Minami Tamaki LLP sponsored the San Francisco Japantown Foundation's first annual New Year's Fundraiser on Jan. 13, an event that raised almost $28,000 to support the Foundation's mission to support cultural, community and educational activities in San Francisco Japantown.

The Foundation was formed in December 2006 through generous endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank and Minami Tamaki LLP. Firm partner Donald Tamaki has served as the Foundation's board president since the organization was founded. He also chaired the New Year's fundraiser.

The event, which was held at the New People Gallery, featured Osechi Ryori, a traditional Japanese New Year's cuisine. Sake expert Miwa Wang of True Sake offered tastings of various types of sake, and Kagami Kai performed a mochi-making demonstration.

For the past several years, the Japantown Foundation has provided grants to nonprofit projects that support Japantown and the Japanese American community. The Foundation held the fundraiser to involve more individual donors to support the future of Japantown and the Japanese American community.

The Foundation is dedicated to preserving and honoring Japantown's history; welcoming and serving its residents, visitors, businesses, congregations and community organizations; and supporting the growth and development of the community's Japanese cultural theme.