Shinnenkai in the Chicago Shimpo!

Thank you to the Chicago Shimpo and Yoshiko Urayama for their continued support of JETAA Chciago.

Check out the article below.

Image provided the Chicago Shimpo.

2019 JETAA Chicago Shinnenkai Recap

Photo by Timothy Sullivan

The 2019 JETAA Chicago Shinnenkai was a great success!

Despite the snowy weather on January 19th, almost 100 alumni, friends, family and members of the Japan-America community in Chicago came to the Japanese American Service Committee on north Clark St. to share in our cultural celebration! Attendees witnessed an amazing aikido demonstration from students and instructors with the Japanese Culture Center, made their own onigiri with rice from Slurping Turtle, learned to write their names in katakana, created zodiac calendars with Tampopo Kai, were instructed in the art of calligraphy, and able to try on beautiful kimono and yukata thanks to JETAA Wisconsin’s Adriana Avery and Katie Slupsky! All while enjoying delicious Japanese cuisine and beer generously donated by Sapporo USA.

In memory of Daniel Pruitt, fundraising efforts were focused on a donation to the Be The Match Foundation. Thanks to the generous donation of fukubukuro prizes from:

• Kokoro Care Packages

• Kizuki Ramen

• The Japan Information Center

• The Japan America Society of Chicago - Young Professional Committee

• Hekiun Oda

• The Shedd Aquarium

• The Museum of Science & Industry

• DePaul University’s Ray Meyer Fitness Center

• The Chicago Flower & Garden Show

and the efforts of several of our community members in procuring them, including:

• Bree Story

• Josh Schanen

• Julianne Medrano

• Kam Lie

• Lara Espinoza

• Ruby Benigno

• Alex Steveson

• Tim Sullivan

• Victoria Nugent

We were able to raise FINAL DONATION AMOUNT for an organization doing important work to connect bone marrow donors with those in need on behalf of our dear friend.

Thank you again to all of our partners, volunteers and everyone that attended in support of our efforts to raise a donation for the Be The Match Foundation! To learn more about how you can continue to support Be The Match, visit their website!

To see the dance performed in memory of Daniel, check out our YouTube page.

Looking for more Japan related fun throughout the year? Follow us on social media and continue to visit our website for updates on all of our upcoming events! And check out the Japanese American Service Committee and the Japanese Culture Center for even more ways to stay connected!

We will see you again in 2020 to celebrate the year of the rat!

Photo by Timothy Sullivan

Greetings from the Japan Local Government Center

CLAIR New York, also known as the Japan Local Government Center, sends their season's greetings and best wishes to all of JETAA Chicago!

They support the JETAA associations here in the US. We are grateful for all they do for us here, especially our representative Shinori Nagasawa.