Here’s your July monthly update for this month’s Nakayoshi events! Last month we kicked off our 3rd year of bringing together young professionals across the Bay Area at our annual Welcome BBQ in Golden Gate Park. We had a solid turnout and great weather to accompany an afternoon of fun and BBQ. Nakayoshi members also pitched in to help the San Francisco JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club host their annual Youth Fishing Derby at the San Pablo Dam Reservoir.

Be sure to check out what we have coming to you this month! Both of our July social and volunteer events are coming up this weekend, so you’ll want to RSVP ASAP! On Friday night we are going bowling at the Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco to be followed up with tapas at Thirsty Bear, and on Sunday we’ll be volunteering at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple’s big Obon Festival. Make sure to mark your calendars in advance for our events in August as well – volunteering at the Nihonmachi Street Fair and our annual camping trip! More info below!

Come roll with Nakayoshi this Friday for July’s social event. We’ll be at the Yerba Buena gardens in downtown SF (right next to the SF Metreon) bowling, rollin’ and LOL’n all night long. Don’t forget to bring some extra cash for shoe and alley rentals. After our forearms and fingers are strained and sore, we can migrate to Thirsty Bear at 661 Howard Street to hang out and enjoy some tapas.

What: Nakayoshi Bowling Night
Date: Friday, 7/16/10
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Location: Yerba Buena Skating and Bowling, 750 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134184499949030

Sunday, July 18 – Volunteering at Mt. View Obon Festival
Come celebrate obon season with Nakayoshi at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple on Sunday, July 18. We will be assisting the temple to man game and food booths and the main dining area at the festival. Volunteer shifts are 2-hours each, starting from noon until 6pm. Let us know when you sign up which shift you would prefer by e-mailing nakayoshi.ncwnp. Come hang out with the rest of Nakayoshi and enjoy the great food and fun before and after your volunteer shift! Volunteers are still greatly needed to assist with the kitchen and take-out booths, so sign up today!

For those of you unfamiliar with obon, obon is an annual Buddhist holiday to honor one’s departed ancestors. Many Japanese Buddhist temples hold a festival in conjunction with this holiday, which are often one of the biggest local community events of the year. Mountain View Buddhist Temple holds one of the largest obons in the Bay Area, which will include lots of great food, game and drink booths, as well as an optional Buddhist religious service and will culminate in a traditional obon dance (bon-dori) open to anyone to participate in. Obons are also a fun opportunity to come out dressed in more traditional Japanese dress, so come out sporting your yukata or hapi-coats if you have them!

Questions? E-mail us at %20nakayoshi.ncwnp

More information on the temple and obon at: http://www.mvbuddhisttemple.org/

Also, if any of you in the South Bay are available during the week, the temple could also use volunteers on the evenings of Wednesday, July 14th and Friday, July 16th to help prepare the teriyaki chicken and beef to be sold during the obon festival. Contact Ron Murata at remurata if you are available during the week.

What: Volunteering at Mt. View Obon Festival
Date: Sunday, 7/18/10
Time: Noon-6pm (2 hour volunteer shifts starting from noon)
Location: Mt. View Buddhist Temple, 575 North Shoreline Blvd, Mt. View, CA
RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136916066336313

Weekend of August 14-15 – Nihonmachi Street Fair
Mark your calendars for the weekend of August 14-15 for the Nihonmachi Street Fair in SF Japantown! Started in 1973, the Nihonmachi Street Fair began as an effort of young activists of the Japantown community. Every year, NSF continues to bring together community organizations, Asian/American artisans, local musicians and cultural performers to celebrate the culture and to share and educate others about Japantown. Nakayoshi has assisted JCYC set up and man booths and games in the Children’s Village for the last couple of years. We’ll be sending out more information on volunteer opportunities for this great event in our August monthly update, so stay tuned!

For more information on the Nihonmachi Street Fair, go to: http://www.nihonmachistreetfair.org/index.htm

Weekend of August 27-29 – Nakayoshi Camping Trip
Get ready for our 2nd Annual Camping Trip in the Lake Tahoe area! Keep your calendars open the weekend of 8/27-8/29 for fun times. Our outdoor activities last year included kayaking on the lake. We’re still finalizing the itinerary, but we’re looking into rafting on the Truckee River (more floating than anything) as well as some hiking for this year’s trip. We’ll be camping at Fallen Leaf Campgrounds (same as last year).

