The Japan-America Society of Washington DC

Types

Cultural Organizations Non-Government Organizations Non-Profit Organizations

About The Japan-America Society of Washington DC

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC is a non-partisan educational organization dedicated to promoting friendship and understanding between Japan and the greater Washington DC area through comprehensive programming spanning educational, cultural, business, and policy spheres. Founded in 1957 by US State Department officers and Japanese Embassy officials, the organization leverages its unique position in the nation's capital to facilitate meaningful exchanges between Americans and Japanese across all sectors.

The Society offers diverse programming and initiatives that bring Japanese culture, language, and business expertise to Washington DC audiences. Through its cultural affairs programs, the organization introduces traditional Japanese performing arts including Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku, alongside contemporary forms such as anime and J-Pop music. The Society operates the region's oldest and largest Japanese language school for adults, providing professional language instruction to the Washington DC community.

Educational outreach remains central to the Society's mission, with initiatives including Japan-in-a-Suitcase programs that bring Japanese cultural education into local schools and libraries, study abroad scholarship opportunities, and the National Japan Bowl—a prestigious high school Japanese language competition that attracts students from across the nation. The Society also hosts the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival each April, recognized as the largest display of Japanese culture in the United States. Additionally, the organization facilitates public affairs programming featuring senior government officials, business leaders, and cultural ambassadors from both nations, strengthening diplomatic and people-to-people connections in Washington DC.