| | | | JASSC Shinnenkai (New Year’s Party) Dear Members and Friends, Join us for our New Year Celebration! Date & Time: Saturday, January 3, 2026, 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm Location: Eurocars office/Alpine Auto Direct, 730 N Circle Dr., Colorado Springs, CO Highlights: Board update: Past, Present & Future of JASSC Sushi & beverages provided + member potluck Optional Secret Gift Exchange ($10–$20 wrapped gift) Karaoke fun! Register by December 31 — space limited to 100 at this link (Must register in advance to attend) Members: Free Non-member Guests: $10 (prepaid via our website) Please consider joining JASSC! Questions or cancellations after Dec 31: info@japanamerica.org For more information, please check our website We look forward to celebrating the New Year together! | | | | | December 22 Board Meeting The JASSC board of directors invites members to observe our December board meeting! Get an inside look at this important part of making our mission happen. We hope this inspires you to get even more involved in our JASSC community or even consider becoming involved as a committee member or future board member yourself! Schedule: 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm - Mingle and Meet, Q&A. We will enjoy chatting with you and perhaps learning a bit about you if you're willing to share. 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Board Meeting Guests are invited only to observe during this part of the meeting. Location: Ent Room, Library 21c (1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920) Click the event page for more information. | | | | | Conversation over Cookies Free for members! If you're a member, just log in to enable the free ticket option. $5 for non-members Want to practice Japanese with real native speakers? Come join us for Conversation Over Cookies (COC), hosted on one Saturday every month! Regularly entertaining between 10 and 20 guests, this monthly conversation event allows everyone to practice their language skills, no matter what their skill level.  Each table will have at least one native Japanese speaker, and groups are split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Bring a dessert or snack to share, and a water bottle to keep your talking muscles hydrated~~ (aka your lips and throat). All levels of speakers are welcome! This event usually takes place at the CreateSpace at Library 21c (1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920) December 27, 2025, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Click here to register (This event is full as of publication of this newsletter; please check back in case we are able to increase capacity.) January 3, 2026, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Click here to register February 7, 2026, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Click here to register No meeting in March See the Events page on our website for details and to register. | | | New Leadership Arrivals at JASSC! Please welcome new board member, Matt Imlay. You may have already met Matt at one of our recent events. Matt spent ten years living and working in Japan and now calls Colorado home with his Japanese wife and their young daughter. Matt says, “My connection to Japan began through the JET Program, where I spent three years fostering cultural exchange in local schools. Over the following decade, I built a career in Tokyo as a Vice President for an executive search firm and later earned my MBA from the University of Chicago’s Asian campus. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of Japanese culture and business, but also helped me build a network of meaningful relationships with prominent leaders across Japan.” Matt expressed two goals that he would like to bring to the board: First, Matt would like to help expand the Society’s calendar of community events, including casual, inclusive gatherings — dinners or after-hours socials — where Japanese nationals, Japanese Americans, returned expatriates, and Japan enthusiasts can connect without formal expectations. Second, he would like to help grow the Society’s reach and visibility within southern Colorado. We welcome Matt and look forward to working together! Also, please welcome our new intern, Anastasia Marley. She is currently a Linguistic/Anthropology student at UCCS, and is very interested in working with JASSC to learn more about our community outreach program. To begin, Ana San will be working with the following projects: 1.) Archive projects with Google/docs workspace: COS Airport Sister City Display 2.) Japanese Language Teaching (Conversation over Cookies) 3.) Communication/ Newsletter: Japanese Interviews/Bio 4.) Additional Sister City Projects/Archive projects Ana San also has experience with the art of paper cutting "kirigami" and is interested in helping with art projects as we expand our outreach to the community. Please welcome Ana San into our community! We welcome her language skills and desire to help our organization grow! | | | Welcome New Members! Please welcome our new members who joined us in November. We hope to see them at our events, including Shinnenkai on January 3rd. Ellen Niles Zakkary Elrod | | | Member Profile: Naomi Wise Born in vibrant Osaka, Japan, Naomi Wise sneakily hides her Kansai accent, but is very proud of being Kansai‑jin! Naomi's college degree is in education, and she has dedicated her career to teaching and sharing culture. Her passion for Japanese calligraphy began at age six, and over the years she has earned numerous awards in Japan. Today, she continues to pass on her artistry, teaching students the beauty and discipline of calligraphy. Her teaching journey has taken her from the Memphis Japanese School to supporting the Japanese School of Denver whenever needed. In 2024, she joined JASSC, and since January 2025 has proudly served as a board member, enjoying every opportunity to learn, serve, and connect with the community. At home, life is full of endless floor cleaning adventures thanks to her furry companions, Manitou and Galaxy who always seem to leave their fur scattered about. Her husband, Mike, balances the chaos by delighting her each weekend with new dishes to taste. Whether in the classroom, at community events, or around the dinner table, she