Nikkei Matsuri returns Sept. 1-3 at Nikkei Centre
Celebrate Japanese Culture at the Nikkei Matsuri and Zenyasai events
Nikkei Matsuri returns Sept. 1-3 at Nikkei Centre
The 11th annual Nikkei Matsuri festival takes place on September 1-3, 2023, to celebrate Japanese culture. We invite families and all ages in Metro Vancouver and beyond to join this authentic cultural celebration!
The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) is excited to announce the 11th annual Nikkei Matsuri, a cultural celebration of an authentic Japanese festival. Taking place at the Nikkei Centre in Burnaby, this vibrant gathering will provide an immersive experience for families and individuals alike to enjoy the richness of Japanese culture.
Nikkei Matsuri is the NNMCC's largest fundraising event of the year, with all proceeds helping provide important funding for their cultural and community programs, educational outreach, and museum. This festival is not possible without the support of sponsors, donors, volunteers, community partners and members. Your contribution helps bring the community together by making enjoyable and affordable programs possible. Thank you to all our supporters!
Opening Ceremony in front of the Yagura Tower (2022)
This year, a pre-festival “Zenyasai Beer Garden” celebration with will take place on Friday, September 1, with the main festivities happening on Saturday and Sunday, September 2 & 3.
Zenyasai is an evening of music, art, and relaxation in the picturesque and festive Nikkei Garden. The event features summertime house music, hi-tech soul vibes, dancing with DJs Rennie Foster, Byegas, Move78, and live mural painting by celebrated artist Taka Sudo.
The Nikkei Matsuri festival serves as a cultural gathering place inviting everyone to participate in the celebration of Japanese heritage. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a range of dance and music performances, powerful taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations by local artists, and much more. Visit the festival website for a list of performances. Special guests KAMUI, samurai artists, are travelling from Japan to grace the event.
Samurai Artists KAMUI from Japan
Japanese drum performance by Chibi Taiko (2022)
Bushido Performance (2022)
Nikkei Place Charity Classic golf tournament raises over $300,00 net!
It was an inspiring and record-breaking year — the 2023 Golf Committee extends a big thanks to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and golfers for the instrumental support!
Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society Celebrates a Record-Breaking Year
Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society is proud to announce that the 16th annual Nikkei Place Charity Classic golf tournament, presented by Google, Rogers Kinetic Wireless, and Fido Skynet Wireless, on Friday, May 26, 2023, was a tremendous success, with over $300,000 net raised!
120 golfers enjoyed a fun day out on the links, raising funds for dementia friendly programs, activities, and resources for the Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society. We were honoured to have Mayor of Burnaby Mike Hurley, Consul General Maruyama, and Deputy Consul General Okagaki in attendance. Global BC meteorologist Yvonne Schalle joined as our premium reception emcee, CPGA Golf Professional, Seymour Golf & Country Club’s Lindy Miyashiro, hit it close on #15, and the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre team served up refreshments.
It was an inspiring and record-breaking year — the 2023 Golf Committee extends a big thanks to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and golfers for the instrumental support! They helped raise $75,000, which was more than what the tournament has raised in previous years.
Many thanks, to our Tournament Matching Donors, Ken & Junko Shinozaki for their $75,000 donation to bring the tournament total to $150,000. In 2024, our programs will be realized.
With an unexpected donation from Jane Nimi & Family of $150,000, this will enable more programs and initiatives to help meet the increasing needs of seniors, for which we are very grateful.
We also extend a special thank you to the City of Burnaby for their partnership and support.
With this funding we can expand our “Iki Iki” social day programs, “Outfight Parkinson’s” boxing, and “Kenko Talks” seminars. More information about programs are available online at seniors.nikkeiplace.org/programming
Thank You to Our Sponsors & Donors
You Inspire Us!
Thank you to all donors who answered the “Tech Tub Reboot” call for action. You inspire us and we thank you very much for assisting Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society in helping seniors.
Thank you to all donors who answered the “Tech Tub Reboot” call for action.
You inspire us and we thank you very much for assisting Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society in helping seniors. “Inspire Action” raised over $200,000, exceeding our $100,000 goal. Yes, you helped exceed the goal!
Your donation is at work now and will be put to work for their 2022 programs.
