SHAKA, A Story of Aloha

SHAKA, A Story of Aloha

by | Aug 1, 2023 | Classes & Events

Sneak Peek Film Screening

SHAKA: A Story of Aloha

Saturday, October 7th, 1 pm

“Shaka, A Story of Aloha” started as a passing curiosity when a friend introduced filmmaker Steve Sue to Kupuna (elders) in La‘ie who had a story on the origin of the Shaka gesture. It turns out that the Kupuna have kept the depths of the story secret for 3/4 of a century as they didn’t want it inappropriately commercialized. But given advancing age and a world in need, they asked him to share their story.

Once in production, multiple alternative gesture and word origin stories were revealed. As documentarians, they plan to share all the credible findings and let audiences decide for themselves on what theories they prefer. With this welcoming spirit, the film crew ventures to spread the meaning behind the shaka.

Join us in sharing this message of empowering love. Filmmaker Steve Sue will be joining us for Q&A.  Please reserve your tickets soon as space is limited. This is a free screening, all donations will support the finishing and outreach of the film.

 

Our hearts go out to the people in Maui after the devastating fire, loss of lives, homes, businesses, and community heritage sites. Please join the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern California in their support of Maui Strong and Maui Food Bank.  Now, more than ever, we are in need of the message of Aloha that this documentary uplifts.

 

   
1) Shooting interviews at kuleana lands, La’ie, Oahu. Kekela Miller, Joel “Baldy” Apuakehau & Harold Pukahi.
2) Interview of George Tanabe at Tanabe Lotus Farm, Wailuku, Hawai’i.
3) Interview of Fred Hemmings, world-champion surfer, surf event founder, retired Hawai’i State Senator.
Wadi Foquin: A Microcosm of the Critical Moment for Palestine

Wadi Foquin: A Microcosm of the Critical Moment for Palestine

by | Jul 29, 2023 | Classes & Events

Wadi Foquin: A Microcosm of the Critical Moment for Palestine

Tuesday, August 15th
11:00 a.m. to 1p.m.

J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA

Lunch will be available by pre-order. RSVP to Jill Shiraki at jill@j-sei.org and receive menu choices

Ata & Adam Manasra are father and son from the Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin located in the Bethlehem District of the West Bank. They will speak about their life under the military occupation of Israel and their partnership with Friends of Wadi Foquin which supports community development projects,  annual pilgrimages to the Holy Land/Palestine, and international advocacy for the village.

Ata has been the liaison to the Friends of Wadi Foquin for over 10 years serving as tour guide for annual trips. For the past 3 years, Adam Manasra has led a young adult leadership team in Wadi Foquin providing online presentations about the challenges facing the people of his village.   At the age of 25, he provides perspective from a new generation of Palestinians during this tumultuous time in the region.

Event Co-Sponsors: Friends of Wadi Foquin, Berkeley JACL, Contra Costa JACL, J-Sei

Friends of Wadi Foquin was initiated by Buena Vista United Methodist Church in Alameda, Calif., with help from Janet Lahr Lewis, then UMC Liaison to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Trinity United Methodist Church, Berkeley Methodist United Church, other San Francisco Bay Area churches, and community members have joined the partnership since then, and a new project has been added every year. Friends of Wadi Foquin has worked to provide financial assistance for projects supporting the economic survival of the village, made annual visits to Wadi Foquin, and—as the village has come under increasing threat from settlement expansion—advocated for its survival on Capitol Hill.

 

KING OF KABAB

We will be ordering from KING OF KABAB, a local favorite restaurant. Pre-orders are available or bring your own bag lunch.

PLATE LUNCH $15 – Choose from the following options:

Kefta Kabab Plate – Ground lamb & Beef mixed, with parsley, red onion, served with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, rice and pita bread.

Chicken Shish Kabab Plate – Grilled skewer of marinated chicken cubes, served with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, rice and pita bread.

Stuffed Falafel Plate – Grilled onions, sesame served with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, rice and pita bread.

Lamb and Beef Gyro – Grilled onions, sesame served with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, rice and pita bread.

Chicken Shawarma Plate – Chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, tahini, rice and pita bread.

 

OR SALAD $13 – Choose protein side.

Chicken Shawrma, Lamb & Beef Gyro, Kefta Kabab, OR Falafel Salad

Served on Lettuce, with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, hummus & Italian dressing.

The pre-ordering for lunch is now closed. 

J-Sei at the Movies: Panel Discussion on AAPI Films

J-Sei at the Movies: Panel Discussion on AAPI Films

by | Jul 18, 2023 | Classes & Events

J-Sei Movie Night: What Is Asian American Cinema?

Friday, July 21, 2022 – 6:30 pm (on Zoom)

During the pandemic and the necessary shift to online Zooming, J-Sei Movie Night has been so fortunate to be joined by talented individuals in the film and TV industry who have so generously shared their time and expertise with us via Zoom. These professionals represent a range of media know-how and artistic creativity — directors, producers, cinematographers, actors, activists, and critics — working or commenting on feature-length films, shorts, documentaries, and TV series, and they have logged on from locations near and far, including Southern California, the East Coast, Hawaii, and Japan! This month’s Movie Night will be another great addition to that lineup.
 
