The Fort Worth Japanese Society

Our Mission:

To foster understanding between Japanese and Americans by providing

an opportunity to learn about Japan, it’s people, language and culture.

The Fort Worth Japanese Society

Newsletter Newsletter Jan - Feb 2016

www.fwjs.org

2016 is the Year of the

Monkey

“Say no evil, hear no evil

see no evil”

in the Japanese Garden at

the Fort Worth Botanic

Garden.

Jan - Feb 2016

www.fwjs.org

Newsletter

2016 is the Year of the

Monkey

“Say no evil, hear no evil

see no evil”

in the Japanese Garden at

the Fort Worth Botanic

Garden.

Society membership

is from Jan. to Dec.

Please send in your

2016 dues. We have

bills to pay too! (Mailing address is on the

application form on page 11.)

- 2 -

Okonomiyaki ( お 好 み 焼 き ) is a

Japanese savory pancake containing a

variety of ingredients. The name is

derived from the word okonomi, meaning

"what you like" or "what you want", and

yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked."

Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with

the Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan,

but is widely available throughout the

country. Toppings and batters tend to

vary according to region. Tokyo

okonomiyaki is usually smaller than a

Hiroshima or Kansai okonomiyaki.

February Luncheon Sun. Feb. 14th from 12:30PM at Yamagata Kaikan (Society Building)

Come learn to make and enjoy dining on Okonomiyaki. At this luncheon, we will all

learn more about the dish, how to make the varieties offered, and of course, enjoy

eating it. We will have to buy in advance the materials need so please RSVP. Adults

$12, children 8- 12 $8, under 7 is free.

RSVP by Sunday, Feb. 7th. Please let us know your name and the number in your

group to inquiries@fwjs.org or call Harvey Yamagata at 817-737-9166 or email

harvey.yamagata@sbcglobal.net.

Hiroshima style okonomiyaki (includes

noodles)

Osaka style okonomiyaki

Sophia Sonnemann, Lisa Meyer and David

Bakutis make okonomiyaki during this year’s

bazaar.

- 3 -

March Luncheon Sunday, March 20th - From 12:30PM at Yamagata Kaikan

We will celebrate Hinamatsuri (Girls Day). We’ll talk about our Hina doll

collection, make origami, in particular the emperor and empress. Girls, come

dressed in your kimonos. Chirashizushi is often served on this holiday so that’s

what we’ll serve. Also, sunomono and miso soup will be served.

Emperor and Empress in origami.

Chirashi-zushi

日本語クラスニュースレター Our Spring Semester started on January 18th (Mon).

The children’ classes played Karuta (Japanese Hiragana game)

- 4 -

SOCIETY NEWS - RECENT EVENTS

Annual Japanese Food Bazaar – Nov

It’s never an overstatement to say our

Annual Bazaar is a delicious occasion.

There were tasty Japanese confections,

Japanese groceries, sushi and cooked

obento, as well as okonomiyaki and yaki-

soba grilled at the cooking tables (teppan).

Thank you all who came to the event and

thanks to all who volunteered their time and

effort during the bazaar and prior to prepare

the delicious food (I’ll take a bow here for the

okonomiyaki batter and tamago yaki). A

special thank you goes to the Japanese

Palace Restaurant for again hosting our

event.

June Everly, Asako Cosby, Makio

Nishida and Nobuko Foshee

organizing raffle tickets.

Oshogatsu (New Year’s) Luncheon

I write the Society News slowly so I am often reading the

prior paragraphs as I write. I notice that I often write about

food and how delicious everything was. Well, it’s hard to

say otherwise when good food is a preoccupation of mine,

and my particular favorite is Japanese cuisine. So, I write

again, our Oshogatsu luncheon was a “horn of plenty” of

delicious Japanese food. As the pot luck line progressed

along the table, the food started to disappear is if a huge

vacuum cleaner was passing over the table. Thank you all

for your great food contributions. The Dondoko Taiko

drummers helped to drum in the New Year, followed by

our dining. Next, the children from the Japanese

Language Class entertained us with song. Nishida-sensei

again helped make or raffle an entertaining program, and

many, many attendees went home clutching their

winnings.

Shinbokukai - Thu. Dec. 17th

It was well worth the fifteen of us who braved the

unpredictability of going north on I-35 to dine at Wild Sushi

& Ramen, located at 4386 Western Center Blvd. They have

a large variety of Japanese delicacies, and everyone

praised the tastiness of everything they ordered.

