Nakayoshi Young Professionals

We have updated our website!

2010-09-20T11:21:00.001-07:00

Nakayoshi has a new and revamped website, at www.nakayoshi.org. Stay updated with everything we're up to from the new website!

We will be discontinuing our posts to the Nakayoshi blog at this address. If you have been viewing our site at the http://www.nakayoshi-jacl.blogspot.com/ URL, please change your bookmarks to http://www.nakayoshi.org.

Thanks for following us!

Quarterly Volunteer Event - JCCCNC's annual fundraiser, "Tabemasho: From Generation to Generation"

2010-09-17T22:14:00.000-07:00

For Nakayoshi's quarterly volunteer event, we are helping once again at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California's annual fundraising dinner event, "Tabemasho: From Generation to Generation." The JCCCNC's annual event raises critical funds for the JCCCNC's programs and activities throughout the year, featuring food prepared by chefs from selected restaurants. The event is on Saturday, September 25. Nakayoshi will be covering shifts from 3:00-5:30pm and 5:30-8:00pm, however, volunteers are also welcome to help during the setup and cleanup shifts before and after the event.

Volunteers at Nakayoshi's main shifts will mainly be servers and waiting tables. Each person will be in charge of one table and pass out food and drinks to everyone seated there. They’ll also be in charge of making sure everyone is getting food at their table and clearing off any trash/leftovers. There will be a Floor Manager during your shift who you can go to if you have any questions such as when to bring out food.

To sign up for a volunteer shift, go to:
http://www1.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=nakayoshijcccnctabemashovolunteers

Lunch will be provided for volunteers. Dress code is black pants and white shirt. Wear clothing that you are comfortable wearing in the event of spilling during food handling. Please call Nakayoshi volunteer coordinator Haruka Roudebush at (415) 203-7002 upon arrival, or ask of JCCCNC staffer Aya Ino to be placed during your shift. Please e-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you have any questions prior to the event.

Below is more information on the event from the JCCCNC:

Since the first Japanese immigrants arrived in America (San Francisco) over 140 years ago, they celebrated good times and difficult times with food. This concept that we gather around the table to eat, celebrate, remember and rejoice has been handed down through the generations. The early Issei had no money to go to fancy hotels or restaurants, but they could bring their favorite dishes to the table and the family and the community would gather.

This year we dedicate the event to the Issei, Nisei, Sansei, Yonsei and to GENERATIONS to come. To the Issei and Nisei who displayed uncommon strength, courage, selfless giving and unrelenting spirit, we honor them for their guidance, inspiration and foresight in maintaining our culture and sense of community through the food that they shared with us. To the Sansei, Yonsei and future generations, we share the cooking traditions of our Japanese culture that were so lovingly passed on through the years. Through these generations our food both traditional and new has become international culinary delights and experiences.

For more information on the Tabemasho! event or the JCCCNC, please go to http://www.jcccnc.org/.

What: Volunteering at JCCCNC's Annual Fundraiser "Tabemasho: From Generation to Generation"
Date: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Location: Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco
Shift Times: Setup (anytime between noon-5pm), Shift 1 (3-5:30pm), Shift 2 (5:30-8pm), Cleanup (7:30-11pm)
To sign up for a shift go to: http://www1.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=nakayoshijcccnctabemashovolunteers

September Volunteer Opportunities

2010-09-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 18th: National AIDS Memorial Grove Clean-up

The San Francisco chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League has invited Nakayoshi to help clean up the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park on Saturday, September 18th. Volunteering runs from 9am-Noon. Bring comfortable clothes that you can get dirty!

Please e-mail Haruka Roudebush directly if you are available to volunteer at haruka.roudebush@gmail.com

What: National AIDS Memorial Grove Annual Cleanup w/SF JACL
Location: Golden Gate Park , Intersection of Bowling Green and Middle Drive East, San Francisco, CA
Time: 9am-Noon
RSVP: E-mail Haruka Roudebush at haruka.roudebush@gmail.com

Saturday, September 25th: JCCCNC's Annual Fundraiser: Tabemasho!

Come on out for Nakayoshi's official volunteer event for Q3 2010! We'll be helping out once again at the JCCCNC's annual fundraising event with shifts from 3-8pm. More details will be posted soon, but save the date! For more details on the event, go to: http://www.jcccnc.org/events/dinner.htm

Hyphen's New Legacy Issue Release Party ft. Rocky Rivera!

2010-09-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Our friends at Hyphen are hosing their New Legacy Issues Release Party for their 21st issue! So join our friends as they celebrate their success and have a fun time mingling and networking with some amazing bay area folks!

WHEN: September 17 at 10:00pm - September 18 at 2:00am
WHERE: Mighty - 119 Utah Street, San Francisco, CA

DETAILS: Summer may be on its way out, but that doesn't mean we should hibernate and stay at home on a Friday night. Come out and join us as we celebrate another AMAZING issue of Hyphen!

LIVE PERFORMANCES:
Rocky Rivera (http://www.twitter.com/rockyrivera)
The Like Me's (http://www.thelikemes.com/)
Main Stacks (http://mainstacksdance.wordpress.com/)
Illest Villain (http://illestvillains.tumblr.com/)

DOPE BEATS:
DJ Esquire (http://twitter.com/tharesurreccion)
DJL! (http://www.DJLONLINE.com/)

TASTY APPEARANCE:
TaKorea (http://twitter.com/takoreasf)

21+ $10 ($20 includes a subscription

Help support our friends @ Hyphen and check it out!

Fighting Hepatitis B in the Asian American Community - Wednesday Sept. 15th

2010-09-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

Our friends at The Asia Society, AsianWeek Foundation, and the Chinese Hospital are having a major public event this month entitled “Fighting Hepatitis B in the Asian American Community.”

Panelists include Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who won the 1976 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the Hepatitis B virus, and who later developed a diagnostic test and vaccine against it; CA State Representative Fiona Ma, the author of CA Bill 158 and a renowned HBV activist; Dr. Samuel So, director of the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and a national leader of the campaign against HBV; and Ted Fang of the AsianWeek Foundation and a leading advocate of HBV treatment and education.

Event will take place:

Wednesday, September 15th
5:30PM - Registaration
6:00PM - Program Begins

Genentech Auditorium
UCSF Mission Bay Campus
600 16th Street, San Francisco

Cost:
Students/Asia Society Members $8.00
Non-members $15.00

An interesting, educational and community event! Hope you all get a chance to attend!

For more information regarding this event, please contact our friends at Asian Week Foundation: Angela Pang, Community Relations Manager at apang@asianweek.com.

Call for Volunteers - Sunday 8/29 - SF Japantown at Lantern Parade & Obon

2010-08-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

If you're not joining us for Nakayoshi's 2nd Annual Camping Trip to Tahoe, this is a great opportunity for you to volunteer for a great cause!

We're helping out our friends at SF Japantown to ask for volutneers at the obon this Sunday.

They are looking for volunteers to come help between 10am and 5pm - Volunteers are asked for the following:

Barricade Monitor. To not allow any vehicles in other than those involved with the event of Kabuki Hotel Guests.
(two hour shifts)

Set-up crew. Assist the JTMA members with setting up the various stations of the Yagura, Children’s area, registration area and posting various signs.

If you can attend or help out, please email our friend Jennifer Hamamoto, Program and PR Manager at the JCCCNC at jhamamoto@jcccnc.org .

Thanks everyone,
Nakayoshi

HELP WANTED: Internment Camp Documentary - Green Screen Shoot - Saturday August 7th

2010-08-04T10:09:00.001-07:00

A friend of Nakayoshi’s is working on a documentary about the Japanese American internment camps for her thesis project.

Working alongside the visual effects department to recreate the Heart Mountain camp in 3D, she is asking for volunteers to help be in her shot of a winter scene depicting the harsh weather that the internees had to endure.

Director Vanessa Yuille is looking for 3 Japanese/Japanese American actors for the shoot. The request is for a few hours (she’s estimating 3 hours) on Saturday, August 7th at the green screen room on 180 New Montgomery.

If you'd like to help Directo Yuille out, please contact her at vyuille@yahoo.com for more details and to sign up!

- Nakayoshi

Monthly Update - July 2010

2010-07-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

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.

Alien/ation: Hyphen's first illustration show | Saturday, July 10 @ Space Gallery, SF

2010-07-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Our friends at Hyphen Magazine are presenting an art show this Saturday, come out and show your support! Should be one awesome event.

Hyphen magazine, in partnership with Paper Hat Productions, presents Alien/ation - a group show of Hyphen illustrators and painters from past and present, whose works have increased the depth of our understanding of Asian America.

EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, July 10th
5:30 pm - Artist's Reception
7:00 pm - Art Riot Extravaganza
Space Gallery
1141 Polk St., San Francisco
$5 at the door
$15 includes a one year Hyphen subscription (50% off!)
*RSVP on Facebook*

SPECIALS
First 25 paid guests @ 7:00 pm get a free copy of Hyphen magazine + limited edition mystery swag!

LIVE PAINTING
Participating featured artists

LIVE BEATS
B-Haul (Dirty Dishes, Tasty)
Gordon Gartrell (Dirty Dishes)

EATS
Vegan cupcakes by Black Orchid Bakery

FEATURED ARTISTS
Yoko Furusho, Kim Herbst, Rick Kitagawa, Jorge Mascarenhas, Danny Neece, Rob Sato, Eve Skylar, Jon Stich, Joseph To

*Artist bio's available online*

July Volunteer Event - MVBT Obon Festival, 7/18/10

2010-07-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

Come celebrate obon season with Nakayoshi by volunteering with us on Sunday, July 18th at Mountian View Buddhist Temple's obon festival! Nakayoshi will be working 2-hour shifts from noon to 6pm to help man food and game booths at the festival. Let us know which shift you prefer (noon-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-6pm) when you sign up! Please sign up no later than Wednesday, July 14th by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or on our Facebook event invitation at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136916066336313.

We'll be hanging out and enjoying all the good food and fun at the festival before and after our volunteer shifts. 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!

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 Mountain View Buddhist Temple Obon Festival

Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010

Time: 2-hour volunteer shifts (noon-2pm, 2pm-4pm, 4pm-6pm)

Location: Mountain View Buddhist Temple, 575 North Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136916066336313&ref=mf

Monthly Update - June 2010

2010-06-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

This June marks the 2nd anniversary of Nakayoshi's founding. We'll be kicking off Nakayoshi's 3rd year of operations this month with our 3rd annual Welcome BBQ. Join us as we get our third year off to a fresh start by welcoming in our newest class of recent college graduates and connecting them with the great activities and people that make up the Nakayoshi family!

We are continuing to do our best to provide monthly social and volunteer opportunities, and are looking forward to seeing new faces and encouraging existing members to get involved with Nakayoshi and the community! To all of you who have been with us the past two years, thanks for your part in making Nakayoshi what it is today! And to all the newcomers, we look forward to getting to know you all at the BBQ and our other upcoming events!

In this update:
6/13/10 - Nakayoshi's 3rd Annual Welcome BBQ
6/19/10 - Volunteering at Youth Fishing Derby
Other Community Events:
6/19/10 - JCYC's 40th Anniversary
6/27/10 - NAAAP SF Summer Picnic

Sunday, June 13 - Nakayoshi's 3rd Annual Welcome BBQ

It's time again for Nakayoshi's annual welcome BBQ and picnic in Golden Gate Park to welcome new members and to kick off our 3rd year of connecting young professionals with the Bay Area Japanese and Japanese American community! The event is FREE for everyone, so come on out and bring your friends! We'll be grilling up burgers and hot dogs as well as providing additional dishes and drinks.

Come meet or catch up with other Nakayoshi members, learn more about our monthly social and volunteer activities, play games, eat great food, and have a great time on us! Please pass the word along about our BBQ and invite anyone who you think would be interested! We'll be at table #15 at Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park (at 30th Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive) from noon to 4pm. Make sure you RSVP on Facebook or by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting you!

What: Nakayoshi's 3rd Annual Welcome BBQ

Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010

Time: Noon-4pm

Location: Table #15 at Lindley Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Price: FREE

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133136033363273

Saturday, June 19, 2010 - Volunteering at Youth Fishing Derby

Nakayoshi's June volunteer opportunity will be at the San Francisco JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club's annual Youth Fishing Derby, held at the San Pablo Dam Reservoir in the East Bay. Volunteers will be needed to assist parents and other volunteers chaperone 20-25 youth ages 8-12 as well as to help set up and clean up the potluck picnic provided by the JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club members. No fishing experience necessary!

This is an easy and relaxed volunteer opportunity to spend the day having fun helping kids and a chance to enjoy a potluck picnic at the scenic reservoir! Please RSVP to volunteer by June 13. Email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gma il.com if you have any questions. We hope you can lend a hand!

What: Volunteering at Youth Fishing Derby

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm

Location: San Pablo Dam Reservoir, 7301 San Pablo Dam Road, Richmond, CA

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124254230939201&ref=mf

Other Community Events:

Saturday, June 19 - JCYC's 40th Anniversary

Come on out and support the Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC), as they celebrate 40 years of providing non-profit programs, activities and social services for children and families in San Francisco Japantown and throughout the city of San Francisco! Their 40th Anniversary Gala will be a special evening in Japantown's Peace Plaza to celebrate their 40 year history of empowering young people for the future on Saturday, June 19, 2010, from 7pm to midnight.

The evening will be MC'd by Wendy Tokuda of CBS Channel 5 news and Jeff Mori, Executive Director of Asian American Recovery Services, and will feature live entertainment and a video reflection of JCYC from the 1970s to the present. Tickets are on sale; $100 for the all-night gala or $25 for the After-Hours Party from (9:30 pm-Midnight). Purchase tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104149

For more information on JCYC, go to: http://www.jcyc.org

What: JCYC's 40th Anniversary Gala

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Time: 7pm - Midnight (After Hours Party starting from 9:30pm)

Location: Peace Plaza, San Francisco Japantown (Post Street at Buchannan)

Price: $100 all night, $25 for After Hours Party

Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104149

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120431264634212

Sunday, June 27 - NAAAP-SF Annual Summer PicnicNakayoshi is partnering with the San Francisco chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP-SF) for their annual summer picnic on Sunday, June 27 at Rengstorff Park in Mountain View.

Continuing on NAAAP's success from last year's Summer Picnic, Nakayoshi will be joining NAAAP as they gather again for their 2010 Summer Picnic and Volleyball Tournament event bringing diverse Asian-focused organizations and like-minded professionals from all over the SF Bay Area for a great day of food, friends, and fun!

About NAAAP:
NAAAP San Francisco is the Bay Area Chapter of the National Association of Asian Professionals. NAAAP-SF is an all volunteer non-profit organization. We serve and support organizations, associations, and enterprises committed to the betterment of the Asian American community. The National Association of Asian American Professionals is dedicated to promoting leadership development, professional networking, and cultural awareness on behalf of the Asian community. Through programs and leadership opportunities, NAAAP-SF is driving leadership development by providing hands on experience, feedback, and education. Founded in 1982, NAAAP has since expanded to over 25 cities and has grown to over 3,500 active members in North America. Over the years, NAAAP has established strategic, diverse, and collaborative relationships that further our commitment that "We Make Leaders!"

Find out more about NAAAP-SF at http://www.naaapsf.org

What: NAAAP-SF Annual Summer Picnic
Date: Sunday, June 27
Time: 10:30am
Location: Rengstorff Park, Mountain View
Price: Early Bird Special (expires 6/11)$12 NAAAP Members / $17 Non-Members; Regular (Online only): $17 NAAAP Members / $22 Non-members; On-Site: $22 NAAAP Members / $27 Non-members
To Register: http://www.naaapsf.org/Events/EventCalendar/tabid/1960/vw/3/ItemID/1044/d/20100626/Default.aspx

That's our June monthly update! We hope you can make it out for some picnics and BBQing this month. Keep your eyes open for our other events in the works for later this summer, including Obon festival volunteering and our annual camping trip!

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.

Job Opening - Nichei Bei Foundation - Business Operations Manager

2010-05-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

Our friends at Nichi Bei Foundation are searching for a new Business Operations Manager, if you or someone you know is looking for work and wants to get involved with an organization that is deeply devoted to community, please forward this information along.

Business Operations Mgr. at Nonprofit Asian American Media Org. (SF's Japantown)

The Nichi Bei Foundation, an educational and charitable nonprofit organization, is seeking an intelligent, motivated, and creative individual to serve as the Business Operations Manager for a groundbreaking start-up with an unmatched historical legacy in the Japanese American community.

About the Organization
With the impending closure of the historic Nichi Bei Times in September of 2009 — the oldest Japanese American community newspaper in Northern California — some Nichi Bei Times staff and contributing writers, media professionals and community leaders formed the Nichi Bei Foundation to create the first nonprofit ethnic newspaper of its kind in the country, the Nichi Bei Weekly.

This pioneering new media organization — which is in the process of creating and launching an innovative Website — will also continue to hold educational forums as well as community events designed to help fulfill its mission of keeping the Japanese American and Asian American community connected, informed and empowered.

Job Description
Applicant will plan, organize, and manage daily office operations including, but not limited to, the coordination of customer service/sales support, purchasing office supplies and finance.

Applicant will also assist in the budgetary and funding initiatives, strategic business planning, fundraising and grants development of the organization, including the Website project expected to launch in August of 2010.

Applicant should provide positive solutions for customer needs, ensure client and vendor file integrity, and maintain general oversight and ensure accuracy of internal accounting records including accounts receivable and accounts payable.

Applicant will also assist in the development of tools to increase the company efficiency and risk management; and will be expected to take on various ad hoc projects
This position reports directly to the President.

Qualifications:

Bachelors Degree or higher in business-related major preferred
High proficiency in accounting and database software such as Intuit Quickbooks and Microsoft Excel
Strong analytical skills and ability to draw conclusions based on data
Ability to investigate, analyze and solve problems, and clearly communicate results
Skills in business and financial management ideal
Excellent proven interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
Excellent time management skills
Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to multi-task
Ability to work well under deadlines
Proficiency in software such as the Adobe Creative Suite is highly desired
Past experience working with CRM applications ideal
Japanese language skills (speaking, reading and writing) preferred

Send cover letter and resume to:
Kenji G. Taguma, Nichi Bei Foundation president, at jobs@nichibeifoundation.org

No calls, please.

Hiring Organization: Nichi Bei Foundation

Volunteers Needed: Honoring our Past, Remembering those who have passed on..

2010-05-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

Our friends at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) is organizing a youth and family community Clean-Up Day at the Japanese Cemetery in Colma on Sunday, May 22nd.

When: Saturday, May 22nd
Time: 10:00am – Noon
Where: 1300 Hillside Blvd., Colma, CA 94014

Directions: http://www.jbens.org/index_e.html

The JCCCNC will supply, garbage bags, tools, cleaning supplies, watering buckets, drinking water, rags, bento and flowers (please bring your owns gloves)

The day will start with a brief history of the cemetery. This year represents the 150^th Anniversary of the arrival of the Kanrin-Maru in San Francisco, the first ship to come to America. This event lead to the start of our Japanese American history and communities in the United States.

