Community Events
Ruth Asawa: Retrospective @ SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) announces Ruth Asawa: Retrospective, the first major national and international museum retrospective of the groundbreaking work of Ruth Asawa (1926–2013). Premiering at SFMOMA from April 5 through September 2, 2025, this first posthumous retrospective will feature the entire spectrum of the artist’s awe-inspiring practice. Sculpture, drawings, prints, paintings, design objects and archival material from U.S.-based public and private collections will offer an in-depth look at her expansive output and its inspirations, exploring the ways her longtime San Francisco home and garden served as the epicenter of her creative universe, and highlighting the ethos of collaboration and inclusivity that informed her numerous public sculpture commissions and unwavering dedication to arts advocacy.
![Memorial Tribute for Mark Izu @ Herbst Theater [First Voice]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/620ec63367883f16baedc01e/1747459044548-3IOELEC0QYARP70KHZ6A/25.5.24+Mark+Izu+Memorial+Tribute.png)
Memorial Tribute for Mark Izu @ Herbst Theater [First Voice]
Join us as we celebrate the life and music of the legendary Mark Izu with an afternoon filled with performances and memories.
Dear First Voice Family,
We are so deeply touched by the love and support you've shown us. Hearing how Mark impacted your lives has filled our hearts during this difficult time. He lived with passion and purpose, and your love is a beautiful testimony to the man he was.
With joyful hearts, even amidst our grief, we invite you to a celebration of Mark's life. KK will dance, honoring his father through movement, I will tell you our Love Story, his friends will honor his memory with music and spoken word. Many of you have been with us for decades and share our sadness – come join us! Let us take comfort in one another and say farewell to a sweet husband, father and friend.
Much Love,
Brenda and KK
Event Schedule
2:00 - 3:30 (for the Celebration of Life)
3:30 - 5:00 (for the reception with limited capacity)
(Please arrive early to check in & sign the guest book for Baby Lucy.)
Reception to follow (limited capacity)
Green Room | 3:30-5:00 PM (PST)
*RSVP is required for both events
Spring Art Class-Tsumami Kanzashi Workshop @ Studio Gen [Genryu Arts]
This class will introduce the traditional Japanese art form, kanzashi which is typically used to refer to hair ornaments made from layers of folded cloth used to form flowers (tsumami kanzashi), or the technique of folding used to make the flowers. You will make a single flower form using vintage kimono material.
Limited space, cost: $45.00 ea.
“Study Hall” Listening Party & Co-Working Session by the Family Style Collective @ KOHO
“Not Too Sweet” is a multimedia group art exhibition and series of community events, featuring 12+ artists of the AAPI diaspora, to be held on May 1-31, 2025 at the Koho Co-Creative Hub in SF Japantown. This exhibit aims to challenge traditional stereotypes and we invite our community to defy confines of expectation, rooted in our shared histories while opening doors to new possibilities. This body of work emphasizes experimentation and play.
Join us for the opening celebration on 5/3/25 6-9pm, and "Study Hall", a listening party and co-working session, on 5/18/25 12-4pm at @kohosf , in the heart of SF's Japantown.
Flyer by @nybeath @penxman @seeshatakagishi
Japanese Cemetery Cleanup
The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (the Center) is organizing its annual youth and family community Clean Up Day at the historical Japanese Cemetery in Colma. Join us and over 200 volunteers from the community at this year's annual clean up!
Often times we find ourselves too busy in our daily lives to honor our past and remember those who have passed on. The Japanese Cemetery in Colma is a unique cultural treasure that deserves our attention, our respect, OUR TIME. the place represents our history and our loved ones. For many of us, it’s the place where our grandparents, great grandparents, parents, family and friends are laid to rest.
During our lunch break, we will have a brief overview of the history of the cemetery. Please join us in helping us pay our respects and maintaining this historical jewel of our community.
