Consumer Fraud: Scams Targeting Seniors and
Tips for Protection and Prevention (Online)

Wed, May 4, 1 pm

Seniors lose nearly $3 billion annually due to scams. Many prey upon seniors who are well educated and who they believe have assets. Yet, no one is exempt. Scammers use sophisticated sales pitches and clever tactics to convince seniors to trust them. What are the most common scams and forms of fraud targeting seniors? How can we recognize scams and protect ourselves? Where can we report fraud and get help?

This workshop is presented by the Legal Assistance for Seniors in Alameda County. The mission of Legal Assistance for Seniors is to ensure the independence and dignity of seniors by protecting their legal rights through education, counseling, and advocacy. Their vision is for all seniors to live in dignity with the greatest possible independence, regardless of social or economic circumstances.

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Consumer Fraud” in the subject line.   This presentation will be online. Please rsvp for the ZOOM link.

J-Sei At the Movies: Meet Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari

Friday, April 15, 2022 – 6:30 pm on Zoom

Watch the documentary KOSHIEN: JAPAN’S FIELD OF DREAMS (2019), then join us on Zoom to meet director Ema Ryan Yamazaki and producer Eric Nyari.

In 2018, in anticipation of the 100th edition of Koshien — the high school baseball tournament held every summer and avidly followed in Japan — director Yamazaki selected two teams to film as they trained and competed for a spot in the highly coveted national championship. The result is a gripping documentary chronicling the hopes and dreams of coaches and players alike and the unending dedication and sacrifice that can lead to victory — or the agony of defeat. Not simply a story about baseball, KOSHIEN explores Japanese traditions and the Japanese spirit and how they fit, or not, in today’s society.

RSVP with “April Movie Night” in the subject line. You’ll receive information to watch the film on a secure site prior to the Zoom event with the filmmakers. [Note: This film is also available through the Kanopy streaming service (library membership required).]

About the Filmmakers

Ema Ryan Yamazaki (Director/Editor) graduated from New York University and became the assistant to documentary mogul Sam Pollard. She has edited work shown on HBO, PBS and CNN, among others, and has directed TV documentaries for NHK and Al Jazeera English. Her feature directorial debut, “Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators” (2017), premiered at the LA Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the Nantucket Film Festival. In 2019, she directed “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams,” a special co-production with NHK on the occasion of the 100th National High School Baseball Championship. It premiered at DOC NYC, aired on ESPN, and was released theatrically in Japan to great acclaim.

Ema edits all of her own work. In 2017, Ema married film producer Eric Nyari, and they frequently collaborate as producing/directing partners.

Eric Nyari (Producer) is president of Cineric Creative and international representative for renowned restoration house Cineric, Inc. He has managed 4K restorations of Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Ugetsu,” “Sansho the Bailiff,” and “A Story from Chikamatsu” with Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation, as well as Yasujiro Ozu’s “Late Spring” and the films of Yuzo Kawashima. Nyari has also produced numerous films in Japan, including Amir Naderi’s “Cut,” Stephen Nomura Schible’s “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda,” Takeshi Fukunaga’s “Ainu Mosir,” and Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams.”

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.

Let’s watch a classic Japanese movie together!

Friday, March 11 at 6:30 pm via Zoom

Please join J-Sei At the Movies to watch a Japanese film together via livestream (film tbd). While watching, participants are welcome to comment in real time in Chat. Afterwards, we’ll have a group discussion about the film we just watched. It’s a great way to connect and talk about movies!

RSVP with “March Movie Night” in the subject line.
You’ll receive Zoom information prior to the event.

See you at the movies!

Support J-Sei At the Movies

Thanks to you, J-Sei At the Movies is celebrating its fourth anniversary! We look forward to more creative programming with 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 welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for your good energy and support!

Awe of Japanese Magic with David Hirata

Sunday, February 27th, 6 pm

A virtual program with live and multimedia performance, held in conjunction with J-Sei’s 31st Annual Crab Feed

Intrigued by the beauty and illusion of classic feats of illusion and sleight of hand, David Hirata performs magic along with stories that weave in the history and influence of Japanese magic (wazuma) in America. In his solo show “Box Without A Bottom: Soko-nashi Bako,” Hirata introduced Namigoro Sumidagawa, the first Japanese to receive a passport to America, who traveled with the Imperial Troupe in 1866 and dazzled Victorian audiences with his stage magic. Sumidagawa’s most famous illusions included Soko-nashi Bako, which was notoriously appropriated by American magicians in yellowface and rechristened the “J*p Box,” and Ukare-no Cho, or “Paper Butterflies.”

Interspersing his own journey as a magician, Hirata also reveals the ingenious techniques of twentieth-century master magician Tenkai Ishida, known for Tenkai Palm and other card manipulation techniques.

Delightful and dexterous, David Hirata has amazed audiences throughout the Bay Area with theatrical magic and private shows. Previous shows include “Kanji by Starlight” at The Marsh, “American Wizards” at the California Magic Dinner Theater, and “A Box Without A Bottom” at the San Diego International Fringe Festival (2018) and The Marsh (SF & Berkeley 2019).

“The Gentleman Deceiver: the smooth and sophisticated magic of David Hirata is a joy to behold.” – Gerry Griffin, owner of the California Magic Dinner Theater

RSVP at Eventbrite for tickets or email jill@j-sei.org with “Magic” in the subject line.

Hamaguchi discussion continues: Happy Hour
Friday, February 25 at 4:00pm
Watch Happy Hour on Kanopy, PlutoTV, Prime Video, or Criterion, then join us for a mini movie night to talk more about the films of Oscar nominee Hamaguchi Ryusuke
RSVP for Zoom link with “2/25 movie night” in the header

J-Sei At the Movies – the films of Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Friday, February 11, 6:30 pm via Zoom

The annual Academy Awards are approaching, and one director who is currently getting a lot of buzz is Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who in 2021 premiered not one, but two films (Drive My Car and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy) to worldwide acclaim. Who is Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and what makes his films so special? We’ll spend the evening discussing his films and their international appeal.

Here is what we’d like to do: Before getting together on the 11th, each of us will watch Hamaguchi’s film ASAKO I & II (2018) on our own. You can access ASAKO I & II in a number of ways: via the streaming service Kanopy if you’re a library member (many public libraries also have the movie on DVD or Blu-ray); on the Criterion channel if you’re a subscriber; and for rent through Prime Video. Then, on February 11 we’ll all meet on Zoom to talk about that film and everyone’s thoughts about it.

ASAKO I & II (Japanese title: Netemo sametemo) is a “pop romance” depicting the perplexing love life of a young woman named Asako as she falls in love first with a charming drifter named Baku and then with young businessman Ryohei, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Baku but has a completely different personality. What will Asako do?

You are welcome to watch other Hamaguchi films if you can. DRIVE MY CAR is currently playing in theaters. WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY is not presently available, but may be shortly. HAPPY HOUR (2015) can be found on Kanopy, Criterion channel, Pluto TV, and Prime Video—this is an excellent film, but be warned: the entire movie runs for a total of 5 hours.

RSVP with “Feb Movie Night” in the subject line.
You’ll receive Zoom information prior to the event.

Please join us for this Valentine’s Day treat.

See you at the movies!

Support J-Sei At the Movies

Thanks to you, J-Sei At the Movies is celebrating its fourth anniversary! We look forward to more creative programming with 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 welcome any donations to help us offset costs for Movie Night. Thanks for your good energy and support!