The Japanese Cemetery is located in the quiet town of Colma on the San Francisco Peninsula. It takes about 20 minutes from San Francisco by car. The 3-acre cemetery is the final resting place for more than 5,000 people, and the tower commemorating three crewmen from the famous ship Kanrin-Maru is there as well. In 1901, the Japanese Benevolent Society of California was established with a grant from the Meiji Emperor of Japan to provide "for the relief of sick, disabled or destitute persons of the Japanese race" in California and to provide "a suitable burial ground for deceased Japanese."

The Society performed its historic mandate over the years, assisting those in need and acquiring land in Colma, California, for a Japanese cemetery. It also served as a unifying force in the Japanese American community by bringing together the Buddhist, Shinto and Christian religious organizations, and by participating in local historical, cultural, and memorial events that honor the Japanese heritage in the United States.

To volunteer, please RSVP, by contacting the JCCCNC at (415) 567-5505.

SAVE JAPANTOWN YOUTH LEADERS

2010-05-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

Nakayoshi members involved with nihonmachiROOTS have been busy launching a weeklong campaign to lobby the Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, to reallocate funding for the JCYC's Japantown Youth Leaders program. Find out more on how you can join in the efforts, and how important this program is to Japantown's future.

SAVE JAPANTOWN YOUTH LEADERS (JYL)

Background: Recently, JCYC was informed by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) that the only funding allocated for youth services in Japantown will not be cut in 2010/2011, but completely eliminated. For the past 12 years, the Japantown Youth Leaders (JYL) program, formerly known as JAYS, has brought hundreds of youth to Japantown on a weekly basis to participate in community service, leadership training, and personal development. The youth who consistently support our community festivals and events such as Cherry Blossom, Nihonmachi Street Fair, and Kodomo no Hi, are current or former participants of JYL.

Why You Should Care: Despite the city’s budget crisis, other communities will still be receiving funding from DCYF. In 2010/2011, DCYF will allocate $20 million for children and youth services and has decided that Japantown is not worthy of even a small amount of those resources. This decision demonstrates a blatant disregard for our community and sets a very dangerous precedent for the future. We believe it is in the best interest of our community to collectively take a stand and make it clear that the needs of Japantown can not and will not be dismissed by the city of San Francisco.

How Can You Help: The Mayor has the discretion to restore this funding until June 1st when his office, by law must submit a budget to the Board of Supervisors. We have the rest of May to let the Mayor know that it is not acceptable for the city of San Francisco to dismiss the youth of Japantown.

Continue to check back to JapantownNOW.com or visit nihonmachiROOTS' Facebook page to see how you can help us send this message to the Mayor.

It's Not Too Late! Purchase SF Giant's Heritage Night Tickets Today!!!!

2010-05-12T11:02:00.001-07:00

It's not too late to make those last minute purchases for SF Giant's Tickets for Friday's game!

Make sure you come out to one of the 2 Japanese American Heritage Night's with the SF Giants! It's easy to purchase your tickets!

Call (415) 972-2298 or purchase online at www.sfgiants.com/specialevents and mention that you're with NAKAYOSHI YOUNG PROFESSIONALS!

And join us afterwards as we celebrate an amazing game with the rest of the Nakayoshi crew at 21st Amendment!

Hyphen Magazine Release Party for Inside/Out Issue - 5/14 @ SOM Bar

2010-05-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

Hyphen Magazine, a nationally distributed, nonprofit magazine that focuses on the Asian American community, is hosting a release party for their latest issue Inside/Out at Som Bar this Friday, May 14th. If you're not joining Nakayoshi at our monthly social at the SF Giant's Heritage Night game, definitely support this amazing publication.

Party begins at 9pm and expected to last til doors close at 2am. This release party will be a great chance to meet and mingle with fellow Hyphenites and friends. Additionally, Hyphen will have a great lineup of local DJs and live performers, food, and live art, so you don't want to miss it!

Nakayoshi has signed up this year to be a media sponsor for this year's events, so show them that we're great at spreading the word and get on down there to party with some amazing community folks.

For more questions, contact us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or contact our friends at Hyphen Magazine at http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/.

Donate. Subscribe. It's worth it.

2010 ASCEND West Coast Conference

2010-04-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

Nakayoshi is a Supporting Organization of the Ascend leadership conference and gala dinner, “Inspiring across Generations” on May 7-8, 2010. Our role as a Supporting Organization entitles you to a $50 discount to the event!

We encourage you to join us for this unique networking and career building program. Information about the conference is below.

ASCEND Northern California, in cooperation with chapters in Los Angeles and Seattle, presents its 4th annual leadership conference and gala, “Inspiring Across Generations.”

The 2010 conference theme is “Reinventing for the Long Term.” The business world is undergoing rapid change, propelling and disrupting new careers and industries. How do you stay relevant and flexible? What skills enable you to anticipate risk, uncertainty, and change? Who can help guide your transformation? A top-tier panel of speakers and mentors will share tactics and strategies on how to successfully navigate these turbulent times and build lasting relationships.

The conference consists of a day-and-a-half of leadership and mentorship workshops with panel discussions, mentorship circles, keynote speeches, and networking. We include opportunities for both emerging and seasoned leaders to engage with our community partners and corporate sponsors and to meet our members and conference attendees. The conference ends with a gala dinner and entertainment. We expect another sell-out with 600 attendees. Workshops and panels have limited space, so register early! Price increases May 4, 2010.

Dates & Times: May 7, 2010; 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
May 8, 2010; 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location: Intercontinental Hotel
888 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Conference website: http://www.ascendwestconf.com/

Registration: http://ascendwestcoastconference2010.eventbrite.com/

Facebook
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21032791579

Twitter
http://twitter.com/AscendLeader

LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=95571

About ASCEND:

Ascend, a non-profit organization, aims to be the premier professional association for enhancing the presence and influence of Pan-Asian business leaders.

For more information, please visit their website: http://www.ascendleadership.org/.

Nakayoshi's Social Event - SF Giant's JA Heritage Tickets on Sale Now!!

2010-04-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

Make sure to join us on May 14th for the SF Giant's Japanese American Heritage Night, tickets on sale NOW!

Call (415) 972-2298 or purchase online at www.sfgiants.com/specialevents and mention that you're with NAKAYOSHI YOUNG PROFESSIONALS!

Nakayoshi @ SF Giant's Japanese American Heritage Night - Buy your tickets NOW!

2010-04-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

Nakayoshi is helping the SF Giants for the 2nd time in the row with their 1st of JA Heritage Nights in 2010. Make sure you tell them you're with Nakayoshi when you purchase your tickets! Giants vs. Houston Astros!

*NOTE* Seating may not all be in same section

Japanese culture has always resonated strongly with both the city of San Francisco and the sport of baseball, so what better way to celebrate than at a Giants game?

The Japanese Heritage Night sake tasting festival returns for year two, with a brand new piece for your Giants' sake set collection: a Giants-themed individual sake glass and masu. This special-edition item is included in the price of your ticket, along with entrance to the pre-game festival with complimentary tastes, and a seat in the special Japanese Heritage section at the game.

Cultural performers will entertain fans at the festival and on the field pre-game, and ticket proceeds will benefit local Japanese charities. The sake-tasting festival ends when the game starts, so get there early!

TICKET INFORMATION:
$20.00 Tickets are located in upper deck between 1st and 3rd base
$25.00 Tickets are located in lower box corner in Section 131-135

Please contact nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing tickets or call 415.972.2254. Say you're with Nakayoshi!!

To contact Giants for ticetking questions please call 415-972-2298 or send an email to specialevents@sfgiants.com

Hope to see you all there! Get your tickets early, Sake glass and masu will sell out quickly! Last year we completely sold out!

Photo taken in 2009 - Nakayoshi @ SF Giants Japanese Heritage Night

Press Release: Hyphen's Food for Thought

2010-04-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

The nation’s premier Asian American magazine launches first food section in “Inside/Out Issue”

SAN FRANCISCO (April 15th, 2010) — Hyphen celebrates its first issue of 2010 by debuting a new section dedicated to inspiring and educating readers on all aspects of food. The recent “Inside/Out Issue,” released on newsstands April 15, follows one woman’s boundless dedication to creating better conditions for restaurant workers, breaks down the science behind the wok and updates a traditional jung recipe with an African American spin.

“Food is a celebration of heritage, but it’s also much more than that,” says Food Editor Nina Kahori Fallenbaum. “Hyphen reveals what’s happening behind the scenes, serving up stories from who’s growing, preparing and distributing the food.”

Fallenbaum, who holds a master’s degree in Food Policy, will utilize her passion for discovery to investigate the political and social issues connected to food and its unique relationship with Asian Americans. She didn’t become Hyphen’s first food editor by chance—Fallenbaum, a Japanese American San Francisco Bay Area native, lived in Japan for four years, where she worked for a millet entrepreneur and researched the environmental effects of the modern food industry. She’s contributed to Civil Eats, Nikkei Heritage, and Nichi Bei Times, and is a former editor for the Asian Development Bank Institute and the Sloth Club Japan (a green business publisher).

“We’ve found that our Asian American audience is craving more powerful stories to digest,” says Publisher Lisa Lee. “Now, in our 20th issue, we’re proving that Hyphen is evolving with its readers to reflect how Asian American interests are shaping politics and popular culture.”

Hyphen readers have always been interested in food, but as Editor in Chief Harry Mok noted in a recent blog post, “The perceived exoticness of Asian food and the explosion of fusion cuisine (mean that) many of the stereotypes about Asian Americans come from food. Our founding editor proclaimed Hyphen would never cover food in a way that doesn’t uphold Hyphen’s ideals.” Indeed, Hyphen’s inaugural food section shows that the world of Asian American food is diverse and opinionated. Contributors include scientists Fumei Lam and Jamie Bresson, analyzing the science behind the everyday wok, and restaurant worker organizer Bonnie Kwon explaining why she sees eating out as a political act. The illustrated jung recipe is an African-Asian creative mashup by cookbook author Bryant Terry and artist Jidan Koon.

The stories come from the heart, delving into deep issues that circulate within the agriculture and restaurant industries, which impacts all Americans. Hyphen’s take on food satisfies the curious reader, while continuing to spark interest and transform common perceptions, more often misperceptions, of the culinary aspects of Asian American cultures.

About Hyphen
Hyphen is a fiscally sponsored project of Independent Arts & Media, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It is an Asian American publication that's distributed nationally and internationally. Based in San Francisco, Hyphen was created as a response to a void of media for young Asian Americans. Covering arts, culture and politics in a fresh and irreverent voice, Hyphen is a media must for savvy Asian Americans. With award-winning design and content, Hyphen is recognized nationwide as an authority on contemporary Asian American identity. Since its inception, Hyphen has been touted in print, online and on camera. Hyphen has been featured or quoted in media outlets such as Yahoo, ESPN, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Houston Chronicle, Utne, Flavorpill, Gothamist and Racialicious.com. www.hyphenmagazine.com

Volunteers Needed! Nakayoshi @ 2010 Kodomo No Hi Festival

2010-04-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

Nakayoshi is volunteering for its 2nd year at the JCCCNC's Kristi Yamaguchi's Kodomo No Hi Children's Festival. We're at it again and making delicious spam musubi all day long to help fundraise for both Nakayoshi and JCCCNC's youth programs.

We're looking for volunteers to help make, package and sell spam musubi at this year's festival. So please sign up for any of the folloing shifts starting at 9am. If you're interested in helping us make this year's Children's Festival a hit, please contact us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com to sign up and volunteer with us!

Volunteer Shifts

9:00am-12:00pm Shift - Prepping and making rice, making spam musubi

12:00pm - 3:00pm Shift - Making spam musubi and musubi sellers

3:00 - 4:30pm shift - Making spam musubi & musubi sellers & Clean

It's a great way to connect with your community, see a bunch of adorable kids come out with their families, and have some fun with Nakayoshi members as you make delicious spam musubi!

Look forward to see you there!

Press Release - Nihonmachi Little Friends Celebrates 35th Anniversary

2010-04-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Nihonmachi Little Friends (NLF), a bilingual and multicultural childcare organization in San Francisco’s Japantown, recently held a “Spring Social” for its supporters to kick off the agency’s 35th anniversary celebration. The event was a part of the year-long celebration and took place at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco’s Fillmore District.

NLF recently announced that it met its capital campaign goal of $2.2 million to fund the purchase and renovation of the historic 1830 Sutter Street building. “NLF is ecstatic to celebrate these important milestones with friends and supporters of our community,” said Cathy Inamasu, Executive Director of NLF. Formally known as the Japanese YWCA, the building was entrusted to NLF as part of the settlement of a community-supported lawsuit to save the building.

NLF is now embarking on a $300,000 Building Preservation Fund to ensure the continued upkeep of the Sutter Street facility for use by future generations, and to honor the legacy of the Issei women who built it. “With the help of our community friends and supporters, we are confident that we can accomplish this goal,” said Inamasu.

During the reception, NLF’s Board Chair, Adrienne Shiozaki Woo, raised a toast in honor of Hatsuro “Hats” Aizawa and his wife Amey, who recently announced that one-third of a newly formed Aizawa Family Trust will go towards NLF. The evening ended with an electrifying performance by Jake Shimabukuro on ukulele, with a repertoire that incorporated elements of jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock.

Upcoming events to celebrate NLF’s 35th anniversary will include an unveiling/dedication ceremony of the Tateuchi Auditorium to be held in November. The event will feature an original performance by Brenda Wong Aoki, who is acclaimed as one of America’s foremost solo performing artists. Plans are also underway for a Family Day in December, which will include mochi-pounding, singing by NLF children, and a performance by Eth-Noh-Tec, featuring award-winning storytellers Robert Kikuchi and Nancy Wong.

For more information about NLF or to contribute to the Building Preservation Fund, visit NLF’s website at www.nlfchildcare.org or call (415) 922-8898. ### Nihonmachi Little Friends (NLF) is a community-based, Japanese, bilingual and multicultural childcare organization committed to providing quality and affordable childcare services.

Cathy Inamasu, Executive Director
Nihonmachi Little Friends
(415) 922-8898
nlfchildcare@yahoo.com

Nakayoshi Tea Tasting this Friday 4/23

2010-04-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

Nakayoshi Tea Tasting!

When: Friday, April 23
Where: Samovar Tea Lounge at Yerba Buena Gardens (730 Howard Street)
Cost: $10 for tea tasting, plus additional for dinner
Time: 6pm

Tea is hot! Find out why at the Nakayoshi Tea Tasting this Friday, April 23. Nakayoshi member Tiffany P will be guiding you through a tour of tea's amazing flavors, from oceanic Japanese Senchas, to floral Taiwanese Oolongs, to earthy Chinese Puerh teas.

Don't know what any of those are? You will after you at attend this tea tasting and dinner event at the hip Samovar Tea Lounge in the San Francisco Yerba Buena Gardens.

Click here to RSVP for this event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=109415302425860&ref=ts

Check out the JACL Active Choice Campaign

2010-03-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hopefully everyone has been enjoying the wonderful weather and March Madness season and is finding themselves well. On behalf of the Japanese American Citizen's League and JACL Health Benefits, we would like to ask for your help in spreading the word about a JACL campaign that directly affects folks aged 18 to 29. While congress may have just passed the healthcare bill, it's not entirely clear how everything is going to shape up. The Active Choice Campaign seeks to engage youth and young adults in the dialogue about health care and insurance, and introduce people to a new health insurance option for JACL members.

Nakayoshi NCWNP Professionals is affiliated with the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), which is a membership-based organization. One of the benefits of membership that may be of particular interest to Nakayoshi members is access to quality, affordable health insurance. The JACL Health Benefits Trust offers many insurance options, and recently one option has been created to fit the needs of students and young professionals ages 18-29, and includes: prescription coverage, medical coverage, accidental death coverage, national coverage, worldwide coverage, and personalized service.

For JACL members, the Blue Shield Active Choice PPO is one of the most inexpensive individual health insurance options on the market, starting at $110 a month for Northern California residents.

To follow the campaign online, check out twitter.com/jaclhealth or search for "JACL Active Choice Campaign" and become a fan on facebook.

For more information about the Blue Shield Active Choice PPO, go to jaclhealth.org or call 1-800-400-6633.

Here are some of the realities associated with health insurance and young adults (provided by The Commonwealth Fund):

Between 2001 and 2003, one-third of college graduates had a time uninsured in the year following college graduation.
Two-thirds of uninsured young adults had cost-related access problems (including failure to see a doctor for a medical problem, fill a prescription, see a specialist when needed, or attend a medical test, treatment or follow up) in the past year, compared with one-third of those who were insured all year.
Half of young adults with any time uninsured had medical bill or debt problems, twice that of young adults who were insured all year. Of those who are uninsured, twenty-four percent had to change their way of life to pay medical bills.

Coupling medical debt problems with school-related debts can be devastating to personal finances. Unlike older adults who may have retirement or other investment monies to draw on, young adults who face medical debts do not have anything to draw on, forcing many to start their careers in debt - twice.

JACL Health Benefits and Blue Shield of California are offering the Active Choice Plan as a community service to the members of the JACL, so there are no brokers or fees collected by JACL Health Benefits. With this plan, the options of culturally-sensitive customer service in English, Japanese, and Chinese are available.

Please take a moment to become a fan of the campaign on facebook (search "JACL Active Choice Campaign") or follow us on twitter (@jaclhealth) to stay informed and voice your opinions on the current healthcare situation.

How can you help shape the future of SF Japantown?

2010-03-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

We hope that you are able to support the work of several Nakayoshi members who are also involved with nihonmachiROOTS, a group of young leaders in San Francisco Japantown engaged in outreach efforts regarding the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan, which could significantly alter the future of San Francisco's Japantown. Please attend the Japantown Community Engagement Workshop for Youth and Young Adults on Saturday, March 27, 2010 if you can, or make a donation in support of nihonmachiROOTS' activities to be matched by the San Francisco Japantown Foundation's grant program. More information is below:

How can young people help shape the future of SF Japantown?

Find out how at the Japantown Community Engagement Workshop for Youth and Young Adults on Saturday, 3/27/10!

nihonmachiROOTS presents: Japantown Community Engagement Workshop for Youth and Young Adults

Saturday, March 27, 2010

10am - 4pm, San Francisco @ Buddhist Church of San Francisco

1881 Pine Street at Octavia

http://www.japantownnow.com/

nihonmachiROOTS invites all youth and young adults concerned with the future of SF Japantown to attend the Japantown Community Engagement Workshop. Registration is free and lunch will be provided to participants.

Register online for the workshop by clicking here.

The Planning Department of the City of San Francisco is currently working with members of the Japantown community to re-draft the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan in the next year. This plan will have a lasting impact on the state of Japantown in the years ahead. As members of the generation that will inherit the results of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan, we have the most at stake in the outcome of this planning process. Whether or not you are a resident or visitor to San Francisco's Japantown neighborhood and community, we encourage everyone, especially young people, to raise their awareness and their voices regarding the future of our Japantown.

Through nihonmachiROOTs' Community Engagement Project, our goal is to engage 600 people in 60 days around improving the Better Neighborhood Plan and begin to develop new leaders within the community to organize around issues affecting Japantown for the future. It all starts with the Japantown Community Engagement Workshop on March 27th.

