Connecting Across Generations: Nikkei Stroll at UCB

by | Sep 23, 2025 | Other News

Connecting Across Generations – Nikkei Stroll @ UC Berkeley

Sept. 21, 2025

With over 60 people gathered, a curated dialogue on the Japanese American experience on the UC Berkeley campus through the decades was held.  View the reflections from guest speakers from the community as they remember campus life for students and faculty, as the different generations found their voice and community through challenging times.

Nancy Arata-Fong: 1931-1942 Nikkei student life before 1942, purchase of men’s and women’s dorms for JAs, 2013 cherry tree project

Kimi Kodani Hill: 1930-1954 – History of Professor Chiura Obata before professorship, during WWII, after WWII

Evelyn Nakano Glenn: 1958-1962 undergrad, 1990-2013 faculty Ethnic Studies and subsequent struggles to keep Ethnic Studies and the Center for Race and Gender alive

Peter Horikoshi: 1969-1973 Creation of Asian Studies after the Third World strike, working in Asian American communities, starting East Bay Japanese for Action, which became Japanese American Services of the East Bay and later J-Sei. Working with Professor Ron Takaki and writer Toshio Mori, and starting the Yokohama, California band.

Alec Macdonald: 1992-2007 Hapa Issues Forum

 

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Pre-order Bento for Family Festival – open until Thurs, Sept 25, 3 pm

Pre-order Bento for Family Festival – open until Thurs, Sept 25, 3 pm

by | Sep 21, 2025 | Classes & Events

J-Sei’s Family Festival – Pre-Order Bento

Pick-up: Sunday, Sept 28, 2025

Our festival is coming up this week!  Pre-order Bento has been extended to Thurs, Sept 25.

A limited number of bento will be available for Walk-Ups.

Pick-up at J-Sei, 1285 66th Street (near Hollis St), Emeryville.  Select a pick up time: 12, 12:30, 1, 1:30 pm. Pre-order by clicking on the button below.

Street parking is available. Festival parking will be available at the Fratellanza parking lot on 66th St, near San Pablo Ave – about 1/2 block away.

Pop-up Vendors (walk-up only):  Aloha Shave Ice, Daruma Kiosk, Milk Cloud Bakery

 

 

Pre-order Bento by 9/24
Chair Fit – New class offering in September

Chair Fit – New class offering in September

by | Aug 18, 2025 | Classes & Events

Chair Fit – a new class at J-Sei

Tuesdays in September – 10:30 – 11:00 am

Join us for a 30-minute engaging workout for the mind and body from a chair. Incorporating physical and cognitive activities, instructor Midori Lambert provides positive social interaction for seniors.  This class is geared for seniors who have limited standing stamina and agility.  We welcome caregivers to attend to learn exercises that can be practiced one on one at home. This first offering will be held for 4 consecutive Tuesdays on September 2, 9, 16 and 23.

Midori is a certified personal trainer and a coach, who has been training people of all ages and abilities from young athletes to young at heart.  Midori introduced Brain Balance and Body Work, a new wellness program to J-Sei community members. Chair-Fit is an extension of this program.

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org  Limited space available.

Japanese Movie Night – Sept 2025

Japanese Movie Night – Sept 2025

by | Aug 17, 2025 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At The Movies (on Zoom)
Friday, Sept 12, 6:00 pm

***SPECIAL START TIME THIS MONTH at 6:00 pm!***

Please join us this month to discuss HIGH AND LOW / 天国と地獄 from 1963, one of the classics in the canon of works by master filmmaker Kurosawa Akira. Starring Mifune Toshiro as a businessman caught up in a kidnapping scheme involving mistaken identity, this film set the standard for crime dramas and influenced many of the police procedurals we see today; it’s also a searing look at post-WWII Japan, its economic recovery and social inequality.

Movie Challenge! The Spike Lee-directed remake, called Highest 2 Lowest, has just come out in theaters, starring Denzel Washington in the Mifune role. If you can, go watch the remake before movie night so we can compare the two films in our group discussion!

To RSVP, email jill@j-sei.org with “Sept movie night” in the subject line. We’ll send you Zoom info and reminders before the 12th. Please note: Because the movie is over two hours long, we’ll start movie night a little earlier, at 6:00pm.

See you at the movies!

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

Sorry, no bento this month! Please check back next month to see what Chef Yuji is offering.
 
 
 
 
 
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 Tock webpage, where you first select a pickup time. In the next window, click on an item and select the number you want to order, then click “Add”; repeat with other items if desired. Click the “View order” bar at the bottom to confirm your order, then 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 is in its Eighth Year! 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. We welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for considering this.

Making Motherhood: A Creative Workshop with Mia Ayumi Malhotra – rescheduled

Making Motherhood: A Creative Workshop with Mia Ayumi Malhotra – rescheduled

by | Aug 16, 2025 | Classes & Events, Other News

Making Motherhood: A Creative Workshop with Mia Ayumi Malhotra

Saturday, September 13, 2025, 10 AM – 12 PM

In this creative writing workshop, we will think about what it means to make art from life, drawing from family practices (gardening, mending, seamstressing, cooking, origami, ikebana, etc.) that have been handed down for generations by mothers and makers of every kind. Led by local poet Mia Ayumi Malhotra, we will reflect on these practices and respond through a series of written exercises inspired by the life and art of Ruth Asawa and The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon.

Come join us for a morning of making, remembrance, and—best of all—make new friends and memories in a warm, supportive circle of artist-makers. No previous writing or art experience needed; all are welcome at the table!  Sign up required.  Limited space.