Foundation Announces Recipients of 2007 Grants

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation today announced the recipients of its 2007 grants at a presentation event at Union Bank of California Japantown branch's hospitality room.

The foundation's 2007 competitive grants totaled $25,000 and were divided among 10 organizations in varying amounts of $5,000 or less.  The foundation also approved $15,000 in special grants, made possible by an additional donation from Jack Hirose, to three Japantown organizations.

Organizations receiving grants include:

Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium: $3,000 awarded for general support of the 2008 Bay Area Day of Remembrance Commemoration, Feb. 16-19, at JCCCNC. The grant will be used to increase the Consortium's organizing capacity. (www.dayofremembrance.org)

Gen Taiko: $1,500 awarded to support the Shochikubai Project, which includes the development and performance of a work for five odori dancers, a three-member kumi daiko (drumming) ensemble, shamisen player and minyo singer. The work will be presented in May 2008 at JCCCNC. (www.gentaiko.com)

Hokka Nichi Bei Kai: $1,000 to support the creation and maintenance of a Bunka Hall of Fame, to memorialize Northern Californians who were important to the culture of Japan as practiced in America. The Bunka Hall of Fame will be housed in the Nichi Bei Kai building in San Francisco and will consist of portraits of the honorees with their achievements recorded in the Book of the Bunka Hall of Fame. (www.nichibeikai.org)

Japanese American National Library: $3,000 to support the indexing of publications important to the Japanese American community into a database. The library's goal is to index 4,000 of the existing 25,000 publications in their collection. (www.janlibrary.org)

Japanese Benevolent Society of California: $1,500 to support the organization's efforts to honor ministers who have served the Japanese American community and to express appreciation to the volunteers who maintain the Japanese cemetery in Colma, Calif., at the Day of Peace banquet held in Nov. 2007.

Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California: $5,000 to support the Center's Kodomo No Hi (Children's Day) Festival and School Visit Program. As part of JCCCNC's goal of preserving and cultivating Japanese American culture, the Center hosts a Children's Day School Visit program, in which elementary school students from the city of San Francisco are introduced to the customs and practices of this Japanese national holiday. (www.jcccnc.org)

Japantown Merchants Association (for Cherry Blossom Festival): $5,000 to support the Association's activities related to the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival, taking place April 12-13 and 19-20. (www.sfjapantown.org)

National Japanese American Historical Society: $5,000 to support the organization's Japantown Youth Heritage Walking Tour program, which trains youth in cultural and historical interpretation, communication skills and analysis of past and present issues impacting Japantown. (www.njahs.org)

The foundation's special grants of $5,000 each were awarded to Kimochi, Inc., Nihonmachi Little Friends and Pine Methodist Church.

This was the foundation's initial disbursement of awards since being founded in December 2006. The grants were provided to nonprofit groups with cultural, community and educational activities that the Foundation determined best promote and support San Francisco's Japantown.

The foundation was formed through generous initial endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, and Minami Tamaki LLP, which is also doing the foundation's pro bono legal work.

The organization is 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. In particular, the foundation supports activities that reflect the Japanese American experience, and activities that engage Japanese of all generations and all experiences in America.

The foundation's board is comprised of: Donald K. Tamaki, board president and partner with Minami Tamaki LLP; Hats Aizawa; Richard Hashimoto, Japantown Merchants Association; Jack Hirose; Keith Kamisugi; Eiji Miwa; Sandy Mori, Japantown Task Force, Inc.; Allen Okamoto, Sakura Matsuri, Inc.; and Hiroshi Tomita, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. Deputy Consul General Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi of the Consulate General of Japan serves as an advisory member.

The foundation continues to build on an initial total endowment of approximately $650,000.

The foundation welcomes additional grants and donations. Donations to the Foundation can be made online on this site or made payable to "San Francisco Japantown Foundation" and addressed to San Francisco Japantown Foundation, c/o Minami Tamaki LLP, 360 Post Street, 8th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108.