At nihonmachiROOTS' Japantown Community Engagement Workshop, you will:

Learn how the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan will affect neighborhood development, residents, businesses and community organizations in the years to come
Connect with other young people engaged in the Japantown community who are also concerned with the outcome of the planning process
Strategize on how we can educate others and ensure that the voices and interests of the community are represented in the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan
Build a foundation for youth and young adults to make a difference in San Francisco Japantown's future

We hope you can make it to the workshop! Please help us spread the word and forward this to anyone you think would be interested in getting involved!

Questions? E-mail us at nihonmachiroots@gmail.com

Learn more about nihonmachiROOTS at: http://www.japantownnow.com/about/

nihonmachiROOTS is supported by our fiscal sponsor, JCYC. The Japantown Community Engagement Workshop is made possible through a generous grant from the San Francisco Japantown Foundation.

The grant program is a MATCHING PROGRAM. That means that if you donate anytime from now until April 30, 2010, the Foundation will match your donation dollar-for-dollar up to $2000! In other words, if you donate $1, you are really giving $2 to nihonmachiROOTS to work on projects that engage the Japantown community.

You can donate online or by check. Visit this page for the online donation link or a downloadable form that you’ll need to send in along with your check: http://www.sfjapantownfoundation.org/donate, Donations must be made directly to the San Francisco Japantown Foundation and designated to our organization, nihonmachiROOTS. The web page tells you how to do that.

Again, donations must be received by the Japantown Foundation by April 30, 2010, so please don’t forget to donate soon!

You can read the official grants announcement here.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

The nihonmachiROOTS team

Nakayoshi's 2010 Ski Trip

2010-03-11T22:33:00.000-08:00

Where does one begin when blogging about one of Nakayoshis biggest event of the year? Well like any classic journey involving: organizing a mass group of people, unforgiving weather storms, dead stop stalls, a beautiful cabin and a combination of good times and fond memories; it all starts at the beginning.

It was the last Friday of February (26th) an already cold and windy overcast day. I looked to the skies and couldn’t help but to worry about the storm coming in that night. To be honest, I was a bit afraid that the trip up to the cabin would be unbearable. I imagined driving and not seeing three feet in front of me, with heavy winds and snow barraging my windshield. I imagined hydroplaning, losing control and crashing my van over a rail, tumbling down the mountain and exploding at the bottom of a canyon, like a car chase out of a 007 movie. With my mind on other things, needless to say I locked myself out of my company car only to MacGyver my way back into it. After work I came back home and prepared my seven seater Toyota Sienna.

I checked the tire pressure, H20 level, cleaned out the entire van, refueled and prepared for the worst. With no experience on how to put snow chains on, my Dad had to teach me. With the van looking in good condition, I needed to pull out of the garage and assemble the “RocketDog,” a seven foot storage case which attaches to the roof of the van. I hopped in the van, stuck my keys in the ignition and cranked over the transmission…only the car wouldn’t start. The battery was died. After jumping the car I was now ready to attach the case. Pressing the garage door opener, I watched the door rise up like a horizon, and I caught a glimpse of what I would be driving in. Outside, rain wasn’t just pouring, it was slamming against the cement ground. The apocalyptic sky was a shadowy grey looming over the soft sunny suburbia I thought I lived in. The wind desecrated my trees, tearing its leaves straight off the branch. I stood there in awe at the power and ruthless fervor of Mother Nature.

Instead of setting up in the heart of the storm, I decided to wait and check the weather and traffic reports online. I began to wonder if our caravan should depart Saturday morning instead of Friday night. This way we could avoid traffic and the storm and more importantly, night driving. After a few more traffic and weather reports things started looking clear, so we all stuck with the original plan. I ate dinner and my passengers slowly but surely arrived at my house. We packed five snowboards in the Rocket Dog and everyone pilled into the van. We finally headed up 680 north, our next stop would be in Downtown Sacramento.

We zigzagged our way into heart of “Sactown” to a Vegetarian friendly burger joint called Jack’s Urban Eats. There, we met up with the San Jose carpool. We exchanged hellos and sat down to eat dinner. Everything was peachy keen, until I got a phone call from a carpool that left a lot earlier then we did. They were half way to the cabin, nearly there, until they were told that I-80 would be closed for the entire night. An accident had occurred and they were to turn back immediately and head back down the mountain. After spreading word that the 80 would be closed till morning, we kicked around plans to stay somewhere in Sacramento for the night. It was getting late but we decided to make the most of it, we stopped at a small retro desert diner called Ricks Desert Diner. The SF carpool was also held up somewhere in Sacramento killing their time at a Dive bar. We opted to meet them after desert, but we soon got word that i-80 was back open. We all came together for a quick Pow-wow and agreed that we would be traversing back up mountain. A quick bathroom break and a refill on gas, we were back on the road.

Luckily the snow storm that was supposed to happen never happened. It was raining and it was a bit windy but thankfully Mother Nature made it a lot easier to navigate in. The ride was nice and easy, until we came around a right banking turn and there it was. Hundreds of solid red lights which lit up the entire cabin of the van; it was a dead stop of parked cars, four lanes across. We sat there, in the traffic, waiting. With nothing to do and nowhere to go, we decided to play some word games. Surprisingly, it actually passed the time quite well and before we knew it we started moving again. After the traffic cleared after an hour, we came across a ‘Chain Checkpoint.’ Knowing we had to put on the chains, I decided to pull off to the left side of the road behind a few other cars who were also putting their chains on. While I pulled off on the WRONG side of the road, my co-pilot “Mika” and I hopped out of the van and scrambled to get these chains on.

Want to know what its like in a traffic jam? Stare at this for hours!

If you’ve never had the pleasure of assembling snow chains made from the late 1980’s, I bless your young and innocent heart from the tremendous fear and finger lacing pains you’ll never experience. Luckily for us, it wasn’t raining nor snowing which made it a lot easier to put together, mind you, it was difficult as these chains have to be tied on. There isn’t an electronic snapping device or a buckle or a clip, these chains literally need to be tied on. What makes it even worse is the strap that has to be tied on, is stupidly short. Co-pilot “Mika” and I worked on the passenger side first; getting those down after a few minutes wasn’t an easy task. After that, I worked on the driver side. I struggled with it as I didn’t have enough rope to tie the thing. In order to make matters worse everyone started yelling in the van. They were warning me about an Ambulance coming up the left side road! With time running out and pressure to get out of the way, I somehow magically looped, swooped and pulled a knot together and jumped back in the van. Only to witness the ambulance wasn’t an ambulance but a police car, which passed us, anticlimactically. So we reached the checkpoint, the workers checked out our tires and let us pass. As soon as we passed it, they immediately took the checkpoint down and let a whole flood of cars pass us by.

After driving at a pathetic maximum rate of 30mph, while cars whizzed past us we decided to pull off the road and take the chains off. Again, it wasn’t raining and it wasn’t snowing. Taking off the chains felt like a good idea. It was a relief not only to our ears but our maximum speed limit nearly doubled! Feeling good about our speed, we would probably reach the cabin by at least 3:00am! That is until; we came across the second chain checkpoint. We again, pulled off (this time on the right side of the road) and slapped the chains back on. Thankfully it didn’t take nearly as long as the first time. With those strapped back on we traveled all the way up to Truckee. With a departure time of 6:45pm we finally reached the cabin at 4:30am, Saturday morning. We greeted the stragglers who were still awake and we all went to sleep knowing we’d be up in four hours for a day of boarding and skiing.

East Bay Riders

Four quick hours later we all got up ate a quick breakfast with orange juice and pastries and headed toward the mountain. By some sort of miracle, the storm that threatened the entire trip never happened. The snow was great, there was a lot of powder and we carved both the backside and front side of the beautiful mountain. After the lifts closed, we all went back to the cabin for some rest and relaxation. The cabin was a two story four bedroom and two bathrooms with three HD TV’s, a PS3, a fully equipped kitchen and Pool Table! With so many things to do inside the cabin, we barely got started on dinner. Master Chef “Ushi” whipped up a massive 6lbs of Thai curry, complete with a separate vegetarian Thai curry, a side dish of eggplant and basil and a shredded cucumber carrot salad. With food drinks and good times we all hung around and enjoyed the night.

Veggie Eggplant Dish

itadakimas!

Sunday morning came too quick as we all packed our things, said goodbye, took a group picture and left the Truckee cabin. Traveling down the mountain that gave us so much trouble that dreadful Friday night, seemed like a walk in the park that Sunday morning. A majority of us decided to stop by the local Japanese Market Ikeda’s in Auburn. There we feasted on burgers and shopped at the market. From there, we said our final goodbyes and all headed back home.

Nakayoshi’s 2010 ski trip was a memorable, exciting journey from start to finish. What could’ve been a disastrous storm, turned out to be fair and perfect weather for the avid snowboarders in our group. It’s rare that we can all take a small vacation from the routine of everyday work in the month of February, but Nakayoshi can make anything happen. A big thanks goes out to everyone who attended, to those who couldn’t and those who helped out. A lot of people stepped up and made this trip possible and without them, it never would’ve happened. A massive thanks to Surreal, A sushi, Megan, Squirrelly Em , Sammy Davis Jr, Q, Spike Spiegel, Co-pilot Mika, and everyone in the Speeding Matrix Rabbit. I hope you all had fun and I hope to see you next year!

Thanks

Volunteers Needed at Day of Remembrance - 2/21/10

2010-02-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

For any of you interested and available, Nakayoshi has been asked to provide volunteers to serve as VIP escorts at the Bay Area Day of Remembrance this Sunday, February 21 at the Sundance Kabuki Theater in San Francisco Japantown from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

The following is information for the volunteer shift:

11:00am - Volunteer Orientation @ Sundance Kabuki Theater

11:30am - VIP's arrive for program rehearsal, volunteer shift begins

12:00pm - Program Rehearsal

1:30pm - Theater door open to general public

2:00pm - Day of Remembrance Program Begins

4:00pm - Program ends, candlelight procession to reception and refreshments at JCCCNC

4:45pm - (optional) Assist with cleanup of reception

Dress code for volunteers is business casual. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please e-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com by Friday, February 19, 2010. Thanks! Hope to see you guys there!

2010 Bay Area Day of Remembrance

2010-02-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

BAY AREA DAY OF REMEMBRANCE 2010
Dreams Interrupted, Dreams Fulfilled

San Francisco, CA -- The annual Bay Area Day of Remembrance (DOR) commemoration will take place on Sunday, February 21, 2010, 2 p.m., in San Francisco Japantown at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, with reception to follow at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California.

This year's Day of Remembrance theme, "Dreams Interrupted, Dreams Fulfilled," recognizes the honorary degrees recently awarded to Japanese Americans whose educations were disrupted by the relocation and internment of the Japanese American community during WWII, and to the enduring value the community places on receiving an education. The 2010 Day of Remembrance will be MC’d by KTVU Channel 2 News reporter Jana Katsuyama, with a keynote by California State Assemblyman Warren Furutani, author of CA Assembly Bill 37, granting honorary degrees to the Nisei who were removed from their educational pursuits. This year's program will also feature the presentation of the 2010 Clifford Uyeda Peace and Humanitarian Award to distinguished human and civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama. Additionally, the Purple Moon Dance Project, choreographed by Jill Togawa, will perform excerpts of their work, "When Dreams are Interrupted,” revisiting the forced removal of the Berkeley Japanese community in 1942.

DOR has been an annual inspiring expression of the Japanese American community's vitality. Through cultural presentations, education and a candle lighting ceremony, the event commemorates the incarceration of over 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II. In post 9/11 years, as the nation has struggled through war abroad and other communities have been targeted as “the enemy,” DOR has also become a time for diverse communities to stand together to carry the light for justice and reaffirm a united commitment to civil and human rights today.

The traditional candle lighting ceremony will feature a diverse array of community volunteers and advocates, and include shakuhachi music by Masayuki Koga. The program will close with an Interfaith Gathering and Procession, led by the Japanese American Religious Federation from the theater to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center, where a reception will conclude the day.

The Bay Area Day of Remembrance program is organized annually by the Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium, with support from various Japanese American and Asian American community organizations throughout the Bay Area, including: Asian Improv aRts, Asian Law Caucus, API Legal Outreach, Japanese American Religious Federation, Japanese Community Youth Council, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project, Campaign for Justice – Redress Now for Japanese Latin Americans, Center for Asian American Media, Nakayoshi Young Professionals, National Coalition for Redress & Reparations, National Japanese American Historical Society, Tule Lake Committee, San Francisco JACL Chapter and the UC Berkeley Nikkei Student Union (partial list).

Tickets prices are $15 (door); $12 (advance); and group rates $10 (for 10 or more in advance). Call NJAHS for tickets at: (415) 921-5007.
Tickets can also be purchased online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/99800

For more information, visit: http://www.dayofremembrance.org/

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Needed to Apply for California's New Redistricting Commission - Deadline Feb 12th

2010-02-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

The East Bay Asian Voter Education Consortium (EBAVEC) is outreaching to the API community regarding the citizen's commission that will be in charge of redistricting in 2011.

As of now, the "California redistricting commission may have no people of color" warned an op-ed by Pete Carrillo of Silicon Valley Advisors and Orson Aguilar of the Greenlining Institute published Jan. 16 in the San Jose Mercury News.

An Associated Press article on Jan. 26 highlighted the low numbers:·

So far, fewer than a quarter of the applications ... are from minority candidates in a state where non-Hispanic whites make up less than half the population.

"Hispanics make up fewer than 9 percent of the applicants, although they count for almost 37 percent of the state's population."

"Barely over 4 percent of the applicants are Asians, who make up more than 12 percent of the state's population ..."

"The proportion of tentatively eligible black applicants, about 7 percent, is roughly on par with that group's 6 percent share of the population ..."

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Please spread the word and encourage your family and friends to also apply. Check out http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/ for more info

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Needed to Apply for California's New Redistricting Commission - Deadline to Apply Is February 12, 2010

Every ten years, we draw new district maps for Congress, the California legislature, county boards of supervisors, and city councils. When we redraw the maps every ten years, we change the boundaries so that each district contains the same number of people. This process is called redistricting.

The next time redistricting will happen is in 2011, and because California voters passed Proposition 11 in 2008, there will be a major change in who draws the maps. Proposition 11 creates a new commission made up of citizens. In 2011, the commission will draw new maps for the state legislature and Board of Equalization. Before Proposition 11, the state legislature drew these maps.

Why does this matter? In past redistrictings, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities have been fragmented by district boundaries. For example, in the 2001 redistricting, the San Jose neighborhood of Berryessa was split among four State Assembly districts, even though over half of Berryessa's population is AAPI.District boundaries that split AAPI communities like this weaken the political voice of AAPI communities. When AAPI communities are fragmented, they do not make up a significant portion of any one district. This diminishes their ability to get their elected representatives to address their needs.The commission will play an important role in determining whether AAPI communities are again fragmented unfairly in 2011, or instead kept whole. To make sure that the commission takes AAPI communities into account, we need the right people on the commission - individuals who are civic-minded, come from diverse backgrounds, and understand community needs.

Who will be on the commission? The commission will have 14 members who are selected from people who apply to be on the commission.
The application process is open to the public. Anyone can apply as long as they meet the minimum requirements to be on the commission, such as being a registered voter and having voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections (November 2004, November 2006, and November 2008). There are also some rules that exclude some people from being eligible for commission if they have a so-called conflict of interest, as well as some restrictions on the future political activities of individuals once they are appointed to the commission.

What will the commission do? The commission will hold public meetings across California to listen to testimony from residents about their communities and neighborhoods. Based on data it gathers, the commission will draw new district maps for the State Assembly, State Senate, and the Board of Equalization (an elected state tax agency).The commissioners are paid $300 per day when doing commission business. The main period of activity for the commission will be from January 2011 to September 2011. The commissioners can expect to work between 10 to 40 hours per week.

The deadline to apply for the commission is February 12, 2010. You can find more information about the commission and the application process at http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov/.

What can you do to help? You may be the right person for the commission - or you may know someone who is. The East Bay Asian Voter Education Consortium (EBAVEC) can be a resource for you - they are working with a statewide network of AAPI organizations to help people learn more about the commission and how to apply.

Please check the website for eligibility: http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/eligibility_requirements.pdf

Upcoming workshops include:

Date: Saturday February 6th, from 2:00-4:00pm
Location: East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC)2025 East 12th StreetOakland, CA 94606
Please RSVP to Jennifer Pae at jennpae@gmail.com.

To see a list of other workshops and learn more about the network, you can go to www.facebook.com/capafr2011.If you have suggestions for people who might be good applicants for the commission, please contact EBAVEC or APALC at redistricting@apalc.org.

Nakayoshi's 2nd Annual Ski Trip - Sign up Today!

2010-02-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

The information and details for Nakayoshi's 2nd Annual Ski Trip is finally here!

If you're interested, hurry and reserve your spot today, we're capping this year's trip to 30 people! The trip dates are Friday, February 26th - Sunday, February 28th.

Our cabin is located in North Lake Tahoe and we'll be snowboarding/skiing again at Northstar.We'll be staying in a beautiful 5 bedroom/3 bathroom cabin. We provide Saturday night dinner and Sunday morning breakfast. Ski lift tickets are included (if you are paying for Option A - see below) and does not include ski/snowboarding equipment rentals.

We'll be arriving in Tahoe on Friday evening, spending most of the day in the snow on Saturday, activities will be organized for Saturday evening and we'll be leaving Sunday afternoon at 12:00pm (unless you'd like to stay on your own to ski/snowboard).

It should be a fun trip this year! If interested in attending, please let us know if you're available to be a driver and if you're available to carpool other people. Parking spaces are limited at the cabin.

Cost: There are two separate packages available for this year's trip. Option A for those who want to snowboard and ski, and Option B f those who want to hang out and have a great time bonding with Nakayoshi members.

Price includes the cabin for 2 nights, gas/carpool money group lift tickets, a Saturday night dinner and Sunday morning breakfast.

Option A- For those that want to snowboard and ski, cost includes lift ticket. TOTAL: $113.68

Option B- For those who don't want to snowboard/ski, but want to hang out. TOTAL: $66.68

*Please note: Rental equipment will be on a per person basis. They are not included in these packages.

For those interested in attending this year's ski trip, email nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Jan. 31st - 1st Quarterly Planning Meeting

2010-01-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

It's Nakayoshi's 1st quarterly planning meeting of the new year!
So if it's not on your calendar yet, plug it in now!

Sunday, January 31st
1:00-4:00PM
SF Japantown
1765 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA

Our Nakayoshi Core group is an amazing group of people who love to plan events and programs that benefit both the community and our general membership.

If you're interested in planning events and programs, love volunteering and networking, and your new year's resolution was to do something more fullfilling in life, then Nakayoshi may be the perfect fit for you!

We welcome all new members interested in checking us out to come to our public meetings.

For more information feel free to contact us atmailto:atnakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or feel free to contact Nakayoshi Chair Megumi Kaminaga at (916) 801-2104.

Nakayoshi Monthly Update - December 2009

2009-12-10T00:41:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays from your friends at Nakayoshi!

