Classes & Events

SOUL COLLAGE for All – Thursday, May 20

by Jill Shiraki | May 7, 2021 | Classes & Events

SOUL COLLAGE for All – Thursday, May 20, 4 pm – date/time change

As we transition through this past year’s pandemic and all that we carry, art can help us find our way. Explore SOUL COLLAGE, an intuitive process for self discovery. Join us online to create your own collage, discover the wisdom, and share them with each other.

Soul Collage, an expressive arts practice founded by Seena B. Frost in the 1980s, is now practiced worldwide. The method develops creativity and intuition, encourages self-discovery, and provides personal guidance. Participants will receive a 5 x 7 mixed media mat board and sleeve, and a list of suggested materials to collect. The kits are available to pick up at J-Sei.

SoulCollage® has been a wonderful tool to integrate into my practice. I enjoy sharing it and teaching my clients to use this process to gain greater personal insights and discoveries and to enrich their lives. – Bronwyn Shaunessy

Bronwyn Shaunessy, an herbalist, natural remedy practitioner, and Soul Collage facilitator will be joining us from Australia. Cynthia Tom is unable to lead the workshop at this time. Her teacher, Bronwyn will lead the workshop at J-Sei.

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with Soul Collage in the subject line.

Then Becoming Now – The Films of Emiko Omori

by Kathy Hashimoto | May 6, 2021 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At the Movies: An Evening with Emiko Omori

Friday, May 14, 6:30 pm

Over the course of five decades-plus, award-winning documentarian and feature filmmaker Emiko Omori has broken through gender and race barriers in film to artfully document a range of subjects spotlighting personal narrative, the Japanese American WWII experience and social justice. We’ll live-stream two of Emiko’s recent films and talk to her about her life and work as a writer, cinematographer, director, and editor. Additional surprise guests may appear as well.

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

Featured films:

Then Becoming Now (2019, 24 minutes): The journey of three men who went from incarcerated children during WWII to social activists protesting the Trump Administration’s border policy. [Pictured above: Kaz Naganuma, Hiroshi Fukuda, Hiroshi “Shim” Shimizu]
When Rabbit Left the Moon (2017, 14 minutes): Omori’s lyrical video poem about the lasting devastating effects of the Japanese American concentration camps. Made in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of EO 9066.

Meet Emiko Omori

My favorite Ozu title is “I Was Born But…” I was born but…WWII disrupted my life. I spent my early years in Poston Concentration Camp. Then a truck farm. Then came to SFSU where I studied filmmaking. I began my career as a filmmaker and cinematographer in 1968, when there were few camerawomen and fewer still Asian American camerawomen in the US. My first job was as cinematograher/editor on the KQED-TV program, “Newsroom.” Since 1972 I have freelanced as a cinematographer on many award-winning projects as well as producing my own. In 1991 I wrote and directed the highly acclaimed drama, Hot Summer Winds, based on two short stories by Hisaye Yamamoto, for American Playhouse. In 1999, my documentary/memoir, Rabbit in the Moon, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was broadcast on POV, and won a National Emmy and numerous other awards. At Sundance I was awarded the Best Documentary Cinematography for Rabbit in the Moon and for Academy Award nominee Regret to Inform. In 2020, I directed and edited Vanishing Chinatown, The World of The May’s Photo Studio. In my sunset years, I continue to make documentaries like Then Becoming Now.

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

A Peruvian inspired meal: Lomo Saltado and Tiradito
For movie night, you can order a specially made obento from My Friend Yuji. This month’s special movie night-themed offering has two items to order:

– Lomo Saltado Bento: Sirloin steak stir-fried in a soy/vinegar sauce with onions, bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, French fries and topped with fresh herbs and rice ($18)

– Tiradito De Pescado: Peruvian sashimi appetizer (hamachi and halibut cured) served with a Leche de Tigre sauce ($12)

Click on the button below to place your order. The price is $18 for the bento and $12 for the sashimi appetizer. Please order early as quantities are limited.

You can pick up your meal at the selected pick up time at J-Sei on Friday, May 14. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. 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 anywhere inside the box frame to open another pop-up and select the number of bento you want to order, then click on “Add item” to close the pop-up. 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 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.

