Join us as we close out AAPI Month and usher in Pride Month with an afternoon of fashion, drag, and cultural expression at KOHO Co-Creative Hub. Organized by the National Japanese American Historical Society, this celebratory event takes place on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 12:30 PM and marks the opening day of a new exhibition at NJAHS’s Peace Gallery, Queer Japantown. This event will celebrate both the history and contemporary expressions of Japanese American youth self-expression—from repurposing Japanese textiles into new fashion forms to exploring Japanese American identity through drag.

Featuring a drag performance by Kristi Yummykochi, Kristi Yummykochi is a San Francisco Politi-Kween for the people, and member of the first A&PI drag collective in the US, the Rice Rockettes. She has been featured in publications from Vice News, NBC Asian American, and NewNowNext. In her spare time, she enjoys eating the rich and encouraging critical social dialog using her whip.

The event also includes a fashion show by Yutaka Ezekiel Goto, whose work reimagines Japanese American identity through sustainable design practices. Yutaka sources secondhand materials throughout the Bay Area alongside secondhand deadstock kimono textiles (tannmono 反物) from Japan to create garments that express a new form of Japanese American identity. Their work has been presented through their fashion brand Yutan_Ño, at San Francisco State University, pop-up venues, and other runway opportunities across San Francisco.

Together, this fashion show and drag performance offer a powerful celebration of creativity, identity, and self-expression—honoring how Japanese American youth, past and present, continue to shape culture, challenge norms, and imagine new possibilities.

This event is funded in-part by Grants for the Arts, and organized by the National Japanese American Historical Society, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, authentic interpretation, and sharing of historical information of the Japanese American experience. Marketing partners for this event include Japantown Cultural District (JCD) and 82ALLNIGHT.

Japanese Heritage Night - Friday, May 22nd at 7:15 PM vs. Chicago White Socks

All tickets purchased through the link will receive a Japanese Heritage Night Baseball T-Shirt designed by Sumo Fish!

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 16, 2026
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")

Discover the art of washi ningyo paper doll making with instructors Yuri Nakamura and Rochelle Lum! Learn to craft a beautiful ukibune doll using traditional techniques and simple materials—no experience needed. Join us 5/16 or 6/6 for this beginner-friendly workshop for ages 18+. For Center Members, $50, General Public, $60.

SAVE THE DATE: Excellence in Education Awards
TICKETS AVAILABLE: March 2!

The JCYC College Access Programs’ second annual Excellence in Education Awards will celebrate the achievements of our students, educators, and 47 years of our unwavering commitment to equitable access to higher education. We will recognize pioneers who have been nominated by members of our community and carefully selected by JCYC staff and our Board of Directors. These will include school staff members and students. The goal of this event is to recognize the achievements of students and educators and help to ensure that JCYC’s College Access programs can maintain high-quality academic and educational services for students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds.

Happy Mother’s Day! Come celebrate, pick up a special gift, and enjoy specialty food samples at our Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center.

CAAMFestwill be returning to San Francisco Japantown for its 44th year, with five days of events, conversations, and films featuring bold and unexpected stories from Asian America. Details/Tickets. The Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center will proudly host the CAAMFest VIP Reception and will be closed to the public from Thurs,5/7- Sat, 5/9. The Visitor Center will reopen to the public on Sun, 5/10. 

Sunday, May 10, 2026

11:00 am Eve and the Fire Horse @ AMC Kabuki

2:00 pm Diamond Diplomacy @ AMC Kabuki

2:30 pm Frame By Frame @ AMC Kabuki

3:00 pm Shakti @ AMC Kabuki

3:30 pm Defiant to the Last @ Koret Auditorium

4:00 pm Love Massacre @ AMC Kabuki

4:15 pm The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook @ AMC Kabuki

5:45 pm Old Roots, New Branches @ AMC Kabuki

6:30 pm Closing Night: Traces of Home @ AMC Kabuki

CAAMFestwill be returning to San Francisco Japantown for its 44th year, with five days of events, conversations, and films featuring bold and unexpected stories from Asian America. Details/Tickets. The Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center will proudly host the CAAMFest VIP Reception and will be closed to the public from Thurs,5/7- Sat, 5/9. The Visitor Center will reopen to the public on Sun, 5/10. 

Saturday, May 9, 2026

9:30 am Tea House Salon @ KOHO Creative Hub

11:00 am About Face: Disrupting Ballet @ AMC Kabuki

11:30 am Food Delivery: Fresh From the West Philippine Sea @ AMC Kabuki

12:00 pmSpotlight Narrative: Honeyjoon @ AMC Kabuki

12:00 pmThe Only Language She Knows @ Koret Auditorium

1:00 pm Another World @ AMC Kabuki

1:45 pm Hoop Like This @ AMC Kabuki

3:00 pm The Dao of Thao @ AMC Kabuki

5:00 pm Breaking the Code @ AMC Kabuki

5:30 pm Mouse @ AMC Kabuki

6:00 pm Seat at the Table @ AMC Kabuki

7:00 pm Jersey Boy @ AMC Kabuki

8:00 pm Mabuhay @ AMC Kabuki

8:30 pm Thirteen O’Clock @ AMC Kabuki

The AAPI 5K is a road race to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

• Create a safe and welcoming space for AAPI Runners / Walkers

• Raise funds and awareness for AAPI nonprofit organizations

• Support AAPI Small Businesses

Costume Challenge
Run or Walk the 5K in a costume, bonus points for Anime characters.

