Our history
In Janaury 2007 members from the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Committee, the Japanese Group of Buffalo, and the Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo came together to create a website promoting Japanese cultural events taking place in the Buffalo-Niagara region. Called the Year of Japan in Buffalo-Niagara, the small group gathered event listings and even organized a few events of their own such as the Clara's House Tea Ceremony and Japanese Art show, a cherry-tree picnic, a Hiroshima rememberance day and a celebration of Bunka No Hi.
Due to the overwheling sucess of the year as well as a continued need to support Japanese cultural events for the region, the Year of Japan group continues to organize, host and celebrate on into the year 2008...Now we are known as Japan in Buffalo-Niagara.
Why is it important to gather regional Japanese cultural events together in one listing?
Because our world is ever shrinking, global cooperation has become indispensable to our way of life. Buffalo has the potential to become a eastern coast hub -- a gateway to the west -- for the distribution of goods and information.
Tourism is becoming one of the important businesses in our area. The city of Buffalo attracts many visitors from places like Japan every year.
Through the interaction between the Japanese community in Buffalo and other interested community members, the Year of Japan in Buffalo-Niagara project contributes to a better understanding of Japanese culture. It enhances the image of Buffalo to a more cosmopolitan city to attract more tourism and gives an opportunity to explore other business ventures in the area of distribution of tangible and intangible products.
During the year the group promotes various Japanese related events through event listings or related news stories. To introduce the Japanese way of life and culture to the city is to broaden our view of the horizon of the world and our lives. The theme, "East Meets West" promotes experiencing "difference" and "universality".
Committee Members
(please note: Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo and Japan in Buffalo-Niagara committees often meet together to discuss similar event planning)
Japan in Buffalo-Niagara Committee
Takako Michii
Atsuko Nishida-Mitchell
Trudy Stern
Martin McGee
Jessica Tanny
Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo Committee and supporting members
Trudy Stern
Atsuko Nishida-Mitchell
Martin McGee
Jessica Tanny
Takako Michii
Catherine Linder Spencer (supporting member)
Dennis Maloney (supporting member)
Meeting Minutes
Year of Japan in Buffalo-Niagara
February 12, 2007 [doc file]
March 12, 2007 [doc file]
April 09, 2007 [doc file]
May 07, 2007 [doc file]
June 11, 2007 [doc file]
July 02, 2007 [doc file]
September 06, 2007 [doc file]
Friends of the Japanese Garden of Buffalo / Japan in Buffalo-Niagara
September 06, 2007 [doc file]
October 01, 2007 [doc file]
December 06, 2007 [doc file]
January 23, 2008 [doc file]
April 23, 2008 [doc file]
May 21, 2008 [doc file]
May 28, 2008 [doc file]