J-Quiz is a one-day online event that takes place in February. One of JASM’s important missions is to support those who want to learn Japanese and get to know Japan better. At J-quiz, there will be fun 30 quizzes regarding Japanese history, culture, language and more. You can test your knowledge of Japan and learn new things. This event will also include information about colleges that offer Japanese classes, cultural exhibition videos where experts will share their skills with us. Also, with a networking function, the participants can meet and chat with people who are learning Japanese and share ideas.

By hosting Harukaze, the Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM) hopes to provide a special cross-cultural experience with rich selection of Western classical pieces and the works of Japanese composers in the Western tradition. It is our hope that through this performance that you will be moved by the music you hear and inspired by the dedication of the performers in making the music. This program also serves as an opportunity to express appreciation for the current members of the Japan America Society of Minnesota who continue to support the organization through their gifts and contributions to the building of bridges of cultural understanding and international cooperation between the peoples of Japan and the United States.

The event is reminiscent of Japan's annual Obon holiday, an important cultural and family event. During this holiday it is said that ancestral spirits revisit their families for three days. Many people will return home to pay their respects at grave-sites, and often small paper lanterns are lit and floated down the river to guide ancestor's spirits. The Obon Festival also features the Bon Odori, or folk dance, in which all are invited to join in the circle and dance. The Como Park Obon Festival incorporates traditions such as the Bon Odori with Minnesota culture to create new traditions. Every year Mu Performing Arts, featuring the Mu-Min Chorus Mu-Daiko, and Mikaharu-kai Dance Group perform the Minnesota Bon Odori, celebrating Minnesotan culture with a Japanese flair. A collaborative effort between JASM, Como Park, and the Saint Paul-Nagasaki Sister City Committee (SPNSCC), the Obon festival is a chance for JASM to reach out to the community and directly promote cultural exchange. By creating a fun event for all ages, we hope to share the experience with people who fondly remember festivals in Japan, and those who wish to experience one for the first time.

Shinnenkai is JASM's annual New Year Celebration in which we hope that, by bringing the traditions of a Japanese New Year celebration to Minnesota, we can promote cultural exchange and new experiences in a fun environment. There will be cultural performances, delicious Japanese food, a raffle, and children's activities as we hope to create a fun family atmosphere that allows people of all ages to come together and experience a Japanese New Year!

The Award was first presented to Joan and Walter Mondale to recognize his service as Ambassador and her ongoing efforts to promote the arts in both countries. Since then, the Mondale Award has been presented annually to individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions of their own:

2023 Dick Stahl

2022 Gayle and Judith Fleming

2021 Sarah Walbert

2020 Bill Deef

2019 Patricia Katagiri

2018 Linda Hashimoto van Dooijeweert

2017 Mirja Hanson

2016 Stanisław Skrowaczewski & Yoko Breckenridge

2015 Matthew Welch

2014 Warren MacKenzie

2013 Yoshie Babcock

2012 Inkie Brons

2011 Takuzo Ishida

2010 Dean and Masako Potter

2009 Dr. Charles Graham & Shirley Huskins

2008 Chris Rossow

2007 Hiroshi Yamashita

2006 KCC Japan Education Exchange

2005 St. Paul-Nagasaki Sister City Committee

2004 Diane & Evan Williams

2003 Kimi Hara

2002 Edson and Harriet Spencer

2001 Minnesota International Center

2000 Ruth Tanbara

1999 Akiko Sako

1998 N.L. (Neal) Gault, Jr., MD

1997 Joan and Walter Mondale

The Mondale Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the building of understanding, cooperation and respect between the people of Japan and Minnesota. The Mondale Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students enrolled in Minnesota colleges and universities who want to broaden their knowledge of Japan through a combination of study and travel. These awards are intended to both recognize and encourage the continued efforts to build a bridge between Japan and Minnesota. Proceeds benefit the merit-based Mondale Scholarship Fund; every year the Fund supports two or more Minnesota undergraduates studying in Japan.