Our Mission

Featured / hc619

To support cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown by preserving and honoring its history through fostering and providing funding for activities that reflect the Japanese American heritage, and to engage Japanese of all generations and all experiences.

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation was formed in December 2006 through generous endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. Since then, the Foundation has provided more than $1M in funding. Read more...

In 2015, the Foundation’s board member Bob Hamaguchi and Jon Osaki brought forward a neglected, pipe dream of a project which had only the slimmest chances of success….. Bob built a movement which eventually lead the Recreation and Parks, Public Works and Municipal Transit Authority to collectively commit to finally creating an open space that represents the needs and character of Japantown. Read more…

A huge THANK YOU to the donors who contributed to our Covid-19 funds the past two years. Thanks to your generosity, our vital Japantown organizations averted a major crisis to continue their important services. Your dollars are currently hard at work providing direct, essential assistance to the community.

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation’s annual New Year’s fundraiser offers guests a rare opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese New Year’s cuisine call Osechi Ryori, an elaborate preparation of dishes with special significance for the New Year. Read more…

SF Japantown Foundation Grant Applications for 2022-2023 Has Closed

/ Keith Kamisugi

This year, the Board of Directors for the Foundation will be focusing on three priorities: providing capital grants; projects that honor the founding members of our SF Japanese American community, and capacity building activities.

Here is a list of the 15 awardees for the SF Japantown CARES Fund:
Day of Remembrance – Recognize Nisei involved in DOR
Hokka Nichi Bei Kai – Front gate, painting, landscape, bi-lingual sign
Ito Yosakoi – Leadership summit
National Japanese American Citizens League – Façade, artwork, community meeting space
Japantown Task Force – Coordination of Peace Plaza Renovation Project
Japantown Community Benefit District – Safety equipment
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California – 2 shows by Grateful Crane Ensemble
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California – Wooden bench, landscape, front windows
Japanese Community Youth Center – Renovation of new office
Jikei Kai – Renovation of office
Kinmon Gakuen – Pressure wash and painting of front façade
Nichi Bei Foundation – Fundraising/Japanese language/map and directory
National Japanese American Historical Society – Audience/membership development strategy
Sakura Matsuri, Inc. – Cherry Blossom Festival Support 
Sokoji Temp[e – Wooden fencing in front of temple

Congratulations to all the awardees! We will keep you updated on the progress/completion of their projects.

Click to download the 2021 Grantee Report

See our Japantown Foundation Grantee Reports 2021Download

GRANT APPLICATION PROGRAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND FOR PROJECTS WHO ARE FISCALLY SPONSORED BY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.  WE WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS BY INDIVIDUALS AT THIS TIME.