Japan/America News

JASK would like to offer their congratulations to all the members of the Georgetown Toyota Plant for being selected as the first North American plant to begin production of the Lexus! Another example of the ever forming strong ties between Kentucky and Japan!

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Japan's gift of the Cherry Blossom Trees to the United States in 1912, Toyota Motor Mfg. Kentucky recently planted a Cherry Blossom Tree (descended directly from the original trees in Washington D.C.) outside of their facilities. 

JASK Members,

Starting in February, JASK welcomed to the family Josh Moore as it's new Project Manager. Below is a brief letter by Josh, please take time to read it and welcome him to JASK.

Hello JASK Members. My name is Josh Moore and I am excited to be welcomed to the JASK family as the new Project Manager.

I am originally from Louisville, KY and attended college at Centre College in Danville, KY. After graduating, I went to Japan on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme as an Assistant English Teacher for 2 years. I was placed on the small Island of Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture where I had an amazing experience and was able to connect with the people and culture there. Coming back to Kentucky and joining JASK, I hope to foster better cultural and business relations between Japan and America.

Personally, I like to try new things and interact with new people. I enjoy hiking, biking, reading, Kendo, and studying Japanese.

I look forward to working with all of you in the coming year. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at programs@jask.org or 502-209-9630 with any questions, comments, or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Josh Moore

会員様

この度、プロジェクトマネジャーとしてJASKに勤める事になりました、ジョシュ・モアと申します。

この間の新年会で多くのメンバーとお会いすることが出来ましたが、改めて自己紹介をさせて頂きます。

ケンタッキー州のルイビル市で生まれまして、センター大学に行きました。そのとき、四ヶ月ほど山口県立大学に留学をしました。卒業後、JET（語学指導等を行う外国青年招致事業）を通して日本に戻って、鹿児島県の徳之島という離島に二年間ほど住んでいました。様々な体験が出来て、良い思い出になりました。ケンタッキー州に帰って、日本とアメリカ（特にケンタッキー州）がより良い関係を築くよう一生懸命頑張っていきたいと思っております。

個人的に、私は何でも好きで、趣味が多いです：ハイキング、自転車乗り、読書、剣道、日本語の勉強、そして新しい人と会うのが私の楽しみです。

日本語ではまだ分からない事ばかりだと思いますが、日本語での対応が可能ですので、どうぞprograms@jask.org又502-209-9630にお気軽にご連絡ください。

今後ともどうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます。

ジョシュ・モア

JASK was recently out of the office helping to interpret for a group of visiting Junior and High School students from Lexington's Sister City of Shinhidaka, Japan. 9 Japanese students and 3 Chaperons arrived in Lexington on Monday, March 25th and stayed with a host family until Saturday, March 30th. They experienced tours at the State Capitol, Aviation Museum, KY Horse Park, as well as accompanied their American counterparts to a typical day at a high school. 9 American students will make the journey over to Japan this summer to complete the exchange. 

Some 300,000 people still homeless two years after Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The Japan/America Society of Kentucky donates over $75,000 for relief efforts.

A triple disaster of earth, water and nuclear struck Japan on March 11, 2011 when the biggest earthquake in its history ripped the seafloor sparking a tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people. The massive earthquake and tsunami, followed by nuclear fallout, are part of a heartbreaking memory that's still fresh in the minds of the Japanese people.

The magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami shattered lives. The destruction surprised the world, because few expected a quake or tsunami of that size even in seismic-active Japan. Some 300,000 people are still homeless and living in residential camps, according to the Japanese government.

The Japan/America Society of Kentucky, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, recently donated over $75,000 to the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.

The Japan/America Society of Kentucky received generous support from individuals, communities, businesses, educational institutions, churches and organizations in Kentucky.

On March 14, 2011, The Japan Center for International Exchange USA (JCIE) launched the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief & Recovery Fund to aid Japanese organizations taking part in the immediate relief effort as well as those with a long-term focus on rebuilding communities. To date, it has raised more than $1.6 million. Initially, half of the funds raised were allocated to the Center for Public Resources Development's "GiveOne" initiative for groups providing emergency relief, while half was set aside for the long-term recovery. As the situation on the ground evolved, JCIE has shifted toward directing all new contributions to the recovery stage.

