Dear Friends,
As we reflect on the past year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your generous support and enthusiastic participation in Japan Society of Northern California’s programs. Thanks to you, this has been another busy, inspiring, and deeply rewarding year for our community.
This year was especially meaningful as 2025 marked a huge milestone for JSNC—our 120th anniversary since our founding in 1905. For more than a century, the Japan Society has pursued its mission of building strong ties and mutual understanding between the Bay Area and Japan, and it was deeply gratifying to celebrate this legacy together with so many people who share that commitment. (Read an online copy of our newly published History here.)
We were fortunate to host a number of memorable signature programs.
- Our Grassroots Summit in June welcomed more than 50 visitors from Japan to the Bay Area for a week of immersive activities, including a three-night homestay program, which created lasting personal connections on both sides of the Pacific.
- Our 15th Annual Innovation Awards marked another milestone, achieving the highest attendance in the program’s history—a powerful reminder of the Bay Area’s continued interest in innovation and U.S.–Japan collaboration.
- JSNC’s Japanese Language program had our busiest year ever, with around 300 students in our group lessons each semester and many more in our corporate and private lesson programs.
- In Japan, our U.S.–Japan Healthcare Conference in Tokyo and Osaka, themed “How AI and Science Are Driving the Future of Medicine,” brought together leaders from startups and large companies alike in the life sciences industry for timely and thoughtful discussions.
- We also celebrated in style at our 39th Annual Award of Honor Gala, honoring six exceptional awardees—and delighting guests with the surprise appearance of ANA’s Pokémon-decorated EEVEE jet, parked right in front of the SFO Hyatt reception area.
Beyond these large events (and perhaps to the dismay of our tireless staff!), we kept up a relentless and varied program agenda. I hope that everyone found multiple programs that spoke to their personal passions and interests.
My own favorites included:
- Two separate author chats with Jake Adelstein (Tokyo Vice and Devil Takes Bitcoin),
- Our series exploring traditional Japanese crafts (Japanese lacquerware, Japanese aesthetics, and Japanese textiles) with Steve Beimel and JapanCraft21,
- The film screening and director talk with the supremely talented and engaging Ema Yamazaki (The Making of a Japanese), and,
- our final program of the year on Inami woodcarving, featuring third generation master craftsman Nambu Hakuun, who shared skills and insights developed over more than 50 years creating artistic masterpieces.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the continued generosity of our members and supporters. Your support allows us to offer such a rich array of programs and to foster a vibrant, welcoming community centered on Japan.
I encourage you to revisit the year through our photo galleries, videos, and program details on our newly revamped website at www.usajapan.org, and I hope you’ll join us even more actively in 2026.
With warm regards and best wishes for a wonderful 2026,
Steve
