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.

Botanical Printing on Paper 2025

Botanical Printing on Paper 2025

by | Mar 10, 2025 | Classes & Events, 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.

     

Flavors of Spring 2025

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

Flavors of Spring

Friday, March 28

5:30 to 8:30 pm

BLOC 15, Jack London Square

Join us for a festive evening of food, wine, brew and live music

by Bay Area’s favorite R&B band: PRIVATE PRACTICE.

Don’t miss the Early Bird Special

Tickets for $125 until Feb 21st

Regular ticket price is $150, from February 22nd.

Purchase tickets online or send checks payable to:

J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608.

Must be postmarked by March 24, 2025.

For more info, contact Tiffany Nguyen, tiffany@j-sei.org

 

 

34th Annual Crab Feed

by | Jan 15, 2025 | Classes & Events, Other 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. – SALES NOW CLOSED!

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

TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED!

Thank you for your support!

One Fighting Irishman: Wayne M. Collins and Tule Lake

One Fighting Irishman: Wayne M. Collins and Tule Lake

by | Oct 25, 2024 | Classes & Events, Other News

One Fighting Irishman: Wayne M. Collins and the Tule Lake

A Film Screening and Talk with filmmaker Sharon Yamato

Saturday, November 16, 2 pm (New date)

Watch the dynamic film, ONE FIGHTING IRISHMAN, on vigilant attorney Wayne M. Collins who spent decades restoring rights to Japanese Americans forced to give up their citizenship during WWII.  Hear from filmmaker Sharon Yamato joined in conversation with Stan Yogi, on the making of the film and the stories she uncovered of the lives impacted by Collins crusade.

The 30-minute documentary tells the story of attorney Wayne M. Collins who rescued more than 5,500 people from being deported to a country upon which many of them had never stepped foot. At a time when wartime hysteria and racist hatred of American citizens of Japanese ancestry was sweeping the country, one attorney stood above the rest to fiercely defend the Constitutional rights of those the government considered the worst of the lot—those accused of being disloyal. If you are an individual or descendant who was aided by the efforts of Wayne M. Collins, we would like to hear from you.

RSVP for this free hybrid event.  Limited seating available.