Mitsue Crow and Nobuko Foshee show off the

two types of obento at the Bazaar

Of course, the best of this event is the chance we have to enjoy getting to know each other

better. To learn more, you can visit their website at www.wild-sushi.com.

Al Komatsu enjoying potluck

SOCIETY NEWS – continued

- 5 -

UPCOMING EVENTS

February Luncheon – Sunday, Feb. 14th from 12:30PM at Yamagata Kaikan

(Society Building)

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake containing a variety of ingredients

which is always a popular food at our annual bazaars. At this luncheon, we will all

learn more about the dish, how to make the varieties offered, and of course, enjoy

eating it. We will have to buy in advance the materials need so please RSVP.

RSVP by Sunday, Feb. 7th. Please let us know your name and the number in your

group to inquiries@fwjs.org or call Harvey Yamagata at 817-737-9166 or email

harvey.yamagata@sbcglobal.net.

March Luncheon – Sunday, Mar. 20th from 12:30PM at Yamagata Kaikan

In March, we will celebrate Hinamatsuri (Girls Day). Typically, for this holiday in

Japan, homes exhibit their multi-tiered Hina dolls sets like the one we have on

permanent display in our kaikan. This display will be explained, and we will also

make origami, in particular the emperor and empress which are always featured in

the doll display. This is the day young Japanese girls dress up in their kimonos, so

we encourage your girls to come in their kimonos. Food will be chirashizushi,

sunomono and miso soup. RSVP by Sunday Mar. 13th. Please let us know your

name and the number in your group to inquiries@fwjs.org or call Harvey Yamagata

at 817-737-9166 or email harvey.yamagata@sbcglobal.net.

Garage Sale – April 16th

We haven’t had an official society garage sale in a few years so there must be

plenty of good stuff to put on sale. Garage Sales are a reminder that one person’s

trash is another person’s treasure. This has always be a good money raiser for us,

so please look around your home and donate to the sale. More details to follow,

including when we can arrange for your donation drop-off.

Japanese Garden Spring Festival Sat. Apr. 23rd – Sun. Apr. 24th

The Spring Festival in the Fort Worth Japanese Gardens is a great opportunity to

share what we know of Japanese culture to the general public. And – everyone who

volunteers has a great time. This is just a heads up – we’ll be putting sign-up sheets

and provide more information as April approaches.

- 6 -

日本人会会報

最近の出来事

日本人会恒例のバザー、１１月２９日（日） この恒例のバザーが美味しい行事だと言うのは決して大げさではありません。

美味しい日本のキャンディ、日本食料品、寿司または調理されたお弁当、鉄板で焼かれたお好み焼きと焼きそばがありました。バザーにお越し下さった皆さん、そして事前に美味しい食べ物を用意した方々（ここで私がお好み焼きの生地と卵焼きを持って登場）当日バザーのために時間を割いてくださった皆さん、ありがとうございました。今回も場所を提供してくださったジャパニーズパレスに深くお礼を申し上げます。

親睦会、１２月１７日（木） 4386 Western Center Blvdにあるワイルド寿司＆ラーメンで食事をするにあたり、工事中のI-35を北上するため予測不可能に勇敢に立ち向かった１５人でしたが、それは十分に価値がありました。多種多様のメニューがあり、誰もが注文したすべてのメニューに絶賛しました。もちろん、このイベントの最高の良さはよりお互いを知り合うことです。このレストランの詳細はwww.wild-sushi.comをごらんください。

お正月ランチョン、１月３日（日） 先ほど書いた段落を読んでゆっくりと読みながら、日本人会ニュースを書いています。私がよく食べ物について書く事に気付き、またそれがすべて、どんなに美味しかったか。さて、美味しい食べ物に没頭している時に、違う形で伝えることは難しく、特に私が好きなのは和食です。

また書きますが、お正月のランチョンは美味しい和食の「豊饒の角」でした。ポットラックがテーブルに沿って並べられると共に、巨大な掃除機がテーブルの上を通過したように食べ物はなくなりました。素晴らしいご馳走をありがとうございました。

