A big thank you to all the Sponsors/Donors, Volunteers, Performers, and Presenters that made this year’s Japanese Cultural Fair a big success! We just could not do it without YOU! お疲れ様でした！And to all you who made it out to the festival we hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed putting it on (even with the rain at the beginning)!

2024 Japanese Cultural Fair (afternoon) Volunteers, Performers, Presenters, and More!
(Photo by Adrian Simeoni with our thanks!)

Special SHOUT OUT to Deb Shepherd and the Green Team Volunteers who worked tirelessly to make sure all recyclable/organic materials were separated in order to divert unnecessary items from the landfill. THANK YOU!

An event like the VNCS Japanese Cultural Fair is only possible when many people work together. Here the VNCS would like to express a big thank you to our Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors. ARIGATOU!

Proudly Sponsored By:

    

PLATINUM Level Sponsors

Bell Media (CFAX 1070 & CTV Vancouver Island)
Black Press Media (Monday Magazine & Victoria News)
Fujiya Japanese Foods
Matsuri Foundation (Shin Mei Spiritual Centre)
Township of Esquimalt

GOLD Level Sponsors

Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria Uptown
Jim Pattison Auto Group
Ken Mizokoshi
The Woods Family
Sushi Rice Studios
Sushi Story
Yonni’s Doughnuts

SILVER Level Sponsors

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
Assante Wealth Management (Curtis Cross)
Aura Restaurant at the Inn at Laurel Point
Ayako Ikeda
Bento Sushi
Blenkinsop Driving Range
Bosley’s Harris Green
Carlton Plaza Hotel, Best Western
Cineplex Odeon Westshore Cinemas
Elements Casino Victoria
Ene Raw Food and Sake Bar
Fairway Market
Finest at Sea
Ghost Ramen
Goldstream Bicycles
Koto Sushi Izakaya
La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Decor
Maiiz Nixtamal
Mark Compton
Moden Boutique
Momo Sushi Colwood 
Nicholas Randall
Ono Poke
OOTA-YA
Pacific Awning
Pendray Tea House
Pho Boi
Ramen Arashi
Rebecca Barnard
Ruffell & Brown
Sawyer Sewing Centre
Sen Zushi Japanese Restaurant
Victoria Bug Zoo

BRONZE Level Sponsors

Alexander’s Coffee Bar
Ardmore Golf Course
Buckerfields
Butchart Gardens
Butterfly Gardens
Cameron Barnard 
Cozy Koji
Dumpling Drop
Ecotopia Naturals
Goodside Pastry House
Hey Happy Coffee
Hide + Seek Coffee (Fairfield)
Ivy’s Bookshop
JagaSilk
KODO collection
KOME KOME (Rice Crackers)
Kuma Noodle
Milestone’s Grill & Bar
Munro’s books
Murchie’s Tea and Coffee
My Thai Cafe
Oak Bay Flower Shop
Oso Cookies & Donuts
Pacific Shiatsu
Politano Café
Ron Barnard 
Russell Nursery
Seal Point Pizza
Side Street Studio
Starbucks (Royal Bay)
Sushi Time Express
Taste of Tokyo
The Papery
Tony’s Hair Design and Tanning Day Spa
Uchida Shokudo
Umi Nami Farms
Vessel Liquor
Wholesome Suds Natural Handmade Soap
Yoshi Sushi

With much thanks from the Japanese Cultural Fair Planning Team:

Amy Kawano (Food Coordinator)
Bob Howell (Parking Coordinator)
Craig Mercer (Fair Co-Lead & Lead Fair Operations)
David Lawson (Finance Coordinator)
Debbie Ibaraki (Contracts & Insurance)
Donovan Aikman (Outdoor Coordinator)
Hatsuho Razban (Kids Activities Coordinator)
Jo Brooks (Donor Solicitation & Indoor Coordinator)
JO Caragata (Donor Solicitation & Fair Ambassador)
Kana Mercer (Food Coordinator)
Lily Yee (Donor Solicitation & Food Sales)
Lorin Goshinmon (Poster, Audio/Visual Coordinator)
Maureen Bird (Volunteer Supports)
Patti Kagawa (Donor Solicitation & Silent Auction Coordinator)
Rebecca Barnard (Donor Solicitation & Fair Operations Support)
Reyna Goshinmon (Donor Solicitation & Things Japanese Coordinator)
Tsugio Kurushima (Donor Solicitation & Performance and Presentation Coordinator)
Val Watanabe (Kids Activities Coordinator)
Yukari Peerless (Fair Co-Lead & Donor Solicitation, Promotions, Mystery Bags)
Yumiko Mizuno (Volunteer Coordinator)

The Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society is thrilled to be hosting the 24th Japanese Cultural Fair this summer!  It will take place on Saturday, August 24th, 2024, at the Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion (1070 Tillicum Road) from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. It is a a FREE, family oriented event to showcase and promote local Japanese-Canadian cultural groups in Victoria and the surrounding areas. There will be Japanese cultural performances such as taiko, bon odori, martial arts and minyo music and delicious Japanese food such as Takoyaki, Kakigori, and more. This is also a fundraiser for the VNCS, through the sale of Japanese food, Things Japanese, and Silent Auction.

