This has been an incredibly difficult time for most small business. Through the pandemic we have seen some getting assistance while others are denied, some close temporarily or pivot their focus while others close for good. Additionally, we have seen this massive movement for racial justice that ultimately is moving things in the right direction,…
Like all of you, we have been following what is going on in Portland and across the nation for the last two weeks. The murder of George Floyd, and the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others have once again brought to the forefront the deadly problem of racism and police violence…
Thursday, June 18, 20206:00 PM to 7:00 PM PDT Japanese short comedy stories are called “conte” (コント) borrowed from a French word. Let’s enjoy conte with English subtitles by a Japanese comedy duo, Impulse(インパルス). They are good at making laugh by creating strange situations and characters that might happen in ordinary life. Conte #1: Convenience Store BurglarA…
Tuesday, June 9, 20205:00 PM to 7:00 PM PDT Join us for Japanese-style Mahjong online using https://mahjongsoul.yo-star.com/ We are going to try using the site Mahjong Soul to play Riichi. It’s actually a pretty fun site, and you can use it to learn how to play. We’re going to have a tournament page set up for this group,…
Saturday, May 30, 20207:00 PM to 8:00 PM PDT ** Sunday, May 31, 11 AM JST (Japan Standard Time) Mayumi has started live online classes in Japanese! Her classes focus on breathing and movement exercises based on kokyuho, qigong, yoga, and aikido. For now, she will be teaching in Japanese, and will continue on a weekly basis.…
Thursday, May 28, 20206:00 PM to 7:00 PM PDT Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan and known for its distinct culture. The contrast between Tokyo and Osaka is always a hot topic. The stereotype says Tokyo is serious and Osaka is funny. In fact, Osaka is recognized as a “comedy city” and many comedians…
Thursday, May 14, 20206:00 PM to 7:00 PM PDT Tokyo 03 (東京０３) is a Japanese comedy trio known for their elaborated scenarios. Their plots deeply describe the contemporary Japanese “Salary-man” (white-caller worker)’s sorrow. They are excellent about making fun of ordinary men’s trifle pride and unnecessary considerations. They are so popular especially among Japanese Millennial that their…
Wednesday, April 22, 20207:00 PM to 9:00 PM PDT **We will send out the link to join the movie on the day of the event** From the director that brought you Battle Royale! Kinji Fukasaku’s Black Lizard is a zany jewel heist film from 1968 featuring a spectacular female jewel thief and her battle of wits with…
Many people are relying on video chat and online meeting tools to stay in touch during the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve put together some step-by-step guides on how to get started with Skype and Zoom, for both desktop computer and smartphone. We’ve tried to make them as easy as possible to follow along, even for people…
Thursday, April 30, 20206:00 PM to 7:00 PM PDT Tribute to the great Japanese comedian, Ken Shimura, who passed away from coronavirus. Let’s watch his short comedies with English subtitle. Feel free to grab a beer or your favorite drink. His slapstick humor, physical comedy and naïve persona made him a household name in the country for…