SoCalJapan | Japan Hollywood Network

November 26nd 2023 O.A.

JRA Sushi & Sake Festival

Sunday, October 29th was the “Sushi & Sake Festival” held by the Japanese Restaurant Association of America at Universal City.

This is an all you can eat and drink event that serves sushi and sake along with other Japanese food.
This year is the 22nd time for the event with the help of different restaurants, organizations, and businesses.
November 1st is “Sushi Day” in Japan, so the event always takes place around this time of the year with 1,000 tickets selling out.

After the taiko performance opened the event, a sake barrel ceremony was done by the related individuals.

Sushi chefs lined up and served a variety to the guests at the sushi section.

Other food like shabu-shabu, takoyaki, oden, seafood, and sweets were also offered.

Yakitori and ramen were available in the courtyard.

Beer, shochu, and different Japanese sake were served at the sake section, and guests were able to compare different types of drinks.

A tuna fileting performance was done on stage and caught the attention of many people.

JRA was founded in 1999 to educate culinary techniques and food safety, as well as providing legal and business related support to Japanese restaurants.
Their goal is to spread Japanese food in the US.

KSCA & JAMA Community Health Fair

Sunday, October 29th was the Community Health Fair at the Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center in Little Tokyo.

This event offered free consultation for the members of the Japanese American community to discuss health-related concerns.
It was held by the Koreisha Senior Care & Advocacy (KSCA) and Japanese American Medical Association (JAMA).

Doctors working in internal medicine, cardiology, orthopedic surgery, and dentistry were there to consult in Japanese.
Different demographics participated and formed long lines for the charged blood test.

This Health Fair originated back in 1971 by the Taisho Club that was Nikkei association of hobbies so that community members can have their health concerns answered in Japanese.
However, it had to be canceled in 2018 due to the aging of members that facilitated the event.

JAMA is an organization that strives to enhance medical services offered to communities.
30 doctors and physicians participated this time, some of them being experienced physicians that participated in the previous Health Fair as well.

About 150 people participated in the event. Both KSCA and JAMA are talking about continuing this fair for the future.

INC Beach Day

October 14th was the networking event for the Southern California Intercollegiate Nikkei Council (INC) at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey.

INC is a coalition of collegiate Nikkei Student Unions and associations throughout SoCal universities, and it is currently made up of 13 schools.

About 350 students participated in the “Beach Day” to network with new people.

Members got comfortable with each other through icebreakers and made new friends as they spent a fun time together.

INC also holds special lectures inviting working Japanese American professionals as guest speakers from different fields.
They also participate in volunteer work for the Japanese American community too.

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November 12nd 2023 O.A.

Irvine Global Village Festival

Saturday, October 14th was the Irvine Global Village Festival at Great Park in Irvine.

This event was started to help promote understanding and build harmony within cultures, and this is their 22nd time.

Different countries from Asia like South Korea, Taiwan, and India, to Middle Eastern countries like Iran, Turkey, and Syria were introduced.
Clothing culture and folk crafts were displayed, as well as different workshops and demonstrations being available for the participants to enjoy.

At this year’s Japan booth, many Japanese businesses and organizations like Japan Foundation, Consulate General of Japan LA, and JBA worked together to promote Japan.

At the booth, demonstrations for wearing a kimono, and Sogetsu school of ikebana were offered as well as workshops for kendama and origami. Ehime Kenjinkai also promoted their hometown to the visitors too.

Performances representing each country were done on stage.
For Japan, cultural organizations introduced taiko and karate through their best performance.

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October 22nd 2023 O.A.

Japan Film Festival Los Angeles 2023

The Japan Film Festival Los Angeles took place in Hollywood in September.
This is an annual film festival, and 28 films were shown online and in theaters this year.

On the final day, September 17th, at Japan House Los Angeles, the closing and award ceremony took place, bringing together people associated with the films, including producers, directors, and cast members from Japan. A live stream was done via Zoom, and related individuals also attended the event online from Japan.

Short films were introduced first, followed by a sword fighting performance by the casts of a samurai action film that was produced in the US.

This is the 18th time for JFFLA, and they are one of the oldest Japanese film festivals in the US.

