Join Nakayoshi for "Tokyo Sonata"

Buy your tickets now to see the San Francisco premiere of Tokyo Sonata with Nakayoshi on Friday, March 13th at 6:45 pm at the Sundance Kabuki Theaters!



The director Kiyoshi Kurosawa himself will be at the screening to answer any questions and for a discussion on the film. Tickets to most San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) movies sell out, so reserve your seat early with Nakayoshi!

To purchase tickets, send an email to emily.leach@gmail.com with the # of tickets. Tickets are $10 each. We only have 15 seats total and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

Please be prepared to arrive 15 minutes early to guarantee your seat (that would be at 6:30, folks). Since these shows do sell-out any open seats have their tickets released back to the rush line for purchasing.


About Tokyo Sonata (from the 2009 SFIAAFF website):

Winner of the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's latest film finds the filmmaker departing from the supernatural terrain of his recent string of horror films to present a piercing, devastating family drama. Like Yasujiro Ozu and Mikio Naruse, whose influences are evident in both style and theme, Kurosawa examines a modern Japanese family against the backdrop of a changing world, in this case a crumbling social fabric and an uncertain geopolitical landscape.

Check out the film's official website in Japanese or English.

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Don't forget you can also sign up to volunteer with Nakayoshi at the SFIAAFF!

For any questions, please email nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

67 years ago today...

Although our community in the Bay Area will be observing our Day of Remembrance this coming Sunday, let us remember that 67 years ago today, the path of our community was drastically altered by the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President FDR. For the Japanese American community, February 19th, 1942 would be the day that lived on in infamy, as 120,000 Japanese Americans were eventually rounded up and relocated away from the west coast.

I can think of no greater culturally and historically significant event in the Japanese American community. Day of Remembrance should be a day in which we give recognition to the great perseverance and sacrifice of the earlier generations of our community, and to also give stern recognition that the loss of livelihood, dignity, rights and even lives resulting from the internment of our community is an experience that our country should neither forget nor repeat. Day of Remembrance is also a time to salute and give gratitude to the Nisei veterans who fought for their country despite being placed in camps. Likewise, I give recognition to the No-No Boys and resistors who demonstrated the integrity of their own resolve and principles by standing firm against the government that had hypocritically stripped their community of their rights.

Day of Remembrance is also an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts to rebuild the community after internment, and to celebrate the achievement of Redress that the Nisei and Sansei won. Day of Remembrance is a time of looking back and expressing our gratitude and appreciation of those who have come before us and who have struggled and who have had some part in creating the community that today is one I call my own.

While Day of Remembrance is an event that prompts us to look to the past, it also presents to me an opportunity to question the current state and future outlook of the community. At this point in time, as the yonsei and gosei, shin-issei and shin-nisei come into increasing prominence in the community, I wonder how much of this history my generation still retains, and how deep our own connection with the struggles of our predecessors runs. I wonder at what point the responsibility to carry on the obervance of this day will fall upon the shoulders of today's youth, and how that interpretation of that historical moment and its aftermath will be internalized and then expressed by a generation that has enjoyed so much privilege borne of the determination and grit of their great-grandparents, their obaachans and ojiichans.

I would love to see what this day means to other young Japanese Americans, and how they see us carrying on this legacy in the future. Please feel free to leave a comment with your own thoughts. For now though, hopefully we'll see some of you this Sunday to observe, reflect and serve the community at the Day of Remembrance.

REEL NIKKEI STORIES Workshop

February 21, 2009

11:30am - 2:30pm

JCCCNC (1840 Sutter Street, SF)

FREE and open to the public!

http://www.jcccnc.org/programs/special.htm

REEL NIKKEI STORIES is designed to engage young people to take an active role and empower them with the confidence, training and tools to interview, video document and share the untold stories of living relatives before their family histories are lost forever. Although many documentaries, books and oral histories have been produced to preserve and teach the Japanese American experience during World War II and in internment camps, your family’s personal story may still remain untold and undocumented. By interviewing and video documenting your elders’ stories, you will be able to start a dialogue in your family and learn first-hand accounts of the Japanese American experience.

