Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Jan. 31st - 1st Quarterly Planning Meeting

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.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Nakayoshi Monthly Update - December 2009

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.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Join Nakayoshi at Asian American Heritage Night with the Warriors!

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:
  1. Click here to buy your tickets.
  2. Purchase at the $28 level ($8 of your ticket will go back to Nakayoshi!)
  3. 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!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Support JCCCNC on Facebook!


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!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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

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

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 namailto: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 Comm
ittee

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.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Youth/Young Adult Committee for Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan

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!