Welcome to the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League Website! Our chapter is dedicated to educating the public about the Japanese American experience, monitoring legislation affecting minority human and civil rights, addressing hate crimes and fostering Japanese American culture.
We invite you to browse the information provided here and to please consider becoming a member of our organization to support the rich cultural and historical heritage of Japanese Americans in Sonoma County, California.
Sonoma County JACL
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A local chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League in Sonoma County.
WAKU WAKU II - Japanese Culture Workshop for Childrenby Ron TajiiSonoma County JACL and Sebastopol World Friends are once again offering a FREE Children’s Japanese Culture Workshop.The workshop uses Japanese folk stories, crafts, music, games, language, and food to help understand the four virtues of Japanese Culture : Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility.The workshop is scheduled for October 17, 2025, 10 AM - 1 PM at the Enmanji Memorial Hall in Sebastopol. The target age group for this workshop is 7-11 but is open to anyone who is interested. The workshop will be limited to 24 children and each child must be accompanied by an adult (an adult may accompany more than one child). Registration is required and can be done using the QR code on the attached flyer or using this link:docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdP-qzHQz6lVHoyWdO2Pu6CcDR91ve9XjJETCumWV4hbcADhQ/viewformIf you have any questions or would like to help at this workshop, please call Ron Tajii @ 707 327 8251 or email us at programs@sonomacountyjacl.org
JACL Opposes Proposed Census Rule That Would Strip Millions from Representation and Erase Civil Rights Data September 10, 2026For Immediate ReleaseContact: Carol Kawase, VP of Public Affairs, ckawase@jacl.orgMatt Weisbly, Education/Communications Programs Manager, mweisbly@jacl.org The Japanese American Citizens League opposes a U.S. Census Bureau rule proposed on September 10, 2026, that would exclude millions of people from the population count and end the collection of demographic data on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Under the proposal, only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents would count toward apportionment, excluding refugees, asylees, and people with Temporary Protected Status. Section Two of the Fourteenth Amendment states clearly that “Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State…” The Census Bureau justifies the exclusion in the proposed rule by pointing to these residents' “lack of a sufficient tie and allegiance to the United States.” While the drafters of the Fourteenth Amendment made an exclusion for 'Indians not taxed, ' there was never any mention of excluding someone based on citizenship or immigration status. From 1922 to 1952, Japanese immigrants were barred from becoming citizens. Despite that, the government continued to count Japanese immigrants for apportionment. Within days of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Census Bureau began supplying other agencies with information on where people of Japanese ancestry lived. The data eventually reached the Western Defense Command before the removal from the West Coast began. What the government decided about Japanese immigrants was a judgment about who belonged in the United States, and the Census Bureau’s proposed rule is asking to make that determination again. The proposal to ban questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation is antithetical to the nature of the Census. The data the Census records is meant to accurately represent our nation and is the basis for the Voting Rights Act, political representation, federal funding formulas, and other policies meant to support individual states, counties, and municipalities. For our AANHPI community, this data is vital to better understand and serve our respective communities. Everyone deserves to be counted and represented accordingly. The Census Bureau has yet to decide whether to include a legal status question in the 2030 census, and the proposed rule invites public comment on the question. A form to declare immigration status on the Census in our current political climate will chill participation in the Census and leave entire households, including citizen and immigrant residents, unaccounted for. Comments on the proposed rule are due by October 13, 2026, under docket USBC-2026-0628 at regulations.gov. JACL urges our chapters, members, and allies to submit comments, and we call on the Census Bureau
here! 2026 Kakehashi Project Trip Applications Now Available! This year's Winter Kakehashi Project Trip will run from December 9 to 16, 2026. This year's cohort will comprise 55 participants who will travel to Japan to deepen their understanding of Japan's economy, society, history, diverse culture, politics, and diplomatic policies through people-to-people exchanges. Participants are expected to play an active and important role in the future of U.S.-Japan relations. We will also be accepting applications for six chaperones! Changes to the Kakehashi Project that were implemented last year will remain in place. Participants of the trip must be between the ages of 18 and 27 years old and of Japanese American ancestry or adopted by a Japanese American family. All participants who attend will be required to be up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including the most recent booster, before trip departure. Due to budget constraints, there will be attendance fee for this year's trip the same as previous years. For more information, or to apply, visit jacl.org/kakehashi or click the buttons below. Applications will close on Wednesday, September 16th, at 11:59 pm Hawaiian Standard Time.The JACL Kakehashi Program is coordinated by the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), and supported by funding from the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
jacl.org
JACL Kakehashi Project TripJACL Kakehashi Project | Supervisor Information | What to Expect | FAQs2026 Kakehashi Project Applications Are Available Now! Trip Dates: December 9-16, 2026Apply by Wednesd...
BeLongings: What We Bring, What We Leave BehindBy Phyllis TajiiLed by the Petaluma Historic Chinatown Park Committee, the Sonoma County JACL along with other community collaborators is proud to help sponsor a meaningful project and its effort to bring diverse community stories and experiences to the forefront; “Belongings: What We Bring, What We Leave Behind".The exhibit will take place September 4 through October 4 at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, located at 20 Fourth St., Petaluma.Keepsakes from individuals who migrated—whether by choice or out of necessity—will be featured in the exhibit. “Stories We Carry” events will feature community members sharing their personal stories of migration, identity and belonging. A film, workshop and performances are also scheduledPlease visit the website for an up-to-date event schedule:
Home | Historic Library and Museum Project: Belongings
belonginginsoco.org
Join us as the Mayor reads a City proclamation recognizing Belongings: What We Bring, What We Leave Behind. Performances by Danza Azteca, Sonoma County Pomo Dancer, Sonoma County Vietnamese Associatio...