Last week, we had the delightful opportunity to meet with officials from Yamanouchi town, Japan, as they get to know more about their sister city, Vail, Colorado.

The purpose of their visit was not only to strengthen the bonds of friendship but also to share and invite us to experience the cultural treasures of Yamanouchi Town.

Snow Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑)

Yamanouchi town is in Nagano prefecture. They have a world-renowned snow monkeys. These beautiful creatures, known officially as Japanese macaques, often seen bathing in natural hot springs. These captivating creatures, with their thick fur coats and expressive eyes, draw thousands of visitors each year, making it a must-see destination. The sight of these animals, undisturbed in their natural habitat, serves as a gentle reminder of nature’s wonders.

While Vail and Yamanouchi town may be thousands of miles apart from each other, it was evident from our discussion that there is a deep-seated appreciation for natural beauty, culture and community in both regions. We are thrilled about the possibility of more folks from Colorado visiting Yamanouchi town to see the snow monkeys and partake in the town’s rich heritage.

Stay tuned for more updates!

We’re still gathering information from our friends from Yamanouchi town, and we will share more insights, stories, and travel tips with you! Stay tuned for more updates on Yamanouchi town and the enchanting world of snow monkeys!

Here’s to global friendships and the anticipation of new journeys ahead!

We are still riding the wave of excitement and gratitude from the recent JASC Annual Gala. What a splendid evening it was! To everyone who attended and made the event special, we extend our heartfelt thanks.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston attended our Gala! We’re fully aware of his busy schedule and the numerous responsibilities he shoulders daily. We are very grateful for the time he spent with us and his attendance emphasized the importance of our collective work and its impact on the community.

But the surprises didn’t end there. We were honored to receive video remarks from Governor Jared Polis. The gesture, and the encouraging words shared, further solidified the importance of our mission and the support we have.

The silent auction, with the enthusiasm it garnered, was a testament to the spirit of the community. We were overwhelmed with the support and eagerness everyone showed, ensuring its grand success!

Many played a role in making this night memorable:

• Our Sponsors: Your contributions and belief in our mission were foundational.

• Matsuhisa Denver: Thanks for delightful culinary journey.

• Japanese Arts Network: Your talents enlivened this evening

• Sogetsu Colorado: The beautiful Ikebana flower arrangements added an aura of elegance and tranqulity to our event.

• Our Volunteers: Each one of you played a great role, ensuring everything ran like clockwork!

To acknowledge the companies and dedicated volunteers who contributed to this event, we’ve put together a concise list below. This list is our way of saying thank you, and we encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate their efforts.

With the cherish memories of this Gala, we move forward with anticipation and hope, looking forward to the next time the JASC community can unite in celebration!

I was honored to have the opportunity to represent Colorado at the America Japan Society International Symposium, held in Kyoto, Japan. This event is hosted in Japan every two years.

There were 10 U.S. based Japan-America Societies and 10 Japan-based America-Japan Societies in attendance for the first portion of the conference. Moderated by Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki and Ambassador Kurt Tong, all societies were able to share post-COVID return to activities and best practices. We were then joined by academic, political, and cultural leaders for a series of panel discussions highlighting the importance of the U.S.-Japan bilateral partnership in the world today. If there is one message that rang true throughout this conference, it's the fact that grassroots level connections and organizations like JASC, who work to create personal connections between our local region and Japan, are so critically important to the greater U.S.-Japan alignment. Educating children, supporting college-level students, supporting our local businesses and governments - these are all program goals of JASC that feed the greater U.S.-Japan relationship. I am inspired to continue the great work that we do and to engage as many of our JASC members as possible!

While in Japan, I took the opportunity to visit with some of our JASC members and supporters as well as take my first trip up to the Sister Prefecture of Colorado, Yamagata Prefecture. Trust me when I tell you that the ties between Colorado and Japan are strong and there is a great interest in making them even stronger!

As always, if you have suggestions about activities that you would like to see JASC do, please reach out and let us know! I'm looking forward to more great work in 2023!

Sincerely,

Claudine Locascio
Executive Director, JASC