As 2009 draws to a close, we'd like to thank everyone who has come out to all of our social and volunteer events this past year. Nakayoshi has grown tremendously in both number and capacity in just a year and a half since we held our first event. We could not have done it without your continued support and enthusiastic participation! We'd also like to thank our main sponsor, the NCWNP District of the Japanese American Citizens League, as well as our many community partners who we've had the pleasure of collaborating with, including the JCCCNC, AsianWeek Foundation, JCYC and Kearny Street Workshop, among others.

We hope to see some of you at our 2nd annual holiday party, and for the rest of you, we hope you can make it out to some of the great events we already have underway for 2010. We'll be volunteering in January at the JCCCNC's Oshogatsu (New Year's) Festival, and at the Bay Area Day of Remembrance in February. Make sure to save the date for our big social events coming up, including Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night, and our annual Tahoe ski trip!

Again, have a safe and happy holiday, and if you can't make it to the holiday party, we'll see you in 2010!

In this update:
12/19/09 - Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party
1/9/10 - Volunteer at JCCCNC Oshogatsu Festival
1/22/10 - Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night
2/21/10 - Bay Area Day of Remembrance
2/26/10-2/28/10 - Tahoe Ski Trip

Other community events:
12/19-20/09 - nihonmachiROOTS Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend

Saturday, December 19, 2009: Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party

Nakayoshi Chair Megumi Kaminaga is once again graciously hosting our 2nd annual Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party! The party starts at 6pm on Saturday, December 19, and will include delicious potluck, white elephant gift exchange ($5 value maximum), gingerbread house decorating, games, and an overall fun night celebrating the holidays with the Nakayoshi crew! Everyone is welcome, but space is limited, so RSVP ASAP at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com to let us know you're coming.

What: Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party
When: Saturday, December 19, 2009
Time: Party starts at 6:00pm
Location: Location given upon RSVP
Bring: Potluck items/beverages/wrapped white elephant gift for exchange ($5 max)
RSVP : nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

Saturday, January 9, 2010: Volunteering at JCCCNC's Oshogatsu Festival

Ring in the new year with Nakayoshi volunteers at the JCCCNC's annual Oshogatsu (New Year's) Festival. We'll be helping once again with arts and crafts activities for children, traditional mochitsuki (New Year's rice pounding) and take in the cultural performances and more! Volunteers are needed for setup, assistance at crafts tables for children and for cleanup. Setup begins at 9am, the event runs from 11am-3pm, with cleanup after. Please e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com and let us know if you can help out, even if it's only for an hour or two!

What: Volunteering at JCCCNC's Oshogatsu Festival
When: Saturday, January 9, 2010
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (2 hour shifts)
Location: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

Friday, January 22, 2010: Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

We know all you NBA basketball fans have been waiting a whole year for one of Nakayoshi's biggest social events/fundraisers: Asian American Heritage Night with the Golden State Warriors! Come out and cheer for your team take on Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets in Nakayoshi's section!

We've worked out online ticket sales with the Warriors, so stop reading this and buy your tickets NOW!!! Tickets are $28, $6 of which goes directly back to support Nakayoshi, and an additional $2 supports the SF Hepatitis B Free Campaign! Free T-shirt with ticket purchase! Plus we'll be playing the hapless NJ Nets, so it's totally a win-win situation for everyone--you, Nakayoshi, SF Hep B Free, and of course, the Warriors!

Here's how to get your tickets:
1.) Click on https://www.gs-warriors.com/forms/secure/fct_asianamerican10.html

2.) Join us at the $28.00 level -- $6.00 of your ticket purchase will automatically go back to Nakayoshi, $2 to SF Hep B Free!

3.) Before you check out BE SURE TO WRITE "NAKAYOSHI" IN THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BOX. This makes sure that you sit with us and your donation comes back to us.

That's it. Bring out your friends and family for a great time out with Nakayoshi and the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena! Go DUBS!!!

What: Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night
When: Friday, January 22, 2010
Time: 7pm
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Price: $28
Buy tickets online at: https://www.gs-warriors.com/forms/secure/fct_asianamerican10.html (make sure to write "Nakayoshi" in the questions and comments box!)

Weekend of February 26-28, 2010: Nakayoshi Tahoe Ski Trip

Time to start waxing your snowboard or skis! Our social committee is busy making arrangements for our annual winter trip to Tahoe. We'll be hitting the slopes of Northstar by day and relaxing and hanging out by night back at the cabin. More information and pricing to come, but spaces are already filling up (we're almost at 20 people already!), so be sure to reserve your spot and save the date now!

Check for more information on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=211107058728&index=1

What: Nakayoshi Tahoe Ski Trip
When: Weekend of February 26-28, 2010
Where: Northstar at Tahoe/Tahoe Cabin
Price: TBA
Updates/RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=211107058728&index=1

Other Community Events:
December 19-20, 2009: nihonmachiROOTS Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend

nihonmachiROOTS is a newly formed group of progressive young adults (including several members of Nakayoshi) focusing on issues affecting San Francisco Japantown, including the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan.

Currently many Japantown businesses, especially those in the Japan Center mall, are experiencing rising operating expenses since the mall properties were sold in 2005. In order to help support local small businesses in Japantown, nihonmachiROOTS is putting together a Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, December 19 and 20 from 11-3pm. The Friends and Family Shopping Weekend will feature discounts from many participating Japantown businesses and restaurants, and a free entry in a raffle drawing for customers with receipts of purchases from 3 or more Japantown businesses during the weekend event.

Check for more event information and links to sale coupons at: http://www.japantownnow.com

What: nihonmachiROOTS Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend
When: Saturday and Sunday, December 19-20
Time: 11-3pm
More info and coupons: http://www.japantownnow.com

February 21, 2009: Bay Area Day of Remembrance

As the Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium continues to prepare for the event on February 21, 2009, we are still welcoming additional volunteers and energetic new members to join the planning committee. Come be a part of next year's community-wide event honoring the history and legacy of the Japanese American experience in WWII and beyond.

What: 2010 Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Meetings
When: Next meeting: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: bayareadayofremembrance@gmail.com

Stay warm everyone, and we'll see you soon!

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.

Join Nakayoshi at Asian American Heritage Night with the Warriors!

2009-12-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

Come join Nakayoshi as we watch the Warriors take on the Nets (or the "Nyets," as I like to say) at Asian Heritage Night with the Golden State Warriors on January 22nd. We went last year and had tons of fun. For your ticket you receive:

A commemorative Asian Heritage Night T-shirt by the winner of the T-Shirt Design Contest.
Cultural performances throughout the night.
A warm feeling knowing you've raised money to support Nakayoshi.
The opportunity to hang out with really cool folks at the Warriors game.

Here's how to join us:

Click here to buy your tickets.
Purchase at the $28 level ($8 of your ticket will go back to Nakayoshi!)
Write "NAKAYOSHI" in the Questions and Comments Box*

* - This is key, both to make sure we receive your donation and that you sit with us at the game!

Invite your friends and your family! Email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you have any questions. See you at the game!

Go Dubs!

Support JCCCNC on Facebook!

2009-12-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

Please vote for the Japanese Cultural Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) on the Chase Community Giving’s page on Facebook – they are donating $5 million to non-profit organizations across the country.

If you are a current user of Facebook, you will have to “become a fan” of Chase Giving before you vote. If you’ve never used Facebook, then you will have to create an account to get started. You can only vote once a round for any organization.

We are trying to become one of the top 100 vote getters in the first round – hoping to become eligible for $25,000. Take a minute and support the JCCCNC.

Click on the link below and VOTE NOW and then forward to other family and friends:
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/890843

If you are part of the JCCCNC group on Facebook, the easiest way would be to go to our page and click on the wall post. It'll take just five seconds!

REMINDER - Nakayoshi's Quarterly Planning Meeting - Nov. 22nd

2009-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

Nakayoshi's quarterly planning meeting is this month! So if it's not on your calendar yet, plug it in now!

On Sunday, November 22nd, Nakayoshi will have their general quarterly meeting at the National JACL Headquarters building in San Francisco Japantown from 1pm-4pm. The building is located at 1765 Sutter Street.

If you haven't attended a meeting yet, now is the time! More importantly, find out how you can get involved with Nakayoshi's committees and upcoming projects, including the 2010 Day of Remembrance, Career Mentorship Program with the JACL, and the youth/young adult committee on the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan!

General meetings are used to plan and brainstorm upcoming events, socials and volunteer activities. For the next few months, Nakayoshi has a lot going on that we could use your help and input on, so come out and give us your two cents and be part of our planning process!

If you have any questions or want to RSVP for the meeting, please feel free to contact us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

Nakayoshi Monthly Update - November 2009

2009-11-11T01:07:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Yup, it's that time again... Nakayoshi Monthly Update time! First, we'd like to thank everyone who came out to the Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer on the 24th. We were excited to meet all the new faces, and hopefully everyone who came out had a great time as well! In case you haven't done so already, please take a minute or two to leave us feedback on the event on our online event feedback survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=iAVmYtr73Z9ZpEkl8uHRIQ_3d_3d

Nakayoshi finished out the month by spooking the children and passing out candy at the JCCCNC's Haunted Hallway during their annual children's Halloween Carnival. This month, we're starting with our monthly volunteer event this weekend at the Holiday Chocolate Show at Fort Mason, San Francisco. Our social event this month is a Friday night of dinner and karaoke on the 20th, to be followed by our final quarterly meeting of the year on Sunday the 22nd.

Nakayoshi is also getting involved with a couple ongoing projects in the greater Japantown community, so be sure to check out how you can get directly involved with the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood development plan, as well as Day of Remembrance next year!

In this update:
11/14/09 - Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show
11/20/09 - Japantown Dinner and Karaoke Social
11/22/09 - Final Quarterly Planning Meeting of 2009
12/5/09 - Volunteering at SF JACL Spaghetti Crabfeed
1/22/09 - Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night
Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Youth/Young Adult Committee

Saturday, November 14, 2009: Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show

Nakayoshi has been invited to volunteer with Les Tso, host of the Holiday Chocolate Show on November 14th in the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. Showcasing 30-40 local chocolatiers, the event also benefits non-profits serving children and children's issues. SF Firefighters will be on hand to collect new unwrapped toys for their annual Toy Program and other non-profits will be tabling with informational booths. Expected attendance is 2,000-4,000 and they need Nakayoshi's help! Plus, this is a great way to get into the event for free!

Nakayoshi's volunteer shift is 10:30AM-12:45PM and you are invited to stay and enjoy the rest of the event (event time runs from 12:00-5:00pm). Meeting point is outside the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. For more questions and to RSVP, please email na mailto:nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or contact Megumi at (916) 801-2104.

Please RSVP to volunteer no later than November 12th.

What: Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show
When: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 10:30am - 12:45pm
Where: Meet outside Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, 99 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=190550020934&index=1

Friday, November 20, 2009: Dinner and Karaoke in SF Japantown

Come on out to Nakayoshi's November social event on Friday, November 20th! We'll be meeting up in SF Japantown for dinner at Bushi Tei Bistro (Downstairs from Kinokuniya Bookstore in the Japan Center Mall) at 8pm and then move on for a fun night of karaoke at DoReMi Music Studio following dinner.

Please RSVP by Sunday, November 15 so we can get a headcount for dinner.

What: Dinner at Bushi Tei Bistro and Karaoke after at DoReMi Music Studio
When: Friday, November 20, 2009
Time: Dinner starts at 8pm, Karaoke at 10pm
Where: Dinner is at 1581 Webster Street (Downstairs from Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japan Center Mall), San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=186196573400&index=1_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=186196573400&index=1

Sunday, November 22, 2009: Quarterly Planning Meeting

Been meaning to get involved with Nakayoshi? Here's another chance to jump in! Help us decide future events, get involved with our committees, and have fun hanging out with the rest of the Nakayoshi core committee! It's our last meeting of the year, so come out and see what we've been up to! We could definitely use your help in making Nakayoshi a great success!

For questions, visit http://www.nakayoshi.org/ or email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or contact Megumi Kaminaga at (916) 801-2104

What: Nakayoshi Q4 Planning Meeting
When: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
Time: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=199088597785&index=1

Saturday, December 5: Volunteer at SF JACL's Annual Spaghetti Crabfeed

Join Nakayoshi as we volunteer at the San Francisco JACL chapter's annual Spaghetti Crab Feed on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Christ United Presbyterian Church in SF Japantown. Volunteers will assist with setup and cleanup of the event, as well as help prepare and serve food and drinks. Past beneficiaries from the SF JACL's annual Spaghetti Crabfeed include the Nikkei Community Internship program and the Campaign for Justice for Japanese Latin American Internees.

Don't feel like volunteering? You can still support by buying tickets to the event and having a delicious crab/spaghetti dinner for $25/person, or $45 for 2! E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you're interested in volunteering or purchasing tickets.

What: Volunteer at SF JACL's Annual Spaghetti Crabfeed
When: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Christ United Presbyterian Church, 1700 Sutter Street (At Laguna), San Francisco, CA
Price: Free for volunteers, $25/person or $45 for 2 tickets
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=178910732693&index=1

Friday, January 22, 2010: Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

Just another reminder to save the date! Nakayoshi is teaming up again this season with the Warriors for Asian American Heritage Night! The Warriors will be playing against Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets on Friday, January 22. Check back for details on how to reserve/purchase tickets, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you're interested. Tickets to last year's game were $40, so expect similar pricing this year.

RSVP for advance notice on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=272856850579&index=1

Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee

Day of Remembrance is the Japanese American community's annual memorial observance of the internment of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry during WWII. Day of Remembrance 2010 will be held on February 21, 2010, with planning for the annual event by a consortium of Japantown community organizations and activists already underway. The planning committee this year is being co-chaired by Nakayoshi member Haruka Roudebush, who is calling out for anybody who would like to be involved with putting this year's event and program together. In particular, the committee is looking for people with creative graphic design, print layout, copy editing, videography and website experience. General members are also encouraged to get involved and lend a hand where they can. This event has several hundred people in attendance annually, so every bit of help is needed and appreciated!

Please e-mail Haruka at bayareadayofremembrance@gmail.com if you can help with this year's event. Committee meetings are generally every other Thursday evening in Japantown. Attendance at every meeting is not mandatory, but please come if you are available.

What: 2010 Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Meetings
When: Next meeting: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: bayareadayofremembrance@gmail.com

Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Youth/Young Adult Committee

Concerned young members of the community, including Nakayoshi members, have formed a committee to address the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan in the coming year. The committee is currently undertaking an analysis of the plan in order to coordinate outreach to the rest of the community and our peers about how the plan will affect future developments in San Francisco's Japantown neighborhood as well as how our generation within the community will be affected by the outcome of the plan. This is an opportunity for young people to build consensus on the issues presented and to take action in helping shape the future of our community!

We at Nakayoshi strongly encourage you to educate yourselves on the issue and get involved with this committee. The committee is currently scheduled to meet on Fridays from 6-8pm at the JCCCNC in San Francisco Japantown. To find out more about the youth/young adult committee, please contact Aya Ino at aino@jcccnc.org.

More general information and the current draft of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan is available for download at: http://www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp?id=57149

Hope we see you guys get involved this month, and happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Youth/Young Adult Committee for Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan

2009-11-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

Please join Nakayoshi and other concerned young members of the community and get involved with a youth-based community input committee focusing on the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan, which will affect future development in San Francisco's Japantown. There will be a meeting this Tuesday, Nov. 3rd and on Friday, Nov 6th at the JCCCNC. Here's more information from Aya Ino, Programs Associate at the JCCCNC:

Hello! There is going to be a Better Neighborhood Plan committee meeting this Friday, Nov 6th at 6PM JCCCNC Conference Room 1. This is a youth-based group that we are trying to start up so we can breakdown the massive plan (huge booklet with lots of diagrams and paragraphs) and speak with merchants and younger generations about what they would like to see happen in J-town in the future. Many people are having a difficult time understanding the complicated plan and we are hoping that this committee will be able to come together and organize the community so everyone can have a collective say. We are having a smaller meeting today (Tuesday) at 6PM @ JCCCNC if you are unable to attend Friday's larger meeting. Please email me at ayaino@gmail.com if you would like to attend either of the meetings. The BNP Plan itself, highlighted versions with negative aspects identified by community leaders, agenda, and light refreshments will be provided. Hope to see/meet some of you soon!

Nakayoshi recognized for making a positive impact within the Asian American community by Asian Heritage Street Celebration

2009-10-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

Nakayoshi was pleasently surprised this week to learn the Asian Heritage Street Celebration (AHSC) has selected Nakayoshi as one of the beneficiaries of a $250 donation in recognition for being an Asian American nonprofit organization that has made a positive impact within the community.

Each year the AHSC raises funds for the San Francisco Unified School District Raffle Program through ticket sales and a portion of those profits are presented to approximately 20 Asian American nonprofits and community groups who have made positive impacts within the Asian American Community at the AHSC Awards Reception.

It has been an amazing journey for Nakayoshi, and in as little as two years, we have grown so much. We could not have made such an impact without members like you supporting us.

As we continue to strengthen our mission to connect young professionals with the greater Asian American and Bay Area community, we are fortunate to have made so many great relationships with various community events and organizations.

To our friends at AHSC and to our community, thank you.

Saturday, October 24: Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer

2009-10-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

"Irrashai" means welcome and a "nomikai" is a get-together (usually over drinks).

We want to take the time to introduce ourselves to our new members, whether you're brand new or just haven't had the chance to make it to an event yet. Please come out so we can get to know you!

Come join Nakayoshi for an evening of fun and celebration over food and drinks. We will be playing some traditional Japanese games and some very non-conventional American ones.

Dinner and drinks start at 8pm at Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant and Bar in downtown San Francisco for $20/person. It's already looking like a lively night, with 28 guests RSVP'd so far, so make sure to RSVP by this Saturday, October 17th at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com, or on the Facebook event invitation to make sure you get a spot at the table!

Nakayoshi Monthly Update - October 2009

2009-10-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

Hey Nakayoshi, here's our Monthly Update for October!

If you've followed what's been going on this past month, we had a great time in September volunteering at the JCCCNC's annual event where we celebrated 140 years of Japanese food in America, networked and checked out artwork by emerging API artists at Kearny Street Workshop's happy hour mixer for their APAture arts festival, and got our roll on at our second sushi-making class taught by the Inaba brothers at the JCCCNC.

October may be halfway over, but we still have our monthly events for October coming up the next couple weekends! We're excited to hold our first mixer for new members this month, so be sure to come out next Saturday and get to know us if you're new, and be sure to welcome the newcomers if you're already a regular at Nakayoshi events and activities! For those of you looking for opportunities to plug into the community and get more involved, be sure to get in touch with us and join one of Nakayoshi's committees! Finally, we'll be finishing out the month where we'll don our scariest costumes and man the Haunted Hallway at the JCCCNC/JCYC's annual Halloween Carnival!

Have any comments, suggestions or questions? Want to RSVP or sign up for an event? Feel free to leave any comments on our blog at http://www.nakayoshi.org/, Facebook group page, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

In this update:
Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
Join a Nakayoshi Committee!
10/22/09 - Career Development Committee Meeting
10/24/09 - Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
10/30/09 - Volunteering at the JCCCNC's Halloween Carnival

Save the date! Upcoming events
1/22/10 - Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
If you still haven't gotten around to it, we're still collecting information on Nakayoshi member preferences for career development-oriented events and activities. For those of you who have already participated, thanks for the great feedback so far!

