Intl. Understanding Workshop (March 2025)

【Chuo Kominkan】

Guest speakers Marina Sasazuka (JICA) and Alex Takahashi (Takasaki CIR) were invited to speak to parents and children about working abroad, while showing differences between Japan, Panama, and the U.S. Practical advice, personal anecdotes, and plenty of games were included.

Cool Takasaki: Ikebana (March 2025)

【Takasaki City Gallery】

6 participants from Canada and the U.S. tried ikebana for the first time. Mr. Tsukagoshi, of the Shofu school of ikebana, taught them how to utilize space, angles, and balance to create gorgeous flower arrangments.

Cool Takasaki: Vegetable Bouquet Making Class (February 2025)

【Chuo Kominkan】

9 participants from Japan, the US, Peru, and China learned how to make beautiful edible vegetable arrangements with the help of Mrs. Yoko Nakazawa, owner of Sabo Gleam. Everyone also cooked up toppings to enjoy over a hot bowl of vegan-friendly Takasaki udon.

Ukrainian Cooking Class (February 2025)

【Chuo Kominkan】

Guests from Ukraine were invited to lead a cooking class; participants made two different kinds of nalysnky (similar to crepes) and learned about Ukrainian culture along the way.

Tea Time Sutra Copying (December 2024)

【Jigenji Temple & Ichirodo Cafe】

10 participants from Japan, China, and the U.S. came together for a day of fun. Activities included Buddhist sutra copying, card games, and eating wagashi sweets, all while forming new friendships along the way.

Japanese Home Cooking Class (December 2024)

【Chuo Kominkan】

This Cool Takasaki event showed particpants from America, China, and Peru how to make a typical home cooked meal. The menu included grilled fish with mushrooms, tonjiru soup, and manju cakes. The class was taught by Noriko Yoshida of Noriko’s Cooking Studio.

Japanese Language Learning Support Training (2024)

Japanese class volunteers are given opportunities to hone their skills with yearly training sessions. This year’s sessions will take place over 3 dates, each with a different topic. The first one brought volunteers from different classes together to share advice and find new resources over light refreshments.

Takasaki International Festival (October 2024)

【Viento Takasaki】

Nearly 2,000 people turned out for the 32nd Takasaki International Festival and JOMO JET’s International Carnival. Among the many booths, food stalls, and stage performances, visitors had the chance to encounter cultures from almost every corner of the globe.