Visiting our Local Schools

Yoko Watanabe, our Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinator, visited Laredo Middle School in Aurora, CO recently. She shared and discussed modern Japanese culture with the students. Yoko introduced some famous, modern-day Japanese icons who worked hard to make their dreams come true. She then presented the students with ema (pictured above), on which to write their own dreams and share them. May their dreams come true!

Ema (絵馬) are typically small wooden wishing plaques which people purchase at temples and shrines to write their wishes on and dedicate to the gods. They are then tied or hung in a dedicated area within the temple/ shrine grounds.