July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

A chance to learn a little (9/8/03)

Opinion

Fifteen years ago, the cultural mix of Jay County’s demographics entered new territory.

Joining folks of English, Irish, German, Hispanic, and African-American heritage were Japanese families, coming here in connection with the establishment of what is now FCC (Indiana), a top-flight manufacturer of automobile clutches.

Like any good soup, the county has benefited from the addition of new ingredients.

This weekend, there will be a chance to celebrate that co-mingling of cultures and an opportunity to grow and learn more about one another.

Led by Kenji Funada, the retired president of what is now FCC (Indiana), a group of artisans, craftsmen, and students is coming to Jay County on a mission of cross-cultural learning and understanding. The group will be trying to learn as much as they can about American culture — particularly the small town, rural Midwestern variety — while sharing Japanese culture with the rest of us.

On Saturday, a series of free workshops will be conducted at Arts Place in Portland, providing an introduction into a variety of traditional Japanese crafts. It’s a great way to gain new understanding of our differences while simultaneously celebrating our common humanity.

Stop by on Saturday. You’ll learn something about Japanese culture, and you’ll probably learn something about yourself as well. — J.R.

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