On Friday, July 21, J-Sei Goes to the Movies to learn about Asian American Cinema past and present, as well as the challenges that lie ahead. We’ll hear from experts — scholars and programmers who are bringing Asian American cinema to a wide audience through film festivals, media, and written pieces on AAPI films and popular culture. Our panelists — Aram Siu Wai Collier, Brian Hu, and Oliver Wang — will engage in an informal discussion about a wide range of topics, such as: What exactly is Asian American Cinema? Are there trends emerging in the next generation of films? How is a film festival put together?
 
This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the Asian American shows and movies we love to watch. Please join us for a fun and enlightening evening!
 

RSVP with “July Movie Night” in the subject line.
We will send Zoom information prior to the July 21 event.

 

Meet Our Panelists

Aram Siu Wai Collier is a filmmaker, educator, and film festival programmer. He is currently the Artistic Director at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. His feature, documentary, and experimental films have played festivals across North America and internationally. Aram is a mixed-race Asian Canadian/American (Chinese and English/Dutch/German) originally from San Francisco native and is now based in Toronto, Canada.
 
Brian Hu is Associate Professor and Area Head in Television, Film, and New Media at San Diego State University. He’s also the Artistic Director of Pacific Arts Movement, producers of the San Diego Asian Film Festival. Beyond SDAFF, he has curated film programs for the Criterion Channel and the UCLA Film and Television Film Archive, and is the Asian film programmer for the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Along with Ada Tseng, he co-produces and co-hosts the Asian American film history podcast Saturday School.
 
Oliver Wang is a writer and scholar of Asian American popular culture. He’s a professor of sociology at CSU Long Beach and has written on everything from Filipino American DJ culture to Korean American food trucks to Chinese American cinema. He’s currently curator of the forthcoming JANM exhibit: Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Southern California. [Photograph by Joseph Philipson]

J-Sei Movie Night Bento – July 21

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji for pickup on Friday, July 21 in conjunction with Movie Night. Here are Chef Yuji’s mouth-watering offerings:

  • Pico de gallo hiyashi chuka: Cold ramen in a chicken/fish dashi with fresh summer tomatoes, herbs and shallots $18
  • Tekka don: Sliced cured tuna over sushi rice with wasabi and ginger $26
  • Fried kama set: Fried hamachi & salmon kama, salad and rice with a chili ponzu $40

Click on the button below to place your order. Pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, July 21st. Please observe safety protocols when picking up your bento at J-Sei. 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 a bento and select the number you want to order; repeat with other bento if desired. 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 is in its Sixth 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 and experts 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.

Summer Sunday Fun-Day

Summer Sunday Fun-Day

by | Jun 29, 2023 | Classes & Events, News

Outdoor Volunteer Fair

J-Sei’s Summer Sunday Fun-Day

Sunday, July 16 – 11:30 am to 3 pm

Join us to enjoy a taste of summer fun at J-Sei as we thank all who are part of the wheels that keep us going – a flurry of volunteers. Bring your family and friends, order special bento offerings from our Bay Area chefs, meet others who are nourishing the community. Volunteer as a senior nutrition delivery driver, a friendly visitor,  tech support, arts facilitator or in other creative ways. Show your appreciation and become part of Team J-Sei!  

J-Sei Menu Bites

Pre-orders are now closed. Onsite sales begin on July 16 at 11:30 am! 

Sunday Fun-Day Sundae – 2 scoops, choice of chocolate or vanilla ice cream, choice of 3 sauces or toppings – $8

Add-on – Another sauce or topping – $2

Local Moco Omusubi – 2 Musubi cut in-half (4 pieces) with all beef patty, egg and a side of gravy – $10

Glazed Chicken Wings – Karaage marinated chicken and glazed with tare – $14

Big Eye Tuna Tataki Salad – nectarines, cucumber, little gem, shiso, cherry  tomato and daikon ponzu dressing – $22

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp Truck-style Plate – Hawaiian garlic shrimp, mac salad and scoops of rice – $18

Entertainment

Hear the smooth strum of the ukulele by Sentimental Strummers.

Groove with the Old School Music playlist from J-Sei Nutrition staff.

Pre-order for Sunday Fun-Day

Be the first to wear your fan-gear proudly.

Order your T-shirts now.

$25

 J-Sei Volunteers – pick up your T-shirt and Sunday Fun-day packet when you arrive!

The Irei Project by Duncan Ryuken Williams

The Irei Project by Duncan Ryuken Williams

by | Jun 22, 2023 | Classes & Events

The Irei Project presented by Duncan Ryūken Williams

Sunday, July 9th, 1 to 3 pm

The Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration is a multi-faceted project that seeks to address the attempted erasure of those individuals of Japanese ancestry who experienced wartime incarceration by memorializing their names.