Feel free to take Friday 8/27 off and drive up earlier (to avoid Friday afternoon traffic and having to set up camp in the dark!). More time to relax…

You must confirm your spot by sending an email to %20nakayoshi.ncwnp

What: Nakayoshi Camping Trip
Date: Weekend of 8/27/10 – 8/29/10
Location: Fallen Leaf Campground, South Lake Tahoe, CA (map)
Price: TBD
RSVP on Facebook (You still need to e-mail us in order to confirm!!): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129674730389039

That’s it for July’s update! Hope to see you come out this weekend for bowling and volunteering at the obon!

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.

This June marks the 2nd anniversary of Nakayoshi’s founding. We’ll be kicking off Nakayoshi’s 3rd year of operations this month with our 3rd annual Welcome BBQ. Join us as we get our third year off to a fresh start by welcoming in our newest class of recent college graduates and connecting them with the great activities and people that make up the Nakayoshi family!

We are continuing to do our best to provide monthly social and volunteer opportunities, and are looking forward to seeing new faces and encouraging existing members to get involved with Nakayoshi and the community! To all of you who have been with us the past two years, thanks for your part in making Nakayoshi what it is today! And to all the newcomers, we look forward to getting to know you all at the BBQ and our other upcoming events!

In this update:
6/13/10 – Nakayoshi’s 3rd Annual Welcome BBQ
6/19/10 – Volunteering at Youth Fishing Derby
Other Community Events:
6/19/10 – JCYC’s 40th Anniversary
6/27/10 – NAAAP SF Summer Picnic

It’s time again for Nakayoshi’s annual welcome BBQ and picnic in Golden Gate Park to welcome new members and to kick off our 3rd year of connecting young professionals with the Bay Area Japanese and Japanese American community! The event is FREE for everyone, so come on out and bring your friends! We’ll be grilling up burgers and hot dogs as well as providing additional dishes and drinks.

Come meet or catch up with other Nakayoshi members, learn more about our monthly social and volunteer activities, play games, eat great food, and have a great time on us! Please pass the word along about our BBQ and invite anyone who you think would be interested! We’ll be at table #15 at Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park (at 30th Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive) from noon to 4pm. Make sure you RSVP on Facebook or by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp. We look forward to meeting you!

Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010

Location: Table #15 at Lindley Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133136033363273

Nakayoshi’s June volunteer opportunity will be at the San Francisco JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club’s annual Youth Fishing Derby, held at the San Pablo Dam Reservoir in the East Bay. Volunteers will be needed to assist parents and other volunteers chaperone 20-25 youth ages 8-12 as well as to help set up and clean up the potluck picnic provided by the JACL chapter and Nisei Fishing Club members. No fishing experience necessary!

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Other Community Events:

Saturday, June 19 – JCYC’s 40th Anniversary

Come on out and support the Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC), as they celebrate 40 years of providing non-profit programs, activities and social services for children and families in San Francisco Japantown and throughout the city of San Francisco! Their 40th Anniversary Gala will be a special evening in Japantown’s Peace Plaza to celebrate their 40 year history of empowering young people for the future on Saturday, June 19, 2010, from 7pm to midnight.

For more information on JCYC, go to: http://www.jcyc.org

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Location: Peace Plaza, San Francisco Japantown (Post Street at Buchannan)

Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104149

Sunday, June 27 – NAAAP-SF Annual Summer PicnicNakayoshi is partnering with the San Francisco chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP-SF) for their annual summer picnic on Sunday, June 27 at Rengstorff Park in Mountain View.

Continuing on NAAAP’s success from last year’s Summer Picnic, Nakayoshi will be joining NAAAP as they gather again for their 2010 Summer Picnic and Volleyball Tournament event bringing diverse Asian-focused organizations and like-minded professionals from all over the SF Bay Area for a great day of food, friends, and fun!

About NAAAP:
NAAAP San Francisco is the Bay Area Chapter of the National Association of Asian Professionals. NAAAP-SF is an all volunteer non-profit organization. We serve and support organizations, associations, and enterprises committed to the betterment of the Asian American community. The National Association of Asian American Professionals is dedicated to promoting leadership development, professional networking, and cultural awareness on behalf of the Asian community. Through programs and leadership opportunities, NAAAP-SF is driving leadership development by providing hands on experience, feedback, and education. Founded in 1982, NAAAP has since expanded to over 25 cities and has grown to over 3,500 active members in North America. Over the years, NAAAP has established strategic, diverse, and collaborative relationships that further our commitment that “We Make Leaders!”

