Community Kitchen – Shabu Shabu

Come enjoy a classic shabu shabu dinner at our next Community Kitchen night! Organized by volunteers, this event brings members of our community together to learn how to cook Japanese and Japanese American family recipes while also sharing in a multi-generational communal dinner. Community Kitchen began by adapting the Baachan’s Kitchen program from 2016 and continues to grow each year – it is open to all, so come enjoy and share Japanese home-style cooking while connecting with the community! Register by Friday, March 6th!

Every dinner has a curated menu that is determined in advance by the Community Kitchen volunteer committee, who then teach the attendees hands-on how to prepare the dishes for the dinner. Participants of all ages and backgrounds are welcome! Just come prepared to cook, clean up, and most importantly, have a great time!

*Online program

​Japanese craftsmanship transcends time. This online presentation showcases ten essential genres of master artistry — ceramics, indigo dyeing, metal, and more — and contrasts familiar traditional forms that have endured for generations with bold contemporary expressions often using identical techniques. Creating both the classical and modern forms demand the same unwavering commitment: 7 to 10 years of rigorous apprenticeship. Experience how Japan’s craftspeople bridge past and present without compromise. Additionally, learn how the JapanCraft21 building school has graduated 17 young working carpenters in the almost lost art of advanced joinery.

​Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 from 5-6:30 PM PDT / Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 from 10-11:30 AM JST

​Venue: Online via Zoom (You will receive the Zoom link after registration)

​Agenda:
5:00-5:05 PM Opening Remarks
5:05-6:00 PM Presentation by Steve Beimel
6:00-6:10 PM Moderated Discussion led by Steve Pollock
6:10-6:25 PM Q&A
6:25-6:30 PM Closing Remarks

Haru no Shodo | Spring Japanese Calligraphy 2026 Workshop

Join us in person for Haru no Shodo, a fun and creative calligraphy workshop celebrating the fresh vibes of spring! Whether you're a beginner or just want to brush up your skills, this is the perfect chance to explore the beauty of traditional Japanese writing with a relaxed, friendly crowd. Bring your enthusiasm and let your creativity flow!

Instructed by Junko Shikata, she has studied calligraphy at the Nichirenji Temple in San Francisco since 1987, learning under Archbishop Nitten Ishida and later Ms. Keigetsu Kikuchi. Following their retirement and passing, she returned to the temple in 2018 to serve as the calligraphy instructor.

Join us for an evening of delicious food and drinks as well as immersive cultural experiences!

With ticket purchase, enjoy custom Lunar New Year-inspired beverages by Hennessey, including Hennessey cocktail tasting experiences, handmade dumplings from RestaurantXO, desserts from Ohana Florals and Sweets, Lion Dancing from West Coast Lion Dance Troup, live music, interactive cultural demonstrations and more!

In the Chinese zodiac, the Horse is associated with power, wealth, success, and progress. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to be adventurous, hardworking, and charismatic. The teams at Hotel Kabuki and Hennessey are pleased to bring you a festive evening in celebration of the fortuitous return of the Fire Horse.

Saturday, February 28, 2025
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Instructors: Larry Sokyo Tiscornia and Kimika Soko Takechi
$25 Center Members, $30 General Public
Connect via Zoom; Meeting ID and password to be issued upon registration

Join us for our virtual Spring Wagashi Sweets Workshop! Our instructors Larry Sokyo Tiscornia and Kimika Soko Takechi will show you step by step how to the perfect menu and dishes over Zoom. 

This spring Japanese wagashi sweet making workshop will feature sakuramochi, tsubakimochi  and kinton. Sakuramochi (cherry blossom mochi) is a salt cured cherry leaf wrapped around sweet mochi rice that has a center of sweet bean paste. The rice with bean paste is also placed between two camellia leaves and is called tsubakimochi. Kinton is a more formal style tea ceremony sweet. It is fashioned with different color strands of sweet bean paste. Seasonal variations are created using a different color palette. Easy to follow recipes and a video recording link will be provided to all registrants.

Join us for JOJOCARAVAN, and celebrate the anime adaptation of STEEL BALL RUN JoJo‘s Bizarre Adventure at select Kinokuniya stores!

Set in 1890, the story follows a cross-continental horse race from west to east. Just like the manga itself, JOJOCARAVAN will travel across the U.S., starting with our store in Seattle and making its way to New York!

