News & Events
2026
Japanese Green Tea from Shiga
Tuesday, March 3
Pleae join us for a special presentation with Yuki Kanemura, Takanobu Ito and Keiko Nakajima. This event will be held at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, Brown Room 3030. They will talk about history of the Asamiya region in Shiga Prefecture, the birthplace of Japanese tea, the relationship between Japanese people and green tea and how to distinguish first‑flush tea, second‑flush tea, and bancha. Seats are limited, so please email michiko.yoshimoto@wmich.edu to reserve your spot by March 2.
Japan Twang
Thursday, January 22
Japan Twang! Is an hour-long performance of “Tsugaru-jamisen” by Sato Michiyoshi and Dr. Joshua Solomon of Hirosaki University. The event is sponsored by Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University's Soga Japan Center. The the event will be held at Recital Hall, Kalamazoo College (Address: 113 Thompson St. Kalamazoo, MI 49006.) Doors open at 4:30 p.m. The recital begins at 5 p.m., Thursday, January 22. Free and open to the public. No registration required.
2025
Origami and Japanese Calligraphy at KIA
Saturday, November 8
The Soga Japan Center is hosting Origami and Japanese Calligraphy tables during community events at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Art Detectives runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and Washi Community Day takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8.
Special Talk by Dr. Ethan Segal
Thursday, November 6
Dr. Ethan Segal of Michigan State University will give a special talk "Streaming Samurai: Historical Japan in Contemporary Media," at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, November 6, Brown Hall Room 3025. Free and open to the public
Special Talk by Consul General of Japan
Wednesday, October 22
Please join us for a special talk with Consul General of Japan in Detroit, Hajime "Jimmy" Kishimori, as he shares insights into Japan's presence and contributions in Michigan, at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 22, Sangren Hall Room 1910. Free and open to the public.
Panels at JAFAX in Grand Rapids
Sunday, June 29
The Soga Japan Center and some volunteer students from WMU's Japan Club will have four panels: a presentation titled "Japanese daily life", Japanese 101, Japanese Conversation Table and Japanese Calligraphy Workshop on Sunday, June 29 at JAFAX in Grand Rapids. JAFAX is an annual Japanese visual culture convention held every June. Please see their website for the details. https://www.jafax.org/
Virtual Japanese Conversation Table
Free opportunities to practice your Japanese skills. The sessions will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Fridays, April 18 and May 16, 2025. Please register to get meeting ID and link. All levels of learners are welcome.
Special talk by Dr. Rika Saito
Tuesday, March 11
Dr. Rika Saito of World Languages and Literatures will give a special talk "How I Met? How I Thought?: My Research on Waka Yamada, Modern Japanese Feminist" at 1pm on Tuesday, March 11 in-person at 3025 Brown Hall. This program is free and open to the public.
Japanese Culture and Language Presentations
Thursday, January 16
Japanese Culture and Language Presentations, which features student research, will be held on Jan. 16 from 4:15-6 p.m. at Kalamazoo College’s Dewing Hall, Room 103. WMU's Soga Japan Center and Kalamazoo College's Japanese program are partnering to offer this event in-person for the first time. This year’s speakers include Nicole Harms (WMU) on horror, Tyler Houle (K College) on Japanese language in J-pop culture, Dylan Lim (WMU) on Japanese history, Aiden Habboub (K College) on Hidden in Plain Experience, Lataevaya Sever (WMU) on the Japanese theater, Noah Chukwuma (K College) on Japanese integrated healthy practices, and Aiden Morgan (K College) on Art and Disability.
Each presentation is expected to run for about 8-minutes with a 4-minute question and answer session. Seats are limited and registration is required. <Registration is closed>
2024
Japanese Film Series
Tuesday, December 3 and Thursday, December 5
The Soga Japan Center will host the Japan Foundation Film Series at Room 2028 Brown Hall at 5pm on December 3 and December 5. These screenings are free and open to the public.
