The Japan America Society of San Antonio, or JASSA, was established in 1985 to foster increased understanding and cooperation between the citizens of San Antonio and the citizens of Japan. As a non-profit, educational and cultural group it has tried in numerous ways to make Japanese culture become better known in San Antonio. | Download June 2008 Newsletter | Download Informational Flyer |

Japanese Tea Gardens Reopens  Mabel Enkoji Jingu, her husband, and other family members return to the Japanese Sunken Gardens for the grand reopening following $1.6 million in repairs to the ponds. Hundreds gathered to view the flowers, foliage, and reconstruction of the ponds, which are being stocked with Koi. A sixty-foot waterfall dominates the quarry wall, which has been the home for the Japanese-style gardens since the Jingu family moved to the former quarry and cement factory in 1919. See more photos

The Okinawa drum group performed at a donor reception at the Japanese Tea Gardens on March 6.

Participants in the Japanese Language Speech Contest on February 2, at San Antonio College. Over 60 students participated in the 19th Annual Contest. See the full list of winners - Click Here

Donors Raise $54,000 for Scholarship Fund

Rosemary Kowalski is pictured with donors Ken Fukuta, President of Toyota Manufacturing Texas, and David Moreno, AT&T at the Scholarship Fund kickoff-dinner on Nov 20 at the AT&T community center. JASSA created the fund to encourage the study of Japanese and Asian courses at San Antonio area colleges and universities. Ken Fukuta is serving as honorary chairman. Suzanne Peterson, Frost Bank Senior Vice-President for Corporate Development, is serving as scholarship committee chairperson, and Max Navarro, Chairman of Operational Technologies, is event and fundraising chairman. See the full photo album. Click Here.

Each year, JASSA holds a Japanese Matsuri, or festival, in October featuring an array of music, dance, foods, arts and crafts, martial arts, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and miniature bonsai trees. It responds to many requests from schools to provide all of these same kinds of cultural activities for classes, clubs, and assemblies.   JASSA regularly participates in the Annual Asian New Year Festival and the Texas Folk Life Festival to bring Japanese foods, cultural items, and activities to thousands of people.

The San Antonio Museum of Art hosts the largest collection of Asian Arts in the Southern half of the United States. In 2005, the Lenora and Walter F. Brown Asian Art Wing opened, with 15,000 square feet of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Korean exhibits and artifacts. (Link)  

It regularly assists the office of the Consulate General in Houston with the Japanese Speech Contest at three of the four year intervals when it is San Antonio’s turn to host the event. In other years, it encourages participation in the contest and helps to find qualified native speakers to serve as judges.

In support of Kumamoto En, the Japanese garden at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, it has been an active participant in the Garden’s annual Viva Botanica, and has been the co-sponsor of Kumamoto En Day by providing Japanese foods, calligraphy, origami, miniature sand garden construction, and tours of the Japanese garden. Any profits from these activities are donated to the Botanical Society to help support and maintain Kumamoto En.

The Hoshuko, or weekend school, is supported and operated by the Japanese Companies Association primarily so that Japanese children who are here temporarily will not fall far behind in their studies. The curriculum followed is that of the Japanese Ministry of Education. JASSA has helped to publicize the school and includes the students in performance at its events, especially the Matsuri.

Meetings of the Society are an opportunity to gather with others who are interested in Japan and its culture, whether it is for planning, networking, or just the chance to visit in English and Japanese with others who share that heritage.