JACL San Fernando Valley Chapter

Obon season is about to start! See you there!!

Coming up next weekend! The first Obon in Southern California!

Remembering Kyoko Nancy Oda: Our community smiles through tears as we look back on the beautiful life of Kyoko Oda. A fierce champion of Japanese American history and a beloved cornerstone of our JACL family, Kyoko's passion was simply unmatched. Whether she was meticulously preserving delicate wartime stories or rallying the chapter with her infectious energy, she poured her whole heart into advocacy. Kyoko didn't just preserve history; she brought it alive with a warmth that connected generations. Her extraordinary impact ripples through everything we do. We miss her deeply, but her vibrant, joyful spirit remains stitched permanently into the fabric of our community.

Missing our amazing friend, member, and fierce advocate, Kyoko Oda. Rest in power.

We’re still processing her loss and will have more to say about her amazing legacy in a future post.

We stand with SPLC.

Civil rights organizations such as the JACL and the SPLC play a critical role in holding the government accountable and ensuring that Americans can enjoy the rights and protections enshrined in our nation’s Constitution.

This indictment will not silence the civil rights movement, and all we have fought to gain.

Read our full statement here: jacl.org/statements/jacl-stands-with-splc-against-federal-governments-continuing-attack-on-civil-rights

Check out Manzanar Committee’s Facebook Live stream at 11:30AM to be part of today’s 57th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.

Join us in person or tune into our Facebook live stream on Saturday, April 25th 2026 for the 57th annual manzanar pilgrimage.

Program Schedule:

11:30am - Call to Order with Music by UCLA Kyodo Taiko and Ken Koshio

11:55am - Banner Procession

12pm Speakers including
-Welcome from Emcees Maiya Kuida Osumi and Tony Osumi
-Welcome from Jeremiah Joseph, Cultural Resources Protection for the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
-Jeremy Scheier, Superintendent MNHS
-Opening Remarks by Bruce Embrey, Manzanar Committee Chair
-Keynote Address by Dale Minami
-Musical Interlude by UCLA Kyodo Taiko
-Hussam Ayloush, Council on American-Islamic Relations-CA Director
-Paul Hiroshi Boyea, Chair of the Terminal Islanders Preservation Initiative
-Jennifer Yamash*ta, UCLA Student Speaker
-Closing Camp Roll Call by Monica Mariko Embrey

1:15pm - Banner Procession to the Cemetery and Interfaith Service

1:45pm - Ondo dancing

2pm - 5pm - We encourage attendees to visit the Interpretive Center and other areas at the National Historic Site

5pm - intergenerational conversations at Manzanar at Dusk to be held at Lone Pine High School

Attendees are welcome to participate in all components of this program.

Please note we expect the weather to be cool and misty on Saturday, so please bring layers. No food is available on site, so please pack your lunch and snacks.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Here’s a great alternative if you can’t join the pilgrimage in person.

Can't join us in person at Manzanar on Saturday, April 25th? Not a problem - join us virtually at our live stream off our page!

Register here to receive the notification when we go live:
https://facebook.com/events/s/57th-annual-manzanar-pilgrimag/2070097996867404/

Join the fun during today’s Kodomo no Hi event at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center! 🎏 Lots of exciting activities for the whole family.

Ikenobo Ikebana, Kamishibai, Koinobori, Ondo, Origami, Tanzaku & More!

📢 Don’t miss out on this year’s National Convention!

General Registration for the 2026 JACL National Convention is now available for everyone! Be sure to get your registration before prices increase on July 1.

Register and check out the convention schedule at https://jacl.org/2026-national-convention

Bring the family out for a fun day at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center for Kodomo no Hi. 🎏

Don’t forget to come out and support athletics at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center with delicious pancakes this Saturday. 🥞😋

See everyone on Saturday!