Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC)

A heartfelt thanks to everyone for their overwhelming support and outreach to the Center regarding our vandalized Cherry Blossom trees. The destructive nature of the vandalism to the trees was especially painful for us. They were not just trees on the sidewalk. The Cherry Blossom trees were synonymous with our mission to promote the beauty of our Japanese cultural heritage. The trees were planted to commemorate the historic occasion of the 1994 visit of Emperor Akihito and E...mpress Michiko to our Center. It was only the second time in the history of U.S. Japan relations that their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, ever visited the United States. Thanks to the outpouring of support, we hope that we can replace the trees by Spring. However, we don't know yet, if we can locate mature trees to plant, and it will definitely depend on the City's support and cooperation to meet our timeline. Given the painful and challenging past year, the blossoming of new Cherry Blossom trees will represent the hope we all look forward to in 2021. A GoFundMe has been created to raise funds to replace the vandalized trees. https://charity.gofundme.com//campaign/replace-cherry-blos

WE HIT OUR Initial GOAL of 5K! Thank you to everyone who donated and shared our GoFundMe. The exact costs of the replacement of the trees are still unknown and we will be working with the City and County of San Francisco to determine costs. ... https://charity.gofundme.com//campaign/replace-cherry-blos

Our first monthly online cooking class of 2021 with chef Kenji Yokoo of YouTube channel Kenji’s Kitchen will be a class on tsukune, ground chicken yakitori skewers! Cook along with Kenji from your own kitchen on Sunday, January 17, 2021, 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. $7 Center members, $10 general public. Supplies and ingredients lists provided to registrants. Register online at: http://bit.ly/kenjitsukune

Dear Friends, Words can never truly express our deepest gratitude for your support to replant our vandalized Cherry Blossom trees. Your generosity is overwhelming and heartwarming. Never in our wildest dreams would we have expected the outpouring of kindness we received the past few days. People from all over the United States showed their humanity by caring about our trees. When we discovered our vandalized Cherry Blossom trees, we thought that they would never blossom ag...ain. But through your kindness they have, they blossomed hope and goodwill during these difficult and troubling times. These are the most beautiful blossoms that can grow. We are in contact with landscapers and the City with the hope to have new trees planted in time for Spring. Happy 2021! Gratefully, The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California

Congratulations to Instagram user @janatom ! We hope you enjoy your free ice cream from Uji Time Dessert. Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway challenge, and to those who have purchased ice cream as part of our fundraiser! Use promo code THECENTER2020 for 5% OFF your order of traditional and Japanese-inspired ice cream flavors like Matcha, Hojicha, and winter seasonal flavor Purple Yam. 10% of the proceeds of your order will be donated to the Center! Promo code valid until Friday, January 15, 2021 at Uji Time Dessert San Francisco Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations. Visit www.ujitimedessert.com to order and for details on pick-up and delivery.

Our first Community Kitchen Virtual Potluck for 2021 will be on Tuesday, January 26 at 6:00 p.m. PST, with the theme of nabemono (Japanese hotpot)! Prepare and show us on your webcams your favorite nabemono dishes, such as sukiyaki, shabu shabu or oden! Free admission, advance registration required at: http://bit.ly/nabemonopotluck

Tetsuro Ozawa, owner of Oza Oza Restaurant in San Francisco’s Japantown recently opened his own business, a dream that he worked hard to accomplish. Oza Oza’s kaiseki meals were considered one of the City’s best and he continued to make his delicious meals via take out orders until a few months ago. Recently, Ozawa san was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. His family of three young children and his wife were totally dependent on his sole income to survive, and now n...eed to find a way to pay for his medical treatments and for basic living necessities. Oza Oza was a part of our GAMBARO Project, and we had hoped to help his business through the promotion of our project, but he returned the money back to us after finding out about his illness. Please help us support this wonderful and talented individual and his family by donating what you can to the GoFundMe campaign. Thank you. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-tetsuro-ozawa-fight-pancrea

Today is the LAST DAY of our fundraiser with Uji Time Dessert! Use promo code THECENTER2020 and order from a range of traditional and Japanese-inspired ice cream flavors like Matcha , Hojicha, Purin , Red Velvet , and winter seasonal flavor Purple Yam. 10% of your order's proceeds will be donated to the Center! Promo code valid until tomorrow, Friday, January 15, 2021, at Uji Time Dessert San Francisco Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations. Visit www.ujitimedessert.com to order and for details on pick-up and delivery.

