Past Events
Learn what tanka poetry is, how it differs from haikku, a its important place in Japanese culture as the oldest form of Japanese poetry, still widely practiced by citizens at all levels of society. Nancy Matsumoto shares her family history, introducing her grandparents, Tomiko and Ryokuyo Matsumoto, who, in 1960 published a book of tanka poetry. By the Shore of Lake Michigan, now translate iinto English.
Reaping What She Sows with Nancy Matsumoto
Join us for a discussion with James Beard award-winning author Nancy Matsumoto. Her book, Reaping What She Sows: How Women Are Rebuilding Our Broken Food System, introduces readers to the women changemakers who are building out local and regional supply chains to combat the destructive effects of the Big Food system. Reaping What She Sows offers a blueprint for what eating enjoyably, sustainably, and ethically looks like today.
We’ll also welcome Stephanie Welter-Krause, founder of Swelter Coffee, which features coffee grown by women producers and co-ops around the globe. Sample Swelter’s featured roasts and browse a selection of beans available for purchase.
Hosted at Dandelion Bookshop (139 S. Oak Park Ave.)
Join us for an afternoon of stories, wine, and the people who grow it.
On April 12th, we're bringing together two people who think deeply about where things come from: Nancy Matsumoto, author of Reaping What She Sows, a book about how women are fixing our broken food system, and Drea Scotland of Drinks Farm, a farm in Prince Edward County making wines and other beverages with hybrid grapes and a whole lot of care.
They'll be in conversation with Celia Mendez of Canary Counter, tasting through some of Drea's wines and talking about the things that keep them up at night (in a good way).
Please join us in welcoming Nancy Matsumoto, co-author of the James Beard award-winning Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Saké: Rice, Water, Earth for a fun night of saké education and saké and food pairing. Following a lecture on sake basics—What is it? How is it made? What’s the best way to drink it?—we’ll indulge in chef Charlie Grandquist’s tasty chicken and seafood yakitori skewers paired with a selection of Japanese sakés. Must be over the age of 21 to join the class with valid ID.
On Apri 7, from 5:30 to 7 PM at the Martha’s Vineyard Ag Society’s Ag Hall, we're hosting a panel on women in the island food system with James Beard Award winner Nancy Matsumoto! The panel is co-hosted with Slough Farm.
This panel celebrates the publication of Nancy's new book Reaping What She Sows: How Women Are Rebuilding Our Broken Food System. Our panelists will be Nancy Matsumoto, Alexis Moreis of the Wampanoag Tribe of Chappaquiddick, Caroline Pam of Island Grown Initiative, Emma Green-Beach of MV Shellfish Group, and Chef Ting of Black Joy Kitchen.
We'd love to see you there; if you'd like to attend, please register on our website!
Association for Asian American Studies Conference, Honolulu Hawaii, “Recovering Stories of Displacement and Dispossession through Issei Tanka Poetry” 8:15-9:45 am HST, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, 2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, HI 96815.
University of California at Merced panel discussion, "Women Who Nourish: From Soil to Table to Glass."
Join us at UC Merced for an inspiring Women’s History Month conversation celebrating women leading across agriculture, ranching, culinary arts, and food storytelling.
In recognition of the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer, Women Who Nourish highlights how women are shaping regenerative food systems, caring for the land, and nourishing communities — from soil to table to glass.
Date: March 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm -- 7:30 pm Location: UC Merced, Fred and Mitzie Ruiz Administration Center, Room 306
Parking: Free after 6:00 pm
UC Santa Barbara lecture for environmental studies professor Liz Carlisle’s Food, Agriculture, and the Environment class.
In person and online discussion and Q & A, “Poetry, Memory and Remembrance,” sponsored by Serica Initiative’s Serica Storytellers series and Julie Azuma of Potluck Asian America.
We will be tasting through a lineup of classic, and new or revivied styles to show how sake has evolved over the years.