December 1 - Japanese Tea Ceremony in Little Tokyo Come join Ms. Hagiko Kusunoki of the Ogasawara-ryu Sencha School for a demonstration of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The event will be held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Meeting Room of the Little Tokyo Branch Library. The Japanese tea ceremony (cha-no-yu, chado, or sado) is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha, is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting. The ceremony is a quiet interlude during which host and guests strive for spiritual refreshment and harmony with the universe. For more information call Librarian Justin Sugiyama at (213) 612-0525 or email him at jsugiyama@lapl.org. The Little Tokyo Branch Library is located at 203 S. Los Angeles Street.
December 1-2 - 28th Annual Japan Expo The 28th Japan Expo will be held on December 1 and 2 at the Los Angles Convention Center. Billed as the largest US-Japan event, Japan Expo annually offers a wide-range of Japanese traditional culture presentations and performance, Japanese cuisine, handicrafts, and various regional products. It also features Japan’s latest technology, such as game software, comics and high-efficiency products. This year’s theme is “Japanese Aesthetics and Arts.” Los Angeles Convention Center South Hall/K Hall is at 1201 South Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. $12 General Admission. Free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. Advance tickets purchased online are $10.00. For more information and tickets, please call (213) 617-0868 or visit japanexpo.org.
December 15 - Hiroshima’s 6th Annual “Spirit of the Season” Concert Celebrate the holiday season with Jazz giants Hiroshima as they perform their annual holiday concert at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo on Saturday, December 15 from 7:30 pm. The (nearly acoustic) concert features cuts from “Little Tokyo” the latest Hiroshima CD – their 16th - and their critically acclaimed “Spirit of the Season” and “Obon” CD’s, all on Heads Up International Records. Special guest artists will join the band to make this annual concert a special treat for the community. The artists will be available to autograph CD’s after the concert. For more information visit Hiroshima’s website: hiroshimamusic.com. Aratani/Japan America Theatre is at 244 South San Pedro Street. $35 orchestra, $30 balcony, $27 JACCC Members, Groups (10+), Seniors & Students.
December 27 - Little Tokyo Walking Tour Little Tokyo was once a thriving residential, business, and cultural center of one of the largest Japanese American community in the U.S. until World War II. On Saturday, December 27, relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo with National Museum docents on this historic walking tour. Reservations, along with comfortable clothes and walking shoes are recommended. The fee is $8 for National Museum members and $13 for non-members, which includes Museum admission. Weather permitting, meet at the National Museum on First and Central a 10:15 a.m. The tour concludes at 12:15 p.m. (213) 625-0414.
January 1 - New Year’s in Little Tokyo New Year’s Day festivities to kick off The Year of the Rat will take place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Weller Court in Little Tokyo. Vendors will be on hand selling Japanese festival foods, as well as New Year’s delights such as amazake (sweet sake) and zenzai (soup made from azuki beans); mochi will also be pounded, baked and distributed courtesy of Mikawa-ya and Fugetsu-do confectioners. A range of entertainment will take place in Weller Court, including martial arts demonstrations, taiko drummers, and geta tap dancers. Meanwhile, at the adjacent New Otani Hotel and Garden, try dishes such as abekawa mochi (sweet mochi dish) and zoni (soup with mochi) as you sip your sake. Tea ceremony, flower arrangement, origami, and other cultural demonstrations will also take place on the hotel’s second floor. Over the last couple of years, New year’s in Little Tokyo has attracted over 10,000 visitors.
January 6 - 10th Annual Shikishi Exhibition
Express your hopes and dreams for 2008 on Sunday, January 7th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm when participants of all ages, professions, and interests, are invited to design a Japanese Shikishi (New Year’s greeting card). Admission is free and all submitted works are exhibited. Past participants include the former Prime Minister of Japan, Toshiki Kaifu and Judo Olympic Gold Medalist, Ryoko Tani. This year’s exhibit will feature art work based on this year’s theme Hatsu Mukashi (“First–Long Ago”) as well as references to the Year of the Rat, the animal which sits atop the 12-year Lunar Calendar cycle. The event will be held at the George J. Doizaki Gallery on the first floor of the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center in Little Tokyo. Free Admission. The George J. Doizaki Gallery hours are: Tuesday – Friday 12noon to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday 11am to 4pm. Closed Mondays and holidays.
