Twin Cities JACL Picnic
2023-08-06 11:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Rosland Park Shelter, 4300 West 66th Street, Edina, MN, 55435, United States
Last minute registration is welcomed!
Get ready to kick off your summer in style because we’ve got a super fun event coming your way! Picture this: a day jam-packed with taiko drumming, mesmerizing Japanese dance performances, exciting games, and mouth watering potluck food.
Dust off your secret family recipes and bring a dish for your family and a bit more for others that’ll make everyone’s hearts (and stomachs) sing with joy. Limited beverages will be provided. The Nakasone family will dish out their famous BBQ!
Mark your calendars because the fun starts at 11 a.m. and goes on until 2:30 p.m. So gather your friends, family, neighbors, and that long-lost cousin you haven’t seen in ages, and let’s make unforgettable memories together!
This spectacular event is absolutely FREE! We believe in building a strong community, fostering new connections, and simply having a season to remember!
Please RSVP!

Appreciation vs Appropriation Series: Discussion #1 with Yuki Kokubo
2023-08-12 19:00 | Webinar
Appreciation vs Appropriation is a continuous conversation on cultural ownership that attempts to explore this complex topic in a nuanced way. This conversation will be structured as a series of one-on-one interviews with artists, subject matter experts, and community members speaking from their own perspectives rather than attempting to speak for entire communities or cultures. We do not expect all messaging to be consistent, nor do we expect a consensus to be reached on where the line falls between appropriation and appreciation. Rather, we hope to spark further conversations on the topic.
All conversations will be streamed live, and recordings will be made available when interviewees grant their permission for us to do so.
We will primarily be focusing on appropriation of Japanese culture and interviewing Nikkei or Japanese individuals, but we are hopeful to expand the conversation further with the right partners. If you represent a cultural organization that is interested in collaborating with us, please reach out to advocacy@tcjacl.org or yuki@madebyyuki.com.
Saturday, August 12th at 7pm US Central Time
Yuki Kokubo (she/her)
小久保由紀
Yuki Kokubo is the creator behind Made by Yuki, a clothing line that utilizes Kimonos and other vintage Japanese textiles. By focusing on the history and craftsmanship of traditional textiles, Yuki creates opportunities for everyone to appreciate Japanese culture without overstepping the boundaries of appropriation.

Made by Yuki

@made.by.yuki

Appreciation vs Appropriation Series: Discussion #2 with Emi Ito
2023-08-26 19:00 | Webinar
Appreciation vs Appropriation is a continuous conversation on cultural ownership that attempts to explore this complex topic in a nuanced way. This conversation will be structured as a series of one-on-one interviews with artists, subject matter experts, and community members speaking from their own perspectives rather than attempting to speak for entire communities or cultures. We do not expect all messaging to be consistent, nor do we expect a consensus to be reached on where the line falls between appropriation and appreciation. Rather, we hope to spark further conversations on the topic.
All conversations will be streamed live, and recordings will be made available when interviewees grant their permission for us to do so.
We will primarily be focusing on appropriation of Japanese culture and interviewing Nikkei or Japanese individuals, but we are hopeful to expand the conversation further with the right partners. If you represent a cultural organization that is interested in collaborating with us, please reach out to advocacy@tcjacl.org or yuki@madebyyuki.com.
Saturday, August 26th at 7pm US Central Time

Emi Ito (she/her)
伊藤ゲイツ濡慧美
Emi Ito is a mother and ethnic studies educator, as well as a core member of the grassroots organization, Japanese American Families for Justice. She began writing about the cultural appropriation of the kimono and Japanese culture in sustainable fashion several years ago.

Little Koto’s Closet
An Open Letter to White Makers and Designers Who Are Inspired by The Kimono and Japanese Culture
My Kimono is Not Your Costume
@little_kotos_words

Appreciation vs Appropriation Series: Discussion #3 with Atsushi Futatsuya
2023-09-09 19:00 | Webinar
Appreciation vs Appropriation is a continuous conversation on cultural ownership that attempts to explore this complex topic in a nuanced way. This conversation will be structured as a series of one-on-one interviews with artists, subject matter experts, and community members speaking from their own perspectives rather than attempting to speak for entire communities or cultures. We do not expect all messaging to be consistent, nor do we expect a consensus to be reached on where the line falls between appropriation and appreciation. Rather, we hope to spark further conversations on the topic.
All conversations will be streamed live, and recordings will be made available when interviewees grant their permission for us to do so.
We will primarily be focusing on appropriation of Japanese culture and interviewing Nikkei or Japanese individuals, but we are hopeful to expand the conversation further with the right partners. If you represent a cultural organization that is interested in collaborating with us, please reach out to advocacy@tcjacl.org or yuki@madebyyuki.com.
Saturday, September 9th at 7pm US Central Time
Atsushi Futatsuya (he/him)
二ツ谷 淳
Atsushi was born into a family of Sashiko artisans in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. In 2015, Atsushi and his mother Keiko started Sashi.Co, a website to share the enjoyment of Sashiko. Atsushi now shares stories and techniques about Sashiko to a wide audience through the website and Instagram. In teaching Sashiko, Atsushi highlights the importance of understanding Japanese culture and language.

Upcycled Stitches
@sashikostory
