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Meet Filmmaker Matthew Hashiguchi: Good Luck Soup
J-Sei At the Movies: An Evening with Filmmaker Matthew Hashiguchi
Friday, September 24, 6:30 pm via Zoom
Please join us for what is sure to be a fascinating talk with documentary filmmaker and photographer Matthew Hashiguchi about his past work and current projects. Although presently based in Georgia, where he is a university professor in communication arts, Matt grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, which was the subject of his first feature-length documentary, GOOD LUCK SOUP (2016). It tells the very personal story about his family’s experience as Japanese Americans before, during, and after World War II and about growing up mixed race in white suburbia. His paternal grandmother, Eva — who grew up near Sacramento but eventually resettled in the Cleveland area following her family’s incarceration in the Arkansas camps during World War II — proves to be the star of the film and most spirited member of his family.
We’re very fortunate that Matt has kindly provided easy access to watch GOOD LUCK SOUP online prior to our meeting on September 24. We’ll send you a link when you RSVP.
RSVP with “Sept Movie Night” in the subject line.
You’ll receive Zoom information prior to the event.
About the Filmmaker
Matthew Hashiguchi is a documentary filmmaker whose work investigates the diverse experiences, identities, and cultures of American society. His first feature-length documentary GOOD LUCK SOUP was broadcast nationally on PBS World’s America ReFramed, won the Best Local Documentary Award at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival, and received a 2016 Documentary Fund Award from the Center for Asian American Media and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. His other documentary work, which has addressed topics such as undocumented immigration, preserving community in post-Katrina New Orleans, and unexpected experiences in the Japanese American Internment Camps, has screened at many other festivals. His current project, AMERICAN DREAMING, is about undocumented immigrants trying to get college degrees in the state of Georgia. He is also associate professor of multimedia film and production at Georgia Southern University.
J-Sei Movie Night Bento
*** On hiatus for September ***
Chef Yuji is busy preparing special bento offerings for J-Sei Family Fest on Sunday, September 26. We hope you will enjoy Chef Yuji’s bento and other culinary offerings at Family Fest! Movie Night Bento will be back next month in October.
In the meantime, you might like to order a bento to enjoy on Movie Night from one of the many fine Japanese restaurants in the East Bay and Greater Bay Area, including Musashi in Berkeley.
Support J-Sei At the Movies
Thanks to you, J-Sei At the Movies recently celebrated its third anniversary! We look forward to more creative programming with educational and inspiring Japanese and Japanese American films. We are especially grateful for the up close and personal chats with filmmakers as we learn so much from the exchange.
We love having a growing and enthusiastic audience. You are the best! We welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for considering this.
J-Sei’s 10th Annual Family Festival – Sunday, Sept 26
J-Sei’s Family Festival
Sunday, Sept 26 – Virtual Program
Take part in our intergenerational event in honor of Keiro no Hi, Respect for the Aged Day.
- Invite your elders, family, neighbors, and friends to participate with you!
- Don’t miss our local Asian flair Pop-Up [Details below].
- Pick-up your bento & enjoy a short visit from 11 am – 2 pm.
- Join us online for our Virtual Celebration at 3 pm.
Sunday, Sept 26th – 11 am – 2 pm
When you come for your pick-up, enjoy a short visit to get an extra treat from
Always Aloha Shaved Ice Co.
J-Sei Curry Rice with Hikari Farms Rakkyo – pickled Japanese scallions $8
Pick up a Hikari Farms condiment jar to enjoy at home.
Listen to smooth tunes by Sentimental Strummers.
See a weaving demo by Koko Baker.
FEATURED SPECIAL
J-Sei Curry Rice with Hikari Farms Rakkyo $8
(Order in advance or available at walk-up.)
HOW TO ORDER
Family Festival Pre-Order is now CLOSED.
Click on the button below to order, you can choose 1, 2, 3 bento or more of the noodle dishes from our local chefs at $18/bento. You can also order J-Sei Curry Rice with Hikari Farms Rakkyo at $8 for a quick bite. Indicate the quantity of items, select a pick-up, add up the cost, and follow the payment link.
Pick up between 11 am – 2 pm at J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville (at Hollis St).
Virtual Family Festival – WATCH NOW!
Virtual FAMILY FEST – 3 pm
In celebration of J-Sei’s 50th Anniversary, the online program continues the theme of “Our Community, Our Legacies”.
