The Japan Culture Center of Western New York, Buffalo, New York
Kanreki: Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Relationship
Project Director: Christopher Morrison
$3,644.50
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City relationship. The celebration events included the making of the Mural wall, Arts and Crafts children’s workshop in conjunction with the Japan workshop, Japanese garden tours and workshop, Lecture on byobu folding screens.
Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
Japanese Taiko Drum Performance and Class
Project Director: Ms. Kumi Alderman
$3,400.00
To invite Matsuriza to Knoxville Asian Fest for taiko performances. Matsuiza is also provided with an educational booth for festival participants to learn about taiko in addition to performing 3 times in the 1250-1250 seat theater.
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, Nashville, Tennessee
Japanese Moon Viewing
Project Director: Nathalie Lavine
$3,500.00
To support the 8th annual Japanese Moon Viewing Otsukimi event at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum. The event included Taiko Performance, Mochitsuki, Tea Ceremony, Kamishibai and much more.
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
Remembering Hiroshima: City, Art, Environment, and Lived Experience
Project Director: Dr. Jeffrey Kyong-McClain
$5,000.00
To organize a two-day event with films, origami, public scholarly talks, school visits, and keynote address by hibakusha Keiko Ogura. The aim of these events is to bolster Japanese Studies at UIdaho’s new Idaho Asia Institute, as well as offer an opportunity for the community surrounding the university to engage with Japanese history and culture.
Brooklyn Japanese American Family Association, Brooklyn, New York
2022 Japan Village Summer Family Festival
Project Director: Jun Nishimura
$4,200.00
To support the 2nd annual Summer Family Festival at Japan Village in Brooklyn New York. The festival focused on traditional and authentic Japanese Natsu Matsuri events such as Bon odori, Taiko, Yo-Yo-tsuri (yo-yo fishing) and Suika wari (watermelon splitting). People of all ages participated and enjoyed the Natsu Matsuri.
Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, New York, New York
“Colors for Peace” by Sebastian Masuda
Project Director: Sebastian Masuda
$2,000.00
To support the collaboration project between Mr. Sebastian Masuda and Ukrainian National Women’s League of America. Mr. Masuda held the exhibition “Color for Peace” to remind people that world peace is only possible when we love one another, love the ‘other,’ and this is an emotion which the Kawaii art form uniquely elicits. Mr. Masuda has been promoting Kawaii Culture since the 90’s. A portion of the profit from the exhibition has been donated to the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America.
JapanFest, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
JapanFest Atlanta 2022 – Children’s Area – Make a Folktale with Motoko
Project Director: Ms. Kazuko Lillie
$2,364.12
To invite Motoko, the Storyteller, to provide an educational opportunity for children. Using a Japanese folktale as a model, participants create a group narrative with imaginary characters, a clear event sequence, and non-violent problem solving while getting familiarized with the Japanese culture through the activity. Additionally, each participant has an opportunity to design and create a paper mask of a Japanese mythological creature, Oni.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky
Waterfront Botanical Gardens Annual Meeting Featuring Curator Sadafumi Uchiyama
Project Director: Mr. James Burghardt
$1,735.50
To invite Sadafumi Uchiyama, Chief Curator and Director of International Japanese Garden Training Center at the Portland Japanese Garden, who delivers a presentation titled “Japanese Gardens on Foreign Soil: The Delicate Balance of Authenticity and Adaptation in Building the Japanese Garden at the annual meeting.
Sweets Kendama Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mindfulness through Play with Kendama
Project Director: Mr. Joshua Grove
$4,900.00
To support 3 educational outreach programs at Title l schools in Minneapolis. Kendama instructors teach mindfulness and kaizen mindset through playing with Kendama.
Trustees of Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana
Developing Service-Learning Course for Students in the Japanese Studies Program: A mutual learning program for university students and Japanese community members
Project Director: Dr. Keiko Kuriyama
$4,450.33
To expand the teaching and community outreach effort of the Japanese Studies Program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), which has launched a Japanese Service-Learning project called “A mutual learning program for university students and Japanese community members” in Fall 2021 to serve the Japanese community in the Indianapolis area.
Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Mokuhanga exhibition, lectures, and educational outreach programs
Program Director: Jeff Abshear
$5,000.00
To support the Mokuhanga exhibition and outreach activities by Mokuhanga artist Mr. Yoshisuke Funasaka and Ms. Mary Brodbeck. The project is a collaboration between Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Western Michigan University and the local Mokuhanga artist, Mary Brodbeck. The outreach activities include Mokuhanga lectures, workshop, hands-on activities and movie screenings for K-12 students, university students and adults in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area.
Japan-America Society of Houston, Inc. , Houston, Texas
None Whatsoever: Constructing Zen with a Stick of Incense
Project Director: Ikuyo Katayama
$4,000.00
To showcase the Suitcase Chashitsu (Tea House) Zen-An in various public places in the city of Houston. Zen-An was constructed with the help of Japanese master carpenter (Sashimonoshi), Tatamishokunin (Tatami mat master), Sudareshokunin (Bumboo screen master) and Hyogushi (Paper master). The Suitcase Chashitsu contains the Japanese Artisanal Craftsmanship that is in the process of slowly being lost in Japan. Zen-An is assembled in approximately 15 minutes, which is the time it takes to burn one stick of incense.
Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation, Hot Springs, Arkansas
2023 Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival
Project Director: Ms. Michelle Gates Roberts
$3,590.00
To support Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival 2023 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This project is being built upon the success of the same event for the past 2 years. In 2023, Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation focus on enriching the event with more cultural displays, workshops, and performances than ever before to attract 1,500 attendees.
Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House and Gardens of Saginaw, Inc., Midland, Michigan
Partnership with the Alden B. Dow Home & Studio in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Herbert and Grace Dow’s Family six-week trip to Japan.
Project Director: Masumi Azu
$3,540.00
To support the collaboration events between the Japanese Cultural Center, Tea House & Gardens of Saginaw and the Alden B. Dow Home & Studio. Events include Japanese Tea Ceremony, Ikebana and the presentation of the Alden B. Dow’s family’s tour of Japan.
Japan-America Society of Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival 2023: Expanded Arts and Culture Area
Project Director: Madeline Adams
$2,430.00
To support the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival 2023. The festival has expanded the Arts and Culture area so the audience will be able to participate and enjoy the hands-on contemporary and traditional Japanese activities.
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Arts, Indianapolis, Indiana
Japanese Experiences in the American West: Event Series
Project Director: Dr. Jessica Nelson
$2,363.26
To support talk events at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. The events are 2 folds: the first one is a lecture by Dr Crissy Yee Lau on the history of the Japanese Episcopal Mission in San Francisco in the 1920-30s, and the second one is a guest talk from Ms. Jean Umemura, a survivor of Japanese internment camps in Washington and Idaho.