by Louis Kreslie
 Shojo Manga: Girl Power! Blending ink and storytelling, the Manga (Japanese comics) can simultaneously be viewed as entertainment and art, as well as reflective study in pop culture. “Shojo Manga: Girl Power!” is an exhibition which runs from Saturday, August 18 to Sunday, August 26, 2007 at The George J. Doizaki Gallery in Little Tokyo. It focuses on Manga published specifically for Shojo (young girls) and features a variety of posters, prints and books spanning over 50 years of art and style. The exhibit features the work of 23 renowned Shojo Manga creators and more than 200 works from World War II to present. Masami Toku, curator of the exhibit and professor at California State University, Chico, will give an in-depth talk on the fascinating history of Shojo Manga on Saturday, August 18 from 2 p.m. Admission Free. Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 12 noon to 5:00 pm. Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed Mondays & Holidays. 244 South San Pedro Street. Info: Gavin Kelley at (213) 628-2725 ext. 133 or kelley@jaccc.org.2007 LA Tofu Festival The popular LA Tofu Festival with over 40 food vendors returns to Little Tokyo for its 12th consecutive year on Saturday, August 18 from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and on Sunday, August 19 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The event improbably takes place at Joe’s Parking Lot at Second and San Pedro. Beer, wine and sake tasting and tofu eating contests are only a small part of what’s on tap (The tofu eating contests will be sponsored by Asian sauce producer Lee Kum Kee). There will also be health screenings, health information booths, and a children’s pavilion with games and special activities. But the big attraction is the tofu and all the culinary delights. General admission tickets are $8; seniors and children (5-12) are $5; children under 5 are free. All proceeds benefit the Little Tokyo Service Center, a nonprofit community-based organization. www.tofufestival.com Landscaping Exhibit at JANM. The exhibit, “Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden,” will be on display through October 21 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. Landscaping America reveals the personal stories, historical journeys, creativity, and community processes that underlie the surface of the “Japanese garden.” This multimedia exhibition highlights how West Coast Japanese Americans drew upon their agricultural and ethnic backgrounds to carve out a viable vocational niche in gardening, and in the process, reinterpreted Japanese garden traditions, offered alternative approaches to working with nature, and contributed to the diversity of the American landscape. The Japanese American National Museum is at 369 East First Street, Los Angeles. $8 JANM Museum members; $13 Non-members. For more information, please call (213) 625-0414, or visit janm.org.The Religious Arts of Japan The exhibit, “The Religious Arts of Japan,” will be on display at Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena through October 31. It will features an introduction to two major religions, Shinto and Buddhism, that have existed harmoniously in Japan for centuries, playing complementary roles in its culture and giving rise to a rich variety of art forms. The exhibit includes some of the finest art works in the Pacific Asia Museum collection, many of which are being exhibited for the first time. Pacific Asia Museum is at 46 North Los Robles Avenue and is open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Museum admission: $7 Adults, $5 Seniors & Students. For more information, call (626) 449-2742, or visit pacificasiamuseum.org. Japan America Kite Festival The Japan America Society presents the 11th Annual Japan America Kite Festival on Sunday, September 16 from 10:00 a.m. to sunset. The festival takes place at the Seal Beach Pier in Seal Beach. In just five years, the festival has grown to be the second largest kite festival in California. It attracts over 5,000 people of all ages and has developed an international reputation as the “most family-friendly kiting event in the world.” Join the fun and enjoy Japanese and international kites of all sizes, shapes, and colors. There will also be Japanese food booths, taiko drum performances, raffle prizes, kite flying demonstrations, and much more. Admission is free. The Seal Beach Pier is at Main Street and Ocean Avenue. kiteclub.org The Sushi Economy by Sasha Issenberg On Saturday, September 15, author Sasha Issenberg will speak about her book, The Sushi Economy, at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. The talk will take place from 2-4 pm. Over a generation, sushi in the United States has gone from the unknown to ubiquitous, but even aficionados will be surprised at the true history and complex economics behind the business of sushi. The Sushi Economy jumps from Mediterranean docks to the multimillion-dollar tuna auctions of Japanese fish markets, and from the shopping streets of Shanghai to the cargo holds of intercontinental jumbo jets -- all while making a surprising case against eating local. A sushi tasting and book signing will follow. Free with Museum admission. The book will be available from the Museum’s online store in September. (213) 625-0414, or janm.org.28th Annual Photo ExhibitionThe US 101 Photo Club will hold an exhibition at the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo. The 2006 Nisei Queen and Court Portrait, Nikkei Pioneer Award Winner Portrait and other photographs will be exhibited. Saturday, August 25, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, August 26, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at 505 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information, call (626) 292-7734. 9th Annual Japan Culture FairThis year, the Japan Culture Fair celebrates the ninth time that it is being held and will take place on Sunday, August 26th from 1:00 to 4:30 pm at the Woodbridge Village Shopping Center. This year, again, there will be taiko drum performances and tea ceremony demonstrations and the like, presenting various aspects of Japanese culture. Very well received last time was a raffle for wonderful prizes and that will also be conducted again. Admission is free. For more information, contact the Orange County Japanese American Association at (714) 283-3551 or Irvine Yamaha Music Center at (949) 559-5440. Back Issues: Tidbits July • June • May • April • March • |