The Redlands Japanese Cultural Center, a new nonprofit organization founded by community leaders Sabro Foster and Kevin Seishiro Suzuki, is proud to announce its grand opening celebration, which will take place at 542 E. Stuart Ave., Redlands.
The RJCC’s mission is to celebrate, preserve, and promote Japanese culture and arts in the Inland Empire, serving as a vital space for cultural connection and community building.
The RJCC will host two key events marking its official debut:
- Official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 17, at 12 p.m. The program will include formal recognition and remarks from founders and local dignitaries.
- Community Grand Opening Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 12 to 4 p.m. The public celebration will feature authentic food, games, and music, plus special guests and live demonstrations of karate, judo, kendo, odori and taiko.
Born from a desire to fill a cultural void for Japanese Americans and introduce Japanese traditions to the wider community, the RJCC offers comprehensive year-round programming. Current enrollment is open for the following classes:
Martial arts: Karate, judo, kendo, jujutsu
Performance and arts: Odori, origami
Education: Japanese language classes
The center also plans to host future workshops in traditional arts, including ikebana, koi care, bonsai, shodo (calligraphy), and chado (tea ceremony).
RJCC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is currently seeking corporate sponsorships and private donations to support ongoing program development and facility maintenance.
For more information on class registration or sponsorship opportunities, email redlandsjapaneseculturalcenter@gmail.com or visit www.redlandsjapaneseculturalcenter.org.