Consul General Kenko Sone and president of JAPAN HOUSE, Yuko Kaifu stated their greetings at the ceremony, and spoke about their hopes for Japan-related individuals advancing into Hollywood in their careers.

At the award ceremony, 17 awards were announced, including Best Short Film, Best Director, and Best Feature Film Award.
Plaques were given to the awardees and they all celebrated the moment as the event finished in great success.

Global Stage Hollywood 2023

October 6th and 7th was the film festival in Hollywood called “Global Stage Hollywood.

What originally began as a Japanese film festival has now changed its name to “Global Stage Hollywood” since last year to introduce global contents to the US.

Screening of “A Man”, a Japanese film, opened this year’s event.
It is a mystery movie where it questions a man’s identity.
Satoshi Tsumabuki, who played the leading role, came from Japan to attend the event, and had a Q&A session after the showing.

The following day, a short documentaries about indigenous Japanese Ainu people and the Pechanga Band of Indians was shown.
Representatives of each people attended the panel discussion after the showing and talked about the difficulties of reviving and passing down the once lost tradition or language due to discrimination and persecution that was done in the past.

Wide variety of entertainment like anime and short films were also shown. Even a live rakugo storytelling by Katsura Sunshine was available, too.

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October 8th 2023 O.A.

Mutual Trading Japanese Food & Restaurant Expo 2023

September 23rd was the Mutual Trading Japanese Food & Restaurant Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center.

This is the 32nd time for this expo as it showcases and sells the latest Japanese food and restaurant supplies.
It is the largest, longest Japanese food expo held in the US, and 146 companies participated this year.

Attendees were able to taste the newest products and unique menu items offered by each company.

At the food section, different food products from basic ingredients like dashi, nori, wasabi, noodles, and soups to luxurious ones, such as fresh seafoods using ultra-low-temperature freezing technology, ULTS, as well as premium Miyazaki wagyu beef were introduced.

Mutual Trading’s original brand, Miyako Brand also introduced their latest plant based gyoza and other new products.

Restaurant supplies were also available, and tablewares were highly popular as they were sold at a discounted price.
Personalized engraving for kitchen knives attracted many people too.

Takeout boxes and delivery-related supplies were also popular since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Brewers making different Japanese sake, shochu, whiskey, and craft beer participated in the alcohol section.
Workshops were also available as 4 navigators explained how each food and drinks can be paired to complement each other.

This year is the first in-person expo held after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the theme was “Venture into a New Era.”

According to Mutual Trading, Japanese food is gaining back its popularity since the pandemic.

They will always adjust to the lifestyles of consumers and seek new business opportunities.

2023 Keiro no Hi Festival

Sunday, September 17th was the 6th Annual Keiro no Hi Festival held by Keiro at Little Tokyo’s JANM.

Keiro is a non-profit organization that provides services to Japanese American senior members and holds free community events annually to celebrate Japan’s “Keiro no Hi.”

Complimentary transportation was available in 6 different locations of LA, Ventura, and Orange County. About 500 people attended this year.

This year’s theme for the event was “Purpose.” Different workshops from fishing, handicraft, to making pickled vegetables were offered to give an idea of how seniors can enjoy their everyday lives.
Attendees were able to dress up in kimono and have their portraits taken, too.

At the main hall, CEO of Keiro, Beverly Ito, Consul General Kenko Sone, and State Assemblymember, Al Muratsuchi stated their greetings and commemorated the healthy longevity of the senior members.

Free bento lunches were provided to attendees over 60 years old, and the day was filled with many entertainments.

OCJAA Senior Citizen Appreciation Da

Sunday, October 1st was the 37th Annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Day held by OCJAA via online.

Free boxed lunches have been prepared for those aged 60 and above who pre-registered.
At 3 locations in Tustin, Irvine, and Costa Mesa, 210 meals were distributed.
Attendees participated via Zoom and enjoyed the program as they ate their lunches in their homes.

The program featured commemorations by the Japanese American organization representatives and different entertainments.
11 individuals were awarded as they celebrated turning 80 years old.

OCJAA Honorary President, Akemi Miyake who turned 104 years old showed his cheerful face and greeted everyone too.