For more information on how to create your family legacy project please contact Ali at 415-567-5505 or email Akagawa@JCCCNC.org.

Volunteer with Nakayoshi at the SF International Asian American Film Festival!

Come volunteer with Nakayoshi at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF)! Benefits include:

• Vouchers for festival screenings
• Meeting film industry professionals and fellow film enthusiasts
• Official Festival T-shirt
• Volunteer Appreciation Party
• Working off parking or traffic tickets incurred at various cities throughout the Bay Area through Project 20
• Hanging out with your super cool friends at Nakayoshi

How to volunteer with Nakayoshi at the SFIAAFF:

1. Register with Nakayoshi by emailing nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com with your name and email. Any questions about volunteering at the festival should be directed to the Nakayoshi email address above.

2. Register with the Center for Asian American Media's Shiftboard: http://www.shiftboard.com/caam Be sure to write "Nakayoshi" somewhere in the "Why would you like to volunteer for our festival" section.

You will be informed of Nakayoshi group volunteer details through email. You are welcome to sign up independently for other volunteer shifts, and you can also volunteer in SF, Berkeley or San Jose!

Nakayoshi will also be purchasing group tickets to watch a Japanese film playing at the festival. More details on Nakayoshi at the movies to come!

The 27th annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), which showcases the best Asian and Asian American films from around the globe, takes place March 12-22, 2009 in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose. The SF portion of the festival runs from March 12th to the 19th.

Nakayoshi Monthly Update - February 2009

Hey everyone, sorry we've been a little late this month in sending out our update, but luckily, we're just getting started on our events for February! This month's main focus will be on the Bay Area Day of Remembrance on February 22nd as we join the rest of the community to pay our annual respects to the members of the Japanese American community who were incarcerated unjustly in internment camps during WWII. To end the month on a much lighter note, Nakayoshi will be renting out a cabin and hitting the slopes at Northstar at Tahoe for our first ski/snowboard trip! Make sure you guys RSVP for both events!

And just a reminder, we're always looking for new members to join us, so come on out if we haven't met you yet, or bring a friend!

In this update (new events in bold):
2/13/09 - Volunteer Orientation for Bay Area Day of Remembrance
2/22/09 - Bay Area Day of Remembrance

2/27/09-3/1/09 - Weekend Ski/Snowboarding Trip and Monthly Meeting
3/5/09 - SF Hep B Free Campaign "B a Hero!" Dinner

Friday, February 13th, 2009: Volunteer Orientation for Bay Area Day of Remembrance

A big thank you for those of you who have already stepped up to volunteer at Day of Remembrance on Feb. 22nd! For those of you who have signed up and anyone else who would also like to come out to help, the DoR Planning Committee is hosting an orientation and information session on Friday evening at 6:30 pm in the downstairs conference room at the JCCCNC in Japantown. Dinner will be provided to attendees. Let us know if you're coming!

When: Friday, February 13, 2009
Time: 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Location: Downstairs Conference Room at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009: Bay Area Day of Remembrance

This year marks the 30th year the Day of Remembrance has been observed in the Bay Area. The 2009 Bay Area Day of Remembrance, with the theme of "Carrying the Light for Justice," takes place in San Francisco on Sunday, February 22, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sundance Kabuki Theater, 1881 Post St. (between Fillmore and Webster), with a reception at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, 1840 Sutter St. This year's program will include a keynote speech by US Congressman Mike Honda, a poetry reading by SF Poet Laureate Janice Mirikitani, a short film, presentation of the Clifford Uyeda Peace and Humanitarian Award, as well as a candle lighting ceremony and an interfaith procession. The event is sponsored by the Bay Area DOR Consortium (of which Nakayoshi is a participating organization) and funded in part by the San Francisco Japantown Foundation. A free reception at the JCCCNC will follow the program and procession.

Nakayoshi will also be selling tickets as well as volunteering at the event itself. Tickets are available through us for $10 in advance or $15 at the door. We may have complimentary tickets available for the first few Nakayoshi members and volunteers who request them, so let us know if you're going! If you'd like to purchase tickets or help out, let us know by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

For more information on the 2009 Bay Area Day of Remembrance, check out dayofremembrance.org, or call 415-921-5007. We hope you can join us on February 22nd to pay our respects to the sacrifices of those before us and to the ongoing struggles of others.

