About

About NCS

The Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and Area (NCS) was established in 2000 after the folding of the former Lethbridge and District Japanese Canadian Association (LDJCA).  At first, our main purpose was to facilitate a history book project entitled, Nishiki: Nikkei Tapestry: a History of Southern Alberta Japanese Canadians. However, throughout the years, the NCS has become a central organization in all activities related to Japanese and Japanese Canadian culture, arts, and history in Southern Alberta.

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We are currently offering Japanese Minyo Dance lessons for adults and children. In addition, we also offer Taiko Drumming lessons on a weekly basis..  Both of these groups are active in the community throughout the year, performing both locally and around Southern Alberta and Southeastern BC.  They are regularly part of the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta’s O-Bon Festival, with one of the most memorable of these occasions being in 2017, at the celebration Canada’s 150^th and Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden’s 50^th anniversaries – an event highlighted by the visit of Her Imperial Highness Princess Ayako or Takamodo.        

Apply for Scholarship

The NCS offers a robust scholarship program, including an annual scholarship to area high school graduates interested in Japanese language or culture (the Mac Nishiyama Memorial High School Graduation Scholarship), scholarships for U of L university students on the Japan Study Abroad program (offered at the University’s sister institution in Sapporo), scholarships for University students with a minor in Japanese, book prizes for promising students of Japanese in the U of L Modern Languages Department, and a Cultural Development Award for members involved in a cultural development or continuing education project related to Japanese culture. 

Partnership

The NCS has also partnered with the Galt Museum and Archives, Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, the U of L, as well as regional authors and filmmakers in a number of historically-based projects over the last two decades.  This has resulted in an in-situ and online virtual museum exhibit, “Nikkei Tapestry: The Story of Japanese Canadians in Southern Alberta.” at the Galt Museum in 2003. Also produced were two books written by Rochelle Sato, Nikkei Journey and Japanese Canadian Journey, as well as a video project, and assisting Dr. Darren Aoki (Plymouth U.) and Dr. Carly Adams’ (U of L) Nikkei Memory Capture Project.   

Japanese Class

Our youth group formerly offered Japanese language lessons, but beginning this fall, we will be offering language courses taught by a certified Japanese language instructor who also teaches at the University of Lethbridge and the Southern Alberta Ethnic Association.  Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, these classes will be online in September.

NCS also organizes an annual Japanese New Year’s Party that attracts an average of 100 attendees.  This year, we showcased a very thought-provoking documentary called The Suitcase Project which featured fourth- and fifth-generation Japanese Canadians and Americans.  We had the fortune of having the filmmaker, Kayla Isomura, with us; she spoke about the inspiration and genesis of the project.

Recently, the NCS established a new sub-committee as the Bunka Hashi Festival decided to join under our umbrella.  We are excited about this new influx of ideas, energy and youth, as they bring an enthusiasm and expertise in Japanese popular culture to Lethbridge.