The event ended with a raffle, and attendees bonded via online.

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September 24th 2023 O.A.

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles 5th Anniversary

JAPAN HOUSE LA celebrated its 5th anniversary, and a music event commemorating the day was held on August 27th at Ovation Hollywood welcoming the Japanese guitarist, MIYAVI.

JAPAN HOUSE is a facility funded by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to spread Japanese culture overseas with 3 locations worldwide.
The LA location opened in 2018 inside Ovation Hollywood on 2nd and 5th floor.

JAPAN HOUSE LA mainly introduces Japanese culture and technology through art in their 2nd floor gallery.
The 5th floor salon holds different seminars and workshops related to Japan.
“POKÉMON X KOGEI” is going on at the gallery where Pokemen characters are recreated through Japanese craft and MIYAVI paid a visit.

JAPAN HOUSE 5th anniversary party was held under the theme “Bridging Cultures, Inspiring Futures.”
Japanese foods and desserts like rice balls, katsu sandwich, karaage, and shaved ice were served at the venue. Breweries also participated, serving Japanese beers and sake.
A DJ livened up the event playing City pop, and the event tarted as guests enjoyed their food and beverages.

The opening act was performed by Asano Taiko.
Followed by Mike Penny’s Tsugaru-jamisen performance.
Then came YOYOKA, a 13 year old Japanese drummer playing her drums.

President Yuko Kaifu of JAPAN HOUSE and Consul General Kenko Sone stated their greetings, and MIYAVI appeared on stage.

MIYAVI and the other artists performed a special stage where they collaborated together.
Guests cheered and the party ended in a great success.

YOSHIKI’s Handprints Immortalized

September 15th was the ceremony for the iconic and beloved Japanese superstar YOSHIKI to be immortalized in cement at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theater.
YOSHIKI is also the advisor of JAPAN HOUSE LA.

He is the first Japanese artist to leave their hands and footprints on Hollywood.
Many Japanese and American media came to witness this great moment.

Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun and Gene Simmons of KISS also came to the ceremony to celebrate and support their friend YOSHIKI’s great achievement.

At the speech, YOSHIKI thanked his mother and fans for supporting him. His drum sticks were also included with his hands and footprints as well.

YOSHIKI will be holding a concert in Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in October.

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September 10th 2023 O.A.

Long Beach – Yokkaichi Sister City 60th Anniversary

The City of Long Beach and Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture celebrated its 60th anniversary as Sister Cities.
On August 12th, a ceremony was held at Long Beach commemorating this memorable event.

The two cities became Sister Cities in 1963 as they had similarities in the number of population and being a commercial city located on the Pacific Coast.

The two cities have deepened their bond through student and teacher exchange programs, and other cultural, educational, doctor, and environmental programs as well.

The ceremony was held at the Yokkaichi Friendship Garden in Long Beach Recreation Park.
This area opened when the Sister Cities celebrated their 30th anniversary. A shrine gate and a plaque that was donated by the City of Yokkaichi welcomes the visitors.

After the “Kokoro Taiko Kai” of Long Beach played their taiko, Yokkaichi Speaker of the Assembly, Ryoma Higuchi demonstrated aikido. Followed by speeches that commemorated the anniversary.

Then, the two mayors of each city signed the 60th Anniversary Memorandum.

The ceremony ended with the unveiling ceremony of the new plaque celebrating the 60th anniversary.

JABA Gala 2023

August 18th was the 46th Installation and Awards Gala for the Japanese American Bar Association at Downtown LA.

JABA was founded in 1977 to strengthen the presence of Japanese American and Asian lawyers in the legal profession of the US.

There are about 200 members.
The association is currently focusing on networking fellow lawyers, training newcomers, and free consultations for Japanese communities.

This is an annually held fundraising gala, and this year marks their 46th time. About 400 members and guests attended.

This year’s inauguration took place after the scholarship recipients were announced, and Harumi Hata became the new President. Hata is the first Japan born president for JABA.

3 individuals were awarded for contributing to the community this year.

Global Business and Cultural Leadership Award went to the president of JAPAN HOUSE, Yuko Kaifu.

The Community and Public Policy Award went to Assemblymember, Al Muratsuchi.

And the Distinguished Public Service Leadership Award went to Mark Uyeda, the first Asian Securities and Exchange Commission　Commissioner.

Recipients thanked their friends, colleagues, and their community in their speeches and spoke about the importance of JABA.

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August 27th 2023 O.A.

Nisei Week 2023

The 81st Nisei Week Japanese Festival happened at Little Tokyo from August 12th.

Nisei Week Festival is a festival that spreads the history, culture, and tradition of the Japanese and Japanese American community to the US.

Saturday, August 12th was the Coronation Ball at the Aratani Theatre for the Nisei Queen contest, one of Nisei Week’s marquee events.

7 candidates were chosen by Japanese American organizations located throughout LA.
For 3 months, they practiced manners, dance and speech to become the next Nisei Queen.

Sara Emiko Kubo was chosen as the first princess and Nancy Izumi Chin was chosen as Miss Tomodachi.

The queen and court will act as ambassadors and participate in various events domestically and internationally. They will represent the LA Japanese American community for an entire year.

The following Sunday August 13th was the Grand Parade.

People from all over gathered to watch the highlight event of Nisei Week.

The parade began with the veterans from WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam War leading the way.

“Kyo no Kai” choreographed the official Ondo.

This year’s Parade Marshal was former USC basketball player who is now a CrossFit Athlete, Jamie Hagiya.

The Grand Marshal was former Executive Director of Little Tokyo Service Center and Community Leader, Bill Watanabe.

Different floats and performances were done by the government officials, LA’s sister city Nagoya prefecture, martial arts and sports, anime, dance, and Omikoshi.
People and organizations related to LA’s Japanese American community and culture appeared and were introduced.

The parade reached its climax as this year’s Nisei Queen and court appeared.

And the parade finished with LA Nebuta.

The parade successfully ended with many cheers.

The annual L.A. Tanabata Festival also happened alongside Nisei Week as well.

This year marks the 15th time for the Tanabata Festival.
Kazari decorations of Sendai Tanabata Festival were displayed at JANM and entertained people that visited the area.

Kazari made by each kenjin kai and local community organizations were also displayed inside the facility.

A workshop was also held on August 19th. Participants learned how to make their own kazari and hung their wishes onto small bamboos.
Visitors enjoyed Japanese customs that are done during the summer in LA.

Due to the impact of the hurricane that hit LA., all various events scheduled for August 20th, including the street Ondo and the closing ceremony, have been canceled.

SAKE ON THE ROCKS

Friday, July 28th was the “Sake on the Rock,” a sake and food event held at Little Tokyo.

This was held by the nonprofit organization, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) as their 15th annual fundraising event.
It is the largest, most held Japanese sake and food event in SoCal.

The raised funds will be used for LTSC’s programs and initiatives that support senior members and low-income housing.

About 50 different Japanese sake, shochu, and craft beers were served at this all-you-can-eat event.
Food booths offering snacks that go well with alcohol were also available.

A shochu cocktail contest was also held and livened up the event.
About 1,000 people came to the event and participated in the fundraiser while having fun.

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August 13th 2023 O.A.

POKÉMON X KOGEI

An exhibition featuring the world of the popular game and anime, Pokémon “POKÉMON X KOGEI |Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft” is happening at JAPAN HOUSE in Hollywood.

More than 70 Pokémons are created using lacquer, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and other media.

From Living National Treasure metalworker to modern Japanese craft artist, 20 artists participated creating Pokémons with their style of art, giving a new side to traditional Japanese crafts.

The artworks are divided into 3 categories: Appearance, Stories, and Life.
Not only do each artworks recreate the Pokémon itself, but also their fur, skin, and the artist’s take on the story.
A Fire type Pokémon is created using a kiln, and each artist approaches the world of Pokémon very differently.

“POKÉMON X KOGEI |Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft” is held at JAPAN HOUSE LA until January 7th with free admission.
Some of the displays are to be changed during the exhibition, so please visit the JAPAN HOUSE website for more information.

Okinawa Association of America Picnic

Sunday, July 16th was the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) Picnic in South El Monte.