Learn about Hikari Farms and a visit by chefs Yuji Ishikata and Brian Ishii.
Meet artists Kay Sekimachi and Lucy Arai as they chat about art and legacy, and the current exhibition “Geometries – Kay Sekimachi” at BAMPFA on view through October.
Hear from the great grandchildren of Issei writers from “Our Recollections”, translated essays produced by the East Bay Japanese for Action in 1986.
Enjoy performances by Minyo no Odori, J-Sei Sings, Daruma no Gakko, and Sentimental Strummers.
Don’t miss ALWAYS ALOHA SHAVE ICE
Sun, Sept 26, 11 am to 2 pm
J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville
FAMILY FESTIVAL POP-UP MENU – Pre-order Sales is CLOSED
MY FRIEND YUJI
Influenced by memories of his grandmothers cooking and inspired by community, Chef Yuji offers inventive dishes and a fresh take on Japanese food for the soul.
Pork Tsukemen $18
Futomen Noodles, Bone Broth, Chashu, Bonito, Ajitsuke Tamago, Nori
OX + TIGER
Filipino Japanese inspired pop-up by Hitomi Wada and EJ Macayan that intertwine their heritage and cultivate flavors that express their experiences.
Mentaiko Pansit $18
Garlic Noodles, Spicy Cod Roe, Shiitake, Nori Sarsa, Annatto Crumb, Onsen Tamago
EL CHINO GRANDE
Christopher Yang and Marcelle Gonzales Yang offer a casual pop-up influenced by the street food of Taiwan and travels to Asia and Hawaii.
Taiwanese Beef Noodles $18
Red Braised Beef, Egg Noodles, Sichuan Chili XO, marinated Gailan
Kay Sekimachi: Geometries at BAMPFA
Fri, Oct 8, 1pm – Kay Sekimachi:Geometries – J-Sei group tour
Join us for a group visit to see “Kay Sekimachi: Geometries” exhibit at BAMPFA, the UC Berkeley Pacific Film Archive Museum. We will meet at BAMPFA, 2155 Center Street (at Oxford St), easily accessible by BART. The group ticket price is $8 Please RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Kay Sekimachi tour” in the subject line.
“Kay Sekimachi: Geometries” includes more than fifty objects that highlight the artist’s material and formal innovations across her career. First recognized for her woven monofilament sculptures, made between 1964 and 1974, Sekimachi has since used linear, pliable elements—monofilament, thread, and paper, among other materials—to create experimental objects that fold together art and craft, found and made, and Japanese and American artistic traditions.
Born in San Francisco and growing up in Berkeley, Kay Sekimachi studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland from 1946 to 1949. In 1949 she took up weaving on the loom and became so adept at the labor-intensive process that she is often referred to as a “weaver’s weaver.” Today, almost fifty years after she began to work in fiber, Sekimachi is recognized as a pioneer in resurrecting it as a medium of artistic expression.
Sekimachi uses the loom to construct three-dimensional sculptural forms. In the early 1970s she used nylon monofilament to create hanging quadruple tubular woven forms to explore ideas of space, transparency, and movement. Inspired by her ancestral homeland of Japan, Sekimachi repeatedly returns to that ancient culture for ideas.
“Sekimachi eschews color in order to reinforce the sculptural qualities of her forms and emphasize the natural properties of her chosen materials. Enamored with antique Japanese paper, she has created a series of standing geometric postlike forms that suggest ancient totemic figures.” –Smithsonian American Art Museum
Dementia in the AAPI Community
Sat, Nov 20, 10 am – Dementia in the AAPI Community presented by UCSF CARE
Note: Change in date from Oct 9th due to speaker availability.
Learn about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias amongst Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI). How prevalent is dementia in the AAPI community? What are the causes and how can we better address the needs? CARE (Collaborative Approach for Asian and Pacific Islanders Research and Education) is a program of UCSF. Their primary goal is to pave the way for the meaningful inclusion of AAPI in clinical and caregiving research across the lifespan. Find out how you can help support the work that benefits community care of our elders. RSVP on Eventbrite
“You took care of me, and now it’s my turn to take care of you. My name is June Yasuhara. I was born in San Jose where I have lived all my life. I am the primary caregiver to both my Japanese parents who have dementia. My mother, Eiko, who is 83 was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2017. She is originally from Japan and came to the United States when she was a teen. My dad, James, is 87 and he was diagnosed with mixed dementia in early 2019. . .” [Continue to learn more.]