embodies curiosity, creativity, and connection. | | | | | | | Dec 11 (Thurs): After JET: Turning Your Professional Page In partnership with Pasona NA, this discussion will include an up-to-the minute job market update, what Japanese companies are looking for and how that impacts the application process, industries, roles, and regions for Japanese companies in the US. It will also cover interview etiquette and tips for connecting your JET experience to your next career move. The following social media links will take you to more information. LinkedIn Facebook Instagram | | | | | | | Awaji Youth Federation (AYF) 2026 Applications Now Open Here’s an outstanding (and paid) opportunity to live and work in Japan for 6-12 months as an AYF Fellow. Participants will have an opportunity to create outstanding projects around regional revitalization, innovation, art, and event creation. Applications for the 2026 AYF Fellowship are now open. The AYF Fellowship brings together young leaders from around the world to live, work, and grow together on Awaji Island, Japan. We are looking for passionate individuals eager to contribute to international collaboration, community development, and creative projects that shape a better future. You can find full details about the program and application process here. | | | | | 2026 Youth Leadership Summit Attention all Youth Citizen Diplomats ages 14-18! The Sister Cities International Youth Leadership Summit is back! Join us from June 21-27, 2026 in Washington, D.C. for a special week of leadership training, diplomacy insights, and cultural activities. Click here for more information and to apply. The deadline is February 1. | | | | | Webinar on Housing and Cultural Practices in Japan Izabelle Grenon writes, on December 16, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. JST, I will be hosting a free online session on housing in Japan. The webinar introduces key aspects of Japanese daily life and cultural practices, with a particular focus on how the rental system differs from the system commonly used in the United States. The intention is to support deeper cross-cultural understanding and to help strengthen relations between Japan and foreign communities through practical, culturally informed knowledge. The session will cover: • Types of housing in Japan • Common upfront fees and regional differences • Which initial costs are refundable or negotiable • Basic considerations regarding insulation and earthquake resistance • The role of a guarantor and who may serve as one • Mandatory fire insurance • The rental process and lease renewal • Q&A session Although designed for those preparing to live in Japan, the information is also valuable to anyone in the U.S. who seeks a clearer understanding of Japanese society, or who supports educational, cultural, or exchange-related activities. The webinar will be conducted in English, with optional automatic translation into 35 languages. For the full list of monthly webinars and to register, click here. | | | | | I AM AN AMERICAN: The Nisei Soldier Experience Traveling Exhibit, the Legacy of Courage Look for this powerful collaboration between the National Museum of the United States Army, the National Veterans Network, and The Army Historical Foundation. Together, they aim to raise awareness about the extraordinary service of the U.S. Army’s 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service, who served in a segregated unit in World War II. These brave men and women came from across America enlisting from the islands of Hawaii and the 10 War Relocation Authority incarceration camps. Overcoming fear and prejudice, they exhibited unparalleled patriotism and loyalty in service to the United States. Through our traveling exhibition, we seek to share a compelling narrative that resonates with individuals who value patriotism and a profound sense of duty towards their country, even in times of great sacrifice. The exhibit will be in Colorado, January - June 2029. Yes it's a ways off, but it's touring 11 locations around the country. For more information see the National Veteran's Network site here. The above photo of the 442nd RCT Color Guards has a poignant story behind it. See this page for the story. | | | | | Other Interesting Organizations Want more news? Check out these other organizations supporting Asian Americans in Colorado and beyond!
- Golden Lotus Foundation - The GLF is working hard to build a botanical garden and tea house in Colorado Springs. They are always looking for volunteers, so sign up for their newsletter if you are interested!
- NAJAS - the National Association of Japan America Societies is the hub of all other JAS in the US.
- Japan America Society of Colorado (Denver) - JASC is our closest sibling organization, with most of their happenings located in Denver. They have a community e-bulletin which they send out monthly as well.
- El Pomar Foundation - Elevating Leadership Development Program. The ELD program is run by the El Pomar foundation and creates "greater access and support for people of color in Southern Colorado to tap into their leadership potential for the benefit of community." Their quarterly meetings are free to attend and convene advisory councils for the following groups: Asian / Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, and Native American.
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- Asian Pacific Islander Business Community of Colorado Springs - this new organization is building better connections to and awareness of Asian-led businesses in Colorado Springs. The link is to their linktree, which includes a newsletter signup.
| | | | | About JASSC JASSC web site Send us your news! Let us know what you’d like to see in the next newsletter. Please email the editor, Rayna Lindsey
rayna@japanamerica.org Did you know that you can edit your own address, phone and email information right on the japanamerica.org website? Simply enter your email and password in the upper-right corner and click Login. Don't know your password? Click Forgot Password and the website will help you out. You will also find a secure password-protected online member directory. Use it to look up names, addresses, phone numbers and emails for other members.
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