Tsunagi Matsuri, a free, student-led Japanese American cultural festival, will be held on Sunday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Isamu Noguchi Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo.
After welcoming more than 8,000 attendees in its inaugural year, Tsunagi Matsuri is expanding into a larger, all-day festival that connects generations, campuses and the Little Tokyo community through shared culture.
The free, family-friendly event, which is open to the public, is hosted by the UCLA Nikkei Student Union in partnership with the Intercollegiate Nikkei Council, the largest Japanese American student cultural organization in the nation, and is planned and run entirely by hundreds of Southern California college students.
“Tsunagi” means “to connect.” As Little Tokyo continues to face pressures from gentrification and displacement, Tsunagi Matsuri serves as a visible act of community support with 25% of profits tobe donated to the Little Tokyo Community Impact Fund to support local preservation efforts and combat displacement, with remaining proceeds benefiting student-led Japanese American organizations.
Festival highlights:
Food vendors: Sweet, savory and delicious foods from 13 vendors, including Boba Bestie, Tako Ichi, Doskoi, and Sandoitchi.
Live performances: All-day entertainment from a variety of Asian American acts such as Kyodo Taiko, kendo, Hana Effron, The Visionaries, and fiveALIVE.
Local businesses: Support local Asian American businesses such as Buttery Popcorn, Faith, Hope and Pastries, and more.
Community organization booths: Learn more about important community organizations such as Kizuna, Japanese American National Museum, and the Dodgers.
Games: Led by the next generation of youth leaders, including volunteer high schoolers and Yonsei Basketball athletes facilitating games for people of all ages.
For more information: www.uclansu.com
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