TUB – The Arjo Parker Series tub is now on order and expected to arrive in October. The renovation in the spa room begins September. Once it is completed, the residents will enjoy the experience of a warm soak while the staff can feel assured with all the safety features.
TECH – Nikkei Seniors is putting the ‘tech project’ to test. We recently upgraded our Internet WIFI connections; and purchased eight Echo devices for the residents’suites and to-go pocket WIFI-hot spots as needed. The Outreach Coordinator is now running programs – brain exercise, physical exercise, eating and chatting together, creating a link for a doctor to call in, and initiating a new kind of in-suite family visit. Once tested and the kinks resolved, we will offer more devices to residents. The long term goal is to start making this available to the seniors living at home. Our goal is to support “Better at Home.”
REBOOT – Iki Iki/Lively Lively (dementia friendly) and Kui Do Raku (Eat, Chat, Relax) have not started onsite (due to health restrictions) but they are in the rebooted and testing phase for an immediate start as soon as we get the ‘ok’ from the Fraser Health Authority. Part-time staff have been hired in the development, implementation, and sustainability of the reboot. These staff take the place of the volunteers who have not been permitted to work due to COVID restrictions. Volunteers have been a vital part of our programs and, as restrictions lift, our hope is for their return. In the meantime, the coordinators are maintaining contact with volunteers and seniors. This re-opening is what we have all been waiting for. For the seniors, new activities in familiar surroundings. “Let’s Go!” is our motto.
For the 2022 fiscal year, the planned outreach programs will happen as a result of your donation. Some of the funded activities are: dementia-friendly full-day programs; socialization programs; physical and brain exercise; tech connections for those who are unable to participate in person; plus film and documentary production and volunteer training and orientation.
Thank you all: you have been an inspiration. Kansha shimasu.
Knits by Nikkei Seniors
Knits by Nikkei Seniors
Knits by Nikkei Seniors
At Nikkei Place, seniors at Robert Nimi Nikkei Home have been encouraged by letters and poems from the community, pictures from children, and donations of yarn during the pandemic lockdown.
A group of seniors have been knitting for months, nurturing these seeds of community support.
The knitted items full of community spirit will be available at Nikkei National Museum’s gift shop, with all proceeds to support the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre’s Resilience Fundraiser to help raise funds to support a place where the community can continue to gather into the future.
Thank you to the community for supporting our seniors, and thank you to the seniors for giving back to the community.
We are proud to be share this cycle of taking care of each other.
Thank you for supporting Nikkei Place during Giving Tuesday Now!
We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to our supporters who came together last week to help Nikkei Place…
Thank you for supporting Nikkei Place during Giving Tuesday Now!
We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to our supporters who came together last week to help Nikkei Place during Giving Tuesday Now.
Giving Tuesday Now was on May 5th, a global movement to encourage giving to charities during this increasingly challenging time.
Our three charities at Nikkei Place really felt the community support, with 43 people helping raise over $7,500 in the span of 6 days for Nikkei Place’s essential operational funding needs. Thank you for offering a helping hand — every gift makes a difference.
If you did not get the chance but would like to help Nikkei Place, you can donate here.
We are off to a great start, and must continue the effort to raise essential operational funding for Nikkei Place. It is our hope to reopen the campus one day soon, and welcome back the community.
Gifts from May 5th - May 10th, 2020
Anonymous (5)
Anonymous — In Memory of Shin & Reiko Endo
Yukiko Adachi
Louise Arai — In Memory of Sumiko Arai & Isamu Imayoshi
Catherine & Shawn Chapell — In Honour of Mrs. Yoshiko Hirano
Cameron Dustin
Elaine Easton — In Memory of Yasuko Takahashi
Renay & Kazue Egami
Michael Elliott — In Memory of Hasome Kumiko
Suzy & Barry Higo — In Memory of Frank Fukui
Kikuye Inouye
Stacey Inouye
Brett K.
Paul & Diana Kariya — In Memory of Kanako Kariya
Karen Kobayashi
Linda Lawrence
Imogene Lim
Geoffrey Low
Susie Mansell
Rod Mickleburgh — In Memory of Buck Suzuki
Hiné Mizushima
Anne Motozono
Kazuto Nakamoto
Ron Nishi
OKI Wood Specialities Ltd.
