Come to the River – A concert and exchange with Victor Kinjo

by | Aug 31, 2022 | Classes & Events

“Come to the River with guest artist Victor Kinjo” scheduled for September 10th has been cancelled due to personal family and travel reasons.  We plan to reschedule in 2023.

Hear the music and wisdom by guest artist Victor Kinjo and experience the Japanese and Okinawan diaspora.

Saturday, September 10, 4 pm

Victor Kinjo is an Asian-Brazilian singer, composer and researcher, nominated for Best Singer (regional music) at the 2018 Brazilian Music Awards. Born in São Paulo with Uchinanchu roots (one of the Indigenous Peoples of Ryukyu Islands/Okinawa), he started to sing in his childhood – Japanese music.

This event is co-presented by the Northern California Okinawa Kenjin Kai (NCOKK) and J-Sei.

J-Sei’s 11th Annual Family Festival – Sunday, Sept 25

J-Sei’s 11th Annual Family Festival – Sunday, Sept 25

by | Aug 31, 2022 | Classes & Events

J-Sei’s Family Festival

Sunday, Sept 25, 2022 

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!
  • Join us for the Pre-Event Book Talk with Felicia Hoshino from 11 am to 12 pm.
  • Don’t miss the Pre-Order Bento.  Scroll down to see the menu. 
  • Enjoy our mini outdoor festival from 12 to 3 pm.
  • Festival parking at Fratellanza Club, 1149 66th St (1/2 block near San Pablo Ave).

From Farm & Island Heritage

Always Aloha Shave Ice Co

Eastwind Books

El Chino Grande

Joodooboo Tofu

My Friend Yuji

Ox & Tiger

Shared Cultures

J-Sei Curry Rice with Hikari Farms bites

Learn about homemade miso and tofu products, and farm fresh Japanese produce.

Join in Hands-on Activities

Festival Schedule

Honor our elders and remember our early immigrants in farming and small businesses.

11 am

Join us for a Hybrid Book Event with illustrator Felicia Hoshino, sharing her latest books, “A Place for Harvest” and “Juna and Appa”.

12 to 3 pm

Enjoy performances by

Sakura Kai Taiko – 12:30 pm

Daruma no Gakko and J-Sei Sings – 1:00 pm

 Sentimental Strummers – 1:30 pm

 Book Event with Illustrator Felicia Hoshino

11 am – A Hybrid Event (in-person and online)

Felicia Hoshino was born in San Francisco, California where she continues to live with her family. She has a BFA in illustration from the California College of the Arts. Felicia’s prize-winning illustrations can now be seen in children’s books such as Juna and Appa,  Juna’s Jar, Sora and the Cloud, Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin, She also illustrated several historical fiction books such as A Place for Harvest, The Story of Kenny Higashi, the Jane Addams Peace Award winning A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, and My Dog Teny. 

A PLACE FOR HARVEST by Lauren R. Harris

The son of Japanese immigrants, Kenny Higashi works on his family’s vegetable farm near the town of Spearfish in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Kenny loves his family, their farm, and his hometown. He cheerfully volunteers for extra jobs. Then Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and everything changes.  Author Lauren R. Harris, who knew Kenny Higashi, transforms his memories of his hometown and the war into a story of community, hope, and determination. Illustrator Felicia Hoshino transports readers from the heartland of the United States to European battlefields.

JUNA AND APPA by Jane Bahk Park

Juna enjoys helping her father in their dry-cleaning shop on Saturdays. It’s their special time together. One day Juna sees a customer yelling at Appa about a lost jacket. Juna has never seen her father look so worried and becomes determined to help. She sets off on a magical journey in search of the jacket, and along the way meets remarkable animals that show her the different ways that fathers care for their young. Juna and Appa is a tender ode to fathers and to the many families working behind shop counters.

 

Reservations

For in-person attendance, participants must show Proof of Vaccination. Masks are required.

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Felicia” in subject and indicate in-person or online ZOOM link.

Eastwind Books will host a book sale & signing to follow the presentation.  Illustrator Felicia Hoshino will be signing books part of the outdoor J-Sei Family Festival.  If you would like to order books in advance for pick up at the festival, please note in the comments at check out. Visit Eastwind Books website.

 

FAMILY FESTIVAL POP-UP MENU – Pre-order now open!

