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With the closure of former senior hangouts Benkyodo and May’s Coffee Shop, there are few places where seniors can come together and connect. The Japantown Cultural District announces a new weekly Coffee Hour and warmly invites seniors and older adults to gather at the Visitor Center, 2nd Floor of the Japan Center East Mall on Tuesdays, 9-10 am for a free cup of coffee, tea, and connection! |
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The beloved Peace Plaza will undergo a $33.5 million renovation beginning in May. Construction is expected to take 2 years. To mark this transition, please join us for “Celebrating the Jtown Peace Plaza” free weekend concerts by well-known performers and musicians brought to you by the Merchants of the Japan Center Malls. |
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Focus GroupsAn important message from City Administrator Carmen Chu: The Community Challenge Grants program supports community-led, neighborhood improvement projects. This is a special partnership between the City and community leaders. We are #bettertogether. Below are key moments in the next grant cycle: March 2024: Focus groups will collect community input. This will inform a new Request for Proposals. July 2024: RFP released. July to November 2024: Workshops to answer questions about the grant opportunity. January 2025: Expected grant deadline. July 2025: Grant term starts.
We invite community members to attend a focus group. Attendees will learn about the program. They will give input to make it more responsive to the community. The meeting will last 90 minutes (60 for the online focus group). Attendees will split into small groups. They will answer questions about community strengths, neighborhood needs, and experiences with prior RFPs. Select the date you will attend. Staff will provide and collect the same information at each event. We encourage organizations to register for one focus group only. Wednesday, March 20
5:30 to 7 p.m.
San Francisco Public Library (Latino Hispanic Community Room)
100 Larkin Street (Main Branch)
Click here for the March 20 focus group Tuesday, March 26
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Bindlestiff Studio
185 6th Street
Click here for the March 26 daytime focus group Tuesday, March 26
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Joe Lee Recreation Center
1598 Oakdale Avenue
Click here for the March 26 evening focus group Thursday, March 28
6 to 7 p.m.
Online via Microsoft Teams
Click here for the March 28 focus group
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A message from our friends at the San Francisco Taru Mikoshi Ren: Carry the Mikoshi in San Francisco's Japantown during the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade this April 21. The Mikoshi is a 1,000-pound shrine and is a Japanese cultural tradition that dates back to 1868. The San Francisco Taru Mikoshi was first established in 1968. Join this cherished tradition and take part in the historic 56-year old Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade. Registration is at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 21st, 2024 at Nihonmachi Terrace, 1615 Sutter Street, at Octavia Street. Please bring your own carrier costume (hachimaki, happi coat, white shorts, tabi) if you have one. If you have white shorts you are encouraged to bring them. Mikoshi carrying practice will occur immediately prior to the start of the parade (~2 p.m.). If you do not own a carrier costume, you will be able to borrow one at the time of registration. You will change into your carrier costume at the time of registration. Your street clothes will be reserved for you until the end of the parade (~4 pm). ~~EVERYONE over the age of 18 are welcome. The first 150 to register the day of the parade will be accepted as carriers and will be able to borrow a carrier costume at registration. For the parade, you will help carry the Mikoshi five city blocks down Post Street from Octavia Street to Fillmore Street in San Francisco's historic Japantown. 桑港樽神輿連では、2024年サンフランシスコ桜祭りのパレードの樽神輿の担ぎ手を募集しています。先着150名。一緒に盛り上がりましょう! ※男性と女性、18歳以上 Costumes are first come, first serve. At registration, carriers will receive a free voucher to shower at Hamilton Recreation Center. At the end of the parade, carriers will be able to redeem their vouchers for a quick shower at Hamilton Recreation Center, which is located around the corner from where the parade will end. Here, you will return your carrier costume in exchange for your street clothes. After showering, carriers are invited back to Nihonmachi Terrace to attend a private party hosted by Soko Taru Mikoshi Ren where a free meal will be served as a show of our appreciation. Post-parade meal vouchers will also be given at the time of registration. Join our Facebook Group. Video of the Mikoshi during the Parade Pre-registration available here: 2024 SF Taru Mikoshi Carrier Sign Up Form here. Photo: San Francisco Taru Mikoshi Ren Facebook page. |
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March /April JTF MEETINGS: For agendas and Zoom links, go to the JTF website. All meetings are open to the public. JTF各委員会の3-4月定例ミーティングの開催日と時間のお知らせです。議題内容やZoomリンク等は、JTF website からどうぞ Wed, 3/20, 6-8 pm: Full Board Meeting NEW DATE: Thurs, 3/21, 6-8 pm: Land Use & Transportation Committee Tues, 3/26, 5-6 pm: Peace Plaza Committee Mon, 4/1, 5:30-7 pm: Cultural Heritage Sustainability Committee.
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SAVE THE DATES FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:
下記のイベントにもぜひご参加ください： Wed, 3/20, 5:30-7 pm: Community Challenge Grant Focus Group #1 of 4 @ San Francisco Public Library (Latino Hispanic Community Room) [SF City Administrator] Tues, 3/26, 6-7:30 pm: Community Challenge Grant Focus Group #3 of 4 @ Joe Lee Recreation Center, 1598 Oakdale Avenue [SF City Administrator] Tues, 3/26, 2-3:30 pm: Community Challenge Grant Focus Group #2 of 4 @ Bindlestiff Studio, 185 6th Street [SF City Administrator]Thurs, 3/28, 6-7 pm: Community Challenge Grant Focus Group #4 of 4 @online via Microsoft Teams [SF City Administrator] Sat, 3/30, 1-4 pm: “Celebrating JTown Peace Plaza” Performance - SF Taiko Dojo, Sayonara Picnic Band + Jtown Hip Hop Experience @ Peace Plaza. Free. [Steve Nakajo/Japan Center Malls] Sun, 3/31, 1-4 pm: “Celebrating JTown Peace Plaza” Performance with Kotobuki Taiko, Cross Wind Band, JTown Ukes, Jest Jammin’ Band @ Peace Plaza. Free. [Steve Nakajo/Japan Center Malls] Tues, 4/2, 6 pm: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (in-person; location TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development] Through Sat, 4/6, 12n-4 pm, Tues-Fri: “Reflecting on Ruth Asawa and the Garden of Remembrance” exhibit @ SF State University, gallery.sfsu.edu Sun, 4/7, 1-4 pm: “Celebrating JTown Peace Plaza” Performance - Opening by Jiten Daiko, Jtown Jazz Session with Bands by Akira Tana, Bob Kenmotsu, Paul Yonemura @ Peace Plaza. Free. [Steve Nakajo/Japan Center Malls] Wed, 4/10, 6 pm: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (in-person; location TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development] Sat-Sun, 4/13-14: SF Cherry Blossom Festival Sat-Sun: 4/13-14: Davis Cherry Blossom Festival Sat-Sun, 4/20-21: SF Cherry Blossom Festival Sat, 4/20, 6 pm: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (in-person; location TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development] Wed, 4/17: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (virtual; link TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development] Sat, 4/20: Japanese Students Union Matsuri @ Santa Clara University Sun, 4/21: San Jose Nikkei Matsuri Thurs, 4/25: Fillmore Food Access Community Session (virtual; link TBD) [SF Human Rights Commission, Office of Economic & Workforce Development] Sat-Sun, 4/27-28: Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival Sat, 6/22: 12th Annual Soy & Tofu Festival @ Event Center, St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough [Nichi Bei News]
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Photo credits: JTF staff, official event, organization websites, social media sites.
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