UPDATE: We have created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to replace the cherry blossom trees. We greatly appreciate everyone's support! GoFundMe: https://charity.gofundme.com/replace-cherry-blossom-treet -------------------- No cherry blossoms to bloom this year. Early in the morning on Tuesday, January 5, two of the Cherry Blossom trees in front of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California were completely vandalized. The trees were destroyed down ...to the trunk. Not one branch was left on any of the trees. This was not simply a passerby trying to break a branch off for fun. Someone took their time breaking off every branch. This was no easy task as some of the larger branches were over 3 thick and the trees 12’ to 15’ feet high, said Paul Osaki, Executive Director A third tree was vandalized in a similar way two years ago. The Cherry Blossom trees were the first to be planted in San Francisco’s Japantown in over fifty years since the Redevelopment Agency uprooted every tree in Japantown during the 1960-1970’s. The Center planted the Cherry Blossom trees to commemorate the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan in 1994.

Happy New Year from the Center! Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year. We are looking forward to 2021 with the hope of reopening the Center later this year. Stay safe and don’t forget to support our local businesses.

Are you willing to accept the Paul Osaki Challenge Match? Executive Director Paul Osaki would like to show his appreciation of our Yonsei and Gosei (ages 18-34) donating to the Center this holiday season. He will personally match your donation dollar for dollar up to $2000. Submit your donation at bit.ly/paulosakichallenge and write "I accept the Paul Osaki Challenge" in the comment box. Let's see if we can get that $2,000 match!

Just 2 DAYS LEFT to support the Center with your purchase of ice cream! Order from Uji Time Dessert's SF Japantown, Pleasanton, Berkeley, or San Mateo locations using promo code THECENTER2020 and 10% of your purchase will be donated to the Center. This promo code is valid until Friday, January 15, 2021. Choose between pick-up or delivery!

Just two days left in the year and time is running out for our Center Census. Complete the Center's Census today and help us understand our constituents and cater our efforts to best serve the community's needs. Click the link below and take this quick 5min survey. Thank you for your help and support. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCRC89W

Bringing a Soldier Home With a Long-Lost WWII Jacket On Veterans Day, eBay shared the story of Staff Sargent Tadashi Furuike’s army jacket found on their website by our Executive Director, Paul Osaki. Our editorial/content team at eBay would like to share the story of Tadashi’s jacket through our corporate channels and with the greater eBay community. Everyone on our PR team at eBay is so taken with the connections and history in your story, as well as with the bravery of th...e 100th/442nd. We are hoping to highlight Tadashi and the story of his jacket in the best possible way. And we’d like to do so by publishing his story on Veteran’s Day this year, which is such an auspicious year with the 75th anniversary of the ending of WWII. https://www.ebayinc.com//bringing-a-soldier-home-with-a-l/

Calling all kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) lovers! For this month's Community Kitchen Virtual Potluck, we're having a Kabocha Challenge! Prepare your favorite kabocha dish or your own original kabocha creation, and share with us over Zoom on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m. PST! Register for free online at: http://bit.ly/kabochachallenge #kabocha #japanesecooking #communitykitchen #jcccnc #japantown

What are some of your favorite small dishes to order at an izakaya? Learn how to make tsukune, ground chicken yakitori skewers, this Sunday, January 17, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Zoom at our monthly online cooking class! $7 Center members, $10 general public. Register online: http://bit.ly/kenjitsukune

Use promo code THECENTER2020 for 5% OFF your order of traditional and Japanese-inspired ice cream flavors like Matcha, Hojicha, and winter seasonal flavor Purple Yam. 10% of the proceeds of your order will be donated to the Center! Promo code valid until Friday, January 15, 2021 at Uji Time Dessert San Francisco Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations. Visit www.ujitimedessert.com to order and for details on pick-up and delivery.

Add a little ice cream to your New Year stay-at-home festivities! Use promo code THECENTER2020 and order from a range of Japanese-inspired flavors like Matcha, Hojicha, and winter seasonal flavor Purple Yam. 10% of the proceeds of your order will be donated to the Center! Promo code valid until Friday, January 15, 2021 at Uji Time Dessert San Francisco Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations. Visit www.ujitimedessert.com to order and for details on pick-up and delivery.

