Elementary School Strings and Choir End of Year Performance

Karolee Kent (elementary school music teacher) and Tracey Su ( middle and high school strings teacher) updates us on their festive elementary school strings and handbell performance in the ASIJ Theater.

Kyogen: 40 Years Later

On March 14, students and faculty celebrated four decades of ASIJ kyogen performances. The annual tradition begin in 1978, with its first shows during the school’s 75th anniversary Matsuri and has continued to this day, led by the same family of kyogen teachers. Kyogen faculty advisor, Machi Nakamura, and students reflect on the anniversary performance.

High School Musical: The Drowsy Chaperone

David Neale (musical director/producer) writes on this year’s high school musical, a production that introduced the audience to “the woman in the chair,” who led viewers through the show, putting on a record of her favorite musical to deal with “a little self-conscious anxiety resulting in a non-specific sadness.” Her record plays, The Drowsy Chaperone comes to life and the stage is thrust back in time to the 1920s as it filled with student performers. 

Staging Student Creativity, Collaboration and Leadership

One Act Play faculty advisors Mary Pfeiffer (high school teacher) and Ed Gilmartin (theater manager) present this year’s One Act Play performances.

Head of Shibuya ward government’s Gender Equality and Diversity Promotion Division Visits ASIJ

On November 16 ASIJ hosted the head of Shibuya ward government’s Gender Equality and Diversity Promotion Division, Ryutaro Nagata. Although his title is focused on Gender Equality and Diversity Promotion, Ryutaro has a special interest in awareness and equality for sexual minorities and members of the LGBTQ community, placing him in a unique position to work with the Queer Equality Alliance (QEA) high school club along with the Japan Center. High school senior Sara Hoskins writes on his visit.