Made with Love: 45 Years of Ikoi no Kai

Old Town Chinatown

When

Sept. 21, 2024–Jan. 5, 2025

Days Vary, Times vary

Cost: $5 - $8

Where

Japanese American Museum of Oregon

411 NW Flanders St STE 100
Portland, OR 97209

The following description was submitted by the event organizer.

The Ikoi no Kai community lunch program has come to embody the concept of keirō 敬老, or respect for elders, to local Japanese Americans. For 45 years, the Portland program has supported seniors and their loved ones with meals and activities that honor their cultural heritage. This exhibition centers on the many voices that have contributed to Ikoi no Kai’s unique dining and social experience over the decades.

The program, which serves food in the basement of Epworth United Methodist Church four days a week and provides monthly meal delivery, is carefully considered in all aspects, from how the produce is grown to the best after-lunch activities. It is a place for seniors and community members to enjoy nutritious food prepared with great love and care but also to socialize, exercise and stay connected. A typical week’s activities may include a movement class, sing-alongs, craft making and cultural presentations, along with the 3-course lunches.

Filled with quotes and stories from many who have been involved with the program over the years, Made with Love emphasizes the community spirit that can be found at Ikoi no Kai.

This exhibition is generously sponosred by Ikoi no Kai, the Lamb-Baldwin Foundation, the Japanese Ancestral Society, the Robert W. Naito MD Foundation, and the Sugahiro/Sugahiro-Wong Families.