The Japanese American Society (JAS) Iwakuni is a private, nonprofit organization uniquely located aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni. Today’s JAS was established in August 1985 from what was originally the Japanese American Cultural Friendship Association (JACFA), an organization created in 1957 by Japanese workers on MCAS Iwakuni. JACFA was created “to promote better understanding and friendship between Americans and Japanese.” For more than 60 years, JAS has carried out the original JACFA goal of building friendship through social, recreational, and cultural activities and through educational and language programs offered to base residents and the Japanese community.

 

JAS is governed by an executive board and committees consisting of American and Japanese volunteers who adhere to an approved constitution and bylaws. The board and committees meet monthly to discuss and implement JAS activities, events, and programs. Every January, JAS hosts a general meeting open to members and non-members. At this annual meeting, nominations open and a general election is held to fill the board and committees for the year.   

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JAS Iwakuni’s education and language program offers English and Japanese language conversational classes held on and off base. Many Japanese join JAS to learn English or improve their conversational skills from native English-speaking teachers.

 

JAS also offers differing levels of Japanese language conversation classes taught by Japanese teachers. The Japanese classes are popular with Americans from MCAS Iwakuni looking to increase their confidence and proficiency in Japanese conversation.