January 9, 2025 - webinar (online) - 7 PM to 8 PM (EST)
Zoom webinar with Gregg Jones, the author of Most Honorable Son
Join us January 9 to hear the story of a Japanese-American combat pilot and forgotten war hero’s fight against fascism abroad and bigotry at home during World War II.
Author Gregg Jones introduces us to Ben Kuroki, who enlisted following Pearl Harbor and eventually became the first Asian American and only Japanese American to fight in the Pacific theater during WWII. Ben’s vocal championing of anti-bigotry, patriotism, and honor spurred the Roosevelt Administration to reconsider the incarceration of more than 100,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast.
Yale film screening event: Carving the Divine on March 1
The Yale Council on East Asian Studies will be hosting a film screening, “Carving the Divine” on Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm at The Alice Cinema (L01), Humanities Quadrangle, 320 York Street, New Haven CT, 06511. This documentary is a remarkable account of a contemporary busshi, a master artisan of statues of the Buddha, and the apprentices in his workshop. The showing will be followed by a remote Q&A with the director, Yujiro Seki. The screening is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. Go to
Cherry Blossom Picnic in Stamford on Sunday, April 13
Ascend CT/Westchester and Japan Society of Fairfield are co-hosting a picnic lunch to enjoy the beautiful blooming cherry blossoms in the Stamford’s Mill River Park.
1010 Washington Blvd, Stamford. (along side Washington Blvd). Under the Yoshino cherry trees on the knoll next to Mill River Bark Park
Please join us on Sunday noon, April 13th under the Cherry Blossoms, for sushi light bites and non-alcoholic drinks for an informal family-oriented gathering and social networking.
After our lunch, children and parents can enjoy a carousel ride inside the park, on the opposite side of our picnic site (across the river).
Feel free to bring blankets, lawn chairs etc. You can park free on the street, or in the nearby Target Mall, UConn parking lot.
This event is free for Ascend professional members and family. Non-members of Ascend or Japan society pay $20 each. please RSVP by April 10th so we can plan proper headcounts for food.
Event Details Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Venue: Stamford Mill River Park 1010 Washington Blvd, Stamford
Admission: Members: Complimentary Non-Members: $20
Cherry Tree Planting - East Hartford, CT - April 12 (rain date 4/13)
(from Japan Society of Fairfield County)
TheUS & Japan Society of CThas organized a tree planting atRentschler Field in East Hartford. JSFC is co-sponsoring this event. See attached poster for details. JSFC would like its members and friends to help in this project. If you can attend, please email us atinfo@japansocietyfc.orgto let us know.
Chef Masaharu Morimoto — known to millions as the star of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America and now executive producer and head judge for Roku’s Sushi Master — has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients.
The Japan Society of Greater Hartford (Connecticut) is sponsoring their free Japan Summer Festival on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 12 Noon to 5 p.m - in Blue Back Square, West Hartford, CT
The Japan Society of Fairfield County (Connecticut) has released details of their upcoming 2025 fall festival in Westport, CT - Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 (with a rain date of Sunday, 9/7).
JSFC is partnering with the Fairfield Museum and History Center to present Mr. Tyler speaking about his book, ‘Mary Swift Jones: Love and Letters from Japan’. This presentation is part of the museum’s program series, “History Bites”, which are held several times a year and include a talk and light refreshments. JSFC and Fairfield Museum members are able to attend the talk for free, but there is a separate museum admission if they want to visit the galleries. Gallery admission is $5 per adult and $3 per senior .
The museum is located at 370 Beach Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824-6639.
Mr. Tyler will bring copies of his book to sell and sign.
Come to our FREE Fall Festival on Saturday, September 6, 2025. (In spite of the poor weather forecast, there were more problems with changing the date). This event will be on Jesup Green, outside the Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880, from 1:00 pm to 4 pm (we may end earlier depending on the weather).
For anyone who enjoys Japanese junk food but does not have an Asian market nearby - if you are located in parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, perhaps you may have an Ocean State Job Lot store nearby.
Their inventory changes frequently, and so it’s a bit hit-or-miss, but recently I’ve noticed that they were selling Hata Ramune soda - and while I did not see it in my local store, they were advertising special-edition Japanese Kit Kat candy flavors. From time to time I have also seen different flavors of Pocky on their shelves.
So it may be worth cruising through the food aisles looking for unexpected examples of Japanese junk food.
Also worth noting - it’s not exactly Japanese, but maybe it can be considered to be ‘Japanese-adjacent’:
This week they’re advertising a sale on a 12-pack of Hello Kitty Boba Milk Tea (loaded with sugary calories). Cute can, not sure about the taste, but the price is certainly attractive compared with amazon pricing (to get the sale price you do need to sign up for their free ‘insider’ card):
OK, resistance was futile - some things just can’t be helped…
I stopped by Ocean State Job Lot and picked up some bottles of Ramune and some limited edition Japanese Kit Kat “Let’s Have a Tea Party - Milk Tea” varieties.
Description from another site:
Can’t get enough milk tea? Then, you’ll want to try this limited-edition Japanese Kit Kat flavor! This milk tea Kit Kat features tea-infused wafers and chocolate with cream added to create a yummy treat. This combo means each bite tastes like royal milk tea. Pair this chocolate with a cup of green tea to balance the sweetness.
Yeah, I also picked up a carton of 12 cans of the Hello Kitty Boba Tea.
Upcoming zoom presentation about evolution of Japanese ceramics, from a Japan Society of Fairfield County (CT) email:
JapanCraft21, a nonprofit organization in Kyoto Prefecture, has been working hard to preserve traditional Japanese techniques for future generations. On Monday, January 26, 8 pm EST they are offering a free ZOOM presentation by founder Steve Beimel, titled Introduction to the Masterworks of 25 Japanese Ceramics Superstars, Part III.
Explore the evolution of Japan’s most celebrated ceramic artists from the postwar era to today. This presentation introduces representative works by internationally acclaimed masters and highlights the extraordinary breadth, depth, and continuing vitality of Japan’s ceramic tradition.