Suzanne Parker — In Honour of Sherry & Roy Adachi
Gwen Perkins — In Memory of Christine Couper
Margaret & Juergen Peters
Michael Borowski & Diane Shikaze
Joyce Shimokura
Howard Shimokura
Leigh Shoji-Lee
Michael Souza
Debra Suzuki
Cheryl Suzuki
Charles. H. Tasaka — In Memory of Hana Shimano
Dan Tokawa
Harry Tonogai
Ronald Ui — In Memory of Violet Misaye Kondo
This Year's Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner is on October 12th
Join us for the 9th Annual Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner on October 12 at Nikkei Centre — an event that recognizes our community leaders. Congratulations to this year’s awardees…
An Evening to Recognize Our Community Leaders
Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Nikkei Centre
Join us for the 9th Annual Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner — an event that brings together philanthropists, business leaders, and supporters from the Nikkei community to recognize, congratulate and thank the extraordinary effort of Nikkei Place community leaders for their selfless contributions to building a strong and vibrant community.
EVERY GIFT RAISED for the Community Awards + Fundraising Dinner provides Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre with funding to educate and connect people to community and the history, heritage, and culture of Japanese Canadians.
Visit the event website for full event details and updates.
Tickets + Sponsorship
Individual: $130 per person* | Table of 10: $1300
To purchase tickets contact Nikkei Centre at 604.777.7000.
*A portion of each ticket is tax receiptable. Amount to be determined post-event.
To become a sponsor or discuss details, please contact Roger Lemire at rlemire@nikkeiplace.org or 604.777.7000 Ext. 105.
The Vancouver Asahi Spirit of Strength + Resilience
We Remember…
100 years ago in August, the Vancouver Asahi baseball team succeeded in winning their first pennant. Started in 1914, the team took some time to hone their skills, but with their signature “brainball” developed in the 1920s, won four Terminal League Championships between 1926 – 1933, a triple championship in 1938, and five consecutive Pacific Northwest Championships including their final win in 1941. They connected communities and won fans across ethnic divides. Although disbanded, divided, and dispersed in 1942 with the events of the Second World War, wherever an Asahi player was sent, baseball thrived, helping to boost morale in the darkest of times.
WE REMEMBER that team spirit, pride in being Japanese Canadian, and the coming together of community as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of this team’s first major win, and honour this year’s Community Awards Dinner recipients.
Awardees
All awardees demonstrate tireless efforts in honouring, preserving, and sharing Japanese culture and Japanese Canadian history and heritage for a better Canada.
Japanese Canadian History and Preservation Award
75th Anniversary Nikkei Legacy Signage Project Committee
Outstanding Community Service Award
Frank Kamiya
Japanese Culture Award
Nikkei Book Sale Committee
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2019
Venue: Nikkei Centre - 6688 Southoaks Crescent • Burnaby, BC
Tickets: $130 per person* | Table of 10: $1,300
To purchase tickets contact Nikkei Centre at 604.777.7000
*A portion of each ticket is tax receiptable. Amount to be determined post-event.
Visit the event website for full details and updates:
Nikkei Matsuri: Two Days of Family-Friendly Cultural Festivities
Join in on the festivities at Nikkei Matsuri on Sat. August 31 + Sun. Sept 1! Proceeds support Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.
Nikkei Matsuri is One of the Largest Japanese Festivals in Canada!
It brings an authentic family-friendly “Matsuri” (festival) experience to Burnaby every summer at Nikkei Centre over the Labour Day weekend.
Hosted by the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC), this two-day festival on August 31 and September 1 has something for everyone, and aims to showcase the pride of Japanese culture here in Canada.
A matsuri (festival) has long been part of the cultural landscape in Japan. Many nikkei communities across North America and around the world carefully preserve and follow this tradition. Nikkei Matsuri provides a platform to celebrate Japanese culture through food, music, entertainment, games, and more.
The inaugural Nikkei Matsuri was held in 2013, and was originally organized by Nikkei Place Foundation, as a fundraiser for the NNMCC. The following summer, the organizing was handed over to the NNMCC, and has since become one of the biggest fundraising events of the year! All net proceeds benefit the NNMCC's cultural and community programs, educational outreach, and museum.
