Curry Cook Off 2023
2023 San Jose Japantown Curry Cook Off
The 2023 San Jose Japantown Curry Cook Off (CCO), held on November 18th, was a huge success. The 2023 Japantown Curry Cook Off was co-sponsored by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin and Wesley United Methodist Church. All of the proceeds went to Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service and the Nikkei Matsuri Foundation. There were well over 200 people who attended this wonderful inaugural event.
The winners for the two contests were chosen that night. The Celebrity Judges chose Brent Nunokawa’s “Golden Curry” as their number one choice. In the People’s Choice: first place went to June Yasuhara’s “Smoked Japanese Chicken Curry”, second place went to Brent Nunokawa’s “Golden Curry”, and third place went to Rinban Gerald Sakamoto’s “Bikkuri Curry”. The winners were awarded cash prizes and bragging rights.
The CCO Committee thanks the following merchants for their donations: Santo Market - fukujinzuke, Hukilau Restaurant - macaroni salad, and Minato Restaurant - edamame.
The CCO Committee also thanks all of the celebrity judges: Ryan Yamamoto, KPIX evening anchor, LaMonica Peters, KTVU reporter, Takahiro Kitamura, State of Grace tattoo artist, Molly Kitamura, State of Grace, Mike Inouye, NBC Bay Area morning traffic anchor, along with the 2023 SF Cherry Blossom Queen - KC Mukai, First Princess - Kylie Tamura and Second Princess - Maya Isaka.
And finally the CCO Committee wants to thank the entertainers: Na Kolohe Kane (Hawaiian), the Wesley Ukulele Band and Wesley Jazz Ensemble.
The CCO Committee was comprised of: Rev. John Oda - Wesley UMC, Rev. Etsuko Mikame - San Jose Buddhist Church, Kelli Martines, Wesley UMC/ Nikkei Matsuri, Lesly Yamatake - San Jose Buddhist Church/Nikkei Matsuri, Jen Masuda - Yu-Ai Kai, Leslie Mune - Lotus/Unite, Lindsay Mune- Suzume no Gakko, Larry Handa- San Jose Buddhist Church, Lynn Tabuchi - Wesley UMC, June Yasuhara - Unite/ Nikkei Matsuri, Moschel Kadokura, San Jose Buddhist Church /Nikkei Matsuri.
We are looking forward to next year’s San Jose Japantown Curry Cook Off, which will be held on November 16th at the San Jose Buddhist Church., Mark your calendars!
The winners for the two contests were chosen that night. The Celebrity Judges chose Brent Nunokawa’s “Golden Curry” as their number one choice. In the People’s Choice: first place went to June Yasuhara’s “Smoked Japanese Chicken Curry”, second place went to Brent Nunokawa’s “Golden Curry”, and third place went to Rinban Gerald Sakamoto’s “Bikkuri Curry”. The winners were awarded cash prizes and bragging rights.
The CCO Committee thanks the following merchants for their donations: Santo Market - fukujinzuke, Hukilau Restaurant - macaroni salad, and Minato Restaurant - edamame.
The CCO Committee also thanks all of the celebrity judges: Ryan Yamamoto, KPIX evening anchor, LaMonica Peters, KTVU reporter, Takahiro Kitamura, State of Grace tattoo artist, Molly Kitamura, State of Grace, Mike Inouye, NBC Bay Area morning traffic anchor, along with the 2023 SF Cherry Blossom Queen - KC Mukai, First Princess - Kylie Tamura and Second Princess - Maya Isaka.
And finally the CCO Committee wants to thank the entertainers: Na Kolohe Kane (Hawaiian), the Wesley Ukulele Band and Wesley Jazz Ensemble.
The CCO Committee was comprised of: Rev. John Oda - Wesley UMC, Rev. Etsuko Mikame - San Jose Buddhist Church, Kelli Martines, Wesley UMC/ Nikkei Matsuri, Lesly Yamatake - San Jose Buddhist Church/Nikkei Matsuri, Jen Masuda - Yu-Ai Kai, Leslie Mune - Lotus/Unite, Lindsay Mune- Suzume no Gakko, Larry Handa- San Jose Buddhist Church, Lynn Tabuchi - Wesley UMC, June Yasuhara - Unite/ Nikkei Matsuri, Moschel Kadokura, San Jose Buddhist Church /Nikkei Matsuri.
We are looking forward to next year’s San Jose Japantown Curry Cook Off, which will be held on November 16th at the San Jose Buddhist Church., Mark your calendars!
Posted in Newsletter 2023-12-14