Nu Chic Boutique celebrates the art of crochet with handmade clothing, accessories, and playful keepsakes crafted by family, friends, and talented students. From colorful koi and festive oni to charming dolls and keychains, each piece is made with love and creativity—blending tradition, imagination, and modern style.
Handmade Clothing & Accessories
Nu Chic Boutique
From the forests of Japan to the heart of San Diego, Kodama Forest shares the art of kokedama—plants cradled in hand-shaped spheres of moss, like tiny green planets. Each kokedama is a celebration of harmony, balance, and the quiet power of nature to bring peace into our homes.
Founded in 2014 by Kanako, a Yokohama native inspired by her bonsai-teaching uncle, Kodama Forest has grown into a beloved source for living art. Beyond creating one-of-a-kind kokedama, Kanako leads hands-on workshops at the Japanese Friendship Garden, San Diego Botanic Garden, and more—inviting participants to shape their own little world of moss and roots.
Every kokedama is unique, just like the people who nurture them—a perfect gift, a meditation in green, and a reminder that caring for nature means caring for ourselves.
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ring the art of Japanese gardening into your home with this elegant kokedama, a handcrafted moss ball plant inspired by the spherical beauty of our Earth. Shaped like a miniature planet, each kokedama celebrates nature’s simplicity and harmony while adding a unique touch of greenery to your space.
The lush moss sphere cradles a thriving plant, creating a living art piece perfect for hanging, displaying on a decorative tray, or placing on a shelf. Minimal care is required, making it ideal for homes, offices, or as a meaningful gift for plant lovers and those who cherish the connection between nature and the Earth.
Founded by designer Julie, Kamyi.Art blends traditional Japanese washi paper with modern fashion. Inspired by childhood origami cranes and a transformative study-abroad experience in Tokyo, Julie began crafting origami earrings in 2020.
Starting with a small table at Balboa Park in 2021, Kamyi.Art has grown into a full artisan brand with an online shop and features at 80+ juried craft fairs across California, including the Cherry Blossom Festival, 626 Night Market, and Coronado Art & Wine Festival.
Each piece is handmade in San Diego with handpicked Kyoto washi, glazed for durability, and set with hypoallergenic metals. Kamyi.Art continues to celebrate East Asian culture, bringing creativity, peace, and good fortune to every design.
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rigami, from the Japanese words ori (“to fold”) and kami (“paper”), is the traditional art of paper folding. Practiced in Japan for centuries, it transforms a simple square sheet of paper into intricate forms—animals, flowers, geometric shapes—without the use of scissors or glue. The essence of origami lies in its simplicity: through precise folds, flat paper takes on three-dimensional life.
Early forms of paper folding in Japan date back to the 17th century, when folded shapes were used in religious ceremonies and as decorative tokens. By the Edo period (1603–1868), origami had become a popular pastime, with models such as the crane (orizuru) symbolizing peace, longevity, and good fortune. The crane remains one of the most iconic designs, with the practice of folding one thousand cranes (senbazuru) carrying special significance as a prayer for health and peace.
Modern origami expanded in the 20th century through the work of innovators such as Akira Yoshizawa, who developed new techniques and established a system of diagram notation that made origami accessible worldwide. Today, origami bridges art, mathematics, and science: its principles are applied in architecture, engineering, robotics, and even space exploration.
Whether practiced as a meditative art, a cultural tradition, or a scientific tool, origami continues to embody the Japanese ideals of elegance, creativity, and transformation through simplicity.
LKW STEM FOUNDATION is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization (EIN# 87-1549968) that was created to help address the significant underrepresentation of students pursuing college degrees in Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology (STEM). Each year, our program exposes children to STEM content, experiments, and activities. The majority of our students come from a diverse representation of students throughout San Diego County. The specialized programs run throughout the year (Winter Break, Spring Break, Summer Break, and Every 1st and 3rd STEM Saturday), providing students the opportunity to participate in STEM enrichment summer camps, hands-on programming, and a competitive robotics team.
Dr. Lavar J. Watkins and Mrs. Kristina H. Watkins created LKW STEM FOUNDATION, the 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization (EIN# 87-1549968) to create, develop, and deliver stimulating “STEM” educational programs, cultivating “STEM” experiences and invigorating “STEM” activities, workshops, and camps for diverse, multicultural, historically underrepresented and disadvantaged populations. Through “STEM” concepts, students will discover and ignite a passion to pursue any, and all things “STEM” in an environment where “STEM” exploration, innovation, and critical-thinking is implemented through interactive engagement, project-based learning, and real-world applications that are designed to foster and equip a growth mindset in “STEM EDUCATION” within the context of a global perspective. LKW STEM FOUNDATION exists to provide opportunities through “STEM Education” that will inspire “Future STEMologists” at a critical juncture along their K-16 STEM educational and career pathway development to “sySTEMically” impact our world as the next generation of innovative thinkers, creators, and developers! Their motto is: Let’s Change The WORLD… 1 STEMtastical Experience At A Time!