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Japanese Cemetery, 1300 Hillside Blvd., Colma, CA 94014
Fees: Free and open to the public - Please RSVP as light lunch will be served. (in order for us to group organization members together, please include your organizational affiliation under "preferences")
Nippon Kobo Session #1 @San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Barbro Osher Hall
Nippon Kobo Presents Kobo Sessions, an Enchanting Evening of Multi-Sensory Cultural Immersion at the SF Conservatory of Music” Kobo Sessions #1: Del Sol String Quartet x Sake Masters x Hana Izumi Bento Box
Curated by Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble’s associate artistic director Haruka Fujii, Nippon Kobo’s intimate setting collaboration series: Kobo Sessions #1 offers an evening of chamber music by Del Sol Quartet and Haruka Fujii, paired with sake by Bay Area local brewers and a bento box dinner by Hana Izumi Japanese Restaurant. Kobo Sessions is Nippon Kobo’s premier event series, held in an intimate venue with a limited audience of up to 100 and offering a deeply immersive experience of contemporary Japanese music and culture. This inaugural Kobo Sessions event blends chamber music, sake tasting with the masters, and a bento box dinner offering a dynamic and interactive exploration of the sounds and tastes of Japan. The chamber music program is curated by Haruka Fujii, founder and creative director of Nippon Kobo, a renowned percussionist, and associate artistic director of the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma and now led by Rhiannon Giddens. Centered around Nippon Kobo's debut year theme “Seasons,” attendees will experience compositions such as Autumn Leaves by Toru Takemitsu and In Spring by Eiko Orita. The program also showcases works by Andy Akiho and UC Berkeley professor Ken Ueno, culminating in a world premiere performance of Divisions by Haruka Fujii for string quartet and marimba. Nippon Kobo was founded by a small group of passionate, award-winning artists from the San Francisco Bay Area who believe that in-person artistic and cultural collaborations are vital to a healthy community. Nippon Kobo is an event series that brings together diverse artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and the local community through collaborations that combine chamber music with contemporary Japanese culture, including art and food. The organization’s mission is to build a new community where people meet, learn, and experience cross-cultural dialogue through curated music concerts paired with contemporary Japanese art and culture. We look forward to sharing this special event with all Bay Area arts and culture enthusiasts.
Kobo Sessions #1: Del Sol String Quartet x Sake Masters x Bento Box Date: May 17th, 2025 6pm Location: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Barbro Osher Hall Admission: $150 with Sake Tasting, $120 without Sake Tasting. All tickets include Sake Master talks, music, and a bento box by Hana Izumi Japanese Restaurant.
2025 Japanese Heritage Night with the Giants
Tickets are now on sale for Japanese Heritage Night with the San Francisco Giants on Friday, May 16 at 7:15 p.m. vs. the A’s.
Join Center Members and friends as we cheer on the Giants for Japanese Heritage Night (JHN) with the S.F. Giants and Bay Area Japanese American community. To celebrate Japanese culture and community, the pre-game entertainment will include San Jose Taiko. Plus, stay after the game for a postgame fireworks show!
This year, the special event giveaway is an exclusive Sakura Long Sleeve Hooded Shirt. All JHN Special Event ticket holders will receive a long-sleeved hooded shirt. The giveaway item will be connected to your electronic ticket.
Special Member Ticket prices exclude additional fees or service charges (up to 10 tickets can be purchased). For group information, please contact membership@jcccnc.org or call (415) 567-5505.
Ticket prices:
View Reserve 308, 310-312 (rows 4-8)
$36 Members / $39 General
Premium Lower Box 105 (rows 18-28) – limited quantity
$75 Members / $80 General
CAAMFEST Film Screening and Q&A: MAKING WAVES, dir. Jon Osaki and Josh Chuck, @ AMC Kabuki
Directors Jon Osaki and Josh Chuck will be in attendance for the screening + Q&A, moderated by Don Young, Director of Programs at CAAM.
Making Waves is a timely, thought-provoking documentary about how ethnic studies – and specifically Asian American Studies (AAS) – dramatically influenced and empowered a generation. They leveraged their heightened awareness of history to build community organizations, political power, and collaboration.
Helmed by Bay Area filmmakers Jon Osaki (Not Your Model Minority, Alternative Faces: The Lies of Executive Order 9066) and Josh Chuck (Chinatown Rising), the CAAM-funded film follows a group of youth who travel to the Texas state capitol to fight for Asian American Studies in the deep South. This type of activism harks back to the Bay Area-based ethnic studies movement of the 1960’s, and the film highlights recent efforts by youth to address anti-Asian hate and learn Asian American history.
Making Waves is made possible in part with funding from AAPI History Hub.
Mother's Day Discounts @ Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center
Happy Mother’s Day!
Visit the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center in the Japan Center East Mall (2F) between 12-5pm from May 10 - 11 to celebrate!
Free gift w/ any $20 purchase
New 10-30% discounts off clothing made from traditional Japanese designs and textiles.