FREE ICE CREAM ALERT! Tag a friend on this post between today, Dec. 28th and Jan. 6th for the chance to win a FREE pint of ice cream from Uji Time Dessert! Winner will be announced on Jan. 7th. Order from Uji Time Dessert's Pleasanton, Berkeley, San Mateo, or SF Japantown locations using promo code THECENTER2020 for 5% OFF your purchase, 10% of your sale will be donated to the Center. Delivery options available! Promo code valid until Friday, January 15, 2021. Visit www.ujitimedessert.com to order and for pick-up and delivery details.

Support the Center from your home in the East or South Bay! Order from Uji Time Dessert's Pleasanton, Berkeley, San Mateo, or SF Japantown locations using promo code THECENTER2020 and 10% of your purchase will be donated to the Center. Delivery options available! Promo code valid until Friday, January 15, 2021. Visit www.ujitimedessert.com to order and for pick-up and delivery details.

https://www.kqed.org//could-a-new-sf-commercial-eviction-o

Good morning! Here’s a nice article to go with that morning cup of coffee. Have a great day everyone!

Don't forget to sign up for this Saturday's Mochi Magic virtual cookbook preview and mochi making class with chef and author, Kaori Becker! Kaori will teach you how to make yomogi mochi and matcha-glazed mochi donuts in this online cooking demo! Join us on Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $20 Center Members, $25 General Public. Register online at: http://bit.ly/jcccncmochimagic Pre-order your copy of MOCHI MAGIC, set to release on November 24, and rece...ive additional pre-order perks courtesy of Kaori Becker! https://www.mochimagicbook.com/claim-pre-order-perks.html #mochi #mochimagic #theCenter #jcccnc #kaoriskitchen

Today was Japanese Coming of Age Day or Seijin No Hi ()! Every year in Japan and around the world, young men and women who turned 20 years of age between April 2 of the previous year and April 1 of the current year celebrate reaching adulthood through ceremonies called seijin-shiki (). The women wear beautiful furisode (a special long-sleeved kimono) while the men choose between suits and ties or traditional Japanese dress. The holiday is a rite of passage that commemorates young adulthood and celebrates their journey to a new life on their own. Congratulations to all our twenty-year-old community members! Picture Credit: https://favy-jp.com/

Let’s save SF Small Businesses! This ordinance will help to support our Japantown small businesses and give them a fighting chance. The future of Japantown and SF small businesses depend on this. Speak up today! Repost from @savesfsmallbusinesses The ordinance to save SF small businesses from eviction will be discussed by the Land Use and Transportation Committee today at 1:30 pm! This post lists out how to join for public comment. ... This is your chance to speak out in support of our small businesses and be heard. Tell our supervisors why our small businesses need to stay! . #savesfsmallbusinesses #sf See more

What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy Tonkatsu? Leave a comment! Tonkatsu - deep-fried pork cutlet - is a Japanese food favorite everyone can learn how to make! Join chef Kenji Yokoo for his monthly Kenji's Kitchen online cooking class with the Center and follow along on Zoom as he shows how to make crispy deliciousness! Webinar to be held Sunday, November 15, 11:00 a.m. PST. $7 Center members, $10 general public. Register online: http://bit.ly/kenjitonkatsu #kenjiskitchen #japanesecooking #tonkatsu #theCenter #itadakimasu

Repost from @sf_japantown Merry Christmas everyone! Here’s a list of restaurants in Japantown that are open today for take out/delivery. Times may vary so please call! #japantownsf #sfjapantown #wheretoeatsf #shopdine49 #xmaseatssf #japantownstrong #supportsmallbusiness #japanesefoodsf #koreanbbqsf

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from the Center!

#throwback to June 2018, when the Japanese American National Museum drove all the way up here from Little Tokyo, LA! We were honored to be chosen by JANM as the first site to host the "Contested Histories: Art and Artifacts from the Allen Hendershott Eaton Collection" pop-up display on June 2324, 2018. Learn more about the collection of camp artifacts here: http://www.janm.org/exhibits/contested-histories/

Interested to know how Christmas in Japan is celebrated? https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/japan.shtml

Join us this weekend in San Francisco's Japantown and enjoy a meal outside at Picnic at the Plaza located in the Peace Plaza. Open from 11:30am-8:00pm on weekends until November 29th!. See you this weekend at the Plaza. Space heaters are available. Don't forget to bring a jacket this weekend.

