Japan-America Society of Southern Colorado - JASSC

10/14/2026

What Does “Itadakimasu” Mean? 🇯🇵

Before eating, Japanese people often say itadakimasu (いただきます). While it’s commonly translated as “let’s eat,” it actually expresses gratitude for the food and everyone and everything that helped bring it to the table.

The phrase comes from the humble expression itadaku, meaning “to receive” or “to humbly accept.” It reflects a tradition of appreciating not just the meal, but the life and effort behind it.

Want to enjoy some delicious Japanese food yourself? Join us at the 2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar on October 24 for a day of culture, cuisine, and community!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

10/13/2026

Get ready for a day filled with Japanese culture, delicious food, fun
activities, and community spirit! The 2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar is
just around the corner.

Want to be part of the festivities? Join our volunteer crew, meet new
people, and help bring this celebration of Japanese culture to life!

Choose the shift that works best for you:

8 AM–12 PM
10 AM–3 PM
12 PM–4 PM

Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT0dyOVcbTFdmd8Y1ijJx12YTcNhSuE2MQ_VYQAd4ug2McIA/viewform

2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

10/09/2026

Join us at the Japanese Cultural Bazaar to meet award-winning author Jolene Gutiérrez and discover Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp, co-written with Minoru Tonai.

Based on Tonai’s real-life experiences, this moving picture book follows Min and his family after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when his father is taken by the FBI and his family is eventually forced into an incarceration camp in Colorado. Through Min’s story, readers explore the strength, resilience, and humanity of Japanese American families who endured this difficult chapter of American history.

Jolene will be selling her book and leading a workshop at the bazaar. Stop by to meet the author, learn more about this important piece of history, and take home a story that encourages understanding and compassion.

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10AM - 3PM
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

10/07/2026

Japanese Cultural Fact: Nagasaki Kunchi (長崎くんち)

Every October, the streets of Nagasaki come alive with enormous floats, elaborate costumes, traditional music, and even a Chinese-style dragon dance.

Nagasaki Kunchi has been celebrated for more than 380 years, beginning in 1634. Unlike many traditional Japanese festivals, its performances reflect the city’s long history as a gateway for international trade. Chinese and Dutch influences became woven into the festival alongside Japanese traditions.

One famous performance features a long, brightly colored dragon being carried and manipulated by a team of performers. Other festival groups present elaborate ships, animals, and mechanical displays, with some floats weighing several tons.

The result is a festival that is distinctly Japanese while also showing how outside cultures became part of life in Nagasaki.

Japanese culture has many stories shaped by centuries of exchange, adaptation, and creativity.

Come discover more of Japanese culture, history, food, arts, and community at the 2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10AM - 3PM
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

10/06/2026

The Cultural Bazaar is almost here!

With the 2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar just around the corner, we’re getting ready for a day filled with Japanese culture, community, food, activities, and more.

Want to be part of making it happen? The Japan-America Society of Southern Colorado is looking for volunteers to lend a hand throughout the day.

Choose the shift that works best for you:
8 AM - 12 PM
10 AM - 3 PM
12 PM - 4 PM

Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT0dyOVcbTFdmd8Y1ijJx12YTcNhSuE2MQ_VYQAd4ug2McIA/viewform

2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

10/04/2026

Have you ever found yourself dreaming of having a place in Japan that you could call home?
It feels so far-fetched and impossible. But what if it wasn’t? What if you had someone to walk you through what this really looks like- the buying process, the reality of owning it and caring for it from afar, etc? This webinar is about the distance between that dream and your very own genkan, delivered to you on a silver platter.

Date & Time: Fri, Oct 16, 8-9:30pm ET
Details & Registration: https://www.usjetaa.org/news/jet-dreams-2026
USJETAA Members FREE | General Public $10

It’s inevitable. JETs get together, they start talking about how much they love and miss Japan, and sooner or later someone says “Wouldn’t it be great to have a place in Japan?” We all get dreamy-eyed and nod. But, what if it wasn’t such a impossibility after all? Join us to explore the dr...

10/03/2026

It's Fujiyoshida Friday!
Let's learn about one of Fujiyoshida's Signature dishes!

Yoshida no Udon! Have you tried it?

Yoshida no Udon is characterized by its firm, chewy noodles. The rich soup is a blend of soy sauce and miso, and the standard toppings are boiled cabbage and sweet and spicy braised horse meat.
Each shop has its own unique characteristics in noodle firmness, soup flavor, toppings, and even the amount of suridane, so it's not uncommon for people to go on an udon tour, visiting multiple shops.
(https://en.fujiyoshida.net/feature/index.php?p=gourmet)

Cool History fact!! Did you know that Yoshida no Udon was developed in the early Showa period, when men in textile-weaving families traditionally prepared these hearty, filling lunch noodles so the women working at the looms could eat quickly and return to work?
(https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-fuji_mountain/in-mount_fuji/article-a0002256/)

10/02/2026

VENDOR HIGHLIGHT: Shoyeido Incense 🌿

Looking for something unique to discover at this year’s Japanese
Cultural Bazaar? Explore the world of Japanese incense with Shoyeido,
a Kyoto incense maker with more than 300 years of history.

Founded in 1705, the company’s history traces back to the Hata family,
whose incense-making traditions were influenced by techniques learned
at Kyoto’s Imperial Palace. Across generations, Shoyeido has continued
to blend traditional craftsmanship with carefully selected natural
aromatic materials.

Incense itself has a fascinating history in Japan. Introduced
alongside Buddhism, it was first closely associated with religious
practice before becoming part of everyday life, court culture, tea,
and the traditional art of kōdō (香道) - the “way of incense.”

Today, Shoyeido offers an incredible variety of fragrances and incense
products, from traditional scents to modern blends designed for
everyday enjoyment.

Come discover Shoyeido’s fragrances, learn more about the
centuries-old traditions behind them, and find something new to take
home at the 2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10AM - 3PM
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

09/30/2026

Japanese Cultural Fact: Onna-musha (女武者)

The onna-musha were women of Japan’s warrior class who trained in martial arts and, in some cases, took part in warfare.

Women were often responsible for defending their homes and communities, and historical accounts describe women fighting with weapons such as the naginata (a bladed polearm, pictured here). During Japan’s Sengoku period, some women even participated directly in battles and helped defend castles.

One of the most famous figures associated with the tradition is Tomoe Gozen (right), a warrior whose story appears in The Tale of the Heike. While some details of her story are debated, she became an enduring figure in Japanese literature and history.

Japanese history is full of stories like these - some well known, and others less familiar.

Come discover more of Japanese culture, history, food, arts, and community at the 2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10AM - 3PM
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

09/29/2026

Help bring the 2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar to life!

The Japan-America Society of Southern Colorado is looking for volunteers to support this year’s Cultural Bazaar.

There are lots of ways to help, including:
• Event setup and cleanup
• Welcoming and assisting attendees
• Supporting activities throughout the day

Choose the shift that works best for you:

8 AM–12 PM
10 AM–3 PM
12 PM–4 PM

Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT0dyOVcbTFdmd8Y1ijJx12YTcNhSuE2MQ_VYQAd4ug2McIA/viewform

Your time makes a world of difference!

2026 Japanese Cultural Bazaar
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍 Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center
1520 Verde Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80910