Recipients of 2007 Grants Announced on Dec. 10

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation will announce the recipients of its 2007 grants at a presentation event on Monday, December 10, at 4 p.m. at Union Bank of California Japantown branch's hospitality room, 1675 Post Street.

The foundation's 2007 competitive grants total $25,000 and are divided amongst 10 organizations in varying amounts of $5,000 or less. The foundation also approved $15,000 in special grants to three Japantown organizations, made possible by an additional donation from Jack Hirose.

This will be the foundation's initial disbursement of awards since being founded in December 2006. The grants are up to $5,000 and provided to nonprofit groups with cultural, community and educational activities that the Foundation determined best promotes and supports San Francisco's Japantown.

The foundation was formed through generous initial endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, and Minami Tamaki LLP, which is also doing the foundation's pro bono legal work.

The organization is 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. In particular, the foundation supports activities that reflect the Japanese American experience, and activities that engage Japanese of all generations and all experiences in America.

The foundation's board is comprised of: Donald K. Tamaki, board president and partner with Minami Tamaki LLP; Hats Aizawa; Richard Hashimoto, Japantown Merchants Association; Jack Hirose; Keith Kamisugi; Eiji Miwa; Sandy Mori, Japantown Task Force, Inc.; Allen Okamoto, Sakura Matsuri, Inc.; and Hiroshi Tomita, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. Deputy Consul General Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi of the Consulate General of Japan serves as an advisory member.

The foundation continues to build on an initial total endowment of approximately $650,000.

The foundation welcomes additional grants and donations. Donations to the Foundation can be made online on this site or made payable to "San Francisco Japantown Foundation" and addressed to: San Francisco Japantown Foundation, c/o Minami Tamaki LLP, 360 Post Street, 8th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108.

NOTE TO MEDIA: We request that media interested in attending the awards presentation event contact Keith Kamisugi at keith@keithpr.com or at 415-876-0589.

Grant Applications Available Aug. 10

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation announced today that applications for its first round of grants will be available starting at Noon on Friday, August 10, 2007.

This will be the foundation’s initial disbursement of awards since being founded in December 2006. Grants will be up to $5,000 and provided to nonprofit groups with cultural, community and educational activities that the Foundation determines best promotes and supports San Francisco’s Japantown.

Starting August 10, applications may be submitted online at www.sfjapantownfoundation.org. A printable form may also be downloaded from the site and mailed or faxed per instructions on the application.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on October 12, 2007. A subcommittee of the foundation's board will review requests in late October and the board will approve grants in November. The foundation will announce the awardees in early December 2007.

“The foundation board expresses its appreciation to our generous donors and to the Japantown community for its support and patience as we lay the groundwork during our first year,” said Donald K. Tamaki, board president and partner with Minami Tamaki LLP.

The foundation was formed through generous initial endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, and Minami Tamaki LLP, which is also doing the foundation’s pro bono legal work.

The organization is 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. In particular, the foundation supports activities that reflect the Japanese American experience, and activities that engage Japanese of all generations and all experiences in America.

In addition to Tamaki, the foundation’s board is comprised of: Hats Aizawa; Richard Hashimoto, Japantown Merchants Association; Jack Hirose; Keith Kamisugi; Eiji Miwa; Sandy Mori, Japantown Task Force, Inc.; Allen Okamoto, Sakura Matsuri, Inc.; and Hiroshi Tomita, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. Deputy Consul General Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi of the Consulate General of Japan serves as an advisory member.

The foundation is building on an initial total starting endowment of approximately $650,000.

The foundation welcomes additional grants and donations. Donations to the Foundation can be made payable to "San Francisco Japantown Foundation" and addressed to: San Francisco Japantown Foundation, c/o Minami Tamaki LLP, 360 Post Street, 8th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108

Visit www.sfjapantownfoundation.org, email info@sfjapantownfoundation.org or call 415-830-4165 or for more information.