Ox + Tiger: Nasu Katsu – Japanese eggplant katsu, wok-seared seasonal bean salsa, Bronx grapes palapa, kyuri atchara pickles, Koda Farms heirloom rice – $18

Yuji Ishikata: Nikumaki Combo – Pork, beef and shrimp wrapped around mixed vegetables, tare and tsukemono with Koshihikari rice – $18

El Chino Grande: Pork Shrimp Toast – Berkshire pork, tiger prawn, brioche, shrimp head chili oil, yuzu mayo, cucumber relish – $18

Chef Collaboration: Lechon Kawali Nanbanzuke w/ Udon – Filipino fried pork belly, vinegar tare, tartar, jackfruit palapa slaw, chilled sesame udon – $18

Kid’s Bento – Chicken teriyaki, steamed broccoli, rice –  $9

J-Sei Curry – Homemade curry by Chef Yuji with a taste of Hikari Farms fresh condiments – $10

 

HOW TO ORDER

Click on the button below to order, you can choose 1, 2, 3 bento or more  from our local chefs.  You can also order J-Sei Curry Rice with Hikari Farms pickles for a quick bite. Indicate the quantity of items,  select a pick-up, add up the cost, and follow the payment link.

Pre-order by Wednesday, September 21, 8 pm.  Pick up between 12 – 3 pm at J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville (at Hollis St).

A limited number of bento may be available for walk-up sales at the festival.

Family Festival Bento Order

OX + TIGER

Filipino Japanese inspired pop-up by Hitomi Wada and EJ Macayan that intertwine their heritage and cultivate flavors that express their experiences.

YUJI ISHIKATA

Influenced by memories of his grandmother’s cooking and inspired by the community, Chef Yuji offers inventive dishes and a fresh take on Japanese food for the soul.

EL CHINO GRANDE

A casual pop-up concept by Chef Chris Yang and Marcelle Gonzalez Yang inspired by the street food culture of Taiwan, influenced by their travels of Asia & Hawaii, memories of their childhood & the importance of community.

From Farm and Island Heritage

visit their Pop-Up at the festival 12 to 3 pm

Philip Kan Gotanda: Past and Present

Philip Kan Gotanda: Past and Present

by | Aug 29, 2022 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At the Movies: Special Guest Philip Kan Gotanda

Friday, September 9, 2022 – 6:30 pm on Zoom

J-Sei Movie Night is thrilled and honored to welcome back Philip Kan Gotanda, a renowned major force in American theater and the creative arts. Philip last made his appearance on Zoom in September 2020 to talk about his work in theater, music, and film and to discuss his short film Drinking Tea (1996).

On Friday, September 9, Philip will again spend time with us on Zoom to present another film he wrote and directed: his 1996 feature-length film, Life Tastes Good, an original comedy-drama about a rogue mobster who meets a mysterious woman while hiding from his vengeful nemesis as he tries to reconcile with his two estranged children.

The film presents an all-Asian cast to tell a story that the filmmaker describes as “part family drama, part romance, and part film noir.” It stars Sab Shimono, Julia Nickson, Tamlyn Tomita, Greg Watanabe, Kelvin Han Yee, Tim Lounibos, Philip Kan Gotanda, Judi Nihei, Tomoye Takahashi, and Diane Takei; with music by Dan Kuramoto and cinematography by Michael Chin.

We’ll also catch up with Philip to learn about his more recent projects, including this year’s premiere in June of Both Eyes Open, an experimental chamber opera by composer Max Giteck Duykers and librettist Philip Kan Gotanda. Please join us for this special evening.

RSVP with “Sept Movie Night” in the subject line.
We’ll send Zoom information prior to the September 9 event.

About Our Guest

The author of one of the largest bodies of Asian American-themed works, Philip Kan Gotanda has over the last four decades brought stories of Asians in the United States to mainstream American theater as well as to Europe and Asia. He has specialized in investigating the Japanese American family, writing a cycle of works in theater, film, song, and opera that chronicle Japanese America from the early 1900s to the present. Mr. Gotanda is an inaugural recipient of the Dramatists Guild 2021 Playwrights Legacy Initiative, a two-year award acknowledging his body of work in American Theater.

Mr. Gotanda is a respected independent filmmaker. His 3 films — Life Tastes Good, Drinking Tea, and The Kiss — all have been official entries at the Sundance Film Festival. Mr. Gotanda adapted his play, The Wash, into a feature film, directed by Michael Toshiyuki Uno. The Wash is one of the first films about the Asian American family to have a theatrical release.

Mr. Gotanda is a musician and collaborates on musical works. His libretto for the opera Both Eyes Open with composer Max Duykers, about a Japanese American farmer and his wife, made its premiere in June 2022 at the Presidio Theater in San Francisco.

A CD of Mr. Gotanda performing his original songs in a 1980 concert with violinist DH Hwang is now available at Yokohama, Ca. Records. He wrote the oratorio for the Kent Nagano piece, Manzanar: An American Story, an orchestral work about the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. He is also working on music projects with composer Shinji Eshima and multi-instrumentalist David Coulter.

