2026 Sakura Gala Raises $210,000 in Support of the Nikkei Place Japanese Canadian Community!

Mar 20

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, more than 180 guests gathered at Nikkei Place for the Nikkei Place Foundation Sakura Gala. The evening brought together community members, dignitaries, business leaders, philanthropists, and longtime supporters to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nikkei Place.

Thanks to the generosity of guests, sponsors, and donors, the gala was a remarkable success,raising $210,000 in support of Nikkei Placeand the programs and services that preserve Japanese Canadian heritage, share Japanese culture, and provide compassionate care for seniors.

The evening began with a traditional Indigenous welcome from Elder Cecilia Point, followed by greetings from Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Paul Choi, MLA, Mike Hurley, Mayor of Burnaby, and Yoshiaki Takahashi, Consul General of Japan in Vancouver, who led guests in a celebratory kanpai toast.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Thomas Shoyama Lifetime Achievement Awards to Gary Kawaguchi and Sam Yamamoto, recognizing their extraordinary leadership and contributions to the Japanese Canadian community. Although they were unable to attend in person, moving tribute videos were shared in their honour. Those videos can be watched here:

Thomas Shoyama Lifetime Achievement Award Videos

Gary Kawaguchi - Tribute Video & Acceptance Speech

Sam Yamamoto - Tribute Video

Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner prepared by Zen Japanese Restaurant, along with captivating performances by Hitotose, showcasing samurai artistry, and the powerful rhythms of Vancouver Okinawa Taiko, which energized the room.

New to the gala this year was a Fireside Chat led by Nikkei Place Foundation Executive Director Keiko Funahashi, joined by Cathy Makihara of the Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society and Karah Goshinmon Foster of the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. Their conversation explored the unique “magic of the campus” at Nikkei Place, where senior care, cultural programs, and historical preservation come together in one place. Speakers reflected on how community needs have evolved over the past 25 years and shared their excitement for Nikkei Next, Nikkei Place’s building improvement campaign aimed at strengthening the campus for generations to come.

Also featured during the evening was a video highlighting Nikkei Place—home to three Nikkei organizations—which invites viewers to explore our stories.

Nikkei Place Journey Video

Special thanks to our generous donors, gold sponsors, OpenRoad Auto and TD Bank, as well as our community partners Adam PW Smith, Hitotose, Vancouver Okinawa Taiko, Vancouver Ikebana Association, the NNMCC Auxiliary, and Nikkei Centre volunteers for helping make the evening such a success. We also extend our appreciation to our kanpai partner, Artisan Sake Maker, and sustainability partner, Great Bear Carbon, whose donation of carbon offsets helped make the event carbon neutral.

All in all, the Sakura Gala was a beautiful celebration of 25 years of Nikkei Place—and a testament to the generosity and community spirit that continues to sustain it. Thank you to everyone who joined us in marking this milestone and supporting Nikkei Place.