Bib Pickup Information

• NO RACE DAY BIB PICK UP*. This will help create a more fun experience on race day.

• Please pick up your BIB on the days listed below:Sports Basement Presidio (610 Old Old Mason St, San Francisco)

  • Wednesday, May 6 from 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm

  • Thursday, May 7 from 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm

  • Friday, May 8 from 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm

  • Friends or family members can pick up your BIB on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

Event Schedule | May 9 | Saturday

• 7:45 AM - Start & Finish Area Opens

• 8:15 AM - Announcements

• 8:30 AM - Run Starts

• 8:45 AM - BAOS for all Runners

• 10:00 AM - Event Finish

CAAMFest will be returning to San Francisco Japantown for its 44th year, with five days of events, conversations, and films featuring bold and unexpected stories from Asian America. Details/Tickets. The Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center will proudly host the CAAMFest VIP Reception and will be closed to the public from Thurs,5/7- Sat, 5/9. The Visitor Center will reopen to the public on Sun, 5/10. 

Friday, May 8, 2026

9:30 am From the Margins to the Blueprint @ KOHO Creative Hub

5:00 pmRevival & Reconnection@ AMC Kabuki

5:30 pm Seasons of Becoming @ AMC Kabuki

5:30 pm Meals That Made Us @ AMC Kabuki

6:30 pm Spotlight Documentary: Before the Moon Falls @ New People Cinema

7:00 pm Centerpiece: The Gas Station Attendant @ AMC Kabuki

7:30 pm Shifts and Dreams @ AMC Kabuki

8:00 pm Centerpiece Narrative: Forge @ AMC Kabuki

9:00 pm Uncommitted @ New People Cinema

CAAMFest will be returning to San Francisco Japantown for its 44th year, with five days of events, conversations, and films featuring bold and unexpected stories from Asian America. Details/Tickets. The Japantown Cultural District Visitor Center will proudly host the CAAMFest VIP Reception and will be closed to the public from Thurs, 5/7- Sat, 5/9. The Visitor Center will reopen to the public on Sun, 5/10. 

Thursday, May 7, 2026

12:00 pm Bad Asians, Good Trouble @ KOHO Creative Hub

6:45 pm Opening Night: THE A LIST: 15 STORIES FROM ASIAN AND PACIFIC DIASPORAS @ AMC Kabuki

9:30 pm Opening Night Gala @ Asian Art Museum

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with the APA Heritage and AAPI Youth Change Maker Awards and a festive gala reception at San Francisco City Hall with spectacular cultural performances. This year’s theme, “Elevating Cultures,” highlights the importance of amplifying diverse AAPI voices and uplifting AAPI communities. RSVP

Get the kids together and come out to our annual Children's Day Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 11:00am-4:00pm!

Bring out the kids and friends to enjoy our annual festival offering many fun games and prizes, craft activities, bounce house, and cultural and live stage performances for the community to enjoy. Admission is free and open to the public, and children are encouraged to wear kimono, yukata or other Japanese clothing. 

Please note that the Children's Day Festival will be held at the Center on Sutter Street while the Japantown Peace Plaza undergoes renovation.

Enjoy a BBQ lunch and fishing with your family on Sat, 5/2 at the San Pablo Dam Reservoir. Details here. To RSVP, complete this RSVP form and waiver. Email these back to sfjacl@yahoo.com or send via USPS mail to SFJACL, 1765 Sutter St, SF, CA, 94115 no later than 4/18/26.

Join us to experience Japanese tea culture in a comfortable chair-seated set. Select from among 3 hour-long sessions.

Tea Ceremony Experience | Omote Senke Instructor Junko Shikata

Join beloved tea instructor Junko Shikata for a hands-on tea ceremony of the Omote Senke School, featuring the elegant Ryurai style. Enjoy two different traditional Japanese sweets while experiencing Japanese tea culture in a comfortable, chair-seated setting.

This interactive session offers a rare opportunity to learn the art of traditional tea preparation, proper etiquette, and the cultural meaning behind each movement. Guided step-by-step, you’ll gain insight into the harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility that define the tea ceremony.

Perfect for both beginners and those familiar with Japanese traditions, this experience invites you to slow down, connect, and appreciate the beauty of the moment. Don’t miss this chance to engage with an authentic cultural practice in a welcoming and accessible setting. Tickets are $32/person, include 2 type of matcha ceremonial teas, 2 Japanese sweets, fees. Sessions are 1-hour. Select from 3 timeslots.

