Hinamatsuri- Girl's Day at the DIA on Sunday March 2nd filled the RIVERA COURT with the music of Benten-ya pictured here with (l-r) Mr. Takashi Omitsu of JCD Michigan, Consul General Hajime (Jimmy) Kishimori Consulate General of Japan in Detroit 在デトロイト日本国総領事館, Salvador Salort-Pons, president and CEO of the Detroit Institute of Arts and JBSD - Japan Business Society of Detroit President Shin Sasaki, Museum leaders and Japanese Business leaders.
Japanese Language Speech Contest
On February 22nd, thirteen university and college students from four Michigan schools presented speeches in Japanese at the 30th Annual Michigan Japanese Speech Contest.
Four judges listened carefully to each speech and had the opportunity to ask follow-up questions to help them determine the winners. Serving as judges this year were Consul General Hajime “Jimmy” Kishimori of the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, Mr. Naoya Hattori of the Japan Business Society of Detroit, Mr. K. Michael Gillum of the Japan America Society of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario, and Ms. Yuko Asano of the Japan Society of Detroit Women’s Club.
The contest was presented by the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit and the Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan and hosted by Washtenaw Community College and supported by the Japan Business Society of Detroit, the Japan America Society of Michigan and Ontario, Japan Foundation of Los Angeles, and Japanese Teachers Association of Michigan.
Shin Sasaki named President of the Japan Business Society of Detroit
At the 2025 JBSD New Year’s Party on Sunday January 26th at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mr. Shin Sasaki, President of AISIN Technical Center of America succeeded Mr. Hiroki Sasaki, vice president of Nissan USA, who led the JBSD over the past 2 years.
Holiday Celebration 2024!
Welcome to Michigan Consul General Hajime Kishimori! Society members greeted the newly arrived Consul General at the dazzling Meadowbrook Hall festive get-together on December 11th. It was a warm and elegant wrap-up of a wonderful 2024 with a promise of the coming year’s exciting collaborations with member corporations and community partners.
Japan Festival 2024
Society Chair Derrick Redding and Yoshiko Redding attended the Tea Ceremony with Deputy Consul General Kentaro Yamane, Novi Mayor Justin Fischer, and Ko Moriya, Vice President of the JBSD. The tea ceremony was presented by Tea Master Tomoyo Koehler of the Omotesenke School as the guest and narrated by Anita Savio.
Festival goers enjoyed many other traditional Japanese arts including calligraphy, ikebana and taiko. They could also learn origami, try traditional Japanese festival games, taste tea from Shiga Prefecture, and try Japanese festival food.
Thanks to the Japan Business Society of Detroit and the JSD Women’s Club for a wonderful day!
JAS at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada with Flavio Volpe from APMA
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada extended the warmest welcome to the Society's members and program partners, The Japan Society Toronto and the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit for a magisterial presentation from APMA's Flavio Volpe, C.M., on September 24th.
The Project Arrow concept vehicle and Toyota Tsusho's Betterfrost Technologies Toyota were given pride of place. An extensive tour of the manufacturing plants rounded out a grand slam day at the TMMC Experience Center.
34th Annual Dinner at The Charles Lang Freer House and the Minoru Yamasaki designed McGregor Memorial Conference Center at Wayne State University
Hiroshi Kurumisawa, Vice President, Comerica Bank, JAS Board member and Akemi Kurumisawa.
Read moreArtist Lecture "Clouds & mono no aware"
On Thursday, March 7th, artist Miya Ando discussed her cloud paintings that are installed in the Buddhist Gallery of the DIA.
Hinamatsuri Japanese Girl’s Day Celebration at the Detroit Institute of Arts
JCD and the JBSD brought a wonderful day of Japanese children’s culture to the Detroit Institute of Arts on Sunday, March 3rd. The Japanese Girl’s Day celebration included koto performances of musical pieces from Totoro, ikebana demonstrations, a hina dolls display representing the historical Japanese court, paper making, tea ceremony, festival dancing, Japanese sweets making and more! An installation bursting with pink energy encouraged children to write their wishes and their fondness for Detroit on their own origami creation and dangle it from the pink rafters. The project was conceived and created by artists Sao Ohtake, Kyoko Fujii and Nobuko Yamasaki. The Society was pleased to join the Consulate General of Japan, Shiga Prefecture, and the JSD Women’s Club as a supporting sponsor.
Career Networking Event for Young Professionals
Consul General Shindo encouraged students and job seekers who had an opportunity to network with company representatives and to submit their resumés to select companies at Oakland University’s career development event on Friday, February 16th.
Speech Contest 2024
Congratulations to the Japanese Language students from the local High Schools and Universities for preparing and delivering speeches in Japanese on Saturday, February 10. Thanks to the judges who spent the afternoon carefully listening and evaluating. Everyone was a winner! Here, the Contest Judge representing the Japan America Society, Michael Gillum Esq. from Dickinson Wright presents one of the awards. And our appreciation also goes to the Consulate General of Japan and the Japan Teachers’ Association of Michigan for organizing the Contest and to all of the generous sponsors, including the JBSD and the JSD Women’s Club.
JBSD New Year Event January 28, 2024, Novi
JBSD president Hiroki Sasaki, vice-president of Nissan US, launched the next half century of the Japan Business Society of Detroit, thanking Shosaku Ueda for more than a decade of service as Executive Director and welcoming Harry Kawase as the new Executive Director.