The Press Release forwarded for the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute

EVENT NAME: 2024 GVJCI Matsuri Fundraiser
DATE: Saturday, June 29, 2024
TIME: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
LOCATION: Gardena Valley JCI, 1964 W. 162nd St., Gardena, CA 90247
NOTE: Our matsuri is cashless this year. Presale coupons, credit & debit cards, and scrip accepted. Scrip can be purchased at the event.

DESCRIPTION:
We’re celebrating over 70 years and our theme is ‘Celebrating Community Traditions!’

The Matsuri has always been a festive time where our member organizations and supporters get together to volunteer, enjoy food, entertainment, games, community and so much more, all while raising funds to support the GVJCI. It is one of the highlights of the year that we look forward to each June and is 100% volunteer run by our GVJCI Member Organizations with all proceeds benefiting the GVJCI. We hope to see you there!

Food & Game Booths - Community organizations and classes that are housed at the GVJCI lend their volunteer support to run all of our booths including fun games such as Bingo, or our ever popular Pitch ‘Til U Win, or cooking/selling tasty food like chicken teriyaki, hot dogs, chili dogs, spam musubi, udon, Okinawan andagi and more! Our community volunteers are the BEST---they help run all of the booths and are the heart of our Matsuri!

Performances - Get here early, get some food, grab a seat and be ready to be entertained by the many talented people here at the GVJCI! We showcase many classes and programs that are held at our facility such as taiko, hula, Japanese traditional dance, singing and line dancing. Come see what these performers learn throughout the year, and maybe you’ll be encouraged to join them at their weekly classes and perform next year!

Martial Arts Demonstrations - Ever wonder what these various martial art disciplines entail? Now is the time to find out! GVJCI’s martial arts classes will be featured: Naginata, Gardena Judo Club, Gardena Kendo, and Kyudo Renmei. This is the perfect time to catch a glimpse and see if one of these is for you and/or your family!

Outdoor Plant Sale - One of our most popular booths year after year, supporting nurseries and gracious community plant enthusiasts donate beautiful plants from their businesses and backyards for our Matsuri. We also have nursery experts who volunteer their time at the booth to answer all of your most intricate questions on how to grow and maintain your new plants!

Holding Station - Are your hands full of food items, white elephant treasures, and crafts...and you REALLY want to purchase a house plant? Well, worry no more. Take all of your belongings to our holding station where we’ll keep a watchful eye on your items. Now you are able to roam our Matsuri “hands free”. Then drive your car by the loading zone and pick up all of your goodies!

Bingo - Try your luck at Bingo! Games begin at 4pm on Saturday with chances to win cash & prizes!

Beer Garden - Saturday from opening to closing, take a break and come on over to our Beer Garden! Grab a beer, relax, and catch up with friends.

The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center - Come upstairs and see what we have to share with you! Visit our Japanese cultural heritage library and our educational Tokonoma Display. Want to inquire about our Japanese Language School? Come pay a visit and receive information you need to enroll in the upcoming fall session. Returning this year is the Tri City CERT display, learn about Community Emergency Response; and visit the Tomo No Kai Art display! New this year, come and see the Ikebana Class’ ikebana display! Do you love homemade crafts? Come visit and purchase beautiful hand made crafts from our Tomo No Kai Crafters! Who doesn’t love a homemade crocheted scrubby? Yes please!

Pre-sale GVJCI Matsuri Fundraiser Coupon Books - Come by and purchase your coupons!
Coupons will be sold by GVJCI programs and supporting organizations beginning in April.

You may also visit the GVJCI office to purchase coupon books at $20 per book prior to the Matsuri. The ten $2.00 coupons can be used as scrip at all Matsuri booths. And back by popular demand is our raffle! Each pre-sale coupon includes an added value raffle ticket!

Matsuri Raffles: One raffle ticket is included with each pre-sale coupon. Return your completed raffle tickets to the GVJCI by 12:00pm, June 29 for your chance to win prizes during our matsuri. In addition, purchase special tickets for the Mega Matsuri Raffle at the Matsuri Info booth. Be sure to visit our website to see the Mega Matsuri Raffle drawing prizes. Drawings for this special raffle will be held on Saturday near closing.

Outdoor Entertainment

10:00am - 10:20am Yuujou Daiko

10:25am - 10:35am 2024 GVJCI Scholarship Presentation

10:40am - 10:50am Corporate Sponsor Recognition

10:55am - 11:15am Na Pua O Kapo

11:20am-11:40am  TNK Hula Performance (Harriet Nagata & TNK Hula

Class)

11:45am - 12:05pm TNK Line Dance Performance (Chris Mori & TNK Line

Dance Class)

12:10pm - 12:30pm Bando Hidesomi

12:35pm - 12:55pm TNK Move & Groove Performance (Tim Toyama &

Move & Groove Class)

1:00pm - 1:20pm LA Men's Glee Club

1:25pm - 1:45pm Japanese Flute & Drums Performance (Ken Yanai &

Paul Tavenner)

 

Martial Arts - Inside GVJCI Hall

(basement level)

1:45pm -2:05pm JLS Koto Player (Avaya McCoy)

2:10pm - 2:30pm Southern California Kyudo Renmei

2:35pm - 2:55pm Southern California Naginata Federation

3:00pm - 3:20pm Gardena Kendo

3:25pm - 3:45pm Gardena Judo Club

 

Classrooms Upstairs Main Hall

11:00am - 11:30am Tea Ceremony demo, 202/203

12:30pm - 1:00pm Ikebana demo, 202/203

2:00pm - 2:30pm Tea Ceremony demo, 202/203

3:30pm - 4:00pm Ikebana demo, 202/203

4:00pm - 6:30pm Bingo - located outside

6:30 PM Mega Matsuri Raffle Drawing @ Stage

7:00 PM Matsuri Closes

 

Menu:

Char Siu Bao

Chicken Teriyaki

Chili Dog

Chili Rice

Chili Rice Hot Dog

Chirashi

Corn on the Cob

Hot Dog

Inari -3

Somen Salad

Spam Musubi

Tamale

Tamale + Chili

Udon

Yakisoba

Andagi -3

Shave Ice

Watermelon

Water

Soda

Iced Coffee

Beer

With warm regards,,

 

ABOUT THE GVJCI:
From all of us at the GVJCI, we thank you for the support you give us throughout the year. We could not do all that we do without you. We were built by the community, and we are sustained by the community. In our busiest months, 3,000 people come to the GVJCI for classes, workshops, meetings, services, activities, and holiday parties. We are so grateful for all those who utilize our facilities and services, participate in our programs, and keep the GVJCI an active community center.

We were formally incorporated in 1967, but our roots in the South Bay trace back over 100 years ago through our Japanese Language School's legacy. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Nikkei and broader community of the South Bay through educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs. We need your support to make these programs possible and keep our facilities in good operating condition.

Our Mission
A space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.

Our Vision
The GVJCI envisions a vibrant network and a welcoming space for all persons interested in Japanese heritage and culture where history and tradition are honored, people are inspired to create action and change, and cultural pride and respect for all humanity are promoted.

The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, Federal Taxpayer ID: 95-6197597.

Website: www.jci-gardena.org

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