Picnic is a traditional event that began in the 1930s, organized by immigrants from Okinawa.
Members were finally able to gather now that Covid restrictions got lifted this year.

President Kamiya stated his greetings and followed by the radio calisthenics.

7 scholarship recipients were then announced and given to them at the spot.

OAA received the 2023 “California Nonprofit of the Year”, and an award ceremony was held in Sacramento.

About 500 people participated in the picnic. Everyone enjoyed their lunch with their friends and family, and had a great day by watching performances on the stage or playing games.

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July 30th 2023 O.A.

Nisei Week Opening Ceremony

Sunday, July 16th was the opening ceremony of the Nisei Week Festival at the JANM in Little Tokyo.

Nisei Week is a festival that celebrates Japanese culture and tradition. This year marks the 81st time.

The 2023 Nisei Week Foundation president, David Yamahata announced this year’s theme “Turning the Corner” as many things are returning back to normal from the pandemic.

The theme song for this year’s parade is Enka singer Takashi Hosokawa’s “Maneki Neko” and “We Are” from the anime ONE PIECE.

The choreography is done by Master Bando Hirohichiro and “Kyo no Kai.”

This year’s grand marshal is former executive director of the Little Tokyo Service Center, Bill Watanabe.

The parade marshal is former Nisei Queen court and CrossFit athlete, Jamie Hagiya.

Pioneer Spirit awardees and other individuals who contributed to the Japanese American community were awarded for their hard work as well.

Lastly, this year’s 7 Nisei Queen candidates were announced.

Isabella Rose Polizzotto-24 years old representing Gardena Evening Optimist Club.

Kaitlyn Emiko Chu-24 years old representing Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council.

Kamalani “Kama” Higashiyama-25 years old representing the Japanese Restaurant Association of America.

Aiko Marie Matsumura Dzikowski-25 years old representing Venice-West LA Japanese American Citizen’s League and Venice Japanese Community Center.

Nancy Izumi Chin-26 years old representing Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute.

Kaili Mika Inouye-23 years old representing San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center.

And Sara Emiko Kubo-26 years old representing East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center.

Candidates will appear in the coronation ball that will be held the night before the grand parad and this year’s Nisei Queen will be crowned.

Nisei Week will be held for 9 days from August 12th to the 20th at Little Tokyo.
Various events like the Tanabata Festival and Nebuta will also be held at the same time.
Please check the Nisei Week website for more information.

Dodgers & Angels Japanese Heritage Night

Japanese Heritage Night was held at the Dodger Stadium in LA and Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

The Dodgers and Angels both hold many events for the local community, and Japanese Heritage Night is one of them. Recently, events are being held in conjunction with the so-called Freeway Series, where the Dodgers and Angels compete against each other.

Tuesday, June 27th was Japanese Heritage Night at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Kibou Taiko performed before the game with the help of OCJAA. Members of the Tokushima Kenjin Kai joined with their Awa Dance performance.

The first pitch was done by 2022 Nisei Queen, Kristine Yada who represented the Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council.

Tokuji Yoshihashi who served in the Japanese American Combat Team during WWII and turned 100 years old was also introduced during the game.
The entire audience showed respect through a round of applause.

Shohei Ohtani of Angels pitched for the game hitting a pair of home runs and got his 7th victory which put his fans in a delirium. A part of the ticket profit will be donated to the
JANM.

Following that night, Saturday, July 8th was Japanese Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium.

Consul General Kenko Sone, retired horse racing jockey Corey Nakatani, and other representatives gathered at the field.

The LA Taiko Ichiza started the event with their performance.

Followed by the 2022 Nisei Queen and her court promoting this year’s Nisei Week that is happening in August at Little Tokyo.

Singer Crystal Kay sang the national anthems of both the US and Japan.

And the first pitch was done by NBA player, Rui Hachimura.

Hachimura renewed his contract with the LA Lakers just this month.

Hachimura wore the Dodgers uniform that is written “Black Samurai” and did an amazing pitch.
Manager Dave Roberts caught the ball.

The Dodgers won this game and made up for their loss at Anaheim.

