By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

Please Note: I am currently a member of the Japan-America Society in my area. This is not a sponsored post, but I want to be transparent about my membership and any potential biases. I also recently spoke at one of their events, and I believe it’s important to acknowledge this as I recommend organizations like theirs to you.

If you’re someone who loves anime and manga, you’re already tapped into one of Japan’s most influential and well recognized cultural exports. However, if you want to explore Japanese culture, history, and community more broadly here in the U.S., I want to recommend getting involved with your local Japan-America Society either by attending events, volunteering, or becoming a member to support and participate in ongoing cultural programs year-round. (Note: I am biased, as I am currently a member of the society nearest to me! This is not a sponsored post, but I really want to make this clear since I recently spoke at one of their events and it is ethical to present that bias.)

A “Japan-America Society” refers to a (typically) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation between Japan and the United States. These societies have been around for a long while and can be found in many states across the U.S. They can act as cultural bridges, offering language programs, events, and resources that celebrate and educate people about Japan beyond the pop culture spotlight. Japan also has some America-Japan societies that do similar work, sometimes focusing on fostering cultural, educational, and business connections.

As anime and manga fans, I think that we often immerse ourselves in the worlds of entertainment through learning about studios and shows or comics, but anime and manga don’t exist in a vacuum—they’re part of a much larger cultural and historical context (something we sometimes discuss here at The Anime View).

Anime and manga can offer insights into Japanese culture, but I think that true cultural exchange requires real-world experiences that go beyond watching, reading, or even studying the language.

By connecting with your local Japan-America Society, and other groups like it, you can find more enriching experiences beyond fandom in ways that help you appreciate where these art forms come from and what they reflect about Japanese society.

For example, the Japan-America society closest to me right now, Japan-America Association of South Carolina (JAASC), is hosting a small Cherry Blossom Festival in a nearby town today (literally as this post is publishing). These societies often host cultural events like these, but also tea ceremonies, calligraphy workshops, traditional music performances (taiko, anyone?), and other festivals that can give you firsthand experience with the traditions you’ve only seen on screen or read about prior.

While anime conventions are amazing for meeting fellow fans, Japan-America societies attract a diverse group of people, from students and artists to business professionals and sometimes cultural ambassadors from major companies or organizations. It’s a fantastic way to broaden your circle and meet people who share your interest in Japan’s culture on multiple levels and in diverse ways.

I’m relatively new to this kind of cultural exploration. I’ve often attended events advertised, for example, through Eventbrite, but more recently have tried to get involved in the local community now that I’ve moved and have more free time. A coworker suggested that I offer some of my convention panels to museums and organizations, and I’m so glad I took that advice! That’s also why I want to share this here—because organizations like these rely on people to keep them going.

By supporting local cultural organizations like these—even just by attending free events—you help sustain these programs and demonstrate their value. Many of these societies are nonprofits that depend on memberships, donations, and word-of-mouth support. They also rely on showing local governments and communities that people care about what they offer (which is why I also strongly recommend getting a library card!). Your involvement plays a vital role in keeping cultural exchange active and thriving in your community.

So, if you’re serious about your passion for Japanese culture, check to see if there’s a Japan-America Society near you. A good place to start is through the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS). However, you can also start by just looking up “Japan-America Society [State]” in your favorite search engine. For me, the nearest one is JAASC (mentioned above), which is not in NAJAS, but is still a very active organization that works with other Japan-America societies nationwide.

I hope you will check out your local cultural group and let us know about the experience in comments below!

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Developmental Edits by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee