JSA Professional Development Workshop at Johnson County Community College
"Integrating Japanese Culture Across the Curriculum"
October 2-4, 2025
Final Program Here
Thursday, October 2nd
Time Location Activity
8:15 – 9:00 OCB 100 Registration, Welcome, and Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 10:30 OCB 100 “Japanese Writing, Korean Dancing: An Introduction to Japan’s Ethnic Korean Minority through the Work of Lee Yangji”
Dr. Thomas McDonald
Assistant Professor of Japanese Studies, Department of East Asian Language and Culture,
University of Kansas
10:30 – 10:50 OCB 100 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30 OCB 100 "Resources for Integrating Japanese Culture Across the Curriculum”
A Panel Discussion with Andrea Thimesch, JCCC Librarian, Miho Kawashita, Japan Outreach & Initiative Coordinator, Mego Londeen, Outreach Coordinator & Education Specialist, KU Center for East Asian Studies, and Yayoi Shinoda, Associate Curator, Japanese Art, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
12:30 – 1:45 OCB 100 Lunch
1:45 – 3:15 OCB 100 “Tokyo: Then and Now”
Dr. Alisa Freedman
Professor, Japanese Literature, Cultural Studies, and Gender
at the University of Oregon
3:15 – 3:35 OCB 100 Coffee Break
3:35 – 4:45 OCB 100 “Moments in Japanese Art: From the Nelson-Atkins Collection"
Yayoi Shinoda
Associate Curator, Japanese Art,
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
6:00 BBQ Dinner at Dawn Gale’s home
Friday, October 3rd
Time Location Activity
8:15 – 9:00 WHCA Atrium Breakfast Buffet
9:00 – 10:30 WHCA 145 “Voices of Japanese ‘War Brides’ in Post-War Kansas”
Dr. Ayako Mizumura
Assistant Director, Center for East Asian Studies,
University of Kansas
10:30 – 10:50 WHCA Atrium Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30 WHCA 145 “Mascots, Cryptids, and UFOs: Civic Monsters in Contemporary Japan”
Dr. Bill Tsutsui
Chancellor and Professor of History, Ottawa University
12:30 – 1:30 WHCA 150 Lunch
2:30 – 5:00 Nelson - Tour the Japan gallery and visit other galleries of interest
Atkins
Museum
5:00 Nelson- Sips and Snacks
Atkins
Museum
Saturday, October 4th
10:00 – 7:00 JCCC Greater Kansas City Japan Festival
**Enjoy cultural displays, performances, workshops, and presentations
Of particular interest: additional presentations by Dr. Alisa Freedman and Dr. Bill Tsutsui, as well as presentations by JSA members: Dr. Stasia Bensyl, Dr. Michael Charlton, Dr. Andrea Stover, and Dr. Jennifer Welsh.
Time Location Activity
8:15 – 9:00 OCB 100 Registration, Welcome, and Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 10:30 OCB 100 “Japanese Writing, Korean Dancing: An Introduction to Japan’s Ethnic Korean Minority through the Work of Lee Yangji”
Dr. Thomas McDonald
Assistant Professor of Japanese Studies, Department of East Asian Language and Culture,
University of Kansas
10:30 – 10:50 OCB 100 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30 OCB 100 "Resources for Integrating Japanese Culture Across the Curriculum”
A Panel Discussion with Andrea Thimesch, JCCC Librarian, Miho Kawashita, Japan Outreach & Initiative Coordinator, Mego Londeen, Outreach Coordinator & Education Specialist, KU Center for East Asian Studies, and Yayoi Shinoda, Associate Curator, Japanese Art, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
12:30 – 1:45 OCB 100 Lunch
1:45 – 3:15 OCB 100 “Tokyo: Then and Now”
Dr. Alisa Freedman
Professor, Japanese Literature, Cultural Studies, and Gender
at the University of Oregon
3:15 – 3:35 OCB 100 Coffee Break
3:35 – 4:45 OCB 100 “Moments in Japanese Art: From the Nelson-Atkins Collection"
Yayoi Shinoda
Associate Curator, Japanese Art,
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
6:00 BBQ Dinner at Dawn Gale’s home
Friday, October 3rd
Time Location Activity
8:15 – 9:00 WHCA Atrium Breakfast Buffet
9:00 – 10:30 WHCA 145 “Voices of Japanese ‘War Brides’ in Post-War Kansas”
Dr. Ayako Mizumura
Assistant Director, Center for East Asian Studies,
University of Kansas
10:30 – 10:50 WHCA Atrium Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30 WHCA 145 “Mascots, Cryptids, and UFOs: Civic Monsters in Contemporary Japan”
Dr. Bill Tsutsui
Chancellor and Professor of History, Ottawa University
12:30 – 1:30 WHCA 150 Lunch
2:30 – 5:00 Nelson - Tour the Japan gallery and visit other galleries of interest
Atkins
Museum
5:00 Nelson- Sips and Snacks
Atkins
Museum
Saturday, October 4th
10:00 – 7:00 JCCC Greater Kansas City Japan Festival
**Enjoy cultural displays, performances, workshops, and presentations
Of particular interest: additional presentations by Dr. Alisa Freedman and Dr. Bill Tsutsui, as well as presentations by JSA members: Dr. Stasia Bensyl, Dr. Michael Charlton, Dr. Andrea Stover, and Dr. Jennifer Welsh.