Letters to Home, an anthology of LGBTQ+ Nikkei experiences

by | Mar 18, 2025 | Classes & Events, Other News

Okaeri Northern California presents

Letters to Home: Art & Writing by LGBTQ+ Nikkei and Allies

Saturday, April 5, 2025, 1:30 pm

Join Okaeri for the Northern California launch of Okaeri’s book Letters to Home: Art & Writing by LGBTQ+ Nikkei and Allies. Hear from contributors eri oura, Ellen Tanouye, and Tomo Hirai for a live reading and engaging dialogue with moderator Stan Yogi. Book sales and signing, and light refreshments will follow. 

Live stream will be available. To access the live stream, please register and we will send out a link in advance. J-Sei is ADA-accessible, and there is a free parking lot and street parking available.  This event is co-presented by J-Sei & Omusubi. 

RSVP: https://bit.ly/Okaeri Nor Cal-booklaunch

Letters to Home

Edited by: Cody Uyeda, Michael Matsuno, and Rino Kodama

Letters to Home is among the first anthologies to spotlight LGBTQ+ Nikkei experiences and allyship through an intergenerational lens. Bringing together art, poetry, and story-telling from nearly 50 contributors across the US and Japan, it offers a nuanced exploration of the trials and triumphs of finding community, and the process of co-constructing a sense of belonging for queer and trans Nikkei.

 

Okaeri Community’s mission is to create visibility, compassionate spaces, and transformation for LGBTQ+ Nikkei and their families by sharing our stories and providing culturally-rooted support, education, community-building, and advocacy.  Okaeri is fiscally sposored by LTSC.

Criminals, a book reading and conversation

by | Mar 18, 2025 | Classes & Events

Criminals, a book reading and conversation

Saturday, April 26, 2 pm

Join Host Steven Okazaki with guests Judi Nihei and Jan Masaoka, for a book reading and conversation on Ben Masaoka’s Criminals and the Post-War Sansei Experience.  Masaoka’s moving debut novel tells the story of a brother and sister struggling to break out of a small Japanese American community in the late 1950s and early 60s.  

Criminals follows the lives of a sister and brother, Ruth and Hank Tanazaki, as they struggle to free themselves from the weight of their parents’ generation in a small Japanese American community in Los Angeles in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This poignant story of the double-edged nature of community—a force that supports the group, at cost to the individual—explores the possibilities and limits of seeking personal freedom through creativity. Masaoka’s dazzling, deeply-moving debut is also an eloquent addition to the canon of Asian American literature.

In Criminals, America is Godzilla rising from the sea at Venice Beach to stomp on the Japanese American Dream, barely noticing the dreamers below as they fight back with rocks, sticks and gaman. Masaoka’s hang-loose brilliance takes us on a vividly observed, wonderfully quirky, and deeply moving exploration of generational trauma. He captures the desires, blows, and little victories of a family on the fringes of a community where everyone is trying so hard not to rock the boat, they don’t notice their children are adrift. —Steven Okazaki, Academy Award-winning filmmaker

Join us for a book reading, book sales, and conversation.  

RSVP for this Free Event

About the Author

Ben Masaoka (1952–2024), born and raised in Venice, California, took off for Hawai’i as soon he could, living on the beach and working odd jobs so he could surf.  He eventually settled in Seattle where he married, taught High School English, and raised a family. His short stories have been published in the Chicago Review of Books and Catamaran Literary Reader. CRIMINALS is his first and only novel.  He died in September 2024 a few weeks before it was published.  

Hosted by

Steven Okazaki was in an All-Japanese American Boy Scout Troop with Ben Masaoka in 1964.  “It was a time when Japanese Americans did nearly everything together,” he says. “And then it started to change.  Especially in Venice, where we grew up, there was a lot of stuff coming at you really fast.  In high school, I was the artist and Ben was the surfer, that was his identity.  He was the coolest person I knew.”   

In conversation with

Judi Nihei met Ben at a screening of Steven‘s Unfinished Business in Seattle.  She says, “I’m grateful his voice is being heard.”

Jan Masaoka, Ben’s first cousin, says: “Ben’s book is a time machine.  It transported me back to the Japanese American world and our family life in LA in the 1950s.”

Botanical Printing on Paper 2025

Botanical Printing on Paper 2025

by | Mar 10, 2025 | Classes & Events, Featured, Other News

 BOTANICAL PRINTING ON PAPER

Saturday, May 31 or Sunday, June 1, 10 am to 4 pm – CLASS IS FULL, waitlist only

Learn to make prints on paper with natures own special botanicals. We will look at how to make papers print what nature can give. You can use the results for cards, origami, books and more.  Delve into the world of botanical printing, using natural leaves, flowers, roots or fruits of naure.  All materials will be provided for the workshop. Instructor Dorothy Yuki, an innovative designer.

