79th Annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Admission is free.)

Summer is here so that means it’s time for our annual Food and Cultural Bazaar. For one delicious day, we are bringing back many of the traditions you love to see at our Bazaar!

Entertainment: info coming soon!

Japanese Food Favorites:

• Teriyaki Chicken (now served in a bowl over rice)

• Teriyaki Beef Sandwiches

• California Roll, Inari Sushi, Spam Musubi, and Tuna Poke Bowls

• Curry, Gyoza, Ebi Fry, and Chicken Karaage

• Noodles - Somen, Udon, and Yakisoba

• Traditional Japanese sweets like Manju and Mochi

Meet Our Ministers and Learn About Buddhism:

Rimban (head minister) Yuki Sugahara and Reverend Matt Hamasaki will present Introduction to Buddhism sessions in the temple (main Hondo). Schedule coming out soon!

Beloved Traditions:

• Games for kids and adults

• Beer Garden

• Gunther’s Freezes

• Commemorative Bazaar tee shirts and aprons for sale plus reduced prices for prior year merch

• Warm summer temperatures (wouldn’t be a tradition without the heat!)

What's Needed?

Volunteers:.

• Volunteers to cook, clean, serve, and sell on August 9, 2025. Come join the fun! Send an email to info@buddhistchurch.org if interested in helping out.

• Crew to clean up and take down the infrastructure.

Promotion:

• Spread the word to family, friends, social media, and the community. Share the flyer.

Your Patronage:

• Join the celebration of the 79th Annual Bazaar

About

For over 75 years, our beloved Bazaar has always been something to look forward to and to reminisce. For one day in August, visitors and Sangha members alike enjoy a vast array of Japanese food, cultural events, music, and games.

The words “Thank You” are not enough to express our gratitude to the Greater Sacramento community for their patronage over the decades. It is through the continued support of our families, friends and visitors, as well as hundreds of dedicated volunteers, that enable us to keep this longstanding tradition alive as a highlight of the summer!

1947 marked the beginning of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento Bazaar, as the Japanese rebuilt their community following their forced removal from the West Coast by Executive Order during World War II. The Bazaar was primarily a social festival where church members and the local Japanese community shared good food, great memories and lasting friendships. In later years, the Bazaar was expanded to include Japanese cultural exhibits and demonstrations such as flower arranging (Ikebana), classical dancing (Odori), calligraphy, concerts, Taiko drum performances, and more.

History

Hundreds of volunteers, ages 7 to 90, invest thousands of hours to bring the Bazaar to life. We gratefully welcome back annual attendees and are thrilled to see new visitors, traveling from miles around, to join in the festivities. Proceeds from our Annual Bazaar support the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, as well as our affiliated organizations: Dharma School, youth basketball teams, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Sakura Gakuen Japanese language school for children and adults, among other groups at the temple.