Newsletter: October 2024
Phew! What a busy summer we have had! Pika kais, conferences, board meetings, oh my!
I hope everyone has had a lovely first couple weeks of autumn! Check out what all we have coming up this season!
Upcoming Activities
Experience Kyudo
Sunday, October 13th - Sold out! Discover the Art of Kyudo: A Cultural and Hands-On Archery Experience in collaboration with the Zenko Kyudojo. This experience is partially subsidized for JET Alumni and the community through a generous grant from the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver.
Onigiri Action
Saturday, November 9th -For the 2nd straight year, JETAARM is partnering with the Japan America Society of Colorado to host an Onigiri Action workshop. Come show off your creative culinary skills for a good cause! Onigiri Action is a worldwide fund-raising effort to provide meals to children in need. You can learn more about it HERE.
Onigiri Action is a community event and typically sells out several weeks in advance, so reserve your tickets today by clicking the button below!
Save the Date
Saturday, December 14th: December Pika-kai in collaboration with the Japan America Society of Colorado. Nengajo Workshop. Save the Date and look out for registration details coming soon on our social media and newsletter!
January 18, 2025: January Pika-kai. JETAARM's annual Shinnenkai New Year's Party. Save the Date! More details will be coming soon.
Can you believe we are planning events for next year already?!?
Community Activities
Japanese Self-Study in Denver
Did you know that there’s not one but TWO meetups for practicing Japanese with fellow Japanese learners in the Denver area? Allow us to introduce each one:
The Japan America Society of Colorado (JASC) - JASC hosts this bi-weekly gathering for native and non-native Japanese speakers to use their language skills in a relaxed space. If you don't use it, you lose it! Don’t miss the two upcoming dates:
When: Oct. 12th @ 10:00 AM
Where: Edgewater Public Market
More Info: Click here for additional information.
Japanese Self Study Group — If you’re interested in getting out to study Japanese in a group of likeminded and motivated individuals, this is your chance! Please note this is a self-study group, which means you bring your own materials to study.
When: Nov. 16th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Prodigy Coffee House
Join the Group — To get involved join their FB group here!
Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama
The Life and Work of Tokio Ueyama exhibit is on display at the Denver Art Museum until June 1, 2025. Here is an excerpt from the museum website:
“Born in Japan, Tokio Ueyama moved to the United States in 1908 at age 18, where he made a home until his death in 1954. This exhibition tells the story of Ueyama’s life, including his early days as an art student in San Francisco, Southern California, and Philadelphia; his travels abroad in Europe and Mexico; his role as artist and community member in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles; and his incarceration during World War II at the Granada Relocation Center, now the Amache National Historic Site, in southeast Colorado.”
You can check out Free Days at the DAM for days with free entry to check out this exhibit. Or go any day they are open!
JASSC Cultural Bazaar
This cornerstone event has been held by JASSC for over two decades, and serves as a demonstration of their mission and vision to provide Southern Colorado with opportunities to engage with authentic Japanese culture. Come enjoy over 16 vendor tables, Japanese food, live performances, and back this year - cultural workshops!
This four hour event is free to attend, with opportunities to shop among local artisans and vendors, selling unique arts, crafts, decorations, gifts, clothing and more. JASSC also hosts a bazaar section with gently used Japanese goods that members can purchase at a discounted price!
The event will be held at the University Center in the breezeway, atrium, and Berger Hall. Parking is free on weekends!
Check HERE for more information!
Recent Events
September Pika-kai
For JETAARM's September Pika-kai, JET alumni, friends, and family gathered at Coors Field on Saturday night 9/28 to watch the Rockies take on Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers.
JETAA Rocky Mountain got a scoreboard welcome message from the Rockies and even shared some scoreboard space with Ohtani himself!
Attendees got to take home a special Autumn edition sticker of our mascot, Zebulon Pika!
2024 JETAA NatCon
Many thanks to VP Brad Breiten and Webmaster Joe Mignano for representing JETAARM at the 2024 JET Alumni Association of the United States of America (JETAA USA) National Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota last weekend. A super productive conference where we talked about the benefits and drawbacks of incorporation for JETAA chapters, diversification of our events portfolio to engage broader audiences across our community, and brainstormed how to increase JETAARM’s positive impact.
Thanks For Reading!
Have Something to Share?
Feel free to reach out to us by email or on Facebook! This space is open to all - if you have an upcoming event, an essay, a review, an amazing photo, or anything else you want to share, send it to editor@jetaarockymountain.org with the subject "Newsletter Idea."
