With Gratitude to Rich Hashimoto

Rich Hashimoto (right) with Consul General of Japan Jun Yamada at the San Francisco Japantown Foundation's 2016 New Year's Celebration with Osechi Ryori.

San Francisco Japantown Foundation Board President Donald K. Tamaki announced Rich Hashimoto’s departure from the foundation board.

Hashimoto joined the board as an original member when the foundation was founded in 2004.

“Rich was an invaluable member of our board,” says Tamaki. “His numerous contributions included initiating our community partnership with the Hotel Kabuki, and providing input towards and hands-on labor in support of making each of our fundraisers a success.”

When Hashimoto joined the Japantown Foundation board, he was already busy as President of the Japantown Merchants Association, a member-based  merchant association supporting the Japantown business corridor by encouraging business traffic with its services.

“Because of the growing success of the Japantown Foundation, every year brings additional work for our board members,” said Tamaki. “After 10 years, I think we can give Rich a break.”

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation board of directors expresses its deepest gratitude and appreciation to Rich Hashimoto for his contributions to the organization, and to his continued leadership in the Japantown community.

Donate to the San Francisco Japantown Foundation and support our efforts to honor and preserve Japantown.

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”.