Date & Time: Saturday, May 2, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Venue: O’Hara Township Community Park Registered: 98 participants Attendance: 83 participants
Event Summary
The event was held under overcast skies with temperatures reaching approximately 5°C (41°F). Despite the challenging weather conditions, 83 participants attended the event. We are sincerely grateful to all who joined us in the cold.
This year’s program featured kashiwa mochi (traditional rice cake) preparation, which was received with great enthusiasm. Grilled dishes and chirashi sushi contributed to a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the afternoon.
Participant Feedback (Selected Comments)
(1) Positive Feedback
This was our first event. We were very happy that it was a family event — we want to expose our son to the Japanese community more. We met some wonderful people and hope to attend more events in the future.
It was an enjoyable event for both participants and volunteers alike.
Thank you for your preparations in such cold weather. I have attended several times, and each time the organizers have adapted flexibly to the scale of the event. The atmosphere is always excellent, and I am satisfied every time.
I look forward to this picnic every year. The weather was not ideal this time, but I was glad to reconnect with people I had not seen in a while, and enjoyed the event very much.
It was a fulfilling event, volunteers included.
(2) Areas for Improvement
The food was good overall, but it was difficult to identify where the queue began at the grill station. Clearer signage or guidance for first-time attendees would be appreciated.
A brief self-introduction activity or structured networking opportunity would help participants connect more easily.
The fried chicken felt a little tough, but the chirashi sushi — especially the eel — was absolutely delicious.
Having a self-introduction segment or a structured networking opportunity would make it easier for participants to strike up conversations.
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude to all volunteers who contributed to the event through venue setup and cleanup, grilling, and kashiwa mochi preparation. Their dedication was instrumental in ensuring the success of this year’s event.
We look forward to your continued support and participation in future events.
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, we held our annual New Year’s Party at Hokkaido Seafood Buffet.
Although the event was moved from its usual Sunday schedule to a Saturday afternoon this year, we were delighted to welcome 97 attendees. Guests enjoyed a buffet-style meal in a warm and friendly atmosphere, providing a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and strengthen friendships as we began the new year together.
This year, we were honored to welcome Mr. Takuzo Kato and his family (PEACEFUL FOREST), who presented traditional Japanese performing arts including taiko drumming, festival music, and a lion dance.
The festive and powerful performances were especially fitting for the New Year celebration. The lion dance performed by Mr. Kato’s children brought great applause and cheers from the audience, creating a joyful moment shared by all. PEACEFUL FOREST continues to travel across the United States promoting cultural exchange through their performances. This event marked their 634th performance, and they are currently working toward their goal of reaching 1,000 performances.
The program began with opening remarks by President Mitamura of the Japanese Association. Vice President Mizuno then introduced our corporate sponsors and active club groups, followed by brief presentations from various Japanese organizations in the Pittsburgh area.
Our annual raffle and prize drawing once again featured many wonderful items generously donated by sponsoring organizations and individuals.
Prizes included Pittsburgh Penguins tickets, airline discount vouchers, a smartwatch, a Dyson vacuum cleaner, a coffee maker, sake and rice, various gift cards, as well as children’s prizes such as Pokémon and LEGO sets. The wide range of prizes brought excitement to participants of all ages, and the venue remained lively throughout the event.
The celebration concluded successfully with a traditional sanbon-jime led by Vice President Mizuno.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who attended, as well as to all sponsors and supporters who helped make this event possible. We look forward to your continued support in the year ahead.
今年のオープンハウスは、12月７日（日曜日）12時から4時まで、ピッツバーグ大学Cathedral of Learningで行われます。各国の教室は、ホリデーシーズンに合わせて、装飾され、伝統工芸や文化のデモンストレーション、伝統的な食べ物や音楽も楽しめます。このオープンハウスは、無料ですので、まだナショナリティルームを訪れたことのない方は、良い機会だと思いますので、どうぞお立ち寄りください。日本教室も稲荷寿司や日本の小物を売ったり、折り紙などを紹介しますが、そのボランティアを募集しています。
Japanese Room Open House — We’re Looking for Volunteers!
Hello, this is Junko Higashibeppu from the Japanese Nationality Room.
As the mornings and evenings grow colder and we begin to feel the signs of winter, I hope you are all doing well. Today, I’d like to share information about the University of Pittsburgh’s annual Holiday Open House, hosted by the Nationality Rooms, and to invite volunteers to help with the event.
This year’s Open House will be held on Sunday, December 7, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Each nationality room will be decorated for the holiday season, and visitors can enjoy displays of traditional crafts and culture, as well as food and music from around the world. The event is free and open to the public, so if you have never visited the Nationality Rooms before, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so.
