Jill Shiraki for J-Sei

Dear Friends & Family -

We can definitely say the dog-o-rhythm is helping at home and at work.  Jasper, our Jindo-Corgi pup, and I start the day together with a walk in the garden, a quick breakfast, and some treats before I start work.  He comes to J-Sei to visit when Wil takes Tai Chi or Japanese. He enjoys searching for squirrels, meeting other canines, and taking in the environs at the Berkeley or Richmond Marina on a late day walk with Wil. Jasper brings us joy, pause, and energy! 

J-Sei keeps a steady pace with so many people ready to engage in new offerings. While many classes remain online, new classes fill quickly and we have had to expand to accommodate the interest. We are grateful for the energy and constancy of our instructors and the creative infusion that new classes bring. The social engagement is refueling for so many of us.

Life continues to flow, spiral and evolve. Some of the  artists who taught classes when I worked in SF are now offering classes at J-Sei. And many of the friends who I met through the Sansei Legacy Project participate in programs. We are aging together and becoming wiser in community.  

It was an honor to host Satsuki Ina's book launch for her family memoir, "The Poet and the Silk Girl".  She has been unearthing the intergenerational impact of the Japanese American incarceration for several decades. Her son Adrian Tomine offered a heartwarming mother-son dialogue and a window into how the next generation will continue to be shaped by our family legacies. 

We were inspired by the deep compassion and poise of writer Kai Williams, great granddaughter of Yuri Kochiyama, as she shared "The Bridges That Yuri Built".  She was joined in conversation with Miya Saika Chen, daughter of Peggy Saika and Art Chen, community leaders and shapers. Jun Hamamoto and her granddaughter helped with an Children's Day Origami activity. The future looks bright as the spirit and legacy shines through from generation to generation.

Please help us continue to evolve, create space, make connections, and build community at J-Sei.  Let's keep J-Sei's rhythm going strong!

Please support J-Sei as we stretch to reach our matching grant challenge of $55 K!  We are so encouraged by a 1:1 matching pledge once again. Give $25 and your donation is $50; give $75 and your donation is $150, give $125 and your donation is $250, and so on. 

Thanks for reading this. It is an honor to be part of the J-Sei community. I am especially thankful for my fellow staff, especially Karol & Kathy, who manage, refine, and give so much to J-Sei programs. 

Give if you can, and share this with another person. 

With a grateful heart,

Jill