Founded in 1923, Japan-America Society of the State of Washington (JASSW) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Japan and the State of Washington by connecting through business, culture, and education.
Japan In the School (JIS) is a program of JASSW that offers hands-on cultural learning opportunities for children. Our trained presenters and volunteers bring an authentic Japanese school experience directly to your classroom through a 50-minute interactive module. Funded by JASSW’s charitable contributions, JIS is available at no cost to both private and public K-12 schools in King and Snohomish Counties.
Our Mission
Cultivating cultural awareness in children by introducing them to foreign customs and value systems is one of the keys to fostering future peace in the world.
Our Work
Japan in the Schools (JIS) is a free educational program with two engaging components. Japan in a Suitcase offers presentations for elementary, middle, and high school classes that introduce Japanese customs, daily life, and history. Japanese Language and Culture Visits provide role-playing immersion sessions for middle and high school Japanese language classes, giving students interactive opportunities to practice language and deepen cultural understanding. Japanese Language and Culture Visits – Role-playing immersion sessions for middle and high school Japanese language classes, offering students interactive opportunities to practice language and deepen cultural understanding.
Our History
Since its launch in 1994, JIS has been a signature program of the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington (JASSW). Over the past three decades, it has reached more than 67,500 students across the Puget Sound region.
In 2009, JIS was recognized with major grants from the Mitsubishi Corporation and the Center for Global Partnership, affirming the program’s quality and community impact.
Today, JIS continues to thrive thanks to support from JASSW’s fundraising events, membership contributions, and generous grants, including funding from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund.
Japan In the Suitcase & Japanese Language Culture Visits
“Japan In The Suitcase” consists of three programs (Taro, Hanako, and Tokaido) perfect for elementary, middle, and high school students, where our Lead Presenter and volunteers will come into your classroom with a suitcase full of fun items from Japan to share what daily life is like for kids living and growing up in Japan or learn more about the history of Japan in the case of Tokaido, the high school curriculum.
“Japanese Language & Culture Visits” consists of three programs (Customs, Shopping, Restaurant) for middle and high school students taking Japanese language classes. We have three 50-minute presentations for beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels where our Lead Presenter and volunteers will come to your classrooms and facilitate small group activities in Japanese with your students!
