Us & Japan Society of Connecticut

05/06/2026

Cherry Tree Planting was a Great Fun Day at the Rentschler Field! April 27, 2026

Our original planting event was postponed to Saturday April 25 due to the forecasted rainy weather.
Oh well, the weather on the revised date was not too promising, but we decided to do it anyway.
It turned out to be a great fun day! Sometimes cloudy but not even a tear drop of rain throughout our planting event and finished planting one hour early. A great "Thanks" to Tyler of Oak View Group | Pratt & Whitney Stadium who did a preparatory KAIZEN for our subsequent planting processes.

Further more, we had a great surprise as UConn Huskies Football players came to volunteer. They gave us a big energy boost!

Toshiko Uchino
Us &Japan Society of Connecticut
Us & Japan Society of Connecticut.

04/18/2026

Hi, everyone! Due to the forecasted rain, our cherry blossom tree planting event originally scheduled for tomorrow (April 19) has been postponed.

The event has been rescheduled for next Saturday, April 25, from 12-2:30 p.m.

If there is rain on that date, our backup rain date will be Sunday, April 26, from 12-2:30 p.m.

Next weekend, some sections of the Pratt & Whitney Stadium parking lot will be blocked off, so it is highly recommended to enter through the East Gate entrance on Silver Lane (https://share.google/bQW8XjlvqXLmy4C3H).

We look forward to planting cherry blossom trees with you!

04/17/2026

Hello everyone! We are hosting a cherry tree planting event from 12-2:30PM on Sunday, April 19 at Rentschler Field in Connecticut. It is forecasted to rain so please stay tuned to this page. We will announce here whether or not the event is rescheduled (and to what date) or cancelled. Thank you!

03/01/2026

As we continue working towards our goal of planting 250 cherry blossom trees for the 250th anniversary of the United States - this year of 2026! We will plant 50 more cherry trees at Rentschler Field on April 19th at 12PM -- the home of the UConn Huskies Football Team.

03/01/2026

Mr. Garrett Groesbeck who has been our organization’s performer of the 13-string Japanese Koto instrument. He has been studying in Japan till last year as a Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellow and returned to the US last year. He was the producer of these events.

This is what one of our members had to say after seeing the event: It was very good. I saw and learned about the world of the Koto instrument and its powerfulness. I could feel it, too. Garrett-san remembered me and I had a chance to talk with him, too. I also could talk to third-generation master instructor, also known as a "Shihan." She was kind to teach me how to tune and read music score, and let me touch the strings. I felt as if I was talking to a living national treasure directly in person of movie “KOKUHO”. What a caring Shihan she is!

月曜イベント出席のUJSCメンバーのコメント：
- とってもよかったです！知らなかったお琴の世界とパワー観て学んで、感じてきました。ギャレットさんも覚えていてくれてお話できたし、お
琴の世代３代目の先生もとても親切に調音、楽譜、弦も触らせてくださって、まるで映画の国宝のような世界の方と身近にお話しできて貴重
な経験、本当に教えてくださってありがとうございました。すごいチャーミング可愛い方ですね〜

01/08/2026

The poster below is our 2026 Clean/Gardening Dates! We hope to see you there!

12/09/2025

12/09/2025

"ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS !” - quoting an email from a team member on Dec 4th 2025.

December 1st was the Us & Japan Society of Connecticut's Christmas tree installation day for the "Festival of Trees and Traditions" at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT.

The title of the tree is "GOD BLESS AMERICA” for the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. It is an introduction of what is to come for celebrating the founding in 2026 by the Us and Japan Society of Connecticut & friends.

Our Christmas tree is unique even among approximately 250 donated trees and wreathes. We thought our tree might be a little subdued this year due to the colors of the Liberty Bell, American Eagle, and Statue of Liberty; however, the colors of the American flag and its stars add a nice contrast. It may not be loud, but the overall image of the tree has a distinct dignity to it. The dignity given to it by the symbols of the country, such as the masterful art of the Statue of Liberty on top of the tree.
　
When we were leaving after the installation, a gentleman walked toward us to ask if we are the group who made the "Sho Time” Christmas tree last year. I said “Yes!” He said to us, “I still remember that tree and you always make a wonderful Christmas tree!”
　
Our thank you to the following members of the Christmas Tree Creation Team including a special thanks to the Old Greenwich Origami Team that contributes to this task every year!
Jacky Gorman
Riho Hirohashi Team (from Old Greenwich)
Miwa Katsumata
Keiko Shida
Sue Simond
Toshiko Uchino

You can also see the tree at the Wadsworth from now through December 14th!

”又大成功ですね！” とチームメンバーからメールが！　　　　2025年12月4日
　
12月1日は、ワーズワース アテニウム美術館で「クリスマスツリーと伝統の祭典」
への貢献として、我々が創作したクりスマスツリーの飾り付けをする日でした。
ツリーのタイトルは；
”神よ、アメリカに栄光を！” - アメリカ建国２５０周年　2026年へのプレリュード
　　　　　 　 　- 日米協会員並びにその有志 より-　　　　　　
例年の如く、我々のツリーは、寄贈された約２５０個体のツリーやリースの中では、
異色で、ユニークなツリーでした。
企画当初、「自由の鐘」や「アメリカン イーグル」や「自由の女神」の選択色が少々
地味かなと慮りましたが、アメリカの国旗の色彩とその旗の星がピリッと辛いアクセント
を加えてくれました。　華麗ではないが、全体的には、ツリーの冠に熟練のチーム
メンバーが作ってくれた自由の女神を配置した結果、国家の象徴としての威厳が表象
できた素敵な作品が完成したと思います。
　
ツリーの組み立てと飾り付けを終え、美術館の通用口側から退館しようとしていたら、
５０代半ばかと思われる男性に、”ひょっとしたら、昨年”Sho Time! クリスマスツリーを
作成したグループではありませんか？と呼び止められました。そして私が ”Yes!”と返答すると、
その男性は私達に、”あのツリー今でも覚えてますよ。あなた方はいつも素晴らしいツリーを
作られますね。”と。
　
クリスマスツリー創作チーム
＊毎年オールドグリニッチから折り紙チームとして参加して下さる方々に深く感謝申し上げます。
ジャッキー ゴーマン
リホ ヒロハシ チーム（オールドグリニッジより参加）
ミワ カツマタ グレマーソレム
ケイコ. シダ
トシコ ウチノ

10/28/2025

Our next monthly "Let's Clean Our Parks & Streets" is next Sunday, Nov 9th! Hope to see you there.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-clean-our-parks-streets-tickets-1909978570319?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

10/12/2025

Less than a week until our next Cherry Blossom Cherry Tree planting! It will be this upcoming Saturday, October 18th from 9AM-12PM at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT!

We hope to see you there. Plant a tree and watch it grow over the years with your loved ones. 💚 Feel encouraged to share on social media, put up the flyer at your local library, or share this with friends and family.
RSVP to the event on Eventbrite (optional & it will send you reminders):

Let's get together and plant some beautiful cherry blossom trees to brighten our community for the 250th anniversary of the US!