Community Events

by RICHARD SHINTAKU

“Bring back the old songs.”

“Bring back the old feelings.”

“Bring back the old times.”

So, we’re BACK!

Back because of popular demand.

Back because of those who missed it last year and want a second chance.

And back because everyone, committee members included, just can’t get enough of talking stories of the old days.

Don’t take our word for it; read on:

BERKELEY — In celebration of National Coming Out Day, the Network on Religion and Justice for Asian Pacific Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People will host an interfaith community blessing at Pacific School of Religion on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Multi-denominational API religious leaders will facilitate an interfaith service recognizing, affirming and celebrating LGBTQ families and supportive friends and families.

Light refreshments will follow this kid-friendly event.

Pacific Institute will present its 2008 Eldership Awards, which recognize the lifelong contributions of two of the Bay Area’s outstanding elders, to San Francisco’s Sensei Keiko Fukuda and author and administrator John Levy.

A celebration of their unique talents and life’s work begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Marines Memorial Club, 609 Sutter St. in San Francisco. This celebration will recognize their wisdom and generosity of spirit, demonstrating what it means to be an elder in today’s society.

Eighteen years ago, Pat Shiono joined a group of dedicated volunteers and community organizations that had been working to create a place where Asian seniors could live in their later years.

By the mid-1990s, their efforts were focused on transforming an abandoned building at the corner of Bush and Laguna streets in San Francisco. The result was Kokoro Assisted Living Center.

Four years ago, when Pat’s mother, Yuri, finally agreed it was time to move from her home, Kokoro was Yuri’s choice for a new place to live.

OAKLAND — The Oakland Athletics celebrated Japanese Heritage Day on Sept. 20 at McAfee Coliseum, featuring representatives of the local Japanese American community and donating part of the day’s ticket sales to Nikkei community organizations.

The A’s faced the Seattle Mariners in the second of three games, the season’s last series at home for Oakland. The lineup included a Japanese American player, A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki, and two from Japan, Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and catcher Kenji Johjima, and there was a large turnout of Asian American fans.

The Japan Society of Northern California will present Part 5 in the Zadankai Series, “Bringing Japanese Popular Culture to America,” on Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Viz Media LLC, 295 Bay St. in San Francisco.

OAKLAND — The Oakland- Fukuoka Sister City Association is celebrating its 42nd annual moon-viewing festival, “Otsukimi,” on Sunday, Oct. 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. near Lake Merritt.

The event is free and open to the public.

Highlights include:

• Open house held by the Golden State Bonsai Collection North in the Bonsai Garden from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• The Torii Gate, dedicated in memory of the late Oakland City Councilman Frank Ogawa.

SAN JOSE — The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites-San Jose International Airport at 1350 N. 4th St. celebrates three years of partnership with San Jose Japantown by offering a special discounted rate for the Spirit of Japantown Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The hotel is close to VTA light rail public transportation.

Surreality in Reality (SIR) presents “Page,” a Japanese art exhibition and performance, on Friday, Oct. 3, at SpaceGallery, 1141 Polk St (between Sutter and Post), San Francisco.

This is the third in a series of shows by a plethora of Japanese local talent known as SIR. Introducing Japanese traditional culture just in time for autumn, known as the season of reading, each artist created a work inspired by their favorite prominent Japanese poet or novelist.

SAN JOSE — The second annual Spirit of Japantown Festival, to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, in San Jose's Japantown (5th and Jackson streets), will feature a Japanese sword exhibition by Harunaka Hoshino from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Over 20 antique Japanese swords will be displayed all day, and complimentary sword appraisals will be given.

Kenjutsu (swordsmanship) and tameshi-giri (target-cutting) demonstrations will be given at 11:30 a.m.