Community Events

Women's Day Forum in Sac'to

rie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:15:38 -0800

SACRAMENTO — The Florin JACL will hold its 16th annual Women’s Day Forum on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the CSU Sacramento Alumni Center, located at 6000 J St., next to Hornet Football Stadium.

This year’s theme is “A Bridge Over the Pacific.” The event will include breakfast, a sushi lunch, manju give-aways, and entertainment.

Speakers and topics will include:

• “From TV to Paper,” Stephanie Nishikawa, former TV personality;

• “Peace Over the Pacific,” Marielle Tsukamoto, Florin JACL president;

• Tom Vinik, origami specialist;

Taiko Festival to Feature Groups From a Variety of Backgrounds

rie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:14:47 -0800

BERKELEY — Taiko groups from Japan and North America will be featured in the International Taiko Festival on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 3 p.m. at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, located at Bancroft and Telegraph.

This year’s event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of San Francisco Taiko Dojo, which was established by Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka as the first taiko group in North America.

Following are profiles of the guest artists:

South S.F., Kishiwada Celebrate Centennial

rie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:59:13 -0800

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — A delegation from South San Francisco’s sister city in Japan —Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture — paid a visit on Nov. 5 to celebrate the Bay Area city’s centennial.

About 80 people attended the dinner, which was held at the Basque Cultural Center.

The visitors were greeted by South San Francisco Mayor Pedro Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Karyl Matsumoto, the South San Francisco Sister City Committee, and Consul General of Japan Yasumasa Nagamine and his wife, Ayako.

Matsumoto, who served as mayor in 2000 and 2004, will do so again starting next month.

‘Sentimental Journey’ Benefits Buchanan YMCA

rie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:51:55 -0800

The Buchanan YMCA in San Francisco hosted its fifth annual Sentimental Journey celebration on Oct. 25.

“It was a wonderful evening of friends, food, and great dancing,” said a spokesperson for the “Y.” “With over 200 people in attendance, this was the best event yet. Under the generous committee leadership of volunteers, the Buchanan YMCA raised over $13,000 for the youth and families of the Western Addition. This was a momentous occasion for this annual event.”

Tea Ceremony at SFSU

rie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:40:11 -0800

In celebration of the nationally observed International Education Week (the week of Nov. 17), the Japanese Program at San Francisco State University will hold a tea ceremony in the Omotesenke tradition on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the Japanese Tea Room (Room 117 of the Humanities building) on campus.

There are five sessions: 12:10-1 p.m., 1:10 to 2 p.m., 2:10 to 3 p.m., 3:10 to 4 p.m., and 4:10 to 5 p.m.

Advisor: Kikuyo Sekino. Guest host: Michiko Nakagawa. Organizer and host: Midori
McKeon.

Chefs, Musicians, Politicians Support Kimochi

rie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:30:23 -0800

Kimochi Inc.’s 25th annual “Sansei Live!” fundraiser was held at the Presidio Officers’ Club in San Francisco.

One of the highlights was a series of cooking demonstrations by noted chefs. Ming Adler, a pastry and gelato consultant with Fabbri, introduced chefs Russell Yang of Kansai Bistro, Wade Tamura of Google’s kitchen, Noriko Abe of 1300 on Fillmore, and Marc Spasic of Chocpita. Vincent Schofield, formerly of Kabuki Kitchen, was scheduled to attend but had to cancel.

San Mateo Kabuki Group Meets Dec. 7

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:15:46 -0800

SAN MATEO — Every first Sunday of the month, San Mateo Kabuki Group watches kabuki videos at the Japanese American Community Center, 415 S. Claremont St.

On Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m., the group will watch “Tatatoki,” written by Kawatake Mokuami in 1884.

The 9th Hojo Takatoki (played by Nakamura Hashinosuke) is utterly infatuated with drinking and women. His political power is unreasonably outraged. His vassals are perplexed.

One day his mansion is plunged into darkness and a fierce storm breaks out. A number of long-nosed goblins then appear one by one before the pensive Takatoki.

Sachiko to Hold Thanksgiving Weekend Sale

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:13:28 -0800

EMERYVILLE — A safe haven for East Bay ladies to shop Thanksgiving weekend, without the usual crowd crunch, will be at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel at 601 Powell St. in Emeryville, just one block east of Interstate 80.

Sachiko Fashion will be showing over 500 garments and some specialty take-home holiday gifts. Joining Sachiko in the Marina Ballroom will be Maryann Lyons of San Francisco, who will sell her unique Asian-influenced jewelry.

Hours are Friday, Nov. 28, from 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

‘Cinema Japan’ Continues at PFA

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:41:57 -0800

BERKELEY — “Cinema Japan: A Wreath for Madame Kawakita” continues at the Pacific Film Archive through Dec. 17.

The 24-film series, which opened Nov. 1, marks the centennial of the birth of Kashiko Kawakita, who was a major force in bringing Japanese cinema to international attention and in introducing many Western films to the Japanese public.

‘Cats’ With Subtitles

rie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:40:11 -0800

BERKELEY — The documentary “The Cats of Mirikitani,” including Japanese subtitles, will be shown as a fundraiser for the Tule Lake Preservation Committee on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave.

The film tells the story of Jimmy Mirikitani, a former Tule Lake internee who became a homeless artist in New York. He was befriended by the filmmaker, Linda Hattendorf, and reconnected with his past and his community by attending the Tule Lake Pilgrimage.