Japantown Foundation Awards $55,000 in Grants to Nonprofits for 2015

The board of directors of the San Francisco Japantown Foundation awarded $55,000 in grants to nine nonprofit organizations serving the Japantown community.

The foundation provided direct unrestricted grants for organizations and, for the first time, planning grants for organizations focused on enhancing an existing structure of building in Japantown, or creating a product or service that would advance Japantown.

“Including our 2015 grants, the Japantown Foundation has now provided nearly $700,000 in funding since 2007,” said Donald Tamaki, foundation board president. “The foundation is proud to invest in community organizations that are improving and supporting the Japantown community."

The recipients of 2015 direct grants are:

• Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium ($1,500)

• Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California ($5,000)

• Kimochi, Inc. ($5,000)

• Nichi Bei Foundation ($7,500)

• Sakura Matsuri, Inc. ($7,500)

• Soto Mission of San Francisco ($3,500)

The following organizations received planning grants:

• National Japanese American Historical Society, Inc. ($5,000)

• Japantown Task Force, Inc. ($10,000)

• Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California ($7,000)

• Hokka Nichi Bei Kai ($3,000)

These organizations demonstrated the value of their organization to the Japantown community, the effectiveness of their services and/or activities, and their financial sustainability. Organizations awarded a planning grant will have an opportunity to collaborate with the Foundation that may result in additional funding.

The foundation provides these grants through funds from three sources: earnings from endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP; proceeds from the foundation’s annual Osechi Ryori New Year’s Celebration; and donations from the Hotel Kabuki’s You Can Make a Difference program.

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation’s mission is to support cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown. We are dedicated to preserving and honoring Japantown’s history, to welcoming and serving its residents, visitors, businesses, congregations and community organizations, and to supporting the growth and development of the community’s Japanese cultural theme. In particular, we support activities that reflect the Japanese American experience, and activities that engage Japanese of all generations and other supporters of Japantown.

2015 Grant Applications Now Available Online

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation is now accepting applications from qualified organizations for direct grants of up to $10,000. Applications are due by Friday, July 31, 2015, before 5:00 p.m. PT.

Our 2015 grants program will provide (a) direct unrestricted grants for organizations; and (b) planning grants for organizations focused on enhancing an existing structure of building in Japantown, or creating a product or service that would advance Japantown.

Organizations awarded a planning grant will have an opportunity to collaborate with the Foundation potentially resulting in additional funding of up to $15,000.

These grants are made possible through the original endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. We also use proceeds from our annual Osechi Ryori New Year’s Celebration Fundraiser, supported by generous sponsors and guests.

Another significant portion of the funds available for these grants comes from our philanthropic partnership with Hotel Kabuki. The Japantown Foundation receives funds raised through the hotel’s You Can Make a Difference program, which asks guests to make a donation when they stay at the property. The Japantown Foundation expresses our appreciation to the Hotel Kabuki and to General Manager Craig Waterman for continuing this valuable partnership. Craig is also a member of our foundation board.

Learn more about our grants program and apply online at JapantownFoundation.org.

Keith Kamisugi, on behalf of the
San Francisco Japantown Foundation Board of Directors:

Donald K. Tamaki (President)
Bob Hamaguchi (Vice President)
Richard Hashimoto
Aya Ino
Mary Ishisaki
Keith Kamisugi
Diane Matsuda
Kathy Nelsen
Jon Osaki
Allen Okamoto
Jerry Ono
June-Ko Nakagawa
Shinichi Seino
Craig Waterman

Japantown Foundation to Accept Grant Requests of Up to $10,000

Starting June 29, 2015, the San Francisco Japantown Foundation will accept applications from qualified organizations for direct grants of up to $10,000.

Applications will open on Monday, June 29, 2015, and are due by Friday, July 31, 2015, before 5:00 p.m. PT.

Our 2015 grants program will provide (a) direct unrestricted grants for organizations; and (b) planning grants for organizations focused on enhancing an existing structure of building in Japantown, or creating a product or service that would advance Japantown.