Find out more about NAAAP-SF at http://www.naaapsf.org

What: NAAAP-SF Annual Summer Picnic
Date: Sunday, June 27
Time: 10:30am
Location: Rengstorff Park, Mountain View
Price: Early Bird Special (expires 6/11)$12 NAAAP Members / $17 Non-Members; Regular (Online only): $17 NAAAP Members / $22 Non-members; On-Site: $22 NAAAP Members / $27 Non-members
To Register: http://www.naaapsf.org/Events/EventCalendar/tabid/1960/vw/3/ItemID/1044/d/20100626/Default.aspx

That’s our June monthly update! We hope you can make it out for some picnics and BBQing this month. Keep your eyes open for our other events in the works for later this summer, including Obon festival volunteering and our annual camping trip!

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.

Happy holidays from your friends at Nakayoshi!

As 2009 draws to a close, we’d like to thank everyone who has come out to all of our social and volunteer events this past year. Nakayoshi has grown tremendously in both number and capacity in just a year and a half since we held our first event. We could not have done it without your continued support and enthusiastic participation! We’d also like to thank our main sponsor, the NCWNP District of the Japanese American Citizens League, as well as our many community partners who we’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with, including the JCCCNC, AsianWeek Foundation, JCYC and Kearny Street Workshop, among others.

We hope to see some of you at our 2nd annual holiday party, and for the rest of you, we hope you can make it out to some of the great events we already have underway for 2010. We’ll be volunteering in January at the JCCCNC’s Oshogatsu (New Year’s) Festival, and at the Bay Area Day of Remembrance in February. Make sure to save the date for our big social events coming up, including Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night, and our annual Tahoe ski trip!

Again, have a safe and happy holiday, and if you can’t make it to the holiday party, we’ll see you in 2010!

In this update:
12/19/09 – Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party
1/9/10 – Volunteer at JCCCNC Oshogatsu Festival
1/22/10 – Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night
2/21/10 – Bay Area Day of Remembrance
2/26/10-2/28/10 – Tahoe Ski Trip

Other community events:
12/19-20/09 – nihonmachiROOTS Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend

Saturday, December 19, 2009: Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party

Nakayoshi Chair Megumi Kaminaga is once again graciously hosting our 2nd annual Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party! The party starts at 6pm on Saturday, December 19, and will include delicious potluck, white elephant gift exchange ($5 value maximum), gingerbread house decorating, games, and an overall fun night celebrating the holidays with the Nakayoshi crew! Everyone is welcome, but space is limited, so RSVP ASAP at nakayoshi.ncwnp to let us know you’re coming.

What: Nakayoshi Core Holiday Party
When: Saturday, December 19, 2009
Time: Party starts at 6:00pm
Location: Location given upon RSVP
Bring: Potluck items/beverages/wrapped white elephant gift for exchange ($5 max)
RSVP : nakayoshi.ncwnp

Saturday, January 9, 2010: Volunteering at JCCCNC’s Oshogatsu Festival

Ring in the new year with Nakayoshi volunteers at the JCCCNC’s annual Oshogatsu (New Year’s) Festival. We’ll be helping once again with arts and crafts activities for children, traditional mochitsuki (New Year’s rice pounding) and take in the cultural performances and more! Volunteers are needed for setup, assistance at crafts tables for children and for cleanup. Setup begins at 9am, the event runs from 11am-3pm, with cleanup after. Please e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp and let us know if you can help out, even if it’s only for an hour or two!

What: Volunteering at JCCCNC’s Oshogatsu Festival
When: Saturday, January 9, 2010
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm (2 hour shifts)
Location: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: nakayoshi.ncwnp

Friday, January 22, 2010: Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

We know all you NBA basketball fans have been waiting a whole year for one of Nakayoshi’s biggest social events/fundraisers: Asian American Heritage Night with the Golden State Warriors! Come out and cheer for your team take on Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets in Nakayoshi’s section!

We’ve worked out online ticket sales with the Warriors, so stop reading this and buy your tickets NOW!!! Tickets are $28, $6 of which goes directly back to support Nakayoshi, and an additional $2 supports the SF Hepatitis B Free Campaign! Free T-shirt with ticket purchase! Plus we’ll be playing the hapless NJ Nets, so it’s totally a win-win situation for everyone–you, Nakayoshi, SF Hep B Free, and of course, the Warriors!

