Little Tokyo, an ethnic district in downtown Los Angeles, was founded in the early twentieth century. Since 1995, the district has been listed by the National Register of Historic Places of the United States. Every year in August, Little Tokyo holds the Nisei Week Japanese Festival. It includes car shows, theatrical events, exhibitions of Japanese art and culture, fairs, fashion shows, and sporting events. There is also a big parade, national contests, and a carnival. The World Gyoza Eating Championship is held during the Nisei Week Japanese Festival.
Various events are held during the month, but the main highlights of the festival occur during two weekends in August. Tens of thousands of participants arrive every year representing the Southern California Japanese community, mostly to take part in the Grand Parade.
Festival Events
The festival officially begins on July 14th with a formal opening ceremony, which is closed to the general public and requires an invitation. However, starting from August 10th, you have a chance to enjoy Japanese culture in downtown Los Angeles through numerous activities. On this day from 6 pm until 8:30 pm, the Aratani Theatre will host a coronation ceremony, during which the Nisei Week Queen will receive the crown. A plethora of bonsai, ikebana and calligraphy exhibits will be displayed in the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center on August 10-11 and August 17-18, from 11 am until 4 pm.
On August 18th, the festival program is jam-packed with events, starting with the Taiko Gathering at the JACCC Plaza at 11 am. Japanese drummers will perform traditional compositions on taiko, a customary Japanese instrument. The celebration then moves on to 1st Street from 4 pm to 6:30 pm for Ondo Public Dancing and the closing ceremony.
Nisei Week Grand Parade (August 11, 2024)
The Nisei Week Grand Parade takes place on first Sunday of Nisei Week. Participants include local high school marching bands, ondo dancing groups, martial art dojos, and other colorful groups. It's quite often that Japanese and American politicians take part in the parade as well. Crowds cheer at a mikoshi shrine, floats, pageant queens, and taiko players. The parade usually lasts for several hours due to a large number of participants and its slow pace.
Parade Route & Schedule
The procession kicks off at Central Street, then continues west along 2nd Street, turns north on San Pedro Street, and finally, east on 1st Street. The event begins at about 4 pm and lasts approximately until 6 pm.
Plaza Festival (August 17-18, 2024)
At the JACCC Plaza, festival attendees can enjoy a full day of fun, while treating themselves to a glass of sake or beer and browsing the stalls from the local vendors. Organizers will also host several cultural displays, including tea ceremonies, ikebana, and more. Live music will accompany the whole event, which spans from 11 am to 4 pm.
History of the Nisei Week
Nisei Week was first held during the Great Depression, as Little Tokyo was going through tough times. Issei, the first generation of Japanese immigrants, came up with Nisei week to attract younger crowds in the district and support stagnating businesses. The word "Nisei" means "second generation" in Japanese. It refers to the audience that the festival originally tried to attract - Americans of Japanese descent. However, today, the festival attracts many diverse groups of people.
