Under the theme, “Transformations,” the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at Hotel Kabuki  in San Francisco. The event will feature a 5pm no host cocktail reception and a 6pm Dinner and Awards Program. At the dinner, NJAHS will honor San Francisco Taiko Dojo founder Seiichi Tanaka, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki, founder of Soko Joshi Judo Keiko Fukuda, Military Intelligence Service member Marvin Uratsu. and painter, activist and college professor Betty Kano. KTVU Channel 2 news reporters Robert Handa and Jana Katsuyama will emcee.

In addition to the Awards Ceremony, the March 26 event will include an update on NJAHS’ campaign to rehabilitate for reuse Building 640 in the Presidio of San Francisco as an interpretive center that will advance the legacy of the Japanese Americans of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) as well as the 442nd/100th Battalion Nisei soldiers. Building 640 is the site of the first MIS Language School. Thus far, $4.8 million in federal funds have been appropriate for this project, and NJAHS recently launched a capital campaign to raise additional funds that will be necessary to complete the project.

For more information call 415.921.5007 or email njahs@njahs.org.