Joruri Puppet Show

Tuesday, June 27th was a special Joruri Puppet Show held at Sakura Gardens, a retirement home located in Boyle Heights.

Awa Ningyo Joruri is a Tokushima-based Japanese puppetry with 400 years of rich history.
Industry individuals visited New Mexico as the Awa Puppet was housed to a museum in Santa Fe, and 2 shows were held there.

After their visit, they decided to stop by LA. The crew wanted senior members to also enjoy this traditional puppetry, and that is how their performance at Sakura Gardens became possible.

The performance started with a lecture about the Joruri puppetry and its history.
The audience learned the basics like how 3 people move 1 doll.

Then, the popular performance “The Scene of the Pilgrim’s Song,” from the play, Keisei Awa no Naruto was played.

A girl who was separated from her parents stops by a house.
The woman living there realizes that the girl is her child that she left behind, however, she cannot reveal her identity.

The narrator, the sound of the shamisen, and the doll’s delicate movements all helps portray the sorrow of the mother and daughter.

This event provided a glimpse into the depth of what Japanese traditional art has to offer.

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July 9th 2023 O.A.

Anime Expo 2023

Anime Expo LA was held for 4 days from Saturday, July 1st through Wednesday, July 4th at the LA Convention Center.

Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in North America held by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation.
This year is their 32nd time with over 350 companies and vendors, and more than 500 artists participating.

Latest news of the newest series and exclusive goods were available.
Fans dressed in their favorite characters and went on a scavenger hunt to find that one special item they were looking for.

Booths promoting Japanese culture were also there.

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) participated for the first time selling goods and food unrelated to anime.
Customers made purchases via the Japan Store Amazon shop.
JETRO showcased the appeal of various aspects of Japanese culture beyond anime.

Special guests from all over the world attend every year.
This year, all eyes were on illustrator Yoshitaka Amano.

Amano started his career as a character designer.
He later became an illustrator and worked on many projects.
He is most known for designing the characters of “Final Fantasy” series, a popular game and has fans all over the world.

2 projects were announced at the panel discussion that Amano attended.
First one is a Greek mythology themed grand-scale artwork larger than 100 meters in size.
The entire process will be shown as a documentary.
The second project is the production of his animation movie, “ZAN”.

This movie is based on Amano’s “DEVA ZAN” which consists of more than 300 pieces that he made.
ZAN is a samurai spending his day in endless warfare.
One day, he is guided into another world by a mysterious girl and fights in a battle of light and dark as he searches for who he really is.
The illustrations were made into an artbook and sold in the US in 2013.

“Greek Mythology Project” will be released 2024 onward and “ZAN” will be released in 2025 onward.

Musician YOSHIKI attended the panel as a surprise guest.
This was made possible because Amano worked on the artwork for YOSHIKI’s newest song and surprised everyone who was there.

The four day event sold out every day, and more than 100,000 people attended this year’s Anime Expo.

Sakura Gardens’ Annual Residents Picnic

Friday, June 2nd was the Sakura Gardens’ Annual Residents Picnic, an event of a retirement home in Boyle Heights.

This is an annual event held for the residents of Sakura Gardens.
Staff and volunteers work together so residents can enjoy a picnic-like atmosphere.

There was entertainment on stage after lunch. It started with a group of residents performing their ukulele.

Then, Kotobuki no kai Minyo Group performed their Japanese dance.

Lastly, everyone exercised along with the radio calisthenics.

The event ended with the annual raffle, and 100 residents had a great time.

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June 25th 2023 O.A.

Koreisha Senior Care & Advocacy Bazaar

Sunday, May 24th was the fundraising bazaar for Koreisha Senior Care & Advocacy (KSCA) in Pasadena.

KSCA is a nonprofit organization with a mission of reintegrating the iconic Japanese American senior facility to the community.
40 organizations and businesses including the Southern California Gardeners Federation, Southern California Japanese American Medical Association, and Japanese Prefectural Associations participated in the event.

Members of each organization brought sundries, ceramics, electronics, and clothes that are looking for the next owner.
Community members that came to the event all took their time and looked for that special find.

KSCA was formed in response to the sale of a Japanese American senior facility by Keiro in 2016.

