Nisei Week in Little Tokyo is one the nation’s longest running cultural festivals of its kind. From Aug. 19 to 27, take the Gold Line or Metro Bus 30/330 to Little Tokyo to participate in free Japanese cultural events and enjoy live music and dancing. 

As we get ready to start Nisei Week, we’re spotlighting a few of the businesses in the area. Many of these businesses have been helped by Metro’s Business Interruption Fund*, a program that provides financial assistance to small ‘mom and pop’ shops that have been impacted by transit rail construction. For more information on Nisei Week activities, continue reading after the photos.

KC Beauty Academy.

Nisei Week Parade. Photo courtesy of Toyo Miyatake.

Tanabata kazari. Photo courtesy of Ryan Furuya.

Lunch at T.O.T. Photo: Peter Watkinson.

Lunch at T.O.T. Photo: Peter Watkinson.

Footland Sports.

Oomasa Restaurant.

‘Lette maracons.

The Hob Nob Shop.

The Hob Nob Shop.

Sunglasses at Los Angeles Eye Care.

Little Tokyo Cosmetics.

Little Tokyo Cosmetics.

Kimono at Shinyodo Gift.

Shinyodo Gift.

Doing a little shopping at POP Little Tokyo.

Mitarashi dango at Mitsuru Cafe.

Japanese fast food at Mitsuru Cafe.

Shabu Shabu House owner Yoshi brewing the store’s signature iced coffee. Shabu Shabu House is the first restaurant of its kind to open in the United States in 1991.

Korean Kitchen Hibachi BBQ.

Shop for face masks at Maneki Neko.

Local legend one-man band Arthur Nakane performing at Japanese Village Plaza.

Little Tokyo Ice Cream and Yogurt.

Tokyo Bridal and Tuxedo.

FE Design and Consulting.

Exploring the unique decorations at Ebisu Restaurant.

Mealtime at Ebisu Restaurant.

Kato’s Sewing Machine Company.

Canisters of tea at Chado Tea Room.

Kouraku Restaurant.

Festival dancers. Photo courtesy of Marc Amba.

Photos by Steve Hymon/Metro unless otherwise noted.

The Tanabata Festival kicks off festivities on Aug. 19 and 20. At the nearby Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), enjoy free exhibits that showcase bonsai, calligraphy, and more. The Grand Parade will take place on Sunday, Aug. 20. The parade includes traditional Haneto dancers, majestic floats, and Japanese taiko drums.

The festivities continue Aug. 26 and 27 with a full schedule of events at JACCC, including the 11th Annual Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship. The week closes out with Ondo street dancing on Sunday, Aug. 27 down historic First Street.

In addition to public transit, you can also park and ride to Little Tokyo during Nisei Week. The free Nisei Week Festival Shuttle will operate from the SP+ Parking Lot located at 428 E. Temple St. on the following days:

• Sunday, Aug. 20: Shuttles will be operating from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The shuttle will drop off visitors at the Nisei Week Grand Parade.
• Saturday, Aug. 26: Shuttles will be operating from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shuttle will drop off visitors at the Nisei Week Japanese Festival at the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center, as well as the Nisei Week Car Show.

Parking at SP+ Parking Lot is $6 a day. The free shuttles will run every 15 minutes. Shuttle service and parking rates are subject to change without notice.

*Metro’s Business Interruption Fund (BIF) provides financial assistance to small “mom and pop” businesses directly impacted by transit rail construction along the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, the Little Tokyo area and 2nd/Broadway segment of the Regional Connector, and Section 1 of the Purple Line Extension.  For more information about the BIF, visit metro.net/bif.  To apply for a BIF grant, visit Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corp (PCR) at pcrcorp.org.

Visit metro.net/bif to view additional business spotlights in the BIF’s Community Footprint.