Check out the survey at: http://www.survey mon key.com /s.aspx?sm=2H4JHFqcnUQ5MxHEIGpJqQ_3d_3d

Want to get more involved? Join a Nakayoshi committee!
As we expand the scope and scale of Nakayoshi's activities, we are actively seeking additional members to contribute their ideas, energy and talents toward continuing to provide all Nakayoshi members with events that are fresh, fun and impactful to the community. Interested in joining the Nakayoshi team? We'd love for you to join any of the following committees:

-Social Events Committee
-Career Development Committee
-Issues Committee

Planning for this year's San Francisco/Bay Area Day of Remembrance event in February will be commencing soon, so those interested in being involved in this important community event should sign up for Nakayoshi's issues committee ASAP!

For a good time, e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com and let us know which committee you'd like to be part of!

Thursday, October 22: Career Development Committee Meeting
Our newly formed Career Development Committee will be holding its second monthly meeting on the evening of Thursday, October 22, at 7pm in the food court area on the ground floor of the San Francisco Metreon. Come on out if you'd like to help plan upcoming career development workshops and networking opportunities.

What: Career Development Committee Meeting
When: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: SF Metreon Food Court, 4th Street and Mission St, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

Saturday, October 24: Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer

What: Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
When: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Where: Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant and Bar, 619 Taylor Street, between Post and Sutter, San Francisco, CA
Time: 8:00-11:00pm
Price: $20 for dinner/drinks
RSVP by 10/17/09 on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=163505570419

Friday, October 30: Volunteering at JCCCNC/JCYC's annual Halloween Carnival
Games and prizes, tricks and treats, arts and crafts and goodies to eat! Come help out at JCCCNC and JCYC's Halloween Carnival on Friday, October 30th. See all the kids in their cute costumes while helping to provide a fun, safe atmosphere for them to celebrate Halloween!

We will be at the brand-new HAUNTED HALLWAY this year -- so wear your best scary costume! (Save your funny costumes for Saturday, please.) This event takes place the evening before Halloween, so it won't interfere with any of your spook-tacular plans.

E-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com by 5pm on October 25th with your name, phone number, and e-mail address if you plan on coming so that we can contact you with more specifics!

What: JCCCNC/JCYC Halloween Carnival
Date: Friday, Oct. 30th
Location: JCCCNC (1840 Sutter St. | San Francisco)
Time: 5:30-9:30pm
5:30-6:00 -- orientation
6:00-8:30 -- event
8:30-9:30 -- cleanup
Please plan to be present for all three portions
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=152535017270

Save the date! Upcoming event:
Friday, January 22, 2010 - Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

The NBA season may not have officially started yet, but Nakayoshi is already gearing up and teaming with the Golden State Warriors again this season for Asian American Heritage Night. Last year was a blast and we hope you can make it out this year as well! This year the Warriors will be taking on Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets for Asian American Heritage Night. Ticket proceeds will go towards Nakayoshi and help us program more fun events for you in the future. Think of it as a fun investment for even more fun! We are trying to get an advance head count for our ticket purchase, so please only RSVP if you plan to purchase your tickets from Nakayoshi and sit with your Nakayoshi friends. RSVP by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or go to the Facebook event invitation at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=272856850579

Hope to see more new (or familiar!) faces at the Irrashai Nomikai or volunteering at the Halloween Carnival this month! Let us know if you want to join a Nakayoshi committee, and remember to e-mail us or RSVP on Facebook if you're coming out. Make sure to join our Facebook group if you haven't already! See you soon!

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.

Nakayoshi Volunteer Event: JCCCNC/JCYC Halloween Carnival

2009-10-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

Games and prizes, tricks and treats, arts and crafts and goodies to eat! Come help out at JCCCNC and JCYC's Halloween Carnival on Friday, October 30th. See all the kids in their cute costumes while helping to provide a fun, safe atmosphere for them to celebrate Halloween!

We will be at the brand-new HAUNTED HALLWAY this year -- so wear your best scary costume! (Save your funny costumes for Saturday, please.) This event takes place the evening before halloween, so it won't interfere with any of your spook-tacular plans.

Date: Friday, Oct. 30th
Location: JCCCNC (1840 Sutter St. | San Francisco)
Time: 5:30-9:30pm
5:30-6:00 -- orientation
6-8:30 -- event
8:30-9:30 -- cleanup
Please plan to be present for all three portions.

**E-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp9[at] gmail.com by 5pm on October 25th with your name, phone number, and e-mail address if you plan on coming so that we can contact you with more specifics!**

Matcha Celebration at Samovar Tea Lounge

2009-09-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

Tea companies DoMatcha and the Samovar Tea Lounge are partnering to host a celebration of matcha, a traditional Japanese green tea.

Matcha is the powdered green tea is used in the Japanese tea ceremony. Frothed to perfection with a bamboo whisk, high quality matcha has a sweet flavor with notes of seaweed and bittersweet chocolate. As news spreads of matcha's health benefits (it can have 12x the antioxidants of regular green tea!), people worldwide have begun to appreciate this jade green elixir and develop modern recipes like matcha lattes.

DoMatcha's Tea Master Handa can't wait to talk about his tea gardens in Uji, Japan, and share matcha with people in the Bay Area. You can sample matcha and tea lattes expertly prepared by Master Handa, pair your tea with luscious tea cakes made by a renowned pastry shop in Kyoto, and learn about the history, production, and future of matcha green tea. Door prizes include bamboo t-shirts and a gift basket of tea items that will take your tea drinking to a whole new level.

Join the celebration and experience matcha for yourself!

Where: Samovar Tea Lounge, Zen Valley location
When: Friday, October 9th, 3-5pm. Matcha talk 3:30-4:45
Cost: Free!

This Sunday - Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class at JCCCNC

2009-09-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

Just a quick and friendly reminder that this Sunday is Nakayoshi's Sushi Class Fundraiser @ the JCCCNC - spaces are limited so sign up ASAP! Only $30 for JCCCNC Members/$40 for Non-Members (what a steal!) Other sushi classes range in the $100 range... so check it out!

Learn how to make your own delicious sushi! Nakayoshi's very own Graig and Sean Inaba will be instructing our second workshop hosted by the JCCCNC, where they will demonstrate and teach participants everything from making sushi vinegar to rolling traditional hosomaki rolls, hand/cone rolls, nigiri and Americanized sushi rolls!

Space is limited to the first 25 participants, so sign up ASAP! Price is $30 for JCCCNC members, $40 for general public, and includes all materials.A portion of the proceeds will also benefit Nakayoshi directly, so sign up to learn how to make your own sushi while supporting your favorite young professionals organization!

To sign up, contact the JCCCNC directly at (415) 567-5505 or e-mail programsevents@jcccnc.org

In case you missed it, check out our video highlighting the last sushi-making class we did at:

What: Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class at JCCCNC
When: Sunday, September 27, 2009Where: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: 1-4pm
Price: $30 JCCCNC members, $40 general public (materials provided)
RSVP: (415) 567-5505, programsevents@jcccnc.org

Job Opportunities

2009-09-17T21:35:00.001-07:00

Nakayoshi member Kai Mitsushio passed along some job opportunities at his company. Following is his message:

Esurance's Marketing department currently has 3 job openings for marketing analytics positions. We need some serious SQL / Excel junkies!

1 position on the Partner Revenue Team:

http://jobs-esurance.icims.com/jobs/3210/job

2 positions on the Email and Website Analytics Team:
http://jobs-esurance.icims.com/jobs/3254/job
http://jobs-esurance.icims.com/jobs/3246/job

If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me - I work closely with both teams. If you have any friends with killer marketing analytics skills, please pass along the info.

-Kai
kmitsushio@esurance.com

Monthly Update - September 2009

2009-09-10T23:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Nakayoshi members! Time for the September monthly update!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our events in August! We hope you've all been enjoying the monthly volunteer and social events we've been busy putting together for everyone! Since our last update, Nakayoshi had a blast camping and kayaking up at Tahoe, got down to business at our quarterly planning meeting, and cheered on as Ichiro collected his 2,000th major league hit against the Oakland A's at their Japanese Heritage Day game.

We have more great stuff coming your way the rest of this month, including volunteering at the JCCCNC's annual event, a happy hour networking mixer in conjunction with the Kearny Street Workshop's 11th Annual APAture festival featuring emerging API artists, and our next sushi-making class fundraiser at the JCCCNC taught by Nakayoshi's resident sushi chefs, Graig and Sean Inaba. For those of you interested in career development activities, help out our Career Development committee by giving us some feedback and filling out our quick survey! More details in the rest of the update below!

Have any comments, suggestions or questions? Want to RSVP or sign up for an event? Feel free to leave any comments on our blog at http://www.nakayoshi.org/, Facebook group page, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

In this update:
Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
9/19/09 - Volunteering at the JCCCNC's annual event, Tabemasho!
9/23/09 - APAture 2009 Happy Hour Networking Mixer
9/27/09 - Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class

Save the date! Upcoming event in October
10/24/09 - Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
More events to come!

Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
As a young professionals organization, part of Nakayoshi's mission is to provide resources and programming focusing on personal and career development for our membership. To help us meet this goal of addressing your needs as young professionals, please take a couple quick minutes to fill out our online survey to help us assess what sort of career-related events and activities you all want to see us put together for you!

Check out the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com /s.aspx?sm=2H4JHFqcnUQ5MxHEIGpJqQ_3d_3d

Interested in joining our career development committee? E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com!

Saturday, September 19: Volunteer at JCCCNC's annual event, Tabemasho! (Let's Eat!)
The JCCCNC is hosting its annual event, Tabemasho (Let’s Eat!), on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the JCCCNC on 1840 Sutter Street in San Francisco. This year’s event will celebrate 140 years of Japanese food in America and will honor the Japanese American food industry in America. The event will also introduce the community cookbook, Nikkei Potluck. Come help out with the rest of the Nakayoshi crew!

Nakayoshi will be providing volunteers for the event. There are 3 separate 3 hour shifts:
12:00PM-3:00PM - Set Up Shift (10 volunteers)
3:00PM-6:00PM - Decorating Shift (6 volunteers)
5:00PM-8:00PM - Program Volunteers (15 volunteers w/dresscode - Semi-formal dinner attire)

Please let us know if you are willing to help out with this great cause! We need sign ups soon so please let us know what shifts you'd like to volunteer!

Email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com with your name, telephone contact for the day of, and which shift you'd like. More information on the event at the JCCCNC's website at: http://www.jcccnc.org/events/dinner.htm

What: Volunteering at JCCCNC's annual event, Tabemasho! (Let's Eat!)
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009
Location: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: Noon-3pm set up shift, 3-6pm decorating shift, 5-8pm program volunteers (semi-formal attire for program volunteers)
RSVP to volunteer on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=149504265232

Wednesday, September 23: APAture Happy Hour Networking Mixer
Join Nakayoshi and members of 9 other Asian American professional organizations for an evening of networking and art at a networking happy hour for Kearny Street Workshop's 11th annual APAture Festival, featuring emerging Asian American artists. We'll be mixing it up and perusing festival artwork at the Goforaloop Gallery in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 23 from 6:30-8:30pm. Definitely come out with your friends for a little mingling and to check out some amazing artwork! Admission is FREE, cash bar at the gallery.

For more information on Kearny Street Workshop and the APAture Festival running from September 17-26, go to: http://www.kearnystreet.org/apature

What: APAture Happy Hour Networking Mixer
When: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Where: Goforaloop Gallery, 1458 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Price: FREE Admission, cash bar
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=129940627012

Sunday, September 27: Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class at JCCCNC
Learn how to make your own delicious sushi! Nakayoshi's very own Graig and Sean Inaba will be instructing our second workshop hosted by the JCCCNC, where they will demonstrate and teach participants everything from making sushi vinegar to rolling traditional hosomaki rolls, hand/cone rolls, nigiri and Americanized sushi rolls! Space is limited to the first 25 participants, so sign up ASAP! Price is $30 for JCCCNC members, $40 for general public, and includes all materials.

A portion of the proceeds will also benefit Nakayoshi directly, so sign up to learn how to make your own sushi while supporting your favorite young professionals organization!

To sign up, contact the JCCCNC directly at (415) 567-5505 or e-mail programsevents@jcccnc.org

In case you missed it, check out our video highlighting the last sushi-making class we did at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yui5CRSCjyI&feature=channel_page

What: Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class at JCCCNC
When: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Where: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: 1-4pm
Price: $30 JCCCNC members, $40 general public (materials provided)
RSVP: (415) 567-5505, programsevents@jcccnc.org

Save the date! Upcoming October event:
Saturday, October 24, 2009: Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
Haven't made it out to one of our events yet? Haven't come out in a while? Our Irrashai (welcome!) Nomikai New Member Mixer is the perfect chance for new and old Nakayoshi members to come out and get to know the rest of our regulars in a relaxed social setting over food and drinks. More details and other events to come!

Of course there's no reason to wait until the new member mixer to start coming out to our events! We're always happy to see you come out, get involved with Nakayoshi and the community, and have a great time with the rest of your Nakayoshi friends! Remember to e-mail us or RSVP on Facebook if you're coming out, and join our Facebook group if you haven't already! See you soon!

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.

APAture 2009 Networking Mixer with Kearny Street Workshop

2009-09-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

Join Nakayoshi at:

An Evening of Art and Networking
APAture Happy Hour Mixer with Kearny Street Workshop

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Goforaloop Gallery
1458 San Bruno Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110
FREE Admission. Cash Bar.

RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129940627012

Co-Sponsored by Asian American Professional Organizations, including:

Asia Society - Young Professionals Group
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA)
Asian Business League of San Francisco (ABL-SF)
Indonesian Professionals Association (IPA)
Nakayoshi Young Professionals
National Association of Asian American Professionals - San Francisco (NAAAP-SF)
Network of Indian Professionals - San Francisco Bay Area (NetIP SFBA)
ORIENTED.COM
South Asian Bar Association - Northern California (SABA-NC)
Young Filipino Professionals Association (YFPA)

APAture 2009: A Spotlight on Asian pacific American Art
September 17-26, 2009
Kearny Street Workshop's APAture is an annual multidisciplinary arts festival showcasing the work of emerging Asian Pacific America (APA) artists. APAture's mission is to provide artists with an early experience presenting their work at a large event; to build audiences for emerging APA artists; to strengthen the sense of community among our young artists; and to raise awareness of the existence of and diversity within the APA arts community. APAture values community-building, ethnic and artistic diversity, and collaboration across ethnic and disciplinary lines.

For more information, visit: http://www.kearnystreet.org/apature

Kearny Street Workshop
Kearny Street Workshop is the oldest Asian Pacific American multidisciplinary arts organization in the United States. Our mission is to produce, present, and promote art that empowers APA artists and communities.

Hope we see you there!

Upcoming Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Meeting

2009-09-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

If you're concerned about the future of San Francisco's Japantown, please join us next Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at a community meeting to discuss the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan. The draft neighborhood development plan that was released to the public this past May and June was met by much criticism and concern from the community, and was ultimately rejected by the San Francisco Planning Commission. At this point the community meeting will go over the current status of the plan for the neighborhood and also discuss how the community can have a greater voice and involvement in the planning process. More information is below:

Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan
Community Meeting

Wednesday September 9, 2009
7:00 to 9:00 PM
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
1840 Sutter Street

Learn about the status of the Japantown Plan and how to get involved in making it responsive to community needs! The Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Organizing Committee is hosting this community meeting to share information on the status of the plan and to develop effective steps to incorporate community input into the process.

The agenda for this meeting will include:

Summarizing the Draft Plan.
Reviewing the Planning Commission Resolution approved on June 25.
An update on the Planning Department’s proposed workplan and funding for the next 12-months of the plan process.
Getting the community involved in reviewing and improving the Draft Plan.
General questions.

-----------------------------------

Below is also a message from Paul Osaki, Executive Director of the JCCCNC regarding the upcoming meeting:

Thanks to all of you who wrote letters, e-mails, made calls, voiced your concerns and testified at the San Francisco Planning Commission Hearings in May and June what was considered a foregone conclusion by political insiders, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously rejected any endorsement of the draft Japantown Better Neighborhoods Plan and instead only voted to acknowledge the work done to date. This was described by many as HUGE VICTORY for the community and that we would not accept a bad plan or simply go away. What was thought to be a small minority of unhappy community activists turned out to be a huge majority of concerned community members of all ages and from throughout the state. I also believe by the comments made by the Planning Commissioners at the final hearing that actually once they had the chance to read the plan, that they came to their own conclusion that the plan was really not ready to go to the next phase of an Environmental Impact Review (EIR).

By the resolution merely acknowledging the work completed to date means that the planning effort is NOT over. Thanks to Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi efforts, the San Francisco Planning Department has agreed to extend our planning timeline for another year and as well included a ½ staff to assist with revising, changing and or alternating the plan as the community sees fit. (Pending final approval by the Board of Supervisors in Sept, 2009)

This means that WE ALL have to STAY ACTIVE and become MORE involved than never before, if we want this plan to truly fulfill the goals of helping us preserve and revitalize our historic Japantown. (We will not get another chance) If the plans fail this time around, it’s because WE failed the community, the generations that came before us and the generations that will follow us. There is a community meeting scheduled to update the community and to get your input about the direction the planning effort should take and also about changing/improving the Japantown community steering committee. YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT!

---------------------------------------------

Please join Nakayoshi and other community members at this meeting. It is crucial that we stay informed of the issues directly affecting our community.

"What It Means To Be a Japanese American Woman"

2009-09-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Cherry Blossom Alumnae (CBA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is hosting the 2^nd annual CBA conference with the theme, “What It Means To Be a Japanese American Woman.” The CBA conference will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, 1625 Post Street in San Francisco.

The main speaker for the conference is Janice Mirikitani, Founding President of Glide Foundation, as well as noted poet and author. Other speakers include:

Sandy Mori, Development Director at Kimochi
A panel of successful Japanese American businesswomen, including:

Ellen Kiyomizu, owner of Scorch and Kimochi board member
Sarah Sasaki, Deputy Chief of Staff in Corporate Relations at PG&E Corporation, and the 2005 Cherry Blossom Queen
Amy Schoemehl, Manager/Trafficking and Global Outsourcing at Google, and the 2000 Cherry Blossom Queen

There will also be a special breakout session for participants to express their own views on the conference theme. Lunch is included at the event.

Registration cost for the event: early bird special is $30 for Adults/$25 for Students if registering for the conference by September 26, 2009. After September 26, the registration cost is $35 for Adults/$30 for Students. Registration forms can be obtained by contacting Tina Hamada-Wong at tina@structive.com or (650) 619-0613. Seating is limited, and the organizers expect the event to be sold out.

This event is open to the public. Please note that while the theme is focused on Japanese American women, men are also encouraged to attend the event. The San Francisco Japantown Foundation awarded CBA a grant for this event.

Nichi Bei Times to Close Down

2009-08-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

FIRST: Don't miss the recently posted monthly update for August.

NOW:
Head over to the new website for the Nichi Bei Foundation for more information; currently posted is a news article about the closing by Justine Koo Drennan from New America Media, as well as a pair of letters, one from the Nichi Bei Times board of directors and one from company vice president and English edition editor Kenji Taguma. There is also a donation button to help the emerging foundation, for the charitably inclined.