The organization aims at the reintegration of the service that provided care based on Japanese values, and also aims to establish a daycare center along with their ultimate goal.

A documentary of the organization was played at the event along with a tea ceremony demonstration. About 400 people came to the event and $11,000 were donated for the cause.

KSCA will continue to hold events so we can all understand the challenges Japanese American seniors are facing as a community.

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June 11th 2023 O.A.

Little Tokyo Sparkle!

Saturday, May 20th was the “Little Tokyo Sparkle! Nancy Kikuchi Volunteer Day” at Little Tokyo.

Cleaning the streets of Little Tokyo started in the 1990s by the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association.
Steve Nagano, a Little Tokyo resident took the post as the organizer in 2016.
He has dedicated his time to volunteering for the Japanese American community and spreading the activity of Little Tokyo Sparkle! Nancy Kikuchi Volunteer Day to honor the late Nancy Kikuchi’s achievement.

This is the 6th time for “Little Tokyo Sparkle” after coming back from the pandemic.
Volunteers from local businesses and organizations participated and gathered at the JACCC Plaza.

Volunteers were divided into 12 groups to pick up trash, scrape off gum, erase graffiti, and remove stickers.

After cleaning, participants were provided with sandwiches, onigiri, snacks, drinks, and other items from sponsors.There was also a raffle to thank everyone’s hard work.

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May 28th 2023 O.A.

LALALA Matsuri with Ramen Yokocho

Saturday, May 14th was the “LALALA Matsuri with Ramen Yokocho” celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Japanese free magazine/newspaper, Weekly LALALA.

Weekly LALALA is a free magazine that was established in 2003.
It introduces LA gourmet and entertainment as well as news information. May 14th was the day that they printed their 1,000th volume of the magazine.
Throughout the years, they have hosted many talking, concert, and food events as well.

Long lines were formed at the venue.
60 different booths participated from food, liquor, goods, games, and businesses.

At the area that was called “Ramen Yokocho”, 12 different ramen shops not only from LA but also from OC, Las Vegas, and even Japan served their noodles.
Special menu exclusive to this event were served and became one of the main attraction.

Various performances were done on stage and liven up the entire day.
After the Pom Pom Girls, a cheerleading group based in Torrance performed, their members that range from kindergarten to 8th grade gave flowers to their mothers as a Mother’s Day gift.

“Crossing Rain”, a musical group from Hawaii and “Chiken Blow The Idol”, a Japanese idol group also performed and met with their fans afterwards.

Terry Ito, a Japanese commentator who has his own column on Weekly LALALA also came from Japan to participate in this event, and the audience enjoyed listening to him talk.

Singer, Kenichi Mikawa also participated as guest.
He performed a total of 7 songs. 6 of his iconic songs including the famous “Sasoriza no Onna” and 1 chanson number which is his lifework.

Mikawa will celebrate his 60th year as a singer himself next year.

About 10 thousand people came to the event and celebrated LALALA’s 20th anniversary in a festive mood.

JFC Sake Expo

Saturday, May 13th was the JFC Sake Expo in Costa Mesa.

It is an event held by JFC International, an Asian food and beverage supplier.
The event is held aiming to expand the Japanese food market in North America.
It was an annual event where it introduced Japanese foods and sake to food businesses however, this is the first time in 3 years due to the impact of COVID.
The main focus was sake this time.

29 Japanese breweries, 6 American breweries, and 6 Japanese food manufacturers participated and promoted their products to businesses with liquor lisence that were invited to the event.

The same event was held in Hollywood on May 15th. A total of 500 food industry related individuals attended and deepened their knowledge in Japanese sake.

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May 14th 2023 O.A.

Sakura Gardens Sushi Day

Saturday, April 22nd was Sushi Day for the senior living community residents at Sakura Gardens in Boyle Heights with the help of the Japanese Restaurant Association (JRA).

JRA is a nonprofit organization with its members being Japanese restaurant individuals and food companies.

“Sushi Day” was held since Sakura Gardens used to be Keiro Retirement Home, making this the 21st time.

25 volunteers came from JRA, and sushi chefs of “Sushi Katsu-Ya” and “Sushi Gen” made 120 servings worth of sushi.