Here’s how to get your tickets:
1.) Click on https://www.gs-warriors.com/forms/secure/fct_asianamerican10.html

2.) Join us at the $28.00 level — $6.00 of your ticket purchase will automatically go back to Nakayoshi, $2 to SF Hep B Free!

3.) Before you check out BE SURE TO WRITE “NAKAYOSHI” IN THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BOX. This makes sure that you sit with us and your donation comes back to us.

That’s it. Bring out your friends and family for a great time out with Nakayoshi and the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena! Go DUBS!!!

What: Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night
When: Friday, January 22, 2010
Time: 7pm
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
Price: $28
Buy tickets online at: https://www.gs-warriors.com/forms/secure/fct_asianamerican10.html (make sure to write “Nakayoshi” in the questions and comments box!)

Weekend of February 26-28, 2010: Nakayoshi Tahoe Ski Trip

Time to start waxing your snowboard or skis! Our social committee is busy making arrangements for our annual winter trip to Tahoe. We’ll be hitting the slopes of Northstar by day and relaxing and hanging out by night back at the cabin. More information and pricing to come, but spaces are already filling up (we’re almost at 20 people already!), so be sure to reserve your spot and save the date now!

Check for more information on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=211107058728&index=1

What: Nakayoshi Tahoe Ski Trip
When: Weekend of February 26-28, 2010
Where: Northstar at Tahoe/Tahoe Cabin
Price: TBA
Updates/RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=211107058728&index=1

Other Community Events:
December 19-20, 2009: nihonmachiROOTS Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend

nihonmachiROOTS is a newly formed group of progressive young adults (including several members of Nakayoshi) focusing on issues affecting San Francisco Japantown, including the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan.

Currently many Japantown businesses, especially those in the Japan Center mall, are experiencing rising operating expenses since the mall properties were sold in 2005. In order to help support local small businesses in Japantown, nihonmachiROOTS is putting together a Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, December 19 and 20 from 11-3pm. The Friends and Family Shopping Weekend will feature discounts from many participating Japantown businesses and restaurants, and a free entry in a raffle drawing for customers with receipts of purchases from 3 or more Japantown businesses during the weekend event.

Check for more event information and links to sale coupons at: http://www.japantownnow.com

What: nihonmachiROOTS Japantown Friends and Family Shopping Weekend
When: Saturday and Sunday, December 19-20
Time: 11-3pm
More info and coupons: http://www.japantownnow.com

February 21, 2009: Bay Area Day of Remembrance

As the Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium continues to prepare for the event on February 21, 2009, we are still welcoming additional volunteers and energetic new members to join the planning committee. Come be a part of next year’s community-wide event honoring the history and legacy of the Japanese American experience in WWII and beyond.

What: 2010 Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Meetings
When: Next meeting: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: bayareadayofremembrance

Stay warm everyone, and we’ll see you soon!

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.

Hey everyone! Yup, it’s that time again… Nakayoshi Monthly Update time! First, we’d like to thank everyone who came out to the Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer on the 24th. We were excited to meet all the new faces, and hopefully everyone who came out had a great time as well! In case you haven’t done so already, please take a minute or two to leave us feedback on the event on our online event feedback survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=iAVmYtr73Z9ZpEkl8uHRIQ_3d_3d

Nakayoshi finished out the month by spooking the children and passing out candy at the JCCCNC’s Haunted Hallway during their annual children’s Halloween Carnival. This month, we’re starting with our monthly volunteer event this weekend at the Holiday Chocolate Show at Fort Mason, San Francisco. Our social event this month is a Friday night of dinner and karaoke on the 20th, to be followed by our final quarterly meeting of the year on Sunday the 22nd.

Nakayoshi is also getting involved with a couple ongoing projects in the greater Japantown community, so be sure to check out how you can get directly involved with the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood development plan, as well as Day of Remembrance next year!

In this update:
11/14/09 – Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show
11/20/09 – Japantown Dinner and Karaoke Social
11/22/09 – Final Quarterly Planning Meeting of 2009
12/5/09 – Volunteering at SF JACL Spaghetti Crabfeed
1/22/09 – Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night
Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Youth/Young Adult Committee

Saturday, November 14, 2009: Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show

Nakayoshi has been invited to volunteer with Les Tso, host of the Holiday Chocolate Show on November 14th in the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. Showcasing 30-40 local chocolatiers, the event also benefits non-profits serving children and children’s issues. SF Firefighters will be on hand to collect new unwrapped toys for their annual Toy Program and other non-profits will be tabling with informational booths. Expected attendance is 2,000-4,000 and they need Nakayoshi’s help! Plus, this is a great way to get into the event for free!

