Redlands Japanese Cultural Center to host grand opening Oct. 25

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Japanese Cultural Center will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 25, with an afternoon of performances, martial arts demonstrations, and community festivities at its new facility at 542 E. Stuart Ave.

The celebration will run from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature live entertainment including Japanese dance, taiko drumming, and demonstrations of karate, kendo, judo, and jujitsu. Food and drinks will be available from local vendors such as 4Tino’s Tacos, The Chan Smokers, Harusha Coffee, The Donut Cart, J. Riley Distillery, and Escape Brewery.

Ron Thomas, best known for his role as Cobra Kai’s “Reverend Bobby” in The Karate Kid franchise, will attend the opening ceremony. Organizers said additional celebrity guests may also make appearances.

The Redlands Japanese Cultural Center recently began offering a range of classes in karate, kendo, odori (traditional Japanese dance), judo, jujitsu, taiko drumming, and Japanese language. The new center aims to promote cultural exchange, education, and community connection through arts and heritage programming.

The center was developed by visual and martial artists Sabro Foster and Kevin Seishiro Suzuki to celebrate and preserve Japanese heritage through hands-on classes and cultural events.

During a Redlands Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Oct. 17, Mayor Mario Saucedo praised the founders for expanding cultural representation in Redlands. He noted that the center’s location along Stuart Avenue sits amid a historically diverse corridor that includes a 131-year-old African American church, remnants of the city’s early Chinatown, and Redlands’ Mexican heritage area near Sonoratown.

“This is a very appropriate place,” Saucedo said. “It represents our diverse, rich culture here in Redlands, and we’re so happy to be here welcoming the Japanese community.”

Visitors to Saturday’s event can also enter a raffle and participate in family-friendly activities throughout the day.

For more information, visit redlandsjapaneseculturalcenter.org.