The art of suiseki was first introduced to California in the 1960s by Japanese-Americans who were active in cultural activities such as bonsai. Among these pioneers was Keiseki (Yukikichi) Hirotsu from the San Francisco Bay Area, who founded the oldest suiseki club in North America, Kashu Suiseki Kai in Palo Alto.In 1981 several suiseki enthusiasts including Mr. Hirotsu, Mr. and Mrs. Kourjiro and Eiko Iwasaki, Mr. Ben Nanjo, and Mr. Ben Yoshikawa founded the San Francisco Suiseki Kai, with Mr. Hirotsu as instructor. Mrs. Iwasaki served as the first president.
San Francisco Suiseki Kai holds regular meetings throughout the year, and an annual exhibit in August. Both the meetings and the exhibit are held in the Union Bank hospitality room at the Japan Center in San Francisco. In addition several tanseki (stone collecting) trips are scheduled during the year, as well as a base-making workshop. A New Year’s dinner party is held every February.
The club welcomes new members at any time. Meetings are conducted in both Japanese and English, at 7:30 pm on the 2nd Thursday of March, May, July, September, and November.
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