by Jill Shiraki | Jan 15, 2025 | Classes & Events, Featured, News
J-Sei’s 34th Annual Crab Feed
We received such a warm welcome at The Fratellanza Club that we decided to host J-Sei’s Annual Crab Feed there again! They are located one block east of J-Sei and have on-site parking.
Feast on fresh Dungeness crab, Asian salad, garlic noodles, rolls, desserts, and beverages with your family and friends at J-Sei’s in-person, sit-down, family-style crab feed! (Menu subject to change depending on availability of crab.)
Enjoy music, no host bar, and time to greet friends, socialize and mingle from 5 pm. Dinner begins at 6 pm There will be one seating time for this family-style event.
Live band, no host bar, and raffle drawing: 5:00 to 6:00 pm
Doors to dining room and seating open: 6:00 pm
Dinner : 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Dinner tickets: adults $75, children 12 & under $30
Sorry, no To-Go meals available. RSVP by Sunday, January 26, 2025.
Two Options for RESERVATIONS
Sign up Online
(1) To pay online use the donorbox (in next column). For custom amount, calculate your total amount and type the amount. Check box to add the number of tickets in the comment box.
– OR –
Send by Mail
(1) Download and complete the form on the Crab Feed flyer. (2) Send the form with a check and mail to: J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
by Jill Shiraki | Jan 15, 2025 | American Harvest, Classes & Events, Featured, Lament in the Night, Minor Feelings, Phone Booth at the Edge
Mizuko: True Sprit – Meet Artist and Writer Art Nomura
Saturday, February 8, 2024, 2 pm
“Mizuko: True Spirit” is an epic American-immigrant tale of hardship, assimilation, and the eventual triumph that ensued. When the Takahashi’s, one of the wealthiest families in western Japan lost their great fortune in 1900, five-year old Mizuko Takahashi went from riches to rags. Mizuko’s lifetime in Japan and America offers the reader an intimate look into the world of an Asian immigrant. This book is the story of one woman’s efforts to surmount racism, sexism, and poverty in the 20th century. Featured is a riveting accounting of the matriarch’s life in Manzanar Concentration Camp for three years beginning in 1942.
Art Nomura will share his book, the creative process of memoir writing, and inspiration for his work.
Art Nomura has worked as a painter, sculptor, potter, filmmaker, writer, and New Media artist since 1968. Several of his works have themes directly connected to the Asian American experience. His work has screened on PBS, cable, and in festivals, galleries, museums, and universities worldwide. Nomura has taught media production and writing since 1981.He is Professor Emeritus in Film/TV Production at the School of Film and Television, Loyola Marymount University.
RSVP for this free event.
by Jill Shiraki | Jan 15, 2025 | Classes & Events, Featured, Other News
COURTING A MAN WHO DOESN’T TALK
A book talk with Shizue Seigel
Sunday, February 15th, 2 pm
Courting A Man Who Doesn’t Talk began thirty years ago as midnight journaling to puzzle out a budding romance between a fortyish, Asian American single mother and a twenty-something white man. The personal experiment has stood the test of time, but the larger social battle for equality and respect between women and men is still being waged, one day at a time, one person at a time.
Many men don’t have words to express what’s deepest in their hearts. Lover or husband, father or son, employer or co-worker—each has different styles of wordlessness and different reasons for it. In today’s polarized world, breaking through the silence is essential, especially across divisions of race, class, generation, culture, or religion.
Shizue Seigel is a Japanese American writer, visual artist and arts activist who has supported 500+ writers and artists of color with workshops, events and publications since 2015 through her arts organization Write Now! SF Bay.
RSVP for this free event.
by Jill Shiraki | Jan 3, 2025 | Classes & Events, Featured
Mokuhanga: Japanese Woodblock – six 3-hr classes
Fridays Feb 7, 14, 28, Mar 7, 14, 28 (no class on the
3rd Fridays)
9:30 am -12:30 pm
Mokuhanga – a water-based Japanese woodblock printmaking – is environmentally friendly and can be done at home, any time, and anywhere without a press! Participants will learn the basics of this unique process, carving the woodblock, using kento (registration system), and printing with water-based ink on Japanese paper. Participants will create a small edition of beautiful, multicolor prints. All levels are welcome.
The suggested donation for the six class session will be $150( includes $45 materials fee).
Limited space is available. This class is for beginners and continuing students. For any questions, please email
jill@j-sei.org
by Kathy Hashimoto | Jan 2, 2025 | Classes & Events
J-Sei At The Movies (on Zoom)
Friday, January 10, 6:30 pm
J-Sei Movie Night is dedicated to the wonderful and fascinating world of Japanese cinema, as well as Japanese American and AAPI films!
Join us for our next Japanese Movie Night program, when we will watch and discuss one of the best representatives of 1960s-era chambara: THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI (Sanbiki no samurai), directed by legendary action filmmaker Gosha Hideo. Gosha’s debut feature-length film was a prequel to his hit TV series, telling the origin story of how the three samurai met, amidst a dispute involving a magistrate and a group of poor farmers, with shifting alliances that will turn traditional notions of samurai loyalty and honor on its head.
If you would like to join us, please RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Jan 2025 Movie” in the subject line to receive Zoom info prior to the event.
See you at the movies!
J-Sei Movie Night Bento
MOVIE NIGHT BENTO: NOW TAKING ORDERS!
Great news for local Bay Area viewers! Chef Yuji has come up with two delectable options for movie night bento:
– Salmon & Chicken Teri Bento ($18): Roasted salmon and chicken in homemade tare with roasted cabbage and koshihikari rice;
– Sabazushi ($34): Masaba from Japan pressed into a bozushi (boxed or pressed sushi) with ginger, negi and sweet kelp.
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.
by Jill Shiraki | Dec 5, 2024 | Classes & Events
Mikami Holiday Wine Tasting
Sunday, December 15, 2 pm
J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville
Come meet Jason (and hopefully Mitzi and Kate too) for a special presentation at J-Sei on Sunday Dec 15 at 2pm! Over the years, Jason Mikami of Mikami Vineyards and his family have generously donated their delicious wine and participated in J-Sei Flavors of Spring and other events. Out of this, an informal J-Sei Wine Club formed in 2021.
Jason will talk about the history of Mikami Vineyards and their wines. Plus you’ll have a chance to purchase bottles – great gifts for the holidays/new year and for yourself too! We’ll have nibbles to go with the wine tasting along with some music and a festive atmosphere.
If you’d like to attend our Mikami holiday wine tasting party on December 15 (friends and family are welcome!) please RSVP to give us an idea of head count for food.
