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The annual meeting and culture program of the Japan Society of Fairfield County (JSFC) will be held at the Rowayton Community Center. 33 Highland Avenue Rowayton, CT 06853 (part of Norwalk, same building as the Rowayton Library) on Sunday, November 23, 2025. All are welcome, but members receive a discounted price.
At 12 noon there will be a toast of sparkling wine or a non-alcoholic alternative, followed by a luncheon of Japanese boxed lunches (bentos) from The Loop by Hachiroku . Hot tea and bottled water will be provided.
After a brief business meeting where you can catch up on the past year’s progress and give thought to upcoming ideas, there will be a talk, beginning at 1:15 PM.
Benjamin Boas
Our speaker will be author, Westport native, and Japanese television regular Benjamin W. Boas. His talk is entitled: From Fairfield County to NHK World: Behind the Scenes of “Cool Japan”. He will share stories from NHK World, lessons from two decades of U.S.–Japan cultural work, with an insider’s view on how international talent land roles in Japanese media—plus what “Cool Japan” gets right (and wrong).
To see some of the work he's done with NHK World, click here. This link takes you to an episode of NHK's program JOURNEYS IN JAPAN, a series providing an eye-opening look at the many unique places to visit in Japan. In this episode, Boas traces the footsteps of Isabella Bird, a British explorer and writer who arrived in Japan in 1878, and traveled deep into the hinterland.
November 23rd Annual Meeting and Luncheon
11:30am Doors open for registration
12pm Welcome toast/Lunch/Business meeting
1:15pm Featured Speaker/dessert
Bird's eye view of Rowayton Community Center
The opttions for the luncheon from The Loop by Hachiroku are:
Tonkatsu Pork bento
Chicken Teriyaki Bento
American Wagyu Beef Yakiniku Kalbi Bento (sauce contains fish, shellfish)
Vegan Tofu Bento ( Tofu, Corn, Avocado, Eggplant, Radish, Kabocha, Shimeji Mushroom, Lotus Root, Sesame Dressing, gluten-free soy sauce, Lemon, Shishito Pepper)
Bara Chirashi Bowl (Tuna, Yellowtail, Saba, Salmon, Shrimp, Egg, Masago Fish Egg, Eel, Scallion, Sushi rice
All bento except Vegan include Black&White Rice, Kiriboshi Daikon, Hijiki, Lotus Root, Egg
The cost of the luncheon plus talk is $25 for JSFC members and $35 for non-members so please attend and bring guests! If you wish to only attend Mr. Boas talk, the cost is $10 for JSFC members and $15 for non-members. (No refunds, but in cases deemed necessary, funds can be applied to future events.) Use the buttons below to pay now online and make sure of your reservation; space is limited.
Renew now to extend your membership through the end of December, 2026. Or, buy a new or gift membership to show your support and get the extra months November 2025 through December 2026.
YOU MUST REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 16 TO RECEIVE A LUNCH.
If using the payment buttons below, please add ALL items to the Cart before checking out. Can’t attend? Please consider renewing your membership now anyway, or a donation to support ongoing efforts and/or the “Sakura Manbon” Japanese Cherry tree project. Thank you!
To pay membership dues, use this button:
To donate to JSFC, use the Donate button below.
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