Exhibit celebrates U.S.-Japan treaty anniversary

Caitlin Hudgins

Friday, July 2, 2004 | 8:47 a.m.

When the USS Powhatan neared Tokyo Bay in 1854, the Japanese, who had never seen steamships before, thought their island kingdom was being approached by "giant dragons puffing smoke."

They weren't dragons, but according to the U.S. Navy's Historical Center Web site, the Powhatan and three other U.S. warships were scary enough to persuade Japan, which had been isolated from most of the world for two centuries, to open its ports to U.S. merchant ships.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of that treaty, the "Discover Japan through Contemporary Posters" art exhibit opens Tuesday at the Cheyenne Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Supported by the Japan America Society of Nevada, an organization founded in 1995 to promote a more modern type of cultural exchange, the exhibit was designed to further encourage relations between Japan and the U.S.

Kathleen Blakely, president of the local chapter, hopes "Discover Japan" will challenge the samurai image many Americans picture when they think of the Japanese.

"We have no idea what they're like as a people," she said. "I don't think we as Americans get to see much of what goes on in everyday Japanese life."

Dozens of Japanese posters will be on display at the Cheyenne campus with themes ranging from the 2002 Japan World Cup and the 2005 Expo Japan to ecology and sake.

"The posters give you a little slice of life -- a sneak peek at what makes them (the Japanese) tick," Blakely said.

Even though the posters are technically advertisements, the art is beautiful, she said.

"Some of them are very, very colorful," Blakely said. "Some of the images draw you in emotionally."

The Japan America Society hopes the exhibit will attract students along with adults.

"It would be a good idea for parents to bring their children to let them see how other people in other countries view everyday events," Blakely said.

Sponsored by the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, "Discover Japan" will also include Japanese drum performances, folk dances and flower arrangements.

Blakely hopes to increase awareness and understanding of Japan not only by supporting events such as "Discover Japan," but also by donating to local charities.

The Japan America Society's annual charity fund-raising golf tournament benefits the Japanese Saturday School, which teaches children about Japanese language and culture.

The society is also planning to create a scholarship for college students.

The group's next event, scheduled for September, is a Japanese dance, music, and kendo (martial arts) festival at the Winchester Theater.

For more information on the exhibit, call (702) 651-4006."