Educational Demonstration
Children’s Activities
Dr. Lavar J. Watkins
Mrs. Kristina H. Watkins
During the campaign, through the generosity of our partner organizations, every Japanese riceball-related post on our global campaign website or your social media channel with #OnigiriAction will provide five school meals to children in need around the world(*). World Food Day on October 16 was established by the United Nations as a day for everyone to think about food problems in the world. To celebrate World Food Day, TABLE FOR TWO (TFT) holds “Onigiri Action” with the goal to deliver 1 million meals to children in need every year. TFT first started in Japan featuring onigiri (riceballs), which celebrate rice as one of the major Japanese agricultural products, and showcases the Japanese tradition of making onigiri for loved ones.
Since its launch in 2015, the Onigiri Action campaign has provided over 10 million school meals.
The TABLE FOR TWO initiative was initiated by and is an official affiliate of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. As a non-profit organization which started in Japan and is expanding globally, TABLE FOR TWO USA has started the unique programs, Onigiri Action, Edamame Champ and Wa-Shokuiku -Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!- featuring Japanese food culture to tackle critical health issues.
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n our world of 8 billion, 750 million suffer from hunger while another 2.5 billion suffer from obesity and other health issues related to unhealthy eating. TABLE FOR TWO USA (TFT) is a 501(C)(3) organization that rights this global food imbalance through a unique meal-sharing program. TFT partners with corporations, restaurants, schools and other food establishments to serve healthy TFT- branded meals. For each one of these healthy meals served, $0.25 is donated to provide one school meal for a child in need.
On one side people are eating healthier meals, and on the other children in East Africa and low income neighborhoods in the US are receiving healthy school meals. It is in this way that TFT has served healthy meals to both sides of the “table” and helped to right the global food imbalance.
The TABLE FOR TWO initiative was initiated by and is an official affiliate of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. As a non-profit organization which started in Japan and is expanding globally, TABLE FOR TWO USA has started the unique programs, Onigiri Action, Edamame Champ and Wa-Shokuiku -Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!- featuring Japanese food culture to tackle critical health issues.
CleanUp Kitsune (kit-soo-nay) is a volunteer, Japanese inspired, environmental performance art designed to generate waste awareness through culture and creativity. CleanUp Kitsune can be found at parks, events and various gatherings, collecting trash and littering kindness. We hope we inspire you to be more mindful about the waste you make and kindly ask for your help to keep our shared space clean.
Environmental Activism
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leanUp Kitsune is a volunteer, Japanese inspired, environmental performance art designed to generate waste awareness through culture and creativity. CleanUp Kitsune can be found at parks, events and various gatherings, collecting trash and littering kindness.
CleanUp Kitsune is nonverbal, creating a unique experience for the senses. They utilize gestures to
communicate kindness, which can be understood in any language. Equipped with kitsune (ki-tsu-neh)
masks, bamboo basket backpacks and armed with trash pickers, they walk around events in costume,
cleaning up litter, pushing down trash bins, applauding for proper waste disposal, sharing sustainable
stickers, taking pictures with people & interacting with polite tomfoolery. Following most events, CleanUp
Kitsune details the experience, trash collections and recommendations for litter mitigation of each location on social media and includes posts of selfies with friends made along the way.
Since their launch in June of 2023, CleanUp Kitsune has since grown to encompass environmental
media, waste organization stations, The Happi Helpers Volunteer Program, host local cleanups like
Cosplay Cleanup, created up-cycled goods and have began partnering with businesses and organizations to generate consumer awareness. At the time of writing, CleanUp Kitsune has removed, sorted and responsibly disposed of approximately 45,900 pieces/282 lbs of litter and diverted over 2,000lbs of trash from landfills through their collection and waste organization stations. These two have cleaned up events like Comic Con, Renaissance Faires, Farmers Markets, Oktoberfest, Holiday Markets, Japanese Festivals, Environmental Events and can be found at Nisei Week LA, OC Japan Fair, Taste of Japan, and of course at their home location, The Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum in San Diego and all throughout Balboa Park, cleaning up litter and helping make outdoor events more waste aware.
Behind the masks. Creators Lila & Corey Cleary-Stoner are both full time environmentalists in San Diego
California. They are the co-founders of Allgoods, a 501c3 environmental media company. They are both
actors and have backgrounds in theatre, film, voiceover, music and education. With an affinity for
Japanese culture, they initially created elements of these costumes for Renaissance Faires. While
attending, they noticed how commonly trash was left behind and walked over by the public. Inspired by
their environmental nonprofit Allgoods, they further developed this creative solution that could speak to
consumerism in ways words cannot reach.
“Each of us have a responsibility to one another & our environment to keep our shared spaces clean. But
personally, we are happy to clean up after others. We are grateful we are able to give back in such a
unique way. People see us for the first time and we certainly capture their attention. They don’t quite know what to expect but often the moment they see us cleaning up trash, we capture their heart. It’s like
smiling, if you see someone smile aren’t you likely to smile back? Litter collecting can be contagious in
that way too.” -Lila & Corey
The San Diego High School International Student Ambassadors will be selling delicious cake pops and refreshing Ramune at the Otsukimi event to raise funds for their upcoming Japan 2025 trip. These dedicated students work closely with San Diego’s 24 sister and friendship cities, embodying the spirit of global citizenship. By supporting their booth, you’re helping to empower the next generation of leaders committed to fostering international understanding and cultural exchange. Join us in supporting their mission to build bridges across cultures and create a more connected world!