Nakayoshi’s volunteer shift is 10:30AM-12:45PM and you are invited to stay and enjoy the rest of the event (event time runs from 12:00-5:00pm). Meeting point is outside the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. For more questions and to RSVP, please email nanakayoshi.ncwnp or contact Megumi at (916) 801-2104.

Please RSVP to volunteer no later than November 12th.

What: Volunteering at Holiday Chocolate Show
When: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 10:30am – 12:45pm
Where: Meet outside Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, 99 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=190550020934&index=1

Friday, November 20, 2009: Dinner and Karaoke in SF Japantown

Come on out to Nakayoshi’s November social event on Friday, November 20th! We’ll be meeting up in SF Japantown for dinner at Bushi Tei Bistro (Downstairs from Kinokuniya Bookstore in the Japan Center Mall) at 8pm and then move on for a fun night of karaoke at DoReMi Music Studio following dinner.

Please RSVP by Sunday, November 15 so we can get a headcount for dinner.

What: Dinner at Bushi Tei Bistro and Karaoke after at DoReMi Music Studio
When: Friday, November 20, 2009
Time: Dinner starts at 8pm, Karaoke at 10pm
Where: Dinner is at 1581 Webster Street (Downstairs from Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japan Center Mall), San Francisco, CA
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=186196573400&index=1_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=186196573400&index=1

Sunday, November 22, 2009: Quarterly Planning Meeting

Been meaning to get involved with Nakayoshi? Here’s another chance to jump in! Help us decide future events, get involved with our committees, and have fun hanging out with the rest of the Nakayoshi core committee! It’s our last meeting of the year, so come out and see what we’ve been up to! We could definitely use your help in making Nakayoshi a great success!

For questions, visit http://www.nakayoshi.org/ or email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp or contact Megumi Kaminaga at (916) 801-2104

What: Nakayoshi Q4 Planning Meeting
When: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=199088597785&index=1

Saturday, December 5: Volunteer at SF JACL’s Annual Spaghetti Crabfeed

Join Nakayoshi as we volunteer at the San Francisco JACL chapter’s annual Spaghetti Crab Feed on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Christ United Presbyterian Church in SF Japantown. Volunteers will assist with setup and cleanup of the event, as well as help prepare and serve food and drinks. Past beneficiaries from the SF JACL’s annual Spaghetti Crabfeed include the Nikkei Community Internship program and the Campaign for Justice for Japanese Latin American Internees.

Don’t feel like volunteering? You can still support by buying tickets to the event and having a delicious crab/spaghetti dinner for $25/person, or $45 for 2! E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp if you’re interested in volunteering or purchasing tickets.

What: Volunteer at SF JACL’s Annual Spaghetti Crabfeed
When: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Christ United Presbyterian Church, 1700 Sutter Street (At Laguna), San Francisco, CA
Price: Free for volunteers, $25/person or $45 for 2 tickets
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=178910732693&index=1

Friday, January 22, 2010: Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

Just another reminder to save the date! Nakayoshi is teaming up again this season with the Warriors for Asian American Heritage Night! The Warriors will be playing against Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets on Friday, January 22. Check back for details on how to reserve/purchase tickets, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp if you’re interested. Tickets to last year’s game were $40, so expect similar pricing this year.

RSVP for advance notice on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2344061033&gid=30593261168#/event.php?eid=272856850579&index=1

Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee

Day of Remembrance is the Japanese American community’s annual memorial observance of the internment of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry during WWII. Day of Remembrance 2010 will be held on February 21, 2010, with planning for the annual event by a consortium of Japantown community organizations and activists already underway. The planning committee this year is being co-chaired by Nakayoshi member Haruka Roudebush, who is calling out for anybody who would like to be involved with putting this year’s event and program together. In particular, the committee is looking for people with creative graphic design, print layout, copy editing, videography and website experience. General members are also encouraged to get involved and lend a hand where they can. This event has several hundred people in attendance annually, so every bit of help is needed and appreciated!

Please e-mail Haruka at bayareadayofremembrance if you can help with this year’s event. Committee meetings are generally every other Thursday evening in Japantown. Attendance at every meeting is not mandatory, but please come if you are available.

