We are excited to present the 2012 Reunion Party in Tokyo!  Come and visit with your former classmates and friends from Willamette and TIUA. There will be lots of fun, food and drink, as well as some prizes!  We hope you’ll join us!  Alums from all years are invited! 

The party takes place on June 30, 2012, from 2-4 pm (check-in begins at  1:30 pm). The location is Los Cabos, in Ikebukuro (http://www.loscabo.com/shop/del_ikebukuro.html) There will be guests from Willamette and TIUA, as well as TIU.

Guests attending from Willamette and TIUA are:

* Gunnar Gundersen, Executive Vice President, TIUA

* Masaki Shimada, Director, Campus Life & Academic Services, TIUA

* Toru Tanabe, Business Manager, TIUA

* Barby Dressler, Director, University Relations/Special Programs, TIUA

* Tomoko Harpster, Associate Director, Campus Life & Academic Services, TIUA

* Luis Rosa, Assistant Dean of Campus Life, WU

* Arminda Lathrop, Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations Development, WU

* Miho Fujiwara, Associate Professor of Japanese, WU

* Huike Wen, Assistant Professor of Chinese, WU

Officials from TIU are also expected to attend.

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Kaneko Day Camp is coming this summer!  It is one of the highlights for many of the American Studies Program (ASP) students who are here in Salem.  Day Camp is a four-day cultural experience run by the students and staff at TIUA.  It  is an educational and fun way for children to get a taste of Japanese culture.  Some of the daily topics are:  origami, calligraphy, basic language instruction, songs, games, and dance.  For a photo gallery from last year's Day Camp, click here.

Campers are divided into groups of around 10 children and they each attend a variety of sessions during the week.  There are two age groups:  elementary school and middle school.

Scholarships are available to assist with tuition.

For more information and application forms, click here.

The Willamette University Japan Studies Student Leaders' Fourth Annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the coming of spring.  This year's festival took place on April 7, from noon-4pm,  in the CAT Cavern, University Center building.  The event was free and encouraged viewing of the cherry blossoms on campus and around Salem.  There was Japanese entertainment including Takohachi, a professional taiko drumming group, as well as the Willamette Taiko Club. There were food booths, karaoke, and activity booths.

Click here to see a photo gallery from the event.