Monthly Update - July 2010

Here's your July monthly update for this month's Nakayoshi events! Last month we kicked off our 3rd year of bringing together young professionals across the Bay Area at our annual Welcome BBQ in Golden Gate Park. We had a solid turnout and great weather to accompany an afternoon of fun and BBQ. Nakayoshi members also pitched in to help the San Francisco JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club host their annual Youth Fishing Derby at the San Pablo Dam Reservoir.

Be sure to check out what we have coming to you this month! Both of our July social and volunteer events are coming up this weekend, so you'll want to RSVP ASAP! On Friday night we are going bowling at the Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco to be followed up with tapas at Thirsty Bear, and on Sunday we'll be volunteering at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple's big Obon Festival. Make sure to mark your calendars in advance for our events in August as well - volunteering at the Nihonmachi Street Fair and our annual camping trip! More info below!

In this update:

7/16/10 - Nakayoshi Bowling Night

7/18/10 - Volunteering at Mt. View Obon Festival

Weekend of 8/14-8/15 - Nihonmachi Street Fair

Weekend of 8/27-8/29 - Nakayoshi Camping Trip

Friday, July 16 - Nakayoshi Bowling Night

Come roll with Nakayoshi this Friday for July's social event. We'll be at the Yerba Buena gardens in downtown SF (right next to the SF Metreon) bowling, rollin' and LOL'n all night long. Don't forget to bring some extra cash for shoe and alley rentals. After our forearms and fingers are strained and sore, we can migrate to Thirsty Bear at 661 Howard Street to hang out and enjoy some tapas.

What: Nakayoshi Bowling Night
Date: Friday, 7/16/10
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Yerba Buena Skating and Bowling, 750 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134184499949030

Sunday, July 18 - Volunteering at Mt. View Obon Festival
Come celebrate obon season with Nakayoshi at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple on Sunday, July 18. We will be assisting the temple to man game and food booths and the main dining area at the festival. Volunteer shifts are 2-hours each, starting from noon until 6pm. Let us know when you sign up which shift you would prefer by e-mailing nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. Come hang out with the rest of Nakayoshi and enjoy the great food and fun before and after your volunteer shift! Volunteers are still greatly needed to assist with the kitchen and take-out booths, so sign up today!

For those of you unfamiliar with obon, obon is an annual Buddhist holiday to honor one's departed ancestors. Many Japanese Buddhist temples hold a festival in conjunction with this holiday, which are often one of the biggest local community events of the year. Mountain View Buddhist Temple holds one of the largest obons in the Bay Area, which will include lots of great food, game and drink booths, as well as an optional Buddhist religious service and will culminate in a traditional obon dance (bon-dori) open to anyone to participate in. Obons are also a fun opportunity to come out dressed in more traditional Japanese dress, so come out sporting your yukata or hapi-coats if you have them!

Questions? E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

More information on the temple and obon at: http://www.mvbuddhisttemple.org/

Also, if any of you in the South Bay are available during the week, the temple could also use volunteers on the evenings of Wednesday, July 14th and Friday, July 16th to help prepare the teriyaki chicken and beef to be sold during the obon festival. Contact Ron Murata at remurata@comcast.net if you are available during the week.

What: Volunteering at Mt. View Obon Festival
Date: Sunday, 7/18/10
Time: Noon-6pm (2 hour volunteer shifts starting from noon)
Location: Mt. View Buddhist Temple, 575 North Shoreline Blvd, Mt. View, CA
RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136916066336313

Weekend of August 14-15 - Nihonmachi Street Fair
Mark your calendars for the weekend of August 14-15 for the Nihonmachi Street Fair in SF Japantown! Started in 1973, the Nihonmachi Street Fair began as an effort of young activists of the Japantown community. Every year, NSF continues to bring together community organizations, Asian/American artisans, local musicians and cultural performers to celebrate the culture and to share and educate others about Japantown. Nakayoshi has assisted JCYC set up and man booths and games in the Children's Village for the last couple of years. We'll be sending out more information on volunteer opportunities for this great event in our August monthly update, so stay tuned!

For more information on the Nihonmachi Street Fair, go to: http://www.nihonmachistreetfair.org/index.htm

Weekend of August 27-29 - Nakayoshi Camping Trip
Get ready for our 2nd Annual Camping Trip in the Lake Tahoe area! Keep your calendars open the weekend of 8/27-8/29 for fun times. Our outdoor activities last year included kayaking on the lake. We're still finalizing the itinerary, but we're looking into rafting on the Truckee River (more floating than anything) as well as some hiking for this year's trip. We'll be camping at Fallen Leaf Campgrounds (same as last year).

Feel free to take Friday 8/27 off and drive up earlier (to avoid Friday afternoon traffic and having to set up camp in the dark!). More time to relax...

You must confirm your spot by sending an email to nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

What: Nakayoshi Camping Trip
Date: Weekend of 8/27/10 - 8/29/10
Location: Fallen Leaf Campground, South Lake Tahoe, CA (map)
Price: TBD
RSVP on Facebook (You still need to e-mail us in order to confirm!!): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129674730389039

That's it for July's update! Hope to see you come out this weekend for bowling and volunteering at the obon!

All Nakayoshi 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 or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.