JASC - Japanese American Service Committee

Looking for a fun and meaningful weekend activity for your child next month? 🍜☀️

Our upcoming Kids Cooking Class at JASC is a hands-on way for children ages 6–14 to build confidence in the kitchen, try new foods, and learn simple Japanese dishes they can recreate at home with family. Parents and caregivers are also welcome to assist during class, making this a wonderful shared experience for everyone!

June’s theme is: Kids Summer Favorites: Chop, Mix, and Chill!

Together, participants will prepare a refreshing Japanese summer meal featuring:
🥢 Hiyashi Chuka (Summer Cold Ramen)
🥕 Fried Summer Veggies in Dashi (Agebitashi)
🍉 Fruit Punch dessert

It’s a fun introduction to seasonal Japanese cooking, encourages independence and creativity in the kitchen, and even helps solve Sunday dinner plans!

📍 Sunday, June 7
🕓 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
👧 Ages 6–14
💲 $55 JASC Members | $65 Non-Members

We still have spots available and would love to cook with you this summer! Register here or through the link in our bio: https://form.jotform.com/243094172880156

In observance of Memorial Day, JASC will be closed on Monday, May 25 as we honor and remember those who served and sacrificed.

We also encourage community members to attend the annual Memorial Day Service hosted by the Japanese Mutual Aid Society at Montrose Cemetery at 11:00 AM. For generations, the Japanese Mutual Aid Society has provided compassionate support to Chicago’s Japanese American community through funeral assistance, memorial services, and community care rooted in dignity and tradition. Their annual service remains an important space for remembrance and reflection.

As we reflect this Memorial Day, we invite you to explore JASC Legacy Center’s online exhibit, Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service, 1941–1952. While many are familiar with the stories of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Japanese American linguists of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) played a critical — and often overlooked — role during World War II. Using their language skills and cultural knowledge, Nisei soldiers assisted with translation, intelligence gathering, prisoner interrogations, and peacekeeping efforts during and after the war, even while many of their own families remained incarcerated in U.S. camps.

The exhibit highlights both the extraordinary contributions and personal sacrifices of these servicemen, whose stories remained largely untold for decades.

Learn more through the JASC Legacy Center online exhibit: https://jasc-chicago.org/winning-the-peace/

🎬 Samurai Movie Nights are back! ⚔️🍿

The Japanese Mutual Aid Society (JMAS) and the Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) are excited to revive this beloved community tradition—once hosted at Francis Parker School—with a special screening of Yojimbo at JASC!

Join us on Friday, June 12 at 6 PM for an evening of classic Japanese cinema, popcorn, drinks, and community connection. Whether you grew up attending Samurai Movie Nights or are experiencing them for the first time, we hope you’ll join us for this fun and nostalgic evening together.

This event also serves as a joint fundraiser supporting both JMAS and JASC.

RSVP Here or through the link in our bio: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260836324644156

🎟️ Bring your friends, enjoy a legendary film, and help support our community organizations!

Thank you to Chicago Public Schools for inviting JASC to participate in this year’s AAPI Heritage Month exhibition as a Japan cultural table!🇯🇵🌸

Hosted by the Office of Multilingual–Multicultural Education, this beautiful exhibition celebrates the many diverse cultures, traditions, and stories that make up the AAPI community. We are always honored to share Japanese and Japanese American culture, history, and community with the people of Chicago and are excited to take part in opportunities for multicultural learning, connection, and celebration.

Throughout AAPI Heritage Month, these cultural tables and displays highlight communities from across Asia and the Pacific Islands while encouraging greater understanding and appreciation of our shared diversity.

We are so happy to celebrate alongside the many participating cultural groups, educators, organizers, and community partners who helped bring this exhibition to life and showcase the richness of our communities!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Shared Stories, Shared Future: An Educator Symposium on AANHPI Histories in partnership with the Field Museum on May 1–2!

We were honored to help create a meaningful two-day experience centered on education, community, and the importance of sharing AANHPI histories. Friday evening’s reception at JASC brought together educators, community members, and partners for an evening of conversation and connection featuring remarks and discussion from Jeff Uchida, Josina Morita, Kaz Maniwa, filmmaker Jon Osaki, and Ria Pretekin, Learning Resources Educator with the Cyrus Tang Foundation. The evening also included reflections connected to the documentary Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America, co-directed by Jon Osaki.

Guests also enjoyed sake tasting from Konbini and Kanpai, literature curated by Restoried Bookshop, and delicious sushi and gyoza from M Square Catering, Inc. The evening concluded with tours of JASC and our Legacy Center, where archivist Ayako Yoshimura shared artifacts and stories from Japanese American incarceration and postwar resettlement in Chicago.

Saturday’s symposium at the Field Museum featured a viewing of Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America, inspiring breakout sessions, community partners, and an incredible performance by Ho Etsu Taiko. JASC was proud to participate as a Cultural Activation Table while continuing conversations about how AANHPI histories can be brought into classrooms and educational spaces for future generations.

A sincere thank you to the Field Museum and all of the organizations, educators, artists, speakers, and community members who helped make this symposium such a success. We are grateful to be part of this growing network working toward greater visibility, access, and understanding of AANHPI histories.