Food/Drink
Cheryl Gillette-Lunsford
I‘m Shiho Brenner, a certified kimono-dressing consultant with a deep passion for the enchanting world of kimono culture. My journey into the art of kimono began at a young age when I wore a beautiful yukata (summer kimono) to my preschool. I was captivated by its beauty and refused to part with it.
Decades later, my love for kimono was rekindled. I joined the Los Angeles Kimono Club and embarked on a fascinating journey of discovery. I immersed myself in kimono dressing classes, attended numerous kimono runway shows, and shared these experiences with my husband and two daughters.
Today, I am proud to be a member of the Kimono Culture Research Institute, a prestigious group of academics dedicated to the study of kimono history, materials, and the occasions associated with this intricate form of fancy dress and etiquette.
Located in sunny San Diego, California, Kimono Suishin is the culmination of my lifelong passion for kimono. It is my pleasure to share this rich cultural heritage with you, offering high-quality kimonos and related services. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of kimono, I invite you to explore my offerings and experience the timeless elegance of Japanese tradition.
Feel free to reach out to me at kimonosuishin@outlook.com for any inquiries or assistance. Thank you for joining me on this kimono journey, and I look forward to serving you.
Immerse yourself in the beauty and traditions of Japan through our authentic cultural experiences! We offer kimono and yukata rentals, Japanese cooking workshops, and hands-on calligraphy sessions that bring the spirit of Japan to life. Whether you’re looking to dress in elegant attire, explore the art of Japanese cuisine, or learn the graceful strokes of shodo, our team provides everything you need, including full festival set rentals, to create a truly unforgettable celebration of Japanese culture.
At Honu Sumo in San Diego, California, our teaching philosophy is anchored in blending modern grappling techniques with the venerable traditions of sumo. Recognizing the rich martial arts tapestry of California, we draw from disciplines such as Wrestling, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to enrich our students’ learning experiences.
Incorporating these varied martial arts, our curriculum is designed to offer a comprehensive and nuanced training program. Students in San Diego will master effective takedowns, throws, and groundwork techniques, integrating seamlessly with the classical art of sumo. This approach mirrors the innovative spirit of California, ensuring a dynamic and enriching learning journey.
While our methods are contemporary, the essence of our teaching celebrates the deep-rooted traditions of sumo. Traditional drills, including the shiko exercise, are key components of our program, enhancing lower body strength, stability, balance, and flexibility. This harmonious blend of old and new reflects San Diego’s respect for heritage and openness to innovation.
JJ, our lead instructor based in San Diego, embodies this philosophy. With his deep expertise and passion, he inspires students by merging modern training methodologies with time-honored sumo practices. This balanced approach guarantees a holistic and authentic sumo wrestling education, right here in San Diego, California
JJ a formidable force in the world of Sumo Wrestling. With a solid foundation in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, JJ embarked on his sumo journey in 2016, fueled by a desire that had been kindled since 2007. Despite facing challenges in finding a suitable school, JJ’s determination led him from San Diego to the renowned LA Sumo club, where he honed his skills and made history.
In 2020, JJ proudly participated in his first sumo competition, marking the beginning of a remarkable ascent. The following year, he secured an impressive 2nd place finish at the nationals, followed by a triumphant 1st place victory at the North America Qualifiers. Taking his prowess to the global stage, JJ proudly represented his country at the esteemed world games in 2022. Accompanied by his equally talented wife, Christina Jones, who secured a commendable 2nd place, JJ and Christina became the first and only married couple to compete in Sumo at the world games.
JJ’s passion, dedication, and string of achievements make him an awe-inspiring presence in the sumo arena. Follow his journey as he continues to shape the future of this ancient and captivating sport.
In addition to his impressive accomplishments, JJ has also made a profound impact on the world of Sumo through his visionary leadership. Recognizing the need to foster the growth of the sport and introduce sumo to the Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu communities, JJ founded Honu Sumo.
Honu Sumo stands as a testament to JJ’s unwavering commitment to expanding the reach of Sumo Wrestling in the United States and beyond. By bridging the gap between these martial arts disciplines, JJ has created a platform that not only promotes the rich tradition of sumo but also provides an avenue for practitioners of Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to explore and embrace this captivating sport.
Through Honu Sumo, JJ’s efforts have propelled the popularity of sumo, captivating enthusiasts and inspiring new generations of athletes. His forward-thinking approach has opened doors and created opportunities for Sumo to flourish on a global scale, fostering cultural exchange and unity among practitioners.
Join JJ and the Honu Sumo community as they continue to champion the growth and exposure of sumo, sharing its unique beauty and timeless values with people around the world.
