2025: City of Torrance 50th Annual Bunka-Sai Japanese Cultural Festival (Japanese Food, Dance, Music, Calligraphy, Tea Ceremony..) (2 Days)NEW

City of Torrance 50th Annual Bunka-Sai Japanese Cultural Festival Event. This annual event features authentic demonstrations of Japanese dance, koto, and shakuhachi flute, folk singing, taiko drums, calligraphy, origami, martial arts including: kendo, judo, aikido, and naginata. Ikebana (flower arranging), bonsai, and girls’ day dolls on display. Kamishibai storytelling in English and Japanese, games and crafts for kids. A fun and educational event for families and all ages.

Festival Cost
Free admission and free parking. Japanese sweets (mochi & Okinawa dango doughnut) and tasty food (yakisoba noodles, curry rice, spam musubi, and BBQ plate) available for purchase.

Proceeds from the event benefit TSCA’s student cultural exchange program, which sends up to eight students and an adult leader from Torrance to Kashiwa, Japan for three weeks in July. TSCA will host eight Kashiwa students and an adult leader during August. TSCA is a non-profit, community-based, volunteer organization dedicated to promoting goodwill and friendship between the people of Torrance and Kashiwa. 

Bunka-Sai Festival Event Date
April 5 - 6, 2025 (2 Days)

Festival Time
11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Bunka-Sai Scheduled 
Calligraphy, Folk Music, Dance, Koto, Tea Ceremony, Anime, Judo..


Saturday April 5

Outdoor
11:00 am - 5:00 pm: Culture: Amezaiku Japanese Candy Artist: Shan Ichiyanagi
11:15 am - 11:35 am: Taiko: Fred Visaya and LA Miyake Kai
11:35 am - 11:40 am: Welcome Speeches

Indoor
11:45 am - 12:15 pm: Tea Ceremony: Urasenke Tanko Kai Los Angeles Association
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm: Announcement: Anime Contest winner presentations
12:40 pm - 1:05 pm: Martial Arts: Torrance Kendo Dojo
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm: Music: LA’s 33 Strings (Japanese Music Ensemble)
1:55 pm - 2:25 pm: Martial Arts: South Bay Judo Club
2:35 pm - 2:50 pm: Music: Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (Okinawan Drums)
2:50 pm - 3:05 pm: Dance: Tamagusuguryu Kansen Atea No Kai (Okinawan Dance)
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm: Music: Fuji Japanese Music and Yamatogaku USA (Japanese Music)
3:55 pm - 4:20 pm: Music: Shusaku and Tsumugi (Tsugaru Shamisen)
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Taiko: Prota

Assembly Room
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm: Ikenobo: Flower arrangement demo by Minamitani Semho
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Hands-on Japanese calligraphy - Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu Kai
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Hands-on origami paper folding led by Yoko Sekine


Sunday April 6

Outdoor
11:10 am - 11:35 am: Taiko: ASANO TAIKO US Youth

Indoor
11:45 am - 12:10 pm: Culture: Nishiyamato Academy Students (Rakugo and Kendama)
12:20 pm - 12:50 pm: Music: Matsutoyo Kai (Japanese Folk Singing)
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Kimono: Nadeshiko Kai (Japanese Culture and Traditions)
1:40 pm - 2:10 pm: Calligraphy: Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu Kai (Ink brush writing)
2:20 pm - 2:35 pm: Dance: Rin No Kai (Japanese traditional dance)
2:35 pm - 2:50 pm: Dance: Wakahiisa Kai (Japanese traditional dance)
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Martial Arts: Torrance Naginata Dojo
3:40 pm - 4:10 pm: Music: Yoko Awaya Koto Music Conservatory
4:20 pm - 5:00 pm: Taiko: ASANO TAIKO US and Los Angeles Taiko Institute Groups

Assembly Room
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
1:45 pm - 2:15 pm: Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm: Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Hands-on Japanese calligraphy by Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu Kai
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Hands-on origami: Peninsula Paper Folders - Pam Miike and Joy Fujita

Assembly Room Exhibits
Bonsai by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
Japanese Girls’ Day Doll Display by Torrance Sister City Assn.
Ikebana - Ikenobo School (Japanese flower arranging) by students of Minamitani Semho
Saga Art Center - Students of Shun Kohrogi

Emcees
Saturday April 5: Maureen Ortega
Sunday April 6: Cindy Scotto

Bunka-Sai Festival Location
Ken Miller Recreation Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503

Bunka-Sai Title
City of Torrance Annual Bunka-Sai Japanese Cultural Festival Event (Japanese Dance & Music, Martial Arts, Calligraphy, Tea Ceremony..) (2 Days)