The 3rd Annual Mendocino Obon Festival will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the Mendocino Art Center lawns between 12 pm and 4 pm.
The Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities organization and City of Cupertino will host a Bell Ringing for World Peace ceremony to commemorate 80 years of peace since the bombing of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Toyokawa.
On May 21, 2025, CJSCN will host an online workshop via Zoom, in partnership with the Consulates General of Japan in San Francisco and in Los Angeles. The workshop’s theme is “From Fandom to Friendship: Pop Culture as a Gateway for Youth Engagement.” Discover how Japanese pop culture - anime, manga, J-pop, and more - can strengthen sister city connections and engage new generations! This workshop will showcase actionable strategies and successful events to inspire dynamic, meaningful cultural exchange. Japanese speakers are also welcome. Registration is required for participation.
At 16:00 on 15 May 2025 the San Carlos Sister City Association will dedicate a building wide mural in Sister City Lane celebrating the relationship with Omura, Nagasaki, Japan with which we have had a high school student exchange for almost two decades.
April 26 & 27, 2025
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Memorial Park, Quinlan Community Center & Cupertino Senior Center
FREE Admission & FREE parking at De Anza College & Flint Center
The 58th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be held April 12th and 13th and April 19th and 20th in San Francisco’s Japantown.
Presented by TSCA, Bunka Sai is a two-day Japanese Cultural Festival event that has free admission and parking, and is open to the public. Throughout the weekend, there are authentic performances including (but not limited to): traditional dance, music, tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arranging, martial arts, taiko, origami, story reading, kimono dressing, and more! TSCA also hosts an Anime Contest for middle and high school students; all of the entries are showcased at Bunka Sai. Don't forget your appetite (and cash payment). Swing by the food booths for a tasty BBQ plate lunch, vegetable yakisoba, chicken curry and rice, dangos (donuts), and more!
Date/Time: Feb. 23, 2025, 5:00-7:30 pm
Location: Unitarian Society, 1535 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, CA
Our entertainment comes from Shakuhachi masters Cody Westheimer and Bob Sedivy, playing duets from recent and ancient pieces.
There will be a Japanese dinner, dessert, and sake toast, all catered by Sushi Teri.
Cost is $50 members, $55 non-members. Your received check by Feb. 19 deadline is your reservation: made out to SBTSCO, send to: Rory Moore, P.O. Box 6866, Santa Barbara 93160. Japanese dress is always appropriate!
Join us at our annual tradition where friends and supporters gather and celebrate our community, our sister cities and their cultures, and our work for world peace. Enjoy food and cultural entertainment from Japan and Ukraine, where Sebastopol has our two sister cities: Takeo and Chyhyryn. We will be returning to our pre-pandemic format, with additional dishes and treats to complement our famous sushi rolls and borshch, to make it a dinner.
Are you curious about how learning Japanese can open doors to study abroad opportunities, scholarships, careers, and international experiences? Join our free online panel event on Wednesday, December 4 to learn about the many ways Japan awaits you!
Please join the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association for an evening of Japanese food, entertainment and moon viewing.
On October 5, 2024, the Santa Cruz Sister City Committee will host a 50th anniversary celebration of the Santa Cruz and Shingu, Japan sister city relationship. The event includes music, entertainment, a pop-up market, access to the Museum of Art & History exhibits, speeches by members of the Shingu mayoral delegation, and remarks by state & local representatives. Cocktail attire. Tickets available at SantaCruzTickets.com
Date: Friday, October 4, 2024 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Pacific Time)
Location: San Francisco Hilton Union Square (333 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102)
Event Details: Saturday, August 10th from 11am to 1pm at Shimada Friendship Park in Richmond!
Let’s enjoy the outdoors together while building connections with other sister-city-connected organizations in our local area. We’ll also play Ground Golf, a Japanese lawn game similar to croquet and enjoyed by all ages, gifted to us by our partners in Shimada.
Community Bell Ringing for Peace
August 6, 2024 6:00pm
Cupertino Memorial Park (near the corner of Alves and Anton)
Mendocino Sister Cities Association presents “Friendship between Two Towns – Art and Culture Exchange. The 18th Mendocino Sister City International Art Exhibition is a Joint Show at the Mendocino Art Center, featuring five Miasa-Omachi Artists and fourteen Coast Artists in various media: Glass Art, Ceramics, Painting, Fiber Art, Photography, and Mixed Media. Additionally, Tea Ceremony demonstration and Japanese Dance (Nihonbuyou) are planned at the opening reception.
