Spring into spring with JETAA Chicago's language night!

Join us Wednesday, March 1st from 6:30-7:30 pm CDT, for JETAA Chicago's Japanese Language Series event for March!

This month, we're going to jump head first into some video games for language learning! Not educational games, but just good games that you can use to study Japanese. Not a big gamer? 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!

Journey to Kyushu: Kagoshima with the Japan America Society of Chicago (JASC)

Continue your journey through the prefectures of Japan with Japan America Society of Chicago (JASC) 's next "Journey" event: Journey to Kyushu: Kagoshima on Thursday, February 23rd from 6-7 pm CST!

About the Event

With its active volcanoes, natural hot springs, oceans and islands, Kagoshima Prefecture is the place to feel the power of the earth. Kagoshima is located in the southernmost part of the four main Japanese islands and is a warm place blessed with awesome foods, nature, diverse cultures, and history. In this talk session, 3 presenters living in Kagoshima will talk about the unique lifestyles of people in Kagoshima and the surprising cultures and nature of Kagoshima’s islands

About the Speakers

Wong Yimin is a Coordinator of International Resources (CIR) who hails from the sunny island of Singapore. She came to Kagoshima in October 2021, and has been working under Kagoshima Prefectural Office’s International Affairs Division with a job scope ranging from translation, events, to matters related to international relations. When not busy at work, she dabbles in photography and enjoys capturing the beauty of Kagoshima through her lens. Although she is still relatively new to Kagoshima, she is looking forward to sharing the wonders of this prefecture to everyone.

Joseph Snowden is a British Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) with the Kagoshima Prefectural Government’s International Affairs Division. Graduating from the University of Cambridge in 2017 with a BA in Natural Sciences, he became interested in international exchange while working with people from all over the world as a research scientist at the University of Leeds. He began his post as CIR in Kagoshima in August 2022, following the completion of his PhD. While still new to Kagoshima, he is already enamored with the region and excited to share his experience so far.

Naoki Taruno is working for the tourism division of Kagoshima Prefectural Government. He had been working for the Tokyo Headquarters of the Development Bank of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for 12 years in total. Now he has come back to his hometown of Kagoshima in 2021. He has visited the U.S. many times for volunteer projects to support critically ill children, and studied at the University of Michigan in 2005. In particular, he is a fan of the Chicago Bulls in the 90’s, and he is especially happy to introduce Kagoshima to the people in Chicago.

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JETAA Chicago Winter Photo Challenge!

The weather outside may be frightful, but the winter can also become a time to slow down and reflect on the stillness and beauty surrounding us.

Join JETAA Chicago for a virtual Winter Photo Challenge. To participate, in the next two weeks, we invite you to share a photo and short description of a unique winter scenery that you noticed while traveling around Japan* to philanthropy@jetaachicago.com and marketing@jetaachicago.com. Then, join us for a virtual gathering on Thursday, February 16 from 7-8 PM CT, where we will share some wintery stories from Japan while huddled together around a virtual fireplace. We’ll also host a raffle for one lucky winner to win a $50 gift card to GAIJIN, an okonomiyaki and kakigori restaurant in Chicago. All JET alumni and Friends of JET are welcome to join, but only those who participate in the virtual challenge and share a photograph will be eligible for the raffle.

*By submitting a photo, you grant JETAA Chicago permission to post on official JETAA Chicago accounts, including on our website and social media accounts.

Sign up here!

Questions? Contact Sheila.