December 1 - Japanese Tea Ceremony in Little Tokyo
Come join Ms. Hagiko Kusunoki of the Ogasawara-ryu Sencha School for a demonstration of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The event will be held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Meeting Room of the Little Tokyo Branch Library. The Japanese tea ceremony (cha-no-yu, chado, or sado) is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha, is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting. The ceremony is a quiet interlude during which host and guests strive for spiritual refreshment and harmony with the universe. For more information call Librarian Justin Sugiyama at (213) 612-0525 or email him at jsugiyama@lapl.org. The Little Tokyo Branch Library is located at 203 S. Los Angeles Street.
The 28th Japan Expo will be held on December 1 and 2 at the Los Angles Convention Center. Billed as the largest US-Japan event, Japan Expo annually offers a wide-range of Japanese traditional culture presentations and performance, Japanese cuisine, handicrafts, and various regional products. It also features Japan’s latest technology, such as game software, comics and high-efficiency products. This year’s theme is “Japanese Aesthetics and Arts.” Los Angeles Convention Center South Hall/K Hall is at 1201 South Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. $12 General Admission. Free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. Advance tickets purchased online are $10.00. For more information and tickets, please call (213) 617-0868 or visit japanexpo.org.
Celebrate the holiday season with Jazz giants Hiroshima as they perform their annual holiday concert at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo on Saturday, December 15 from 7:30 pm. The (nearly acoustic) concert features cuts from “Little Tokyo” the latest Hiroshima CD – their 16th - and their critically acclaimed “Spirit of the Season” and “Obon” CD’s, all on Heads Up International Records. Special guest artists will join the band to make this annual concert a special treat for the community. The artists will be available to autograph CD’s after the concert. For more information visit Hiroshima’s website: hiroshimamusic.com. Aratani/Japan America Theatre is at 244 South San Pedro Street. $35 orchestra, $30 balcony, $27 JACCC Members, Groups (10+), Seniors & Students.
Little Tokyo was once a thriving residential, business, and cultural center of one of the largest Japanese American community in the U.S. until World War II. On Saturday, December 27, relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo with National Museum docents on this historic walking tour. Reservations, along with comfortable clothes and walking shoes are recommended. The fee is $8 for National Museum members and $13 for non-members, which includes Museum admission. Weather permitting, meet at the National Museum on First and Central a 10:15 a.m. The tour concludes at 12:15 p.m. (213) 625-0414.
New Year’s Day festivities to kick off The Year of the Rat will take place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Weller Court in Little Tokyo. Vendors will be on hand selling Japanese festival foods, as well as New Year’s delights such as amazake (sweet sake) and zenzai (soup made from azuki beans); mochi will also be pounded, baked and distributed courtesy of Mikawa-ya and Fugetsu-do confectioners. A range of entertainment will take place in Weller Court, including martial arts demonstrations, taiko drummers, and geta tap dancers. Meanwhile, at the adjacent New Otani Hotel and Garden, try dishes such as abekawa mochi (sweet mochi dish) and zoni (soup with mochi) as you sip your sake. Tea ceremony, flower arrangement, origami, and other cultural demonstrations will also take place on the hotel’s second floor. Over the last couple of years, New year’s in Little Tokyo has attracted over 10,000 visitors.
xpress your hopes and dreams for 2008 on Sunday, January 7th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm when participants of all ages, professions, and interests, are invited to design a Japanese Shikishi (New Year’s greeting card). Admission is free and all submitted works are exhibited. Past participants include the former Prime Minister of Japan, Toshiki Kaifu and Judo Olympic Gold Medalist, Ryoko Tani. This year’s exhibit will feature art work based on this year’s theme Hatsu Mukashi (“First–Long Ago”) as well as references to the Year of the Rat, the animal which sits atop the 12-year Lunar Calendar cycle. The event will be held at the George J. Doizaki Gallery on the first floor of the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center in Little Tokyo. Free Admission. The George J. Doizaki Gallery hours are: Tuesday – Friday 12noon to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday 11am to 4pm. Closed Mondays and holidays.