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Past Events

OCTOBER 2009

Fall Banquet: 15 October
A huge thank you to all of you, from the corporate sponsors and our members, to the volunteers and the employees at the DCPA for making our annual fall banquet such a success.

Dick Clark, current Counselor to the President, and past President of the JASC, put in countless hours organizing this event, as did then Interim Executive Director, Rie Seaver. A huge thank you is due to both of them, as well as everyone else on the JASC board.

Governor Ritter was unfortunately unable to attend the event, due to an unfortunate circumstance which arose days before. Don Marostica, Colorado’s Director of Economic Development, stepped in at the last minute to deliver an inspiring and informative talk on the opportunities that lie ahead between Japan and Colorado.

JASC welcomed a number of generous corporate sponsors to the event, without whom the evening would not have been nearly as successful as it was.

Our silent auction was a hit, and we extend our thanks again to the many generous donors.

The evening ended with a live auction by Chris Wootten.

A group of talented women, known collectively as the JASC quilters, put in more than 500 hours to make a gorgeous Sashiko quilt, which sold for $1,700 and was donated to JASC President Bob Sakata and his family. We are incredibly grateful for the time and love that went into this beautiful piece.

Dan Bihn, a longtime friend of JASC, photographed the event. To view his images, please visit his website: http://photos.danbihn.com/jasc_dinner_2009

Thank you again to everyone; we look forward to seeing you, and many more, at next year’s banquet!

Kabuki Lecture: 24 October
On October 24th, 800 people gathered at the University of Denver’s Newman Center. The purpose of the gathering: to witness a rare, intimate Kabuki performance and lecture.

The event--presented by Japan Foundation and Shochiku co., Ltd. and sponsored by PENTAX, Denver Tofu, Pacific Mercantile and JASC--gave audience members a rare glimpse into the work that goes on behind the scenes of one of Japan’s oldest performing arts.

Two renowned Kabuki actors, Kyozo Nakamura and Matanosuke Nakamura, performed two traditional dances: Sagi Musume (The Heron Maiden) and Shakkyo (Lion Dance). Both performances showcased the brilliant costumes and makeup of Kabuki, as well as the unique instrumental and vocal music involved. During Sagi Musume, the audience watched in awe as Kyozo transformed himself into a woman, demonstrating the skill involved with onnagata (female roles played by male actors in Kabuki).
Kabuki is difficult to see in Japan, let alone America; indeed, this was the first time this traditional art form came to Colorado—making it all the more special. The audience was captivated throughout the performance and lecture, and one of the highlights of the evening was watching Matanosuke apply his makeup on stage—a treat for Japanese and American viewers alike.
Yayoi Shaw from the Consulate General of Japan at Denver--which organized the event--says, “It was a truly magnificent presentation and further inspired my interest in my own Japanese culture. Hopefully the audience felt the same way . . . I think its success could solidify a steady connection between Denver and future Japanese cultural events.”

A special thanks to the Consulate General Kazuaki Kubo and Deputy Consul General, Fumiyoshi Kashima, who helped make the evening such a success.