Nisei Week Japanese Festival | Los Angeles

Press Release

For immediate release

For more information:
Diane Tanaka
310-962-2698

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68th ANNUAL NISEI WEEK JAPANESE FESTIVAL STREET FAIRE, CAR SHOW, EXHIBITS AND MORE!

Looking For Something To Do This Summer - Enjoy The Nisei Week Festival August 16-24

(Los Angeles - July 13, 2008) - During August 16 - 24 spend the weekend in Little Tokyo and enjoy the 2008 Nisei Week Japanese Festival. A yearly summer event put on by the Nisei Week Foundation, the Nisei Week Festival offers Japanese cultural activities and exhibits, entertainment, food and games for everyone. What's even better -- many of the cultural exhibits, demonstrations and other activities are free.

Taking place on August 16 (11 a.m - 7 p.m.) and August 17 (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.) is the revival of the Nisei Week Street Faire to be held on San Pedro Street between 2nd and 3rd streets. The Street Faire will have Japanese and American "carnival" games, arts and crafts for children, merchandise vendors, and food booths such as Hawaiian shaved ice, teriyaki, and more. In addition, local artists Mele Ohana Ukulele Group, DJ Paris, Avyd's Fuse, Faith Saxophone Trio, among others, will perform.

Additionally, both weekends (August 16-17 and 23-24) feature various traditional and contemporary cultural exhibitions at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) and Higashi Hongwanji Temple. Exhibits include ikebana (flower arrangement), sumie (brush painting), kimekomi ningyo (doll making), tea ceremony, shodo (calligraphy), bonsai, family crest and ancestral history, ceramics, and photography.

The 9th Annual Nisei Week "Showoff" Car Show will be held on August 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 100 Alameda Street, where top-notch show cars come out to compete and show for cash prizes and trophies. Admission is $12 at the door ($10 with flyer - www.showoffcafe.com). August 16 will also feature a sumo demonstration from 1 - 2 p.m. and a martial arts demonstration from 12 - 1 p.m. on August 16-17, with an encore martial arts demo from 2:30 p.m. on August 17. Both are free at the JACCC. Also on Sunday August 17, is the Grand Parade starting at 5 p.m. This year's parade will feature a unique Okinawan sail boat, or Bunji yacht.

On August 23 from 6 - 10 p.m., come to the free "New Generation Remix" a mix of taiko, music, and dance entertainment on the JACCC Plaza. August 23 will also feature the Gyoza Eating Championship, where folks will challenge their appetites on the JACCC plaza. Free and at the JACCC, the popular Taiko Gathering will be held on Sunday, August 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring some of Southern California's best taiko performance groups. Returning to Weller Court, a traditional-style Japanese Matsuri sponsored by the Japanese Student Network with food, booths, games and music will also be held on August 24.

To close another year of Nisei Week, the Ondo street dancing will be held on Sunday, August 24 at 4 p.m. on 1st Street between Central Avenue and San Pedro Street. The free event is fun and the public is encouraged to join in the Japanese street dancing.

Nisei Week activities will be held in various locations throughout Little Tokyo, including Weller Court at 123 S. Onizuka Street (2nd and San Pedro streets), the Japanese American Community & Cultural Center (JACCC) at 244 S. San Pedro Street, and Higashi Hongwanji Temple at 505 E. 3rd Street. Come enjoy and share the experience of this annual Japanese American cultural even and tradition. For further information go to www.niseiweek.org or call 213-687-7193.

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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