We cannot run an event like this without the tremendous support of our volunteers! If you’re interested in being a part of the Japanese-Canadian community, making new friends, or working with your friends, this is a great opportunity for you!

Sounds interesting? Submit the volunteer intake form from here! 
Continue reading Cultural Fair – Volunteers Needed

A big thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors/donors that made this year’s Japanese Cultural Fair a big success! We just could not do it without YOU! お疲れ様でした！And to all you who made it out to the festival we hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed putting it on!

An event like the VNCS Japanese Cultural Fair is only possible when many people work together. Here the VNCS would like to express a big thank you to our Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors. ARIGATOU!
Continue reading Thank You 2023 Japanese Cultural Fair Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors!

We are looking for two to three vehicle owners to show case their old school (not newer than 1999) Japanese classics at this year’s Japanese Cultural Fair (held at the Esquimalt Gorge Park) on Saturday, August 26th, 2023 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Cars will be located on the field beside the Pavilion where owners can interact with fair attendees and show off their hard work maintaining a piece of Japanese automobile history.

Some examples of vehicles we are hoping to see (but not limited to) are:

• Datsun (240Z, 280ZX, 510)
• Honda (Civic, CRX, NSX)
• Mazda (Cosmo, MX-5 Miata, RX7 FC)
• Mitsubishi (Lancer Evolution)
• Nissan (240SX Silvia S13, Skyline GT-R)
• Suzuki (Cappuccino, Jimny/Samurai, Viatra/Sidekick)
• Subaru (Impreza Turbo, Impreza WRX)
• Toyota (2000 GT, 4Runner, Celica, Cressida, Corolla GT AE86, Land Cruiser J40, MR2, Supra)

If you are interested in potentially showcasing your vehicle at the fair please contact info@vncs.ca.

We have started planning for this year’s Japanese Cultural Fair on August 26, 2023! As many of you know, this is our biggest event, the fundraiser of the year, and it requires many volunteers. We are looking for following Coordinators to join our Fair Planning Team.

Finance Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible for working with each area that handles sales (e.g., Food, Silent Auction, Things Japanese) to determine what they need in terms of floats. In addition, on Fair day they are responsible for visiting each area regularly to ensure they have everything they need. Finally, they need to tally all of the sales, both physical and electronic, and provide a final report out.

Children (Kodomo) Coordinator

This role is responsible for planning and running a kid-friendly area at the Fair. In the past, there has been origami, fish pond, ceramics, colouring, etc. If you love children and have great ideas, come and put them to use!

Outdoor Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible to help supervise and support the outdoor activities (e.g., Tea Ceremony, Things Japanese, Food Trucks, Parking, etc.). They make sure all the areas have everything they need and regularly swing by to check up on them, while also staying in touch with the Fair Leads, Finance Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and the Indoor Coordinator. You’ll get a lot of steps in this role.

Indoor Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible to help supervise and support the indoor activities (e.g., Ikebana, Presentations, Performances, Silent Auction, Food Sales, etc.). They make sure all the areas have everything they need and regularly swing by to check up on them while also staying in touch with the Fair Leads, Finance Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and the Outdoor Coordinator.

Food Sales Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible to help supervise and support the VNCS Food Sales (e.g., Manju, Cold Drinks, Hot Tea etc.) within the Pavilion on the day of the Fair. In addition, they help support packaging of the food on the day before the Fair. This role works very closely with the Food Leads.

Volunteer Coordinator(s)

This role is responsible to promote, recruit, organize, and support all of the various volunteers needed on Fair day. This includes ensuring each area’s volunteer needs are met, providing name tags and happi coats to each volunteer as they arrive, and ensuring they are collected when they leave. The position works directly with the Fair Leads and works closely with the Indoor and Outdoor Coordinators.

If you are interested or have any questions, contact Craig or Yukari through info@vncs.ca.

A big thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers that made this year’s Japanese Cultural Fair a big success! お疲れ様でした！And to all you who made it out to the festival we hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed putting it on!

 
Continue reading Thank You 2022 Japanese Cultural Fair Sponsors and Volunteers!

 
 
 
 
Continue reading 2022 VNCS Japanese Cultural Fair – Saturday, August 27th