There's much more to say about these developments, but for the time being, the information linked to above should suffice in publicizing the situation. Please visit that website.

Monthly Update - August 2009

2009-08-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

August is closing out, but Nakayoshi still has some updates for you!

There's been a lot going on this past month, and more still to come! Hopefully some of you were there with us this past month as we met the creators of Secret Identities graphic novel anthology on Asian American superheroes, volunteered and odori'd at the Mountain View Obon Festival, and stargazed in the Planetarium at the CA Academy of Sciences' NightLife event. August has also been busy. Nakayoshi members helped the American Cancer Society raise over $16,000 to fight cancer at the Relay for Life in Daly City and followed up the next weekend by volunteering with the Japanese Community Youth Council at the Childrens' Village game and craft booths at the annual Nihonmachi Street Fair in San Francisco's Japantown. Nakayoshi members also attended the community viewing of short videos produced for the REEL Nikkei Stories project at the JCCCNC.

We're heading to the mountains for some nature and kayaking at our Lake Tahoe camping trip this coming weekend, and finishing out the month with the next Nakayoshi meeting on August 30. This month also marks our transition into a quarterly meeting format, so come and check out what else is in the works for the coming months! Make sure you also check out the details below on Japanese Heritage Day with the Oakland A's, a dinner benefit to help fight Hepatitis B and Nakayoshi's next sushi-making class coming at you in September!

Have any comments or questions? Want to RSVP or sign up for an event? Feel free to leave any comments on our blog at http://www.nakayoshi.org/, Facebook group page, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

In this update:
8/21-23/09 - Tahoe Camping Trip
8/27/09 - Hepatitis B Awareness Dinner (RSVP by 8/21!!)

8/30/09 - Nakayoshi Quarterly Meeting

Save these dates! Upcoming events in September
9/6/09 - Oakland A's Japanese Heritage Day (RSVP by 8/20!!)

9/27/09 - Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-making Class

Friday, August 21: Sunday, August 23: Lake Tahoe Camping Trip
Sign-ups for this event have closed. Thank you to those who signed up for our first camping trip! We have a great weekend outdoors ahead of us!

What: Nakayoshi Tahoe Camping Trip
Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 - Sunday, August 23, 2009
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
View more information on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=116797296833

Thursday, August 27: Hepatits B Awareness Dinner
Nakayoshi continues to support the San Francisco Hep B Free! campaign as we join the AsianWeek Foundation at the next Hepatitis B Awareness dinner at the South Sea Seafood Village. Eat a scrumptious 9 course meal and learn about how you can help stop Hepatitis B!

About Hep B: API's have the highest risk of hepatitis B 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. The city of San Francisco has the highest liver cancer rate in the nation. Learn how to protect family and friends from Hep B and liver cancer caused by Hep B! For more information about hepatitis B which disproportionately affects APIs, visit http://www.sfhepbfree.org/.

*MENU for 9 Course Chinese Banquet Dinner: Cream Corn Soup w/Chicken, Minced Chicken & Shrimp in Lettuce Cups, Peking Duck & Buns, Walnut Prawns, Black Mushrooms & Greens, Mapo Tofu w/Pork, Beef & Greens, Crispy Skin Chicken, Dessert

What: Hepatitis B Awareness Dinner (RSVP by 8/21!!)

When: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Where: South Sea Seafood Village, 1420 Irving St. San Francisco
Time: 6-7pm No Host Bar, 7-9pm Dinner

Price: $30; RSVP by Aug. 21
Contact: Tamiko Wong, twong@awfoundation.com, 415-321-5865.
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=133027988553

Sunday, August 30: Nakayoshi Quarterly Meeting
Here's a perfect chance to get caught up on everything happening in the next few months for Nakayoshi! We are actively seeking to expand our planning committees, so come on out if you'd like to see what's going on and how you can get involved! Please note that starting this month, our monthly meetings will now be held on a quarterly basis.

What: Nakayoshi Quarterly Meeting
When: Sunday, August 30, 2009
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
Time: 1-4pm
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=118002121318

Sunday, September 6: Oakland A's Japanese Heritage Day (RSVP by Thursday 8/20!!)

Last-minute announcement for you East Bay baseball fans! Come join Nakayoshi at the Oakland A's game on Sunday, September 6, 1:00 PM @ Oakland Coliseum. Come watch Ichiro and Kenji Johjima of the Seattle Mariners and Kurt Suzuki of the Oakland A's! RSVP deadline for tickets is THIS THURSDAY, 8/20, so respond quickly if you want to go! Nakayoshi will be joining the Contra Costa and Diablo Valley JACL chapters for the game.

What: Oakland A's Japanese Heritage Day
When: Sunday, September 6, 2009
Where: McAffee Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA
Time: 1-5pmPrice: $10/ticket
RSVP at nakayoshi@ncwnp@gmail.com or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=276296405552

Sunday, September 27: Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-making Class
We'll be hosting our second Tabemasho! series Sushi-making class/fundraiser on Sunday, 9/27 at the JCCCNC in SF Japantown, taught by Nakayoshi's very own Graig and Sean Inaba! Proceeds will benefit both the JCCCNC and Nakayoshi, so look for more details on how you and your friends can sign up to learn how to roll your own sushi and support two great community organizations! More details to come! E-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you have questions or to reserve a spot.

See you at the next Nakayoshi event! Find out more at the Nakayoshi quarterly meeting this month!

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.

SF Hep B Free - An Unexpected Encounter

2009-08-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Our friends at AsianWeek Foundation are putting on another amazing event and if you're around you should definitely check it out.

VIVE presents a music showcase and benefit dinner hosted at Jillian's. Come join them for an evening of good food, good music, and good conversation all while contributing to the elimination of hepatitis b in the asian community via SF Hep B Free. Dress UP, but dress comfortably. With featured singer and songwriter Alice Tong and the talent of Odessa Chen, two incredible artists whose music will leave an impression on your mind and soul.

Tickets are $45 - which includes dinner *Group packages are available. For more information visit www.vivesf.com/vive-events/

When: Friday, August 21, 2009
Where: Jillian's @ The Metreon 101 4th Street, SF

Time: 6PM - 9PM

If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, please visit and donate online at www.SFHepBFree.org/donate

Fore more information on the SF Hep B Free campaign and how you can help, visit their website at http://www.sfhepbfree.org/

REEL NIKKEI STORIES community film screening

2009-08-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 15, 2009

3:00pm - 4:30pm

Issei Memorial Hall, JCCCNC

1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

REEL NIKKEI STORIES Community Film Screening will showcase youth-made documentaries with focus on Japanese American family oral histories. The community film screening is the culmination of the year-long REEL NIKKEI STORIES project, a training program which empowers young people with the confidence, skills and resources to interview and video document their family stories before they are lost forever.

For more information contact Ali at AKagawa@jcccnc.org or 415-567-5505.

Learn Yosakoi Soran Dance!

2009-08-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

4:00pm

Issei Memorial Hall, JCCCNC

1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco CA 94115

FREE!

“Yosakoi Soran,” originated from a Japanese folk song “Yosakoi” of Kochi Prefecture combined with the famous Hokkaido folk song “Soran” into a choreographed team folk dance. With the Yosakoi clapper in one hand while chanting “Soran”, you have the two fundamental elements of this song from which you can create your own choreography for the dance. It started from the idea of a university student and soon became phenomenal for its urge for creativity and team effort. This year in June in Sapporo the 18th annual Yosakoi Soran Festival was held, and 33, 000 people and 316 teams including members of the Research Society participated in this growing event. This time leader Masao Nemoto, who developed the dance for educational purposes and helped it spread to classrooms all over Japan, will lead the workshop to introduce “Samurai” and other variations of the Yosakoi Soran.”

To sign up for the Workshop, please contact. Mr. Ken Maeshiro, JCCCNC at (415) 567-5505.
For inquiries about the workshop, please contact Mr. Tadashi Ota, Director, SF Office, Teacher’s Organization of Skill Sharing, at (408) 828-6505, or Japan Information Center, Consulate General of Japan, at (415) 777-3533 or japaninfo@cgjsf.org

Information taken from Japanese Consulate of Japan flyer.

A Portrait of Japanese Americans - Be involved in this nationwide study

2009-08-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

The University of Maryland is doing a study of Japanese American's called A Portrait of Japanese Americans.

The study includes doing focus groups with representative members of the JACL (Nakayoshi is a program of the JACL). These focus groups will be held in various regions of the country.

The UM is in search of willing participants. A description of the focus groups is below along with the time frame needed.

1. Consent forms will be provided to all participants.

2. Each focus group should be from 6 to 8 people. 8 is preferred. These focus groups will last a maximum of 2 hours. Day or evening is okay.

3. In-depth interviews will be held with 3 people. These could be some of the same people in the focus group or different. This interviews will last for about one hour. It is a matter of getting somebody who is willing to do an in-depth interview. Diversity is desired here too.

4. The goal is to have "diversity" in these groups. Nisei, Shin-Nisei, Sansei, Yonsei, Gosei, both genders, bi-cultural (Hapa), gay, etc. are the kind of diversity we would like to have. At least one Nisei is essential. Also, different social backgrounds such as education,occupation, social status, relegion, etc. would be good. This is for both the focus groups and the in-depth interviews.

5. There will be audio records that the U. of Maryland staff will analyse and use for the report.

Three to four UM staff will do each focus group.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com and we will submit your names for participation.

36th Annual Nihonmachi Street Festival - Volunteer with us!

2009-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Want to volunteer and do something that feels worth while? Want to see children laugh and have an amazing time as they play tons of fun games and activities?

If you've said "yes" to all the above, come out and volunteer this Sunday (Aug. 8th) with Nakayoshi as we volunteer at the 36th Annual Nihonmachi Street Festival in San Francisco's Japantown.

We'll be volunteering at Nihonmachi's Children's World section, helping children bounce around and play fun (cost affordable) games!

We're looking for amazing folks to come volunteer for the following shifts. Sign ups are going on until this Wednesday, August 5th. Email us at mailto:nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com with your name, desired shift, and phone contact (for the day of).

The following shifts are available and we would greatly appreciate it if you signed up for any of the following 2 hour shifts:

8am-10am (Set-up)
10am-12noon
12noon to 2pm
2pm to 4pm
4pm-6pm (Clean-up)

Come out and have some fun as Nakayoshi volunteers for our 2nd time at this year's Nihonmachi Street Festival. We look forward to seeing you there this Sunday!

Monthly Update - July 2009

2009-07-14T00:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, it's time for July's Nakayoshi monthly update! The month's already halfway through, but we still have a ton of stuff coming up! Check out the book signing for the new Secret Identities graphic novel we're co-sponsoring over at Giant Robot this week, and join us next weekend as we volunteer at the Mountain View Obon Festival! We'll also be hitting up the CA Academy of Sciences NightLife event at the end of the month, and be sure to join us at the beginning of August to help battle cancer at the Relay for Life in Daly City! We're also taking signups for our Tahoe camping trip in late August, so be sure to check it out! We look forward to seeing new and old faces at our upcoming events, so be sure to let us know if you're coming!

Have any comments or questions? Want to RSVP or sign up for an event? Feel free to leave any comments on our blog, Facebook group page, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

In this update:
7/16/09 - Secret Identities Book Signing at Giant Robot SF
7/19/09 - Volunteering at Mountain View Obon Festival
7/30/09 - NightLife @ CA Academy of Sciences
8/1/09 - Relay for Life in Daly City

Save These Dates - August Events
8/9/09 - Nakayoshi Sushi-making Class
8/22/09 - Tahoe Camping Trip
8/30/09 - Quarterly Planning Meeting

Thursday, July 16: Secret Identities Book Signing @ Giant Robot SF

Nakayoshi and Hyphen Magazine are excited to co-sponsor the San Francisco book release party and signing for Secret Identities, a graphic novel anthology that explores Asian American culture, identity and history through a set of original superhero comics. Come out to meet Jeff Yang and other contributors to the book and purchase a signed copy of this book!

More information on the Secret Identities and other book tour dates can be found at: www.secretidentities.org
Information on Giant Robot Magazine/Store can be found at: www.giantrobot.com

What: Book signing of Secret Identities, Asian American superhero graphic novel anthology
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009
Location: Giant Robot - 618 Shrader Street (at Haight), San Francisco, CA 94117
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=229339505650

Sunday, July 19: Volunteer at Mountain View Obon Festival

Nakayoshi is heading down to Mountain View on Sunday, July 19th to help out for a couple hours at the Mountain View Obon! We're only needed from 4-6pm, so come out early and stay late to hang out with Nakayoshi and enjoy the rest of the festival!

For those of you unfamiliar with obons, an 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!

We are actually volunteering on the second day of the festival (Sunday, July 19th). Here's the full festival schedule:

Sat, 7/18/09: 4-10pm
Sun, 7/19/09: 12-8:30pm

More information at: http://mvbuddhisttemple.org

What: Volunteer @ Mountain View Obon Festival
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2009
Location: Mountain View Buddhist Temple, 575 N. Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043
Time: Obon runs Noon-8:30 pm, Volunteer Shift from 4:00-6:00 pm
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=92166119077

Thursday, July 30: NightLife @ CA Academy of Sciences

Traverse the universe in the planetarium, get crunk on the dance floor and go deep sea diving sans wetsuit! Nothing beats a night at the museum!

Join Nakayoshi on Thursday evening, July 30th at NightLife @ the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. More information on the museum's NightLife events can be found at: https://www.calacademy.org/events/nightlife/

We know it's a Thursday, but come out anyway! Plus, it's only $10! RSVP here and buy your NightLife tickets online NOW (they sell out quick) at https://www.calacademy.org/event_tickets/

For more information and Nakayoshi meeting location, email us @ nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

What: NightLife @ CA Academy of Sciences
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009
Location: 55 Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118
Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Price: $10, buy tickets online at https://www.calacademy.org/event_tickets/
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111673984616

Saturday, August 1: Relay for Life in Daly City

The American Cancer Society says that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life unites communities across the country each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Team up with Nakayoshi and Friends at the 2009 Daly City Relay For Life. This year is special as it is the 25th Anniversary of the Relay For Life program. Come join us and help combat cancer!

Location: Westmoor High School, Daly City
Date: Begins Saturday 8/1/09 at 10am, Ends Sunday 8/2/09 at 10am (yes - 24 hours!)

You do not have to be present the entire event. Stop by anytime!

To register, follow these steps:
-Go to: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=17878
-Click on "Sign Up"
-Join Existing Team
-Search for team "Walk Band" and Join.
-For donation goal put $0 (we are fundraising outside of the website)

Please send an email to Atsushi at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com once you have registered so we can keep track of Nakayoshi participants.

One of the goals of this event is to raise funds for cancer research. We are asking each member to fundraise/donate $40 for the cause. This is only a suggested amount and is by no means a requirement to participate in this event. Please have all funds available on the day of the event.

Links:
General info on Relay For Life - http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/whatisrelay
Daly City - Relay For Life - http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=17878

What: Relay for Life with Nakayoshi and Friends
Date: Saturday-Sunday, August 1-2, 2009
Location: Westmoor High School, 131 Westmoor Ave, Daly City, CA 94015-3893
Time: 10:00am to 10:00am (24 hours!)
Suggested Donation: $40
Register Online at: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=17878
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127269340790

Friday, August 21 - Sunday, August 23: Lake Tahoe Camping Trip

*NOTE* You must send an email to Atsushi at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com to confirm registration for this trip

Come join Nakayoshi for our 1st summer camping trip! We'll be heading up to South Lake Tahoe for a relaxing weekend away from home in the Sierras. The camping trip will also include river rafting and an outing to South Tahoe casinos. Spots are limited based on our campsite reservations, so sign up ASAP to guarantee your spot on the trip!

Cost - Only $55!

This includes: Car pool transportation (Drivers will be reimbursed), Campsite Permits, 3 Meals (Saturday - Breakfast, Dinner; Sunday - Breakfast), River Rafting/Floating

Please let us if you can drive (including how many people you can fit) or if you need a ride up to Tahoe. We will do our best to arrange rides for everyone.

You will need your own camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.). If you do not have something, let us know and we will help you find some you can borrow or rent.

Rough Itinerary (we will send more details soon) *subject to change

Friday
Evening - Depart for campsite (if you choose to go earlier, the campsite check-in time is 2pm on Friday)

Saturday
8:00am - Breakfast
10:00am - Rafting/Floating
1:00pm - Lunch - Free time (visit Lake)
6:00pm - Dinner at campsite
7:00pm - Campfire, casinos, GHOST STORIES!

Sunday
8:00am - Yoga session
9:00am - Breakfast
10:00am - Pack Up and Depart

Space is limited! Register by Friday, August 14th. If you have any questions or want to register, please email Atsushi at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

*NOTE* You must send an email to this address to confirm registration.

For More Information:
Fallen Leaf Campgrounds - http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/recreation/camping/flcamp.shtml
Truckee River Rafting -
http://www.truckeeriverraft.com/truckee-lake-tahoe-raft-trips

What: Nakayoshi Tahoe Camping Trip
Date: Friday, August 21, 2009 - Sunday, August 23, 2009
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Time: Leave Friday at 7pm, return Sunday at Noon
To Register, You Must E-mail Atsushi at: nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116797296833

That's all for now. Be sure to RSVP for any events you're coming to, and as always, feel free to bring your friends with you!

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 and website and http://www.nakayoshi.org, 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.

Update on San Francisco Planning Commission acknowledges the DRAFT Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan

2009-07-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

The Draft Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan was acknoweldged by the Planning Commission on June 25, 2009, as a "a significant milestone marking years of broad community planning efforts, and represents many of the community’s goals for the area at this point in time."

The Commission approved a resolution that requires more work to be done with the community to refine the draft plan, including the following:

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission acknowledges public comment that has been received regarding concerns over different aspects of the Draft Plan—including but not limited to cultural preservation, the provision of mixed‐income housing, the retention of existing merchants, structural analysis on Japan Center garage, mitigation of neighborhood impacts during potential construction, proposed tower heights, and the need to provide more direction for the implementing organization, and directs the Department to continue to work with the community on these issues prior to initiating environmental review; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission requests the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to consider funding for further modification and study of the Draft Plan in a community process, including environmental review, when considering the city’s budget; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission directs Planning Department Staff to undertake environmental review of the Draft Plan and further modify it as soon as funding becomes available; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution is not a plan approval but represents the Commission’s acknowledgement of work performed to create the Draft Plan.

FURTHER RESOLVED that this acknowledgement of the draft plan does not endorse any parcel‐specific rezoning or parcel‐specific height limit.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Department work with Office of Economic and Workforce Development to develop a strategy to retain existing businesses.

FINALLY RESOLVED, that prior to any Commission hearings or action on what will be the Draft Plan for CEQA evaluation, the Commission recognizes that changes to the present Draft Plan will take place and that any revisions will be incorporated to the Draft Plan and will be subject to CEQA review. This Resolution does not commit the Commission to the Draft Plan or any specific project. Consistent with CEQA, the Commission may decide to approve or disapprove the Draft Plan after completion of environmental review of the Draft Plan, and based upon independent review, consideration of any environmental effects caused, and community involvement throughout the environmental review process.

