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 April 5 & 6
7th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival
Come celebrate the 7th annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 in Little Tokyo. The festivities will take place from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Festival has moved to the streets of Little Tokyo from its former location in Pasadena and it promises to be a great way to welcome the spring to Southern California. Enjoy the Runway Fashion Show and a day filled with entertainment, martial arts, and food and craft vendors. Visit the Japanese Village, Hawaiian Village, Health and Fitness Expo, and Family Fun Area. The Cherry Blossom Festival attracted over 16,000 attendees last year and was named as the #1 pick in “Five Worth the Drive” in the Auto Club’s Westways Magazine. For more information visit cherryblossomfestivalsocal.org or call (626) 683-8243. Free Admission. JACCC Plaza and San Pedro Street (between 2nd & 3rd Streets).
  April 11-21
Japan Film Festival
The Japan Film Festival will be held April 11-17 at The ImaginAsian Center in Downtown Los Angeles near Little Tokyo, and April 18-21 at Starplex Cinemas in Irvine. Since its inception in 2003, the Japan Film Festival has been a vanguard event dedicated to strengthening the general understanding of Japanese culture by providing American and Japanese audiences in Los Angeles cutting-edge, original films depicting authentic representations of contemporary Japan. This year’s screenings include Hula Girls, Train Man, Faces of a Fig Tree, and Sumo Hot Pot – and many more. The ImaginAsian Center is at 251 S. Main Street – Telephone: (213) 617-1033. Starplex Cinemas is at 4626 Barranca Parkway – Telephone: (949) 733-3795. For more information visit jffla.org.
 April 12
Yukiko Matsuyama Koto Concert @ Sozenji Temple
The koto is a 13-string zypher or harp and is Japan’s national instrument. Yukiko Matsuyama, an amazing koto artist from Osaka, and will perform on Saturday, April 12 at the Sozenji Buddhist Temple in Montebello. The theme of the performance is “Spring Rain,” and it is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm. Matsuyama was classically trained in the Ikuta School of Koto from age 9 and received her professional certification teaching credential in 1986. She came to Los Angeles in 1993 and began composing original music, blending the traditional sound of the koto and contemporary music. The results are a unique combination of jazz, new age, and world music. The concert also features Reverend Tom Kurai on Taiko, John York on Guitar & Vocal, Diana Dentino on Keyboard, Gary St. Germain on Drums, and Mike Penny on Shamisen. Tickets are $20 at the door or $18 in advance – call (562) 547-5005. Sozenji Buddhist Temple is located at 3020 Beverly Boulevard in Montebello near the corner of Beverly and Garfield.
  April 20
Live Sushi Competition in Little Tokyo
SushiMasters will come to the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo on Sunday, April 20 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Featuring the best sushi chefs from throughout California, SushiMasters brings together the traditional art of sushi making and the modern innovations that continue to inspire a new generation of sushi chefs. The event highlights the spectacular impact of sushi cuisine as its flavors emerge in mainstream dining. It features sushi sampling, sake tasting, and the main event - the live sushi making competition. SushiMasters celebrates sushi as part of our modern dining experience. Come learn about the history of sushi in the U.S., the businessmen and chefs who opened the first restaurants, and the finer points of eating sushi. The Aratani/Japan America Theatre is at 244 S. San Pedro Street. Tickets: $75 reserved seating, $65 general (all tickets include free sampling & tasting following the competition in the JACCC plaza). Charge by phone: 213-380-3700 (Monday-Friday, 12-5pm) or visit sushimasters.com.
April 26-27
Torrance Bunka-sai
The Torrance Sister City Association presents a Japanese Cultural Festival (Bunka-sai) on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, at the Ken Miller Recreation Center in the very city where Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan was born. To honor the traditions and culture of Japan, there will be dance and music performances, martial arts and calligraphy demonstrations, tea ceremonies, as well as food, painting, and craft exhibits. In case you’ve forgotten: Torrance’s sister city is Kashiwa (population 384,000) in Chiba Prefecture. Located one hour by train from central Tokyo, Kashiwa has seen rapid growth and has drawn attention as one of the ideal residential suburbs of Tokyo. The Ken Miller Recreation Center is at 3031 Torrance Boulevard (northeast corner of Torrance and Madrona). For info, contact Helen Tanaguchi at (310) 328-1238. Admission and parking are free.
  April 27
“For Our Children Food and Wine Festival” in Torrance
The Little Company of Mary Community Health Foundation and the volunteer organization, Sandpipers, will host the 23rd annual “For Our Children Food and Wine Festival” presented by American Honda, on Sunday, April 27. The event will take place at American Honda headquarters in Torrance. Proceeds from this event benefit Little Company of Mary’s Partners for Healthy Kids and Sandpipers philanthropic programs. Guests will feast on fabulous food specialties, sip fine wines and sample unique beers of all kinds. Come prepared to enjoy the best that California has to offer with over 100 of the finest restaurants, wineries and breweries represented. The spectacular silent and live auctions feature unique gift items, sports tickets and memorabilia, golf getaways, dining, entertainment, spa certificates and exciting travel packages. The Festival begins at 1:30pm and the Live Auction commences at 4:00 pm. Ticket prices are $150 presale and at the door $175. For event information and tickets, please visit sandpipers.org or contact the For Our Children events line at (310) 374-1748, extension 6.
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