Nisei Week is an annual August weeklong + festival in Little Tokyo Los Angeles. It celebrates Japanese American culture and history with music, dance, art, performances, and colorful decorations.
Watch my Video of the 2024 Festival
The Nisei Generation were the first American-born Japanese. The festival no longer focuses on Nisei but is an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to be infused with Japanese American culture joyfully.
Little Tokyo has been a neighborhood in Los Angeles for over 140 years. The Nisei Week Festival began during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The older generation Issei were getting old and immigration from Japan was prohibited. It was designed to attract Nisei who spoke English to help grow the community.
Prejudice against Japanese Americans was intense during the 30s and 40s and it was made even worse after Pearl Harbor when more than 125,000 people of Japanese descent were subjected to forced internment in work camps.
With Little Tokyo vacant of its citizens, black workers moved in and the area was temporarily called Bronzeville. Musicians Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis played in clubs in the area.
After the war, Bronzeville dissipated and former Japanese American residents moved back.
The Nisei Week Festival was paused during WWII but came back in full force when it was over.
The only other time Nisei Week wasn’t held was in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.
Events during Nisei Week include a Coronation of the Queen and her court, a Grand Parade, a Plaza Festival, and Ondo Street Dancing.
There is also a baby show, awards dinner, Pioneer Luncheon, cultural exhibits, Taiko Drum Gathering, and other happenings.
While you’re there, enjoy fabulous food, shopping, art, music and dance performances. Kimono and Samurai costumes are encouraged to join in on the fun.
Connection
Connection was the theme of the 82nd Annual Nisei Festival to bring together the residents of Los Angeles and beyond.
Access to the Nisei Festival
The L.A. Metro Little Tokyo Station is conveniently located across the street from the Japanese Village and the Japanese American National Museum where the festival is held.
For more information about Nisei Week, click here.
How interesting! You do get around, R.