2025 Japan-America Grassroots Summit in San Francisco

Please join us in welcoming guests from across Japan to San Francisco for the 2025 Japan-America Grassroots Summit from June 3rd to 9th, 2025!

Opening ceremony photos
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The Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) is excited to host the 2025 meeting of this annual gathering, which celebrates the historic friendship between Nakahama (John) Manjiro and Captain William Whitfield.

Manjiro was a 14-year-old fisherman when he was marooned off Japan’s coast in 1841. Whitfield rescued the young Manjiro, brought him back to the United States and shared his own home with him. Manjiro decided to venture home to Japan a few years later and he landed in San Francisco in 1850 for a few months to raise the $600 for his journey. He finally returned to Japan in 1851. He subsequently became a trailblazer in emerging US-Japan relations, and the Grassroots Summit celebrates this relationship.

In 2025, JSNC will celebrate its 120th anniversary. From its founding, JSNC has been dedicated to strengthening ties between Japan and the US. Its“Fog City” home base has long been center stage in US-Japan relations, from hosting the first Japanese diplomatic mission to the US in 1860, to seeing the signing of the Japan-US Security Treaty that ended WWII, to holding the Japan-America Grassroots Summit in 2010, and much more.

We invite you to join us as we showcase what the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer to the world, and celebrate the ongoing friendship between the US and Japan!

Become a Host Family!

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What is involved in being a host family?
As a host, you’ll share your daily life with your Japanese guest and help build stronger ties between the US and Japan. Most attendees are adults over 30, with some middle and high school students needing hosts in San Francisco.
Host families will provide 4 days and 3 nights of lodging from June 5 to June 8.  Host families will also provide transportation to and from activities in and around the Local Session.  On the final afternoon, your family will be invited to the Closing Ceremonies and afterwards will drop off your guest at a hotel near SFO.
Schedule of Events
June 3 - June 9
  • Tuesday, June 3rd: Participants arrive in San Francisco, optional light SF touring after check-in.
  • Wednesday, June 4th: Optional local tour (extra fee); Opening Ceremony & Reception at Hotel Nikko (SF).
  • Thursday, June 5th: Participants move to local region, meet Host Families to begin homestay.
  • Friday, June 6th: Local Session (homestay).
  • Saturday, June 7th: Local Session (homestay).
  • Sunday, June 8th: Participants depart local region and travel to Closing Ceremony at Stanford University. Participants stay at departure hotel.
  • Monday, June 9th: Participants depart for Japan or extend stay in US for post-Summit optional tours or personal travel.
Host Family Schedule
What is the host family schedule?
Date Activity Breakfast Lunch Dinner
6/5 JP Guests have local day tour, Host families pick up in the evening At Hotel On tour With Host Family
6/6 JP Guests have local day tour With Host Family On tour With Host Family
6/7 Free time with Host Family With Host Family With Host Family With Host Family
6/8 AM: Free time with Host Family
PM: Closing Ceremony/ Drop off at SFO hotel		 With Host Family With Host Family At Ceremony
FAQs
Host Family FAQs
What can I gain from being a host family?
You will meet a like-minded Japanese guest who values international friendship and have a chance to start a relationship that can last a lifetime.
 
Where should I take my guest?  What activities should I do with my guest?
Participants in the Grassroots Summit want an opportunity to experience everyday life in the US.  Guests may be interested in visiting some touristy locations (ie. Fisherman’s Wharf, Apple Park, Napa Valley), but we also highly recommend taking your guest to your favorite local spots including Farmer’s Markets, Parks, and especially grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s.  You might also consider meeting up with other local host families and having group activities such as picnics or get-togethers.
 
How do we communicate if we do not speak Japanese?
Important pieces of information including medical conditions, allergies, etc. will be communicated in English beforehand.  However, for everyday communication, your guest will likely have a rudimentary understanding of English.  Former host families have also suggested using online translation services including Google Translate and DeepL.
 

What is a Local Session?

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Participants leave in the morning for their homestay town and stay with their host family for four days and three nights. Guests pre-select a “Local Session” of interest to them based on previews they receive in a brochure. During the home stay days, the local town leaders and host families work together to share the best that their community has to offer. This person-to-person exchange and shared enthusiasm for local and cultural experience is the essence of the Japan-America Grassroots Summit.

Local session activities tentatively include:

  • San Francisco- High School Group
    • Pier 39/Fisherman’s Wharf
    • Balmy Alley murals/Mission District
    • Golden Gate Park
  • Peninsula (San Mateo)
  • North Bay (Sebastopol/Sonoma)
    • Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
    • Snoopy Museum
    • Wine tasting
  • East Bay (Berkeley)
    • UC Berkeley
    • Botanical Garden
    • Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive
  • South Bay (Sunnyvale/Cupertino/San Jose)
    • Tech tours (Intel Museum, HP Garage, Google, Stanford)
    • Rancho San Antonio
    • Picchetti Winery

Sponsor Tier & Benefits

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AmountPlatinum
$25,000		Gold
$15,000		Silver
$10,000		Bronze
$5,000		Sponsor
$2,500
Opening Ceremony• 8 Tickets
• Speaking Slot
• VIP Table		6 Tickets (Preferred Seating Location)4 Tickets (Preferred Seating Location)4 Tickets2 Tickets
Program AdvertisementFull Page Ad1/2 Page Ad1/4 Page Ad1/4 Page Ad1/4 Page Ad
JSNC
Website		Large Logo & Link on JSNC Sponsor PageRegular Logo & Link on JSNC Sponsor PageRegular Logo & Link on JSNC Sponsor PageSmall Logo & Link on JSNC Sponsor PageSmall Logo & Link on JSNC Sponsor Page
Grassroots Summit WebsiteLarge Logo & Link on Summit Landing
& Sponsor page		Regular Logo & Link on Summit Landing
& Sponsor page		Regular Logo & Link on Summit Landing
& Sponsor page		Small Logo & Link on Summit Landing
& Sponsor page		Small Logo & Link on Summit Landing
& Sponsor page
Signage at SummitLarge LogoRegular LogoRegular LogoSmall LogoSmall Logo
Opportunity for Giveaway to ParticipantsYesYesYesYesYes
Closing Ceremony• 8 Tickets
• VIP Table		4 Tickets (Preferred Seating Location)3 Tickets3 Tickets2 Tickets

2025 Japan-America Grassroots Summit Sponsors

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Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Individual Sponsors

Opening Ceremony Wine Generously Provided Courtesy Of

Baseball Game Tickets Generously Donated By

AI Translation Service Provided By

Sponsorship Opportunities

Please email jsnc@usajapan.org or call (415)-986-4383 Smaller donation amounts will also be accepted and appreciated!

learn more about SponsorShip opportunities