Upcoming events

  • Rajio Taiso Friday

    • January 17, 2025
    • December 26, 2025
    • 50 sessions
    • Zoom


    Join your JET alumni community for Rajio Taiso every Friday morning on Zoom! Perfect from the office, your home, solo, with kids or with co-workers who have never seen the likes of this... 

     Hop on for a 5 min stretch followed by a quick social check-in. 


    We meet every Friday at:

    8am PT

    9am MT

    10am CT

    11am ET

    Register Here

    *register once, then add to your calendar for a weekly reminder to get your Rajio Taiso on with USJETAA

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  • The Religion of Anime

    • November 12, 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Zoom
    • 246
    Register

    Join USJETAA and Dr. Jolyon Thomas, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania for what promises to be an in depth look at anime.

    We will explore the cultural and emotional forces behind anime’s appeal, with a discussion that will be enthralling for both devoted fans and those who are curious or even puzzled by its widespread popularity. It will also shed light on the intense passion that anime inspires, sometimes described as a kind of “religious” following.

    Panelists include:

    • Dr. Jolyon Thomas is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania who explores how anime, manga, and pop culture connect with spirituality and everyday life in Japan. He’s the author of Drawing on Tradition: Manga, Anime, and Religion in Contemporary Japan and has a new book on the way, Animating Action: Changing the World with Anime, Rituals, and Robots.
    • Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-1999) is an award-winning Japanese American author, journalist, scholar and editor. His bestselling book Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the West examines how Japanese pop culture captured the world’s imagination. He’s currently a Visiting Professor at Waseda University in Tokyo and is developing two new documentary projects addressing contemporary Japanese pop culture and society.
    • Yuri Lowenthal (Shiga, 1993-1995) is an actor, writer, and producer whose voice brings to life characters like Spider-Man in MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN, Sasuke in NARUTO, and Ben in Ben 10. With his wife Tara Platt, he co-founded Monkey Kingdom Productions and BugBot Press, co-wrote the bestselling VOICE-OVER VOICE ACTOR, and produced and starred in ORBITAL REDUX with Legendary Entertainment.

    Zoom link will be emailed to you upon completing registration.

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  • Ouchigohan: Tsukune Hot Pot

    • November 16, 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Zoom

    Join the Japan America Society of North Carolina for the next edition of Ouchigohan!
    A fun, family-friendly online Japanese home cooking class!

    This November, get ready to warm up with a cozy Tsukune Hot Pot (Tori Dango Nabe) — a hearty Japanese one-pot dish featuring tender chicken meatballs simmered with vegetables in a light, flavorful broth. It’s the perfect comfort food for the cooler season and a wonderful way to gather around the table with family and friends.

    To complete the meal, we’ll finish with Shime no Udon, adding udon noodles at the end to soak up the rich, savory broth — a classic and satisfying way to conclude a traditional Japanese winter hot pot meal.


    Details & Pricing:

    • Cost: $10 for JASNC & USJETAA members / $15 for non-members

    • Special Discount for USJETAA Members: $5 off (pay $10 total) with code USJETAA

      • To redeem: Enter your name and email on the event page then enter the discount code at checkout before submitting payment

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    • Pathways to Becoming a Japanese Language Educator

      • December 09, 2025
      • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
      • Zoom
      Register


      Are you a JET alum or Japanese language enthusiast interested in teaching Japanese?

      This event brings together a panel of educators, including JET alumni, teaching at the high school and university levels, as well as experts from Middlebury Language Schools and the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ).

      Join us to explore pathways into Japanese language education, from credentialing and certification to navigating career opportunities in K-12 and higher education. Our panelists will share their experiences, offer practical advice, and discuss resources to help you get started. The format will include informative presentations, a panel discussion and space to virtually network with our presenters and fellow participants.

      Panelists: 

      • Dr. Anne Hooghart, Japanese Instructor, Mott Community College & Washtenaw Community College
      • Joyce Arellano-Bravo, Japanese Teacher, John F. Kennedy High School
      • Helena Shirai, Japanese Teacher, Boulder Valley High School
      • Dr. Motoko Tabuse, Director of the School of Japanese at Middlebury Language Schools & Professor at Eastern Michigan University
      • Dr. Thor Sawin, Associate Dean, Middlebury Language Schools

      Zoom link will be emailed to you upon completing registration.

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    • USJETAA Japanese Language Coaching: January 2025

      • January 23, 2026
      • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
      • Zoom
      • 28
      Register

      The goal of our Japanese Language Coaching sessions is to help learners improve their skills with practical tips and strategies. Whether you're looking to enhance your reading, speaking, or comprehension, these sessions are designed for advanced beginners and intermediate learners.

      Each session, we'll focus on a different topic, providing expert guidance and answering any questions you have. Our coaches, with over 40 years of combined experience, understand the unique challenges of mastering Japanese as a non-native speaker and can provide the support you need to continue making progress. 一緒にがんばろう！


      The Zoom link will be sent upon completing your registration.


      Thank you to our sponsor:

               

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