Art Exhibit

A showcase of reproduced original artworks from Steel Ball Run, including color illustrations from its serialization and black-and-white manuscript pages.

Schedule: 
2/27 ~ 3/8: San Francisco
3/20 ~ 3/29: Carrollton

* Tickets are not required to see the exhibition.

Special Merchandise

Don't miss your chance to get special JOJOCARAVAN merchandise featuring the artwork from manga and anime from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Series! Available until 3/29 at the following stores

• Seattle

• Portland

• Beaverton

• San Francisco

• San Jose

• Carrollton

• Plano

• Austin

• Katy

**Please note that all drinks and food are self-pay.

​We’re kicking off our 2026 YPG activities with a casual happy hour in San Francisco! Southside Spirit House offers a selection of non-alcoholic drinks and small bites. They also offer a happy hour until 6 pm, so come early!

​Come connect with new people, learn about the Japan Society’s upcoming programs, and let us know what you’d like to see from YPG this year.

Date & Time:
Wednesday, February 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM PST

Venue:
Southside Spirit House | 575 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Want to stay up-to-date about the latest YPG and related events? Join the YPG email group: Sign Up for the YPG Newsletter

Sunday, February 22, 2026
1:00 - 3:00pm
In-person at The Center
Instructor: Kathy Yoshida of Hanko Designs
$40 Members $50 General Public

Whether you’re brand new or returning to refine your skills, this workshop with Kathy Yoshida is a wonderful chance to explore or deepen your Mizuhiki craft. You’ll learn to tie the foundational Awaji knot and discover the rich history behind this centuries-old Japanese art form. All materials are included, and no prior experience is needed!

Mizuhiki are beautifully arranged Japanese paper cords tied into decorative designs and knots, often used as embellishments and decorations. This ancient craft originated over 1500 years ago during the Asuka Era,(late 500’s) as a way to embellish gifts.  Initially, only red and white cords were used, but today, dozens of different colors and shades, along with textures are available.  The primary purpose for this craft today, however, is still to enhance and decorate gifts.  The Japanese symbolism of mizuhiki is “musubi” (結び) or “tying together” – a way to connect with the person receiving the gift.

About Hanko Designs

The word “Hanko” means “stamp” or “seal” in Japanese. A hanko stamp is used to “sign” official documents. Hanko Designs is an online store specializing in supplying cardmakers and artists with Asian themed craft products. They provide a wide selection of Japanese washi paper, Asian art stamps, and craft accessories. Hanko Designs strives to find fun and innovative products from around the world, with some items exclusively produced for them. Hanko Designs is owned and operated by Kathy and Norman Yoshida out of Alameda, California.

You can shop online at Hanko Designs website at: https://hankodesigns.com/

Experience Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America, a documentary film featuring youth activists and educators around the U.S. who are utilizing Asian American Studies to shape a movement. Screening is followed by a panel discussion including Making Waves co-directors, Josh Chuck and Jon Osaki, with local youth activists from AAPI Youth Rising, who are featured in the film. Space limited. Reservations required.

• 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.: Documentary Screening in Koret Auditorium

• 2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.: Panel discussion in Koret Auditorium

• 2:45 p.m.–3:00 p.m.: Mingling with film makers and AAPI Youth Rising in Koret Lobby

Since 2012, the Nichi Bei Foundation has presented Films of Remembrance as the premier showcase of films commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans in American concentration camps during World War II. Now, in addition to the annual screenings, the Nichi Bei Foundation is making a curated collection of films available for online streaming on the new Films of Remembrance On Demand platform. Join us in our mission to ensure these important stories are never forgotten. 

2026 Films of Remembrance
For 2026, Films of Remembrance will be presented in San Francisco’s and San Jose’s Japantowns on February 21–22, 2026. Additional screenings in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo and in Gardena, CA are scheduled for March 28-29, 2026. Visit the event website for program information and tickets.

Saturday, February 21, 2026
10:00am – 11:00am
Location: The Center
Fees: $8 Center Members, $10 General Public

The Center is excited to announce an upcoming Intro to Yoga class with instructor Mayo Hunt! This rejuvenating workshop opens with a mindful Vinyasa yoga practice, seamlessly linking breath and movement to gently awaken the body, build warmth, and cultivate both flexibility and grounded stability.

