August 25th 2019 O.A.

2019 Nisei Week : Grand Parade

The largest Japanese American festival, the 79th Nisei Week happened at Little Tokyo.

August 10 and 11th was the 11th LA Tanabata festival. Attendees enjoyed the Tanabata decorations made by different organizations.

The main event, grand parade happened on Sunday, August 11th.

The veterans from WWII, Korean and Vietnam War started the party.

From culture, politics to business, personnels representing different fields were chosen.

“Sataro Ondo” and “Sakura Ondo” were performed, choreographed by Sanjo-ryu.

The grand marshal was the pioneer of the Japanese American community, Akemi Miyake who turned 100 years old this year.

Parade marshals were the LA Clippers.

And the LA Nebuta.
Lastly was the float with the Nisei Queen and her court and glamorously ended the parade.

2019 Nisei Week : ”BISHONEN”

What caught people’s attention during Nisei Week were the idol group of Johnny & Associates “Bishonen.”

They did a free performance in front of JACCC on the 10th. After joining the parade on the 11th, they did a charity concert at the Koyasan Buddhist Temple.

This was made possible because the president of the agency, Johnny Kitagawa – who was a Nisei and died in July – his father was a monk at this temple before the war.

The “Bishonen” did a powerful performance and entertained their fans.

2019 Nisei Week : World Gyoza Eating Championship

And August 17th was the “Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship.

The community representatives competed as a preliminary to the championship.

The kenjinkai competed with “Helping Hands” a tandem where one person feeds the other.

After LAFD and LAPD competed, the championship begins.

This is an event that is officially recognized by the Major League Eating, and contestants compete the number of gyozas they can eat in 10 minutes.

18 food fighters competed this year.

1 case of Day-Lee Foods product will be donated to the regional LA food bank per plate finished by the contestants.

Joey Chestnut is the hopeful contender as he won 2 consecutive times and is currently ranks number one in the world ranking.

And the winner is…
Chestnut finished with 314 gyozas and defended his title for 3 years in a row.

The Nisei Week ended on the 18th with a bon odori and a closing ceremony.

Kura Sushi USA Listed on NASDAQ

Japanese sushi restaurant “Kura Sushi USA” got listed on NASDAQ and a commemorating event was held at Little Tokyo on August 1st.

“Kura Sushi USA” is a subsidiary of “Kura Sushi” a Japanese sushi restaurant with over 450 locations worldwide.

They are the first Japanese business in the food service industry to be listed as IPO stocks.

A commemorative fan was distributed at the event. Customers were served free drinks and made cheers celebrating the day.