What: 2010 Bay Area Day of Remembrance Planning Committee Meetings
When: Next meeting: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: JACL National Headquarters, 1765 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: bayareadayofremembrance

Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Youth/Young Adult Committee

Concerned young members of the community, including Nakayoshi members, have formed a committee to address the redrafting of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan in the coming year. The committee is currently undertaking an analysis of the plan in order to coordinate outreach to the rest of the community and our peers about how the plan will affect future developments in San Francisco’s Japantown neighborhood as well as how our generation within the community will be affected by the outcome of the plan. This is an opportunity for young people to build consensus on the issues presented and to take action in helping shape the future of our community!

We at Nakayoshi strongly encourage you to educate yourselves on the issue and get involved with this committee. The committee is currently scheduled to meet on Fridays from 6-8pm at the JCCCNC in San Francisco Japantown. To find out more about the youth/young adult committee, please contact Aya Ino at aino.

More general information and the current draft of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan is available for download at: http://www.sfgov.org/site/planning_index.asp?id=57149

Hope we see you guys get involved this month, and happy Thanksgiving!

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.

Hey Nakayoshi, here’s our Monthly Update for October!

If you’ve followed what’s been going on this past month, we had a great time in September volunteering at the JCCCNC’s annual event where we celebrated 140 years of Japanese food in America, networked and checked out artwork by emerging API artists at Kearny Street Workshop’s happy hour mixer for their APAture arts festival, and got our roll on at our second sushi-making class taught by the Inaba brothers at the JCCCNC.

October may be halfway over, but we still have our monthly events for October coming up the next couple weekends! We’re excited to hold our first mixer for new members this month, so be sure to come out next Saturday and get to know us if you’re new, and be sure to welcome the newcomers if you’re already a regular at Nakayoshi events and activities! For those of you looking for opportunities to plug into the community and get more involved, be sure to get in touch with us and join one of Nakayoshi’s committees! Finally, we’ll be finishing out the month where we’ll don our scariest costumes and man the Haunted Hallway at the JCCCNC/JCYC’s annual Halloween Carnival!

Have any comments, suggestions or questions? Want to RSVP or sign up for an event? Feel free to leave any comments on our blog at http://www.nakayoshi.org/, Facebook group page, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp.

In this update:
Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
Join a Nakayoshi Committee!
10/22/09 – Career Development Committee Meeting
10/24/09 – Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
10/30/09 – Volunteering at the JCCCNC’s Halloween Carnival

Save the date! Upcoming events
1/22/10 – Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
If you still haven’t gotten around to it, we’re still collecting information on Nakayoshi member preferences for career development-oriented events and activities. For those of you who have already participated, thanks for the great feedback so far!

Check out the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2H4JHFqcnUQ5MxHEIGpJqQ_3d_3d

Want to get more involved? Join a Nakayoshi committee!
As we expand the scope and scale of Nakayoshi’s activities, we are actively seeking additional members to contribute their ideas, energy and talents toward continuing to provide all Nakayoshi members with events that are fresh, fun and impactful to the community. Interested in joining the Nakayoshi team? We’d love for you to join any of the following committees:

-Social Events Committee
-Career Development Committee
-Issues Committee

Planning for this year’s San Francisco/Bay Area Day of Remembrance event in February will be commencing soon, so those interested in being involved in this important community event should sign up for Nakayoshi’s issues committee ASAP!

For a good time, e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp and let us know which committee you’d like to be part of!

Thursday, October 22: Career Development Committee Meeting
Our newly formed Career Development Committee will be holding its second monthly meeting on the evening of Thursday, October 22, at 7pm in the food court area on the ground floor of the San Francisco Metreon. Come on out if you’d like to help plan upcoming career development workshops and networking opportunities.

What: Career Development Committee Meeting
When: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: SF Metreon Food Court, 4th Street and Mission St, San Francisco, CA
RSVP: nakayoshi.ncwnp

Saturday, October 24: Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer

“Irrashai” means welcome and a “nomikai” is a get-together (usually over drinks).

We want to take the time to introduce ourselves to our new members, whether you’re brand new or just haven’t had the chance to make it to an event yet. Please come out so we can get to know you!

Come join Nakayoshi for an evening of fun and celebration over food and drinks. We will be playing some traditional Japanese games and some very non-conventional American ones.

Dinner and drinks start at 8pm at Ryoko’s Japanese Restaurant and Bar in downtown San Francisco for $20/person. It’s already looking like a lively night, with 28 guests RSVP’d so far, so make sure to RSVP by this Saturday, October 17th at nakayoshi.ncwnp, or on the Facebook event invitation to make sure you get a spot at the table!

