For you tuna lovers, head to Seiwa Market on Dec 31 for a big MAGURO Bluefin Tuna carving demonstration, 12pm-1pm. Following that, the bluefin tuna will go on sale and there will also be sashimi sampling for the public! There will also be sake demonstrations and samplings that day. Mark your calendars and head out to Seiwa Market, 1801 S. Dairy Ashford, Houston TX. Happy New Year!
今年も「博多祇園山笠」が無事に終了しました！毎年、攻の故郷である福岡で行われるこの伝統的なお祭り。Fukuoka Now が表現している通り、「大きな音、速い動き、混沌とした雰囲気、そして深い伝統―福岡で体験できる最も忘れられないイベントのひとつ」 です。なんとこの祭り、780年以上も続いているのをご存知ですか？15日間にわたって、街中をさまざまな「流（ながれ）」が走り抜け、クライマックスは7月15日午前4時59分、「追い山（おいやま）」と呼ばれる最後の全力疾走で幕を閉じます。攻の家族は「西流（にしながれ）」で毎年参加しており、私たちの3人の息子たちも小さい頃は毎夏一緒に走っていました。今年も参加された何千人もの男衆の皆さん、本当にお疲れさまでした！しっかり体を休めて、また来年も頑張ってください！
Another year of Yamakasa is in the books! Every year, this traditional festival takes place in Koh’s hometown of Fukuoka. As Fukuoka Now describes it, it’s ‘loud, fast, chaotic, deeply traditional- and one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in Fukuoka. Can you believe this festival has run for more than 780 years?! It lasts 15 days with many different runs throughout the city, and culminates on July 15 at 4:59am with the last run which is called the “Oiyama”. Koh’s family runs in the Nishi Nagare and all 3 of our sons have also participated every summer when they were little. Otsukaresama to the thousands of men who participated in the even this year and take a good rest before doing it all over again next year!
For more than 2,000 years, saké has been deeply intertwined with the history and culture of Japan. Crafted through a meticulous brewing process, saké was used during religious or formal ceremonies but has become an integral part of weddings, celebrations, and everyday life.
As the popularity of saké outside of Japan has boomed in recent years, exports to the U.S. doubled between 2012 and 2022. With this increasing interest comes new opportunities to explore the drink’s various varieties, production techniques, and uses.
Join Asia Society Texas, the U.S.–Japan Council, Genji Saké, and Mutual Trading to celebrate the diverse world of Japanese saké. At this evening tasting event, sample a dozen different varieties while industry experts share the brewing techniques and tasting notes. Appetizers from local restaurants and vendors will be served, as well as fun activities such as origami samurai hat crafting, Gacha ball surprises, lucky Japanese coin necklace crafting, selfies with Mt. Fuji, and more.
Guests must be ages 21 and up and will be required to show valid I.D. upon entry.
The Houston Rodeo is the largest rodeo in the world and it happens every year in March for 3 weeks. It is of course done for this year, but Susan’s committee, the 700 member International Committee is actually active all year long. When not in season, the committee thanks its sponsors by doing appreciation dinners monthly. They also interact with guests from around the world through their digital newsletter and international visits. Every 3 years, the top of the international committee changes hands and 2025 is actually the third and final year for the current chairman, Randy Pauly. It will be exciting to see who will become the new chairman next year! To thank Randy for his outstanding leadership, we held an Appreciation event on April 27 at a beautiful venue in Brookshire called Venue 116, owned by committeemen Jon and Shawn Johnson. 2025 is the last year for Susan to serve as one of four Division Vice Chairmen under Randy’s leadership. It’s been an amazing ride and from the bottom of my heart, here’s a huge THANK YOU to Randy for choosing me to be on his leadership team with Nelson Ocampo, David White, and Tammy Barrier. #Blessed
The 2025 Houston Rodeo ended on March 30. Here is a breakdown of the incredible record breaking numbers:
Total Attendance:The 2025 rodeo welcomed 2.7 million guests over the 23-day event, setting an all-time attendance record.
Record-Breaking Auctions:The rodeo also saw 10 record-breaking auctions, including the junior livestock auction sales, which totaled $29,652,317.
Art Auction:Kinkaid School student Sophie Zhou raised a record-breaking $276,000 with her painting titled “Nurture” at the art auction.
Scholarships and Grants:The rodeo awarded over $28 million in scholarships and grants, including $14.7 million in scholarships, almost $9.7 million for junior show exhibitors, $3 million in educational program grants, and $481,100 for graduate assistantships.
Volunteers:The rodeo is largely supported by the 35,000 volunteers who assist in running almost every aspect of the event.
Payouts:A combined $2,533,500 was awarded to various riders and ropers, with individual champions taking home between $69,000 and $73,500.
While the 2025 Rodeo is over, the 2026 Rodeo is already buzzing with news! It was announced a few days ago that the 2026 Rodeo dates have been set for March 2-22.
