Kawa Taiko was formed in Ontario, Oregon in February 2000 ignited by a performance by Portland Taiko in Ontario in 1999. The group is self- taught, but various taiko masters from Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and Pocatello have generously shared their expertise. Our members have also attended conferences in Seattle, Read more…
Grandmaster Fujima Shunojo earned his professional name at an early age. He opened his own school of classical dance and taught for several years in Tokyo and he directed his own dance group in Chicago for over 40 years. In 2011, he received the Japan America Society Cultural Achievement Award, Read more…
Sora started learning Shodo at the age of 6 and in her 30’s, she studied under Master Sekko Daigo (Oregon), and under Master Futo Suzuki’s (Japan) curriculum. Shodo is a medium that expresses the inner potential of the individual and allows you to take notice of your true self. Through Read more…
Koto master Mitsuki Dazai is a graduate of both Tokyo’s prestigious Kunitachi College of Music, and of the Sawai Koto Institute, where she studied with the world-renowned virtuoso Kazue Sawai, and received her certificate in koto instruction. Dazai moved to Oregon in 2002, and became a guest lecturer at universities Read more…
By Gail Chandler Hawkins The Minidoka National Historic Site held a soft opening for its new Visitor Center on July 7, 2019, on the same weekend as the annual Minidoka Pilgrimage. Close to 500 attended, travelling from Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, and as far away as Washington, D.C. The Read more…
The entire Japan was very excited about naming of the country’s new era, Reiwa (令和＝rei-wa). It was just announced on April 1st when some people were so preoccupied by the announcement, they forgot it was April Fool’s Day. Era names are called Gengo (元号=げんごう、GEN-GOh) in Japanese. Japanese use both the Read more…
Bamboo and Barbed Wire Friday, April 12th 7:00 p.m. Egyptian Theatre Boise, Idaho Bamboo and Barbed Wire (http://www.bambooandbarbedwire.com/) is the latest documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Karen Day (https://www.karenday.net/bio.html). Over the past three years, Karen has donated her time and skills to document the stories of those interned at Minidoka – Read more…
The Idaho Japanese Association (IJA) is proud to announce a new board elected for the next 12 months. The IJA elects a new board each year with the start of the Japanese fiscal year, which is in April. This year’s board members will include: President: Naho Nakashima Vice President: Motoko Read more…
Announcement from the Consular Office of Japan. The Consular Office of Japan is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) will conduct the 11th Annual invitation program for Japanese American Students in June/July, 2019. This dynamic program aims to deepen students’ understanding and to strengthen Read more…
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