JETAA Portland » Community Events

20th Anniversary of the Japanese-American Plaza

president — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:56:36 +0000

Oregon Nikkei Endowment continues celebrating its 20th year in 2010 with a rededication of the Japanese American Historical Plaza in Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Friday, July 30th. The poetry of Lawson Inada, Hisako Saito, Masaki Kinoshita, and Shizue Iwatsuki combines with the stunning and thoughtful design of landscape designer Robert Murase and sculpture of Jim Gion to form not only a place of respite within the city, but also a place of remembrance, and a place to both acknowledge and educate.

Beginning at 5pm at the Plaza, the celebration will include special guests Justice Michael Gillette of the Oregon Supreme Court, former Poet Laureate of Oregon Lawson Inada, the Minidoka Swing Band, Portland Taiko and many others. A special collaborative project between Portland poet and writer Kaia Sand, Sisters of the Road, Transition Projects, Inc. and Oregon Nikkei Endowment will be just one part of this special and free event.

The celebration then continues at the Bill Naito Legacy Fountain, just steps away from the Plaza. Bring your family and friends to enjoy community sponsored music, crafts, food and a festive beer garden to celebrate this award-winning landmark.

Japanese Garden volunteer guide training

Obon at the Portland Japanese Garden – Volunteers Needed

president — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:59:27 +0000

No more volunteers needed.

Wednesday, August 11, 7:30-9:30pm

O-Bon is the name of the Buddhist memorial festival that dates back more than a thousand years. Over a three-day period in mid-August in Japan, families gather to pray for the spirits of their ancestors. The Garden celebrates this festival with obon dancing and later Reverend Kodachi chants prayers on the Moon Bridge, as members light the tōrō nagashi lanterns and think of their loved ones as they watch the lanterns drift across the Upper Pond.

This is a members only event at night; a rare opportunity to see the gardens at night, with candlelight.

Lecture and Workshop on Furoshiki (Reservation is required)

president — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:32:19 +0000

The Japan Foundation and Consulate-General of Japan in Portland present

FUROSHIKI: Boundless curiosity from the world of square-cloth

Lecture and Workshop on Furoshiki

Dating back to the Edo Period furoshiki, literally meaning bath mat, is a square cloth dyed in a striking array of colors and patterns from subtle to vibrant. Originally used to wrap and carry items, the furoshiki is now used as gift wrappers, table coverings and decorations. It is the original tote bag, only infinitely more versatile and steeped in rich history.

FUROSHIKI: Boundless curiosity from the world of square-cloth is an intimate lecture and workshop led by Akiko Sakai, Naomi Ando, and Keiko Fukuda, who are all instructors from the Furoshiki Study Group in Kyoto, Japan.

Admission Free. Space is limited. Reservation is required.

Monday, July 12, 2010, 2pm World Trade Center Portland

Plaza Conference Room

121 SW Salmon St., 2WTC

Portland, OR 97204

RSVP to culture@cgjpdx.org

Okinawan High School Student Exchange: Volunteer Home-Stay Families Needed

president — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:00:16 +0000

From July 21st to August 18th, Clackamas will play host to nearly 25 Okinawan students eager to improve their English and learn about American culture. This group of young girls and boys (ages 13-17) will spend their four weeks in the Portland area both participating in academic classes and enjoying weekday fieldtrips around the community, including excursions to the Oregon Coast, Fort Vancouver, Seattle for a Mariners game, and the Columbia River.

What makes this stay in Clackamas truly special, however, is the opportunity these students have to live with a local family. Host families throughout the community open their homes to these international visitors, and by doing so open themselves up to a singularly enlightening cultural experience. While the Japanese students get a chance to learn about life in an American family, their host families are given a similarly special chance to learn more about life in Okinawa.

This cultural exchange is a life-changing opportunity for everyone involved. If you’re interested in hosting a bright and inquisitive student from Okinawa, please contact Annette at 503.481.4125 or Becky at 360.892.4212.

http://www.compass-usa.net/

YMCA Camp Collins-Saitama YMCA: Volunteer Home-Stay Families Needed

president — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 05:59:52 +0000

Each summer YMCA Camp Collins proudly partners with the Saitama YMCA in Japan to offer a dynamic, cultural opportunity for youth. Japanese children ranging in ages from 8 to 13 journey across the Pacific to Oregon and participate in a week of resident camp at YMCA Camp Collins, just outside Gresham. During this week, campers are placed in cabins with American campers and enjoy traditional American camping activities like archery, arts and crafts, tubing, horseback riding, rock climbing and more.

The week following resident camp, the group spends time exploring Oregon through recreational, educational and tourist-focused excursions. YMCA Camp Collins is striving to improve this already rich experience and to meet Saitama YMCA’s program goals with the addition of home-stays in the Portland community. YMCA Camp Collins is in search of home-stay families for youth from Japan from Saturday, August 7^th – Thursday, August 12^th, 2010. YMCA Camp Collins will be organizing activities for Japanese campers and children of host families to participate in during the day, Monday through Thursday. Japanese campers will spend the weekend with host families and travel home with them each evening during the week. Home-stay families can host 1-2 campers depending on camper’s age and families’ ability.