Mr. Gotanda holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law and studied pottery in Mashiko, Japan, with the late Hiroshi Seto. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim, TCG/Pew, Lila Wallace, as well as other honors and awards. Presently Mr. Gotanda is a professor with the Department of Theater Dance and Performance Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He resides at the Berkeley Art Plant in the Hills with his novelist-producer wife, Alameda Arts Commissioner Diane Emiko Takei and their pup.

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

September 9 Bento

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji for pickup on Friday, September 9 in conjunction with Movie Night. Here are Chef Yuji’s mouth-watering offerings:

  • Buta Kimchi Bowl – $18

    Pork Belly, stir fried kimchi vegetables and banchan seasonal vegetables over rice

  •  Cantonese Style Fish Bowl – $22

    Chilean Sea bass steamed fish style with sweet soy, garlic, ginger and fresh choy sum with rice

To order,  click on the button below to place your order.

Pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, September 9th. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!

MY FRIEND YUJI

To order: When you click on the button above, it will take you directly to a pop-up order form on the My Friend Yuji webpage, where you first select a pickup time. In the next window, click anywhere inside the box frame to open another pop-up and select the number of bento you want to order, then click on “Add item” to close the pop-up. Click the “View order” bar at the bottom to confirm your order and click “Continue to payment” to sign in and pay for your order.

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.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

by | Aug 1, 2022 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At the Movies: Watch Party with group discussion

Friday, August 12, 2022 – 6:30 pm on Zoom

August is always a special month for memory and reflection in our community. Not only is this the time of Obon, when we honor our ancestors and departed loved ones, but it is also the occasion to commemorate the tragic bombing that occurred on August 6 and 9, 1945, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and their aftermath.

On Friday, August 12, J-Sei will livestream a classic film followed by a group discussion about the bombing, the end of World War II, and the lasting trauma. But also, to follow the wise words of filmmaker and Hiroshima resident Tokigawa Hideyuki (our special guest for movie night in June), we should also observe the new life and spirit that has steadily developed out of these devastated areas ever since those fateful days.

Please join us for this special program.

RSVP with “August Movie Night” in the subject line.
We’ll send Zoom information prior to the August 12 event.

Additional Event Announcement

A Remembrance for Peace: Hiroshima-Nagasaki Virtual Commemoration will be streamed on Tuesday, August 9th at 6:30 pm. View the program on Facebook Live or YouTube Live through the Nichibei website: https://www.nichibei.org/virtual-remembrance/

The program will feature The Mushroom Club, a short narrative documentary by local filmmaker Steven Okazaki. Academy Award–winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki journeys to Hiroshima, 25 years after his first trip and 60 years after the devastating atomic bomb drop. He takes a personal look at Hiroshima—the place, the people, the historic event, the idea—and creates a compelling collection of everyday images: a class photo, a spool of thread, a handful of buttons, documenting the powerful stories that come with them. The film features ten hibakusha or atomic bomb survivors, including a 90-year-old survivor and members of the “Kinoko Kai” or “The Mushroom Club,” a support group created for children born with defects caused by nuclear contamination.

Also presented will be reflections from “In Hiroshima: A Teennager Finds A Home,” a travel journal by Daisy Okazaki, who ventured to Hiroshima on her own in 2020.

The Interfaith Ceremony at the SF Japantown Peace Plaza, and Toro Nagashi (Floating Lantern) Ceremony at the San Francisco Sokoji Temple, both to be held on August 6th, will be part of the virtual program.

The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration is a collaboration of Friends of Hibakusha, Japanese American Religious Federation (JARF) and Nichi Bei Foundation.

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

August 12 Bento

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji for pickup on Friday, August 12 in conjunction with Movie Night. Here are Chef Yuji’s mouth-watering offerings:

  • Char Siu Rice Plate – Marinated roasted char siu pork, bok choy and ginger scallion rice $18
  • Futomaki – (vegetarian) Spinach, takuan, gobo, ginger, cucumber, kanpyo and shiitake mushroom $12
  • Rainbow Roll – Snow crab, cucumber topped with assorted fish and avocado $18
  • The Hannah Special – Spicy tuna, mango, cucumber and topped with razzle dazzle (jalapeño jam) $15

You can click on the button below to place your order.

Pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, August 12th. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!

MY FRIEND YUJI

To order: When you click on the button above, it will take you directly to a pop-up order form on the My Friend Yuji webpage, where you first select a pickup time. In the next window, click anywhere inside the box frame to open another pop-up and select the number of bento you want to order, then click on “Add item” to close the pop-up. Click the “View order” bar at the bottom to confirm your order and click “Continue to payment” to sign in and pay for your order.

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.