2026 Kansha Culmination 

The Kansha Project is a transformative program that provides young Japanese Americans the opportunity to learn about our community’s history, develop unique insights about our community’s legacy, and allows participants to explore their identity with other Japanese American young adults. In addition, the Kansha Project provides an entry point for community engagement and a pathway for youth leadership that is vital to the future of the Japanese American community at large. Over the past twelve years, the Kansha Project has grown from a mere idea into a flagship program of JACL Chicago, sending over 100 alumni across ten cohorts to Little Tokyo, Los Angeles and Manzanar National Historic Site. 

This year, the trip will take place from June 4-7 and celebrate the 2026 Kansha Project cohort with Culmination in Chicago on Saturday, June 27.

• Grace Harue Bonjour
• Emi Boonin
• Adriana Serrano Matsumoto
• Maya Ostermann
• Evan Yuji Potijinda
• Raquelle Marissa Chiyeko Riffle
• Tibe Masao Rwakatare
• Miye Slowik
• Taylor Mary Williams

We are glad to report that Kansha Project 2026 and Culmination were a success! Thanks so much for your support. 

Questions? Contact JACL Program Director, Rebecca Ozaki at kansha@jaclchicago.org. Learn more at https://jaclchicago.org/programs/kansha-project.

Photos from Kansha Culmination 2026, photographed by Kevin Moy and Ty Yamamoto, are below.