October’s Ouchigohan: Onigiri Action Halloween Bash!
This October, USJETAA is excited to host our very first おうちごはん OUCHIGOHAN cooking class! What better way to kick off the fall season than by making Halloween-decorated onigiri along with two other comforting Japanese dishes, cozy kabocha soup and a healthy spinach ohitashi. This family-friendly online class gives you the chance to cook along from your own kitchen or simply watch and enjoy.
This month’s class is also part of Onigiri Action, an initiative that provides 1 million school meals to children in need. After you’ve made your onigiri, take a photo of your onigiri and share it with #OnigiriAction. Each posted and tagged photo helps provide school means to children in need. What better way to celebrate your time on JET than this!?
Here’s what we’ll be making together:
Onigiri (Salmon or Tuna) - hand-shaped rice balls with flaky salmon or creamy tuna mayo, decorated in fun Halloween styles
Pumpkin (Kabocha) Soup - smooth, cozy, and perfect for fall evenings
Spinach Ohitashi - a classic Japanese side dish dressed with katsuo flakes or sesame seeds for a vegetarian option
We’re especially happy to be part of this series and offer a chance for the JET community to reconnect with Japan through food and learn how to make some of the dishes we miss. You’ll also get to cook alongside other JET alumni and connect with members of Japan America Societies across the country. Costumes are welcome if you want to get into the spirit!
📅 Event Details:
Date: Saturday, October 18 at 6:00PM ET
Tickets: $10 when you sign in with your USJETAA membersip / $15 for non-members
Our instructor is Debra Samuels, lead curriculum and recipe developer for Wa-Shokuiku, a program of TABLE FOR TWO USA. Debra is an author of two cookbooks and co-author of Japanese Cooking for Kids, TFT’s new cookbook and the 2020 recipient of the John E. Thayer III Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cultural Exchange Between the United States and Japan.