Special talk by Dr. Diane Riggs
Thursday, October 24
Dr. Diane Riggs of World Religions and Cultures will give a special talk "Sewing the Buddhist Robe: Innovation and Inclusion" at 2pm on Thursday, October 24 in-person at 1720 Sangren Hall and online via Zoom. This event is free and open to the public. <Registration is closed>
English–Japanese Language Partners Program
The English–Japanese Language Partners program is for Western Michigan University students (native speakers of either language) and offers an opportunity to practice Japanese and English outside of the classroom. Language partners meet in public 1-2 times per week for one hour of conversation. Partners are required to make time for speaking both languages (English and Japanese) at every meeting. <Registration is closed>
Virtual Japanese Conversation Table
Free opportunities to practice your Japanese skills. The sessions will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Fridays, September 20, October 18 and November 15, 2024. Please register to get meeting ID and link. All levels of learners are welcome. <Registration is closed>
Panels at JAFAX in Grand Rapids
Sunday, June 23
The Soga Japan Center and some volunteer students from WMU's Japan Club will have four panels: a presentation titled "Japanese daily life with some anime scenes", Japanese 101, Japanese Conversation Table and Yukata Workshop on Sunday, June 23 at JAFAX in Grand Rapids. JAFAX is an annual Japanese visual culture convention held every June. Please see their website for the details. https://www.jafax.org/
Japanese Children's Day Virtual Celebration
Friday, May 3
WMU Soga Japan Center and Michigan 4-H would like to invite you to join us for the 4-H Japanese Children's Day Celebration on Friday, May 5th at 6:00-7:00pm ET. Free and everyone is welcome! <Registration is closed>
Virtual Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day) Celebration
Friday, March 4
Virtual Japanese Culture and Language Presentations
Friday, February 23
The Soga Japan Center will host this virtual presentation event with some Japan Outreach Initiative coordinators from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. (EST), Friday, February 23. Please register to get the meeting link and ID. This event is free and open to the public. <Registration is closed>
Virtual Japanese Conversation Table
Free opportunities to practice your Japanese skills. The sessions will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Fridays, January 12, February 9, March 8 and April 12, 2024. Please register to get meeting ID and link. <Registration is closed>
Japan Foundation Film Series to begin in December
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The Haenicke Institute for Global Education’s Soga Japan Center will host a Japan Foundation Film Series next month. Screenings will take place at 5 p.m. in Brown Hall, Room 2028.
2023
Faculty Colloquium
Friday, December 1
Dr. Jeffrey Angles will have a special talk "Godzilla as Anti-nuclear Activist and Anthropocene Guerilla" from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 1, Brown Hall 1021. Dr. Angles has recently published a bestselling translation of Kayama’s Godzilla novels and he will talk about the monster’s history and what messages the story has for us in the Anthropocene.
Godzilla event
Monday, October 30
Dr. Jeffrey Angles will be hosting this Godzilla event at This Is a Bookstore (3019 Oakland Dr, Kalamazoo) to celebrate the publication of his new translation of the 1950s Godzilla novels. This event is open to all fans of GODZILLA who are welcome to bring, wear, or display their favorite GODZILLA memorabilia and to hear from Japanese translator Jeffrey Angles about his newly (first-ever) published English version of GODZILLA and GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN.
Special talk by the Consul General of Japan in Detroit
Tuesday, October 24
The Soga Japan Center is hosting a special talk "Japan: People, Society, Tradition and its Relations with the US" by the Honorable Consul General Yusuke Shindo at 4 p.m., Tuesday, October 24, Sangren Hall Room 1920. This event is free and open to the public. No registration required.
English–Japanese Language Partners Program
The English–Japanese Language Partners program is for Western Michigan University students (native speakers of either language) and offers an opportunity to practice Japanese and English outside of the classroom. Language partners meet in public 1-2 times per week for one hour of conversation. Partners are required to make time for speaking both languages (English and Japanese) at every meeting. <Registration is closed>
Virtual Japanese Conversation Table
Free opportunities to practice your Japanese skills. The sessions will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Fridays, September 8, October 6, November 10 and December 8. Please register to get meeting ID and link. <Registration is closed>
Sushi making workshop at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Thursday, July 20
The Soga Japan Center will have a Sushi making workshop at Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (314 S Park St, Kalamazoo, MI) at 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 20. This event is in conjunction with the KIA’s ongoing exhibition, Sugoi! 200 Years of Japanese Art.
$5 KIA members/$10 nonmembers.
Seating is limited. Please register at www.kiarts.org/events. If you have a question about booking a ticket for an event, please contact events@kiarts.org.
Panels at JAFAX in Grand Rapids
Sunday, June 11
The Soga Japan Center and some volunteer students from WMU's Japan Club will have four panels: a presentation titled "Japanese daily life with some anime scenes", Japanese 101, Japanese Conversation Table and Yukata Workshop on Sunday, June 11 at JAFAX in Grand Rapids. JAFAX is an annual Japanese visual culture convention held every June. Please see their website for the details. https://www.jafax.org/
Cross Currents: East/West Woodblock prints exhibition
May 12-July 28
The Soga Japan Center is sponsoring an exhibition "Cross Currents: East/West Woodblock Prints by Mary Brodbeck and Yoshisuke Funasaka" from May 12 to July 28 at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center. Please check Kalamazoo Book Arts Center's website for the details.
Japanese Children's Day Virtual Celebration
Friday, May 5
WMU Soga Japan Center and Michigan 4-H would like to invite you to join us for the 4-H Japanese Children's Day Celebration on Friday, May 5th at 6:30-7:30pm ET. <Registration is closed>
Night of Rakugo with KATSURA Sunshine
Thursday, April 20
The Soga Japan Center is sponsoring "Night of Rakugo", traditional Japanese comedy, with KATSURA Sunshine who is a Canadian Rakugo storyteller, theatre producer, and television personality residing in New York City. The performance will be held in English. This event will be held at Kalamazoo College, Light Fine Arts Building Dalton Theatre on Thursday, April 20. Doors open at 6:30pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Virtual Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day) Celebration
Friday, March 3
Virtual Japanese Culture Presentations "Anime/Manga"
Friday, February 24
Learn about Japanese culture from university students and adults who love Anime/Manga. 3-5:30 p.m. (EST), 2-4:30 p.m. (CST), Friday, February 24. Please register to get the meeting link and ID. This event is free and open to the public. <Registration is closed>
Virtual Japanese Conversation Table
Free opportunities to practice your Japanese skills. The sessions will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. (EST) on the first Fridays, February 3, March 3, April 7 and May 5. Please register to get meeting ID and link. <Registration is closed>
New Year's celebration (Japan Club)
Saturday, January 14
WMU's student organization, Japan Club, will host their New Year's celebration at 12pm-4pm on Saturday, January 14, Kanley Chapel on main campus. Free and open to the public. No registration required.
The Consul General of Japan visited WMU
Mr. Yusuke Shindo, the Consul General of Japan in Detroit, visited WMU to give a special talk on Tuesday, October 24. The talk "Japan: People, Society, Tradition and its Relations with the US" was held from 4 to 5 p.m. at Sangren 1920 and included topics such as Japanese geography, history, culture, education and police system. During the talk, the Consul General Shindo emphasized the importance of working together to maintain the warm relationship between the US-Japan, which has been supported by the community and business in Michigan.
MSU Extension Key Partner Award
The Program Manager of Soga Japan Center, Michiko Yoshimoto, has reveieved the Michigan State University Extension Key Partner Award. It is for our partnership with the MSU Extension children and Youth Institute and the 4-H Youth Development program to promote Japanese culture and language in the community. Learn more at https://wmich.edu/news/2023/11/73255
Annual Activities Report
WMU Soga Japan Center provides many outreach programs and activities each year. Our annual activities report are linked below.