Topic: New Year's Day
A very colorful New Year’s Day (Oshogatsu) celebration in Little Tokyo will be sponsored by Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. (Photo courtesy of JCCSC)
A very colorful New Year’s Day (Oshogatsu) celebration is coming to Little Tokyo very soon. Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California has sponsored the 2007 New Year’s Day event on Monday, Jan. 1, 2007 in Little Tokyo, in conjunction with the similar festival events also held at the Hotel New Otani and Japanese Village Plaza.
Dubbed as “Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo,” the New Year’s Day events will take place at Weller Court Shopping Center at the corner of Second and San Pedro Streets in Little Tokyo. Admission free.
The celebration starts at 10:50 a.m. with the powerful beating of taiko drums by Hikari Taiko Group, followed by lion dance, Japanese calligraphy demonstration by Mme. Hiroko Ikuta, koto performance by Mme. Yoko Awaya, and mochi-give away by Nisei Week Queen and her courts and L.A. Kimono Club on the Weller Court stage.
Also planned for presentation are the Samurai Action Show which is very popular to children and the demonstrations of martial arts such as Swordsmanship, Kendo and Shorinji Kempo.
Cheerful Awa dance will be performed by Awa Aika Ren and traditional folk songs and dance will be showed by Matsutoyo Kai. Well Court stage programs will end at 3 p.m. Japanese sweets will be given to 200 children as first come first serve basis.
Tables will be set up to teach children and adults the Japanese arts of paper-folding, kite-making and other cultural handicrafts. Mochitsuki – pounding of sweet rice will take place during the stage hours.
The day’s event will conclude with the opportunity drawing of many prizes including a grand prize roundtrip economy class ticket to Japan.
The New Year’s Day event in Little Tokyo will give Japanese children and Americans an excellent opportunity to experience the old-time New Year’s day traditions. For more information, call Japanese Chamber of Commerce at (213) 626-3067 or check www.jccsc.org.
On New Year’s eve, the special gourmet Kaiseki dinner will be served from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Thousand Cranes Restaurant in the New Otani Hotel, Little Tokyo. Long Life Noodles will be served from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the hotel’s Azalea Restaurant.
On New Year’s Day, the New Otani Hotel will serve Osechi-Breakfast at Azalea from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Free Toso Sake will be provided at Azalea from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
At the Garden Level of the hotel, Osechi Buffet will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. New Year’s Day Food and Refreshment Corner will be set up at Azalea from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For reservation, call New Otani Hotel at (213) 629-1200.
Various cultural demonstrations also will take place at the banquet floor of the New Otani Hotel from 12 –3 p.m. Open to public. Most of the events are free. Fee will occur in designated programs. Cultural exhibitions will include Origami paper craft, pottery, fabric, crafts and toys. Events will feature Children’s Karura-tori tournament, calligraphy demonstration by Rev. Kanshu Ikuta and Mme. Hiroko Ikuta and Rakugi comic storytelling by LA Yose Club. Kimono dressing service will be provided by Mme. Fumi Akutagawa. At lobby lounge of the hotel, tea ceremony will be served by Mme. Sosetsu Nishimura of Edo-Senke Fuhaku-kai. The New Otani Hotel is located at 120 South Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, www.newotani.com.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Buddhist services
Koyasan Buddhist Temple (342 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012): Year end service at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day prayer at 10 a.m.
Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple (505 East Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013): Year end service at 6 p.m. and New Year’s Day prayer at 10 a.m.
Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (815 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012): Year end service at 6 p.m. and New Year’s Day prayer at 10 a.m.
Zenshuji Soto Mission (123 South Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, CA 9012): Year end service at 4 p.m. and New Year’s Day prayer at 10 a.m.
Nichiren Buddhist Temple (2801 East Fourth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033): Year end service at 5 p.m. and New Year’s Day prayer at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Jodoshu North America Buddhist Mission (442 East Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013): Year end service at 3 p.m. and New Year’s Day prayer at 10 a.m.
