Nisei Week Japanese Festival | Los Angeles

Press Release

For immediate release

For more information:
Diane Tanaka
310-962-2698

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2008 NISEI WEEK FESTIVAL BABY PAGEANT TO BE HELD JULY 26, 2008

"Fun Under the Sun" at the JACCC Plaza - All Participants Ages 1 - 6 to Receive Toyo Miyatake Photo, Fingerprinting ID, Goodie Bag, Crafts and More!
(Los Angeles - June 27, 2008) - The Nisei Week Foundation is excited to announce the 2008 Baby Pageant will be held on Saturday, July 26. Children 1 year to 6 years of age are encouraged to enter this great family event in one of three categories: Tiny Tots - 1 year to 23 months old (check-in 9 a.m/10 a.m. judging); Romper Stompers - 2 to 3 years old (check-in 11 a.m./12 p.m. judging); and Jet Setters - 4 to 6 and 1 month years old (check-in 1 p.m./2 p.m. judging). Price is $55 per pre-entry with walk-in fee at $ 65. A special Most Photogenic Contest is also taking place for an additional $ 30 entry fee. Photos must be submitted with application and must be picked up at the end of the Baby Pageant. All entrants must be of at least one-quarter Japanese ancestry. Applications are due by July 18.

"Once again we're hosting the Baby Pageant under a big and cool tent at the JACCC Plaza, and we invite everyone with little ones to come join us for some fun under the sun," said Rodney Kageyama, co-chair, 2008 Nisei Week Baby Pageant. "We'll have arts and crafts, popcorn, shaved ice and much more."

The prince and princess of each division will receive a crown, trophy, sash and special prizes. They will also participate in various official 2008 Nisei Week events, including the Nisei Week Parade to be held on Sunday, August 17 at 5 p.m. All participants will receive 4x5 color photo by Toyo Miyatake, goodie bags filled with wonderful gifts, finger printing & ID photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Police Department, and a personalized certificate of participation.

The Japanese American Community & Cultural Center Plaza is located at 244 S. San Pedro Street in Little Tokyo. For information and application, please go to www.NiseiWeek.org or call John "JT" Tamaki (co-chair) at 323-394-5106 or email jctamaki@aol.com.

The 2008 Nisei Week Japanese Festival takes place in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo District from August 16-24. For calendar of events and volunteer information on the 68h Nisei Week Festival, please log onto www.niseiweek.org or call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213/687-7193. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, Calif., 90012.

The Nisei Week Festival, one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the U.S., has been attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year since its inception in 1934 (except during WWII from 1942 - 1948) to Little Tokyo to enjoy a Japanese American arts and cultural experience, and this year Nisei Week organizers - who are all volunteers - hope to draw even more to the community. The festival is produced by the Nisei Week Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission is to promote Japanese and Japanese American heritage and traditions while bringing together the diverse communities of Southern California through arts and cultural education.

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