Japanese Cultural & Community Center of WA ワ州日本文化会館

06/18/2026

Meet Tristan, a long-time volunteer at the Hosekibako Japanese Resale Shop!

Tristan was recently accepted by the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program, which means that his time here is coming to an end, at least for now. To celebrate this milestone, we asked him to share some fun things about him and his time spent volunteering here.

Two years ago, Tristan first found out about volunteer opportunities here through his mother, who saw an online ad. His favorite items donated to the shop are kotatsu tables, and the weirdest donated item he’s ever seen were two large and unopened containers of AJI-NO-MOTO (MSG). Tristan’s advice for people interested in volunteering is this - don’t hesitate to reach out! There are many opportunities to volunteer, and it’s a great way to meet new people, network, and open up avenues and experiences that might not otherwise have been available before.

✅ Meet Tristan!

https://www.jcccw.org/nikkei-news/2026/5/20/volunteer-spotlight-tristan-rogers

✅ Learn More About Hosekibako:

https://www.jcccw.org/hosekibako

✅ JET Program:

https://jetprogramusa.org/

06/17/2026

The Hosekibako Japanese Resale Shop will be closed on the following days:

Friday, June 19th
Friday, July 3rd

Additionally, no new items will be added to the online store on these dates. Thank you for your understanding. We hope to see you again soon!

日本の物専門の再販店、宝石箱は下記の日に臨時休業させていただきます。オンラインの新商品の追加もありません。どうぞご了承ください。またのご来店をお待ちしております。

６月１９日（金）
７月３日（金）

✅ Hosekibako’s In-Person Store

Thurs - Sun | 10 AM - 3 PM

✅ Shop Online

https://www.jcccw.org/hosekibako-online

06/16/2026

I AM AMERICAN - a film by Kelsi Umeko, is currently seeking full Japanese-presenting extras for recreations of scenes involving the Puyallup Assembly Center, as well as a relocation scene involving a train, both set in 1942. Extras would be donating their time, which is expected to be less than six hours.

The film will follow the life of a Japanese picture bride who arrives in America to meet her husband in 1915. They build a life and business together, raising a family and becoming deeply rooted in their community. One day, the attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything.

Filming locations:

6/20: Snohomish, WA
6/24: Snoqualmie, WA

Please contact Kelsi Umeko on Instagram if interested.

🎥 Film Website:

I AM AMERICAN Now in Pre Production When fear rewrote the Constitution 120,000 lives were uprooted. Click Here for Tax Deductible Donation or donate directly to the film through our GoFundMe link (below) GOFUNDME Click to learn more about the film Pitch Deck Second Chance feature film Top Christian....

06/14/2026

Meet Mario Martino, the new Facilities Manager at the JCCCW!

As the new Facilities Manager, he aims to approach each project with precision, care, and a deep respect for materials. Maintaining and restoring these century-old buildings will be a challenge, and his goal is to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy and appreciate the JCCCW campus for generations to come. He feels honored to be a part of the JCCCW team and everything that it represents for the Japanese American community and culture.

Beyond fixing things around the center, he is an award-winning architect. He received his training in Switzerland, and has overseen projects all over the world. His own personal practice is Phōs, named for the ancient Greek word for natural light, to represent the leading element of all his projects.

As a true Italian, Mario is passionate about perfecting his 48-hour pizza dough recipe. In his free time, you can find him fixing anything that needs repair, playing board games with his family, or happily kitesurfing in the water, his natural element.

✅ Meet Mario!

https://www.jcccw.org/nikkei-news/2026/5/26/meet-mario-martino-new-facilities-manager

06/13/2026

Do you enjoy tea? Try using Hagi ware! A type of pottery, Hagi ware began in the late 16th century following Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea. Two Korean potters were captured and brought to the town of Hagi, Yamaguchi where they produced ceramics for the local lord. Their simple yet elegant characteristics were highly valued for tea ceremonies. There is even a saying: “first Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu” referring to the preferred ceramic styles for the tea ceremony. Hagi ware uses little to no painted colors, allowing the color of the tea to contrast against ceramic. It’s famous for being crackleware, where tea that seeps into the tiny cracks of the bowl stains the ceramic over time. This makes each bowl unique after repeated use. Many pieces also have a small notch cut into the base, although the original reason is unknown.

Hosekibako has many pieces of Hagi ware ready to join you at home. Stay tuned for our upcoming posts to learn more about Japanese pottery styles!