There’s plenty to see, do, and eat at Nikkei Matsuri!
Come join the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre over the Labour Day weekend to be immersed in an authentic Japanese festival in your very own community.
Enjoy delicious food offerings like manju, takoyaki, and ramen from local vendors.
Join in on the Matsuri Star Power: Spotlight Nikkei panel, and hear from Nikkei film and TV stars Tamlyn Tomita, Kevan Ohtsji, and Jennifer Spence.
Take in performances like taiko drumming and bon-odori dancing in the garden.
Play games and win prizes in the Games Zone!
See some amazing amateur talent at the Matsuri Star Talent Show in the event’s hall.
These are only some of the things to look forward to at the festival this year! Find out more at nikkeimatsuri.ca.
Get involved
If you are interested in getting involved, consider supporting Nikkei Matsuri as a sponsor or donor! You can have the chance to get your company or name showcased on the Lantern “Chochin” Wall display during the festival. Make a personal donation to Nikkei Matsuri and receive a charitable tax receipt. Or, bring your company on as an event sponsor and enjoy additional benefits. For more information about sponsorship or donations, contact Roger Lemire at rlemire@nikkeiplace.org.
You can also get involved with Nikkei Matsuri by joining the volunteer team!
Event Details
Nikkei Matsuri Family Festival
When: Sat. Aug 31 + Sun. Sept 1 | 11:00am — 7:00pm
Where: Nikkei Centre
Over $75,000 in net proceeds raised for dementia-friendly programs, awareness + more!
This Year was the Best Yet: A Letter from the Nikkei Golf Committee
Helping Seniors Live Well
The Nikkei Place Charity Golf Tournament + Fundraising is run by Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society, in partnership with Nikkei Place Foundation. Since 2015, we have been helping raise vital funding specifically for dementia-friendly programs, awareness, and more, at Robert Nimi Nikkei Home and outreach into the surrounding Burnaby area and Vancouver. Find out more here about the huge impact sponsors and donors have made in the lives of seniors.
This Year was the Best Yet: A Letter from the Nikkei Golf Committee
To all our friends, sponsors, donors and volunteers,
Thank you for helping #BeatTheOdds at our Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, May 31, 2019!
It was great to see you on Friday, May 31, 2019 for our annual Charity Golf Tournament at Burnaby's Riverway Golf Course! YOU have helped make this our best year yet!
The 2019 Nikkei Golf Committee can't thank you enough for coming out and supporting this year’s event! What a spectacular day it was, and we hope you and your team enjoyed raising money for dementia friendly programs, awareness, and more, for the Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society.
We raised over $75,000 in net proceeds for dementia-friendly programs, awareness, and more!
We extend a special thank you to the City of Burnaby, and Riverway Golf Course! We are so grateful for their partnership and support in helping make this the best year yet!
As mentioned during the banquet, in addition to our "Iki-Iki" dementia programs, we also offer “Outfight Parkinson”, and are currently waiting for approval to start another boxing based exercise program for seniors. Program updates will be made available on the Nikkei Seniors Society's website.
Don't forget to check out the photo gallery for some of the great moments from the tournament here.
This year, we were also happy to welcome the support of media partner Global BC, and print media sponsor What's On! Burnaby.
It was an another amazing year with Global meteorologist Yvonne Schalle as our emcee, and former Canadian tour pro, RBC's Darren Wallace, for hitting it close on #15. On course, golfers were treated to goodies from All Nippon Airways, and refreshments from The Keg Steakhouse + Bar tent.
We would not be nearly as successful without the generosity from our sponsors. Thank you to our Executive Sponsors (Bosa Properties, Fujiya, and Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation) and our Premium Sponsors (The Keg Steakhouse + Bar, and ONNI Group), and Patrons (Ken Yada & Family, and Jane Nimi & Patty Ruegamer) for their support! Click here to see a full list.
Thank you again for your tremendous support and making this our 4th consecutive sell out!
Sincerely,
The 2019 Nikkei Golf Committee
Glenn Tanaka, Joey Oikawa, Ruth Coles, Cathy Makihara, Bobby Ruegamer, Jay Hiraga, Karen Tanaka, and Cheryl Wong