Idol, Burning - Book Club - JETAA Chicago & JASC YPC

A new twist on an old favorite! The JETAA Chicago and Japan America Society of Chicago YPC Book Club continues in 2023 with a meeting in December!

Join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, December 12th!

Our book club focuses on highlighting voices and stories with a strong connection to Japan. For our next meeting we have chosen Idol, Burning. Written by Rin Usami, December's pick is a portrait of fame, disconnection, obsession, and disillusion, Idol, Burning shines a white-hot spotlight on fandom and "stan" culture, the money-making schemes of the pop idol industry, the seductive power of social media, and the powerful emotional void that opens when an idol falls from grace.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the book and then join us for an evening of casual discussion in a virtual space via Zoom! Registrations are limited, so grab a spot while you can!

Sign up here!

This event is open to JET alumni, JASC YPC members, and friends.

Questions? Email us at info@jetaachicago.com

November 2023 Nihongo Trivia Night

Get ready for JETAA Chicago's November Nihongo Trivia Night!

Join us Wednesday, November 8th from 6:30-7:30 pm CDT, for JETAA Chicago's Japanese Language Series event!

We're inviting JETAA groups from all over the nation to compete in a Japanese language and culture trivia contest! Get your group together or come in solo, but be ready to flex that Japan lore that we know you picked up in JET! (Signing up as a team? Please make sure each member registers.)

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.

Click the button below for full event details and to sign up via Guestlist.

Sign up here!

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!