Dorothy Yuki began as a fashion designer immediately after college but soon she became a partner of a manufacturing company, In Good Company, and designed kitchen soft goods and linens. She served as a production and design consultant for music production companies and start-ups, She returned to designing linens for Macy’s in the 80’s and lived internationally.in Barcelona Spain, Lisbon, Portugal, Montevideo Uruguay and Tequisquiapan Queretaro Mexico.  Now in her 70’s and living in San Francisco, she is engaged in many volunteer activities, Ruth’s Table, Artseed, SCRAP-sf, and FabMo. She also mentored at Bay High School. She was past President of Friends of Calligraphy and presently a Master Educator for the Macy’s Fashion Incubator San Francisco. She still has the time to do ‘art’ and has worked on projects for MMOCA, Flax Art and Design and Kalligraphia.

This workshop has been generously sponsored by Steve Ichinaga.  Discounted Workshop Fee: $50  Space is limited.  RSVP by May 15th and select your preferred date.  A list of dried and fresh plants that you can bring with you will be provided after you sign up.  The class is full.  We are starting a waitlist for advance notice of a future Botanical Printing workshop.

     

Japanese Movie Night – March 2025

Japanese Movie Night – March 2025

by | Mar 1, 2025 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At The Movies (on Zoom)
Friday, March 14, 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 on Friday, March 14, to watch and discuss a classic samurai film of the 21st century: THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI / たそがれ清兵衛 (2002) by legendary director Yamada Yoji (known for the long-running Tora-san film series) and starring internationally renowned, award-winning actor Sanada Hiroyuki (Shogun) as “Twilight” Seibei, a low-ranking samurai striving to perform his duties while remaining devoted to his loved ones. Even if you’ve seen it before, watch it with us again; this movie, which swept the 2003 Japan Academy Awards, deserves multiple viewings.

If you would like to join us, please RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Mar movie night” in the subject line to receive Zoom info prior to the event.

See you at the movies!

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

Attention: Chef Yuji has a bento offering this month!

Umi masu Chirashi

Torched ocean trout sashimi, lemon, garlic, mayo, tobiko, negi over sushi rice  $25

Chicken Longrice

Ginger chicken soup and cellophane noodle kit of bok choy, negi, ginger and simmered chicken  $18

 

Oxtail Soup

Braised oxtail soup served with rice, mustard green, ginger and cilantro. $25

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.

Japanese Movie Night – March 2025

Japanese Movie Night – February 2025

by | Jan 30, 2025 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At The Movies (on Zoom)
Friday, February 14, 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 on Friday, February 14, for our annual Valentine’s movie night program focused on the mysteries of Japanese Love. We will watch and consider a rarely seen movie by one of the best filmmakers of Japan’s golden age: SUDDEN RAIN (Shuu), directed in 1956 by Naruse Mikio, about a marriage on the rocks, starring Sano Shūji and the legendary actress Hara Setsuko playing against type as a disgruntled wife. This should be a fun film to watch together, with lots to discuss afterward.

If you would like to join us, please RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Feb movie night” in the subject line to receive Zoom info prior to the event.

See you at the movies!

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

SORRY – NO MOVIE NIGHT BENTO FOR FEBRUARY
Please check with us again next month!
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.

Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit, photo exhibit

Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit, photo exhibit

by | Jan 24, 2025 | Classes & Events, Featured, Other News

Gambatte! Legacy

of an Enduring Spirit

Photographs by Paul Kitagaki, Jr.

Exhibit Extended to July 3, 2025

Gallery Hours: Mondays & Thursdays 10 am – 4 pm, and by appointment.

Presented by J-Sei &Friends of Topaz Museum, with support by Topaz Museum

BEHIND BARBED WIRE, The Search for Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII

The book Behind Barbed Wire is based on the nationally traveling exhibition “Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit.”

Hardcover 152 pages and 137 Illustrations

Published by CityPress Files

Retail Price: $55

Autographed books are now available for pick up at J-Sei. For delivery to your home add $10 shipping/handling. Use button below to place order.

Book Order

Many of the Issei and Nisei never shared their stories with their own families. As some of the subjects recounted their experiences, they were overcome with tears and emotion as long-forgotten memories returned. For many, this was the first time for them to publicly speak about what they endured. – Paul Kitagaki, Jr.

Paul Kitagaki, Jr.

 Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit explores the legacy of an enduring spirit as Japanese Americans triumphed over adversity in the WWII incarceration camps.

As he was searching through photos at the National Archives in 1984, Kitagaki found a photo taken by famed documentary photographer Dorothea Lange of his grandparents and father preparing to board a bus in Oakland, Calif., enroute to a World War II incarceration camp. Through slow and painstaking research, Kitagaki has spent 15 years locating and winning the trust of the families who lived through the incarceration, documenting their stories of survival and inner strength to overcome injustice, racism, and wartime hysteria. 

Photographer and videographer Paul Kitagaki Jr. has traveled the world covering natural and human-caused disasters and international athletes competing for gold at ten different Olympic Games. Kitagaki’s work has been honored with dozens of photo awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, and Emmy nominations. He’s been published in news outlets worldwide, including National Geographic, Time, Smithsonian Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Stern, People, Mother Jones, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, as well as in his home paper, The Sacramento Bee.