BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//JapanHands//Calendar//EN
NAME:Philadelphia Japan-America Grassroots Summit October 21-25, 2026 - Ja
 panHands
X-WR-CALNAME:Philadelphia Japan-America Grassroots Summit October 21-25, 2
 026 - JapanHands
X-WR-CALDESC:Single event export for Philadelphia Japan-America Grassroots
  Summit October 21-25, 2026
TIMEZONE-ID:America/New_York
X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:philadelphia-japan-america-grassroots-summit-2026@japanhands.org
SEQUENCE:0
DTSTAMP:20260801T004125
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261021
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261025
X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:TRUE
X-MICROSOFT-MSNCALENDAR-ALLDAYEVENT:TRUE
SUMMARY:Philadelphia Japan-America Grassroots Summit October 21-25\, 2026
LOCATION:Greater Philadelphia
DESCRIPTION:The Japan-America Grassroots Summit is an annual gathering of 
 Japanese and American citizens\, held alternately in Japan and America. It
  celebrates the historic friendship between Nakahama Manjiro and Captain W
 illiam Whitfield. Manjiro was a 14-year-old fisherman when he was marooned
  off Japan’s coast. Whitfield rescued the young Manjiro\, brought him ba
 ck with him to the United States and shared his own home with him there. Y
 ears later\, because of his rare command of English and unmatched experien
 ce in America\, Manjiro played a pivotal role in the newly forming relatio
 nship between Japan and the United States.\n\nEvery year since 1991\, some
  100 to 200 people have traveled across the Pacific to take part in the an
 nual Grassroots Summit. Japanese prefectures and American states alternate
  as host regions for about one week\, with locals sharing their homes and 
 the unique features of their communities and guests enjoying sight-seeing\
 , cultural activities\, receptions\, and homestays with them. Together\, g
 uests and hosts make meaningful memories in the spirit of genuine omotenas
 hi -- hospitality and open-hearted friendship.\n\nThe Summit starts with a
 n Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception -- with local entertainment and l
 ocal cuisine. This is the first chance for guests to meet people from thei
 r host region -- local volunteers\, performers and artists\, dignitaries. 
 Optional local sight-seeing tours are available earlier in the day.\n\nOrg
 anizer: John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exch
 ange (CIE)\n\nOrganizer email: manjiro@manjiro.or.jp\n\nRegistration: http
 s://japanphilly.org/2026-japan-america-grassroots-summit/\n\nJapanHands li
 sting: https://japanhands.org/events/philadelphia-japan-america-grassroots
 -summit-2026
ORGANIZER;CN="John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for Internationa
 l Exchange (CIE)":mailto:manjiro@manjiro.or.jp
URL;VALUE=URI:https://japanphilly.org/2026-japan-america-grassroots-summit
 /
STATUS:CONFIRMED
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR