On-line: November 16th starting at 10am to December 10th, 2021 at 5pm

With all the uncertainties that COVID-19 brings and our Agency’s commitment to seniors, we have decided to cancel this year’s location-based Silver Bells with hopes of bringing it back next year.   

This year’s Silver Bells will be held on-line November 16th to December 10th, 2021 and open to those vendors who have a website or on-line venue to sell products directly to customers.     

Revenue generated from Kimochi’s Silver Bells helps to support our much needed programs and services for seniors. 

The Kokoro Craft Show is a fundraising effort developed by Friends of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM)

During the 2007 U.S. economic downturn, the volunteers of the Museum were asked how they could help raise funds for JANM.  A craft boutique was suggested, and with the permission of then CEO/President, Irene Hirano, several volunteers who loved to shop at local craft events gathered to discuss ways to organize a Museum craft boutique.  The Kokoro Craft Show (formerly The Kokoro Craft Boutique) came to life on Saturday, May 4, 2009 and has continued as a successful volunteer fundraising event for JANM.

Kokoro is a Japanese word meaning heart, mind and spirit.  Artisans who handcraft or design their own merchandise are invited to participate, and their generous participation and donations support JANM’s many educational and cultural programs. 

Over the years, we have been able to make sizeable donations to JANM.   Each year, our financial benchmarks were met, but additional goals were also accomplished:  to meet, greet and introduce thousands of loyal Kokoro shoppers and supporters to the Museum.

The Kokoro Craft Show also partnered with the Little Tokyo community in Los Angeles by asking local restaurants to participate by giving Kokoro shoppers discounted dining throughout the Show month – a “win-win” for visitors exploring both the Show and Little Tokyo’s shops and eateries.

We thank the JANM volunteers and staff, the local community, vendors, and shoppers for their continued support of The Kokoro Craft Show!

Silver Bells is one of Kimochi’s longest-running, most popular fundraising events – a big community gathering place and a holiday shopper’s dream. This year, the annual event will be held online over twelve days starting Sunday, November 1st at 9:00am through Thursday, November 12th 9:00pm. Shoppers can log on to www.kimochisilverbells.org to get started shopping.

On the site, shoppers will find instructions to log on and begin shopping the hand-crafted items from 60+ plus artisans. Items include ceramics, jewelry, scarves, bags, tee-shirts, greeting cards to cookies and brittle, wine and sake. Through the generosity of participating artisans, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Kimochi programs and services.

Seniors have long been the most loyal shoppers of our Silver Bells event, but they may be less familiar with online shopping. Kimochi is encouraging family, or friends and caregivers, to gather safely and involve their seniors and shop together. It is an opportunity for holiday fun and staves off isolation especially during the restrictions of shelter-in-place.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to so many, but it has disproportionately affected seniors who are often isolated or distant from family and rely on Kimochi’s food program and help with daily living. The need has swelled over the past months and the pandemic is not lifting anytime soon. Your participation in Silver Bells and the generosity of participating vendors help to support our seniors through this especially difficult year.

For the Community, Embracing All Communities

The Nihonmachi Street Fair considers itself the original “melting pot” of street fairs, with many aspects of Asian-Pacific American life—and San Francisco’s cultural life—expressed through performance, tradition, art, music, food, and community outreach and service. 

Continually evolving to reflect the city it celebrates while staying true to its original idea: to use this event as a platform to mentor Asian Pacific American youths and foster their leadership and communication skills through volunteerism and community service. The Fair is produced, staffed, and organized by volunteers, thus providing practical, hands-on experience in collaboration, entrepreneurship, and problem solving.