Happy Holidays! Although the Center has remained closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic we would like to notify you that we will be observing our annual holiday closure beginning tomorrow December 24th - January 10th. Staff will be away from their computers and may not be able to respond until we return on the 11th. During this time staff will be meeting to conduct planning for 2021 and observing the holidays. Stay safe and take care!

Only a few weeks left in year and time is running out. Complete the Center's Census today and help us understand our constituents and cater our efforts to best serve the community's needs. Click the link below and take this quick 5min survey. Thank you for your help and support. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCRC89W

Today is Winter Solstice or ("Toji") in Japanese! In Japan, the shortest day and longest night of the year are celebrated with several traditions, including a hot bath with Yuzu fruit (yuzuyu) and eating Japanese pumpkin (kabocha). Another tradition includes eating foods that have the hiragana character "n" in their name! Eg. udon, renkon (lotus root), ninjin (carrot), and more. Will you give any of these Toji traditions a try today? Read more about Japanese Winter Solstic...e traditions at https://www.justonecookbook.com/japanese-winter-solstice-t/ Picture Credit: Shimotsuke Shimbun See more

It's not too late to add dessert to your Christmas meal! Use promo code THECENTER2020 on your Uji Time Dessert order and 10% of the proceeds of your sale will be donated to the Center. Support an SF Japantown business AND non-profit while enjoying sweet treats from the comfort of home. Delivery available! This promo code is valid until Friday, January 15, 2021 at Uji Time Dessert's San Francisco Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations. See Uji Time website www.ujitimedessert.com to place your order and for pick-up and delivery details.

Need to do some last-minute gift shopping? Check out this list of Japantown small businesses from the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival blog! Don't forget to #shopsmall this holiday season! https://sfcherryblossom.org/20//sfjtown-holiday-shopping/

Are you a fan of warm sake? Our friends at @truesake have some top picks when it comes to selecting the best warm sakes this holiday season. Repost from @truesake Holiday Season in the Northern Hemisphere means warm sake season! ... But which sakes are good for warming? Just ask your favorite elves at True Sake. We know what works from trusted old favorites to new crazy and mind blowing brews! Just call out Help Me Elf Chika - Snap your fingers - and swipe left! #sakeisessential #sake #warmsake #hotsake

This Christmas and New Year, add a little sweetness to your holiday meal! Support an SF Japantown business AND Japanese American non-profit organization by ordering from Uji Time Desserts using promo code THECENTER2020. 10% of your purchase will be donated to the Center! Promo code is valid at Uji Time Desserts San Francisco Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations. This fundraiser is active until January 15, 2021. Submit your order at www.ujitimedessert.com/s/order and choose between pick-up or delivery. Deliveries on orders over $40.00 are FREE.

Have some last minute shopping to complete? Be sure to shop on smile.amazon.com and select the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California as you selected organization and a percentage of each purchase will be donated to the us. We recently received a check for $135 and to date have received $1,207.65. Thank you to everyone that has supported us through amazon smile. Happy Holidays!

Get into the holiday spirit with Uji Time Dessert's new Red Velvet ice cream! This winter seasonal flavor is available for a limited time only. Use promo code THECENTER2020 at Uji Time Dessert's SF Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations and the Center will receive 10% of the proceeds of your sale! Order online at https://www.ujitimedessert.com/s/order and choose between pick up or delivery. Promo code is valid until January 15th.

This Saturday we would normally be hosting our annual Mochitsuki Workshops with Mr. Yamada. Unfortunately, we aren't able to host these popular workshops this year. However, we wanted to share an article from our 2015 Winter Newsletter that featured an article on Mr. Yamada. Mr. Yamada is the heart and soul of our Mochitsuki Workshops. You may remember seeing him volunteering his time to pound hundreds of pounds of mochi for many to enjoy each and every year. We hope you enjoy this clipping of the article and hope to be able to host these workshops again in 2021.