Hatsuro and Amey Aizawa Donate $20,000 to San Francisco Japantown Foundation

SAN FRANCISCO (Dec. 11, 2006) - Community leaders and philanthropists Hatsuro "Hats" and Amey Aizawa have donated $20,000 to the San Francisco Japantown Foundation, announced foundation board president Donald K. Tamaki.

Hats Aizawa, who was born on Post Street between Laguna and Buchanan Streets and lived there until he was 17, has spent a lifetime along with Amey serving Japantown and the Japanese American community through his leadership of numerous organizations. He currently co-chairs the Japantown Centennial steering committee.

"Hats and Amey have always been tremendous supporters of Japantown and the community and once again, they are leading the way with their generosity," said Tamaki.

"We're just trying to give back to Japantown," said Aizawa. "I hope others will join us by investing in the foundation, which will play a role in ensuring the future of our community while remembering the past."

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation (www.sfjapantownfoundation.org) announced on Dec. 5 its establishment as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to provide financial support of cultural, charitable and educational activities and services for the benefit of residents, visitors and other stakeholders of San Francisco's Japantown and of activities and services that promote the growth, development and preservation of the area as a community that reflects the Japanese American experience. The organization's 501(c)(3) status is pending.

Kintetsu Enterprises of American provided $500,000 to endow the foundation. Jack Hirose also made a donation of stock worth more than $100,000.

In addition to Tamaki, the foundation's board includes Richard Hashimoto of the Japantown Merchants Association, Jack Hirose, Eiji Miwa, Sandy Mori of Japantown Taskforce, Inc., Allen Okamoto of Sakura Matsuri and Hiroshi Tomita of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of Japan serves as an advisory member.

Donations to the Foundation can me made payable to "San Francisco Japantown Foundation" and addressed to:

San Francisco Japantown Foundation
c/o Minami Tamaki LLP
360 Post Street, 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108

New San Francisco Japantown Foundation Receives $500,000 Endowment from Kintetsu

SAN FRANCISCO (Dec. 5, 2006) – The board of the new San Francisco Japantown Foundation today announced a $500,000 initial endowment from Kintetsu Enterprises of America and a contribution worth more then $100,000 from Jack Hirose.

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation was established as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to provide financial support of cultural, charitable and educational activities and services for the benefit of residents, visitors and other stakeholders of San Francisco's Japantown and of activities and services that promote the growth, development and reservation of the area as a community that reflects the Japanese American experience. The organization’s 501(c)(3) status is pending.

The members of the Foundation board are:

* Richard Hashimoto, Japantown Merchants Association
* Jack Hirose, At-large Director
* Eiji Miwa, At-large Director
* Sandy Mori, Japantown Taskforce, Inc.
* Allen Okamoto, Sakura Matsuri
* Donald K. Tamaki, Minami Tamaki LLP
* Hiroshi Tomita, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California

Board members were selected to represent a cross-section of the Japantown community, including businesses and community organizations. Deputy Consul General Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi of the Consulate General of Japan will serve as an advisory member.

“Kintetsu was very sad to leave San Francisco Japantown after being here for over 40 years,” said Takenori Kakutani, president of Kintetsu Enterprises of America. “We thank the Japanese American community, the Japantown merchants and the City of San Francisco for their support and we hope that our donation will be a good start for efforts to make sure that Japantown will continue for another 100 years.”

“Japantown this year celebrated its centennial and there has been many concerns about the area’s future,” said board member Sandy Mori. “As we start the next 100 years, the San Francisco Japantown Foundation will serve as one mechanism for the general public to preserve Japantown.”

There is no full-time staff for the Foundation. The volunteer members of the board and other volunteers will manage the organization.

The Foundation board will develop investment guidelines to ensure that funds will be responsibly invested to preserve capital and generate enough income to provide for grants. The board has not at this time selected investment managers, custodians or advisors. The Foundation plans to have grant information available in the second or third quarter of 2007.