JASC - Japanese American Service Committee

On August 30, the Japanese American Service Committee officially celebrated its 80th birthday!

What began in 1946 as the Chicago Resettlers Committee was created to help Japanese and Japanese American families rebuild their lives in Chicago after World War II incarceration. Over eight decades, JASC has continued to evolve alongside the community we serve.

Today, our work centers around three areas: Social Services, Cultural Programming & Education, and the Legacy Center—supporting older adults, creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect with Japanese culture, and preserving the history and stories of Japanese Americans in Chicago.

We celebrated 80 years with a community block party filled with games, food, by Matcha Queen, and plenty of familiar faces. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us! 💛

Here’s to 80 years of community—and to everything still ahead. 🎊

We’re excited to participate in Open House Chicago again this year with the Chicago Architecture Center ()!

Join us at JASC on October 17 & 18 to explore our Forever Home and experience a variety of Japanese cultural activities and special offerings throughout the weekend.

Some of what’s planned includes:

🌸 Ikebana demonstrations and an exhibit of works in the Ohara style
🍵 Traditional tea ceremony demonstration
📖 Crystal City special exhibit opening program

And there’s more to come! Stay tuned as we share additional events and programs happening throughout the weekend.

We look forward to welcoming you to JASC and giving you a closer look at the space we’re proud to call our Forever Home.

📍 5700 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

Echoes of Hiroshima: The Story of Masakazu Saito

Join us at JASC on Friday, October 2, from 6:00–7:30 PM for a special presentation introducing the story of Masakazu Saito, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Through Saito’s firsthand testimony and watercolor artwork, this presentation shares his experience of survival and his message of peace, while exploring the lasting impact and dangers of nuclear weapons.

Developed by Clinton Fairbanks in partnership with Saito, Echoes of Hiroshima brings his story to a wider audience and provides an opportunity to learn from his personal experience.

📅 October 2, 2026
🕕 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 Japanese American Service Committee (JASC)
🎟️ Free to attend

Please RSVP in advance so we can prepare enough seating and space for everyone: https://form.jotform.com/262526681174158

We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful evening of history, remembrance, and reflection.

Introducing JASC’s new series: Community Spotlight!🌟

Through this series, we’ll introduce you to the people, guests, and community members who are sharing their passions, pursuing meaningful work, and making an impact in Chicago and beyond.

We’ll share their stories, celebrate what they’ve accomplished, highlight what they’re working on now, and follow along as they take their next steps.

For our first Community Spotlight, meet Ryosuke Kawamura, a Japanese exchange student from Kyushu University who spent a year studying at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

During his exchange year, a connection through the USJC Annual Conference led Ryosuke to JASC, where he found an opportunity to connect with people across generations and backgrounds, learn more about the Japanese American community, and explore historical materials in JASC’s Legacy Center.

As Ryosuke reflects, his experience at JASC helped make his time in Illinois “broader, richer, and more fulfilling.”

Read Ryosuke’s full story on our website and learn more about his experience with JASC!

The time is now - Defining Courage is this Sunday! Don't miss DEFINING COURAGE when it comes to Chicago for its only Midwest performance.

This powerful production shares the untold stories of the Nisei soldiers who became some of America's most decorated WWII servicemembers while their families were incarcerated in U.S. camps. The stories of the Nisei soldiers continue to leave a lasting impact across generations.

Defining Courage is an immersive live multimedia experience honoring the legacy of the Nisei soldiers — Japanese Americans who served in segregated WWII military units while their families faced incarceration and discrimination at home. Through eyewitness accounts, stunning visuals, and live original music, the production brings these extraordinary yet often overlooked stories to life.

Featuring Emmy Award-winning journalist David Ono alongside Grammy-winner Daniel Ho, songwriter Harold Payne, and the RAISE Choir, this powerful performance reflects on sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring impact of those who fought for a country that did not always recognize them as fully American.

Take 20% off ticket prices with promo code COURAGE at checkout!

We had an amazing time serving as the Community Spotlight at this year’s Chicago Stars Japanese Heritage Day! ⚽️🇯🇵

With the lake breeze, great game-day atmosphere, and plenty of Hello Kitty fans, it was a wonderful afternoon celebrating Japanese and Japanese American culture with the community. 💙

A special shoutout to for their incredible performances throughout the day! They brought so much excitement to the celebration while sharing a powerful and joyful display of Okinawan culture and tradition. We loved experiencing their performances alongside the community!

Visitors stopped by our table to write their names in Japanese, learn more about JASC, and show off sports- and Japanese American-themed temporary tattoos during the game.

Thank you to for welcoming us and giving us the opportunity to share more about JASC and our work in the community—and to everyone who stopped by our table to say hello! We loved meeting you! 🙌

Join us for an Introductory Japanese Calligraphy Class this month! 🖌️🇯🇵

Perfect for complete beginners, this relaxed and welcoming workshop will introduce participants to the beautiful art of 書道 (shodō), or Japanese calligraphy.

Learn from a professional as you explore the fundamentals of Japanese calligraphy, including basic brush techniques and how to write Japanese characters. No prior experience or Japanese language knowledge is necessary!

✨ All materials are included with your registration, so just come ready to learn and create.
📅 September 25, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 JASC | 5700 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60659
💲 Members: $25/class
💲 Non-Members: $35/class

Whether you're interested in Japanese culture, looking to try something new, or simply want to enjoy a creative evening, we hope you'll join us! 🌸

Space is limited—register today: https://pci.jotform.com/form/261326114224142

Happy Labor Day!

Today, we celebrate and thank the many people whose hard work, dedication, and contributions help strengthen our communities every day.

We hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday weekend! ❤️

JASC will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.