San Francisco Japantown Task Force

DATA SHEET

Place/Event: Japanese Culture and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) -- Sports & Activities

Address: 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco

Description:

JCCCNC offers an array of sports leagues that allow community members to not only get together for competition but to also socialize with friends and make new ones. This includes an Over 30 Basketball League (Monday) two volleyball leagues (Tuesday) and Wednesday Night Competitive League. During the Summer and Winter, the Center also offers basketball skill camps for children of all ages and levels. JCCCNC also uses its sports programs to teach culture and leadership skills. The JCCCNC is home to the “Shinzen USA” program that brings together youth from our community and Japan for an international exchange of sportsmanship, culture and friendship every summer.

History:

For decades, Japanese Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area dreamed of having their own cultural and community center. In 1973, the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency designated such a site, which the Nihonmachi Community Development Corporation allocated to JCCCNC. Phase I of the dream came true in 1986 with the opening of Community Service Building. Phase II-a Gymnasium Community Hall was completed in 1990. Today the Japanese Cultural and Community Center in SF’s Japantown is fulfilling its promise to be a multi-service center for the Nikkei community, with classes in Japanese arts and culture, sports and recreation programs, clubs and social activities for all age groups, national and community events and a variety of social services. As the sense of community as it existed in the day of the Issei fades and families drift apart geographically, there is less social contact between generations and fewer opportunities for elders to pass on cultural values, customs, crafts and shared ancestral history to our youth. These activities meet a vital need.

Significance:

Cultural, Historical, Social

Recognition of Significance:

Sources:

Ken Maeshiro - Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California – Special Events Coordinator

Other Comments:

You can visit the JCCCNC website at http://www.jcccnc.org.

Prepared By: Ken Maeshiro & Darryl Abantao Date Prepared: 9/16/04