Three more hours to take advantage of these amazing gift card deals to support Japantown businesses this holiday season through our Gambaro Gift Certificate sale at charityauction.bid/holidaygiftcardsale! The Center is selling 7 discounted gift certificate packs valued at $150 to $250 containing between 3 and 8 gift certificates to different Japantown businesses and 8 individual discounted gift certificates. Gift certificates will be sold until tonight at 5 PM and sent with specially designed Center gift certificate holders tomorrow, December 17. This is a Center-member exclusive with specific discounts for sustaining and general members for each package. Not a member yet? Become an official part of our Center family to take advantage of these discounts and future benefits at https://14797.blackbaudhosting.com/14797/General-Membership

Japantowns are in danger! Check out this article by NBC News How the pandemic threatens to destroy America's three remaining Japantowns An eviction crisis is intensifying long-standing pressures on the historic neighborhoods from displacement to urban renewal and it could lead to their collapse.

Can you spare 5 min? Complete the Center's Census today and help us understand our constituents and cater our efforts to best serve the community's needs. Click the link below and take this quick 5min survey. Thank you for your help and support. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCRC89W

Receive 5% off all Uji Time Dessert orders using code "THECENTER2020." 10% of all proceeds using this code will go towards The Center! This fundraiser goes until 01/15/2020. Promo code valid at Uji Time Dessert San Francisco Japantown, Berkeley, Pleasanton, and San Mateo locations. Delivery options available. Place your order at www.ujitimedessert.com.

Our friends at Nakayoshi are hosting a Take-out Dine-in social this Saturday at 7pm! What a great way to support our local Japantown businesses. See the link below for more information.

Just ONE MORE DAY to support Japantown businesses this holiday season through our Gambaro Gift Certificate sale at charityauction.bid/holidaygiftcardsale! The Center is selling 7 discounted gift certificate packs valued at $150 to $250 containing between 3 and 8 gift certificates to different Japantown businesses and 8 individual discounted gift certificates. Gift certificates will be sold until tomorrow at 5 PM and sent with specially designed Center gift certificate holders on December 17. This is a Center-member exclusive with specific discounts for sustaining and general members for each package. Not a member yet? Become an official part of our Center family to take advantage of these discounts and future benefits at https://14797.blackbaudhosting.com/14797/General-Membership

Congratulations Mr. Onishi! Japantown video has been a long time supporter of the Center and has generously donated prizes to our annual Children’s day Festival. Repost from @japantowncbd Congratulations to Mr. Takeshi Onishi of Japan Video and Media for becoming the 12th Legacy Business in Japantown! For the past 36 years Japan Video and Media has been offering customers Japanese and Korean tv shows/film and anime merchandise. A true treasure of Japantown #sflegacybusiness #japanvideoandmedia #japantownlegacybusiness #japantownsf #sf_japantown #japantowntaskforce

Support our local Japantown small businesses!

Support Japantown businesses this holiday season through our Gambaro Gift Certificate sale at charityauction.bid/holidaygiftcardsale! The Center is selling 7 discounted gift certificate packs valued at $150 to $250 containing between 3 and 8 gift certificates to different Japantown businesses and 8 individual discounted gift certificates. Gift certificates will be sold until December 16 and sent with specially designed Center gift certificate holders on December 17. This is a Center-member exclusive with specific discounts for sustaining and general members for each package. Not a member yet? Become an official part of our Center family to take advantage of these discounts and future benefits at https://14797.blackbaudhosting.com/14797/General-Membership

Got weekend plans? We have something you can do from the safety of your own home while also supporting Japantown and buying holiday gifts for all of your family and friends on charityauction.bid/HolidayGiftCardSale! Gambaro gift certificates are available for purchase until December 16. The Center is selling 7 discounted gift certificate packs valued at $150 to $250 containing between 3 and 8 gift certificates to different Japantown businesses and 8 individual discounted gift certificates. This is a Center-member exclusive with specific discounts for sustaining and general members for each package. Not a member yet? Become an official part of our Center family here to take advantage of these discounts and future benefits at https://14797.blackbaudhosting.com/14797/General-Membership!

