Community Events

OAKLAND — On August 23rd & 24th, the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce (OCCC) will be presenting its 21st annual Chinatown StreetFest on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A celebration of the Year of the Rat, the event will attract thousands of people from all over the Bay Area. Consisting of more than 280 booths, it will span 10 blocks of Chinatown, from 7th Street to 11th Street and from Broadway to Harrison.

Asiatica’s newest designs will be introduced at a trunk show on Wednesday through Saturday, Aug. 20-23, from 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment at the Grand Hyatt Union Square, 345 Stockton St. in San Francisco.

Asiatica is a small Kansas City company that acquires most of its fabric in Japan, combining cutting-edge Nuno textiles and antique kimono fabrics, creating an intellectual, culturally aware aesthetic that mingles beauty and function, a spokesperson for the company said.

PALO ALTO — Local political leaders will participate in a fundraiser for the Asian American Civic Project, a new political training and placement program for recent college graduates, on Monday, Aug. 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Wine Room, 520 Ramona St.

The special guest will be Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and national vice chair of the Democratic Party.

The California Room of The Sequoias, 1400 Geary Blvd. in San Francisco, will be the scene of the debut pre-fall showing and sale of Sachiko Fashions from Saturday to Monday, Aug. 23-25.

Hours are 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.
This event will help fund various activities for residents at The Sequoias. Sachiko will donate a percentage of gross sales.

The 35th annual Nihonmachi Street Fair, held Aug. 9 and 10 in San Francisco’s Japantown, opened with a performance by West Coast Lion Dance on Post Street.

The Daly City-based group, which has been the opening act at the Street Fair for many years, literally started things off with a bang by way of dozens (or perhaps hundreds) of firecrackers.

BERKELEY — The seventh annual Japanese Peace Lantern Ceremony was held Aug. 9 at the north end of Aquatic Park in Berkeley, marking the 63rd anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency said that the residents of 1600 Webster St. cannot prevent the Nihonmachi Street Fair and other Japantown festivals from receiving city permits to operate.

In an Aug. 5 letter to Grace Horikiri, president of the Nihonmachi Street Fair, David Zisser, president of the 1600 Webster St. Homeowners Association, complained about the “disruptions” caused by the festivals held on Post and Webster streets and criticized the
Nihonmachi Street Fair for not having the sidewalks steam-cleaned after the event.

OAKLAND — Buddhist Church of Oakland held its annual “Festival of Joy,” featuring Obon dancing and cultural performances, on Aug. 2.
Ohara ikebana by Suiyo Fujimoto and her students was displayed in the main building, and an Urasenke tea ceremony demonstration was given by Soga Fujimoto and her students in the church annex.
Kotoists Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto, Brian Mitsuhiro Wong and Felicia Kazuou Bock performed in the annex along with students Isabella Lew, Mika Mar, Kiyomi Nomura and Sydney Paderna. Bock was recognized for passing the exams to become an advanced assistant teacher.

SACRAMENTO — Hokka Kumamoto Kenjin Kai will hold its annual Tsuito Hoyo (memorial service) on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. at Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Blvd.

The service is held to remember Kenjin Kai members who have passed away during the past year and to pay respects to deceased members who have no living relatives.
All members and friends are welcome to attend. There will be no obento snack after the service.

OAKLAND — The Golden State Bonsai Federation Collection North will offer a bougainvillea workshop on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Participants will make small bougainvillea bonsai plants or start them from one-gallon nursery stock. A bougainvillea will be provided for $8 or you can bring your own.