Japanese, Americans get taste of Jambalaya

Photo By Sgt. Andrew Jones | Members of the Japanese American Society (JAS) Iwakuni eat a meal after a cooking class at the Lotus Cultural Center in Iwakuni City, Japan, Aug. 30, 2018. The class is a monthly event held for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and local Japanese residents in order to promote the U.S.-Japan Alliance and build friendships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)  

IWAKUNI CITY, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

09.06.2018

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

IWAKUNI CITY, Japan (Sept. 6 , 2018) – Members of the Japanese American Society (JAS) Iwakuni gathered for a cooking class at the Lotus Cultural Center in Iwakuni City, Japan, Aug. 30, 2018.

The class is a reoccurring event held for MCAS Iwakuni and local Japanese residents in order to promote the U.S.-Japan Alliance and build friendships. This fits into JAS Iwakuni’s mission as a cultural exchange program.

During the class, Sincee Williams, a JAS board member, instructed Japanese and Americans how to cook meal of jambalaya, cornbread pancakes, pudding and salad. Each month the class alternates between American and Japanese dishes.

“I think this type of a class can not only share a skill but also language,” said Cassie Neil, a JAS Iwakuni member. “It is very important because it draws the two communities together in more than just a classroom setting, it’s an actual activity and an exchange of ideas. I think that benefits MCAS Iwakuni because it is saying I’m part of MCAS Iwakuni but I want to be a part of what you’re doing and the Japanese saying the same thing.”

JAS conducts events like this as well as many others in order to bridge the gap between cultures. Other events held throughout the year include English and Japanese language classes, holiday parties and other reoccurring events.

In the past, JAS Iwakuni held the cooking class at a community center in Iwakuni City. With the recent completion of the Lotus Cultural Center and the support of both MCAS Iwakuni and Iwakuni City, the classes will now be held at the Lotus Cultural Center.

“JAS Iwakuni has held a monthly cooking class for over 20-years off base at Kawashimo and Atago Community Centers,” said Bobby Shibazaki, the president of JAS Iwakuni. “The Iwakuni City officials have requested and endorsed their support for JAS Iwakuni to hold the monthly cooking class at the Lotus Culture Center, a shared use bilateral facility, to give more opportunities for the local community members to attend the cooking class. The ultimate goal is to provide opportunity for Americans and Japanese participants to make friends, socialize and enhance U.S.-Japan friendship through the JAS cooking class at a larger facility at the Lotus Cultural Center.”

Anyone interested in attending a cooking class can call the JAS Iwakuni office at 253-4744 or 0827-79-4744.

• Date Taken: 09.06.2018
• Date Posted: 09.06.2018 02:03
• Story ID: 291567
• Location: IWAKUNI CITY, YAMAGUCHI, JP