Kimochi Ginza @ St. Mary's Cathedral Event Center
Welcome to Kimochi Ginza
A free community get-together to reconnect over food, sake & wine tastings, shopping artisan handicrafts, demonstrations, and silent auction. A family event reminiscent of summer fairs and church bazaars.
Opening Party of “Not Too Sweet” by the Family Style Collective @ KOHO
“Not Too Sweet” is a multimedia group art exhibition and series of community events, featuring 12+ artists of the AAPI diaspora, to be held on May 1-31, 2025 at the Koho Co-Creative Hub in SF Japantown. This exhibit aims to challenge traditional stereotypes and we invite our community to defy confines of expectation, rooted in our shared histories while opening doors to new possibilities. This body of work emphasizes experimentation and play.
Join us for the opening celebration on 5/3/25 6-9pm, and "Study Hall", a listening party and co-working session, on 5/18/25 12-4pm at @kohosf , in the heart of SF's Japantown.
AAPI Heritage Awards & Reception @ Herbst Theatre
Join us at the 21st Annual APA Heritage Awards & Gala Reception, San Francisco’s official AAPI Heritage Month celebration!
The APA Heritage Awards is a signature program of San Francisco’s celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Every year, the AAPI Heritage Celebration Committee honors civic organizations that have achieved significant milestones in serving the community.
Beyond the China Initiative: Civil Rights, National Security, and the Future of AAPI Communities
Committee of 100, Council of Korean Americans, Japanese American Citizens League, Stand with Asian Americans, and The Asian American Foundation invite you to an important conversation:
Join us for a fireside conversation with Professor Franklin Tao, one of the first scientists charged — and fully exonerated after a prolonged legal battle — under the DOJ’s now-defunct China Initiative. Professor Tao will be joined by his wife, Hong Peng, and his attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, offering a rare and personal perspective on the human cost of misdirected national security policies.
Moderated by Charles Jung, President of the San Francisco Bar Association, the program will also examine the broader consequences of the Initiative with policy expert and civil rights advocate, Gisela Perez Kusakawa — from its impact on civil rights to lessons learned and ongoing concerns facing immigrant and Asian American communities in the United States.
Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM PT
Location: Downtown San Francisco*
California Hana Workshop @ KOHO Co-Creative Hub
California Hana
Harriet Fukushima trained in the Ikenobo ikebana tradition in Kyoto, Japan and later explored Western floral design in the Bay Area. Her arrangements weave together the principles of Japanese ikebana with the textures and colors of California’s seasonal flowers and greenery.
In this introductory class, you’ll create a small, artful arrangement, guided by the fundamentals of Japanese design and the beauty of local materials.
Please bring your own flower scissors or garden pruning shears, available at local hardware stores, garden centers, or online.
Family Style is an art collective based in SF composed of multimedia artists from the Asian diaspora. We contribute to increasing Asian American representation, creative expression, and pride in being Asian American in the art community through community events, art exhibitions, and publishing zines.
KOHO is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary, cultural, non-profit arts organization developed for and by artists & creators, in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown.
All proceeds from this workshop will support Family Style’s upcoming showcase, ‘Not Too Sweet,’ at KOHO.
California Hana/Flower Workshop @ KOHO
California Hana Workshop
Join us for an introductory flower arranging workshop using Japanese design.
California Hana
Harriet Fukushima trained in the Ikenobo ikebana tradition in Kyoto, Japan and later explored Western floral design in the Bay Area. Her arrangements weave together the principles of Japanese ikebana with the textures and colors of California’s seasonal flowers and greenery.
In this introductory class, you’ll create a small, artful arrangement, guided by the fundamentals of Japanese design and the beauty of local materials.
Please bring your own flower scissors or garden pruning shears, available at local hardware stores, garden centers, or online.
Family Style is an art collective based in SF composed of multimedia artists from the Asian diaspora. We contribute to increasing Asian American representation, creative expression, and pride in being Asian American in the art community through community events, art exhibitions, and publishing zines.
KOHO is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary, cultural, non-profit arts organization developed for and by artists & creators, in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown.
All proceeds from this workshop will support Family Style’s upcoming showcase, ‘Not Too Sweet,’ at KOHO.
