Downtown NOVI has a new Public Garden with a peaceful pond, a playground, and residences for lease, all anchored to Asian inspired restaurants and shops.
Summit on Japan-US Cultural and Educational Exchange
Thursday, October 23, in Novi, Society leaders and members joined the United States-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON) a binational advisory panel that serves to elevate and strengthen the vital cultural and educational foundations of the U.S.-Japan relationship, and to strengthen connections between U.S. and Japan leadership in those fields.
Cranbrook Japanese Garden's New Entrance Designed by Sadafumi Uchiyama
Japanese landscape architect Sadafumi Uchiyama cuts the ribbon accompanied by the great great grandson of Cranbrook’s founders George and Ellen Booth, Greg Wittkopp, Director of Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research, and Consul General of Japan, Hajime “Jimmy” Kishimori, on Monday, October 20th, 2025, 110 years after the Garden’s original creation.
Japan-Michigan Innovation Seminar at Newlab Detroit
Japanese start up TriOrb Inc. was invited by the Consulate General of Japan to participate in a panel titled: JAPANESE STARTUPS and CRAFTSMANSHIP moderated by JETRO's Exe. Dir. SHIONO Tatsuhiko.
Michael Magdich from Industry 4.0 Accelerator led the show with a Panel on COLLABORATION BETWEEN JAPANESE COMPANIES and STARTUPS.
A winning collaboration between the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, JETRO - Japan External Trade Organization, Japan Business Society of Detroit, Japan America Society of Michigan and Southwest Ontario, MEDC and Newlab
Japan Festival 2025 with JBSD in NOVI
September 28th was a great day of celebrating Japanese Culture with the community including: a musical Shodo performance from ‘Kyoko Calligraphy’, the White Pine Glee Club and Trillium, Japanese Tea Ceremonies from three traditions and many matsuri activities and snacks for children and adults alike.
We bid the fondest of farewells to our dear Tomoyo Koehler, tea ceremony master, as she travels back to Japan.
Cranbrook MiBon Festival 2025
An enthusiastic crowd of Taiko musicians and Bon Odori dancers braved the summer heat on Sunday, August 10th to uphold the Japanese tradition of Obon in honor of our ancestors. The 3rd Annual Japanese Bon Festival with the Great Lakes TAIKO Center hosted by Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research also celebrated the renovations of the Cranbrook Japanese Garden announcing the scheduled reopening on October 19th!
JAS Young Professionals led by Stephanie Knitter hosted a Japanese crafts table for children that featured a Yayoi Kusama theme.
Generous community support came from Tokyo Rope Mfg, Japan Business Society of Detroit, the Consulate General of Japan, JCMU, Michigan-Shiga Sister State Program, JACL, Novi Public Library, and Ikebana International.
35th Anniversary Celebration of Japan-American Relations in Michigan and Ontario
Society members, City and State officials, and national representatives filled the ballroom of the Detroit Athletic Club on June 3rd 2025 to celebrate 35 years of Japan-US friendship and auto industry collaboration.
The occasion centered on the significant Detroit and Michigan links to Japan, some that date back to the previous century.
Detroit Deputy Mayor Melia Howard acknowledged the 65th Anniversary of the Detroit-Toyota Sister City Agreement. Consul General ‘Jimmy’ Kishimori said that a succession of 14 Consuls General of Japan had been supporting Japan-US relations in Detroit over 32 years and that Michigan and Shiga have been sister states for 57 years. Canadian Consul General Colin Bird, emphasized the importance of the solidity of Canada-US-Japan relations for the world.
Three institutions at the very founding of local relations with Japan were inducted into the Society’s newly formed ‘Affiliates’ level of membership: The University of Michigan, The Charles Lang Freer House, Wayne State University, and Cranbrook Educational Community.
Cranbrook’s Greg Wittkopp and Kevin Adkisson delivered fascinating illustrated presentations linking Detroit architect Albert Kahn to the Detroit Athletic Club, Henry Ford’s automotive plants, Eiji Toyoda, and to the Cranbrook House where landscape architect Sadafumi Uchiyama is revitalizing a 120 year-old Japanese Pond-Style Strolling Garden.
Thanks to AISIN and the Detroit Regional Chamber and MichAuto for the generous sponsorships!
Henry Ford Museum Japan Day
A new tradition began on Sunday, May 4th
To celebrate Children’s Day in Japan, along with Consul General ‘Jimmy’ Kishimori and JBSD’s President Shin Sasaki and Executive Director ‘Harry’ Kawase, Society leaders and members visited the Henry Ford Museum to discover how Japan's spirit of technological progress is woven into the history of American innovation. Eiji Toyoda gained insights into mass production techniques at the Ford Motor Company Rouge Plant and Thomas Edison's early light bulbs used bamboo filaments from Kyoto Prefecture. We saw HONDA Job 1, the 1st car produced outside of Japan along with the 1966 Toyota Corona Sedan. We also investigated Isamu Noguchi's important role in modern design.
The day offered several attractions for children including the iconic artifacts of the train that inspired Thomas the Tank Engine and the Wright brothers’ airplane, a train ride powered by a huge steam locomotive, an antique carousel and the famous Greenfield Village frozen custard.
Welcome to Detroit Consul General Hajime ‘Jimmy’ Kishimori
The Historic Charles Lang Freer House delivered a perfect setting to welcome Japanese Consul General Hajime (Jimmy) Kishimori to the great city of Detroit on Sun 4/27!
Wayne State University's Patrick Lindsey and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute graciously hosted the local US and Japanese business community and members of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Consul General Hajime JIMMY kishimori stressed the vital Japan-US-Canadian bonds of business and culture and shared a memorable account of his own connection to the Freer Gallery, Smithsonian National Museum of Asia Art, from his time in Washington, D.C.
Society Chair Derrick Redding highlighted the city's early industrial history and Charles Lang Freer's rail car production that set the foundation for Detroit to become the Motor City.
Hinamatsuri - Japanese Girl's Day at the DIA
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.
5:01 CLUB at HIROTEC AMERICA with the Consulate General of Japan
On February 24th HIROTEC AMERICA, Inc. hosted a timely update on the integrated North American auto industry from MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers, a plant tour, and a lively networking reception with the Japan America Society Michigan & SW Ontario, JAPAN BUSINESS SOCIETY OF DETROIT, JETRO - Japan External Trade Organization and Consulate General of Japan in Detroit.