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• 2026 Box Lunch Order - Japanese Language Contest

  • Start
    Sunday, January 18, 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • End
    Friday, March 06, 2026
  •  
    11:30 PM
  • Location
    KU - Burges Union,

  Register

  
  

  The 28th Annual Japanese Language Contest

  
  

  Lunch 

  on Saturday, March 28th, 2026

  Audience members 
  

  can pre-pay for their lunch here

  
  

  JLC participants can order lunch while registering (28th Annual Heartland Japanese Language Contest ) or if your instructor is registering you please contact them to find out the lunch situation.

  • *Also, you are welcome to bring your own lunch and/or you may participate in the Obento Contest on the day of the contest.*

     Box Lunch 

    from Nagoya Japanese Cuisine restaurant

    
    

    $14.50 a box

    
    

    Choice between:

    
    

    A - Chicken Katsu

    B - Salmon Teriyaki

    C- Tofu Teriyaki

    
    

    
    

    Pre-order and pay for your lunch by March 6, 2026.

  • To purchase, please follow the "Register" link in the box on the left.

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• Local - Nelson-Atkins Lunar New Year - HAJAS Participating

  • When
    Sunday, January 25, 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

  
  

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• 2026 Shinnenkai

  • When
    Saturday, February 07, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • Location
    The Carriage Club, 5301 State Line, Kansas City, MO 64112

  Register

  
  

  
  

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• Local - Naka-Kon - HAJAS Participating

  • Start
    Friday, March 13, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • End
    Sunday, March 15, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS

  
  

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• 28th Annual Heartland Japanese Language Contest

  • When
    Saturday, March 28, 2026
  •  
    9:45 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    KU-Burge Union, Forums C & D, 1565 Irving Hill Rd, Lawrence, KS 66045

  Registration is closed

  Registration will open in February 1, 2026

  28th Annual Heartland
  

  Japanese Language Contest

  KU - Burge Union, Forums C & D

  
  

  March 28, 2026 - In person

  Karuta: Hiragana, Katakana, N5 & N4 Kanji

  
  

  March 27, 2026 - Online Quizzes  

  beginning at 6 pm

  JLPT 5, 4, 3 Vocabulary and Grammar quizzes

  
  

  Calligraphy & Tanka Contest - submit by March 6

  
  

  Find complete contest details here:

  DETAILS - TBD

  
  

  Returning:  

  Obento Contest on March 28th

  
  

  
  

  Schedule of Events

  
  

  Entertainment, Activities, Info 

  HAJAS Bazaar Table

  Kizuna Friendship Group performance & workshop

  Japanese games, calligraphy & origami

  Info Tables 

  Japan Trivia Game

  Obento Contest

  
  

  For more information or question, please contact:

  kcjlangcont@gmail.com

  
  

  Registration fees underwritten by:

  
  

  Hosted by:

  Consulate General of Japan at Chicago

  Heart of America Japan-America Society

  KU - East Asian Language Department

  
  

  Sponsored by:

  Heartland JET Alumni Association

  KU - Center for East Asian Studies

  Post Haus

  KU International Affairs

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• April Garden Clean Up - 1st Clean Up of the year

  • When
    Saturday, April 04, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO. 64112

  

  *** APRIL Garden Clean Up ***

  
  

  The HAJAS Garden Committee usually meets monthly 10 am - noon at the Japanese Garden located next to the Loose Park Garden Center. 

  For more information:

  hoa.japanamericasociety@gmail.com
  

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• May Garden Clean Up

  • When
    Saturday, May 02, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO. 64112

  The HAJAS Garden Committee meets monthly 10 am - noon at the Japanese Garden located next to the Loose Park Garden Center.  

  For more information:

  hoa.japanamericasociety@gmail.com
  

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• June Garden Clean Up

  • When
    Saturday, June 06, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO. 64112

  The HAJAS Garden Committee meets monthly 10 am - noon at the Japanese Garden located next to the Loose Park Garden Center.  