What: Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
When: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Where: Ryoko’s Japanese Restaurant and Bar, 619 Taylor Street, between Post and Sutter, San Francisco, CA
Time: 8:00-11:00pm
Price: $20 for dinner/drinks
RSVP by 10/17/09 on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=163505570419

Friday, October 30: Volunteering at JCCCNC/JCYC’s annual Halloween Carnival
Games and prizes, tricks and treats, arts and crafts and goodies to eat! Come help out at JCCCNC and JCYC‘s Halloween Carnival on Friday, October 30th. See all the kids in their cute costumes while helping to provide a fun, safe atmosphere for them to celebrate Halloween!

We will be at the brand-new HAUNTED HALLWAY this year — so wear your best scary costume! (Save your funny costumes for Saturday, please.) This event takes place the evening before Halloween, so it won’t interfere with any of your spook-tacular plans.

E-mail nakayoshi.ncwnp by 5pm on October 25th with your name, phone number, and e-mail address if you plan on coming so that we can contact you with more specifics!

What: JCCCNC/JCYC Halloween Carnival
Date: Friday, Oct. 30th
Location: JCCCNC (1840 Sutter St. | San Francisco)
Time: 5:30-9:30pm
5:30-6:00 — orientation
6:00-8:30 — event
8:30-9:30 — cleanup
Please plan to be present for all three portions
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=152535017270

Save the date! Upcoming event:
Friday, January 22, 2010 – Golden State Warriors Asian American Heritage Night

The NBA season may not have officially started yet, but Nakayoshi is already gearing up and teaming with the Golden State Warriors again this season for Asian American Heritage Night. Last year was a blast and we hope you can make it out this year as well! This year the Warriors will be taking on Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets for Asian American Heritage Night. Ticket proceeds will go towards Nakayoshi and help us program more fun events for you in the future. Think of it as a fun investment for even more fun! We are trying to get an advance head count for our ticket purchase, so please only RSVP if you plan to purchase your tickets from Nakayoshi and sit with your Nakayoshi friends. RSVP by e-mailing us at nakayoshi.ncwnp or go to the Facebook event invitation at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=272856850579

Hope to see more new (or familiar!) faces at the Irrashai Nomikai or volunteering at the Halloween Carnival this month! Let us know if you want to join a Nakayoshi committee, and remember to e-mail us or RSVP on Facebook if you’re coming out. Make sure to join our Facebook group if you haven’t already! See you soon!

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.

Hello Nakayoshi members! Time for the September monthly update!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our events in August! We hope you’ve all been enjoying the monthly volunteer and social events we’ve been busy putting together for everyone! Since our last update, Nakayoshi had a blast camping and kayaking up at Tahoe, got down to business at our quarterly planning meeting, and cheered on as Ichiro collected his 2,000th major league hit against the Oakland A’s at their Japanese Heritage Day game.

We have more great stuff coming your way the rest of this month, including volunteering at the JCCCNC’s annual event, a happy hour networking mixer in conjunction with the Kearny Street Workshop’s 11th Annual APAture festival featuring emerging API artists, and our next sushi-making class fundraiser at the JCCCNC taught by Nakayoshi’s resident sushi chefs, Graig and Sean Inaba. For those of you interested in career development activities, help out our Career Development committee by giving us some feedback and filling out our quick survey! More details in the rest of the update below!

Have any comments, suggestions or questions? Want to RSVP or sign up for an event? Feel free to leave any comments on our blog at http://www.nakayoshi.org/, Facebook group page, or e-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp.

In this update:
Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
9/19/09 – Volunteering at the JCCCNC’s annual event, Tabemasho!
9/23/09 – APAture 2009 Happy Hour Networking Mixer
9/27/09 – Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class

Save the date! Upcoming event in October
10/24/09 – Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
More events to come!

Nakayoshi Career Development Membership Survey
As a young professionals organization, part of Nakayoshi’s mission is to provide resources and programming focusing on personal and career development for our membership. To help us meet this goal of addressing your needs as young professionals, please take a couple quick minutes to fill out our online survey to help us assess what sort of career-related events and activities you all want to see us put together for you!

Check out the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2H4JHFqcnUQ5MxHEIGpJqQ_3d_3d

Interested in joining our career development committee? E-mail us at nakayoshi.ncwnp!

