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Concert: A Taiko Drum and Classical Dance Performance featuring Kaminari Taiko
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Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 7:00PM
Admission --General Public $15.00 --JASMIS Members $10.00.
Tickets On Sale at the BancorpSouth Arena Box Office and the Tupelo High P.A.C. Box Office on the day of the show.
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Tickets are also available online at www.bcsarena.com
by telephone - (662)841-6528
Ticket Alley in Tupelo
Bryan's Records & Pets in Columbus.
Note: A $2.50 service charge will be added to all ONLINE, TELEPHONE and OUTLET ticket sales.
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The translation of the word taiko into English means "great drum".  Japanese history begins with the legend of
Amaterasu Omikami - a Sun Goddess that illuminated the world from total darkness by her overwhelming curiosity
of an unusual dance to the beat of taiko. Samurai warriors used taiko at battlefields to signal commands and to
instill fears into the enemy. People communicated by using taiko to signal danger, and priests used taiko at
ceremonies to communicate with the heavenly gods. Temples and shrines throughout Japan display taiko as a symbol
of purification and to dispel evil spirits. Until recently, striking the sacred taiko was limited to males of
high stature and priests.
Taiko is a dynamic music presentation that combines high energy movements to compelling percussive rhythms that
embodies spiritual essence and the heartbeat of Japan and its people.  While taiko is inevitably rooted in 3000
year old Japanese traditions that express beauty and harmony, the powerful sound of taiko is a living and
evolving art form that is rapidly permeating the entire world.
After a successful concert this past spring, Kaminari Taiko of Houston, Texas returns for
another exciting performance, and the first ever to be held in Tupelo. This will be the grand beginning event of the new North Mississippi
JASMIS chapter, and will be held at the Performing Arts Center of the Tupelo High School.
Performances will begin at 7:00 PM.
Prior to the concert, there will be an invitation-only reception for the sponsors, performers and dignitaries.
Tupelo High School is located at 4125 Cliff Gookin Boulevard in Tupelo, Mississippi, adjacent the Natchez Trace Parkway entrance/exit.
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With special thanks to our friends and sponsors...
...with accomodations contributed by the Hilton Garden Inn in Tupelo. 
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For ticket information, go to www.bcsarena.com
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Sixth Annual New Year Celebration
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Sunday, January 20th, 2008
Little Tokyo Restuarant in Ridgeland, Mississippi
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On Sunday evening, January 20th, the Japan America Society of Mississippi was honored  to hold its sixth annual New Year Celebration at Little Tokyo restaurant in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Attending this year’s function were Consul Koichi Funayama from the Consular Offices of Japan at Nashville, Shoji Kiuchi, Director of M-Tek Mississippi, Inc. and President of the Mississippi Japan Association, and Mr. Whit Hughes, the Deputy Director of the Mississippi Development Authority. Also in attendance were the Presidents of Nissan North America in Canton, and the Nissan Suppliers Yorozu Automotive, Unipres SE, and PK-USA, Inc. Other attendees included Ray and Pam Smith of Renasant Bank in Tupelo, Dr. Chris Harth, Director of Global Studies at St. Andrew’s, Derwood and Regina Boyles of Boyles Moak Insurance, and Kaoru Ochiai and Yukako Yamada of the Croft Institute for International Studies at the University of Mississippi.
Beginning the ceremony with a word of welcome was JASMIS President Dr. Paul Tashiro, and he then turned the emcee duties over to John Henry Jackson,  JASMIS Vice President. After New Year addresses by Consul Funayama, Mr. Kiuchi and Mr. Hughes, the annual toast for the New Year (“Kampei”) was given by Mr. Hughes and the assembled crowd.
Following the toast was a performance by students from the Japanese Saturday School (“Hoshuko”) in Jackson and Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School in Ridgeland. Performers from the Hoshuko were Yoshino Adachi, Taketo Fujimoto, Christian Huffman, Suzuha Kato and Koyuki Oikawa. Representing St. Andrew’s were Sam and Patric Marcus, Kate Musgrove and Tucker Shelson. The children first performed “Okina-kurinokino-shitade” in Japanese. Then came a performance of “If you’re happy and you know it”, complete with audience participation. The audience was then treated to a special performance of “Sakura” and “Kojo-no-tsuki” by noted soprano and Associate Professor of the Millsaps Department of Performing Arts Dr. Cheryl Coker.
Then followed the Traditional Japanese New Year Dinner, including servings of shiojake (broiled salmon preserved in salt), roast beef, kuromame and kuri (black soy-bean and chestnut), ebi-furai (fried shrimp), kohaku-kamaboko, hanamochi (soft rice-cake in a floral shape), Alaskan king crab, salmon roe and cucumber, boiled vegetables (shiitake, renkon, gobo, satoimo, konnyaku, ninjin, konbu and edamame), assorted sushi, tofu stuffed with boiled rice and then a delicious ozoni (rice-cake boiled in a vegetable-soup), all followed with dessert - taiyaki, a “sea bream”-shaped pancake filled with anko (red-bean jam).
As the guests were finishing their wonderful meals, the door prize winners were announced and then the evening was concluded by Dr. Tashiro with a final thank you to all who attended and then he bade the assembled crowd goodnight and invited everyone back for the Seventh Annual New Year Celebration.
This years door prizes were donated by the following friends: Annandale Country Club, The Beagle Bagel Café, Char (Amerigo), Cock of the Walk, Everyday Gourmet, Jackson Zoological Park, Lemuria Book-Store, Little Tokyo and Sakura Bana Restuarants, Lone Star Steak House, The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science,
The Mississippi Opera Association, Nick's Restaurant, Outback Steak House, Pan Asia, Sweet & Sour Asian Grocery and Whisper Lake Country Club
We would like to thank all of the guests, dignitaries, and contributors for helping to make this year’s celebration a memorable one.