Haru no Shodo/Spring Calligraphy Workshop @ Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center
Welcome to the Spring | Haruno Shodo Workshop! Join us for a fun and interactive event where you can learn the art of Japanese calligraphy. This workshop will be held in person at the Japanese Cultural District Visitor Center, located in Japan Center EAST Mall (above Daiso). Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of Shodo as you create your own unique pieces. No prior experience is necessary, so come and unleash your creativity! See you there on Sat, April 26, 2025 at 12N.
All materials are provided, with a suggested donation of $20 at the door. Join Kumiko Morimoto, Goyo Shodo Master, for a fun and engaging Shodo experience! Seats are limited—reserve yours today! Each session is limited to 8 participants.
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Session 1
1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
Session 2
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
Session 3
3:00 PM - 3:50 PM
Session 4
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM
Session 5
Rummage Sale @ Kinmon Gakuen
Hello everyone! 😊
Kinmon Gakuen will be holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at our school (2031 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA).
🛍️ The items for sale have been generously donated by our community, and all proceeds will go towards supporting school operations. Please bring your family and friends and join us for this exciting event!
✨ Many items from the previous sale will be deeply discounted, and we also have plenty of new items available — don’t miss out on some great finds!
📦 Please note: We are not accepting new donations this time, as we still have many wonderful items remaining from the last sale. Thank you for your understanding!
🗓️ Event Details
Rummage Sale Day: Saturday, April 26th, 2025
Location: Kinmon Gakuen, 2031 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA
We look forward to seeing you at the sale!
Thank you for supporting Kinmon Gakuen! 🙏
Stop AAPI Hate Community Hall - Trump’s Travel Ban: How to Prepare and Push Back
Trump is signaling a return to one of his most devastating policies — the travel ban — and immigrant communities around the world are bracing for impact. But this time, it’s not just about who he’s letting in, it’s about who he’s kicking out. Speakers include:Kanwalroop Kaur Singh, Staff Attorney, Asian Law Caucus, Yasmine Taeb, Legislative and Political Director, MPower Change Action Fund, Sumayyah Waheed, Senior Policy Counsel, Muslim Advocates.
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser: Experience the joy of wearing 浴衣 Yukata, the summer festival kimono, during the Cherry Blossom Festival! KOHO aims to transform and educate our visitors on Matsuri festival fashion and energize Sakura Matsuri though fashion and visual displays. We hope audiences walk away with knowing more about this tradition as an artisan medium. We will have a few Yukata and accessories for sale. On most days, we will conduct a workshop on how to fold and store your yukata and how to dress. Bring your own Yukata, and sign up for a limited slot for us to help dress you! RSVP to get notified as soon as we release the timeslots!
4/12 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/12 Sat, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/13 Sun, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/13 Sun, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/19 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/19 Sat, 3pm Yukata Workshop
4/20 Sun [Parade day], 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase only
GRAND PARADE! Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Day 2, Weekend 2 of 2
Grand Parade
Sunday, April 20, 2025
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade brings color and cheer to the streets of San Francisco and Japantown! At a future in-person festival, the Grand Parade will occur on the final Sunday of the Festival. A lively procession of taiko drummers, dancers, and decorative floats will celebrate the Festival and the Japanese traditions that thrive here in Northern California.
Streams of colorful floats will be carrying individuals of Japanese American and other Asian American communities. Japanese classical (Buyo) and folk (Minyo) dance groups from around the U.S. and Japan will perform throughout the parade route like a myriad of floating butterflies. Highly honored Boy Scout Troops from the Japanese American communities will march proudly along the streets. The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen and her Court, as well as sister festival courts will cascade their way to Japantown in beautiful floats. Anchoring the parade is the hoisting of the San Francisco Taru Mikoshi by over one hundred strong individuals. It is a spectacle not to be missed, so be sure to come on out to cheer on the hundreds of participants!
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser: Experience the joy of wearing 浴衣 Yukata, the summer festival kimono, during the Cherry Blossom Festival! KOHO aims to transform and educate our visitors on Matsuri festival fashion and energize Sakura Matsuri though fashion and visual displays. We hope audiences walk away with knowing more about this tradition as an artisan medium. We will have a few Yukata and accessories for sale. On most days, we will conduct a workshop on how to fold and store your yukata and how to dress. Bring your own Yukata, and sign up for a limited slot for us to help dress you! RSVP to get notified as soon as we release the timeslots!
4/12 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/12 Sat, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/13 Sun, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/13 Sun, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/19 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/19 Sat, 3pm Yukata Workshop
4/20 Sun [Parade day], 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase only
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Day 1, Weekend 2 of 2
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
April 12-13 & 19-20, 2025
Welcome to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival®, one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions and the largest Cherry Blossom Festival on the West Coast. All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture with you, live and in Person again!
Support our Festival by becoming a sponsor, volunteer, and/or attendee of this popular Japanese American community event. This event is free and open to the public.
Since 1968, the Festival serves to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and the United States, using culture as its bridge. Each year, over 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the vibrant colors and grace of the Japanese culture and the rich heritage and diversity of the Japanese American community.
This year, we are excited to announce that while the Peace Plaza is undergoing renovations, our Festival is not scaling back and in fact, we are expanding! On the first weekend (April 12-13), we will be adding a block of Sutter Street, bringing our Festival to even more parts of our beloved Japantown community.
This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In recognition of this, our Community Marshal will honor the Hibakusha—survivors of the bombings—and their descendants. It is a meaningful moment to reflect on history and to reaffirm our commitment to peace.
Whether you are here to enjoy cultural performances, savor delicious food from our nonprofit food vendors, or cheer on the Grand Parade, we hope you will take a moment to appreciate the spirit of this Festival. There is something for everyone, and we cannot wait to share this special time with you.
Online Program: Understanding Japanese Aesthetics: Defining Beauty in Art, Architecture, Gardens, and More
Japan Society of Northern California Online Program: 5-6:10 pm, Wed, April 16. Experience the essence of Japanese aesthetics through art, architecture, and gardens. From the refined rusticity of wabi-sabi to an air of suggestive mystery, from the freedom and spontaneity of artistic expression to the elegance and grace of ritual and etiquette — join special guest Steve Beimel for a rich exploration of these timeless principles. Steve and his team at JapanCraft21 are deeply dedicated to preserving and revitalizing Japan’s traditional arts. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover the foundations of Japanese aesthetic sensibility. Reserve your spot today!
Film Screening: Kintsukuroi
Final SF Performance! KINTSUKUROI follows members of the Ito family from their pre-war life in San Francisco’s Japantown to the concentration camps of the American West to the battlefields of Europe as they struggle to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser: Experience the joy of wearing 浴衣 Yukata, the summer festival kimono, during the Cherry Blossom Festival! KOHO aims to transform and educate our visitors on Matsuri festival fashion and energize Sakura Matsuri though fashion and visual displays. We hope audiences walk away with knowing more about this tradition as an artisan medium. We will have a few Yukata and accessories for sale. On most days, we will conduct a workshop on how to fold and store your yukata and how to dress. Bring your own Yukata, and sign up for a limited slot for us to help dress you! RSVP to get notified as soon as we release the timeslots!
4/12 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/12 Sat, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/13 Sun, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/13 Sun, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/19 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/19 Sat, 3pm Yukata Workshop
4/20 Sun [Parade day], 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase only
FREE COMMUNITY DAY - Ruth Asawa Retrospective at the SF Museum of Modern Art
Ruth Asawa Retrospective at the SF Museum of Modern Art
FREE COMMUNITY DAY
Special Event
10 am-5 pm, Sun, Apr 13
Free events and free museum admission all day. Entry to Ruth Asawa: Retrospective on April 13 will be first-come, first-served. Visitors may experience a wait time for entry.
RUTH ASAWA RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBIT @ SFMOMA: April 5 - Sept 2.
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Day 2, Weekend 1 of 2
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
April 12-13 & 19-20, 2025
Welcome to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival®, one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions and the largest Cherry Blossom Festival on the West Coast. All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture with you, live and in Person again!
Support our Festival by becoming a sponsor, volunteer, and/or attendee of this popular Japanese American community event. This event is free and open to the public.
Since 1968, the Festival serves to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and the United States, using culture as its bridge. Each year, over 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the vibrant colors and grace of the Japanese culture and the rich heritage and diversity of the Japanese American community.
This year, we are excited to announce that while the Peace Plaza is undergoing renovations, our Festival is not scaling back and in fact, we are expanding! On the first weekend (April 12-13), we will be adding a block of Sutter Street, bringing our Festival to even more parts of our beloved Japantown community.
This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In recognition of this, our Community Marshal will honor the Hibakusha—survivors of the bombings—and their descendants. It is a meaningful moment to reflect on history and to reaffirm our commitment to peace.
Whether you are here to enjoy cultural performances, savor delicious food from our nonprofit food vendors, or cheer on the Grand Parade, we hope you will take a moment to appreciate the spirit of this Festival. There is something for everyone, and we cannot wait to share this special time with you.
Free Community Concert – Music & Multimedia for the Ocean
Music for the Ocean is a set of new compositions and improvisations by violinist/composer Chad Cannon, accompanied by pianist Hui Wu. The program builds empathy with and concern for the ocean by telling science-based stories about sound and marine life through music. Sounds from the ocean (such as hydrophone recordings of whale song from 6000m below the surface, and coral reef recordings), watery electronic soundscapes, and projected imagery (including underwater photography and abstract art) all come together to form an immersive, unforgettable experience. Audience members learn about human-created sounds and their effect on marine life, and hopefully come away from the performance eager to contribute to ocean and marine life conservation projects.
Chad Cannon is a composer interested in the intersection of history, cultures, and human stories. Recent credits include the Oscar-winning Netflix documentary film American Factory, Sony PlayStation's Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut (Iki Island Expansion), and HBO's Night is Not Eternal.
In 2023 he received a News and Documentary Emmy nomination for Exposing Muybridge. He is the arranger and orchestrator for the world-traveling Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert: Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki, and is the co-founder of Asia/America New Music Institute (AANMI). He is a graduate of Harvard, Juilliard, and the Sundance Composer Labs.
This is a free community concert. Attendees are encouraged to reserve tickets here. Unticketed walk-ins are permitted based on availability, but ticketed patrons will be seated first. Unclaimed tickets will be released 10 minutes before the start time. Seats are unassigned.
Performances and screenings in Tateuchi Hall are suitable for ages 7 and up. To ensure the best experience for all guests, children should be able to sit quietly during the performance (approx. one hour).
CSMA’s 2024-25 Community Concert Series is supported by the Applied Materials Foundation and the Rotary Club of Los Altos. Thank you to our sponsors!
Japantown Cultural District Scavenger Hunt
The Japantown Cultural District Scavenger Hunt kicks off at the JCD Visitor Center on April 12! How to participate:
Pick up a flyer at the Visitor Center.
Visit the above 5 stores/restaurants and take pictures of their storefronts or signboards.
Return to the Visitor Center and upload your photos to social media.
Receive Limited Edition Myaku Myaku stickers as a reward!
Spring Tea Ceremony @ Hokka Nichi Bei Kai
Reserve your seat at the Spring Tea Ceremony! This traditional event is held annually to celebrate the transition of the beautiful seasons and to enjoy a peaceful moment with friends and family.
There will be 4 tea ceremony sessions on April 12th, 2025 (Sat) at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm at the historical Kanso-An tea room in Hokka Nichibei Kai Building.
We will be serving traditional Japanese Green Tea and Sweets at the ceremony. You will have the opportunity to experience the Tea Ceremony and learn about its Rich History and Cultural significance. Participants can choose to sit on the Tatami floor or bench seat.
Each session is about 45 minutes. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the event. We can not guarantee your attendance at the ceremony if you are late.
SOCKS REQUIRED. White color is preferred per the examples of traditional Tabi socks.
RSVP by April 11th, 2025. If you have any questions or special requests, please do not hesitate to contact us at hokka.nichibeikai@yahoo.com
We look forward to sharing this special occasion with you!
Online Reservation: $28 + fees (Credit card)
Nichibei Kai Member: $18 (w/Promo Code) + fees
Walk-in: $33 non-members, $23 members (Cash only) *Based on availability, first-come, first-serve
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser
KOHO’s Matsuri House: Japanese Festival Fashion Pop-Up & Fundraiser: Experience the joy of wearing 浴衣 Yukata, the summer festival kimono, during the Cherry Blossom Festival! KOHO aims to transform and educate our visitors on Matsuri festival fashion and energize Sakura Matsuri though fashion and visual displays. We hope audiences walk away with knowing more about this tradition as an artisan medium. We will have a few Yukata and accessories for sale. On most days, we will conduct a workshop on how to fold and store your yukata and how to dress. Bring your own Yukata, and sign up for a limited slot for us to help dress you! RSVP to get notified as soon as we release the timeslots!
4/12 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/12 Sat, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/13 Sun, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/13 Sun, 3pm Yukata workshop
4/19 Sat, 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase and Dressing
4/19 Sat, 3pm Yukata Workshop
4/20 Sun [Parade day], 11am - 3pm Yukata Purchase only