Further, during the anticipated CEQA review of the Draft Plan, the Commission expects that appropriate alternatives to the Draft Plan will be developed and explored and that the Draft Plan may evolve accordingly, and that no final Plan will be adopted until the environmental review process is completed and hearings conducted on the proposed Ordinances to implement the final Japantown Plan."

Please stay tuned for next steps by checking the Plan's website: http://japantown.sfplanning.org/

Read more about the Planning Commission's decision and necessary next steps by opening the attached resolution.

On behalf of Nakayoshi - thank you for your interest in this issue and if you took the time to write a letter or tell a friend, you've helped create an opportunity for the community and for our generation to have a voice in the issue of how San Francisco's Japantown will grow and evolve over the coming years.

"Boogie Nights" Fundraiser for Nihonmachi Street Fair

2009-06-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Dance the night away with the sounds of the Kanzaki All Star Band and help support the Nihonmachi Street Fair in Japantown!

Saturday, July 11
8:00pm-12:am

Hotel Kabuki, SF Japantown

$30 Presale Tickets (by July 1)

$40 at the door

To reserve your tickets early, please send a check for ticket amount to:

Nihonmachi Street Fair

1840 Sutter Street

San Francisco, CA 94115

For more information, visit the Nihonmachi Street Fair site: http://www.nihonmachistreetfair.org/

Monthly Update - June 2009

2009-06-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

We apologize for the delay in bringing you this month's update. We know you've all been waiting patiently for info on our upcoming events! We're already underway with our June events, having just celebrated our 1st full year of holding social and volunteer events at our annual picnic at the beginning of the month! Don't worry if you missed out or haven't made it out yet to a Nakayoshi event; we still managed to cram our calendar for the rest of the month with more opportunities to hang out, network, and get involved with the community!

At this point we'd like to say THANK YOU!!! to all of you who have come out to our events and supported us so far. Nakayoshi also appreciates the continued support of other Bay Area JA and API community organizations that have helped us along the way. We've come a long way in our first year, and look forward to another year of continued growth and successful events.

Finally, before we get into event announcements, Nakayoshi would like to direct some of your attention to recent developments in the future of San Francisco's Japantown. A draft of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan was recently completed and is up for endorsement by the San Francisco Planning Commission on June 25th, 2009. This plan proposes many changes that will have a significant effect on the future of Japantown, including tearing down the Japan Center Mall and building market-rate condominiums in the neighborhood. Many members of the community are concerned that implementation of the current draft of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan would permanently displace many of the small businesses and replace many of the buildings that make Japantown what it is today. Nakayoshi strongly encourages everyone to educate themselves on the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan and the approval process, but more importantly, we encourage you to raise your voice and be heard if you are concerned about the future of our community. More information on the JBNP is available at the SF city government website at: http://www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp?id=57149

Feel free to leave any comments on our blog, Facebook group page, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com regarding this issue or any other concerns or suggestions you may have for us. Ok, on to the rest of the update!

In this update:
6/18/09 - MATCHA: Sake and Tea Tasting at SF Asian Art Museum
6/19/09 - Wine Tasting with Asian American Community Groups
6/20/09 - SF Mission District Crawl/Matt's Birthday!
6/27/09 - Volunteering at SF JACL Youth Fishing Derby
6/28/09 - Volunteering at Classical Japanese Music Program

Save These Dates – More information to come in Nakayoshi’s July Monthly Update!
7/19/09 - Volunteering at Mountain View Obon
8/9/09 - Nakayoshi Sushi-making Class
8/22/09 – Tahoe Camping Trip
8/30/09 - Quarterly Planning Meeting

Thursday, June 18: SF Asian Art Museum MATCHA Sake and Tea Tasting

Join Nakayoshi for a trip to the SF Asian Art Museum for their "Matcha" event series. This Thursday's event features tea and sake, in tandem with its current exhibit Lords of the Samurai:

"Quench your summer thirst with all things sake and tea. Savor a sake tasting and multi-media presentation by Kirsten Shilakes, art history lecturer with an expertise in the visual history of the culinary arts. Sip, learn, and chat with Miwa Wang, sake sommelier and manager of True Sake, about the nuanced tastes and bouquets of sake. Stroll the galleries, see Lords of the Samurai, discover a Japanese tea ceremony showcasing matcha, a powdered green tea and namesake of our program.

Observe its meticulous preparation and whisk your own. Dip into a talk on tea ceremony and warrior culture, join a docent conversation, or relax with a sake-tini, friends, and DJ-spun music.

For more information: http://www.asianart.org/matcha.htm

Nakayoshi will meet in front of the museum at 6:30pm; cost is $10 per person, paid at the door.

What: SF Asian Art Museum MATCHA Event Series Sake and Tea tasting
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Location: SF Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Time: 6:30 pm
Price: $10/person

Friday, June 19: Wine Tasting with the Asian American Community

For you discerning oenophiles in Nakayoshi and everyone else looking for a networking event to mingle with other great folks involved with the API community, Nakayoshi will be at the Wine Tasting with the Asian American Community event this Friday in San Francisco.

This event will have over 50+ wines to sample from over 14 different wineries. Meet and mingle with 15+ Asian Communtiy Organizations to explore both networking and volunteering opportunitites.

The cost of the event is $25 (drop-in if available)
Payment accepted through PayPal or directly to organizer, with no service charge. To purchase tickets and more information on participating wineries and API community organizations, go to www.june19winetasting.eventbrite.com

Over 400 people attended this event last year! So come join Nakayoshi as we wine and dine!

What: Wine Tasting with the Asian American Community
Date: Friday, June 19, 2009
Location: Green Room (2nd floor) of the War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
Price: $25/person

Saturday, June 20: SF Mission District Crawl

Join your Nakayoshi friends in the Mission this Saturday for another social mixer, and also to celebrate Nakayoshi member Matt Mori's birthday! Don't know Matt? Don't like Matt? Don't fret! All are welcome to come and just cruise with the Nakayoshi crew.

We will meet at 10:00 pm at the Monk's Kettle on 16th and Albion- just blocks from the 16th Street Bart station.

Nakayoshi would like to request you use public transportation or a designated driver to attend this event.

What: SF Mission District Crawl
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Starting Location: Monk's Kettle, 3141 16th St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Time: 10:00pm - 2:00am

Saturday, June 27: Volunteer at SF JACL chapter Youth Fishing Derby

Into fishing? Do you like helping kids out? Join Nakayoshi as we assist the SF JACL and Nisei Fishing Club put on their annual Youth Fishing Derby at the San Pablo Dam Reservoir in the East Bay! Volunteers will be needed to help set up the potluck picnic site and help parent chaperones oversee fishing activities for youth ages 8-12.

Volunteering begins at 8am, cleanup is at 2:30pm. Let us know if you can volunteer for all or part of the event! Driving directions to San Pablo Dam Reservoir can be found online at: http://www.ebmud.com/services/recreation/east_bay/san_pablo/

RSVP to volunteer by June 20, 2009 by e-mailing nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

What: SF JACL/Nisei Fishing Club annual Youth Fishing Derby
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Starting Location: San Pablo Dam Reservoir, East of Berkeley/El Cerrito
Time: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Sunday, June 28: Volunteer at Classical Japanese Music Program

We are looking for up to 4 volunteers to assist at the 11th annual Japanese Classical Music Peformance fundraiser for the Si Ko Kai Christ Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Volunteers are needed to assist in setup and breakdown and are invited to enjoy the classical Japanese music performance. Let us know if you can help out!

What: SF JACL/Nisei Fishing Club annual Youth Fishing Derby
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009
Starting Location: Pine United Methodist Church, 426 33rd Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Early Call for Volunteers - July 19, Mountain View Obon

For those of you in the Peninsula or South Bay, or for those willing to make the trip out there, Nakayoshi's July volunteer event will be on Sunday, July 19 at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple's Obon. Mountain View has one of the Bay Area's biggest and best obons, so you know you're going to be there anyway! Volunteers will be needed from 4-6pm. E-mail us at
nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com by Tuesday, June 23 to sign to sign up to volunteer!

More information on the Mountain View Buddhist Temple is available at: http://mvbuddhisttemple.org

That's it for now! Hope you can make it out!

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 and website and http://www.nakayoshi.org, 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.

FOR THE LOVE OF RAMEN

2009-06-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
6:30 - 8:30 pm
San Francisco Ferry Building

The humble wheat noodles, originally from China, were radically re-invented by Momofuku Ando. Affectionately known in Japan as Noodle Papa, Ando developed new technology to make instant ramen noodles, all the while believing that: "Peace will come to the world when people have enough to eat."

All of us have benefitted from the quick and easy goodness of ramen. From the desks of salary workers to the dorm rooms of college students, from famous noodle shops to supermarket shelves, ramen’s many incarnations have tangled their way into our hearts and minds as much as they’ve filled our stomachs.

Our panel of noodle experts will explore how a dish born of extreme need after World War II was transformed into a meal of luxury, endless regional specialties, and then, finally, an iconic convenience food.

Come join the conversation with:
Eric Nakamura, publisher and co-editor, Giant Robot magazine
Andy Raskin, author, The Ramen King and I
George Solt, assistant professor of history, New York University
Thy Tran (moderator), director, Asian Culinary Forum

Delica rf-1 will provide Japanese nibbles and drinks, and Book Passage will be onsite to sell copies of The Ramen King and I.

Text taken from : http://www.asianculinaryforum.org

JOB HUNT Workshop at the JCCCNC

2009-06-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO (June 1, 2009) - The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) is pleased to announce a workshop on How to Find a Job in a Recession featuring Career Coaches Janelle Sasaki and Niki Baccam which will be held on Friday, July 10, 2009 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., at the JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco. This workshop is the first part of a series. Follow-up workshops (dates to be announced) will be on resume critique, interviewing skills and elevator pitch.

Janelle Sasaki has over 14 years of Human Resources leadership experience. She holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification and obtained her bachelors degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Currently, Janelle serves as the University Relations Manager at Cisco.

Niki Baccam has over 10 years of experience in Human Resources and recruitment in the semiconductor and networking industries. She holds a bachelor degree from Upper Iowa University. Currently, Niki serves as the University Relations Manager at Cisco.

This workshop is free for JCCCNC members and $10 for non-members. For more information or reserve your space, please contact (415) 567-5505. Space is limited so call today.

Nakayoshi Monthly Planning Meeting - this Sunday!

2009-05-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the month again! Nakayoshi is having their general monthly meeting this coming Sunday @ the SF JACL Headquarter building.

If you haven't attended a meeting yet, now is the time! More importantly, if you're curious about the Japantown Issue and vast changes that the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan will be doing to our beloved nihonmachi, come and put your two cents in. Nakayoshi is being asked to react and our community is in need of major education on this issue. Help us out if you can, come to our meeting and find out how!

General meetings are used to plan and brainstorm upcoming events, socials and volunteer activities. For the next few months, Nakayoshi has a few projects up their sleeve, so come out and give us your input and be part of our planning process.

If you have any questions or want to RSVP for the meeting, please feel free to contact us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

PRESERVE SF JAPANTOWN!

2009-05-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

The SF planning commission will hear the japantown better neighborhood plan this thursday at City Hall room 400 at 2:30pm, and YOU should be there to speak out against it. some of the reasons the current better neighborhood plan is no good:

buildings will rise and jtown will be overshadowed
rent will increase by over 100% and drive out the small businesses that make jtown unique
japan center and garage will be closed for at least 2 years and there will be nothing to draw people to jtown
plan has not been thoroughly discussed in our community (there have been a number of meetings but not enough community representation! this is our bad- and it's time to take action!)

read the full plan: http://www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp?id=57149

we are simply calling for more time to create a plan that will ensure the preservation of our cultural and historical buildings/businesses and the future of our japantown!

The planning commission hearing is:
Thursday, May 28
CITY HALL room 400
2:30pm
We are 2nd on the agenda

If you can not attend the hearing, please contact the planning commission and ask them to not endorse the plan as is.
Ron Miguel, Commission President
rm@well.com
(415) 601-0708

For more information email nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

Spotlight #9 - Jess Kawamura

2009-05-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

Name: Jessica Miyeko Kawamura
Profession: Former grad student, future policy analyst
Age: 23
Favorite Restaurant: Thai Noodle in Berkeley

During the last six months, I have enjoyed being part of Nakayoshi. It’s a great way to connect with other people who are equally committed to being part of the JA community and enjoying the Bay Area. I am excited to see where the future takes us!

About me: I am a proud East Bay native. I am yonsei, a fourth-generation Japanese American. As a kid, I spent many afternoons and summer days with my grandparents in West Berkeley. I have fond memories of making narazuke and eating Campbell’s soup with rice and takuan. On Sundays, my family attended JA Christian church and on Saturday nights, my brother and I played basketball for the local Buddhist temple. During the summers, I went to Daruma-no-Gakko, where I first fell in love with Japanese American history. I feel lucky to have grown up in the ethnic community.

As a student at Brown University, I pursued my interest in Asian American history. I double majored in Ethnic Studies and Public Policy and served as the chair of the Asian American Students Association. I spent a summer interning in San Francisco Japantown with the Nikkei Community Internship program. I also studied abroad at Sophia University in Tokyo. I wrote my honors thesis about Asian American women’s activism in San Francisco during the late 1960s and early 1970s. I came back to Berkeley to complete my education at the Goldman School of Public Policy at Cal (Go Bears!). A newly minted graduate, I will soon pack my bags for a big move to Washington, DC. I will be pursuing a career in public service at the State Department's Office of Civil Rights.

Nakayoshi's 2nd Annual BBQ - We're Turning One!

2009-05-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's Nakayoshi's 2nd Annual BBQ and we're turning ONE! It's been exactly one year since we first launched Nakayoshi and boy have we grown!

Nakayoshi's 2nd Annual BBQ @ Golden Gate Park

Sunday, June 7th 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Lindley Meadow - Table 3 30th Avenue & John F. Kennedy Drive
Look for Blue & White Balloons

Since June 2008, we've held 11 successful volunteer events:

- Nihonmachi Street fair w/ JCYC
- SF JACL Chapter AIDS Memorial Grove Clean Up
- JCCCNC’s Annual Event – Salute to a Vision
- Kimochi’s Sansei Live Event
- Trick or Vote Event w/ Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice (ACRJ)
- SF JACL Chapter Spaghetti & Crab Feed Benefit Dinner
- API Legal Outreach’s Oshogatsu Festival with SF JACL Chapter & JCCCNC
- San Francisco 2009 Day Of Remembrance
- San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival Volunteers
- Nichi Bei Tofu Dessert Competition & Festival
- West Valley JACL Chapter Booth @ San Jose Nikkei Matsuri Festival

and 12 successful social events:

- Meet & Greet Barbeque
- Goh Nakamura Album Release Party
- Karaoke Night
- North Beach Crawl
- Mission District Crawl
- Golden State Warriors API Heritage Night
- Nakayoshi’s 1st Annual Holiday Party
- Yerba Buena Ice Skating
- 1st Annual Ski Trip – Northstar Lake Tahoe
- San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival – Tokyo Sonata Showing
- Hiking @ Purisma Creek (Half Moon Bay)
- San Francisco Giant’s Japanese Heritage Night

and some local community festivals and fundraisers:

- 42nd Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival – Tabling
- Asian American Heritage Street Celebration – Tabling
- Nakayoshi’s Sushi Cooking Class

We have a lot more planned out for the rest of the year, so if you haven't come out to one of our Nakayoshi Volunteer or Social events yet, come out and see what Nakayoshi is all about at our Annual BBQ! We'd love to meet you and tell you what else we have in store for our 2nd year!

Plus it's FREE! So join us as we celebrate our 1 Year Anniversary in Golden Gate Park with delicious food (free food) and some amazing Nakayoshi members!

San Francisco's Golden Gate Park
Sunday, June 7th

Lindley Meadow - Table 3
30th Avenue & John F. Kennedy Drive
Look for Blue & White Balloons
12:00 - 4:00 pm

Bring running shoes, we may do another round of touch football!

Check out pictures from our first BBQ:

6/29/08 Nakayoshi Meet & Greet BBQ

Are you 1/4 Asian, 3/4 Caucasian???

2009-05-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

A family friend- Carole's son, and only child, is battling Leukemia. His only option for survival is a bone marrow transplant. I am sending this to everyone I know just in case, by some miracle, it reaches someone that might be able to help in some way. Please send this to everyone you know.

In Caroles own words.....

"My son, Nick Glasgow, needs a bone marrow transplant. Nick was a healthy 27 year old when he came down with what was at first believed to be strep throat about nine to ten weeks ago. Eight weeks ago, he was informed that he has Leukemia and was admitted to the hospital immediately for chemotherapy. Nick has endured two rounds of chemotherapy, and received blood, platelets, saline, and antibiotic infusions. These have all failed to put Nick into remission. Nick's white cell blood count is too low for another round of chemo, and was sent home as antibiotics had been stopped and his immune system is compromised. He is now back in emergency at the hospital due to a high fever.

What is needed to save Nick's life is a bone marrow donor who is a match. The doctors have advised that they think it is highly unlikely that they can find a match for Nick as a match would need to be 3/4 Caucasian and 1/4 Asian. The doctor indicated that there was probably a 0% chance of finding a donor from the donor list , although they are still currently looking for a match for Nick and this is due to the fact that there are not enough 3/4 Caucasian and 1/4 Asians registered to choose from. Time is of the essence in finding a donor for Nick. Right now his white blood cell count is up to 1,500 (3,500 is low normal) of which the cancerous portion is climbing and has doubled in just a few days. Nick needs a donor match NOW.

What I am asking of you is this, if you fit the criteria of ANY MIX of Caucasian and Asian, please go to http://www.aadp.org/ and start the process of being tested to see if you are a match for Nick. Testing involves a simple swab to the inside of your cheek. If you know someone who fits the criteria, please urge them to be tested. Nick's life is dependant on finding a match today. Please, please, please take the short amount of time to see if you are the one who can be a miracle to our family. If you do fit the criteria and will be testing immediately, please let Jennifer Blackadder know at jsmalls721@gmail.com. She is keeping a list in case it will be possible to have Stanford look at those potential people first.

I don't want to lose my only child. You may be the only one out there with that marrow match. Please help him if you can.

Thanks for anything you can do to help....we are so humbled at the kindness of all and grateful for all involved!

Love,
Carole

Nick's facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=187327345176
Examiner article: http://www.examiner.com/x-10735-SF-Internet-Examiner~y2009m5d19-Nick-Glasgow-Online-campaign-to-save-a-life

Monthly Update - May 2009

2009-05-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hey Nakayoshi! Time for another monthly update on all the fun we have coming up in May!

April was a busy month for many of us with the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, Nakayoshi’s first hiking trip at Purisma Creek, and more volunteering at the San Jose Nikkei Matsuri, where we helped the West Valley JACL chapter raise over $1800 at their strawberry shortcake booth! We’re off to a strong start to the month of May already, as our first volunteer event was on May 2 at the Kristi Yamaguchi Children’s Day Festival at the JCCCNC in SF Japantown. Our awesome volunteers made and sold enough spam musubi’s to raise $300 for the JCCCNC’s childrens’ programs after splitting the profits. A huge thank you to all our volunteers who have come out and contributed their time and effort!

