When: August 6 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Where: Osaka Way @ Sutter and Buchanan, Japantown, San Francisco

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/9bxZEpQpBSUkGzdB9

Join us at Japantown's Nihonmachi Street Fair to browse booths for local artists and nonprofits, have some dinner, and do some dancing!

We will meet at at Osaka Way on Sutter and Buchanan Street at 4:00 pm. Expect an early dinner at Hinodeya (ramen) around 4:30 pm. Once we've eaten and gone around all the shops, we'll join in on some community Obon dancing at 6:00 pm, sponsored by the Japantown Cultural District.

Please fill out the sign-up form (https://forms.gle/9bxZEpQpBSUkGzdB9) so we know to expect you. Should you have any questions, please email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com. Thank you!

About Obon and Obon dancing (Bon-odori):

Originating from the Chinese Ghost Festival, Obon is a 500 year old tradition, consisting of a three-day period in August during which many people in Japan return to their family homes and hometowns to honor their ancestors. Ceremonies and traditions vary by region, but often involve visits to local temples, cleaning ancestral graves, lighting lanterns, and reuniting with family. As part of Obon festivities, there is often a night of dancing - the usual Bon-odori is a simple, slow-paced ring dance in which young and old alike participate. All skill levels are present, and the Nihonmachi Street Fair's "Bon Pop" event will be catered to beginners and casual participants. See more information here.
 

Want to get involved in the community and meet new friends? Join our core officer team!

We provide opportunities to support Japantown organizations while helping you build your network and skills.

There are no requirements other than a desire to get involved -- but we especially need help with the following positions:

• Digital content and marketing
• Event coordinating 

If you're interested, fill out our interest form or drop us a line at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com.

We'd love to hear from you!

When: Friday, August 26 at 6:00 PM
Where: Two Pitchers Brewing Company, 2344 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612

Our friends at the Berkeley JACL are hosting a young-mid career professionals happy hour at Two Pitchers Brewing in Oakland! Please come and have a beer and some apps on the Berkeley chapter of the JACL. All are welcome!

Nakayoshi members will be attending the happy hour, so we hope to see you there!

For more information about the Berkeley JACL, check out berkeleyjacl.org.

When: Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: SF Japantown Peace Plaza

For the August JCBD Jtown Community Cleanup, we will be working in support of the Neighborhood Beautification Day event, so we will all meet at Rosa Parks Elementary School between 8:30am and 9:00am, located at 1501 O’Farrelll St, 94115. SFDPW will have coffee and snacks available, and a brief speaking program with speakers from the SF Unified School District and other officials to start around 9:00am.

In the JCBD Google Form Signup Sheet, you will see 3 Project Teams. Please select the group you would like to participate in.

Please note, the JCBD Jtown Community Cleanup is ‘Team 8 Peace Plaza litter pickup’; and Team 1 and Team 4 are not recommended for children since work will be done on the street medians.

The Team volunteer slots are estimates and can accommodate more than what is listed.

Once the speaking program ends, JCBD staff will lead Team 8 to the Peace Plaza, and we will pass out safety vests and tools there. Please do not take any vests or tools during the distribution at Rosa Parks, because they are from SFPDW and will have to be returned to the team at Rosa Parks. We will hand out JCBD vests and tools once we are at the Peace Plaza.

Come out and join us at the Peace Plaza and help support this collaborative project helping to keep Jtown sparkly, while meeting people from other neighborhoods who are equally invested in helping to keep all of our communities clean! We will have tools and safety vests available for volunteers, and we will provide snacks and water.

To register, please click here.

When: August 6-7 at 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Where: SF Japantown

Nakayoshi will be at NSF this year. Please see the social event above.

Last year the Nihonmachi Street Fair (NSF) came back after a one year absence due to COVID. Thousands came out to reconnect and enjoy the pop up performance events as well as the 47th Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair. The NSF Board and Committee are grateful for your continued support in ensuring that festivals like this remains active in our communities.

This year we’re adding more opportunities for you to come to Japantown, support our small businesses while enjoying the music and performances that has always made the Nihonmachi Street Fair THE GO TO EVENT of the SUMMER. Mark your calendars, save the dates! We’ll see you in the heart of Jtown this summer!

More information can be found here.

When: Sunday, August 14, 2022 from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: SF Japantown Peace Plaza

Volunteers needed!

Our friends at Genryu Arts need assistance during the Japan Day event at the Peace Plaza on August 14th from 12pm-4pm. Volunteer opportunities include helping out with logistics and managing the Genryu Arts booth.

Interested? Reach out to Melody Takata at gentaiko@genryuarts.org.

For more information about Genryu Arts, check out genryuarts.org.

KOHO is Japantown’s new artist & culture collective as part of Japantown’s Cultural Heritage District. Sparked by the community’s need to bring together the next generation of Japanese American creatives, activists, artists, and movement builders, Koho strives to continue the long standing traditions of Japantown but design experiences for the next generation.

Tell us about yourself, share your ideas, and help shape the future programming of Koho at Japantown! 

Access the survey here.

For more information, check out www.kohosf.com.

When: Saturday, August 20 at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Where: The Japanese American Museum of San Jose, 535 North Fifth Street, San Jose, CA 95112

Inviting all Sake lovers and those curious to experience the extraordinary world of Nihonshu! This Kawakami House fundraiser is your chance to taste many different types of Sake produced in both California and Japan, all while supporting our museum’s efforts to restore this historic building. There will be four Sake companies onsite serving samples, in addition to a local beer brewery. You'll also be introduced to foods from San Jose Japantown that pair well with Sake - some of which may be a surprise for you! 

Join us for this fun evening as we explore Japanese American and Sake Making history in California. All proceeds will benefit the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and the restoration of the Kawakami House – a house which belonged to one of the first Japanese American homeowners in the nation. JAMsj is renovating this historic building to serve as a community and storytelling hub for Japanese American and Asian American communities, and you can read more about this project in our series of blogs. Please note that this event is intended only for adults 21 years and older.

Register online here.

Please check out the museum's site for more information.