Many have expressed concern about how the COVID-19 pandemic is going to impact the future of San Francisco’s Japantown. Japantown groups who have come together to organize a response to the current crisis and are working on ways to help sustain our Japantown. We’ll keep you posted here on the Heart of Jtown website on the efforts underway to mobilize support for community groups, cultural institutions and small businesses.

The Heart of Jtown Community Groups

Supporting Nonprofit and Community Groups

In conjunction with The Heart of JTown Resiliency Fund, the San Francisco Japantown Foundation has created a Covid-19 Community Fund campaign for Japantown-based nonprofits and community groups that have been impacted by the pandemic.

The Foundation supports cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown. We are dedicated to preserving and honoring Japantown’s history, to welcoming and serving its residents, visitors, businesses, congregations and community organizations, and to supporting the growth and development of the community. In particular, we support activities that reflect the Japanese American experience, and activities that engage Japanese of all generations and all experiences in America.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the community, the SF Japantown Foundation has exceeded their goal of $100K which the Foundation will match dollar for dollar. Due to the ongoing need within our community, they have extended the COVID-19 Community Fund Campaign to the end of September to raise $250,000 dollars.

The Gambaro Program

Generously funded by the Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation (Foundation) and administered by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (Center), the Gambaro Program was created to strengthen and promote San Francisco's Japantown community.

Many merchants were forced to close their business for an extended period of time to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As businesses are now allowed to slowly re-open, these same merchants find themselves without the ability to have any immediate cash resources on hand to purchase the necessary supplies and to once again serve their customers.

The Gambaro Program has therefore purchased a large amount of gift certificates from many members of the Japantown Merchants Association so that they can have an immediate infusion of funding to start anew. The gift certificates will then be distributed to direct service nonprofit organizations located in Japantown to further the charitable purpose of their organization as they have not been allowed to conduct their annual fundraising events and programs to raise support needed to continue their services. Gift certificates will also be provided to immediate and essential workers who continue to promote safety, health and support to Japantown.

The Foundation and Center believe that this wrap around program is an effective way to benefit the Japantown community as a whole. Both entities are essential to maintain and preserve the historic and cultural fabric of Japantown and to assist with its economic recovery.

For more information about the Gambaro Program, please contact the Center at (415) 567-5505/info@jcccnc.org.

Supporting Small Businesses

Because of the disruptions that COVID-19 has created for Japantown small businesses, the Japantown Community Benefit District (JCBD). will be launching the Heart of Jtown Small Business Resiliency Fund campaign to solicit donations. Once the minimum fundraising goal of $500,000 is met the funds will be distributed to San Francisco Japantown small businesses within the JCBD district that meet the criterias based on an online grant application process.

With the help of so many donors the JCBD was able to surpass their goal of $500,000 dollars in less than a month. They will keep the GoFundMe donation page open until December 31st.

As of date with the funds raised, the JCBD has purchased/helped fund:

• 60 counter sneeze guards
• PPE supplies (face shields and masks)
• Reimbursed merchants up to $250 each for sneeze guards purchased
• Provided Kinokuniya merchants with outdoor porta potties and hand washing station
• Assisted in cost for renting tents for Restaurant at the Plaza
• Assisted in cost for extending Picnic at the Plaza for the month of November
• Mural for Super Mira
• Through a grant application process, awarded 80 small businesses with $5000
• Funded the Shared Spaces Program build-out for Kinokuniya tenants
• Funded “Bistro Lights” for outdoor dining area on the Buchanan Mall

The Heart of Jtown Resiliency Fund grant application was distributed to all of our small businesses with a focus on storefronts and restaurants. The JCBD is happy to report that 80 grant applications was received. Businesses will be using the grant money for employee wages, rent or operating costs. A total of $400K was distributed.

The JCBD has also enlisted the help of the artists that worked on the Street Lamp Banners to create dividers that will placed at each of the five Buchanan Mall Out Door Dining participants. Bringing a cohesive look and feel to the area.

We’re Listening

During the Heart of Jtown Town Hall meeting participants where able to ask questions during Q&A session. We’d like to keep the dialogue going. If you have a question concerning the various recovery efforts, please don’t hesitate to submit using the form below.

We will email you within 5-7 days with a reply.

Thank you in advance.