WHERE: Hawthorne Lucky Lab (915 SE Hawthorne Blvd)

NIJIKAI: 10:00  pm – ?? at Hollywood Bowl (4030 NE 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.

Related posts:

1. J-Kaiwa September 2009
2. J-Kaiwa May 2010
3. J-Kaiwa July 2010

Festival, food, karaoke… sanjikai anyone?

Hey returning JETs! JETAA Portland would like to welcome you back Japan-style–with a festival, dinner, and a karaoke nijikai!

Come party with us at Festival Japan 2010, held at the Uwajimaya Japanese grocery store in Beaverton. There will be lots of performances, demonstrations and festival food, and you can also stock up on natto and umeboshi. We won’t ask any questions.

We’ll head to dinner (RSVP req’d) and then karaoke, both of which are sponsored by JETAA Portland. You’ll get to know a whole bunch of JETs from recent years and ones who have been in Portland for a while. It’s a great networking opportunity, and a fun intro to JETAA Portland.

What if you don’t want to be “involved”? That’s fine! JETAA Portland has a handful of officers and committee chairs who take care of the logistics, and a few hundred members who come to whatever social events they like through the year. Whether you think you want to run the show next year, or you just want an invite to the Bonnenkai, you’re welcome!

JETAA New Alumni Welcome Party (RSVP only required for dinner)
When: Saturday, September 25th. Join us at any point in the function that works for you:

Festival Japan
Meet at 4 p.m. at Uwajimaya Plaza, 10500 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy. Look for us and the JETAA sign in the beer garden area. More info on the festival at the bottom of the email.

Dinner 5:30 p.m.
Koreana Restaurant (9955 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, #140, Beaverton, OR)
Cost: $10 recent returnees, first-time JETAA participants; and all other members. We’ll also put up for the first round of drinks, but bring some extra cash if you’d like to drink more.
(Please RSVP for dinner by September 24th)

Nijikai downstairs at Family Karaoke Studio (9955 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy Ste. #135, Beaverton, OR)
Cost: Free!

Who: New alums, old alums, and in-between alums.

Why: Because we all know how much of a “shock” it can be to come back to the US after a year or years abroad in Japan and this is a great chance to have fun with old and new friends Nihon-style.

We look forward to meeting you there!

Related posts:

1. New Alumni Welcome Party at Festival Japan
2. Japan Festival, Wilsonville
3. Halloween Party

Many of you have perhaps heard that the JET Program has recently come under scrutiny and the future of the program is being evaluated by the government as to whether or not to continue funding. Read media coverage here.

At the National Conference, it was decided that all JETAA chapters throughout the World would create videos showing each chapter performing rajio taiso in an effort to show the JET Program & Alumni reach of Japanese culture. Therefore, our chapter is going to create a video at the Portland Japanese Garden next Wednesday, September 8th @ 10am. We hope you can join us, because we currently have a few people committed, but it would look much better to have a strong showing.

We will have ”jozu no hitos” leading us so don’t worry if you’ve forgotten or never learned it; we just need as many participants as we can. If you can break away from your busy schedule, please do your best to help us support the JET Program.

Please contact President Kim Miyake for questions or more information. Also, please contact us and let us know any ideas you may have to present JETAA as a program worthy of continued funding.

Related posts:

1. Volunteer Event at Portland Japanese Gardens
2. Japanese Consulate of Portland Volunteer Opportunites
3. Obon at the Portland Japanese Garden – Volunteers Needed

Where: Mio Sushi in Sellwood (corner of SE Tacoma & SE 17th Ave, Portland)

Happy hour is from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.  We will be there until after 7:30pm.  Come join us anytime.

Contact VP to RSVP

Related posts:

1. Tabemashou! August 2010
2. Tabemashou! September 2009
3. Tabemashou! November 2009

Garden Pavilion

Free, Reservations requested – contact: smoss@japanesegarden.com or (503) 223-9233

Do you want to learn more about how you can become involved at the Garden? Veteran volunteers and Volunteer Coordinator Stephanie Moss will join you at the Volunteer Orientation where they will share their experiences, answer questions, and advise you on upcoming upcoming volunteer opportunities at the Garden. Click here for more information.

Related posts:

1. Japanese Garden volunteer guide training
2. Volunteer Event at Portland Japanese Gardens
3. Portland Japanese Garden Special Event for JETAA Members

You can check availability of the Book Club titles by visiting the following websites:

• Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com
• Powell’s Books: http://www.powells.com/
• Multnomah County Library: http://www.multcolib.org/
• Clackamas County Library: http://www.co.clackamas.or.us/lib/
• Washington County Library: http://www.wccls.org/

Visit the Book Club page for more details.

Related posts:

1. Book Club September 2009
2. Book Club June 2010
3. Book Club July 2010

Don’t miss this special show – Order online here.

Related posts:

1. Portland Taiko – Ten Tiny Taiko Dances
2. Portland Taiko 2010 Benefit Banquet
3. Portland Taiko performance