Last chance to register for this Sunday's online cooking class! Add a delightful treat with a Japanese twist to your holiday celebrations with this matcha roll cake! Chef Kenji Yokoo of YouTube channel Kenji’s Kitchen will teach you how to bake this cake live on Zoom at his monthly online cooking class with the Center! Learn along with Kenji on Sunday, December 13, 11:00 a.m. PST. $7 Center members, $10 general public. Register online: http://bit.ly/matcharollcake... #kenjiskitchen #JCCCNC #japanesedessert #matcha #japanesecooking See more

Check out today's article in the SF Gate! Support our local Japantown businesses this holiday season and buy local. Our many family owned businesses are struggling and need our help. https://www.sfgate.com//The-culture-bearers-of-the-415-fig

Update: Hello Everyone. We want to thank you for your generous and kind donation to assist Shogo and Hiroko Yamada. At the request of the family, we will be shutting the campaign down but they sincerely appreciate the support and wonderful messages you have shared. Please be well. Our friends and supporters Shogo and Hideko Yamada are in need of support. It is with a very heavy heart that we share this message with you about Shogo and Hiroko Yamada.... Some of us know them from the Yamasho Restaurant, Izumiya, Taru Mikoshi, Kawachi Ondo Yamasho Kai, Awakko Ren, Sakura Matsuri, Osaka Matsuri, or listening to Mr. Yamada sing at one of the many events where he has tirelessly volunteered his time and resources. Both of the Yamada’s have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Hiroko has been bravely battling the illness for many years, and at the beginning of this year, Shogo was diagnosed with brain cancer. We have recently learned that their medical and other expenses are far exceeding their own ability to pay for them. They are staying with relatives in the Bay Area to help defray costs but Mr. Yamada’s current condition requires 24/7 care that cannot be met because of cost, and thus Mrs. Yamada is trying to do this on her own despite her own fragile condition. We ask that you please help support them. To learn more click the link below. Thank you

Today's the last day to submit your greetings to wish our seniors happy holidays and let them know we're thinking of them! With the statewide lockdown going into effect, it's especially important this holiday season for us to give a holiday greeting and message of encouragement to keep our beloved seniors' spirits up. We'll send your greetings to our community seniors in our pandemic care packages we've been sending out regularly. Please take a minute to submit your brief message to all our community's seniors today by filling out our online form at: http://bit.ly/jtownseniorsholiday2020

Hurry time is running out! Complete the Center's Census today and help us understand our constituents and cater our efforts to best serve the community's needs. Click the link below and take this quick 5min survey. Thank you for your help and support. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCRC89W

A 93-year-old confectioner brings smiles to customers with her bamboo leaf rice cakes.

There is just one more week to support Japantown businesses through easy and personal holiday gifts! The Center is selling discounted gift certificate packs valued at $150 to $250 containing between 3 and 8 gift cards to different Japantown businesses. There are also 8 individual discounted gift certificates valued between $25 to $50 available for purchase. Gift certificates and packs will be sold until next Wednesday, December 16, and sent with specially designed Center gift... certificate holders on December 17. Gift certificates are limited to maximum 5 packs and 5 certificates per person (see specific pack/certificate for maximum allowed per person), so purchase your holiday gifts before they run out at charityauction.bid/HolidayGiftCardSale! This is a Center-member exclusive with specific discounts for Sustaining and General members. Not a member? Become an official part of our Center family at jcccnc.org to take advantage of promotions and benefits like this one! See more

Add a delightful treat with a Japanese twist to your holiday celebrations with this matcha roll cake! Chef Kenji Yokoo of YouTube channel Kenji’s Kitchen will teach you how to bake this cake live on Zoom at his monthly online cooking class with the Center! Learn along with Kenji on Sunday, December 13, 11:00 a.m. PST. $7 Center members, $10 general public. Register online: http://bit.ly/matcharollcake #kenjiskitchen #JCCCNC #japanesedessert #matcha #japanesecooking

Anyone remember this? At the Volunteer Luncheon 2015, we honored the Mochi Master, Mr. Yamada, for his volunteer work at our annual Mochitsuki Workshops held every December. Around this time of year, we are typically hosting our volunteer appreciation luncheon and preparing for our Mochitsuki Workshops. We miss our many volunteers and Mochitsuki participants and look forward to celebrating sometime in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented extraordinarily challenging times for small businesses and organizations in Japantown. With the new restrictions and the holidays right around the corner, the Center is excited to present an opportunity to support Japantown businesses through easy and personal holiday gifts! The Center is selling discounted gift certificate packs valued at $150 to $250 containing between 3 and 8 gift cards to different Japantown businesses. There are also 8... individual discounted gift certificates valued between $25 to $50 available for purchase. Gift certificates and packs will be sold until December 16 and sent with specially designed Center gift certificate holders on December 17. Gift certificates are limited to maximum 5 packs and 5 certificates per person (see specific pack/certificate for maximum allowed per person), so purchase your holiday gifts before they run out at charityauction.bid/HolidayGiftCardSale! This is a Center-member exclusive with specific discounts for Sustaining and General members. Not a member? Become an official part of our Center family at jcccnc.org to take advantage of promotions and benefits like this one! See more

