Creativity, Care & Coworking at KOHO
Installation by Thank You Saint & Hanna Yuan Chen for “Not Too Sweet Art” Exhibition Opening Night, photos by Jeremy Chiu
For the last year, KOHO has served as more than just a physical location—it has been a living, breathing hub for imagination, experimentation, and community-building in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown. What began as a creative vision rooted in cultural preservation and activation has evolved into a dynamic space that responds to the needs, dreams, and energy of those who inhabit it.
In 2024, our space came alive in ways we couldn’t have fully imagined. Our Japantown Film Festival lit up the Peace Plaza honoring films made for or by our Japantown community. Our Love Letter to Japantown story session brought together poets and storytellers sparking generational healing and muse. Seiji Oda inspired younger generations. BonPOP brought over 2100 people to connect with their ancestors through dance and taiko and Destination Nihonmachi brought together artists, DJs and entrepreneurs to celebrate our shared history with the Fillmore/Western Addition neighborhood.
so far 2025, has been a whirlwind! We witnessed intimate moments of healing through the Japanese American Youth Alliance annual convention, many town-hall and community meetings felt the vibrant pulse of creativity during our TalkStory circles, creative meet-ups, and vendor pop-ups which reconnected the neighborhood with its cultural roots.
Photography Diptych by Tessa Shimizu for “Not Too Sweet Art” Exhibition Opening Night, photos by Jeremy Chiu
Abstract paintings by Seesha Takagashi for “Not Too Sweet Art” Exhibition Opening Night, photos by Jeremy Chiu
Our gallery walls featured rotating art exhibitions by the local talent of the Family Style Collective, and our studio spaces transformed to host film crews, play-readings, DJ sets, and late-night design sprints.
These moments, documented in our2024 Year in Review, revealed a truth we carry with us into 2025: how we gather determines what we build together. Now, with the launch of our dedicated co-working hub, we’re deepening our commitment to creative collaboration, cultural reclamation, and building sustainable futures—for and by our communities.
Reclaiming Space for Creativity
San Francisco's Japantown, established after the 1906 earthquake, is the oldest of the three remaining Japantowns in the United States. Once spanning 40 blocks, it has since been reduced to nine, a change marked by historical events such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and urban redevelopment in the 1960s.
In 2024 we opened up KOHO's new co-creative hub to the public, located at 1675 Post Street in the Japan Center East Mall. Years in the making, a community response to this history led by our Executive Director, Susie Kagami —a space designed to honor the past while fostering future creativity.
Gallery Opening Night of “Not Too Sweet Art” Exhibition Opening Night, photos by Jeremy Chiu
Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X: two American Activists who worked in tandem for the same justices being fought today. Such a powerful representation of the unity we continue to strive for. We stand with our Western Addition neighbors and communities of color beyond. "American Gothic X" by Frank Chi and Eric Uhlir, 2018.
The Power to Change Through Solidarity and Creative Community
At its core, the KOHO Creative Hub is more than just an event and co-working space—it is about co-creating a future rooted in solidarity, equity, and imagination. In a city that is rapidly changing and often inaccessible to artists and communities of color, KOHO stands as a radical gesture of care and resistance. We believe that spaces for creative work must also be spaces for cultural healing, cross-community strategy, and collective joy.
Our Japantown home provides not just desks and resources, but a rare container for AAPI and BIPOC creatives, organizers, and entrepreneurs to connect and build power across communities. KOHO becomes a nexus where Japanese designers meet educators, where queer artists collaborate with API youth organizers, and where multi-generational dialogue sparks new visions for justice, economy, and cultural preservation.
“Dancing Across Oceans” watercolor painting by MC Amamble for “Not Too Sweet Art” Exhibition Opening Night, photos by Jeremy Chiu
In this way, KOHO isn't just a venue—it’s a movement space. We’ve seen it become a launchpad for grassroots coalitions, cultural campaigns, pop-up markets, listening circles, and visioning sessions. It’s where other organizations gather to organize, strategize, and imagine what’s possible together. In a world often designed to silo and separate us, KOHO offers an intentional site for connection, creativity, and collective empowerment.
Not Too Sweet Art” Exhibition Opening Night, photos by Jeremy Chiu
The Need for Creative Co-Working—and Third Spaces—in Japantown
In Japantown, and across San Francisco, the need for safe, nourishing third spaces has never been more urgent. For many AAPI and BIPOC creatives, traditional workplaces can feel isolating or inaccessible, while home environments may lack the resources or spaciousness to fully support creative growth. KOHO steps in to fill this gap—not just as a co-working space, but as a true third space: a welcoming, hybrid environment where people can gather, belong, and thrive outside of home and work.
As a cultural sanctuary, KOHO meets practical needs—like flexible desks, Wi-Fi, and meeting areas—but it's deeper purpose is to cultivate community, inspiration, and access. Here, a day of designing or writing might be punctuated with an impromptu conversation over tea, a shared moment during a sound bath, or an open call for a community project. These informal collisions are where creative breakthroughs and deep connections are born.
Japantown’s creative energy deserves a home that reflects its vibrancy and resilience. KOHO provides that home. It is a space where storytelling meets strategy, where personal healing feeds collective action, and where we’re building not just projects—but possibilities. As we continue evolving, our co-working model remains rooted in care, inclusion, and the belief that when we center culture, we create conditions for communities to flourish.
Not Too Sweet Art” Exhibition Opening Night, photos by Jeremy Chiu
Artist spaces like KOHO often rely on grants and institutional support, which has seen severe fluctuation in recent months. KOHO has begun finding new and creative ways to test various revenue models for long-term sustainability, making space accessible in Japantown, providing vendor revenue opportunities, and building community as the catalyst to serve artists, creators and the general public—namely, affordable coworking memberships and flexible event rentals. This, in addition to artists and program grants, is a blended model that will support day-to-day operations and reduce dependence on external funding, ensuring that KOHO remains a reliable resource for the community. By merging arts, culture, and commerce, KOHO is positioning itself as a self-sustaining cultural anchor for Japantown and the broader Bay Area.
At KOHO, we believe that community is an artform.
As we look towards deepening our mission, we invite artists, creatives, and visionaries to join us in cultivating spaces that celebrate collaboration, innovation, and cultural heritage.
Together, we can build communities that not only support creative endeavors but also drive meaningful change.
Whether you're an artist seeking a supportive environment, an entrepreneur looking for collaborative opportunities, or a community member passionate about cultural preservation, KOHO welcomes you.