Interested families must fill out a Volunteer Application for each adult in the household and will be required to attend an orientation prior to the home-stay week. Applications will be reviewed on a first come basis. Completed applications can be mailed to:

YMCA Camp Collins

Attn: Sarah LaPointe

3001 SE Oxbow Parkway

Gresham, OR 97080

For more information or to request a Volunteer Application, feel free to contact Sarah LaPointe, YMCA Camp Collins Group Services Director, at slapointe@ymca-portland.org. We look forward to you joining us in this international initiative aimed at bringing the world closer together through supportive communities.

J-Kaiwa June 2010

webmaster — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:06:45 +0000

WHEN: Friday, June 4th, 7-9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Hawthorne Lucky Lab (915 SE Hawthorne Blvd)

NIJIKAI: 9:30 pm – ?? at karaoke at Voicebox (2112 NW Hoyt)

We’ve been having record numbers these days, so come on down and make some new friends–in Japanese. Whether you are pera pera or your Nihongo knowledge is sukoshi dake, all are welcome.

Get more details here.

Portland Taiko – Ten Tiny Taiko Dances

webmaster — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:43:39 +0000

PORTLAND TAIKO’S SUMMER CONCERT

What: Ten Tiny Taiko Dances
Where: Dolores Winningstad Theatre (1111 SW Broadway, Portland)
When: Saturday, June 19th at 3pm and 8pm
Sunday, June 20th at 2pm

Cost: Adults $20 | Youth, Students, and Seniors $18

Although the special JETAA discount has ended, regular price tickets for Ten Tiny Taiko Dances are still available! Visit the box office at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (1111 SW Broadway) or go to Ticketmaster to order your tickets.

Ten different choreographers—in genres ranging from traditional to contemporary—will create dances for a tiny, 4ft. by 4ft. stage. The pulse of the taiko will move throughout the entire program—reinterpreting what drumming can represent with dance. Portland Taiko, working with celebrated choreographer Mike Barber, will bring together the best in creative energy from the West Coast, with the soul of taiko in this concert of world premieres.

Keep an eye on JETAA Portland’s website for future Portland Taiko discounts. Our next season concerts are in the fall (October 2nd and 3rd): Romp Stomp Boom!, our family matinee, and Taiko Unleashed, where we will share the stage with Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka and San Francisco Taiko Dojo.

Hope to see you there!

Portland Taiko

3230 NE Columbia Blvd.

Portland, OR 97211

www.portlandtaiko.org

Shokoukai Softball Tournament

webmaster — Thu, 27 May 2010 22:29:55 +0000

Come Play Ball with the Consulate!

The Consulate General of Japan in Portland is looking for 5 volunteers to join the office team at this year’s Shokookai (Japanese Chamber of Commerce) annual softball tournament on July 11^th, 2010.

Please see the details below:

What: Shokookai Annual Softball Tournament

When: July 11^th, 2010. From 8:00 a.m. until approx. 5:00 p.m.

Where: Fairgrounds Sports Complex, fields #1, #2 and #3.

490 NE 28^th Ave., Hillsboro, OR 97124

To RSVP please contact Matt Turner @: matthew@cgjpdx.org

Please respond by June 23^rd, 2010

Entry fee will be waived.

J-Kaiwa July 2010

webmaster — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:10:16 +0000

WHEN: Friday, July 9th, 7-9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Hawthorne Lucky Lab (915 SE Hawthorne Blvd)

NIJIKAI: 10:00 pm – ?? at Hollywood Bowl (4030NE Halsey St)

We’ve been having record numbers these days, so come on down and make some new friends–in Japanese. Whether you are pera pera or your Nihongo knowledge is sukoshi dake, all are welcome.

Get more details here.

Portland Taiko 2010 Benefit Banquet

webmaster — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 02:31:59 +0000

Portland Taiko’s 2010 Benefit Banquet
Wednesday, May 5^th (Children’s Day!) at Wong’s King Seafood Restaurant
Doors open at 6:00pm, Dinner starts at 7:00pm

Join Portland Taiko for our 2010 Benefit Banquet. Enjoy a live taiko performance, a silent auction, and our Mystery Origami Leis, then feast on an 11 dish banquet from award-winning Wong’s King Seafood Restaurant, all in support of a great cause. For more information, see our banquet page at http://www.portlandtaiko.org/supporting-us/benefit.htm.
Tickets are $50, which includes a tax-deductible $28 donation to Portland Taiko. All proceeds from the event go directly to Portland Taiko to continue our educational and cultural programs.
To order tickets, please call the Portland Taiko office at 503-28-TAIKO (503-288-2456) or go to http://www.portlandtaiko.org/supporting-us/benefit.htm. If you have any questions, e-mail Amy at amy.spofford@portlandtaiko.org.
Hope to see you there!
Portland Taiko
3230 NE Columbia Blvd.
Portland, OR 97211
www.portlandtaiko.org