SOUL COLLAGE for All – Thursday, May 13 – Postponed

by Jill Shiraki | Apr 19, 2021 | Classes & Events

SOUL COLLAGE for All – Thursday, May 13, 2 pm – postponed

As we transition through this past year’s pandemic and all that we carry, art can help us find our way. Explore SOUL COLLAGE, an intuitive process for self discovery. Join us online to create your own collage, discover the wisdom, and share them with each other.

Soul Collage, an expressive arts practice founded by Seena B. Frost in the 1980s, is now practiced worldwide. The method develops creativity and intuition, encourages self-discovery, and provides personal guidance. Visual Artist and facilitator Cynthia Tom will share this creative process with us at J-Sei. Participants will receive a 5 x 7 mixed media mat board and sleeve, and a list of suggested materials to collect.

Cynthia Tom’s work evolves from an intuitive, communities of color-inspired place.

She is a visual artist (painter, mixed media, found object sculptor, installation, photographer) and curator who explores ancestral patterns, healing, empowerment spirituality, and feminism through the lens social justice, fostering dialog and building community in innovative ways

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with Soul Collage in the subject line.

Hearts for Love ORIGAMI Project

by Jill Shiraki | Apr 10, 2021 | Classes & Events, COVID-19

HEARTS FOR LOVE, an ORIGAMI Project

We joined Jun Hamamoto in a community effort to fold 1,000 Origami hearts. The project is held to align with the initiative by Linda Mihara of Paper Tree SF. The thousand hearts for J-Sei are displayed in solidarity to #StopAsianHate and promote love.

We currently have 1,600 origami hearts. THANK YOU ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED!

Go to the Hearts for Love page to see the ORIGAMI Demo Videos by Jun and start your own folding 1,000 hearts for love.

Hearts for Love ORIGAMI Pop-UP

by Jill Shiraki | Apr 2, 2021 | Classes & Events, Other News

HEARTS FOR LOVE

An ORIGAMI POP-UP with Jun Hamamoto
Thursday, April 8th, 1 – 2:30 pm

Join the Fold-In. There is a crisis today. Many Asians, including our most vulnerable seniors, have become the target of hate crimes. Join J-Sei in folding 1,000 Origami Hearts as a show of support to the families of victims who lost their loved ones.

“Let’s counter HATE with LOVE! I embrace the origami tradition
by folding 1,000 Hearts as a show of LOVE, the human emotion
which can counter HATE and create POSITIVITY.”
– Linda Mihara, Paper Tree SF

Jun Hamamoto will teach the Heart Origami. Join us as we gather together, to chat and fold 1,000 hearts to hang at J-Sei to counter the Anti-Asian hate with LOVE.

RSVP to jill@j-sei for the ZOOM link for the fold-in.

PLAY BALL! Movie Watch & Discussion

by Kathy Hashimoto | Mar 29, 2021 | Classes & Events

J-Sei At the Movies: Baseball and Barbed Wire

Meet the director and producer of American Pastime

Friday, April 9, 5:30 pm [note earlier start time]

Join us to watch American Pastime, a 2007 drama about upheaval and heroic survival in the Japanese American concentration camps of World War II. One of the very few movies depicting the Japanese American experience, the plot centers on one family and their efforts to start a baseball team at Topaz, culminating in a climactic competition between internees and a local team. Filmed near the original Topaz camp in Utah, the film includes era-accurate details and also features historic footage and real-life survivors playing incarcerees. It’s a moving account of family bonds and dignity maintained under extreme circumstances.

Director Desmond Nakano and producer Tom Gorai will be our guests to take your questions and discuss the making of the film. You won’t want to miss this special event celebrating Spring and the enduring human spirit.

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

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

For movie night, you can order a specially made obento from My Friend Yuji. This month’s special movie night-themed offering is:

Arabiki Corn Dogs, Ao Nori Tater Tots, Springtime Coleslaw, curry mustard and fish sauce ketchup.

Click on the button below to place your order. The price is $18 per bento. Please order early as quantities are limited.

You can pick up your bento at the selected pick up time at J-Sei on Friday, March 12. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!