The Japan NGO Earthquake Relief & Recovery Fund is supporting Japanese nonprofit organizations that are helping communities recover from the March 11 disaster. Funding has been provided to around 40 groups who focus on three priority issues: Rebuilding Community Ties, Revitalizing the Economy and Support Senior Citizens.

Established in 1987, the Japan/America Society of Kentucky (JASK) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical membership organization dedicated to promoting a better understanding of the business, cultural and social practices and customs of Japan and Kentucky. Headquartered in the Kentucky State Chamber of Commence in Frankfort, JASK provides services and organizes events throughout Kentucky to facilitate Japan/America connections.

A before and after picture taken one year after the disaster

Check out the latest TOPS Magazine for pictures of JASK's Annual Shinnenkai Event! 

In March of 2014, Kentucky's newest Congressman, Andy Barr from the 6th district, made a request to the Japan/America Society of Kentucky to arrange a meet and greet with the newly appointed Ambassador from Japan, His Excellency Kenichiro Sasae. David Carpenter, Executive Director of the Japan/America Society of Kentucky, escorted Congressman Barr to the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. His Excellency expressed his appreciation and promised to visit Kentucky in the near future.

This coming Wednesday, 11/7, from 4:15 until 6:45, the UK Japan studies program, with the help of the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville, will screen two documentaries addressing recovery efforts in Japan after the 3.11 earthquake (see below). The viewing place is Classroom Bldg Room 214 http://ukcc.uky.edu/cgi-bin/dynamo?maps.391+campus+0025 . Please join us.

●『がんばっぺフラガール！～フクシマに生きる。彼女たちのいま～』2011年10月
“Fukushima Hula Girls” (100 min, 2011) *In Japanese with English subtitles
This documentary tells the story of the famous hula dancers from the popular resort, Spa Resort Hawaiians, located in the area affected by the March 11, 2011 disasters. The resort was forced to close but the dancers embark on a nation-wide tour to build support for the Fukushima tourist destination as everyone works to rebuild the facility for their grand reopening. The documentary is narrated by the 2006 film Hula Girls actress Aoi Yu and follows the lives of the dancers, many of whom are from the affected areas.
劇場公開小林正樹100分いわき市の「スパリゾートハワイアンズ」営業再開のため奮闘するフラガールたち。原発近くの実家の被害状況も。
http://ganbappe.j-cqn.co.jp/
http://jfdb.jp/en/title/2926


●ドキュメンタリーWAVE「ガレキの中からの再出航～漁業の町・岩手県大船渡市～」2011年6月放映 (NHK地上波) 30分
"Reborn from the Debris, Fishing Town, Ofunato-City, Iwate Prefecture" (30 min, 2011) **English narration with English subtitles
Bright news was brought to one disaster stricken area, Ofunato-City, Iwate Prefecture, one month after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. More than 150 kg of fish caught by local fishermen were sold out instantly through the Internet. This was the earliest signs of reconstruction in Iwate Prefecture whose fishing industry suffered extensive damage. The documentary focuses on activities of local fishermen who began to move quickly toward the revival of the fisheries industries.
東日本大震災から1ヶ月となる4月11日、被災地の岩手県大船渡市に、久し振りに明るいニュースがもたらされた。地元漁師が震災を免れた船で出漁し150キロ以上を水揚げ、インターネットを通じて全国に売り出され、瞬く間に完売したのだ。これは甚大な被害を被った岩手県の漁業の中で最も早い<復興のきざし>となった。
番組では漁業の復興を目指していち早く動き始めた地元漁師たちの取り組みに密着。震災の痛手が残る地域に灯りをともそうとする胎動を見つめていく。
http://www.nhk-g.co.jp/program/documentary/documentary_wave/003/index.html

日本人の宿泊客をターゲットにしたホテル、スカイブリッジ　スイートがボーリンググリーンにグランドオープン！