Pilsen Days: An Evening with Photographer Akito Tsuda

In the early 1990s, Japanese photographer Akito Tsuda, then a student at Columbia College Chicago, immersed himself in the Pilsen neighborhood on the city's southwest side, capturing the everyday lives and spirit of working class Mexican Americans.

When he returned home to his native Japan a few years later, Tsuda was uncertain of what to do with his collection of photos and kept them hidden from public view for decades, until he slowly began sharing them on a Facebook page with members of the Pilsen community.

Encouraged by the positive and emotional response he received from the community that welcomed him as a second son and helped form his artistic identity, he published a collection of his photographs, Pilsen Days, in 2017, and returned to Chicago to share his photos in person. His collection of photos, which capture the humanity and warmth of the tight-knit Pilsen community, are now in permanent collection at the Harold Washington Library.

On Friday, October 20 at 7:30 PM CT, join JETAA Chicago for a conversation with Tsuda, who will share his stories of life as an artist in Pilsen in the 1990s. This event is free and open to JET alumni and Friends of JET.

Sign up here!

Get ready for JETAA Chicago's October language night!

Join us Wednesday, October 4th from 6:30-7:30 pm CDT, for JETAA Chicago's Japanese Language Series event!

This month for our pecha kucha night, we'll be having a puzzle game challenge! We'll be working together and activating our lateral thinking to solve some puzzles in Japanese!

Not sure of your Japanese skill? No worries! The night will still be an opportunity for Japanese language practice for all skill levels. ぜひ来てください！

The Japanese Language Series events are intended to bring together JETAA members and supporters who want to stay engaged with Japanese language learning and use.

Sign up here!

Questions? Email our Secretary, Rurik.

This event is open to alumni and Friends of JET.

JETogether 2023: Dia de Muertos

Let's JETogether!

Attend our virtual event honoring Japanese photographer Akito Tsuda's perspective and connection to Pilsen (details coming soon!) and then join JET alumni and friends of JET as JETAA Chicago returns to the location of one of the first ever JETogethers - the National Museum of Mexican Art. The Museum has hosted the art of many Japanese-American and Japanese-Mexican artists over the years, including Shizu Saldamando, and on Saturday, October 21, we are visiting their annual Dia de Muertos Exhibit!

The Museum, founded in 1982 and located in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, was created to highlight the multitudes of one of our city’s most vibrant communities from their own perspective. If you have not visited before, then this is your chance to experience one of Chicago’s cultural touchstones!

We will meet in front of the Museum at 11am sharp! Street parking is available around Harrison Park where the museum is located (watch out for the Neighborhood Parking signs!) and the Museum is easily accessible via public transportation on the Damen bus, 18th St. bus or Pink line train. Find your best route here!

And after we are done, feel free to stick around for a Coffee & Conversation Nijikai!

Sign up here!

This event is open to alumni and Friends of JET.