Community Banners for San Francisco Japantown's Depict Cultural Arts Esthetic

SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Japantown Community Benefits District, "JCBD", an organization created to maintain economic development for property owners and merchants in the core business area of Japantown, is proud to announce the launch of fun new street banners that speak to the heart of the San Francisco Japantown community culture. The colorful banners are designed by three artists who have local roots in Japantown or have made Japantown their local roots. Each of the banners take a fun, colorful and creative look into Japanese / Japanese American culture that you can find within the borders of San Francisco's Japantown. These banner outline the San Francisco Japantown's core area.

Grace Horikiri, Executive Director of the JCBD, says "We are excited to honor our neighborhood's Japanese / Japanese American culture with banner art created by local artists in our community."

Here are the bios and statements of our Japantown community banner artists:

Brandt Fuse

Brandt Fuse grew up in Hawaii then studied Illustration at Washington University in St. Louis. Summer breaks were spent at the beach and screen printing t-shirts at Cane Haul Road, an iconic local t-shirt brand. He moved to San Francisco in 1998 and worked at Osaki Design as a graphic designer by day and Akasaka, a restaurant in Japantown on nights and weekends. Taking his experience as a designer, screen printer, and his love for Japanese and Hawaiian food and culture, he started Sumofish in 2002. Now, Brandt and his wife and business partner Joni sell their t-shirts online and at various fairs and festivals locally and around the country.

Brandt Fuse says "Japantown is home-base for me, and our business would not exist without the support of the community over the years."

Brenden Oshima

Brenden Oshima was born and raised in San Francisco, California. At a very young age it was obvious that Brenden had a passion for art. After a couple of years working as a car washer, Brenden decided to find a way to make a living with his art. He studied Cinema and Animation at San Francisco State University. After Graduation, Brenden has worked as an Animator and Illustrator. Brenden specializes in edgy graphic art and draws his inspired from themes from his favorite childhood comic and cartoon characters.

Brenden Oshima says "I support Japantown because it's my home. I grew up on these streets since I was a toddler. I've made epic friends and beautiful memories."

Tomoko Maruyama

Tomoko is a San Francisco artist. After graduating from Nippon Sport Science University in Tokyo, she worked as a sports teacher. After a few years, she moved to America to become an artist. She obtained a BFA degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia Arts from Centenary University in New Jersey and started working for a design agency in Manhattan. She eventually moved to San Francisco to start her own design studio. She created her own brand "Colors of San Francisco" featuring art prints, stationery and gifts. Her work is available at selected museums and stores across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Tomoko Maruyama says "Japantown is such an iconic place in San Francisco. I want visitors to enjoy Japanese food and appreciate the beauty of Japanese culture through my art."

About Japantown Community Benefits District:
Established in 2017, the Japantown Community Benefits District realizes its mission through economic business development for property owners and merchants, beautification of public spaces for all to enjoy and a safe livable environment. As the Japantown Community Benefits District executes this mission, the vision for Japantown to continue to thrive as a culturally rich, authentic, and economically vibrant neighborhood will be realized. The Japantown Community Benefits District also supports Japantown vision as it continues to serve as the cultural heart of the Japanese and Japanese American communities for generations to come.

SOURCE Japantown Community Benefits District