Portland JACL Events Calendar

	August 2026
						1 OBT Obon Fest OBT Obon Fest Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave, Portland, OR 97202, USA August 1, 2026 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM https://www.oregonbuddhisttemple.com/obon-festival What is Obon? Obonfest (Obon) is a summertime Japanese (and Japanese-American) festival commemorating one's ancestors. In their honor, lanterns are hung, Bon Odori (Obon dance) is performed, memorial visits are made, and food is offered at home butsudans and temples. Oregon Buddhist Temple celebrates Obonfest annually on the first Saturday of August with hundreds of participants enjoying the festivities each year. Other Jodo Shinshu Temples related to Buddhist Churches of America celebrate in the summer months as well. In California, Washington State, and Hawaii temples celebrate Obon, and it is often a cornerstone to a temple's fundraising efforts. Central to Obonfest is Bon Odori (Obon dance). These joyful dances invite the community to celebrate and pay tribute to ancestors and those family members who have more recently passed. Each year experienced Bon Odori dancers lead the group, and all are encouraged to participate and follow along. Popular dances include the traditional Tankobushi, or coal miner’sdance, as well as more contemporary dances like Baseball Odori. All are welcome families, non-Buddhist neighbors, and fun-loving food lovers. There is no entrance fee to come and enjoy. Go to calendar •
2	3	4	5	6 Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance: From Awareness to Action - Creating a Nuclear Weapons Free World Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance: From Awareness to Action - Creating a Nuclear Weapons Free World Japanese American Historical Plaza, Portland, OR 97209, USA August 6, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM https://jamo.org/event/hiroshima-day-2026/ Join Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and community partners on August 6 for an evening marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through remembrance and education, the program will explore how awareness of nuclear dangers can be transformed into meaningful action. This year’s event, From Awareness to Action: Creating a Nuclear Weapons Free World, will feature keynote speaker Dr. Robert “Bo” Jacobs, with Oregon PSR Executive Director Dr. Vincent Intondi serving as host for the evening. The program will also include poetry by Pat Hoover, musical performance by Portland Taiko, and a dance performance by Tsubaki Buyo Doukoukai. The event will take place from 6:00–7:00 PM at the Japanese American Historical Plaza in Portland. All are welcome to attend as we honor the victims and survivors of nuclear weapons and reaffirm our commitment to building a safer, nuclear weapons-free world. Organized by Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Portland JACL, Veterans for Peace Chapter 72, Oregon Hiroshima Club, and other members of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day Planning Committee. Go to calendar Portland Premiere of The Seeds of Peace Portland Premiere of The Seeds of Peace PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202 August 6, 2026 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM The Seeds of Peace movie website Free tickets with RSVP reqd (linked here) "A survivor of the Hiroshima atom bomb confronts her trauma and gathers seeds of trees that survived the blast; planting symbols of hope, healing, and remembrance in towns across Oregon eighty years later." Thursday, August 6th 7:00pm doors, 7:30pm screening PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater 3530 SE Division St. Portland, OR 97202 *Filmmaker will be present Go to calendar • •	7	8
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16 Nikkei Community Summer Picnic Nikkei Community Summer Picnic Oaks Park Dance Pavilion, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202, USA August 16, 2026 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Come early to get parking! Go to calendar •	17	18	19	20 Portland JACL Board Meeting Portland JACL Board Meeting August 20, 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Portland JACL Board Meeting6:30 PM \| virtual Go to calendar •	21	22
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OBT Obon Fest
OBT Obon Fest

Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave, Portland, OR 97202, USA

August 1, 2026 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM

https://www.oregonbuddhisttemple.com/obon-festival

What is Obon?

Obonfest (Obon) is a summertime Japanese (and Japanese-American) festival commemorating one's ancestors. In their honor, lanterns are hung, Bon Odori (Obon dance) is performed, memorial visits are made, and food is offered at home butsudans and temples.

Oregon Buddhist Temple celebrates Obonfest annually on the first Saturday of August with hundreds of participants enjoying the festivities each year. Other Jodo Shinshu Temples related to Buddhist Churches of America celebrate in the summer months as well. In California, Washington State, and Hawaii temples celebrate Obon, and it is often a cornerstone to a temple's fundraising efforts.

Central to Obonfest is Bon Odori (Obon dance). These joyful dances invite the community to celebrate and pay tribute to ancestors and those family members who have more recently passed. Each year experienced Bon Odori dancers lead the group, and all are encouraged to participate and follow along. Popular dances include the traditional Tankobushi, or coal miner’sdance, as well as more contemporary dances like Baseball Odori.

All are welcome families, non-Buddhist neighbors, and fun-loving food lovers. There is no entrance fee to come and enjoy.

Go to calendar

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Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance: From Awareness to Action - Creating a Nuclear Weapons Free World
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance: From Awareness to Action - Creating a Nuclear Weapons Free World

Japanese American Historical Plaza, Portland, OR 97209, USA

August 6, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

https://jamo.org/event/hiroshima-day-2026/

Join Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and community partners on August 6 for an evening marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through remembrance and education, the program will explore how awareness of nuclear dangers can be transformed into meaningful action.

This year’s event, From Awareness to Action: Creating a Nuclear Weapons Free World, will feature keynote speaker Dr. Robert “Bo” Jacobs, with Oregon PSR Executive Director Dr. Vincent Intondi serving as host for the evening. The program will also include poetry by Pat Hoover, musical performance by Portland Taiko, and a dance performance by Tsubaki Buyo Doukoukai.

The event will take place from 6:00–7:00 PM at the Japanese American Historical Plaza in Portland. All are welcome to attend as we honor the victims and survivors of nuclear weapons and reaffirm our commitment to building a safer, nuclear weapons-free world.

Organized by Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Portland JACL, Veterans for Peace Chapter 72, Oregon Hiroshima Club, and other members of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day Planning Committee.

Go to calendar
Portland Premiere of The Seeds of Peace
Portland Premiere of The Seeds of Peace

PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

August 6, 2026 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The Seeds of Peace movie website
Free tickets with RSVP reqd (linked here)

"A survivor of the Hiroshima atom bomb confronts her trauma and gathers seeds of trees that survived the blast; planting symbols of hope, healing, and remembrance in towns across Oregon eighty years later."

Thursday, August 6th
7:00pm doors, 7:30pm screening

PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater
3530 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97202

*Filmmaker will be present

Go to calendar

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Nikkei Community Summer Picnic
Nikkei Community Summer Picnic

Oaks Park Dance Pavilion, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202, USA

August 16, 2026 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Come early to get parking!

Go to calendar

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Portland JACL Board Meeting
Portland JACL Board Meeting

August 20, 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Portland JACL Board Meeting6:30 PM | virtual

Go to calendar

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August 2026

What is Obon?