JIA FOUNDATION

Programs

1. SEIJIN-shiki is a Japanese Coming of Age Celebration. Each year we host a ceremony in Bellevue to celebrate young people turning 20 and welcome young adults of any nationality, including Japanese citizens living in the United States or dual citizens, Japanese Americans, and other U.S. citizens and residents who have an interest in and affinity for Japanese culture. Families, friends, and other community members are also invited to attend. For those with Japanese roots, the event provides an opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and values and strengthen their identity as Japanese. It also provides an opportunity to share Japanese culture more broadly and build friendships among multinational members of the community. The event is held on the second Sunday of January. Our goals are to celebrate the coming of age of young Japanese in America and help them strengthen their cultural identity, to provide opportunities for young Americans to learn about Japanese culture and develop into a new generation of leaders with understanding and appreciation for Japanese and other cultures, and to introduce Japanese culture to communities in the United States. At the 2025 event, 126 young…

   $9,679 spent
   75% of program spending

2. JIA Foundation initiated a Family Summer Camp called "Rinkan-Gakko" in Japanese in 2018 to provide families with an opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese-style summer camp in the United States. The program emphasizes the use of Japanese throughout the entire duration of the camp and encourages children and parents to participate in cultural activities such as cooking, outdoor games, morning exercises, and cleaning. The program allows children to practice their Japanese language skills, learn about Japanese culture, and meet other children who share similar cultural and social backgrounds. It also provides parents with an opportunity to share activities they experienced in their own childhood and connect with other parents who may have similar parenting concerns while raising children in the United States. In the summer of 2025, 14 adults, 19 children ages 7 to 16, and 14 staff members participated in the two-day camp at Camp Huston, where they engaged in activities such as orienteering on hiking trails, other outdoor programs, and cooking and sharing meals together.

   $2,050 spent
   16% of program spending

3. To foster a sense of community, JIA Social offers opportunities for people to connect, spend time together, and appreciate Japanese heritage, including food and culture. People of all generations and nationalities with an interest in Japan are welcome, although communication is primarily conducted in Japanese. In 2025, we held two in-person community events.

   $1,160 spent
   9% of program spending

4. Heart-no-WA (Heart of WA) / JIA Seminar: Living overseas can present many challenges, especially when language, culture, and systems are unfamiliar. Through informative and educational seminars and workshops conducted in Japanese, we provide guidance on topics that affect many aspects of JIA's lives and help connect them with resources they need to live fulfilling and productive lives in the United States. Topics covered in the past include raising children in the U.S., understanding the healthcare system, mental health awareness, long-term care in the U.S., support for domestic violence survivors, Stop Asian Hate, and the divorce process and child custody. We offer several seminars and workshops each year, some of which are open to the public free of charge, with attendance typically ranging from 15 to 70 participants. Our goal is to support JIA in building fulfilling and productive lives and becoming engaged members of U.S. society and the communities where we live.

   $88 spent
   1% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2025 Form 990-EZ. Program spending in total: $12,977.