Announcements

A message from our PTA president 

In all the mentioned fields, we approved a good number of grants through the PTA Grant and Speakers Program, which once again is creating opportunities for a little magic to happen in our children’s lives. The PTA Board is still in a position to fund a few additional initiatives this year. So, if you are a teacher or a parent with a great idea but limited funds, take this final opportunity to apply before the end of March and bring your initiative to life.

For the PTA Nominating Committee, the beginning of spring always means many hours of conversations with inspiring parents who are ready to become more actively engaged with the PTA next year. Seeing their skills, energy, and motivation is truly humbling. And if you’re more like me—if you missed filling out the nomination form because you had no time, felt you had no special skills, or thought your kids would rather not see you at school—just wink three times! It’s never too late to get involved with the PTA.

Great things are definitely coming our way. If you’re a “to-do” person, come lend a hand with FOFA or the Graduation Committee. If you’d rather sit back and enjoy, don’t miss the Talent Spotlight on March 14. And remember, when it comes to the best company, PTA division spring dinners never disappoint—complete with good food and perhaps a glass or two of wine.

With everything happening in the world, I hope you, your families, and your friends are doing well.

Warm regards,

Indre Mackeviciute
On behalf of the ASIJ PTA Board

SUPA CNF Book Presale

TICK-TOCK: 3 DAYS LEFT! In just 72 hours, the pre-sale window for After Hours closes forever. This isn't just a book; it’s a vault of the 2AM runs, the unsent texts, and the raw, honest memories our HS SUPA Creative Nonfiction students have brought into the light.

THE LAST CALL

Don't wait for the sun to come up on March 6th—snag your copy now and save.

• The Deal: ¥2,500 (Save ¥1,000 off the retail price!)

• The Deadline: Price jumps to ¥3,500 after March 6.

• The Reward: Your first edition arrives this May.

PRESALE FORM

Do you want to know your awesome PTA board members? Here’s the full column from the ‘Get Acquainted with Our PTA Board Members’ series!

Follow ASIJ PTA on Instagram – @asij.pta

Volunteer Request

Call for Volunteers: Help Us Create a Night to Remember!

The High School Prom is just around the corner, and we are looking for 10 parent volunteers to help transform the venue into a spectacular space for our students. If you have a creative eye or just a helping hand, we would love to have you!

• When: Saturday, Apr 11

• Time: 4PM – 6PM

• Where: ANA Intercontinental Hotel

Your support makes this milestone event possible. Ready to help? Sign up now.

Divisional Events

ELC Spring Film Fest - Mar 4 after PACT Day Dismissal

The ELC PTA is excited to host our Spring Film Festival on Wednesday, March 4, following the PACT day dismissal. It’s sure to be a fun afternoon for everyone! Sign up here to reserve a spot for your child(ren). *Sign up at your earliest convenience, as some titles may close earlier due to room capacity. Interested in helping out? We need a few more parent volunteers to help make the event a success, sign up here to volunteer. Questions? Contact Ivy, Hanako and Yumi at DivisionEvents@pta.asij.ac.jp

MS Spring Parents’ Night Out - Mar 13 at 7:00PM

Hello Middle School parents! We are thrilled to invite you to our Spring Parents’ Night Out. It’s a great chance to catch up and enjoy some of the best Indian cuisine in town! Datetime: Friday, March 13th at 7:00PM – 9:30PM Location: DIYA Modern Indian Dining, Takanawa Gateway. Cost: ¥9,000 per person (Includes full dinner menu & drinks). Please sign up here.

HS Spring Social Dinner - Apr 10 at Scarpetta Tokyo

Sign up now for the HS Spring Social Dinner! It has been great to see and meet so many of you HS parents at various social events throughout the school year. Join us at Scarpetta Tokyo for a night of warm company of fellow High School parents. Enjoy delicious Italian cuisine at this lovely restaurant located conveniently in Toranomon. We look forward to enjoying the evening with you.

-Date and time: Friday, April 10 at 7-10PM

-Location: Scarpetta Tokyo (Tokyo World Gate Building, 4 chome-1-1- 1F, Toranomon, Tokyo)

-Cost: depending on the number of attendees, between ¥11,500 - 16,100  per person

-Dress: Smart Casual

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Draper or Emi Chachra at hssocial@pta.asij.ac.jp

ES Spring Family Picnic at the Park - Apr 25 at 11AM

Spring is almost here! Let’s celebrate the warmer weather with a relaxed family picnic at Yoyogi Park. Bring your own lunch and blanket, and enjoy time chatting with other parents while the kids run and play. We’d love to see you there. Sign up for the event here.

Parent-Led Clubs

Are you new to ASIJ or to Tokyo, or maybe a returning parent? Do you have hobbies or interests that you would like to share with the ASIJ community? We encourage you to establish a new club. The PTA will support you in starting, managing and promoting the club. If you have a club idea or questions, please contact Parent-led Clubs Chair, Jennifer Min at parentledclubs@pta.asij.ac.jp. 

