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About Japantown

Prior to San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake, four Japanese enclaves were located in the Western Addition, South Park, South of Market and Chinatown areas.  After the earthquake and fire, Japantown re-established itself in the Western Addition, where its core remains today.  (South Park survived until the 1930s.)  San Francisco's Japantown is the first and oldest of its kind on the continental USA and was established when the first wave of Japanese immigrants arrived in San Francisco in the 1880s.  With the consolidation of the community came more Japanese businesses, shops, churches, schools, restaurants, hotels and other organizations, which grew in the Western Addition and further supported the growth of the community.  The neighborhood took on a very Japanese character and before long became a miniature Ginza known as Nihonmachi, or Japantown. 

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gala_program.jpg
Click on image to download PDF of the gala program

100th Anniversary of Japantown Community Gala Dinner

The 100th Anniversary of the San Francisco Japantown Gala Dinner took place on September 2, 2006, at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

Congressman Mike Honda, Assemblymember Mark Leno, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting delivered congratulatory remarks.

On behalf of the Government of Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued congratulatory remarks, which were delivered by Consul General Makoto Yamanaka at the event. As former Consuls General of Japan in San Francisco, Ambassador and the Representative of the Government of Japan, Tastuo Arima, and Ambassador Atsushi Tokinoya also attended the celebration with their wives.

Congratulatory Remarks by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi - ENG | JPN
Congratulatory Remarks by Consul General Makoto Yanamaka - ENG | JPN

Astronaut Dan Tani's remarks

Article on event to be published in the Consulate e-newsletter 

Winners of the 100th Gala Dinner Raffle:

  • Grand prize of two roundtrip tickets to Japan with three nights stay in Tokyo:  Mary Eijima, San Francisco
  • One roundtrip ticket to Japan:  Fred Kochi, Sunnyvale
  • One roundtrip ticket to Japan:  Tetsuro Hitoshi, East Bay
  • One roundtrip ticket to Japan:  Bill Fukumitsu, South San Francisco

Mr. Sakai of Japan Airlines added in the three nights stay and three extra tickets while at the dinner.  Congratulations to all the winners. Thanks to everyone who sold tickets and especially to Steve Hirabayashi and the Nikkei Lions for handling the distribution and sales of the tickets.