The Asian American Donor Program and Kazumi need our help. Kazumi is in need of a stem cell transplant. Donors of Japanese decent only make up 0.1% of the registry. Order your kit today and lets try and find a match for Kazumi and others in need. Order a kit today at aadp.org/homekit

Don't forget to wish our seniors happy holidays and let them know we're thinking of them! With the statewide lockdown going into effect, it's especially important this holiday season for us to give a holiday greeting and message of encouragement to keep our beloved seniors' spirits up. We'll send your greetings to our community seniors in our pandemic care packages we've been sending out regularly. Please take a minute to submit your brief message to all our community's seniors by December 10, 2020 by filling out our online form at: http://bit.ly/jtownseniorsholiday2020

Have you picked out what noodle or holiday dish to make and share on Tuesday? Join us for our final monthly Community Kitchen Virtual Potluck of the year this Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6pm PST! Let's celebrate the holiday season with other folks in our community who enjoy home cooking by preparing and sharing over Zoom our favorite noodle and holiday dishes! Register for free online: http://bit.ly/communitykitchennoodles #CommunityKitchen #VirtualPotluck #Noodles #JapaneseCooking #JCCCNC

Announcement: Today San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced they will be issuing a stay-at-home order beginning Sunday at 10pm and will last until January 4th. The Center has remained closed over the course of the pandemic and we will continue to follow our city and state health orders. Let's all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Stay safe everyone. See the link below for full details. https://sfmayor.org//san-francisco-join-bay-area-counties-

Are you age 18-34? Are you willing to accept the Paul Osaki Challenge Match? The Center would like to give a BIG shout out to the millennials (25-34) and Gen Z (18-24) for stepping up and giving back over the course of the pandemic! According to a poll conducted by Zelle, the younger generations have given back the most during the pandemic. It's impressive that it's the generations who have been hit hard financially and have the least amount of money who are donating. Histo...rically, it's been the Nisei who have been the most philanthropic. But as that generation continues to pass on, it gives hope that our Yonsei and Gosei generations show promise they will carry the mantle of philanthropy for the future of our community, said Paul Osaki To show his appreciation of our Yonsei and Gosei (ages 18-34) donating to the Center this holiday season, He will personally match your donation dollar for dollar up to $2000. Submit your donation at bit.ly/paulosakichallenge and write "I accept the Paul Osaki Challenge" in the comment box.

Great news, our Virtual Family Holidays Crafts Workshop on Saturday, December 12, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. is now being offered FOR FREE! Learn two different crafts in time for Christmas with our creative instructor Judy Hamaguchi, including bread dough ornaments for the tree and an origami tsuru (crane) wreath ornament! This workshop will be virtual on Zoom and is a great activity for family members of all ages to do together. Register online at http://bit.ly/familyholidaycrafts #holidaycrafts #DIY #JCCCNC #xmastree #hohoho

Don't forget to sign up for our virtual book launch for author Brian Komei Dempster’s new book of poems, Seize, this Saturday, December 5, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. PST. Free admission, register online at http://bit.ly/seizebooklaunch Brian is a past writing instructor at the Center as well as a professor at the University of San Francisco, and will be sharing poems from his new collection alongside photos and video clips. Following up on his previous book, Topaz, the book confront...s the ups and downs of fatherhood and caring for a child with acute medical needs. As Brian explains in his October interview in Shenandoah magazine, "This book emerged out of necessity, out of a need to understand my vacillating emotionsof love and rage, resistance and surrender, gratitude and mourning. To articulate the impact of Brendan on me, on our marriage, our family members. To show who Brendan really was, his world beyond words, the meanings behind his silence, his magical ways of communication. To capture the weight of his suffering, the depth of his resilience, the intensity of his radiance. And to connect his experience of seizure to other seizures: my Japanese American mother’s unjust wartime incarceration in a prison camp; my cellist brother’s assault by a gang; acts of racial and homophobic violence; the PTSD of war veterans. The collection took over a decade to write and revise. Seize felt finished once the father-son story was complete and served as a through-line and powerful connecting thread for these diverse narratives." - Read the full interview at: https://shenandoahliterary.org/thepeak/a-world-beyond-words/

Add a delicious matcha (green tea) roll cake to your holiday baking repertoire at our monthly online cooking class with chef Kenji Yokoo of Kenji’s Kitchen! Learn along with Kenji on Sunday, December 13, 11:00 a.m. PST. $7 Center members, $10 general public. Register online: http://bit.ly/matcharollcake

Calling all Yonsei!

