In 1982 Frances became the first woman to chair the Nisei Week Japanese Festival. One of the biggest "ethenic-based" festivals in the nation.  She organized fundraising and remained a strong proponent of festival in the face of declining attendance in recent years, arguing that younger Japanese Americans needed to remain aware of their cultural heritage.  She arranged for the festival's annually crowned Nisei Week queen and princesses to attend an exchange in Nagoya, a sister city of Los Angeles.  Frances also pushed for stronger ties between Little Tokyo and Nagoya's main business association to form an alliance.

Frances served as the President of Little Tokyo Business Association (LTBA) from 1994 to 2008. She actively sought to preserve the character of Little Tokyo and oversaw the redevelopment of the neighborhood, including signage, housing, and security.  Former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry later noted that, "She worked very hard to protect the history, integrity and identity of Little Tokyo as the largest Japantown in California.  She was also a member of the boards of several Japanese American organizations, including the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) and served as the vice president of the Little Tokyo Community Council.

In the spring of 2012, the government of Japan awarded Frances Kazuko Hashimoto the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, for her contributions to Japan–United States relations.