Even if you didn’t make it to everything last month, we still have a lot coming up during the rest of May! It’s not too late to get tickets to the SF Giants Japanese Heritage Night baseball game this Friday, and there’s another volunteering opportunity coming up at the SF Asian Heritage Street Celebration this Saturday in honor of API Heritage Month. We’re finishing out the month strong with another fun nighttime outing in SF’s Marina district. As always, let us know if you’re coming out by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or check the event listings at our Facebook group page!

In this update:
5/15/09 – JA Heritage Night w/the SF Giants
5/16/09 – 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration
5/29/09 - Nakayoshi Social Event: SF Marina District Crawl

Other Community Events in May:
5/17/09 – South San Francisco's Asian American Heritage Celebration
5/24/09 – Berkeley United Methodist Church 51st Annual Food Bazaar

Save These Dates – More information to come in Nakayoshi’s June Monthly Update!
6/7/09 – Nakayoshi’s 1st Birthday BBQ in Golden Gate Park!
6/20/09 – SF Mission District Crawl #2
6/27/09 - Volunteer @ SF JACL Chapter's Youth Fishing Derby
TBD – Nakayoshi Planning Retreat (July)
TBD – Napa Wine Tasting Trip (July)
8/22/09 – Tahoe Camping Trip

Friday, May 15: Japanese Heritage Night with the San Francisco Giants

Join us this Friday on May 15th at AT&T Park in San Francisco to celebrate Japanese Heritage Night with the Giants and watch infielder Travis Ishikawa take on the visiting NY Mets! Tickets are only $20, and include an authentic ceramic sake set with five free taste tests. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will also support the SF Hep B Free! Campaign. Also enjoy pre-game entertainment with your Nakayoshi friends in a special Japanese heritage section with hundreds of other Japanese Giants fans starting at 5:00 pm. Game start time is 7:15 pm.

Call (415) 972-2298 to buy your tickets, and tell them you're with Nakayoshi! Look out for the Nakayoshi table at the park before game time! Tickets are only $20!! Buy them ASAP!!!

UPDATE: Nakayoshi has a limited number of discounted tickets available for $15! E-mail us ASAP directly at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com for availability. Please note that discounted tickets do not include the promotional SF Giants ceramic sake set and taste tests.

For more information on this month’s social or how to get involved with the Social Committee, email nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

What: SF Giants Japanese Heritage Night
Date: Friday, May 15, 2009
Location: AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Time: Festivities start 5:00 pm, game starts 7:15 pm
Price: $20 w/sake set (call 415.972.2298 to order tix); $15 w/out sake set (e-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com for discounted ticket availability)

Saturday, May 16: Volunteer at 5th Annual SF Asian Heritage Street Celebration!

This year’s festival held in conjunction with API Heritage Month will be in San Francisco Civic Center outside the Asian Art Museum and the Little Saigon neighborhood. The festival is expecting over 100,000 people and will feature two stages, arts and crafts, food, karaoke, traditional and pop culture, import cars, Thai kickboxing, carnival rides and games, as well as free Hep B screenings with the SF Hep B Free campaign.

Nakayoshi is taking signups for the 3-6pm shift, and could use as many volunteers as possible to help out! E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com if you can make the shift! Nakayoshi will also be at the JACL information booth all day starting at 11am. Stop by and say hi while you check out the rest of the festival! More information on the AHSC is at http://www.asianfairsf.com.

What: Volunteer at the 5th Annual SF Asian Heritage Street Celebration
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Location: SF Civic Center (On Larkin, between Grove and Ellis)
Time: 3:00-6:00 pm

Friday, May 29: SF Marina District Crawl

It's been a while since our last neighborhood crawl, but not to worry, the social committee has heard your requests for another nighttime outing! This time we'll be hitting up SF's Marina district, starting the evening off at Gravity and seeing where the night takes us from there. Come on out with your posse for some (21+) Friday night fun with Nakayoshi! Let us know if you're in by RSVPing at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

What: SF Marina District Crawl
Date: Friday, May 29, 2009
Starting Location: Gravity, 3251 Scott St (between Lombard and Chestnut), San Francisco, CA 94123
Time: 9:00pm - 2:00am

Sunday, May 31: Monthly Planning Meeting

Nakayoshi's core committee meets on the last Sunday of every month in SF Japantown to plan out the great volunteer opportunities and fun social events we put on for you all. Want to get more involved? Have some ideas or feedback of your own? We could always use another pair of hands and fresh minds to help out our committees! Let us know if you're coming by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

What: May Monthly Planning Meeting
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009
Location: National JACL Headquarters, 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm

Other Community Events in May
Here are a couple other API and Japanese American community events you might catch some us at this month:

Sunday, May 17: South San Francisco Asian Heritage Month Celebration
Co-Sponsored by South San Francisco Asian Social Club and Friends of Parks and Recreation
12 noon-3:00pm @ Joseph Fernekes Community Center, Orange Park, South San Francisco (on Orange Avenue between Tennis Drive and Memorial Drive)
$8 for adults, $3 ages 12 and under; $5 after 1:00pm for adults
RSVP: (650) 255-9974

Sunday, May 24: Berkeley United Methodist Church 51st Annual Japanese American Food Bazaar
Futomaki and inari sushi, curry rice, udon, and other delicious Japanese American food!
12 noon-4:00pm @ Berkeley United Methodist Church
1710 Carleton Street (at McGee), Berkeley, CA

Hope to see you all around!

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 and website and http://www.nakayoshi.org, 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.

Japanese American Bazaar in Berkeley

2009-05-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Join Nakayoshi to support the Berkeley Methodist United Church's 51st Annual Food Bazaar. As part of a long tradition in the community, BMU will be selling futomaki and inari sushi, curry rice, udon, and other delicious Japanese American food!

Berkeley United Methodist Church
51st Annual Food Bazaar
Sunday, May 24th - Noon to 4 p.m.
1710 Carleton Street (at McGee) in Berkeley

May Social Event: SF Giants Japanese Heritage Night 5/15

2009-05-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

Take me out to the ball game

Nakayoshi and friends are heading out to support the SF Giants and celebrate their annual Japanese heritage night.
Join us on May 15^th at 5:00pm and receive an authentic ceramic sake set with five free taste tests. Also enjoy pre-game entertainment with your Nakayoshi friends in a special Japanese heritage section with hundreds of other Japanese Giants fans.

Call (415) 972-2298 to buy your tickets, and tell them you're with Nakayoshi! We can't wait to see you there. Tickets are only $20!!

For more information on this month’s social or how to get involved with the Social Committee, email nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

Much Needed Recap - We've been busy!

2009-05-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Over the past two months, our Nakayoshi calendar has been crazy busy! And things haven't slowed down one bit! But if you haven't joined us for our social or volunteer events... you're definitely missing out and we encourage you to join us! Just read about what's been happening with Nakayoshi over the past few months!

Tokyo Sonata Screening @ SFIAAF
Back in early March, our March Social began with a screening of Tokyo Sonata at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) followed by dinner & karaoke. Event Coordinator Emily Leach did an amazing job in organizing group tickets for the screening and we even caught a group picture with Tokyo Sonata Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa! We later learned that Tokyo Sonata won Best Film and Best Screenwriter, and Kurosawa won Best Director at the festival! And of course, what better way to end a screening then with delicious shabu shabu! Heading down to Mum's to fill our stomachs and singing our hearts out karaoking in J-town. The night was definitely a successful social event!

Nichi Bei Time's 1st Annual Tofu Dessert Contest & Festival

For our March Volunteer event, Nakayoshi volunteered with Nichi Bei Times at their Tofu Dessert Contest and Festival and had an amazing time! The fun was never ending, with community vendors bringing their own unique tofu products to sample, children's tofu games with giant square sponges that looked like tofu, and tofu haiku contests there was entertainment for all! And what was more exciting, Nakayoshi members Vincent Chang and Emily Leach both competed in the Dessert Contest! We are definitely looking forward to next year's Tofu Festival!

Nakayoshi @ 42nd Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
Participating at our first community festival, we couldn't have picked a better weekend then the 42nd Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. With many of our volunteers involved in all aspects of the festival, our hands were a bit busy but we still found time to table and meet some of the other young professionals enjoying the festival. If you stopped by the JACL table, we hope to see you soon @ our upcoming events! Look for us at our next festival - the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on May 16th (11am-6pm)!

Nakayoshi April Social - Hike @ Purisma Creek
Our Social Committee did an amazing job planning April's social event! Kudos goes to Event Coordinator Atsushi Miyamoto, who test ran the course prior to our hike! Hiking up in the hills at Half Moon Bay, the group had a great time chattin' it up and enjoying the beauty of all the greenery and flowers along the trail. Escaping from city life felt amazing, and it was almost felt like those elementary school days when your class took natural science hikes. Seeing all types of creatures, watching out for poison oak, and everyone eating home made packed lunches. Definitely an adventure and worth seeing the view from the top! Check out the video made by Nakayoshi member Matt Mori and view pictures on Nakayoshi's picasa albums!

Nakayoshi Volunteers with West Valley JACL Chapter @ Nikkei Matsuri
Helping out our fellow JACL Chapters, Nakayoshi helped volunteer at the WV JACL Chapter Strawberry Shortcake Booth! Not bad for a beautiful Sunday afternoon, helping serve up some sweet desserts for their chapter fundraiser! It was a great festival, with performances, a delicious variety of food booths, and tons of amazing vendors.

It's definitely been busy for the past few months, and there's more to come! So if you haven't already, come out and volunteer or network with other young professionals at one of our upcoming socials!

Get Your Runnin' Shoes On!

2009-04-30T01:14:00.000-07:00

Nakayoshi has been asked to help recruit some Bay Area runners! If you're in the bay on Saturday, May 9th and have nothing better to do, tie on your best running shoes and get a little exercise while helping out one amazing nonprofit in Marin.

A nonprofit that provides deserving under served students with all the tools and resources needed to get into levels of higher education and become amazing student leaders, Next Generation Scholars is participating in this year's 27th Annual Marin Human Race.

The Marin Human Race is one of the largest collaborative fundraising efforts to both nonprofits and schools in Marin County, and estimated to be attended by over 4,000 people.

How can you help Next Generation Scholars?

Be a runner!

Register today (before Friday, May 1st) as a runner for only $25 or if you can't make it but would like to support this amazing nonprofit, make a personal monetary donation on the NGS Marin Human Race page.

It's a simple race for an amazing cause, so show your support and help pave the road to someone's future in higher education!

For more questions regarding the race or NGS's programs, please contact NGS Project Coordinator Megan Tom at megan.tom@gmail.com.

Information on Marin Human Race:

Schedule of Events:

Marin Human Race Date and Time:
Saturday, May 9, 2009

7:00 AM Same Day Registration
7:30 AM Community Fair Opens
8:30 AM Race START
9:30 AM Kid Races START
10:00 AM Prize Drawings and Awards
11:30 AM Event Concludes

The Race - The Marin Human Race starts and finishes at Marin Center Fairgrounds. The mostly flat American Track and Field certified looping 5K course is FUN for everyone from the avid racer to walkers and rollers. Over a dozen local bands are placed around the race course to help keep spirits high and legs moving.

Community Fair - The Race Day Community Fair brings together over 100 nonprofit organizations and supporting businesses. Located steps from the Finish Line and the Main Stage, Race participants and spectators have the opportunity to meet a variety of organizations to learn what type of work is being done in the community and how they can get involved. The Community Fair features fun activities for people of all ages, entertainment, refreshments, a kids’ playground, and more!

May Volunteer Event

2009-04-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

Kristi Yamaguchi's

Children's Day Festival in Japantown

May 2, 2009

Nakayoshi will be selling SPAM MUSUBI at the Children's Day Festival in Japantown Peach Plaza. We are now recruiting volunteers! We need 8 volunteers:

3 volunteers to make rice at JCCCNC & bring to booth
2 volunteers to make musubi
2 volunteers to package musubi
1 volunteer to handle cash

If you are interested in volunteering please email Ali: nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com

THANK YOU!

Nakayoshi Monthly Update - April 2009

2009-04-11T01:42:00.000-07:00

March has quickly come and gone and boy did we have a busy month! But April may top the cake as Nakayoshi hits it into high gear this spring, starting off with San Francisco’s 42nd Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in the heart of Japantown!

Check out all the exciting events and socials coming up and mark your calendars! Come out in your spring best and get involved! Our committees have been working hard to make sure that we’ve got plenty to do over the next few weeks and we could always use the extra hands!

We hope to see you around soon!

In this update:
04/11-12, 04/18-19/09 – 42nd Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
04/25/09 – Monthly Social: Hiking @ Purisma Creek
04/26/09 – Volunteer @ San Jose Japantown’s Nikkei Matsuri

05/02/09 - Volunteer @ Kristi Yamaguchi’s Children’s Day Festival
05/02/09 - Nakayoshi Monthly Meeting (time change)

Save the Date – More information to come in May’s Update!
05/15/09 – JA Heritage Night w/the SF Giant’s
05/16/09 – 5th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration
05/17/09 – South San Francisco's Asian American Heritage Celebration

April 11, 12 & 18, 19, 2009: 42nd Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival

The 42nd annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most beautiful festivals in the city! Continuing our efforts in bringing community groups together in the spirit of unity, the festival has become a beloved part of SF’s rich cultural history and an event that encompasses the many facets of the Japanese American community. In light of this year’s festival theme Nikkei Spirit, we celebrate the beauty of the JA community through a great display of Japanese cultural heritage and pride.

Look for Nakayoshi’s booth, in partnership with the National JACL and the SF JACL Chapter and say hello! Grab a delicious teriyaki burger, shop all the amazing vendors, see all the exhibits and if you don’t have plans for Saturday night, go watch as we crown a new 2009 Cherry Blossom Queen at their Coronation program starting at 6 pm.

Saturday, April 25, 2009: Monthly Social – Hiking @ Purisma Creek

Nakayoshi’s Social Committee has worked hard to organize an amazing hiking adventure! We’ll be venturing over to beautiful Half Moon Bay and taking in the sights at one of Norcal’s most beautiful coastal spots! Bring your own lunch and enjoy a day out in the sun, walking through nature and relaxing on the beach. For more details on Hiking at Purisma Creek, check it on our blog!

For more information on this month’s social or how to get involved with the Social Committee, email nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

Sunday, April 26, 2009: Monthly Volunteer – San Jose Japantown’s Nikkei Matsuri
For our members in the South Bay area, our friends in the West Valley JACL Chapter has asked Nakayoshi to help volunteer at their Strawberry Shortcake booth @ the Nikkei Matsuri in San Jose’s Japantown. Check out more information on Nikkei Matsuri on their website: www.nikkeimatsuri.org/

There are 3 shifts and they are looking for a minimum of 5 volunteers per shift. The times are as listed:
1st shift: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
2nd shift: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
3rd shift: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

And if there are any super volunteers, they need extra hands slicing and washing strawberries from 7:00 am – 10:00 am @ San Jose Buddhist Church Kitchen. To sign up for this month’s volunteer event or for more information, email nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

Saturday, May 2, 2009: Kristi Yamaguchi’s Children’s Day Festival

Join Nakayoshi as we volunteer and host the Spam Musubi Booth at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC)’s annual Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) Festival. In recognition of Japan’s national holiday to celebrate children, the JCCCNC presents an annual festival that includes entertainment, food & hand-on craft activities for children!

Volunteer shifts and information coming soon! Find out more on JCCCNC's website: http://www.jcccnc.org/

Sunday, May 2, 2009: April Monthly Meeting

Hopefully we’re not too tired from volunteering @ Kodomo no Hi, because we're being ambitious and holding our April Monthly Meeting right after our volunteer event. With April weekends full of events, we’ve sneaked our April meeting into May! Have ideas for fun socials or volunteer opportunities?

As always, we'd love to see new and old faces at our monthly meeting to give us feedback and help us plan future Nakayoshi events and activities! Come on out and get involved!

Date: Sunday, May 2nd, 2009
Location: National JACL Headquarters, 1765 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: 5:00pm-8:00pm (dinner included)

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 and website and http://www.nakayoshi.org, 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.

What's in an (asian american) name?

2009-04-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6365320.html

April Social Event - Sat 4/25/09 - Hiking at PurismaCreek

2009-04-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Hope you're enjoying the warmer weather. Come out and join Nakayoshi on Saturday 4/25/09 for our monthly Social event in Half Moon Bay. Here's the meeting location per Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=higgins+canyon+road+at+main+st+half+moon+bay+ca&sll=37.464384,-122.437563&sspn=0.009078,0.019226&ie=UTF8&ll=37.451456,-122.429388&spn=0.009079,0.019226&z=16&iwloc=addr

If you need a ride or have room in your car, please email me so I can coordinate carpools. FYI the location is about an hour from SF, Oakland, and San Jose. Due to lack of cell phone coverage in the hills, we'll initially meet at the corner of Main St & Higgins Canyon Rd, just off of Hwy 1 - at 9:45am. Then drive up together to the trailhead (about 10 minutes up Higgins Caynon Rd).

*Please call me if you are running late or have to cancel last minute*

We'll start the hike around 10am and should last about 3-3.5 hours. Bring your own lunch and snacks and so can all eat somewhere near the top while we take a rest. This page has detailed info on the hike: http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/purisimahiggins.html (the trails are clearly marked)

Although the event officially ends after the hike, we can hit up the beach afterwards to relax before heading back to our respective locations. Here's the site for the beach: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=531This is optional, but the easiest way to get to the beach is to head back up North on Hwy 1 and take a left at Kelly Ave follow that all the way to the parking lot.

Items to bring:
-Lots of water (~1.5-2 liters)
-Lunch, snacks to eat at the top
-Sunblock (trail is mostly shaded, but some exposed areas)

It should be fairly warm on the trail so you should be okay with a t-shirt, but conditions can change. You might want to wear layers if the weather's less than ideal.

Please contact Atsushi if you have any questions or comments: nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. Hope to see you all out there!

2009-03-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a last-minute notice for the 2009 San Francisco Community Leadership Conference, which will be this Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at SF State's downtown campus. The conference is put together by Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), and will feature a keynote by SF Board of Supervisors President David Chiu. Go to Leap.org for more registration details and info on the conference!

Register NOW for the 2009 San Francisco Community Leadership Conference "Be the Change, Be a Leader" and join us on Saturday, March 28th for a stimulating day of leadership development and networking.
Whether this is your first time or if you've come to this conference before, it's an opportunity to:

-develop and hone your leadership skills so you'll always be a valued member of any organization
-prepare for, and even create, new personal or professional opportunities
-acquire tips on how to continue growing as a leader during this economic
crisis
-learn more about the importance and benefits of being civically engaged and involved in the community.
-get insight on "next step(s)

Don't miss out on this high value, high impact conference! For the low price
of $50 for General Audience, $25 for Nonprofit Organizations, and $10 for
Students, you'll get leadership development training and materials and FOOD -
breakfast & lunch!

DATE & TIME
Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 8:30 am
to 5:00 pm

LOCATION
San Francisco State University - Downtown Campus
835 Market Street (next to Westfield Mall) San Francisco, CA 94103

**Register online HERE**

For more details on workshops, trainers, speakers and directions CLICK HERE

SF Community Leadership Conference FACEBOOK page

CLICK HERE for info on public transportation, directions, and parking

Made possible through a grant from The James Irvine Foundation