As the Japanese saying goes, "Time flies like an arrow."  As you will see below, perhaps we need to update the saying to "Time flies like a bullet train!"

In February, JASN hosted the first-ever public speech in Nevada by Katsuhiko Ichikawa, General Manager of the Washington, DC office of the Central Japan Railway Company.  The event was sponsored in part by new JASN corporate sponsor MGM Mirage.  Ichikawa-san spoke to well over 60 people who gathered at the Shibuya Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel.  Many dignitaries, including the Consul Tanemura of the Consul General of Japan's office in San Francisco, Vida Lin, President of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, and numerous honorary consul general attended.  Mr. Ichikawa provided intricate details of not only the shinkansen (the Japanese bullet train) but also the new mag-lev technology that is just being rolled out in Japan. 

Mr. Ichikawa informed us that high-speed rail, like that in Japan, is certain to be a reality in the United States one day; when and where remain to be seen. A more timely topic is hard to imagine!

In April, JASN achieved another first by hosting the first performance ever in Las Vegas of Rakugo (Japanese traditional comedy) by famous Japanese comedian Katsura Kaishi.  More than 80 people joined JASN at the Atomic Testing Museum for Kaishi-san's rollicking one-man show.  After a wine and cheese reception, the audience howled with laughter as Kaishi-san created hilarious character after character, only using two props: a Japanese paper fan and a hand towel.  Those in attendance not only enjoyed a very funny show, they learned the history of this time-honored craft. 

After the show, an ecstatic Kaishi-san told us that the Las Vegas audience was one of the best he has ever had, and that he would love to return to perform for us again. 

 JASN Events Sep. - Dec. 2009   :