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Concert: Chieko Fukuda Ensemble
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Thursday, June 14, 2007
Center for Performing Arts on the North Campus of St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Mississippi
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Chieko Fukuda Ensemble is a three-member traditional Japanese musical ensemble. Led by Chieko Fukuda,  the third grandmaster of Mitsunonekai, and including Atsuko Oshima and Daisuke "Kizan" Kawamura, the musicians play both solo and ensemble pieces showcasing the regal sounds of the traditional Japanese musical instruments: koto, a six foot-long horizontal thirteen-stringed instrument, shamisen, a three-stringed banjo-like instrument, and shakuhachi, a reedless end-blown bamboo flute.
Ms. Fukuda studied koto under her musician father from childhood and made her first stage appearance at age three.
She won several national prozes at a young age and has earned national acclaim as a leading player of classical styled koto.
Ms. Oshima plays the koto and shamisen. Mr. Kawamura plays the shakuhachi.
These instruments, like many Japanese instruments derived from Chinese ones, have likely not changed much over the centuries.
Presented by the Japan Foundation in collaboration with the Consulate-General of Japan - New Orleans, Saint Andrew's Episcopal School and the Japan-America Society of Mississippi, we are pleased to announce a performance on Thursday, June 14th, at 7:30 PM in the Center for Performing Arts on the North Campus of Saint Andrew's Episcopal School in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Admission for the general public will be $10.00 per person, or $5.00 for current JASMIS members.
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Doing Business With Japan Seminar
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Mississippi Manufacturer's Association
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Governor Haley Barbour was the keynote luncheon speaker at the "Doing Business with Japan" seminar held in Jackson
on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.
Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Gray Swoope introduced the Governor after two executives of
Mississippi companies made informative presentations about doing business with Japan via trade and inbound investment.
Welcoming remarks were extended by Hitoshi Hasegawa, Executive Director of the Japan External Trade Organization in Houston.
The seminar was well attended by private and public sector representatives, and those that participated were able to gain a new understanding of the extensive economic ties between Mississippi and Japan.
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Cherry planting ceremony in Jackson, Mississippi
The Japan/America society of Mississippi held a cherry planting ceremony at the Mississippi Sate Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi on March 4. Governor Haley Barbour, Mr. David Boyer, Vice President, Manufacturing-Canton, for Nissan North America, Inc., and Mr. Koichi Funayama, Acting Consul General of Japan, planted three cherry trees; one for education, culture, and business. We hope that the Japan-U.S. relationship; and in particular, the Japan-Mississippi relationship, be further strengthened as the cherry trees grow in Mississippi!
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Transcript of Mr. Koichi Funayama's speech
Governor Barber, Mr. Boyer and distinguished guests, good afternoon. It is an honor to join you today in celebrating the growing friendship between my country and Mississippi.
Although I was posted to the Consulate General of Japan last October, this is my first opportunity to visit your beautiful state. I am pleased that our first meeting is under such auspicious circumstances. On behalf of the Consulate, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and congratulations to the Japan-America Society of Mississippi for bringing about this event.
As you may know, cherry trees are an integral part of Japanese culture and their blossoms are among our most cherished symbols. I am told that Elvis tracking is a popular pastime here in Mississippi. Well, in Japan, cherry blossom tracking is a national passion. Tonight, and every night all throughout the spring, the Japanese evening news will carry a “cherry blossom forecast”. The weather forecasters meticulously detail factors affecting the blossoms and reveal the best viewing locations. When the blossoms finally arrive, we celebrate by joining our friends, family and coworkers under the trees for feasting and drinking. These annual celebrations are eagerly anticipated, and fondly remembered.
Knowing this aspect of Japanese culture, you can understand why I am so honored and proud to be here at this ceremonial planting. While the cherry blossom is a national symbol of Japan, these trees here represent much more than simply Japan. We are here now because of the hard work of the Japan-America Society, which in less than 3 years has become a strong, positive presence in Mississippi. Mississippians are well know for their hospitality… and the friendly welcome you have shown the Japanese community has been no exception.
I understand that when this event was first planned, there was to be only one tree, symbolizing Japanese-Mississippi friendship. However, I think it is fitting that we today celebrate with these three trees – one each for culture, education and business – all planted together, as we are all gathered together today. This is a tremendous success story – it demonstrates how a Governor and administration interested in job creation, working with innovative companies willing to invest in new areas, with the support of a strong Japan-America Society can create an environment where culture, education and business flourish.
Unfortunately, my stay today is brief. However, I look forward to returning to Mississippi to watch these trees grow along with the friendship between Japan and Mississippi, and to someday attending a blossom viewing party, with lots of food and drink, right here!
Thank you.
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| Articles and newsworthy items about JASMIS, Mississippi, and our Japanese community...
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Government of Japan honors "Paul" Yukio Tashiro
Rev. Paul Tashiro, Ph.D., has been conferred the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, presented by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
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Manufacturing sees improvements, but challenges abound
by Lynne W. Jeter MBJ Contributing Writer
A Mississippi Business Journal Q&A with Jay Moon, president of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and JASMIS board member
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Japan-America Society of Mississippi turns two years old
by Kelly Ingebretsen MBJ Staff Writer
Americans, Japanese rely on group for more than just business
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Ambassador Kato throws the first pitch
from press excerpts
Ryozo Kato, Japan's Ambassador to the U.S., at Mississippi State University
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As I See It
Editorial by Joe D. Jones, CPA, MBJ Publisher
Open society good for Mississippi business
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