encourage those just beginning the lan-guage as well as native speakers to gather at the Espresso Royale Café in Downtown Minneapolis to meet new people, discuss experiences in Japan, or simply to speak Japanese. Come when you can, leave when you must. Date/Time: Every Saturday, any time after 3:00 p.m. Place: Espresso Royale Cafe 1229 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403

Japan America Society Calendar

Become a JASM Member online! Support our mission and become a

member! 1. Go to mn-japan.org 2. Click on ‘Membership’ at the top 3. Select your membership type and read the

benefits and instructions.

毎月日本語図書館で日本人会の昼食会（Monthly Nihonjin-

kai ）を行っています。電話などでお誘い合わせの上、お

友達やお知り合いとご一緒においで下さい。可能の方は

どうぞ料理を1品ご持参願います。ミネソタ州在住の日本

人達で良い事を考え、ご馳走と日本語で楽しい時間を持

ちましょう。

日程：毎月第2月曜日正午より

場所：日本語図書館

(4231 Bloomington Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55407)

また、毎週土曜日午後2時からは、日本語図書館のお手伝

いしてくださる方の集まりがあります。是非ご参加くだ

さい。この図書館には、漫画や宗教誌約25000冊や約2500

本のビデオDVDがあり、希望者にはセルフサービスで日

本人会と同じく無料で貸出しています。お問い合わせは

下記までどうぞ。 Yoko Breckenridge Cell phone: (612) 839-0008 E-mail: Yoko@yoko4home.com Nihonjin-kai monthly meeting on 2nd Monday noon at 4231 Bloomington Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55407

Japan America Society of Minnesota O Membership Application O Change of Address

O Tax-deductible Donation

_____________________________________________________

Name

_____________________________________________________

Name (2nd adult of a household membership)

_____________________________________________________

Address

_____________________________________________________

City State ZIP

___________________________

E-mail

___________________________

Phone I would like to make an additional tax- deductable donation of Amount Enclosed:____________

(Please make checks payable to JASM)

Japan America Society of Minnesota 43 Main Street SE Suite EH—131

Minneapolis, MN 55414

Individual Membership Patron…………………… $1,000+ Sustaining……………… $500+ Contributing……………. $100+ Individual ………………. $30 Student/Senior ………… $20 Household ……………... $50 (2 adults plus children under 18)

月例日本人会のお知らせ

January

Shinnenkai - Sunday, January 19, 2014

February J-Quiz - Saturday, February 15, 2014

Annual Meeting - February 20, 2014

Ad production and design available in both

Japanese and English for an additional charge.

Deadline for completed ads and classifieds is the

20th of every month.

Questions? Contact the JASM Office

Tel: 612-627-9357 jasm@us-japan.org

Advertisement Rates Style Size Cost/issue

1/4 page 5 x 3.5 in $50.00

1/2 page 5 x 7.5 in $90.00

Full page 10 x 7.5 in $150.00

Classified 80 character line $10/ line

(min. 2 lines)

Advertise in the Tsushin!

Credit Card #

Signature

Exp.

Check payable to JASM enclosed

Name(s)・名前

Phone・電話

Charge to Visa/ Mastercard

Email・メールアドレス

Method of Payment JASM member $10 x ___ = $_____ Non-member $15 x ___ = $_____ Student/Senior $10 x ___ = $_____ Children (6-18 yrs.) $5 x ___ = $_____ Family Pack (Member) $20 x ___ = $_____ Family Pack (Non-member) $25 x ___ = $_____ Reservation Total = $_____

Japan America Society of Minnesota

2013 New Years Celebration Registration Form (Deadline: January 15, 2014) You can also register online at the JASM website!

Please return this form to JASM, 43 Main St SE, Suite EH-131, Minneapolis MN 55414 TEL 612-627-9357 FAX 612-379-2393

開催概要

2014年1月19日 日曜日 午後4時～8時

Hopkins Eisenhower Community Center

1001 Minnesota 7, Hopkins, MN 55305

日本の音楽や踊り、太鼓、生け花、

茶道、けん玉、美味しい日本料理、

オークションなど、

楽しいことが盛り沢山です。

皆様のご参加を心待ちにしております！

入場料(事前予約の場合)

～2014年元旦から1月15日まで～

無料：幼児 (5歳以下)

5ドル：小、中、高校生(6-18歳)

10ドル：大人(JASM会員)、

学生、シニア(65歳以上)

15ドル：大人(非会員)

ファミリーパック

（ご家族の大人2名とお子様2名まで）

JASM会員20ドル、非会員25ドル

Date & Location:

Sunday, January 19, 2014 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Hopkins Eisenhower Community Center 1001 Minnesota 7, Hopkins, MN 55305

Japanese music and dance performances, Kendama, Taiko, Ikebana, Tea Ceremony,

Silent Auction, Children's activities, delicious food, and much more!

Early-Bird Reservation: Available utill Jan. 15th, 2014 Free Children 5 and under

$5 6-18 Years Old

$10 Adult JASM Member College Student and Senior (65+)

$15 Adult Non-JASM Member <Family Package - up to 2 adults & 2 children in same household ->

$20 JASM Member

$25 Non-JASM Member

*$2 more if you pay at the door. *Free admission with new membership by Jan. 15 via JASM website or at the door on Jan. 19! *For more information, please visit our JASM website.

★1月19日の新年会当日は入場料が上記の金額より

2ドル加算されます。

★元旦から1月15日までにミネソタ日米協会ウェブ

サイトにて、または新年会当日受付で新規会員に

登録されますと、入場料が無料になります。

★詳しい情報は、ミネソタ日米協会のウェブサイ

トの2014年新年会ページをご覧ください。

2014 New Year’s Celebration ~ 新年会 Shinnenkai ~

Japan America Society of Minnesota

Riverplace EH-131 43 Main Street SE

Minneapolis, MN 55414-1031

Tel: 612-627-9357 Fax: 612-379-2393 jasm@us-japan.org www.mn-japan.org

Tsūshin January 2014 The Japan America Society of Minnesota is a non-profit, non-political association engaged in bringing the peoples of Japan and the United States closer together in mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation. Through programs and interchange, it endeavors to promote an appreciation of cultural, educational, economic, public, and other affairs of interest to both peoples. Membership in the society is open to individuals, corporations, and other organizations interested in furthering its programs. The Japan America Society of Minnesota is a member of the National Association of Japan-America Societies. (Please report any inaccuracies you find in this publication to jasm.interns@gmail.com)

2013 Bonenkai 忘年会