2024 JANM Annual Natsumatsuri Family Festival Event Summer Celebration (Performers, Hula, Tea Ceremony, Taiko, Crafts, Origami..) Nisei Week EventNEW

Natsumatsuri Family Festival, an annual summer celebration featuring free cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages!  Held during Nisei Week at JANM in Little Tokyo, Japantown.

Date
August 10, 2024, Saturday

Time
11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Entry Costs
Free all day

Save the date for our annual summer celebration featuring free cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages!

Plus, free admission all day to see all of our exhibitions Giant Robot Biennale 5, J. T. Sata: Immigrant Modernist, The Interactive StoryFile of Lawson Iichiro Sakai, and Common Ground: The Heart of Community.

Special perks are available for JANM Members! Check in when you arrive to get a Member sticker and take advantage of all the benefits including a Members-only check in line and a chance to win prizes!

Can’t join us in person? We’ll post select performances and activities on our YouTube channel throughout the day!

ACTIVITIES

Photo Booth
Grab fun props from Cre8tive Outlets and take a souvenir photo with friends and family. Express lane for Members!

Los Angeles Public Library
Sign up for a library card and enjoy fun crafts perfect for kids!

Ruthies's Origami Corner
Learn to fold a jumping frog or a paper lantern-a colorful festival decoration! Named in honor of JANM Volunteer Ruthie Kitagawa (1937-2020).

Fan Craft
Keep cool and decorate your own paper plate hand fan!

Sketchbook Craft
Inspired by Felicia Chiao’s sketchbooks, decorate a sketchbook and document your summer adventures!

Scavener Hunt
Explore J. T. Sata: Immigrant Modernist with a scavenger hunt and win a special prize! Members receive two chances to win!

Book Sale
Purchase secondhand books to benefit JANM’s Collections Management and Access!


SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, AUG 10, 2024

11:15 am - 11:45 am Performance by Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko
Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko will kick off the festival with an Eisa (traditional Okinawan obon festival drum dancing) Reserved seating for Members!

11:45 am - 12:30 pm Obon Lecture and Community Dance
Lecture by Rev. Briones, Bon odori (traditional dance) led by Elaine Fukumoto

12:45 pm - 1:15 pm Sachiko Goes Racing Book Reading
Reading by author and former pro race car driver Nadine Sachiko Hsu. Second reading at 3:15 pm

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Los Angeles Public Library Storytime
Fun storytime session. Reserved seating for Members!

2:15 pm - 2:45 pm Giant Robot Workshop with Giorgiko
Drawing workshop with artists Darren and Trisha Inouye (Giorgiko)

2:45 pm - 3:15 pm Cold Tofu Improv and Comedy Group
Improv and sketch comedy based on audience suggestions. Reserved seating for Members!

3:15 pm - 3:45 pm Sachiko Goes Racing Book Reading
Reading by author and former pro race car driver Nadine Sachiko Hsu

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Taiko Workshop
Basic taiko drumming lesson with JANM volunteer Hal Keimi

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Performance by East LA Taiko
Eclectic blend of world rhythm with Latin-rock-punk taiko beats. Reserved seating for Members! 

See Nisei Week Festival Events: See Nisei Week Tips Page 
Natsumatsuri is held in conjunction with Nisei Week Festival, Little Tokyo's biggest annual event. Make your plans early!

About the Japanese American National Museum (JANM)
Established in 1985, JANM promotes understanding and appreciation of america’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese american experience. Located in the historic Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, JANM is a hybrid institution that straddles traditional museum categories and strives to provide a voice for Japanese americans as well as a forum that enables all people to explore their own heritage and culture. Since opening to the public in 1992, JANM has presented over 70 exhibitions onsite while traveling 17 exhibits to venues such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Ellis Island Museum in the United States, and to several leading cultural museums in Japan and South america. JANM is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Thursday from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. JANM is free every third Thursday of the month. On all other Thursdays, JANM is free from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. For more information, visit janm.org or follow us on social media @jamuseum.

Event Location
Japanese american National Museum (janm.org), 100 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Event Title
JANM Annual Natsumatsuri Family Festival Event Summer Celebration (Bon Odori, Life Performers, Hula, Tea Ceremony, Taiko, Crafts, Origami..) Little Tokyo, Japantown