Jennifer Swanson is a professional English and Japanese teacher, serving the DC area since 1999.  Jennifer studied Japanese at UC San Diego, earned her graduate level multi-subject teaching credential, and participated in the JET program as an ALT in Kanagawa-ken (93-95).  She then worked at a Tokyo based expatriate services company and passed JLPT N1 in 1998.  She runs her own teaching/cultural consulting business. (jenniferswanson.org) She started studying Japanese OMOTESENKE tea ceremony in 2013 enjoys sharing Japanese tea ceremony in person and online.  

Kihachiro Nishiura is a descendant of Nishiura Enji, the founder of the Nishiura-yaki school of ceramics, which was highly acclaimed in the Meiji Era. His “Nishiura Style” exhibitions of incense, floral arrangements, calligraphy, and other art forms have been enthusiastically received in Japan and around the world. 

Mutsumi Stone is a competitive (kyōgi) karuta player with a 6th dan ranking. After playing competitive karuta in Japan for nine years, she moved to the U.S. and later lived in England, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and China, allowing her to promote kyōgi karuta in those and neighboring countries. After returning to the U.S. in 2013, she has been organizing competitive karuta practice sessions and introducing this mind sport in Japanese classes at schools and colleges. As the overseas liaison for the All Japan Karuta Association, she supports karuta players worldwide. 

Matt Hall began practicing kendama in 2000, when he was given his first kendama by the legendary Masahiro Mizuno, after acting as his interpreter. Since then he has achieved his 1st rank in Kendama, and is one of the founding members of the British Kendama Association.

Harmonious Kitchen is proud to once again provide shōkadō bentō (traditional Japanese lunch boxes) to the three Japanese players from the LA Dodgers during the team’s away games, April 7–9, 2025. We’re honored to support these top athletes with nutritious, performance-boosting meals—just as we did after last year’s Japan Bowl. Want to taste what the players are eating? You just might get the chance! 

Harmonious Kitchen is an authentic Japanese home-style kitchen that Takako Taniwaki started in the spring of 2017 in Washington DC. As a woman-owned small business, I take pride in offering balanced and wholesome bento boxes. These are complete meals with a variety of flavors, textures, and colors that are a staple of Japanese cuisine. With vegetarian and vegan options, let Harmonious Kitchen help you enjoy healthy and delicious meals. 

Hideko Uchiyama, Professor of Kyoto Hakubi Kimono academy, has been in charge of kimono fashion shows and kimono lectures for the Sakura Princess Program.  

She has held kimono dressing classes in the United States, including  at the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, the presenter of the National Japan Bowl. 

Nikoli, a Tokyo-based publisher founded in 1980, is renowned for inventing over 300 types of logic puzzles. It introduced Japan’s inaugural puzzle magazine and is distinguished for their handcrafted puzzles. Nikoli is credited with naming Sudoku and igniting its worldwide popularity. Today, Nikoli publishes more than 150 puzzle magazines and books, distributing puzzle content to over 100 newspapers and magazines globally.