About Us

About Us

School Name: Omaha Japanese School
Organization: Omaha Japanese School
Address: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Founding Date: January 14th, 1986
Organizational Status: Nonprofit Organization
Founding Body: Parents of enrolled students
Operating Entity: Omaha Japanese School School Board
Honorary Adviser & Founder: Emiko Unno

Address

Countryside Community Church
13130 Faith Plaza
Omaha, NE 68144

History

1986/January Began operation with 20 students and a few teachers in the basement of Principal Unno's house.

1986/February Moved to Westside Community Educational Center with 10 students.

1986/March Started the 1st semester in Showa 60 with $15 tuition/month.

1986/April Recognized as a supplemental Japanese school by the Japan Overseas Educational Services (Consulate-General, Ito). Registered as Nebraska State Nonprofit Organization, Omaha Japanese School

1986/May The first Children's Day event.

1986/July In Shizuoka, Japan, Omaha's sister city, the Shizuoka Shimbun (newspaper company) posted an article asking for book donations. About 5,000 books, textbooks, and other learning materials were donated. Yamanouchi helped us to pick 1,000 books and other learning materials. Yutaka Makino donated the shipping fee and donated to the Omaha Sister City Association. Finally, the donated books were shipped together with the container for the Omaha-Shizuoka sister city anniversary event.

1986/September Received the shipment of donated books and founded the children's library.

1986/November Held the first Sports Day event (Undookai).

1987/February Held the first Spring Coming event (Setsubun).

1987/July Introduced Japanese culture at Omaha Children’s Museum.

1988/February 20 students enrolled.

1988/June Lucas Brave received the award from Pentel Children's Art contest.

1988/November Welcome party for the Japanese Ministry of Education survey team.

1989/January Japan Overseas Educational Services introduced OJS in their magazine. 26 students enrolled.

1991/March First Annual Academic Presentation.

1991/June Participated in the first summer workshop for locally hired teachers.

1995/February Acted in Playhouse Nebraska Caravan: Sadako.

1996/December Produced the first school tee-shirt with the welcoming cat (Maneki-neko) logo. Produced the jumbo card game (Karuta). Founded the school library.

2000/September Held the first Kanji proficiency test (Kanji Kentei). Recorded a video to introduce OJS to Tokyo Gekugei University.

2004/September Held the first fundraising picnic event.

2005/January Japan Overseas Educational Services introduced OJS in their magazine.

2005/August Moved to Underwood Elementary School. Made 1,000 Origami Cranes for Westside Alternative High School Rose Theater Caravan: Sadako. Introduced Japanese culture at Omaha Children’s Museum.

2006/March Held the 20 Year Anniversary Party.

2006/October Participated in the first Japan Ambience Festival at Lauritzen Gardens.

2008/May Moved to St. Mark Lutheran Church

2008/August Held the summer workshop for locally hired teachers.

2009/January Held the first Mochi Pounding New Year party.

2010/September Invited Mr. Bellinger (board member of Omaha Sister City Association, the Honorary Consul General of Japan) to the Sports Day.

2011/March Held a charity luncheon event for the Tohoku Earthquake.

2011/May Held a charity garage sale event for the Tohoku Earthquake.

2011/June Participated in the first workshop for principals.

2011/November Seminar by the principal at Chicago Japanese School, Mr. Nagayama: For Children Living in The Future.

2011/December Recognized as the Nonprofit Organization 501(c)(3) Public Charity 170(b)(1)(a)(ii). Become able to collect tax exempted donations.

2013/April Ms. Kiyomi Tamura became the new principal. Ms. Emiko Unno became an honorary adviser.

2012/November Taisei Murakoshi received the honorable mention award at the 34th Oversea Children's Composition Contest (JOES).

2015/June Ms. Kiyomi Tamura left OJS due to a move.

2019/June Registered as the venue for the English Proficiency Test (Eigo-Kentei).

2019/November Yuto Nakamura received the outstanding performance award at the 40th Oversea Children's Composition Contest (JOES). Isora Nozaki received the honorable mention award at the 40th Oversea Children's Composition Contest (JOES). Haruka Mizushima received the honorable mention award at the 40th Oversea Children's Composition Contest (JOES).

2020/March School closure for preventing Covid-19.

2020/April Online meeting start due to Covid-19

2020/May Online class starts due to Covid-19

2020/September Increase the time spent for online class. (Kindergarteners 60min, other classes 2 hours.)

2020/October Mr. Tomofumi Omemoto (National Astronomical Observatory) held an online seminar "Fureai Astronomy" for 5th Grade through Junior High School students.

2020/November Ryo Takahashi received the outstanding performance award at the 41st Oversea Children's Composition Contest (JOES). Sayo Kunihiro received the honorable mention award at the 41st Oversea Children's Composition Contest (JOES).

2022/October Participated in Japan Ambience Festival at Lauritzen Gardens.

2022/October Elementary grade 4 to junior high school students participated in "Astronomy experience" by Dr. Hiroshi Matsuo of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.