When: Sunday, February 22, 2009
Time: Noon-5pm for volunteers, Program runs from 2-4pm
Location: Sundance Kabuki Theater, 1881 Post St., San Francisco, CA
Price: $10 for advance ticket; $15 at the door

Friday-Sunday, February 27-March 1, 2009: Nakayoshi Ski Trip

This month's social event is an entire fun-filled weekend up in Tahoe with you and your fellow Nakayoshi members! For any skiiers and snowboarders out there, Nakayoshi has put together a ridiculously cheap weekend ski trip to Northstar at Tahoe. If a day out on the slopes followed by good food and cabin partying at night sounds good, you don't want to miss this trip! Be sure to bring your friends as well, but space is limited, so RSVP as soon as you can! RSVP deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 17. E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

For only $99, you get:

• Carpool (volunteer drivers get an additional $20 off!)
• One day Northstar lift ticket
• 2 nights cabin lodging
• 2 meals (dinner Saturday, breakfast Sunday)

Other options/additions include: Ski/board rentals - $35, 2nd day lift ticket - $79

When: Fri-Sun, Feb 27-Mar 1, 2009
Time: Leave Friday evening, return Sunday afternoon
Location: Northstar at Tahoe
Price: $99 (plus optional additions)

February Monthly Meeting

Due to the scheduling of the Day of Remembrance on February 22nd and the Nakayoshi Ski Trip on the last weekend of the month, Nakayoshi's February meeting will be held during the Nakayoshi ski trip.

Upcoming Events in March
Save these dates! More March events and details coming soon!

3/5/09 - SF Hep B Free Campaign "B a Hero!" Dinner

Come enjoy a 9-course Chinese dinner followed by a raffle and karaoke contest as Nakayoshi supports the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign at their "B a Hero!" dinner event at the South Sea Seafood Village. The dinner runs from 6-9 pm and is $25 for Nakayoshi members who RSVP by 2/26/09. Hepatitis B is a very serious disease that affects the API community disproportionately. Fortunately, it is treatable. Come out to the dinner to find out what's being done in San Francisco to help prevent and educate the public about Hepatitis B. E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com to RSVP.

Here are some quick facts on Hepatitis B and why you should come out and support this cause:

• API's have the highest risk of HBV of any ethnic group.
• San Francisco's API residents comprise 34% of the city's population and bear a disproportionate burden of liver cancer and undetected HBV infection.
• Hepatitis B is a serious disease responsible for 80% of all liver cancers among APIs.
• The city of San Francisco has the highest liver cancer rate in the nation.
• It is estimated that 1 in 10 people in the API community are infected.
• APIs are up to 100 times more likely to suffer from chronic HBV infection and 4 times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population.

For more information on the SF Hep B Free campaign, go to: http://www.sfhepbfree.org/

When: Thursday, March 5, 2009 (RSVP by Thursday 2/26/09)
Where: South Sea Seafood Village, 1420 Irving Street (between 15th and 16th avenue), San Francisco, CA
Time: 6-9pm
Price: $25

All events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at: nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog at http://www.nakayoshi-jacl.blogspot.com/ or find us on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.

February Social Event

Nakayoshi Ski Trip

Friday, February 27- Sunday, March 1

SKI TRIP 4 CHEAP! Join Nakayoshi for the social event of the snow season! Cruise the bunny slopes, practice your 360s, or (if your skill level is anything like mine) get cozy at the lodge with a mug of hot cocoa and throw snowballs at the show-offs!

$99 INCLUDES:

• carpool (volunteer drivers get $20 off)
• northstar lift ticket
• lodging
• 2 meals (dinner sat, breakfast sun)
• optional snowboarding lessons

OTHER OPTIONAL ADDITIONS:

• ski/board rentals $35
• 2nd day lift ticket $79

To register for Nakayoshi's Ski Trip or for more information email: nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

SPACE IS LIMITED. RSVP by Feb 17th!