Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco

November 1 is Shochu & Awamori Day! #Shochuand #Awamori are officially recognized as kokushu, or national alcoholic spirits, and they are traditional Japanese liquors distilled from grains, such as rice and barley, and different types of potatoes. November 1 marks the starts of the new distilling season, and it’s a popular time for distillers to show off their finished wares at local festivals throughout Japan. Check out the links below to learn more about shochu a...nd awamori: - What are Shochu and Awamori : https://www.honkakushochu-awamori.jp//und/what-is-schochu/ - A How-to-Guide for Awamori Lovers : https://www.nta.go.jp//okina/sake/shitugi/pdf/12191012.pdf - The Story of Shochu : https://www.nrib.go.jp/English/sake/pdf/ShochuNo01_en.pdf See more

This Thursday, October 29, the U.S.-Japan Council will host a free webinar to discuss the long history, current impact of COVID-19, and future of the San Francisco & San Jose Japantowns. For more event information, please visit their website below.

On Saturday, October 24, the 43rd Annual Conference of the Sister Cities International (SCI) Northern California Chapter was hosted online by the City of Vallejo Sister City Commission and the Vallejo Sister City Association, with participation from Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan, SCI Foundation President Tim Quigley, and other distinguished guests. SCI awarded a commendation to Consul General Maeda for his cooperation to the virtual bell ringing ceremonies coordinated by SCI on August 5 and 8 to mark 75 years of peace since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The 11 th annual Aki Matsuri - Japanese Festival in Nevada was held virtually on October 17 and 18. The festival featured Japanese cultural acts from Nevada and Japan. In his remarks, Consul General Maeda spoke on the many grassroots ties that support the strong relationship between Japan and Nevada. You can see recordings of this year’s festival on Aki Matsuri’s facebook page: www.facebook.com/AkiMatsuriNV

Go Genki with the virtual Aki Matsuri in Nevada this weekend! Enjoy two days of online Japanese cultural programming this Saturday and Sunday (17 & 18) on the festival's Facebook page.

The 2021 JET Program application is officially open. If you've ever thought about living and working in Japan, you can start your application today at https://www.jetapplication.com/. If you want to learn more about JET before applying, our office will be hosting virtual information sessions at the following times: - October 14th, 12:00pm-1:00pm - October 22nd, 5:30pm-6:30pm... - November 9th, 12:00pm-1:00pm You can register for any of our information sessions at the following link: https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/it/jet_info_sessions.html

On Thursday, October 8, Mrs. Sandy Ouye Mori received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays. Mrs. Mori was recognized for her contributions to improving the welfare of Japanese Americans in the United States and promoting understanding of Japan in the United States, through her efforts as a co-founder of Kimochi, Inc. and in her role as President of the Board of Directors of Japantown Task Force.

From Wednesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 18, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco will be partnering with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) to present four Japan-related films at the online CAAMFest Forward Film Festival. These films will be available to view on-demand and represent new perspectives and stories from throughout Japan. We hope you will enjoy these fresh films about Japan. Film Details: THE STORY BEYOND A CUP OF SAKE... Feature-Length Documentary This film showcases the year-long tale of a small sake brewery in Japan and the passion of the people behind the process. LINK: https://caamfest.com//movi/the-story-behind-a-cup-of-sake/ TOKYO HULA Feature-Length Documentary A documentary on the boom of Hula dancing in Japan and the stories of several of the people tying together Japan and Hawaii. LINK: https://caamfest.com/forward/movies/tokyo-hula/ SON OF MEMORY Science Fiction Dramatic Short A woman struggling with the death of her only son learns about a service that can restore a person for only 49 days. LINK: https://caamfest.com/forward/movies/son-of-memory/ WINTER TERRACE Artistic Short Three visitors wander the empty streets of Asakusa, eating, exploring, and enjoying the night. LINK: https://caamfest.com/forward/movies/winter-terrace/ These films will be available to view on-demand with the purchase of a CAAMFest Forward pass. Please visit the CAAMFest Forward site for more information. Link: https://caamfest.com/forward/ Afterward viewing the films, please feel free to fill out our survey: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSfFODehHI6fIvekg/viewform

The Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program is your opportunity to live and work in Japan, either teaching English in Japanese schools or assisting with international relations at local government offices. This year, in place of in-person recruiting events our office will be hosting virtual information sessions at the following times: - October 6th, 5:30pm-6:30pm - October 14th, 12:00pm-1:00pm... - October 22nd, 5:30pm-6:30pm - November 9th, 12:00pm-1:00pm Applications for the 2021 JET Program will be opening soon, so if you've ever thought about living and working in Japan, you can register for one of our information sessions at the following link: https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/it/jet_info_sessions.html Learn more about JET and how to apply at: https://jetprogramusa.org/how-to-apply/

The Japanese Cemetery in Colma, CA, located a few miles south of San Francisco, is home to the final resting place of many Japanese and Japanese American individuals and families. In 1860, three sailors aboard a Japanese ship, the Kanrin Maru, fell sick during their voyage to San Francisco from Japan. The Kanrin Maru was accompanying the U.S. Navy steam frigate Powahatan, which carried Japan’s first official delegation to the United States. The three sailors, unfortunately..., died and were buried in San Francisco. Their remains were later moved to the Japanese Cemetery in Colma, where they rest today alongside other individuals and families at the cemetery. Many Japanese dignitaries, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs MOTEGI Toshimitsu during his visit to San Francisco this January, have visited the Japanese Cemetery in Colma to pay their respects.

Tomorrow, October 1, is World Sake Day! Also known as Nihon-shu no hi, October 1 traditionally marks the new year for sake production in Japan. Every year, events are held around the world as a tribute to the alcoholic rice-based beverage of Japanese origin. If you are a #sake fan or interested in learning more, tune into Sake Day USA from 12pm-7pm PDT / 3pm-10pm ET tomorrow, October 1: https://americansakeassociation.org/sake-day-usa-2020/

In 1860, the first Japanese emissaries to the United States arrived in San Francisco. They were aboard the United States Navy steam frigate Powahatan, accompanied by a Japanese ship, the Kanrin Maru. The Japanese delegation of the Tokugawa shogunate, of which Katsu Kaishu and John Manjiro (John Mung) were members, would continue on to Washington, D.C. to exchange ratification documents for the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Ten years after their arrival in San Fra...ncisco, our office was established in 1870 as Japan’s first overseas diplomatic establishment. This monument near Lands End in San Francisco commemorates the arrival of the Kanrin Maru. In 1960, it was presented to the city of San Francisco by the city of Osaka on the 100th anniversary of the Kanrin Maru’s arrival. The monument was a token of long-lasting friendship between the United States and Japan.