2015 Northern California Soy and Tofu Festival

Tofu Panda and Cutie Tofutti. photo by William Lee

The fifth annual Northern California Soy and Tofu Festival will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2015, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in San Francisco Japantown’s Peace Plaza and Buchanan Mall, Post at Buchanan streets. It will feature various soy-related vendors, free samples, an educational component highlighting the various uses of soy, live performances, audience participation games and a Soy and Tofu Dessert Competition. Returning this year will be a children’s activity area and nonprofit information booths in the Buchanan Mall.

Co-emcees are KTVU Fox 2 reporter Jana Katsuyama and NBC Bay Area traffic anchor Mike Inouye.

“This festival is essentially a tribute to the almighty soybean, truly one of the most versatile food products in Asian culture, if not the world,” said Kenji G. Taguma, president of the Nichi Bei Foundation and co-chair of the Festival. “We’re excited about creating a fun venue to celebrate the joy of soy and learn about the benefits of soy and tofu, and at the same time raising critical funds to support our community-serving mission.”

While the Festival is free and open to the public, proceeds from sponsorships, vendors, some food sales and a raffle help the Nichi Bei Foundation continue to publish the Nichi Bei Weekly — the first nonprofit ethnic community newspaper of its kind in the country — and its Website, www.nichibei.org.

“The best part about our festival is that it celebrates a subject that is not specific to any one culture or ethnic background,” said Festival Co-Chair and Nichi Bei Foundation board Chair Kiyomi Tanaka.

Food vendors include: Kikkoman, San Jose Tofu, Nakayoshi Café, Hodo Soy Beanery, Jade Chocolates, Totally Oishii, Signature Soy, Nombe Restaurant and Moffle Waffle. Food Trucks include Linda’s Catering and Kokio Republic.

Artisans are Sumofish, Beefy & Co., Modern M, S&C Jewels, Piximix, Bamboo Whisperer and 676 Candles Co.

The Festival will also feature the popular mascots Tofu Panda and Cutie Tofutti.

Major sponsors include Kikkoman, California Bank & Trust, Union Bank, and PG&E. Media Sponsors are NBC Bay Area, Crossings TV and the Nichi Bei Weekly, while Korea Times and J Weekly round out the pan-Asian Media Sponsors.

For more information, visit: www.soyandtofufest.org.