JET Alumni Association of Northern California & Nevada (JETAANC) is kicking off their third annual Summer in the Parks community event series with a gathering at Sanborn County Park (16055 Sanborn Rd, Saratoga, CA) on June 29 (Sat) 10 AM - 2 PM. Attendance is free - please register at: jetaanc.org/post/2024-summer-park-events
On June 12, 2024, CJSCN will host an online workshop via Zoom, in partnership with the Consulates General of Japan in San Francisco and in Los Angeles. The workshop’s theme is “Creative Engagement of Next Gen Leaders.” This time, we will be hearing from the Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association about their unique and creative programs that engage young people.
The Japanese Cultural Fair has showcased Japanese tradition in Santa Cruz for over thirty years! Japanese culture, crafts, music and food on June 8th, 11AM-6PM.
Join us for Community Paint Day on Saturday, June 8, 2024 9am-2pm
~ Blossoms ~ International Friendship Mural
Join us for a FREE streaming event on June 2nd from 5:30 - 7:00 pm PDT (California time)! High school and college students from California and the world over share art, enjoy music and discuss hot topics – For youth by youth! Connect, engage, and be inspired! Register now: https://californiasummit.org/summit/
The Glendora Sister City Association (GSCA) will be hosting a booth at the Glendora Culture Fest which will be hosted by the city of Glendora. The event is May 18 from 10 am to 4 pm and will be located on Glendora Ave just south of Foothill Blvd. It is an event with booths, performances, and food from various cultures from across the globe.
Local interdisciplinary social practice artist Badri Valian will host three free workshops and an art exhibition on the theme of “Silk Road to San Francisco” as part of the 27th Annual United States of Asian American Festival (USAAF) hosted by The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center of San Francisco. This multicultural event invites participants from diverse backgrounds to engage in a guided exploration of the relationship of their contemporary (im)migration stories to the traditional history of the Silk Road, a vital ancient cultural trade route connecting East to West.
Explore the magic of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the celebration guide on apasf.org! From captivating films to inspiring events, you can find everything you need to celebrate the diversity and resilience of the AAPI community.
Mark your calendars for April 27th and 28th, 10 AM-5:30 PM, for the 40th annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival! Held throughout Memorial Park, the Quinlan Community Center and the Cupertino Senior Center, the festival honors the bond between Cupertino and its Japanese sister city Toyokawa by showcasing Japanese art, culture and traditions. With a wide variety of activities, the festival offers something for everyone, regardless of age. And, best of all, free admission and parking at De Anza College and Flint Center!
This online event is for youth by youth with students attending from throughout California, as well as from over 100 countries throughout the world. All of the panel topics and questions were selected by youth and young professionals. Attendees of all ages are welcome.
This is our annual tradition where friends and supporters gather and celebrate our community, our sister cities and their cultures, and our work for world peace. Enjoy the harmony of sushi and borsch from Japan and Ukraine, where Sebastopol has our two sister cities: Takeo and Chyhyryn. Food service from 3:00 pm with program starting at 3:30 featuring cultural entertainment by Sonoma County Taiko’s drumming and Eleanor and Angeline Bezhenar AKA “The Bezhenar Sisters “, local singers of Ukrainian songs.
The Torrance Sister City Association will hold its annual Bunka-sai Festival on April 20 and 21, 2024 from 11:00 am. to 5:00 pm. at the Ken Miller Recreation Center. Admission and parking are free. The festival features authentic demonstrations of tea ceremony, vocal and instrumental music, taiko, shodo, kimonos, martial arts, kamishibai (reading) and dance. Displays of bonsai, ikebana and Girl's Day dolls along with hands-on calligraphy and origami give guests an opportunity to learn from local teachers.
Accepting art submissions until April 15, 2024. The California Young Artists Expo is hosted by California Sister Cities. This online event is led by youth for youth.
The 57th Annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be held April 13th and 14th and April 20th and 21st in San Francisco’s Japantown.