Youth Mini Market is coming up! 🎉

Shop for youth-made art, explore different community organizations and creator booths, and join our stamp rally + raffle! 🛒🎟️✨

Everyone is invited and we hope to see you all! 💚💜💙

📍Koho Japantown, SF
🗓️April 26 | 11:30 AM-4:00PM

Join us at the NJAHS Peace Gallery in SF Japantown on 4/22 for Earth Day vibes with poems and performances celebrating nature!

4/22/26 Earth Day Poetry & Performance

Planting a Seed in Japantown

Come celebrate Earth Day with us in person at this important community event, free with RSVP. Enjoy light refreshments and an evening of performances by USC Poet-in-Residence Mason Granger, world renowned storyteller Brenda Wong Aoki, and music educator and guitarist Lior Ben-Hur, to celebrate nature and community. This event is organized in the spirit of the "Reconnecting the Western Addition" initiative to bring together the Black, Japanese, and Jewish communities connected to the Western Addition. Emceed by next generation leader Seba Chang, Japantown Cultural District Community Outreach Lead, with closing remarks by next generation leader Emma Grover, National Japanese American Historical Society Program Manager. Seating is limited, so RSVP today. Help us plant seeds for a greener future! 🪴

Hosted by the Japantown Cultural District in partnership with the National Japanese American Historical Society. Refreshments provided, in part, by KOHO Creative Hub.

Get ready for two unforgettable weekends in Japantown, San Francisco. Full of culture, performances, food, and community vibes as we celebrate our rich traditions. 💖

NCCBF Grand Parade

Sunday, April 20th - 1pm to 3pm

Grand Marshal: Atsuko Akatsuka

Community Marshals: Roy & PJ Hirabayashi and Steve Nakajo

Get ready for two unforgettable weekends in Japantown, San Francisco. Full of culture, performances, food, and community vibes as we celebrate our rich traditions. 💖

📅 Save the dates (2026):
🌸 April 11–12
🌸 April 18–19

Experience the beauty and tranquility of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony this spring on April 12th!

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, 2026 (SUN) 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.

SEATING REQUIREMENT:Guests wearing Jeans or Cosplay are welcome on bench seating. Seating on tatami mats is not available for these types of attire.

SOCKS REQUIRED. White color is preferred per the examples of traditional Tabi socks.

RSVP by April 11th, 2026. 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: $33 + fees (Credit card)

Nichibei Kai Member: $23 (w/Promo Code) + fees

Walk-in: $40 non-members, $30 members (Cash only) *Based on availability, first-come, first-serve

Get ready for two unforgettable weekends in Japantown, San Francisco. Full of culture, performances, food, and community vibes as we celebrate our rich traditions. 💖

📅 Save the dates (2026):
🌸 April 11–12
🌸 April 18–19

Cherry Blossom Festival book signing and fun family activity on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 1-3 pm at NJAHS, Japantown, SF.

UNBREAKABLE: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp, is a powerful and poignant picture book that delves into the world of American incarceration camps during World War II through the eyes of Min Tonai. Co-authored by Minoru "Min” Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Chris Sasaki.

Join John Tonai, Min's son, and co-author Jolene Gutiérrez for FREE Cherry Blossom Festival book signing and fun family activity on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 1-3 pm at the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) San Francisco Japantown Gallery.

Get ready for two unforgettable weekends in Japantown, San Francisco. Full of culture, performances, food, and community vibes as we celebrate our rich traditions. 💖

📅 Save the dates (2026):
🌸 April 11–12
🌸 April 18–19

Organizations from San Francisco Japantown and the East Bay, in partnership with The Bay School, invite you to join us for a community gathering to reclaim the truth about the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans and the role of the San Francisco Presidio’s building 35.

At a moment when historical erasure is rampant in this country, the intent of this event is to acknowledge the harm that originated from the former Western Defense Command Headquarters where the military orders to incarcerate Japanese Americans was signed by Lt. General DeWitt. It will also serve as a critical statement in partnership with the Bay School about healing the past and creating new opportunities to amplify the Presidio’s key role in the Japanese American incarceration story. 

Co-Hosts: JCYC, Tsuru For Solidarity, JCCCNC, Nichibei Foundation, SF JACL, Nihonmachi St Fair, Japantown CBD, KOHO, Japantown Merchants Association, Buchanan Y, Japanese American Religious Federation, Kimochi, Japantown Task Force

Refreshments will be provided. Transportation from San Francisco Japantown available. Please indicate interest in transportation below.

Questions? Please email building35@jcyc.org. 

April 2: API Council Congressional Town Hall for CA-11 Candidates

Thank you for your interest in attending API Council’s Congressional Town Hall for California’s 11th Congressional District (CA-11) candidates on April 2 from 2:00–3:30pm at 750 Kearny Street (Third Floor). 

This forum will bring together candidates for a timely conversation on the issues impacting our communities and the clients we collectively serve.

Please complete the form linked below to confirm your attendance by March 4th at 5pm PST. 

You may also submit suggested questions for the candidates, related to healthcare (Medi-Cal/Medicaid), education, immigration, housing, and other critical services provided to your clients.

Cantonese interpretation will be available to support language access.