Events

SAN JOSE — Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS) will presents its eighth annual Asian Comedy Night on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 7 and 9 p.m. at Le Petit Trianon, 72 N. 5th St. in San Jose.

This event has developed a following because of the hilarious, profane and irreverent comedians that have performed, and this year is no exception. The lineup is as follows:

MILLBRAE — The third annual Millbrae Japanese Culure Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza, 1 Library Lane.

The event, which will feature entertainment, food, and arts and crafts, is presented by the City of Millbrae and its Japanese Culture Committee, whose members include Kathleen Kimura, Akiko Soda and Yukiko Tanaka. Performers and artists from all over the Bay Area have been invited to participate.

SAN JOSE — The second annual Spirit of Japantown Festival, to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., will feature a variety of performers on its main stage, which will be located near the intersection of Jackson and 4th streets.

Scheduled to appear at 3 p.m. is Charlie Chin, a musician, author, historian, and classically trained storyteller who has been performing, writing and teaching for decades.

by JOYCE IWASAKI

An evening of dance, music, fun and food will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the San Jose Buddhist Church Gymnasium, 640 N. 5th St. (near Jackson) in Japantown.

Come and dance to and listen to the big band sounds of swing, jazz, blues, Latin, rock and roll, Motown and today’s popular tunes. The Wesley Jazz Ensemble will bring these exciting sounds. You will bring the fun and a chance to create memorable moments!

Celebrating the changing of the seasons, the Aki Matsuri in San Francisco’s Japantown will offer an array of entertainment, cultural experiences and children’s activities from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5. 

The event will be centered on the Peace Plaza and Buchanan Mall at Post and Buchanan streets.  The public is invited to join in the matsuri (festival) dance on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the plaza, led by Madame Michiya Hanayagi. 

SAN JOSE – Save the date — Saturday, Oct. 4 — for the second annual Spirit of Japantown Festival in the heart of San Jose Japantown, 5th and Jackson streets.

This eight-block street fair attracted over 10,000 visitors last year.

The festival’s goal is to unite and preserve Japantown’s rich multicultural community and to promote awareness of Japantown within the greater Bay Area.

The urgency to preserve Japantown is prompted by the fact that of the original pre-World War II Japantowns in the nation, only three remain: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose.

by KRISTYN TANAKA
Hokubei Mainichi

SAN JOSE — A dream, passion, a lot of motivation and some serious grassroots action — that was the recipe two women mixed up to create Spirit of Japantown.

At only two years old, this infant is growing fast. The second annual Spirit of Japantown will be held Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., centered around 5th and Jackson streets.

SAN JOSE — The Spirit of Japantown Award will be presented on the festival's main stage, located near Jackson and 4th streets, on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1:45 p.m. to Jimi Yamaichi, who has been instrumental in the historical and physical preservation of San Jose Japantown. Following is a brief biography:

Jimi Yamaichi is a retired construction manager, general contractor and cabinet shop owner. Most recently, he has been project manager of several overseas construction projects for Solectron.

Main Stage (4th and Jackson)
Emceed by Mike Inouye (NBC 11) and Lloyd LaCuesta (KTVU)

10:00 a.m. — Wesley United Methodist Church Jazz Ensemble

11:00 a.m. — Halau Na Wai Ola (hula)

11:30 a.m. — Kaweh (Spanish guitar)

12:00 p.m. — Northern California 2008 Cherry Blossom Court, VIP and sponsor introductions, kagamiwari ceremony

12:45 p.m. — Songs from “Nihonmachi: The Place to Be”

1:45 p.m. — Spirit of Japantown Award – Jimi Yamaichi

The 35th annual Japanese Speech Contest, co-sponsored by the Hokka Nichi Bei Kai (Japanese American Association of Northern California) and the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 2, at the consulate’s Japan Information Center, 50 Fremont St., Suite 2200.

The contest for middle and high school students will start at 9:30 a.m. and the contest for college students and adults at 1:30 p.m.