Organizations awarded a planning grant will have an opportunity to collaborate with the Foundation potentially resulting in additional funding of up to $15,000.

Learn more about our grants program.

Hotel Kabuki GM Craig Waterman Joins Japantown Foundation Board

The San Francisco Japantown board of directors is proud to welcome new member Craig Waterman, Regional Director of Operations for Commune Hotels + Resorts and General Manager of the Hotel Kabuki.

Craig is a 30-year veteran of the luxury hotel industry. He oversees hotels in Northern & Southern California as well as Arizona and Hawaii and the Kabuki Springs & Spa in San Francisco. The Hotel Kabuki is in the process of undergoing a $20 million dollar renovation over the next 12 months.

He most recently oversaw the $15 million dollar Snow King Resort renovation in Jackson Hole. Prior to that he was the Managing Director of the Sè San Diego where he oversaw all operations of the $150 million Sè San Diego hotel and condominium project located in downtown San Diego’s financial district. Waterman was focused on ensuring five-star service at the 184-room hotel, which includes a 5,500 square-foot spa, urban restaurant and 20,000 square feet of event space. The Sè San Diego was featured by Condé Nast Traveler on the 2008 annual “Hot List”.

Waterman has held numerous management positions at some of the country’s most upscale properties. He served as General Manager at the Water Color Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. While there he oversaw all daily resort operations for the Four-Diamond property and managed 350 employees. During his tenure, Water Color Inn & Resort was featured in Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” August 2006 issue. The resort was also listed in the September 2006 issue of Travel+Leisure Family as the #1 “Best Family Resort in North America”.

10 New Attractions at the 2015 Cherry Blossom Festival

The 48th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, a previous grantee of the San Francisco Japantown Foundation, starts April 11-12 and continues on April 18-19 in San Francisco’s Japantown.

The free event expects to attract more than 200,000 people “showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American community.”

The festival offers food booths, cultural performances, martial arts, live bands, the annual Queen Program, and more. The Grand Parade will be held on Sunday, April 19, beginning at City Hall and concluding in Japantown.

The festival announced 10 new attractions this year:

1. Sakura 360 - Embodying the spirit of the “new Japan,” involving fashion, gaming, and anime that are currently trending in both America and Japan. This new area, sponsored by Japan Expo, will feature local cosplayers and performers, along with all kinds of contests and fabulous prizes to be won.

2. Hello Kitty Cafe Truck - This is the first time the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is making an appearance in the city, and it’s bringing lots of adorable desserts and pastries!

3. Pocky Truck by Glico - The Glico Pocky Truck will give away Pocky snacks on the first weekend, April 11 and 12.

4. Sapporo USA Beer Garden - Two beer gardens will serve crisp and refreshingly cold Sapporo Premium Beer. Must be 21 or older to be admitted to the beer gardens.

5. Social Media Lounge, Powered by New People - The festival’s Social Media Lounge on Post Street will be in front of New People. Stop by to play some games and win some awesome prizes, or watch interviews with local performers, DJs, and special guests.

6. The Japantown Mandala Exhibition and Art Installation by Suite J-Town, a First Voice Production - This new exhibition uses visual art, sound, video, and performance to convey the resilience and beauty of the Japantown community as it evolved over it’s 110-year history.

7. NCCBF Mobile App - The NCCBF app will soon be available for both iOS and Android devices.

8. New Dogwood Stamp - The USPS will announce a new commemorative stamp at the festival’s Opening Ceremony on April 11. This stamp will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. giving a gift of dogwood trees to Japan in 1915.

9. Miniyonku Club - Miniyonku, fun-sized 1/32 scale race cars, will make its first appearance at an open tournament on April 11, 12, and 18 from 10am-3:30pm.

10. Kendama USA - Kendama is a traditional Japanese ball-and-cup toy that has seen a recent resurgence in popularity in both America and Japan. The Consulate General of Japan is partnering with Kendama USA to present the first ever Northern California Kendama Championship – dubbed the “Sakura Classic”!

Learn more about these new attractions and more at sfcherryblossom.org.