This is the first time a comprehensive list of the over 125,000 persons of Japanese ancestry who were unjustly imprisoned in U.S. Army, Department of Justice, and War Relocation Authority (WRA) camps has been successfully compiled – and thus the first time it has been possible to properly memorialize each incarceree as distinct individuals instead of a generalized community. By placing their names front and center, the Irei National Monument Project seeks to expand and re-envision what a monument is through three distinct, but interlinking elements: a sacred book of names as monument (Ireichō), a website monument (Ireizō), and light sculpture monuments (Ireihi).

“We are drawing on Japanese and Japanese American cultural traditions of honoring elders and ancestors, not simply through building monuments of remembrance, but monuments to repair the racial karma of America.” – Duncan Ryuken Williams

 

Duncan Ryūken Williams, director of the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture, author of American Sutra: A Story of Faith and Freedom in the Second World War, and ordained Soto Zen Buddhist priest, will give a presentation on Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration, This project includes the Ireichō, a sacred book of names now on display at JANM.

  • Meet visionary leader Duncan Ryuken Williams.
  • Hear from some who participated in the stamping of names with Ireicho.
  • Learn more about the Irei Project.

Please reserve a ticket for in-person or online accss via ZOOM. Limited seating is available.

About the Irei Project

Together with a coalition of Japanese American community groups, Professor Duncan Ryuken Williams and the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture are creating a memorial to every individual of Japanese ancestry incarcerated during World War II in America’s concentration camps.  ogether with a coalition of Japanese American community groups, Professor Duncan Ryuken Williams and the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture are creating a memorial to every individual of Japanese ancestry incarcerated during World War II in America’s concentration camps.

The Japanese word Irei is translated by the project team as “consoling spirits.” The project expands our understanding of what a monument is in taking multiple, related forms: (1) a sacred book of names, the Ireichō (“book to console the spirits”) listing every person who was incarcerated; (2) an Ireihi (“structure for consoling the spirits”) sculptural memorial onto which the names of those incarcerated can be projected; and (3) a web-based Ireizo (“consoling spirits storehouse”) where the names of and information about the internees and incarcerees can be gathered in a virtual memorial.

Irei monument’s approach.has roots in the memorializing practices of the incarcerated individuals themselves, the majority of whom were Buddhist. Remembrance, in this spiritual tradition, involves a ritual of writing, in which names of those who have passed are inscribed into a sacred book and chanted as a way to make them present again. In this way and others, the people who are memorialized through Irei are remembered both collectively and as individuals.

Excerpted from the Mellon Foundation, https://www.mellon.org/grant-story/a-multimodal-memorial-remembers-japanese-american-wwii-incarceration

Ireicho at JANM

The Ireichō contains the first comprehensive listing of over 125,000 persons of Japanese ancestry who were incarcerated in US Army, Department of Justice, Wartime Civil Control Administration, and War Relocation Authority camps. Individuals and groups can view by appointment. Ireicho is currently on view at the Japanese American National Museum through September 24, 2023.  Visit here for more information.

 

 

J-Sei Shuffle – senior travel in the Bay Area

J-Sei Shuffle – senior travel in the Bay Area

by | Jun 12, 2023 | Classes & Events

J-Sei Ferry Trip to San Francisco

“Thank you SO much for arranging the wonderful trip on the bus & ferry.  We had a great time that day! Lunch was delicious, and going with a group was so much fun!  We really enjoyed it!

Thank you, again, for such a memorable experience.  Now, I’m not hesitant about riding the AC transit or the Ferry anymore.”

More Travel Tips and Trips

Want to learn how to take public transit to J-Sei or various locations around the bay? Are you interested in using ride-share services like Lyft or Uber for the first time? Would you like to learn about the  transportation programs for seniors that may be offered in your city like Paratransit, taxis vouchers, and discounted Lyft/Uber rides? Sign up for 1-on-1 travel training with Sianne.

For our next group excursion, we may head to the Old Oakland’s Farmers Market, SF Japantown or a Summer Ballgame.  

J-Sei Shuffle

traveling across the Bay Area

Sign up for an introductory presentation, one on one training, and group travel with Sianne Susbilla by email sssusbilla@berkeley.edu or phone 510/654-4000.

J-Sei, 1285 66th Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608

Whether by bus, ferry or train, the Bay Area offers many ways to travel. Come learn how to use different platforms and resources to help with planning your travel by public transit. Try it out on us! We will offer incentives to help cover costs of travel for the training, and to prepare you for a smooth and safe trip.

RSVP sssusbilla@berkeley.edu or call 510-654-4000

Sianne (sigh-anne) Susbilla is joining J-Sei as the Transportation Pilot Student Intern. She is a second year Masters of Social Work student at UC Berkeley, with a focus on working with Asian American & Pacific Islander older adults. In her free time, she enjoys dancing Hula and Tahitian and hanging out with her two cats.