Flowing sequences invite participants to move with intention, invigorating the body while cultivating both flexibility and stability. Rather than striving for perfection, the practice encourages awareness of the breath and body in the present moment, allowing each participant to move at their own pace. After the Vinyasa flow, the session transitions into a 15-minute Singing Bowl Sound Bath, where the gentle, resonant vibrations of singing bowls envelop the group. These soothing tones help dissolve accumulated tension, quiet the mind, and invite the nervous system to deeply rest and reset. Participants will leave feeling lighter in body, calmer in mind, and profoundly refreshed, and will carry this sense of ease and renewal into their daily lives.

Join us and the Roxie Theater for a screening of Kokuho, an epic film that illuminates the highs and lows of Kabuki life.

Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, Kikuo decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. Across decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – from acting school to the grandest stages – amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals, as each pushes to become the greatest living Kabuki master.

From acclaimed director Sang-il Lee (Pachinko), KOKUHO (meaning “national treasure”) is a film of awe-inspiring scope and sumptuous beauty, and a monument to the artists who would sacrifice everything in the pursuit of the ultimate performance. Shortlisted for International Film Feature and nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling in the 98th annual Academy Awards.

Day of Remembrance at SFSU

February 19, 2026
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Burk Hall, Room 28, and Ruth Asawa Garden of Remembrance
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

Please join San Francisco State University's Edison Uno Initiative for Nikkei and Uchinaanchu Studies and Department of Asian American Studies as we gather to commemorate the Day of Remembrance. 

The Day of Remembrance commemorates the unlawful incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII and invites reflection on contemporary experiences of racialized violence and xenophobia. This year's program will feature an exhibition of the Wakasa Spirit Stone as well as a ceremony to honor the 19 SFSU students incarcerated during WWII.

The event is open to students, alumni, faculty/staff, and community members.

SFSU welcomes persons with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. If you would like reasonable accommodations for this event, please contact the Department of Asian American Studies at aas@sfsu.edu in advance of the event for review.

Join us at the 2026 TGNC Health and Wellness Community Fair for a day of empowerment, education, and connection with the TGNC community!

During such an unprecedented time, our resource fair would be an opportunity to know of any upcoming events, programs, projects, or initiatives that our community partners have planned for the new year and how our community can directly access them. Over 39 Organizations, Departments, and Privoders will be tabling.

Where: The Koret Lobby and Latinx Room in the The San Francisco Public Library (100 Larkin St. SF CA 94103)

When: February 19th 2026, from 11 am to 3 pm.

During the fair, we will provide light refreshments during lunchtime.

MINIBALL 1-3pm

WALK IN ONE CATEGORY: to win a cash prize of $``100

RUNWAY “Walking Into Your Destiny”Health. Power. Purpose.

Today, the runway is not just a walk it’s a declaration.This category celebrates self-determination, wellness, and stepping boldly into your future. Whether that destiny is healing, joy, abundance, transition, or survival you are walking toward it on your own terms.Come dressed as the best version of yourself

PERFORMANCE “VOGUING: THE ULTIMATE FULL-BODY WORKOUT

They say exercise has to be boring. Today, you’re here to prove that’s a lie.Voguing is cardio, strength training, flexibility, balance, breath control, and mental focus all wrapped in culture, confidence, and survival.In this category, show us why voguing is the best exercise.

FACE “I Prioritize My Health”Care. Balance. Glow."

This category is for those who understand that health is a choice and a lifestyle.Your presentation should say:“I check in with myself. I honor my body. I prioritize my health.” Serve clear skin, healthy glow, and calm confidence. Whether your look is natural, softly polished, or clean-cut, it should feel effortless, grounded, and radiant.

2026 Youth-Led Day of Remembrance 

On February 19th, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which led to the forced removal and incarceration of over 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry.

Day of Remembrance allows our community to recall the incarceration experience, speak out against governmental injustices, and connect our histories with current struggles. YLDOR is created by and for youth and young adults to take the primary role in discussing, designing, and directing these conversations in a safe and comfortable space.

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

Join us at our annual Youth Led Day of Remembrance! It will be held Sunday, February 15th at Japanese Community Youth Council (2012 Pine St, San Francisco, CA 94115). 

Check-In will begin at 10:00am and the event will end at 1:00pm. Lunch will be provided for all participants. Everyone is additionally invited to join us immediately after this event to also attend the Bay Area Day of Remembrance from 2-4pm. 

The theme is "Until All of Us Are Free." We invite everyone to discuss questions such as what solidarity looks like, how we connect our histories to present-day injustices, and how to build cross-cultural community. We will be hosting an Arts Day, having us all create a community mosaic together! 