  For more information:

  hoa.japanamericasociety@gmail.com
  

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• July Garden Clean Up

  • When
    Saturday, July 11, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO. 64112

  The HAJAS Garden Committee meets monthly 10 am - noon at the Japanese Garden located next to the Loose Park Garden Center.  

  For more information:

  hoa.japanamericasociety@gmail.com
  

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• Kurashiki Friendship Delegation - Japanese high school student exchange

  • Start
    Wednesday, July 22, 2026
  • End
    Friday, August 07, 2026
  • Location
    Kansas City

  
  

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• September Garden Clean Up

  • When
    Saturday, September 05, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO. 64112

  The HAJAS Garden Committee meets monthly 10 am - noon at the Japanese Garden located next to the Loose Park Garden Center.  

  For more information:

  hoa.japanamericasociety@gmail.com
  

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• September General Meeting - 2026 Student Ambassadors

  • When
    Tuesday, September 22, 2026
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

  Join us in welcoming

  2026 Student Ambassadors 

  
  

  
  

  Student Ambassadors will travel to Kurashiki in July 2026 to represent the Kansas City area, the Heart of America Japan-America Society, and the United States.  We were excited to provide these students the opportunity to experience homestays with families in our beloved Sister City!

  
  

  Join us for our September meeting to hear about their time in Kurashiki and visits to Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Itsukushima Shrine.

  
  

  
  

  In-person  or Zoom online,

  Tuesday, September 22th at 7 pm

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• 2026 Greater Kansas City Japan Festival

  • When
    Saturday, October 03, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Johnson County Community College

  
  

  2026 Greater Kansas City Japan Festival

  http://www.kcjapanfestival.org
  

  Saturday, October 3, 2026

  
  

  Call for Leader Volunteers!

  We're looking for Leader Volunteers to support our Performing Arts and Educational areas of the festival!  Benefits include free entry to the festival and festival merch!  Fill out our Google Form to get started:

  View Google Form
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• October Garden Clean Up

  • When
    Saturday, October 10, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO. 64112

  

  1st weekend in October - attend our Japan Festival at JCCC

  
  

  The HAJAS Garden Committee meets monthly 10 am - noon at the Japanese Garden located next to the Loose Park Garden Center.  

  For more information:

  hoa.japanamericasociety@gmail.com
  

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• November Annual Potluck, Business Meeting and Holiday Bazaar

  • When
    Tuesday, November 17, 2026
  •  
    6:15 PM - 8:30 PM

  Tuesday, Nov 17th @ 6:15 pm

  Annual HAJAS

  
  

  Potluck 

  and 

  Business Meeting

  Our 2026 Potluck and Annual Business Meeting will be Tuesday, November 17th , at 6:15 p.m.  

  
  

  Potluck Dinner

  (in person only)

  We'll continue our cherished tradition of sharing a meal together followed by the meeting.

  Meat tray, sushi tray, drinks, plates, etc will be provided.

  Please bring a side dish to share based on your last name (Japanese food is always appreciated!)

  • A - E Breads
    
  • F - M Potatoes/ Rice / Pasta / Casserole, etc
    
  • N - S Salads & Vegetables
    
  • T - Z Desserts

  
  

  
  

  2026 Annual Business Meeting 

  
  

  and

  
  

  ELECTION OF 2027 HAJAS OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   

  The business meeting will begin at 7:15 pm and will be in-person and online.

  
  

  
  

  All are invited to the potluck and business meeting where we will review the past year.  At the end of the meeting, current HAJAS members will vote for the 2027 officers and board members.

  If you are unsure of your membership status and would like to vote, please email us at:

  hoa.japanamericansociety@gmail.com 

  
  

  Looking for something special for the upcoming holiday season?

  The HAJAS Bazaar will have tables at the Potluck!

  
  

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