We want to send a huge thank you to those that supported us during GivingTuesday yesterday. Your donations are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to the day we can welcome you back. We are excited to announce that the Paul Osaki Challenge has been extended through the end of the year. For those ages 18-34, our Executive Director Paul Osaki will match your donation dollar for dollar up to $2k until the end of the year! Nearly 3 out of 4 millennials have contributed dona...tions during the pandemic. Paul would like to show his appreciation by offering this special match. Submit your donation by visiting bit.ly/paulosakichallenge and write, "I accept the Paul Osaki Challenge in the comment section. Let's go Gen Z and Millenials. Let's support the Center and take advantage of this special match.

Join us for our final monthly Community Kitchen Virtual Potluck of the year next Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6pm PST! Let's celebrate the holiday season with other folks in our community who enjoy home cooking by preparing and sharing over Zoom our favorite noodle and holiday dishes! Register for free online: http://bit.ly/communitykitchennoodles

We want to hear from you! Complete the Center's Census today and help us understand our constituents and cater our efforts to best serve the community's needs. Click the link below and take this quick 5min survey. Thank you for your help and support. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DCRC89W

It will be harder this quarantine holiday season for family and friends to gather to celebrate, but we want to make sure our seniors in Japantown still get some holiday cheer from the community! Leave a holiday greeting and message of encouragement to keep our beloved seniors' spirits up during the season, which we'll include in our senior pandemic care packages we've been sending out regularly. Please take a minute to submit your brief message to all our community's seniors by December 10, 2020 by filling out our online form at: http://bit.ly/jtownseniorsholiday2020

The Christ United Presbyterian Church located in SF Japantown will be hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 from 10:00am - 2:45pm. Schedule an appointment for their blood drive by visiting vitalant.org and click donate. Use your unique sponsor code: CUPC-SF or contact Pastor Grace at [email protected].

Giving Tuesday started in 2012 to encourage people to do good to help transform communities and the world. Since our incorporation in 1973, the Center was built by the community from the ground up. It started with people coming together to create a community center, and we hope it will forever stand as a home for people to gather, share and create memories. Through the pandemic, though we have been apart, we are a community at heart! Join us on this Giving Tuesday to support ...community now and forever! Ages 18-34: donate TODAY and our Executive Director Paul Osaki will contribute a dollar for every dollar you give! Just make a comment on our Facebook page saying, I accept the Paul Osaki Challenge and the amount of your donation. Thank you so much for your support of the Center this #GivingTuesday https://www.facebook.com/donate/247253543637508/

Happy Giving Tuesday! Whether you are giving $5 or $50, please know your contribution to the Center makes a difference, especially during this global pandemic. Help us, your Japanese American cultural center, to continue to serve our community and stand strong for generations to come. Ages 18-34: donate TODAY and our Executive Director Paul Osaki will contribute a dollar for every dollar you give! Just make a comment on our Facebook page saying, I accept the Paul Osaki Challenge and the amount of your donation. Thank you so much for your support!

GIVING BACK TODAY- the Paul Osaki Challenge Match The Center would like to give a BIG shout out to the millennials (25-34) and Gen Z (18-24) for stepping up and giving back! According to a poll conducted by Zelle, the younger generations have given back the most during the pandemic. ... It's impressive that it's the generations who have been hit hard financially and have the least amount of money who are donating. Historically, it's been the Nisei who have been the most philanthropic. But as that generation continues to pass on, it gives hope that our Yonsei and Gosei generations show promise they will carry the mantle of philanthropy for the future of our community, said Paul Osaki To show my appreciation of our Yonsei and Gosei (ages 18-34) donating to the Center this GIVING TUESDAY, I will personally match their donation dollar for dollar up to $2000. Just make a comment on our Facebook page saying, I accept the Paul Osaki Challenge and the amount of your donation. Nearly 3 out of 4 millennials have donated money during the pandemic https://www.cnbc.com//more-millennials-donated-money-durin