*Online Program

Japan is a country of museums. There are more than 1,200 art museums yet this fact is often little known outside its borders. They are sprinkled throughout Japan and their range is striking. Museums are a fascinating gateway into Japanese culture, whether traditional or contemporary, but foreign visitors are often bewildered by their quantity and variety. With only a few that offer information in English, a guidebook is indispensable.  

The Art Lover’s Guide to Japanese Museums acts as a personal guide, introducing readers to some of the most distinctive and inspiring art museums in the country. Visiting close to 200 venues nationwide, Sophie Richard conducted in-depth interviews with museum curators and directors, which provides an unrivalled insight into the world of Japanese museums. The vibrant, richly illustrated guide showcases public and private museums selected for the strength of their collection and their individuality, as well as pointers to further local attractions. Among them are sites that have survived earthquakes and wars, beautifully maintained estates turned into museums, sleek examples of contemporary architecture… Some are smaller than others but all are worth a visit.

Join us for a discussion with art historian and author Sophie Richard about her guide to Japanese museums.

The Art Lover’s Guide to Japanese Museums is available for purchase online from Kinokuniya.

Date & Time: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 1:00-2:30 PM (PST) | 9:00-10:30 PM (GMT) | Wednesday, February 18, 6:00-7:30AM (JST) 

Venue: Zoom (Link provided upon registration)

Agenda: 
1:00-1:05 PM Opening Remarks, Steve Pollock | President, Japan Society of Northern California 
1:05-1:30 PM Presentation, Sophie Richard | Art Historian and Author 
1:30-1:45 PM Moderated Q&A 
1:45-2:00 PM Audience Q&A 
2:00-2:05 PM Closing Remarks, Steve Pollock | President, Japan Society of Northern California 

🎌 Part of Nippon Vibes: Japanese Cinema Weekend at New People

In collaboration with The Roxie, New People Cinema reopens in historic San Francisco Japantown with a special weekend celebrating Japanese cinema. This pop-up event highlights the theme of awakening—a moment of return, renewal, and rediscovery through cinema across genres and generations.

A vivid, visceral Macbeth adaptation, Throne of Blood, directed by Akira Kurosawa, sets Shakespeare’s definitive tale of ambition and duplicity in a ghostly, fog-enshrouded landscape in feudal Japan. As a hardened warrior who rises savagely to power, Toshiro Mifune gives a remarkable, animalistic performance, as does Isuzu Yamada as his ruthless wife. Throne of Blood fuses classical Western tragedy with formal elements taken from Noh theater to create an unforgettable cinematic experience. NEW 4K RESTORATION.

Presented by Roxie @ New People

🎌 Part of Nippon Vibes: Japanese Cinema Weekend at New People

In collaboration with The Roxie, New People Cinema reopens in historic San Francisco Japantown with a special weekend celebrating Japanese cinema. This pop-up event highlights the theme of awakening—a moment of return, renewal, and rediscovery through cinema across genres and generations.

Japan is thrown into a panic after several ships are sunk near Odo Island. An expedition to the island led by Dr. Yemani soon discover something far more devastating than imagined in the form of a 50 meter tall monster whom the natives call Gojira. Now the monster begins a rampage that threatens to destroy not only Japan, but the rest of the world as well.

Presented by Roxie @ New People

Bay Area Day of Remembrance 2026: Neighbors Not Enemies, Stronger Together - Carrying the Light for Justice

Join us on Sunday, February 15th, from 2 to 4 PM to commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066 and unite our Bay Area community against mass detention and deportation.

This in-person gathering will take place at the JCCCNC Gymnasium at 1824 Sutter Street. Reception will follow at the JCCCNC Issei Memorial Hall in San Francisco Japantown.

• Emcee Ryan Yamamoto (KPIX 5 Anchor).

• Round table panel discussion with David Chiu (City Attorney of San Francisco), Satsuki Ina (Co-Founder Tsuru for Solidarity), and Grace Shimizu (Campaign for Justice - Redress NOW for Japanese Latin Americans), and moderated by Kenji Taguma (Editor-in-Chief, Nichi Bei News).

• Dance Performance by IKKAI, choreography by Yayoi Kambara.

• Clifford Uyeda Award presentation.

• Presented by Bay Area DOR Consortium.

Free admission. All are welcome! Donations are appreciated. You can donate by selecting "Get tickets" and scrolling down to the donation option.

