Thursday, July 30, 2026 · 5:00–6:00 PM PDT (San Diego)

Friday, July 31, 2026 9:00–10:00 aM JST (Japan)

Live on Zoom Free · Register on Luma

Event Details:

Most visitors to Japan never leave the Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka triangle, so they never see the places where modern Japan was actually built. In just over four decades during the Meiji Period (1868–1912), a closed feudal society reinvented itself as an industrial power, and much of it happened in Kyushu.

Join Vicki L. Beyer, a travel writer and law professor who has explored all 47 of Japan's prefectures with a special eye for where history and place intersect. Vicki will take us on a journey across the island of Kyushu on a route that threads together various aspects of Japan's incredible modernization, including energy production, transportation, manufacturing, and education. She will introduce the coal mines, shipyards, steelworks, and grand port towns of the Meiji era, from the haunting ruins of "Battleship Island" to the garden estate where one visionary lord lit the fuse of Japan's transformation.

Date and Time: July 22nd, 7 PM
Place: Buddhist Temple of San Diego: 2929 Market Street, San Diego, California 92102

Bon Odori Practice with the Buddhist Temple of San Diego

Join the Japan America Society of San Diego on July 22nd as we come together with the Buddhist Temple of San Diego for a Bon Odori practice session! Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese dance performed during Obon, honoring the spirits of ancestors and celebrating community and togetherness.

This is a wonderful opportunity for JASSD members and friends to learn the steps, connect with the local Japanese Buddhist community, and prepare for the festival season ahead. No dance experience necessary. All are welcome to come learn, move, and celebrate together!

​What happens when Japanese culture meets San Diego craft beer? You get an afternoon worth raising a glass to 🍺🇯🇵.

​Join the Japan America Society of San Diego at Embolden Brewery for a one-of-a-kind cultural mashup, featuring a behind-the-scenes brewery tour, craft beer tasting, and a World Cup watch party, all wrapped in great company and good conversation.

​We'll be sipping from Embolden's exciting Shogun Brand, a collection of east-meets-west recipes born of an unexpected collaboration with Matcha Cafe Maiko. It's the perfect pour for an event all about bridging cultures and building community.

​Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast, a soccer fan, or just looking to connect with something new, there's a seat waiting for you.

This event will delve into the complex and rapidly shifting landscape of food production, distribution, and consumption, with a special focus on the pivotal role of Japan and Japanese companies in the U.S. and Mexico.