Celebrating the Centennial anniversary of Japan-America Society of Washington State
Chiyo Sanada’s powerful calligraphy art: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
Japan-America Society of Washington State (JASSW) is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year.
JASSW was established in 1923 to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Japan and Washington State by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information.
New Year’s party was held yesterday and many members old and new got together and enjoyed Ms. Chiyo Sanada’s powerful calligraphy art.
When talking about the relationship between the US and Japan in the last 100 years, it’s impossible to ignore World War II. Only after I moved to Seattle did I learn about the experiences that the Japanese Americans endured during the war.
Nations, after all, consist of people. How can we learn from history so that we won’t make the same mistake again? How can we expand mutual understanding and friendship beyond many borders in the world? I believe this community-level effort is vital to influence national-level relations.