J-Sei Movie Night: A Japanese Love Story?

Friday, February 10, 6:30 pm (on Zoom)

It has become an annual J-Sei Movie Night tradition to celebrate February with a Japanese romantic movie. But is there actually such a thing as a Japanese love story with a happy ending? Does such a movie exist? Well, turns out this has proved to be a rather challenging and elusive quest, but we’ve tried to be diligent in our continuing hunt. Has our Valentine’s search finally been successful this year?!?

Join us and find out on Friday, February 10, at 6:30pm for a Japanese movie watch party and discussion on Zoom. (Movie tba.) 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

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji for pickup. Here are Chef Yuji’s delectable offerings for this month’s movie night:

• Kimchi Tako Poke – 1/2 pint of kimchi tako, onions, negi and limu – $14

• Garlic Tuna Poke – 1/2 pint garlic tuna, sweet onions, negi and limu – $16

• Squid & Pork Hawaiian Plate – squid taro stewed, kalua pork, lomi lomi salmon with koshihikari rice – $18
• Oxtail Nabe Kit – Oxtail dashi, assorted vegetables, chicken tsukune, wagyu A5 enoki rolls, pork belly cabbage rolls, hon hamachi, shirataki noodles, homeade ponzu and gomadare. Rice, grated yam, egg and aonori. Will give cooking instructions – $70

Click on the button below to place your order. Pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, February 10th. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!

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. Repeat with additional items to order. When you’ve finished selecting your bento, 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 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.

J-Sei Oshogatsu Celebration

Friday, January 27th (Hybrid: In-Person and Online)

“The year of The Rabbit is one where the sacrifices of the past are rewarded generously. All the seeds of effort we have sown shall finally bear fruit whose sweetness is determined by the purity of our heart’s intent.”   [Year of the Rabbit. Lifestyle Asia]

What are your intentions for the new year? Our hope and intention at J-Sei is to keep us all connected in community.

11 am – Join us for our Oshogatsu celebration in an intergenerational exchange with students from the American International Montessori School. Enjoy Japanese games with the children, create calligraphy to greet the new year, and learn odori together.

12 pm – Then, enjoy a classic celebratory dish of Chirashizushi, with friends at J-Sei or pick-up To-Go.

1 pm – Our J-Sei Oshogatsu Celebration will be a hybrid program – in-person and online. The program will feature “Silly Green Mask”, a new book by Judith Kajiwara, with illustrations by Felicia Hoshino. A special presentation by the American International Montessori School and odori by Keiko Allen and J-Sei Minyo no Odori.

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org  with “Oshogatsu” in the subject line. Please indicate if you plan to join us in-person or pick-up To-Go.  The suggested donation is $12.  You can pay using the online option below or bring cash or check on the day of pick-up.  Limited space available.

Author Judith Kajiwara – Since growing up on a small farm in Livingston, California, Judith Kajiwara has been on a life-long spiritual quest to find truth, freedom and joy. Livingston is home to the Yamato Colony where many Issei (first generation Japanese) farmers settled in the late 1800s. As a Sansei (third generation Japanese American), church, community and culture established the foundation for her life. After high school, she attended UC Berkeley where she worked as a grassroots community organizer while earning her degree in psychology. In addition to writing, Judith continues to follow her passion for dance and healing. She is a seasoned Japanese Butoh solo performing artist, choreographer, dance teacher and Reiki energy healer.

Illustrator Felicia Hoshino – Born in San Francisco, California, Felicia Hoshino’s prize-winning illustrations can be found in children’s books such as Juna and Appa, A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, and Sora and the Cloud. She enjoys sketch-booking, illustrating portraits, cooking with her husband, and seeing her growing son’s and daughter’s creativity shine.

J-Sei At The Movies

Friday, January 13, 6:30 pm (on Zoom)

You’re invited to join us to celebrate the new year!  We had a warm and cozy Anniversary celebration in December. From our Movie Night poll, we discovered that hearing from the young Asian Americans in the industry has been inspiring. And we still enjoy watching movies of all kinds, even using different streaming formats, and engaging in conversation with the filmmakers.

What will 2023 bring to our Movie Night venue? We hope to test out in-person viewing in the new year once again. What a joy it is to meet in community.

For the near-term, though, we remain in Zoom mode. Please join us on Friday, January 13, at 6:30pm for a Japanese classic movie watch party and discussion (movie tbd).

See you at the movies!

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Jan movie night” in the subject line to receive Zoom info prior to the event.

J-Sei Movie Night Bento

For movie night, you can order specially made obento from My Friend Yuji for pickup. Here are Chef Yuji’s delectable offerings for this month’s movie night:

• Chinese chicken salad ($12) Green and red cabbage/napa cabbage, radish, red onions, scallion, cilantro, roasted chicken, crispy noodles, mandarin sesame dressing
• Sake kasu salmon bento ($18) Den Sake kasu marinated salmon, cauliflower and broccoli roasted in garlic miso and koshihikari rice
• Dungeness Crab set ($60)
  Bottom tier: Crab chirashi with ikura and kimi-oboro (crystalized egg yolk) over red vinegar sushi rice;
  Top tier: Crab miso potato korroke and cabbage with mandarin dressing

Click on the button below to place your order. Pick up your meal at the selected pick-up time at J-Sei on Friday, January 13th. Please remember to wear a mask and observe social distance protocol. Thank you!

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. Repeat with additional items to order. When you’ve finished selecting your bento, 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 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.

Beyond the Fence, a reading by Mieko Anne Walden

Friday, October 21, 2022, 2:00pm

J-Sei, 1285 66th Street, Emeryville (near Hollis St)

For many years, Mieko has been writing about her experiences of being adopted from an Okinawan orphanage by an American family who eventually brought her  to the U.S.  Her writings include nostalgic memories of Okinawa of the 1960s, sad memories of parting with a grandmother, confused memories of being adopted by an American family that provided material comfort but forced her to give up all of her connections to Okinawa, and unspeakable memories of abuse by the people she should have trusted the most.

Using writing as a tool to share her personal story, Mieko has discovered courage, healing, and support. We invite you to join us as she shares her deeply personal and moving story.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. Attendees are required to show Proof of COVID vaccination and booster, and wear masks indoors.

Co-sponsored by J-Sei, Northern California Okinawa Kenjin Kai, and Beyond the Fence Collective. Please RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Memoir 10/21” in the subject line.