どんどこ太鼓の皆さんが、新年に太鼓を叩いてくださり、日本語クラスの子供達が歌をうたって 楽しませてくれました。

今年も西田先生がプログラムの進行を手伝ってくださり、ラッフルの販売に貢献してくださいました。たくさんの参加者が賞金、賞品を手に帰宅しました。

- 7 -

予定されているイベント

月のランチョン ２月１４日（日）１２時３０分より、山縣会館にて

色々な材料を入れて作るお好み焼きは バザーでも人気のメニューです。

２月のランチョンではお好み焼きについて学び、どのように色んな種類を作るか、もちろん楽しんでいただきます。材料を購入するのにあたり、人数を把握しなければならなりません。大人１２ドル、子供８歳から１２歳が８ドル、７歳以下は無料です。

２月７日（日）までにあなたの名前と参加者人数を inquiries@fwjs.orgまたはハービー山縣 まで電話 817-737-9166 またはEメール

harvey.yamagata@sbcglobal.net でお知らせください。

３月のランチョン ３月２０日（日）１２時３０分より、山縣会館にて

３月に、私たちはひな祭り（桃の節句）をお祝いします。

一般的に日本では会館にずっと飾ってあるような雛人形を飾ります。飾られている雛人形を説明し、折り紙でお内裏様お雛様を作ります。桃の節句では女の子が着物を着て正装するので、是非女の子は着物を着ていらしてください。

お食事はちらし寿司、酢の物、お味噌汁です。

大人１２ドル、子供８歳から１２歳が８ドル、７歳以下は無料です。

３月１３日までにお名前と参加者人数をお知らせください。

inquiries@fwjs.org または 電話で Harvey Yamagata at 817-737-9166 またはEメールでharvey.yamagata@sbcglobal.net.

ガレージセール ３月２６日（土） この数年 正式なガレージセールを行わなかったので、皆さんのお宅にはたくさんの良いものが眠っていることでしょう。ガレージセールは一人にとってくだらないゴミでも他の一人のひとには宝物ということを思い起こさせるものです。日本人会にとってお金を集める良い機会です。ですから、どうぞ家を見回してガレージセールのための寄付をお願いします。寄付の回収については後日詳細をお知らせします。

日本庭園、春祭り ４月２３日（土）２４日（日） フォートワース日本庭園の春祭りは一般市民に私たちが知る日本の文化をシェアできる素晴らしい機会です。そしてボランティアのひとたちも素晴らしい時間を過ごすことができます。４月が近づいたら、ボランティアサインアップシートを用意し 詳細もお伝えするので、どうぞお楽しみに。

Garage Sale – Sat. March 26th Please look around your home and donate to our garage sale. More

details to follow, including when we can arrange for your donation

drop-off

- 8 -

What’s Happening

Dondoko Taiko performs for Japan Airlines Inaugural Flight Our drummers have been very busy, performing at the inaugural flight of Japan

Airlines to DFW and a very special wedding for a Toyota executive.

Japanese Tea Ceremony An authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony

will be performed by the DFW

Urasenke Tankokai at the Japanese

Gardens on the 3rd Sat. of each month.

These ceremonies may be observed

by anyone, but to reserve a seat at

$30/per person, please call the Botanic

Garden office at 817-392-5548.

Alisha Sharp wins Society Scholarship Michael Bennet, Chairman, Fort Worth Sister Cities

Int’l presents Alisha with her scholarship. Alisha has

been awarded our first scholarship to participate in

the Fort Worth Sister Cities student exchange

program with Nagaoka. The scholarship covers the

cost of the application and travel (about $2,000). To

be considered for the scholarship, the student must

be a member of the FWJS, have acceptable

academic performance and contribute their time to

our society. The interview and selection process is

conducted by Sister Cities.

- 9 -

Scenes from our Oshogatsu Luncheon Photos by Dr. Teddy Takata

Asako says “Why haven’t I

won anything!”

Our guest, Buddhist monk, Rev. Wijayapura Pagngananda.

Again, a full house at our luncheon!

Asako gives us a look of

“bikkuri shimashita”

(astonishment).

William Winston graciously

gives Asako one of the two

bags of rice he won.

Makio Nishida announces raffle

winners.

Julia Dunaway was our $500

Grand Prize winner.

Akiko Brewster wins one of

our $250 raffle prizes.

David Bakutis gives Al Komatsu

his raffle prize as Midori Green

looks on.

- 10 -

Society Activities

Classical Japanese Dance This is a relatively small group meeting at the Society

every Monday morning from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The

instructor is Mrs. Keio Miyamoto, an accredited master

of Fujima School. If anyone is interested in Japanese

dances, please come and join us. The group enjoys

dancing with other Fort Worthians at the spring and

autumn Japanese Festival. Contact: Teruko Green Cell:

817-723-3213

Kurumi Ningyo This group makes Japanese crafts and

meets from 10:00am to 2:00pm every other

Wednesday. Contact: Nobuko Foshee

Dondoko Taiko (Drum

Group) This group performs at many

metroplex festivals and

special events. Practice every

Sunday 6:00 to 8:30 PM.

