The Kezai Society, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business and professional networking organization that focuses on U.S.-Japan relations, will hold its annual New Year’s reception from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club. The Kezai Society will honor Yoshi Akiba, of Yoshi’s Jazz Bar, with a Lifetime Achievement Award, for her contribution to U.S.-Japan relations. A traditional Kagamiwari (sake barrel “breaking”) ceremony will be held. Hiroshi Inomata, the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, is expected to lead the ceremony. Cost: $45 registration by Jan. 23; ($75 late registration by 1/26). Info and registration: http://keizai.org.