Setsubun Happy Hour

On Friday, February 3, JASW held a Setsubun Happy Hour in conjunction with the Washington Nomikai Group! The office was transformed into a bar with kirin beer, sake, and delicious Japanese snacks. Guests gathered...

Word of the Month: February

February: Yago たまや~ かぎや~ Yago.”Shop name.” Kabuki actors of the early Edo period were considered too lowly to be allowed surnames. Many, therefore, used a name derived from a sideline business in which they...

Azusa’s Dance Exercise Class

On Friday, January 27th, Azusa Hashizume, rookie cheerleader for the Redskins, taught her first class here at JASWDC. Azusa led the class in a series of exercises to the beat of music. Azusa’s class...

New Year’s Greeting from JASWDC

On behalf of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC (JASWDC) and its Board of Trustees, I would like congratulate the Sakura Shimbun on their 10 years in the Washington DC community, and offer a...

Word of the Month: January

January: Kabuki  The etymology of Kabuki(歌舞伎) is Kabuku(傾く). “Kabuki dance,” which is said to be the origin of Kabuki, was started by people who dressed like “Kabuki mono(かぶき者) “who do not care, are off the beaten...

Word of the Month: December

December: スープカレー (Soup Curry)  Soup curry is a Japanese style curry dish originating from Sapporo in Hokkaido. It is said that a chef of the cafe called “Ajanta” took the idea of Chinese and...

Japanese Holiday – 節分 (Setsubun)

February 3: 節分 (Setsubun) Setsubun is not a national holiday but is a traditional festival that is held on February 3, the day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar....