Community Events
SHICHI-GO-SAN PHOTO SESSIONS in Burlingame
SHICHI-GO-SAN PHOTO SESSIONS in Burlingame (七五三の撮影会)
The Japan Society of Northern California is currently holding the Shichi-Go-San Photo Sessions in Burlingame all year round. Pricing starts at $400, with a portion of the fee donated to the Society. Interested? Please feel free to contact us!
ジャパン•ソサエティーでは、ご好評につき1年中を通して七五三撮影会を開催しております。お気軽にご連絡下さい
Daiso Japantown Grand Reopening Ceremony @ Daiso Japan Center Malls
Celebrate the Daiso Japantown San Francisco Grand Reopening with us October 2–4 at Japan Center Malls!
Join us for three days of family-friendly fun, giveaways, games, special guests, live performances, and more as we celebrate Daiso's new look in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Japantown.
Grand Reopening Weekend Highlights:
• LIMITED-EDITION Daiso San Francisco Tote Bag in three cute designs, free with $30 purchase!
• Pocky and Calbee giveaways while supplies last
• Gashapon games with fun surprises
• Spin the prize wheel for a chance to win Daiso goodies
• Special guests and performances throughout the weekend
• Meet Daizo, Daiso’s mascot, and snap a photo together
• Family-friendly activities and fun for all ages
• Shop Daiso favorites, new finds, Japanese-inspired products, and more
October 2–4, 2026
Daiso Japantown – Japan Center Malls
Peace Plaza
22 Post St, Ste 400
San Francisco, CA 94115
Whether you’re a longtime Daiso fan or discovering us for the first time, come celebrate with us and experience everything Daiso Japantown has to offer. Bring your friends and family, play some games, grab some giveaways, meet Daizo, and explore the store!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Giveaways, games, appearances, performances, and activities may vary by day and are available while supplies last.
Store Hours: Sun. - Thu. 9am and Fri. - Sat. 9am - 10pm
JCBD J-Town Community Clean-Up @ Osaka Way, Japantown San Francisco
JCBD J-Town Community Clean-Up
Every other month, 1st Saturday of the month (select dates below)
10:00am - 11:30am
Osaka Way, Japantown
The J-Town Community Clean-Up has been a very successful effort led by the Japantown Community Benefit District. The J-town Community Clean-Up is also a great opportunity for groups and organizations to get involved in Japantown!
In order to provide all participants tools needed to clean our neighborhood we are limiting the number of volunteers to 30 for each Community Clean-Up date. This number will allow us to effectively use the volunteers time to clean our community.
Throughout the cleaning we will have community photographers taking photos of all the hard work. These photos will be shared on our social media as well as our Keeping Japantown Connected e-news that goes out to the community, City agencies/departments and to the general public. By signing on to this Google Form you have given us permission to use the photos taken during your volunteer time.
Yame Tea Tasting w/ JAPAN TEA STUDIO 108 @ ChaTo
Yame Tea Tasting w/ JAPAN TEA STUDIO 108 @ ChaTo
Yame is one of Japan’s leading regions for premium tea production.
In particular, Yame Gyokuro Tea has won first place for many years at the National Tea Competition and is recognized by some of the world’s top chefs and sommeliers.
A Japanese tea ambassador, Reiko Wake will carefully serve this Gyokuro and other Yame teas.
If you would like to enjoy high-quality and authentic Japanese tea, please join us!
It is also recommended to attend with friends. Mini sweets included.
2026 JAYACon @ KOHO Creative Hub
[RSVP by Thu, 10/1] JAYA Convention (or “JAYACon”) brings together Northern California Nikkei youth organizations and community leaders to meet each other, share what we’re working on, and discuss where we want our community to go next. The day will include a panel with community leaders, time for organizations to share about their work, and space for conversation and connection.
Nikkei Angel Island Pilgrimage
Join us for the Seventh Nikkei Angel Island Pilgrimage
Sat., Oct. 3, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Angel Island Immigration Station
Angel Island, CA
Join us for the seventh Nikkei Angel Island Pilgrimage to honor our immigrant pioneers and rediscover the little-known history of the Japanese and Japanese American legacy at Angel Island, where up to 85,000 persons of Japanese descent — the second largest immigrant group — landed between 1910 to 1940, before setting foot in America.
The Pilgrimage includes:
Exhibits at the Angel Island Immigration Museum
FREE Family History Consultations with the California Genealogical Society
Presentation by SFSU Provost Amy Sueyoshi
Taiko performances by IWA DAIKO
Bon Odori dancing to honor ancestors
Delicious Japanese bento lunches
Tickets
Packages from SF and Tiburon ferries, plus buses from Sacramento and San Jose Japantown. Space is limited — reserve your tickets by September 18, 2026!
Nihonmachi Street Fair Presents: JTOWN FUNK @ Osaka Way, Japantown SF
JTOWN FUNK IS BACK! 🎶✨
Join us this Sunday, October 4th, on Osaka Way starting at 1:00 PM for an incredible lineup of live music! We’re bringing some funk and soul to Jtown featuring:
🎸 Sayonara Picnic
🎷 Paul Yonemura Band
🎤 Forum
Come hang out, enjoy the music, and support local community vibes!
📍 Where: Osaka Way, Japantown San Francisco
🕐 When: Sunday, Oct 4 | Starts at 1:00 PM
🎟️ Admission: Free!
This Pop Up Performance is made possible with support from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and our fiscal sponsor for this grant, Kultivate Labs.
JCCCNC Autumn Kaiseki Virtual Cooking Workshop 2026 via Zoom
This traditional Japanese kaiseki workshop will feature delicacies for the autumn season. In addition to the seasonal foods on a lacquer tenshin tray, sakana no kuzutataki (kudzu coated poached white fish) will also be prepared. The tenshin style of kaiseki presentation is often served during a traditional tea ceremony. Ichiban dashi (soup stock) will also be made. Easy to follow recipes and the video recording will be provided to all registrants.
Menu:
Ichiban dashi (soup stock)
Seasonal foods
Sakana no kuzutaki (kudzu-coated poached white fish)
Genryu Arts: Keiro no Hi @ Studio Gen, Japan Center Malls
Come celebrate our elders while enjoying live performances, arts & craft activities, games, and a visual art exhibition.
Program:
1:00 – 1:30 pm: Performances by Gen Taiko youth groups
1:30 – 2:00 pm: Art activities, games, light refreshments
2:00 – 3:00 pm: Preview performance of In Their Footsteps: The Issei Women’s Legacy and the Japanese YWCA
3:00 – 4:30 pm: Opening reception for art exhibition by Leon Sun “Animal Spirit: Visions from across the river”
Thank you to:
Japan Center Malls
The Creative Work Fund, a program of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund that also is supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Zellerbach Family Foundation
Grants for the Arts
SF Japantown Foundation
Avenue Green Light
Kimochi
Washi Collage Workshop @ Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
Led by Kathy Yoshida of Hanko Designs, learn how to create your very own washi collage card using handmade artisan papers from Japan! This class will go over various design tips to help harmonize your collage with all the various strips of washi. Using the guidelines covered in class, choose your collage color palette from the washi papers you will receive in your kit, and create an original card design!
Tsuru for Solidarity for Kintsugi 2026: Healing and Repair of Japanese American Community Trauma from WWII @ Hotel Kabuki
Full Registration is now closed.
If you are registering as a Youth (25 and under) for Saturday, 10/17 only, we are still accepting registrations using this form.
What is Kintsugi 2026?
As a metaphor of the precious celadon bowl, fractured and repaired, and thus, more treasured than ever, this gathering for Japanese Americans is focused on understanding our community trauma and exploring healing practices now and for the future. The program will take place in historic Japantown, San Francisco and will feature speakers, workshops, and restorative practices. Participants will also have ample time in intentional discussion and reflection groups to process their experiences. Over the course of four days, participants will learn more about what intergenerational trauma is, and how Nikkei have understood and responded to intergenerational trauma. We will engage in practices of repair and see solidarity action as one of those practices. As a means of further strengthening our community we will also learn from other communities engaged in reparative work.
Kintsugi 2026 is rooted in the work of scholars and educators as well as traditional healers and psychologists who have studied Japanese American intergenerational community trauma. The gathering is based on an understanding that repair is possible and advances through individual healing and community organizing to mend the connective tissue within communities. Through this collective healing process of community repair, cultural reclamation, and social justice practices, we can, as a community, interrupt the repetition of state violence. Participants will learn foundations of trauma and practices of intergenerational repair in the Japanese American community and other communities building reparative practices.
Who should attend Kintsugi?
The curriculum and content of this conference focuses specifically on intergenerational trauma within the Japanese American community. The vast majority of participants will self-identify as Japanese American or Nikkei, and these experiences will be centered and prioritized in the programs and break out discussions. If you are interested in attending, but are not of Nikkei heritage, please contact Rob Buscher (rbuscher@tsuruforsolidarity.org) for more details.
Applicants under 18 years of age need parent or guardian permission. Any applicants under age 15 we request accompaniment with an adult or as part of a participating youth program.
Other than that, Kintsugi is for you. You DO NOT need to have any previous knowledge of trauma, intergenerational trauma, Japanese American culture or history.
Anime Cinema Club: Perfect Blue @ New People Cinema
Rising pop star Mima has quit singing to pursue acting, but her fans aren't ready to see her go. When her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered, reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia.
As her stalker closes in — in person and online — the threat is more real than even Mima knows. Satoshi Kon's debut feature invented a visual grammar for the dissolving self that filmmakers are still borrowing from, Aronofsky and Nolan included.
It is also, quietly, the most accurate film ever made about being watched on the internet. It came out the year before Google.
13th Annual Nihonmachi Little Friends “Big Steps for Little Friends 5K Event” @ Golden Gate Park
13th Annual Nihonmachi Little Friends
“Big Steps for Little Friends 5K Event”
Location: Golden Gate Park
Race Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Take Big Steps for Little Friends!
Join us for NLF’s Big Steps for Little Friends 5K Run/Walk at beautiful Golden Gate Park! Lace up your shoes, gather your loved ones, and be part of a fun-filled day that supports our children, families, and community. Every step you take helps raise much-needed funds to sustain the programs that make NLF so special.
Your Registration and Donations Truly Make a Difference!
Founded in 1975 by dedicated parents and community activists, NLF began with a single preschool serving just 15 children. Five decades later, we’ve grown into a vibrant organization with a bilingual, multicultural preschool and an elementary after-school program, nurturing over 150 children each year.
Protect What You’ve Built: Estate Planning & Your Family’s Legacy @ Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
Hear from Assessor-Recorder Torres, HERA, Japantown CBD, and the JCCCNC about the importance of estate planning.
Join Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres for an important community conversation about property assessments and the importance of estate planning.
Learn how thoughtful estate planning can help protect your family, preserve your home and assets, and ensure your wishes are honored for generations to come. We’ll cover important topics including wills and trusts, transferring property, avoiding common pitfalls, and resources available to help you take the next step.
TENNABEAR Books & Photo-Op @ Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center
Visit the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center (Japan Center East Mall, 2F) to explore books about Japantown history, Hiroshima, and photography—and take a fun photo with TennaBear! Follow @japantownculturaldistrict
Tea Workshop: How to whisk Matcha w/ JAPAN TEA STUDIO 108 @ ChaTo
Tea Workshop: How to whisk Matcha w/ JAPAN TEA STUDIO 108 @ ChaTo
Do you struggle to whisk Matcha into a creamy, frothy cup? We'll guide you through the whisking technique step by step. You can also try Matcha art! Mini Japanese sweet included.
TENNABEAR Books & Photo-Op @ Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center
Visit the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center (Japan Center East Mall, 2F) to explore books about Japantown history, Hiroshima, and photography—and take a fun photo with TennaBear! Follow @japantownculturaldistrict
Tea Workshop: How to whisk Matcha w/ JAPAN TEA STUDIO 108 @ ChaTo
Tea Workshop: How to whisk Matcha w/ JAPAN TEA STUDIO 108 @ ChaTo
Do you struggle to whisk Matcha into a creamy, frothy cup? We'll guide you through the whisking technique step by step. You can also try Matcha art! Mini Japanese sweet included.
TENNABEAR Books & Photo-Op @ Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center
Visit the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center (Japan Center East Mall, 2F) to explore books about Japantown history, Hiroshima, and photography—and take a fun photo with TennaBear! Follow @japantownculturaldistrict
2026 SAN FRANCISCO ALOHA RUN @ Crissy Field, San Francisco
JCYC’s 16th Annual SF Aloha Run 5K, 10K, Keiki Mile, and Keiki Trot will take place on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at Crissy Field in San Francisco.
Register now until July 29!
For the past 16 years, the San Francisco Aloha Run has brought together individuals of all ages and backgrounds to join an uplifting and healthy movement that supports the local community. The 2026 San Francisco Aloha Run is a platform for all of us to educate and lead by example through individual acts of kindness and hope.
Proceeds from the run will provide scholarships for low-income, first-generation college students through the JCYC Scholarship Programs. By registering and fundraising, you're helping shape a brighter future for the children and youth in our community and beyond. Donations are tax-deductible!
To learn more about our impact, visit sfaloharun.org/impact.
Packet pickup will be on Saturday, September 19 from 10 AM - 3 PM at Sports Basement Presidio and is required for all runners.
TABEMASHO 2026 – Mottainai @ Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
Join us for the Center’s largest fundraising event of the year, held in the Nisei Community Hall/gymnasium, as we celebrate Mottainai.
This year’s theme is mottainai (もったいない), a common Japanese expression used when something is wasted before its value has been fully appreciated. We wanted to take a moment to recognize the importance of mottainai in an era of quick fashion, quick food, and quick social media posts, and to encourage a greater sense of gratitude for all the things that are part of our daily lives. Through food and culture we hope to celebrate the community that connects us.
Tabemasho was envisioned to focus on guests having fun, much like they might at a summer matsuri or Japanese festival. It will feature eateries serving guests from Japanese-style yatai (food booths), surrounded by a lively atmosphere with hanging lanterns and festive sounds. Come graze your way through our Tabemasho matsuri with friends, family and loved ones! Matsuri or festive attire is encouraged!
Gunpla Build Day & Karaoke Night @ Konko Church of San Francisco
Let's build together! Saturday, September 19, 2026. 1p to 6p. Karaoke gathering from 6p to 10p.
You can still continue to build.
TENNABEAR Books & Photo-Op @ Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center
Visit the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center (Japan Center East Mall, 2F) to explore books about Japantown history, Hiroshima, and photography—and take a fun photo with TennaBear! Follow @japantownculturaldistrict
Japantown SF Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Town Hall (IN-PERSON) @ KOHO Co-Creative Hub
Join us in Japantown SF for a fun and free local hangout on Geary Blvd, good vibes, great community, and excellent discussions!
Japantown Community on the Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Community Study (In-Person)
Come to the first Japantown Town Hall on the Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Community Study (WAGCS) as part of a $2M, 2-year planning project focused on re-envisioning Geary Boulevard between Laguna and Divisadero. The study is a community-driven effort to re-imagine the area which was harmed by the widening of Geary Boulevard in the 1950s and 60s, disrupting long-standing communities like Japantown and the Fillmore / Western Addition.
The event aims to gather input on how to repair harms and reconnect communities through transportation improvements, urban design, and land use strategies with community voices at the Center. Organized by the Japantown Task Force and Japantown Cultural District, and co-sponsored by JTF, KOHO, and Buchanan YMCA in partnership with SFCTA, SF Planning, and SFMTA.
There will be two free sessions available (we encourage you to join in at least one of the two):
*In-Person Session Thursday, September 17th from 6 - 7:30 pm
(Please use this Eventbrite listing to reserve your spot)Virtual session on Tuesday, September 15th from 6-7:30 pm
(Use visit our virtual Eventbrite listing to reserve your spot)
Some questions you can expect during our community debriefing includes:
Some issues we plan to address include road safety for pedestrians/bikers, how to increase affordable housing in the neighborhood, and additional services and facilities for the community.
Learn more here when you visit: Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Community Study
Take the 10 minute survey in your prefered language to make an impact today.
Spanish: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=es
Chinese: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=zh
Japanese: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=ja
Korean: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=ko
Russian: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=ru
Japantown SF Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Town Hall (VIRTUAL)
Be the voice of Japantown SF on the Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Community Study (WAGCS) Town Hall by joining our virtual discussion.
Japantown Community on the Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Community Study (In-Person)
Come to the first Japantown Town Hall on the Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Community Study (WAGCS) as part of a $2M, 2-year planning project focused on re-envisioning Geary Boulevard between Laguna and Divisadero. The study is a community-driven effort to re-imagine the area which was harmed by the widening of Geary Boulevard in the 1950s and 60s, disrupting long-standing communities like Japantown and the Fillmore / Western Addition.
The event aims to gather input on how to repair harms and reconnect communities through transportation improvements, urban design, and land use strategies with community voices at the Center. Organized by the Japantown Task Force and Japantown Cultural District, and co-sponsored by JTF, KOHO, and Buchanan YMCA in partnership with SFCTA, SF Planning, and SFMTA.
There will be two free sessions available (we encourage you to join in at least one of the two):
In-Person Session Thursday, September 17th from 6 - 7:30 pm
(Visit our other Eventbrite listing to reserve your spot)*Virtual session on Tuesday, September 15th from 6-7:30 pm
(Please reserve your spot with this Eventbrite listing. An email with a Zoom conference link will be provided for your convenience)
Some questions you can expect during our community debriefing includes:
Some issues we plan to address include road safety for pedestrians/bikers, how to increase affordable housing in the neighborhood, and additional services and facilities for the community.
Learn more here when you visit: Western Addition/Geary Boulevard Community Study
Take the 10 minute survey in your prefered language to make an impact today.
Spanish: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=es
Chinese: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=zh
Japanese: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=ja
Korean: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=ko
Russian: https://form.typeform.com/to/qV4qVLP0?typeform-lang=ru
Japanese Language Lounge @ Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center
Join our Japanese Language Lounge for casual conversation, cultural exchange, and Japanese language practice. All levels are welcome!
Japanese Language Lounge (JLL) Overview
The Japanese Language Lounge (JLL) is a casual conversation gathering designed for people interested in practicing Japanese and learning about Japanese culture. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate learner, native speaker, or simply curious about Japan, JLL provides a welcoming environment to connect, communicate, and build confidence in Japanese.
The hour-long sessions feature diverse themes, such as travel, food, hobbies, seasonal traditions, and everyday life in Japan. Participants engage in small-group conversations, interactive activities, and cultural exchange while practicing speaking and listening skills.
JLL is organized by the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center and facilitated by native Japanese instructor and Japantown Navigators. The goal is to create a fun and supportive community where people can learn from one another, make new friends, and deepen their appreciation of Japanese language and culture.
Current Schedule: Twice monthly on Sundays through September 27, 2026, except July 29.
Location: Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center, Japan Center East Mall, 2nd Floor
Admission: $10+ Eventbrite service fee.
Mini Art Mart @ Kinokuniya Mall
It's almost time for another Mini Art Mart!
Next show will be special since Anime Cosplay Festival will be occuring check out @japancentermalls for more info. Start making plans and stop by to check out the artists, cosplay, and special guest at both Mini Art Mart and Anime Cosplay Festival!
Demon Slayer Voice Actor Signing @ Japan Center Malls
Demon Slayer Voice Actor Signing Event
Sep 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM PDT
Japan Center East Malls, 1737 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
Featuring Johnny Young Bosch, Ray Chase, and Mark Whitten
Gunplamo (Gunpla Social) @ JCCCNC
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 will 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.
Mini Art Mart @ Kinokuniya Mall
It's almost time for another Mini Art Mart!
Next show will be special since Anime Cosplay Festival will be occuring check out @japancentermalls for more info. Start making plans and stop by to check out the artists, cosplay, and special guest at both Mini Art Mart and Anime Cosplay Festival!
JCCCNC Autumn Wagashi Sweets Virtual Workshop 2026
This traditional wagashi Japanese sweet making workshop will feature Misomatsukaze and Koimo. Misomatsukaze (pine wind cake) is a steamed cake made with wheat flour, various sugars and miso (soy bean paste). Koimo represents the small taro that is harvested in autumn and is served during the various autumn moon celebrations. It is made with konashi a type of Kyoto wagashi made by steaming white sweet bean paste with both wheat and rice flour. Easy to follow recipes and the video recording will be provided to all registrants.
Menu:
Misomatsukaze (pine wind cake) — a steamed cake made with wheat flour, various sugars, and miso (soy bean paste)
Koimo — created with konashi, a type of Kyoto wagashi made with white sweet bean paste, wheat flour, and rice flour
Demon Slayer Voice Actor Signing @ Japan Center Malls
Demon Slayer Voice Actor Signing Event
Sep 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM PDT
Japan Center East Malls, 1737 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
Featuring Johnny Young Bosch, Ray Chase, and Mark Whitten
43rd Annual Kimochi Golf Tournament @ Richmond Country Club
43rd Annual Kimochi Golf Tournament for the benefit of Kimochi, Inc.
$330.00 for four players
The entry fee includes golf, carts, range balls, one mulligan, closest-to-the-pin contests, lunch, and a prime rib dinner.
Side Game Options : 2 Mulligans: $30, 50/50: $30. Closest to the pin hole (half of the pot goes to the closest shot and the other half supports Kimochi)
This event will be an individual 18-hole medal play competition. Currently, the committee plans for three flights including a ladies flight.
Raffle featuring golf clubs, gift certificates, and many other exciting prizes.
Prizes for all par 3 hole in ones and closest to the pins.
Awards will be made for each flight in addition to “Field Low Net” (Tournament Champion) and “Field Low Gross”.
Special senior award.
BonPOP 2026 @ San Francisco Botanical Gardens Fountain Plaza
We’re excited to welcome you back for 2026!
KOHO and Gardens of Golden Gate Park are excited to present the fifth annual KOHO BonPop community Bon Odori festival on Sunday, August 30, 2026 at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens Fountain Plaza.
Event Schedule:
2-4 pm: Vendors & Activities
4-6 pm: Bon Odori Dancing
GOLDEN GATE CARD SHOW @ Hotel Kabuki
🌉 GOLDEN GATE CARD SHOW · SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 🌉
The entire Pokémon world is in San Francisco at the end of the month. With the biggest Pokémon weekend on the planet this year, we’re running our card show right in the middle of it!
Don’t have a ticket to PokémonXP? We got you! Come join the party at Hotel Kabuki 🎟️
💵 $5 entry at the door
🧒 Kids get in free
🏨 Free for Hotel Kabuki guests
🃏 Dozens of vendors: singles, sealed, vintage, slabs
📍 Hotel Kabuki ballroom, 1625 Post Street, SF
Pack your binders and come trade with the whole world. See you in Japantown!
Origami Palooza @ Hotel Kabuki, Japan Center East Mall
Join us for a day packed full of fun folding at this year’s Origami-Palooza!
Learn from one of our special guests or check out various classes for different levels, competition, and free workshops.
Sunday August 30 from 11-4pm in the Hotel Kabuki and Japan Center East Mall.
Fillmore Grocery Working Group
In February 2025, the Safeway on Webster St. in the Fillmore closed permanently, plunging residents of the Fillmore, Western Addition, and Japantown into a food desert and forcing us to travel into adjacent neighborhoods to seek our regular groceries. Now, another blow to food access in the area is incoming: the Lucky on Fulton St. will close permanently in September 2026. For San Franciscans like us who are caught in the middle, the grocery closures are exhausting & disappointing. It is clear that residents of the Fillmore, Western Addition, and Japantown need and deserve a dependable neighborhood grocery, in contrast with the revolving door of mega-corporation grocers who have left us in a food desert. We, as residents of the Fillmore, Western Addition, and Japantown, can meet this moment of need with a creative vision for a sustainable community-oriented grocery.
Let's do it together!
Join neighbors for our first working group meeting on Saturday August 29th at 1pm at the AAACC - 762 Fulton St.
JACL HQ Organizing & Cleanup Volunteer Day @ 1765 Sutter St.
Photo: Bridgette Watson
The National Japanese American Citizens League, headquartered at 1765 Sutter, is seeking volunteers to help organize and clean-up vacant offices at the headquarters building. This is a golden opportunity for those who are interested in Japanese American history!
Volunteers needed to help box and move files at HQ
- Thursday, August 27, JACL Headquarters 1765 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(metered street parking or paid parking in Japantown Mall Garages)
- Start at 10am
- Snacks will be provided
Following the clean up event, Sheldon will be awarding Larry Oda with his Past-President Pin.
Film Screening: KŪKAI @ San Francisco Public Library
Event Details
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Admission Time: 1:00 PM
Screening Time: 1:30 PM
Venue: San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
What to Expect
A 90-minute screening of KŪKAI
A post-screening Q&A with members of the film’s creative team
The film features Chinese narration with English subtitles
For more details, please visit the official website: https://www.kukaimovie.com
About KŪKAI
KŪKAI is a Mandarin-language documentary directed by Chinese filmmaker Yue Ye. The film follows the journey of Kūkai, the Buddhist monk who traveled to Tang China in 804 AD to study under Master Huiguo, and explores the transmission of Buddhist teachings, Tang-era culture and ideas across East Asia. The 90-minute documentary is presented with Chinese narration and English subtitles.
An Invitation to Koto Music @ Hotel Kabuki
An Invitation to Koto Music presented by Seiha Hogakukai USA
Place： Hotel Kabuki, Imperial Ballroom (Garden level)
Date： AUGUST 23, 2026 (Sunday) Start 1:00 PM, Doors Open 12:30 PM
Ticket $31.00 (incl. $1.00 booking fee)
Experience the Beauty of Japanese Traditional Music
Direct from Japan, a special performance by the Headmistress and Vice Head of Seiha Music School (Seiha Hōgaku-kai), a 113-year-old music school of Japanese traditional instruments. Together with members of Seiha Japan and Seiha USA from the Bay Area and Nationwide, experience the unique sound of traditional and contemporary sounds of koto, sangen (shamisen) and kokyu (Japanese bowed instrument).
The program includes Godan Ginuta, Hiyaku, Ballad, Yugao, Raden, and Yuki Ningyō, offering a variety of perspectives through which to enjoy the distinctive beauty of Japanese koto music.
Gunplamo (Gunpla Social) @ Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
Gunplamo (Gunpla Social)
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 will 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.
Kimochi, Inc. Bingo @ Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
Kimochi, Inc. Bingo!
August 20, 2026. 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
1840 Sutter Street. San Francisco, CA. 94115
Register with Grace Hulleza via email: ghuzella@kimochi-inc.org
Seated Exercise w/ Kimochi, Inc. and instructor Laura Cohen
Every Wednesday 8/19/26 - 10/28/26. 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Register with Grace Hulleza via email: ghuzella@kimochi-inc.org
Rakugo and Matcha | Laugh and Sip Experience
Laugh, sip tea, and experience the vibrant heart of Japanese storytelling and tea ceremony all in one cozy afternoon hosted in Japantown SF!
Rakugo & Matcha - Laugh & Sip Experience-
Enjoy two of Japan’s most treasured traditions in one unforgettable afternoon. Experience the traditional storytelling art of Rakugo alongside an authentic Matcha tea service at the Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center brought you by the Japantown Cultural District.
You're invited to laugh, relax, and connect with Japanese culture. Whether you are new to traditional Japanese arts or looking to deepen your appreciation, this event offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere where stories and tea come together to create a truly memorable experience.
📅 Event Details & Schedule
Date: Saturday, August 15
Workshop Sessions (Select your preferred time slot at checkout):
*Please check in 15 minutes before the session starts.
Session 1: *12N
Session 2: *3 pm
Location: Japantown Visitor Center, Japan Center EAST Mall, 2nd Floor,
1737 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 94115
Website: japantownculturaldistrict.org/community-events
Follow Us: @japantownculturaldistrict
🎟️ Tickets & Registration
Price: $25 per ticket (+ Eventbrite service fees)
Limited Capacity: Spots fill up quickly. Be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible for this unique experience!
🪭 Meet Your Event Hosts
Noah Soei Leong: Rakugo Performer
High school senior Noah Leong is one of the very few Rakugo performers in San Francisco, bringing Japan's classic "sit-down" comedy storytelling art to life.
Kazuki Nakajima: Matcha Master
Founder of MAORA LLC and Secretary General of the Japan Cultural Heritage Association, Kazuki oversees the Traditional Culture Stage at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and shares Japanese wellness through the art of tea ceremony.