The Japanese Room will be selling inarizushi (rice-stuffed tofu pockets) and small Japanese items, and will also demonstrate origami and other traditional crafts. We are currently looking for volunteers to help with these activities.
If you are available to help, even for just an hour, anytime between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 7, please let me know. It will also be a great chance to see everyone again. Thank you very much for your support!
Following the success of our first networking event in November of last year, we held the 2nd Networking Event on Saturday, October 4th at Panera Bread.
The theme of this gathering was: “Sharing travel tips and recommended places around the Pittsburgh area.”
In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, participants exchanged a wide range of travel ideas and recommendations. Many shared their favorite local spots and personal travel experiences, making for an engaging and informative discussion.
We also received several valuable suggestions for future activities, including: -Sports-related exchange events -Organizing bus tours -Introducing our activities to non-members via a mailing list
We greatly appreciate everyone’s input and will use it to plan even more exciting events moving forward. Thank you to all who attended!
From June 2 to June 4, PNC Park hosted a three-game series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers, drawing large crowds and generating particular excitement with the appearance of Shohei Ohtani. The Japan Association organized a viewing event that attracted a total of 146 participants, many of whom filled seats directly behind home plate.
The Pirates claimed a clean sweep of the Dodgers, winning all three games. The opener turned into a slugfest, with Pittsburgh prevailing 9–7 despite Ohtani hitting his 100th home run since joining the Dodgers. In the second game, Ohtani was forced to leave the mound due to illness but contributed as a batter, while the Pirates’ pitching staff combined for a shutout to secure a 3–0 victory. The final contest featured rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, who delivered a commanding performance to close out the series with a 5–3 win.
Although Ohtani’s efforts drew significant attention, the Dodgers struggled to synchronize their pitching and hitting. The Pirates, meanwhile, showcased both offensive consistency and solid pitching, leaving a strong impression with the sweep. Despite inclement weather, attendance remained high, and the atmosphere throughout the series was electric, particularly for Pirates fans celebrating three straight wins. Members of the Japan Association observed the games from seats near the center behind home plate, lending enthusiastic support to both teams and contributing to the lively and memorable atmosphere of the event.
On Saturday, May 24, 2025, the Japan Association held its spring picnic at O’Hara Township Community Park. Blessed with clear skies and pleasant weather, over 117 participants gathered, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere throughout the day.
With the support of many volunteers, BBQ grills were used to serve grilled meats and hot dogs. The meat, marinated in the Japan Association’s exclusive “YAKINIKU” sauce recipe inherited from “ex-CHAYA”, was especially popular. Served with freshly steamed white rice, the dishes were so well received that plates were quickly cleared. In addition, Kiku graciously provided delicious “GOMOKU CHIRASHI SUSHI” and “KARA-AGE”,” which received high praise from attendees who enjoyed the authentic flavors.
In celebration of the May seasonal festival, three of JAGP’s mochi-pounding machines were operated continuously, serving freshly made “”KASHIWA_MOCHI,” flavored with “YOMOGI (mugwort)” powder. These traditional Japanese treats evoked nostalgic feelings of early summer and were warmly enjoyed by all. Snacks were also made available to keep children happily engaged.
Following the meal, participants enjoyed a relaxed social hour inside the shelter, exchanging conversations and making new acquaintances. Meanwhile, children enthusiastically played in the park’s playground and open areas, delighting in activities such as blowing soap bubbles and fishing. A craft corner where parents and children folded origami “KABUTO (samurai helmets) ” from newspapers provided an enriching cultural experience for all ages.
The event concluded with a highly anticipated raffle draw, generating great excitement. Ten lucky winners received gift certificates for first, second, and third prizes, amid applause and smiles. Many winners expressed their surprise and joy, commenting, “I didn’t expect to win!” and “What a delightful surprise!” making for a memorable closing to the day.
This gathering proved to be a valuable opportunity, particularly for Japanese language learners and local community members, to experience Japanese culture and interact closely with Japanese participants. The combination of mochi pounding, traditional cuisine, and a friendly environment brought many smiles. Feedback included requests to continue the event in the future, suggestions to add seafood and vegetables to the menu, and recommendations to improve the organization of the food serving lines for smoother service.
Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the enthusiastic participation of all attendees, the event was a great success. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved. Preparations are already underway for the next event, with the goal of offering an even more enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
We look forward to your continued support of the Japan Association’s activities.
ピッツバーグ日本協会 