山口県の萩焼は経済産業省指定の伝統工芸品に指定されている焼き物です。豊臣秀吉の朝鮮出兵の折、多数の朝鮮人陶工が捕らえられて日本に連れて来られました。その結果、優れた技術が伝えられたことにより、各地で新しい焼き物が作られるようになりましたが、萩焼もその一つです。萩焼の特徴は素朴な土の風合いと、貫入と呼ばれる、釉薬（ゆうやく）に入った細かなひびです。長年使っているうちにひびからお茶などがしみ込み、徐々に色が変わることが「萩の七化け」として焼き物愛好家にとっての大きな魅力となっています。そして、茶道の世界では「一楽、二萩、三唐津」とされ、楽焼や唐津焼と共に最も格の高い三つの焼き物に入っています。また、萩焼では器の高台に三角形の切り込みがあるものが多く見られます。その理由については様々な説があるようですが、飾り気の少ない萩焼に強い印象や存在感を与えていると言えるでしょう。

宝石箱にも萩焼がありますので、ご来店の折にご覧ください。そして、これからも陶磁器をご紹介していきますのでぜひご期待下さ

✅ Hosekibako’s In-Person Store

Thurs - Sun | 10 AM - 3 PM

✅ Shop Online

https://www.jcccw.org/hosekibako-online

06/11/2026

Seattle artist Saya Moriyasu is currently creating the replacement for the Sadako statue that was stolen from Peace Park near the University of Washington main campus in 2024. The goal is to have the new statue installed by August 6th of next year, in time for the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. To gain a better understanding, Moriyasu traveled to her father’s hometown of Hiroshima to visit Sadako’s classmates and learn more about the devastation left behind after the bombing, which was documented by NHK World Japan. Read more about the public plan for the project using the link below.

✅ Saya Moriyasu’s Website:

https://www.sayamoriyasu.com/

✅ NHK Documentary:

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20260513121023515/

✅ Sadako Renewal Project Public Art Plan:

https://www.sadakorenewalproject.com/public-art-plan

ceramic sculpture

06/09/2026

Japan Fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 27th - 28th at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. There will be live performances, exhibits, free cultural workshops, and more. Over 100 Japan-related organizations will be participating at this free event.

✅ Details about Japan Fair!

Enjoy Japanese art, culture, performances, workshops, and seminars, all for free at the two-day event that is Japan Fair! Based in Bellevue, WA across the lake from Seattle.

06/07/2026

The Ayame Kai Summer Market will be held on Saturday, June 20th from 10 AM to 2 PM at a new location, the Tukwila Community Center! Local artists and vendors will be participating, with a variety of handmade crafts, food, and more. Proceeds from the market go towards supporting Keiro Northwest’s eldercare programs.
✅ Learn More!
https://www.ayamekaimarket.org/

06/06/2026

Have you heard of ikebana?🌷

Ikebana, or flower arranging, is an art with 700 years of history. There are many schools, each with their own styles of ikebana, such as heika, which is arranged in a tall vase, and moribana, which is arranged in a shallow container. People learn by going to ikebana classes or joining clubs in middle or high school. It is often described as “the beauty of subtraction”, where using as few flowers and branches as possible creates harmony and emptiness. Ikebana is not just a flower arrangement, but a traditional Japanese art that values a balance with nature. It aims to express the natural beauty and life of flowers and branches. When arranging moribana,a kenzan, or flower frog (a clump of spikes) is usually used to hold the flowers and branches in place.

Hosekibako has many vases and kenzan available, so please check them out!

皆さんは生け花の奥深さについて知っていますか？一通りの技術と表現を身に着けるには３〜5年かかると言われています。生け花は700年の歴史を持ち、様々な流派、様式がありますが、つぼ型の器に生ける瓶花（へいか）、皿型の器（水盤）に生ける盛花（もりばな）などがあります。日本では、人々は生け花教室に通ったり、中学校や高校での部活動として学ぶなどして身につけられています。生け花は「引き算の美学」と言われており、出来るだけ少ない花や草木で空間をいかした作品を作ります。生け花は単なる花のアレンジメントではなく、自然との調和を重んじる日本の伝統的な芸術です。植物の生命力を感じ取りながら、その美しさを最大限に引き出すことを目的としています。

盛花を生けるときには、通常剣山（花材を刺して固定するための道具）を使用します。

宝石箱に花器と剣山がありますので、ぜひご来店の際にご覧ください。

✅ Hosekibako’s In-Person Store

Thurs - Sun | 10 AM - 3 PM

✅ Shop Online

https://www.jcccw.org/hosekibako-online

06/05/2026

It’s almost time for the Seattle Japanese Language School Undokai, or Field Day, at Wisteria Park! Each year, students and their families gather for a day of fun outdoor activities and friendly competition. For the SJLS students, it also signifies that the school year is coming to an end.

Undokai is an event traditionally held by all schools in Japan, usually in spring or fall. Students are split into teams of red and white, with many of the events requiring strong teamwork and cooperation to succeed. Picnics are held on the sidelines as parents cheer for their children during fun activities like three-legged races, ball toss, and tug-of-war.

✅ Read about Undokai!

https://www.jcccw.org/nikkei-news/2026/6/1/undokai-at-the-seattle-japanese-language-school