2024 Nisei Week Opening Ceremony

Sunday, July 14th was the opening ceremony of Nisei Week at the Little Tokyo JANM.

This year marks the 82nd time of Nisei Week, a celebration of Japanese culture and traditions in the US. Nisei Week Foundation President, Joann Shin Cordeiro first announced this year’s theme “Connection,” and shared her enthusiasm for the event.

Followed by the sponsors of the opening ceremony, representatives from JAPAN HOUSE LA and the Japan Business Association (JBA) of Southern California stating their greetings along with JBA giving their donation money.

The two official songs for this year’s Nisei Week are “Wasshoi, Nippon” by Takashi Hosokawa and “Fuyumi no Soran Bushi” by Fuyumi Sakamoto. The dances were choreographed by Hanayagi Rokufukumi and were performed at the event.

The Grand Marshal is ABC 7 news anchor, David Ono. And the Parade Marshal for the Grand Parade on August 11th will be actor and comedian, Amy Hill. And to add color to the festivities, the 6 candidates for this year’s Nisei Queen were announced.

Amy Ryoko Kubo of East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center.

Anita Sumi Yayi Komatsu of Gardena Evening Optimist Club.

Carina Akiko Sakimura of Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute.

Caitlyn Tera Sasaki of Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council.

Seia Loraine Watanabe of the Japanese Restaurant Association of America.

Morgan Mayuko Gee of Venice-West Los Angeles Japanese American Citizens League and Venice Japanese Community Center.

The candidates will compete in the coronation ball the night before the Grand Parade, and the queen will be chosen by a panel of judges.

The 82nd Nisei Week Japanese Festival will be held for nine days from August 10th through 18th.
Various events will be happening in Little Tokyo. Please visit the Nisei Week website for more information.

Dodgers Japanese Heritage Night

Tuesday, July 2nd was Japanese Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers hold events to interact with various local communities, and the Japanese American community was introduced this day.

On the stage of Centerfield Plaza, artists from Japan and the US put on a unique show. The KoushinTaiko drummers, DJ Crew, singerAnna Aya, and rock guitarist MIYAVI excited the audiences.

Before the game, a press conference was held for the “Yakyu-Baseball” exhibition connecting Japanese and American baseball which will happen next year at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in New York.

Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, manager Dave Roberts, and Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had previously played for the Yakult Swallows in Japan attended the conference.
Otani and Yamamoto donated their favorite baseball bats and gloves for the exhibition.

Consul General Kenko Sone of the Consulate General of Japan in LA and the Nisei Week Queen were introduced on the field to promote Nisei Week, which will be held in Little Tokyo in August.

The event also honored Yoshiko Miwa, the oldest person to have experienced Japanese American incarceration during WWII.

And then the ceremonial first pitch.
MIYAVI was the first to throw.
And after the national anthem was sung by Aisha, actor George Takei appeared and threw a powerful pitch.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto caught the ball and answered to the cheers of the fans.

Commemorative jerseys inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e and free onigiri rice balls were handed out, and fans enjoyed the game while appreciating Japanese culture.