2025: 4th Annual Signature Event: GVJCI Izakaya Night-A Flavorful Evening of Small Bites, Sake, and City Pop VibesNEW

We invite you to join us at our 4th Annual GVJCI Izakaya! A culinary event fundraiser featuring specialty small bites, beverages and live music, with an izakaya vibe.

Stop by happy hour style and stay for a little while, or throughout the evening and enjoy delicious food by Chefs Atsushi Takatsuki & Kaori Takatsuki from Painters Tape and Chef Mike Inouye, GVJCI Japanese cooking programs teacher, drinks including a special sake tasting, Sapporo Premium Beer, and Japanese City Pop music!

Date
Friday, April 25, 2025

Time
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall

General Ticket: $60/person
Includes entry, food & dessert set menu, 2 drinks, sake tasting, and a special gift!

NEW! Young Adult Ticket: $45/person
Includes all General Ticket benefits. Ages 21-25.

VIP Ticket: $75/person
Includes all General Ticket benefits plus access to a top-shelf sake tasting experience!

Limited quantities are available, so don’t wait to secure your spot! This is a 21+ event, and we encourage you to get your tickets early to ensure you don’t miss out on this fantastic evening.

Purchase Tickets

Small Bites & Sake Night - A Culinary and Cultural Celebration

Enjoy a unique evening featuring a Small Bites menu prepared by local chefs Atsushi & Kaori Takatsuki and Chef Mike Inouye, all born and raised in Gardena. Their dishes blend culinary training from Paris, Tokyo, and LA with flavors rooted in the Nisei experience. The menu includes vegan delights like Sato Shoyu Potato Mochi and Daikon Steak with Miso, along with Deep Fried Mochiko Chicken, Grilled Ochazuke, Crispy Cabbage Salad, Steak with Yuzu Kosho, and dessert from King's Hawaiian.

Complementing the bites are sake tastings hosted by Uka Sakecrafted in Japan using California’s Kokuho Rose® organic rice from the historic Koda Farmsand Mutual Trading Company, offering a range of regional Japanese sakes with surprising pairings and a sake trivia game.

Enjoy the vibes with music from DJ Shi Shi, spinning retro Japanese City Pop hits from the 70s80s. Plus, enter the raffle for a chance to win fabulous prizes, including Dodgers tickets, museum passes, and gift cards.