Participants & Participating Organizations in 2011
In Alphabetical Order

Below are the contributors for last year’s Japan festival we thank for for helping us put on such a wonderful event and look forward to the 2012 Greater Kansas City Japan Festival.

(See this year’s program for festival financial contributors.)

  • After School Judo Academy (Don Hinchsliff)
  • Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City
  • Consulate General of Japan at Chicago
  • Heart of America Japan-America Society
  • Independence / Higashimurayama Sister City Committee
  • Japan Business Association of Greater Kansas City
  • Japan Club of Kansas City
  • Japan Culture Club
  • Japanese Landscaping, Inc. – Koji Morimoto
  • JET Alumni Association
  • Jinmukan Japanese Sword School (Charlie Williams)
  • Johnson County Community College
  • Johnson County Community College International Education
  • Johnson County Community College “Kai-hen-en: Garden for Japanese Studies”
  • Johnson County Community College (Kazuyo Rumbach)
  • Kansas City Igo and Shogi Club
  • Kansas City Japanese School
  • Kansas City Kendo Club (John Drakey)
  • Kansas City / Kurashiki Sister City Committee
  • Kansas State University (Kumiko Nakamura)
  • Ki Daiko (Olathe)
  • K-State Yosakoi Dance Group
  • Midland Ki Society / Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (Pam Jones)
  • Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido Ginga Dojo (Jon Andresen)
  • Ben Oki
  • Olathe School District
  • Ottawa Suzuki Strings
  • Shawnee Mission Center for International Studies
  • Sogetsu School of Ikebana
  • Three Trails Taiko
  • University of Kansas Center for East Asian Studies
  • University of Kansas Study Abroad
  • Washburn University (Yuka Nito-Billen)
  • Wichita State University (Yumi Foster)
  • Jo and Yoshiko Yamanaka

And many talented and dedicated groups and individuals.

Japan Festival Executive Committee

Executive Director: Francis Lemery
JCCC Representative: Carolyn Kadel
Director of Performing Arts: Dianne Daugherty
Fundraising Chairperson : Jim Kanki
Treasurer: Joyce Williams
Committee Members: Hiroko Bray,  Mickey Coalwell, Denny Kurogi, Koji Morimoto, Carole Owsley, Sheilah Philip, Hideko Schackmann,  Mike Smick, Yoshiko Yamanaka, Yasuyoshi Ueki, Mayumi Wagner and Tami Woodsmall.
Honorary / Advisory Member: Shunichi Fujishima, Japan

Festival Art Designer: Tadashi Isozaki
Mr. Isozaki created the beautiful Festival poster design, the front cover of the Festival program and our postcard fliers. He also designed our Festival T-shirt. Isozaki is a graphic designer in British Colombia, Canada.

Festival Web Master: Mike Smick
Mr. Smick created the Japan Festival web site.  He also designed the ads for Tastebud Magazine, the Kansas City Star and Pitch Weekly. Smick is a Web Developer and provides Marketing Support and lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Information Booths and Organizations

The following Japan-related booths are located on the first floor of the Carlsen Center

  • Heart of America Japan-America Society
  • Heartland JET Alumni Association (JETAA)
  • Johnson County Community College International Studies
  • JCCC “Kai-hen-en, A Garden for Japanese Studies”
  • Colleges with Japanese Language Programs in Kansas
    • Kansas State University (Kumiko Nakamura)
    • University of Kansas (Erika Hirano-Cook)
    • Washburn University (Yuka Nito-Billen)
    • Wichita State University (Yumi Foster)
    • Johnson County Community College (Kazuyo Rumbach)