July at Juraku: Summer Is Here, Big Events Ahead, and Thank You

Before we get into everything happening this month, I just wanted to say one thing.

Thank you.

Last month I shared the story of my mom, Machiko, and the fundraiser we started in her memory.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I figured we'd hopefully raise enough to help care for the cats she left behind and make a meaningful donation to the rescues she loved. Instead, the response completely exceeded anything my family or I imagined.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Knowing how many people took the time to donate, share the fundraiser, or simply send a kind message meant more than I can put into words.

A Small Update

Many of you have asked how things are going.

Since my mom passed, my sister Hinda has been taking care of the stray cats that my mom looked after for so many years. One of the regulars, a big orange cat we've always called Papa Cat, recently got a foxtail lodged in his eye and needed help getting it removed. Thankfully he's doing much better now.

There is also a small litter of kittens that my sister is keeping an eye on. Once they're old enough to be away from their mother, she hopes to safely trap them and find them good homes.

As for the fundraiser itself, I haven't spent any of the money yet. The plan has always been to donate it in my mom's honor on what would have been her birthday this October. We'll be writing checks to the Lake County SPCA and the Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County, two organizations she volunteered with and cared deeply about for many years.

July Is Looking Busy

Now for the fun stuff. July is shaping up to be one of our busiest months of the summer, and we have a lot going on both at Juraku and outside the restaurant.

July 9: Miyo Yoshida Fan Rally at Juraku. We hosted Miyo Yoshida before her next fight — food, drinks, exclusive merchandise, and Juraku matching every donation made during the event, up to $3,000.

July 11–12: Tanabata at Dassai Blue. We headed upstate for the Tanabata Festival at Dassai Blue Brewery in Hyde Park, serving an exclusive menu item created just for the festival.

Summer Menu Is Here

Hiyashi Chuka is back. This year we offered two versions: Shikuwasa (bright, citrusy, and incredibly refreshing using authentic Okinawan shikuwasa) and Sesame (rich, creamy, nutty, and the version many of our regulars wait all year for).

New summer cocktail: Plum Syndicate. Made with Syndicate NY Bourbon, five-year aged umeshu, fresh yuzu, and house-made red shiso syrup — refreshing while still feeling like a proper bourbon cocktail.

Online Ordering Is Back

Some of you may have noticed that online credit card payments disappeared from our ordering system for a little while. We had been targeted by a wave of fraudulent credit card orders, so we temporarily disabled online payments while we sorted everything out. Online payments are now back.

A huge thank you to everyone who stayed patient, called in orders, and continued supporting us while we worked through it. It really meant a lot.

If you're ordering takeout or delivery, please continue ordering directly whenever you can. It keeps much more of your support with Juraku instead of going to third-party delivery apps.

Thank You

One thing I've realized over the last couple of months is how lucky we are. Restaurants come and go all the time. Very few get to become communities.

Every event, every fundraiser, every collaboration, every regular who walks through our door reminds me that Juraku has become something much bigger than I ever imagined when we first opened back in 2018.

Whether you've been coming here for years or you're planning your first visit, thank you for being part of that.

– Kiyo & the Juraku Team

See the rest of the menu.