For convient, accessible, and secure parking, please use the Japan Center Garage (Post or Geary Entrances). For more information about the garage, please visit https://www.japancentergarage.org/

Phone: 650-224-5501 | email: Njahs@Njahs.org

🎌 Part of Nippon Vibes: Japanese Cinema Weekend at New People

In collaboration with The Roxie, New People Cinema reopens in historic San Francisco Japantown with a special weekend celebrating Japanese cinema. This pop-up event highlights the theme of awakening—a moment of return, renewal, and rediscovery through cinema across genres and generations.

Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, Kikuo decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. Across decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – from acting school to the grandest stages – amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals, as each pushes to become the greatest living Kabuki master.

From acclaimed director Sang-il Lee (Pachinko), KOKUHO (meaning “national treasure”) is a film of awe-inspiring scope and sumptuous beauty, and a monument to the artists who would sacrifice everything in the pursuit of the ultimate performance. Shortlisted for International Film Feature in the 98th annual Academy Awards.

Presented by Roxie @ New People

KOKUHO opens February 20 at THE ROXIE!

🎌 Part of Nippon Vibes: Japanese Cinema Weekend at New People

In collaboration with The Roxie, New People Cinema reopens in historic San Francisco Japantown with a special weekend celebrating Japanese cinema. This pop-up event highlights the theme of awakening—a moment of return, renewal, and rediscovery through cinema across genres and generations.

Mitsuha is the daughter of the mayor of a small mountain town. She’s a straightforward high school girl who lives with her sister and her grandmother and has no qualms about letting it be known that she’s uninterested in Shinto rituals or helping her father’s electoral campaign. Instead she dreams of leaving the boring town and trying her luck in Tokyo. Taki is a high school boy in Tokyo who works part-time in an Italian restaurant and aspires to become an architect or an artist. Every night he has a strange dream where he becomes…a high school girl in a small mountain town.

Presented by Roxie @ New People

Learn about the Japanese incarceration performing arts during WWII by watching the film Hidden Legacy, followed by some koto music performance by the creator of the film, Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto.

About the Film:

The Hidden Legacy project researched and collected stories from former incarcerated artists and Sansei and Yonsei students who learned from some of these teachers. The questions were: how and why did traditional Japanese arts in the camps continue, how they used creativity to practice them, and how they fashioned equipment, kimonos, instruments and so on to be able to practice them. These arts played a critical role in the lives of those incarcerated to continue to survive and help them be resilient. After the war as many felt these traditional arts would make them appear “un-American”, many shunned these arts.  Now, we are learning that traditional cultural arts and music aid in survival and continue to do so today as we learn how the arts help us to understand ourselves.

NR, 56 mins., 2014. Closed captions (CC) are unavailable. 

About the Filmmaker and the Koto Performer:

Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto’s roots in koto music grew from the dusty desert American concentration camps during WWII. Her mother, Barbara Hori (aka Kazuko Muramoto), was incarcerated at 9 years old with her family, yet still learned to play the ancient instrument from fellow internees at Topaz and Tule Lake prison camps. In these desolate prisons, Barbara learned to play the koto by rote, with finger picks made of cow bones and tuning bridges carved by her grandfather from scraps of wood and toothbrush handles. It became the music of survival.

From these humble beginnings, the music of the koto came into Shirley’s family. Later, her mother started teaching the koto in their home in Oakland, CA. From a young age, the music of Japanese koto filled the air, and Shirley naturally heard and learned the music growing up. She also learned the violin and guitar and was in the school choir in Oakland public schools.

Are you a fan of the iconic mecha anime Gundam? Join the community in building the popular Japanese mecha models! Gunpla models allows individuals to showcase their craftsmanship and attention to detail creating miniature works of art! Whether you are a seasoned builder or a newcomer to the world of Gundam, this event promises to be a fun and enriching opportunity to connect with like-minded enthusiasts. (Never a better time to start going through your backlog!)

Participants below the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian throughout the event.

To honor the screening of the 1954 Classic Godzilla at New People during the Nippon Vibes: Japan Cinema weekend, we are thrilled to reopen the Godzilla Through Our Eyes Exhibit at the New People SuperFrog Gallery next weekend (Feb. 14 & 15) from noon to 5pm!

Come and experience this tribute to the King of the Monsters and soak up the “awakening” of cinema in Japantown all weekend long!