Contact: Asako Cosby 817-

737-6581

Students

practicing

calligraphy at

our language

school

demonstration

Drummers

with Fort

Worth Mayor

Price and

Nagaoka

Mayor Mori

at July 4th

Celebration.

Japanese Language Class Adult classes Mondays 6:00-7:30pm.

(There may be other evenings,

depending on class size.) Children’s

classes Mondays 4:45-5:30pm (must be

over 3 years old). Very reasonable

tuition. Visit our website at

www.fwjs.org. Contact: Harumi Sharp.

Email inquiries@fwjs.org

Join the Fort Worth Japanese Society Tel: 817-294-5004

MEMBERSHIP FORM for 2016 Date ____________

Name _____________________________________ Born/Raised _________________________

City/State/Country

Name _____________________________________ Born/Raised _________________________

City/State/Country

Current Address: No. & Street _____________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _________________________________________________________________

Tel. No. Home ______________________________ Work _____________________________

Email ________________________________________________________________________

I would like to receive my newsletter by (check one): Mail eMail

I would like to be notified of coming events by (check one): Telephone eMail

If you will let us know what activities are of interest to you, such as Japanese Dance, volunteer at our the

Fall and Spring Japanese Garden Festival, etc., let us know. Also, if you wish, let us know your age range

and we will let you know what activities might be of interest to you. Your comments: ___________________

________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Annual Membership Dues (please mark (x) in front of the classification you are joining).

____ Family Membership $40.00

____ Single Membership $30.00

____ Associate Membership (Students) $20.00

Make check payable to Fort Worth Japanese Society.

Mail to: Fort Worth Japanese Society

c/o Harvey Yamagata

4220 Ridgehaven Road

Fort Worth, TX 76116

Optional: Membership dues do not cover all expenses such as maintaining our building which

facilitates all our activities. These expenses are augmented by donations and fund raising events.

If you wish to make a donation at this time, please mark (X) in front of the level of donation.

___ Maple $10.00 - $49.99

___ Ginko $50.00 - $99.99

___ Sakura $100 and over.

Donations will be recognized in our newsletter. The Fort Worth Japanese Society is a not-for-profit

organization and contributions are tax deductible.

- 11 -

Local Business Supporters

Arigato Gozaimasu

Would you like to advertise

in our Newsletter?

Contact Harvey Yamagata at

harvey.yamagata@sbcglobal.net

5121 Pershing Ave Fort Worth, TX 76107

(817) 737-8568

info@kazysdallas.com

- 12 -

Natsuko E Piano Studio 3209 Lawndale Ave.

Fort Worth, TX 76133

Tel. (818) 481-1384

Piano lessons for all ages and levels.

Over 10 years of teaching experience.

Fort Worth Japanese Society

3608 Park Lake

Fort Worth, TX 76133

Fort Worth Japanese Society 3608 Park Lake Drive

Tel: 817-294-5004 www.fwjs.org Fort Worth, TX 76133

.

SAVE THE DATE

February Luncheon – Sun, Feb. 14th from 12:30PM at Yamagata Kaikan (Society

Building)

Learn to make Okonomiyaki and enjoy your masterpiece. We will have to buy in advance the

materials need so please RSVP by Sunday, Feb. 7th. Please let us know your name and the

number in your group to inquiries@fwjs.org or call Harvey Yamagata at 817-737-9166 or

email harvey.yamagata@sbcglobal.net.

March Luncheon – Sun. Mar. 20th from 12:30PM at Yamagata Kaikan

We will celebrate Hinamatsuri (Girls Day). We’ll talk about our Hina doll collection make

origami, in particular the emperor and empress Girls, come dressed in your kimonos.

Chirashizushi, sunomono and miso soup will be served. RSVP by Sunday Mar. 13th.

Garage Sale – Sat. March 26th

This has always be a good money raiser for us, so please look around your home and donate

to the sale. More details to follow, including when we can arrange for your donation drop-off.

Japanese Garden Spring Festival Sat. Apr. 23rd – Sun. Apr. 24th

We’ll be putting sign-up sheets and provide more information as April approaches.