Then, the plates were served to each table by the JRA staff, chefs, and volunteers of Sakura Gardens.

The volunteers were introduced after the meal, and a plaque was given to JRA from Sakura Gardens. Potted flowers were sent to the residents from the participating restaurants: “Kagura”, “Sushi Katsu-Ya”, “Sushi Gen”, “Shin- Sen-Gumi”and “Ise-Shima”.

Nikkei Formal

Saturday, April 22nd was the graduation event “Nikkei Formal” held by the Southern California Intercollegiate Nikkei Council (INC) at Little Tokyo’s Terasaki Budokan.

INC is an organization formed by the Nikkei Student Union.
Japanese American student groups of 12 colleges are currently signed up as members.

They hold many events throughout the year and focus on networking students with one another, as well as providing opportunities for students and the Japanese American community to communicate with each other.
“Nikkei Formal” is held at the end of each school year, and this is the last year for Nicholas Kikuta of UC Santa Barbra as the president
since he is also graduating.

It was announced at the event that Asumi Shuda of UC Santa Barbra and Kalyn Wong of UCLA will be co-presidents starting next academic year.

Followed by the INC Showcase by the representatives of the 12 colleges.

Different performances like dance, singing, and fast mental math livened up the venue.

Lastly was the dance party with a DJ. Students from different colleges congratulated each other for their accomplishments.

Club Genki

Wednesday, May 3rd was the grand opening of “Club Genki”, a Senior Adult Day Program inside the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC).

“Club Genki” is an ESGVJCC and Keiro partnered senior adult day program for Japanese American older adults, and is a daycare center that is formally approved by the state of California.

ESGVJCC Board President, Tim Itatani and Keiro President & CEO, Beverly Ito stated their greetings at the opening ceremony.

“Club Genki” is a paid service and is open on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm.
It is run by professional staff, and seniors can enjoy various activities as well as have daily meals and snacks served to
them at the lounge.

For more information about “Club Genki”, please visit the ESGVJCC website.

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April 23rd 2023 O.A.

Symbiosis: Living Island

“Symbiosis: Living Island” an exhibition focusing on art and nature living together with the community is now happening at JAPAN HOUSE LA.

It is an exhibition introducing the art project held by one of Japan’s publishing and education companies, Benesse.
It is called the “Inujima Art House Project” which launched in one of the isolated islands of the Seto Inland Sea.

The “Art House Project” is a project where abandoned houses and buildings of Inujima transform into galleries and become one big
piece of art by itself.

At the exhibition, the nature and houses of Inujima are recreated, and guests can learn which art pieces are placed in which area of the island.

At the entrance, there is a replica of an art piece created by a Brazilian artist that is placed in the center of the island.

The term “Symbiosis” used in the title of this exhibition refers to multiple organisms living together.

We cannot forget the subtheme “Living Island”.

“Symbiosis: Living Island” will be held at JAPAN HOUSE LA until July 5th. For more information, please visit the JAPAN HOUSE website.

“Bunka-sai Japanese Cultural Festival

“Symbiosis: Living Island” will be held at JAPAN HOUSE LA until July 5th. For more information, please visit the JAPAN HOUSE website.

This was held by The Torrance Sister City Association celebrating their relationship with Kashiwa City in Chiba Prefecture.

Torrance and Kashiwa City are celebrating their 50th anniversary of friendship, and delegates from Kashiwa City visited Torrance earlier this year. Both cities offer cultural exchange programs for high school students and this event is a fundraiser for the program.

At the event, The Torrance Sister City Association offered food booths and served foods like yakisoba, curry, and chicken.

A tea ceremony demonstration and a musical performance using the koto instrument were done on the stage.

At the hall, crafts like “Oshie” padded cloth pictures were available and flower arrangement demonstrations were also held with bonsai and flowers being displayed.
Families were able to experience origami and Japanese calligraphy at workshops. Kids also enjoyed entertainment like picture-show storytelling.

About 20 vendors lined up for the bazaar. Guests were able to have close look at Japanese clothes and merchandises and it was an event where adults and kids had a lot of fun learning about Japanese culture.

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