Koto Japanese Restaurant

11/26/2021

📢 Big News! 📢

🍣KOTO: THE LAST SERVICE is now available on CBC Gem and CBC’s YouTube channel.

We’re looking forward to having more people around the world to experience this story of our restaurant and the great community of Campbell River when we closed in 2019.

Watch it for the first time, or watch it again, and help us share the news.

CBC Gem: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/koto-the-last-service/s01e01

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enw3ve7sMS8

07/27/2021

!! TWO summer screening updates for our documentary, KOTO: THE LAST SERVICE.

🍣 🍣 🍣 🍣 🍣
*Vancouver Screening* (in-person)
The film will have its first in-person outdoor screening on Friday, August 13 @ 9PM as part of DOXA Documentary Film Festival's Summer Screening at the Vancouver Public Library South Plaza.

Free to attend. Limited seating on the plaza steps so register in advance.
https://www.doxafestival.ca/news/2021/07/21/2021-outdoor-summer-screenings

🍣 🍣 🍣 🍣 🍣
*Asian American International Film Festival* (online)
The film will be screening online as part of New York's AAIFF from August 11-22.

Whether you're based in Canada or USA you will have the opportunity to catch the film, which is included as part of the Open for Business shorts program.
https://www.aaiff.org/aaiff44/open-for-business

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We're looking forward to continuing to share a part of Campbell River's history.

Reminder: You can watch the interview we did with Tidemark Theatre back in May here: https://www.facebook.com/47385869827/videos/299064041844402

City of Campbell River - City Hall, Campbell River Twinning Society, Recreation and Culture Department, City of Campbell River, Campbell River Mirror, You know you’re from Campbell River when..., 997 2day FM Campbell River,

05/02/2021

We've been getting some great media coverage of our upcoming world premiere of Koto: The Last Service @ DOXA! at DOXA Documentary Film Festival.

Listen to director Joella Cabalu's interview at the 33 minute mark on today's (May 2) episode of CBC's North by Northwest (https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-43-north-by-northwest).

You can also read the recent interview Joella and Kenji did with Stir (https://www.createastir.ca/articles/koto-the-last-service-doxa).

We're so grateful for all the support everyone has given us as we tell this story. We have more media interviews lined up and we look forward to sharing our love of a small part of Campbell River's history with you all.

If you're based in the USA, you can watch US-premiere: Koto: The Last Service @ CAAMFEST! (May 13-23)

The Maeda family’s Japanese eatery in Campbell River was open for 39 years—and was an anchor in the community

04/15/2021

Hi everyone. As you know, two years ago, our family restaurant of 39 years closed its doors.

We were lucky to have filmmakers there to capture the last two days of service surrounded by so many of you in the community.

We're happy to announce that our short documentary, KOTO: THE LAST SERVICE will have its World Premiere at this year's DOXA Documentary Film Festival (May 6-16).

Here's DOXA's description of the film:
"After nearly 40 years, the family-run Koto Japanese Restaurant in Campbell River is closing down. Run by the Maeda family, the Koto is known for being one of the first authentic Japanese restaurants in the “Salmon Capital of the World.” Set during its final business days, Joella Cabalu’s film is a meditation on graceful goodbyes and the legacy of investing care and attention in relationships through sushi."

WATCH THE TRAILER and buy your advance tickets to watch it online during the festival: https://watch.eventive.org/doxa2021/play/606d130269a0fb00639c03e1

We hope you will join us to watch the film during the festival, and share this news with others who would love to see a glimpse into a part of Campbell River's history and shared story of our community.

-Kenji Maeda

06/07/2019

Thanks to David Gordon Koch of the Campbell River Mirror for writing this piece.

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The closure was sentimental for local residents, and photos from the last night at Koto garnered hundreds of reactions on social media, as well-wishers posted recollections of good times at the restaurant.

Many commenters said the restaurant was their first exposure to Japanese cuisine.

“This was the first place I ever tried Japanese food,” said Milo Murdoc on Facebook. “Thank you for the delicious meals over the years.”

On its last night in business, the popular gathering place was fully booked. Longtime patrons lingered outside the restaurant late on May 25 and said Koto was the standard for Japanese restaurants wherever they went.

Koto closes its doors after nearly 40 years

05/26/2019

05/18/2019

We had a chance to talk about the upcoming closure of our restaurant on CBC's On the Island with guest host Megan Thomas.

You can listen to the nine minute segment here:

For close to 40 years.. Koto Japanese restaurant has been serving up food in Campbell River. The family run business introduced people in the area to Japanese cuisine from two locations over the years. But that will come to an end later this month Koto is closing. Guest host Megan Thomas spoke with....