Saturday, September 19: Volunteer at JCCCNC’s annual event, Tabemasho! (Let’s Eat!)
The JCCCNC is hosting its annual event, Tabemasho (Let’s Eat!), on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the JCCCNC on 1840 Sutter Street in San Francisco. This year’s event will celebrate 140 years of Japanese food in America and will honor the Japanese American food industry in America. The event will also introduce the community cookbook, Nikkei Potluck. Come help out with the rest of the Nakayoshi crew!

Nakayoshi will be providing volunteers for the event. There are 3 separate 3 hour shifts:
12:00PM-3:00PM – Set Up Shift (10 volunteers)
3:00PM-6:00PM – Decorating Shift (6 volunteers)
5:00PM-8:00PM – Program Volunteers (15 volunteers w/dresscode – Semi-formal dinner attire)

Please let us know if you are willing to help out with this great cause! We need sign ups soon so please let us know what shifts you’d like to volunteer!

Email us at nakayoshi.ncwnp with your name, telephone contact for the day of, and which shift you’d like. More information on the event at the JCCCNC’s website at: http://www.jcccnc.org/events/dinner.htm

What: Volunteering at JCCCNC’s annual event, Tabemasho! (Let’s Eat!)
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009
Location: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: Noon-3pm set up shift, 3-6pm decorating shift, 5-8pm program volunteers (semi-formal attire for program volunteers)
RSVP to volunteer on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=149504265232

Wednesday, September 23: APAture Happy Hour Networking Mixer
Join Nakayoshi and members of 9 other Asian American professional organizations for an evening of networking and art at a networking happy hour for Kearny Street Workshop’s 11th annual APAture Festival, featuring emerging Asian American artists. We’ll be mixing it up and perusing festival artwork at the Goforaloop Gallery in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 23 from 6:30-8:30pm. Definitely come out with your friends for a little mingling and to check out some amazing artwork! Admission is FREE, cash bar at the gallery.

For more information on Kearny Street Workshop and the APAture Festival running from September 17-26, go to: http://www.kearnystreet.org/apature

What: APAture Happy Hour Networking Mixer
When: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Where: Goforaloop Gallery, 1458 San Bruno Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Price: FREE Admission, cash bar
RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30593261168&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=129940627012

Sunday, September 27: Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class at JCCCNC
Learn how to make your own delicious sushi! Nakayoshi’s very own Graig and Sean Inaba will be instructing our second workshop hosted by the JCCCNC, where they will demonstrate and teach participants everything from making sushi vinegar to rolling traditional hosomaki rolls, hand/cone rolls, nigiri and Americanized sushi rolls! Space is limited to the first 25 participants, so sign up ASAP! Price is $30 for JCCCNC members, $40 for general public, and includes all materials.

A portion of the proceeds will also benefit Nakayoshi directly, so sign up to learn how to make your own sushi while supporting your favorite young professionals organization!

To sign up, contact the JCCCNC directly at (415) 567-5505 or e-mail programsevents

In case you missed it, check out our video highlighting the last sushi-making class we did at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yui5CRSCjyI&feature=channel_page

What: Tabemasho! Nakayoshi Sushi-Making Class at JCCCNC
When: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Where: JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Time: 1-4pm
Price: $30 JCCCNC members, $40 general public (materials provided)
RSVP: (415) 567-5505, programsevents

Save the date! Upcoming October event:
Saturday, October 24, 2009: Irrashai Nomikai New Member Mixer
Haven’t made it out to one of our events yet? Haven’t come out in a while? Our Irrashai (welcome!) Nomikai New Member Mixer is the perfect chance for new and old Nakayoshi members to come out and get to know the rest of our regulars in a relaxed social setting over food and drinks. More details and other events to come!

Of course there’s no reason to wait until the new member mixer to start coming out to our events! We’re always happy to see you come out, get involved with Nakayoshi and the community, and have a great time with the rest of your Nakayoshi friends! Remember to e-mail us or RSVP on Facebook if you’re coming out, and join our Facebook group if you haven’t already! See you soon!

All Nakayoshi events are free and open to anyone unless otherwise noted. Feel free to forward this message along to your friends or anyone interested. Not on the Nakayoshi e-mail list? Click here to subscribe. Have questions? Want to sign up or RSVP for an event? E-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp. For additional information and updates, be sure to check the Nakayoshi blog or find our group page on Facebook! Nakayoshi is a program sponsored by the Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District of the Japanese American Citizens League.