Cultural Engagement >>
While modern Japanese media culture has been a major focus for us, we also love to be able to engage and offer many other aspects of Japanese traditional and modern culture for our attendees. In order to do so, we partner with many local and national organizations and individuals to bring enhanced cultural engagement opportunities to our JAFAX events. Please spend some time viewing the groups and individuals we have partnered with in the past and those we hope to bring for future events as well.
Soga Japan Center - Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University's Soga Japan Center is an interdisciplinary unit designed to promote knowledge of Japan to the WMU community, the city of Kalamazoo, and all of southwestern Michigan. The Soga Japan Center regularly brings scholars, artists, and writers to campus to give Japan-related lectures, demonstrations, and readings to students, faculty, and the surrounding community. The Soga Japan Center also hosts film series, displays, musical performances, and other fun events related to Japanese culture.
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JAFAX has a long-established partnership with the Soga Japan Center to have their team host panels, classes, and demonstrations at our convention to further promote Japanese culture, society, and language throughout the community.
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Further info about the Soga Japan Center can be found on their web site: https://wmich.edu/japancenter
Swordsmanship Museum and Academy
The Swordsmanship Museum and Academy is an educational facility located in Grand Rapids that is dedicated to sharing the histories and cultures of the world through the amazing history of the tools of war and the conflicts surrounding them. The weapons originally designed to split us in half are now being used to bring us together! The Swordsmanship Museum and Academy brings a special traveling museum to JAFAX, featuring artifacts and replicas of the weapons used by warriors of Japan and other Asian cultures, as well as a special panel discussion. Get up close and personal with some of the Museum's most fascinating artifacts, including original katana blades, antique kusarigama, armor pieces, and more!
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Learn more about this amazing organization on their web site: https://www.swordsmanshipmuseum.org/
Grand Rapids Sumo
Professional sumo, known for its enormous competitors and colorful Shinto rituals, can only be found in Japan. However, the amateur side of the sport is practiced worldwide by people of all sizes and genders. Grand Rapids Sumo Club members have faced fierce competitors from all over the world at several tournaments around the United States, including the US Sumo Nationals and the US Sumo Open. The club has hosted their annual Riverfront Sumo Open at JAFAX in 2023 and 2024; JAFAX is excited to once again partner with Grand Rapids Sumo for 2025.
Japanese Heritage Society
The history, artistry, and cultural significance of the kimono are integral to Japan, with the kimono itself serving as a symbol of the country. JAFAX is excited to partner with West Michigan Asian American Association,'s Japanese Heritage Society to present a fascinating kimono program — featuring stunning historical kimonos — for our attendees.
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For more information about the West Michigan Asian American Association, visit their web site: https://www.wm-aaa.org
Taiko Drumming
In previous years, JAFAX has brought in professional Taiko Drummers to provide attendees with an unique and awe-inspiring performance of traditional Japanese drumming. The Taiko Drummers group has performed at JAFAX multiple times and we hope to bring them back again in the future to introduce more attendees to this amazing musical Japanese art form.
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Rakugo Performance by Katsura Sunshine
At JAFAX 2023, we introduced Grand Rapids to an incredible traditional Rakugo performance by the world-famous Katsura Sunshine. Rakugo is a form of traditional, formal entertainment where a lone storyteller sits on a raised platform and uses minimal props to enrapture an audience. Katsura Sunshine was the 15th apprentice to the great Rakugo Master Katsura Bunshi VI.
Aikido
Previously, JAFAX has partnered with the local Yushinkan Dojo, which provided demonstrations of this modern martial way developed in Japan in the early 20th century. The dojo also provided hands-on introductory training in this martial art to interested attendees during interactive panels at JAFAX.
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Japanese Cultural Anthropologist Lex Winter
Lex Winter has spent the last 15+ years of their life devoted to not only Japan (and its history, monsters, and culture) but also to building their own base of knowledge from which they can draw upon to teach others. Lex has lectured at many cons, universities, and libraries on all manners of fandom, culture, folklore, and anything else that strikes their fancy, in hopes of bringing new perspectives and points of view to the appreciation of Japanese animation, culture, history, and everything else associated with it.
Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation
In previous years, JAFAX has partnered with the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival and Foundation (GRAPF) to help increase appreciation for Japanese and all Asian cultures in the Grand Rapids area.
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Please check out GRAPF's web site to learn more about this outstanding community organization: https://www.grapf.org/
Samurai Dan
Samurai Dan has been training and teaching the martial science of the Samurai warriors for over 25 years. Founder of the Samurai Combative Concepts organization, Dan travels the US and Canada, dedicated to keeping the arts of Japan's greatest warriors alive. Aided by his amazing wife Jillian, and their Akitas, the dynamic duo teach a variety of classes and lectures at events everywhere.
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