2025 Nisei Week Japanese Festival

From August 9 to 17, the 83rd Nisei Week Japanese Festival was held in Little Tokyo over nine days.

Seven contestants, nominated by Japanese American organizations across Los Angeles, competed for the title. A panel of judges selected the winner.

On August 10, the Aratani Theatre hosted the Coronation. At the event, this year’s Nisei Week Queen was selected to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the Los Angeles Japanese American community.

Seven contestants, nominated by one or more Japanese American organizations from across the Los Angeles area, competed for the title.
A panel of judges then selected the winner.

In the three months leading up to the contest, the participants trained in poise, public speaking, dance, and Japanese traditions.
On the day of the event, they showcased their skills on stage and won enthusiastic applause from a full audience.

While the Queen was being judged, an awards ceremony was held, recognizing Thomas Iino as Grand Marshal, the East West Players as Parade Marshal, and presenting the Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award, the Inspiration Award, and other Nisei Week honors.

When the results were revealed, Kimi Look was crowned the 2025 Nisei Week Queen.

Megan Ayumi Miyamoto was named First Princess, and Mika Fumiyo Megumi Dyo was chosen as Miss Tomodachi.

Led by the Queen, these seven will represent the Los Angeles Japanese American community over the next year at events both locally and abroad.

On Sunday, August 10, the highlight of Nisei Week, the Grand Parade, took place.

Leading the parade were Japanese American veterans.
This year, veterans of the Vietnam War received the Nisei Week Inspiration Award, and the crowd greeted them with thunderous applause.

The parade also included Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, other U.S. officials,and Consul General Kenko Sone with his wife at their final official event before returning to Japan. Representatives from Japanese and local organizations, community leaders, and cultural groups joined in, responding warmly to the cheering crowd.

A highlight of the Grand Parade was the vibrant traditional dance, or “ondo.”
This year’s choreography was created by Hidesomi Bando of the Bando school.
The official songs, “Kawasaki Odori” and “Sorega Daiji,” were danced by various Japanese dance groups in Los Angeles as well as members of the public.

A variety of cultural groups also participated, featuring martial arts, anime, portable shrines, and Nebuta floats, celebrating the rich heritage of the Japanese American community.

The parade concluded with the appearance of this year’s Nisei Week Queen and Court, who responded to the audience’s cheers with bright and radiant smiles.

On August 16 and 17, the Plaza Festival was held in the JACCC Plaza.

Booths offering food, goods, and services lined the area, highlighting Japanese and Japanese American cuisine and culture for visitors.

Inside the JACCC, cultural exhibits featured calligraphy, bonsai, and other traditional arts.

On stage, a variety of taiko groups delivered powerful performances, filling the venue with the lively energy of a summer festival.

The annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival, held in conjunction with Nisei Week, displayed decorations themed around “hope,” delighting attendees.
Booths also provided tanzaku, small paper strips where visitors could write their wishes and hang them on bamboo branches.

The festival concluded with the Nisei Week Closing Ceremony. Helen Ota, the chair of the organizing committee, expressed gratitude to visitors and the community for their support, and encouraged everyone to continue visiting Little Tokyo.

The finale featured the traditional “Street Ondo” dance, with Japanese dance groups, the Nisei Week Queen, members of the public, and the newly arrived Consul General Kosei Murota and his family joining in.
Amid many smiles and cheerful singing, this year’s Nisei Week came to a close.

OAA Picnic

On Sunday, July 20, the Okinawan Association of America, or OAA, held its annual picnic in South El Monte.

The OAA was founded in 1909 as the Southern California Okinawan Association. This picnic, a tradition started in the 1930s by Okinawan immigrants, is now held to coincide with the Obon season.

The event began with a greeting from Nishiuchi, the president of the OAA. This was followed by the customary radio calisthenics in the Okinawan language, with all participants stretching and warming up together.

Next, honored guests from the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California shared their greetings.

During the ceremony, scholarships were awarded to high school students with Okinawan heritage who are preparing to graduate.

Attendees enjoyed their lunches with family and friends while watching stage performances and taking part in games throughout the day.