News & Views - US-Japan Council
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News & Views
January 2022
Laughter Was Definitely on the Menu
Midwest USJC members were treated to a
welcome night of laughs in early November
as they took in the stand-up comedy of Saku
Yanagawa at Epiphany Center for the Arts.
Saku, a Japanese comedian based right here
in Chicago, was “an international tour de
force of comedic insights and, of course, a photos by Daiki Ishiyama
lot of laughs,” said Kathryn Ibata-Arens
(JALD 2011). Big thanks to Daiki Ishiyama
for arranging the evening!
Midwest USJC was pleased to
welcome USJC President and
CEO Suzanne Basalla to the
October dinner meeting. “Always
a pleasure to visit with Suzanne,”
Kathryn Ibata-Ahrens (JALD
2011) said. “I was honored to
have met her in March 2011 and
witness her steadfast leadership;
she was both calm and visionary
in the face of the devastation and
crisis of the Triple Disaster. Hope
to see that book she should write
about her experiences bringing
the military-led Operation
Tomodachi to its current form.”
Midwest Region U.S.-Japan Council News & Views January 2022 – page 2
From Lisa Sakai: The Straight Stuff
I hope everyone them was how their identity shaped JA exhibits for the Consulate, JASC,
watched the and influenced their leadership. Both Redress Conference; organized the Japan
USJC’s Member’s of them felt the disparity between the Community Picnic; and volunteered for
Forum on cultural inclination to “keep quiet” numerous community organizations
October 21, and “don’t be the nail sticking out” (Tohkon Judo, BTC, JASC). It is a well-
2021. I have to vs. their passionate activism. As Erika deserved award and we are very proud
admit I was a stated, “consensus is not the same as to call him a member of the USJC.
little reluctant collaboration.”
The award will be presented at the
to register for
The Artists & Creative Affinity Group Asian American Coalition’s Lunar New
the virtual event
video highlighted various USJC Year Gala on March 12, 2022. This year
– Zoom fatigue
members showcasing their talents. I the event is hosted by the Malaysian
being a very real thing. However, I
had no idea we had so many talented, Community, and it would be great to
wanted to support the USJC, so I sucked
creative people in the USJC. What see a strong show of support by USJC
it up, grabbed a caffeinated beverage
was fascinating was the diversity of members at the Gala.
and braced myself. Instead, not only
the performers and the performances.
was I pleasantly surprised and engaged, This is my last article as Midwest Chair.
Taiko with rap, haiku made into song, a
I was awed! It was a fabulous program. I am turning the gavel over to the very
musical on the internment.
capable hands of Anna Ninoyu. While
What particularly stood out for me
On a more local level, I would like to give it has been a honor and a privilege to
was the panel discussion “Elevating the
a shout out to Michael Tanimura. Mike serve as Chair to this region, I believe
Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific
is being awarded the 2022 Community this change in leadership will bring
Islander (AANHPI) community: A view
Service Award by the Japanese/Japanese a new focus as well as a strong re-
from the Biden Administration” and
American community in Chicago! Mike engagement by membership. The last
the USJC’s Artists & Creative Affinity
has been an active member of the USJC, two years have been hard, but it’s the
Group’s performance: Art Heals, Art
the editor of our Midwest newsletter and start of a brand new year. Let’s look
Unites, Art Transcends.
was a 2012 JALD Delegate. He has also to the future and please join me in
Moderated by Stephanie Nitahara (ELP been very active in the JA community: welcoming Anna to her new role!
2019), the panel discussion featured served as President of the JASC; curated
Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to
the President and Senior Liaison for
AANHPI and Krystal Ka’ai, Executive Time to Renew Your Membership
Director of the White House Initiative
If you have not yet done so, please go For almost two years now, USJC has
on AANHPI. Two things immediately
to https://www.usjapancouncil.org/ hosted nearly 200 events to facilitate
caught my attention: the fact that the
annual-membership-contribution/ discussions and strengthen bonds
AANHPI community even have people
to renew your USJC membership for between our two countries.”
in the White House concerned about
2022.
their issues; and that those people are Your support is necessary for USJC to
two amazing women. Outreach and As President and CEO Suzanne Basalla successfully continue its mission.
points of access are a big part of what has noted, “While we’re seeing glimmers
they are trying to do. Rather than make of hope in ending the pandemic, we
decisions in a bubble, they are holding recognize that working from home and
briefings and roundtable events to travel restrictions remain in place for
talk to members in the community. most of us. Throughout this global crisis,
Krystal’s Initiative has 10 Regional USJC has been developing innovative
Offices throughout the country. I hope ways for members to connect and
one of their roundtable discussions collaborate with one another, and to
will be in Chicago. One of the most stimulate broader dialogue and action.
interesting questions Stephanie asked
Midwest Region U.S.-Japan Council News & Views January 2022 – page 3
Constructing the New Normal
by Anna Ninoyu by social distancing and vaccination titled “Purpose-Driven Leadership
Happy Year requirements. Our members pulled in U.S.-Japan Relations” convened
of the Tiger! up our collective breeches, got our with U.S. and Japan’s top business,
With risks come shots, and went to see Saku Yanagawa government and civil sector executives
rewards, and at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in to share their assessments and forecasts
this year will Chicago’s West Town neighborhood on adversities and opportunities related
be the year to during his brief stop before to ESG issues, particularly in adapting
turn crises into Thanksgiving. A few beers could not business and social interactions in a
opportunities. loosen us up enough from the shocking post-epidemic environment. Despite a
material. This young man has a brilliant few early setbacks, cautious optimism
Sure enough it career ahead of him in stand-up comedy and perseverance in adversity are the
has been a crisis-filled 2021, now let’s and the performing arts; Saku would recommended antidotes, along with
see what we can do to sublimate this be an amazing addition to the USJC some good news to anticipate this year.
experience into something constructive. family. Thank you, Daiki Ishiyama for
As the new Chairman for the Midwest Last but not least, thank you Lisa Sakai
getting us out and back to enjoying the
chapter, I’d like to take this opportunity (JALD 2018) for your leadership these
important things: beer and laughter.
to highlight a few positive events of the past three years keeping our pack tight
last quarter of 2021, and a peek at what On a more serious note, USJC National and engaged during this pandemic. Let
to expect this year. made a strong push in the affirmation of us begin this new year with optimism
environmental, social and governance and resilience in embracing and
Despite restrictions on gatherings and issues and sustainability towards the adapting to the new normal. As we say,
assembly due to the ongoing covid international community. A virtual all good things come to an end, but so
pandemic, USJC Midwest would not symposium held on November does the bad.
let our sense of humor get dampened
MEMBER NEWS
Congratulations Aila Gomi had a busy holiday season.
to Naomi Hattori She was settling into her new job, hosted
(ELP 2019, Mitsui three Thanksgiving meals, flew out to
LP 2013), who was San Jose for a visit with her parents and
selected as one grandmother from Japan, fit in a visit
of the Association to Yosemite, and also helped prepare a
Forum’s Forty traditional Oshogatsu meal!
Under 40 for
2021. Naomi, Acting Vice President for
Global Development at Choose Chicago,
was recognized for her outstanding
contributions to NPOs and for her
demonstrated commitment and leadership.
On November 18 a special ceremony was
held in Omaha, Nebraska to honor Vickie
Sakurada Schaepler (JALD 2019). Chicago’s
new Consul-General Hiroshi Tajima officially
presented her with a Ministry of Foreign
Affairs’ commendation for her work on the
Japanese Hall and History Project at the
Legacies of the Plains Museum, in Gering,
Nebraska. The Hall is expected to open this
summer. Congratulations, Vickie!
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