About Us

The mission of Sonoma County Matsuri is to share and promote Japanese arts and culture by providing educational opportunities and better intercultural understanding in the greater Bay Area.

We are a non-profit Educational Arts Organization. Our fundraising efforts provide scholarships to schools and students working in projects related to Japanese Culture.

You can support our work with an online donation.

Sonoma County Matsuri Festival Board of Directors

  • President: Bo Laurent
  • Treasurer: Meg Mizutani
  • Secretary: Elliot Kallen
  • Member-at-Large: Henry Kaku
  • Member-at-Large: Andrea Tegstam
  • Member-at-Large: Stefania Cappi
  • Member-at-Large: Donna Moriki

Sonoma County Matsuri Festival Founders (2013)

  • Mario Uribe
  • Cara Kallen
  • Henry Kaku
  • Arn Shimizu

Emeritus Board of Directors

  • Louise Belle
  • Laura Davis
  • Karin Iwata
  • Dana Johnson
  • Sachiko Knappman
  • Tomoko Madarame
  • Judy Bellah

Special Thanks

  • Former Webmaster: Josh Chernin

Donations made to our communities

Kumamoto Earthquake and Great East Japan Earthquake (2016)

On June 30 2016, Sonoma County Matsuri Festival visited the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco and presented Consul Ichioka with a donation check for the Kumamoto Earthquake and Great East Japan Earthquake. The donation will be delivered to the affected population through local government agencies.

Meg Mizutani gives donation for Kumamoto Earthquake and Great East Japan Earthquake

Consul General thanks Matsuri for donation for Kumamoto Earthquake and Great East Japan Earthquake

Sonoma State University Anthropological Studies Center Research Grant Distribution Fund (2016)

During WWII, the forceful removal of people of Japanese descent from the West Coast sent nearly 120,000 people, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, into incarceration camps within our nation’s interior. Despite an unjust situation and harsh, unforgiving landscapes, internees prevailed, revealing an unbreakable spirit. Through items made by internees we get a glimpse into life at Colorado’s camp, Amache, and expose the surprising beauty and creativity that persisted, and even blossomed from behind barbed wire.

Sonoma County Matsuri co-sponsored the reception for Sonoma State University’s exhibit Creativity Unconfined: Life in a WWII Japanese American Internment Camp.

Creativity Unconfined: Life in a WWII Japanese American Internment Camp

Sonoma State University thanks Matsuri for donation to Anthropological Studies Center Research Grant Distribution Fund