View the full list of parent-led clubs on our website, including current photos. 

Flower Arranging Club - Mar 5 at 10AM (Azabu Gardens West)

The sign up to make a Spring arrangement is now closed. Stay tuned for the next event in April!

Run Happy Walk Happy Club - Mar 9, 16 at 8AM (Nogawa Park)

Sign up to join a fun run or walk with optional breakfast afterwards. We meet on Monday mornings around 8AM in the parking area at Nogawa Park (next to ASIJ). All paces are encouraged to join this fun and friendly group!

Jazz Club - Mar 9 at 7PM (Takadanobaba, Shinjuku)

Sign up to enjoy Jazz, drinks and food, and conversations with other ASIJ parents. We plan to visit Cafe Cotton Club in Takadanobaba, Shinjuku for the music of Seiji Hakakwa Quartet, featuring Fukushi Tainaka on drums, renowned Jazz drummer who was a longtime member of legendary alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson‘s group. Music charge: ¥5,000 per person and a minimum of one drink per attendee. Doors open at 6:30pm and the music starts at 7:30pm. Please plan to be there before 7pm to order drinks and food. The cancellation deadline is March 6.

Christian Parents Club - Mar 10, 17 at 9AM (Zoom)

Sign up to join this weekly club on Tuesday mornings via Zoom. Are you seeking a supportive community where you can pray for your children and their school? We invite you to participate in a time of worship, praise, and intercessory prayer. Our prayers are conducted in English and Japanese.

Ikebana Experience Club - Mar 10 at 10AM (Global Front Tower, Shibaura)

Sign up to immerse yourself in the elegant world of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. This 90-minute workshop is led by Rikako, a licensed Ikebana teacher from Ikenobo, Japan’s oldest school of floral art. During this time, you will experience the tranquility of this timeless craft and connect with fellow ASIJ parents. Tools will be provided on site. The cost is ¥5,500 (cash).

Book Club - Mar 11 at 12PM (Nihonbashi)

Sign up to join the next Book Club meeting to discuss Death in Tokyo by Keigo Higoshino. We will meet at Nihonbashi Fish Market Monument (Nihonbashi bridge) and have lunch at a nearby spot.

Neighborhood Explorers Club - Mar 12 at 10:15AM (Yoshiwara)

Sign up to explore the Yoshiwara neighborhood, which is the former pleasure quarter in Tokyo and talk about its impact on Japanese culture. Only one spot left! We will meet at the McDonald's Minowa (outside of Exit 3 of Minowa Station).

Brisk Walk Club - Mar 13 at 10AM (Umegaoka Station)

Sign up for an early Sakura walk! We will meet at

Umegaoka Station and walk to Naka-Meguro, getting an early view of the sakura along the Meguro River.

Photography Walk Club - Mar 16 at 10AM (Shimomaruko, Ota City)

Sign up for a cherry blossom photo walk and to explore one of Tokyo’s hidden gem spots. We’ll learn, shoot, soak it all in, and then head to lunch together afterwards. We will meet at the Monument of 21 Century Sakura. Bring a cell phone or camera!

Global Cooking Club - Mar 18 at 10 AM (Setagaya City)

Sign up to join the next cooking club session for a tea experience centered on Pakistani chai culture inspired by the tea traditions of Hunza Valley and Lahore. Led by ASIJ parent, Aneeta Bokuts, we'll sample traditional tea-time treats and learn how to make Buru Shapik and crispy Samosas. Please note that some dishes include nuts. The cost is ¥1,800 (cash).

Cultural Connections - Mar 19 at 10AM (Azabu Gardens West)

Sign up to join Treasures of the Japanese Pantry - An Easy, Healthy Japanese Cooking Workshop. Motoko Yoshida will guide you through a variety of simple recipes using ingredients that have been staples of Japanese cuisine for centuries. Washoku, the traditional Japanese cuisine, is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In this workshop, you’ll learn its traditional yet practical theory and its super-easy application firsthand, and you’ll even get to taste it! This workshop is suitable for vegetarians and offers plant-based protein options. The cost is ¥6800-7000/person (cash) and the cancellation deadline is March 16. Once we have the exact number of participants, we will divide the cost and let the participants know the exact fee.

Grant and Speakers Program (GSP)

About GSP

The PTA has funds to help bring cool projects and guest speakers to ASIJ! If you’re a teacher, staff member, student group, or parent with a great idea to boost learning or add something special to school that would go beyond the standard curriculum, you can apply for financial support through the PTA Grants and Speakers Program (GSP). From author visits and student-led gardens to virtual reality in the classroom, past grants have made a difference.

Want to know more or ready to apply? Check out the guidelines and the application form.