Fumio Maruyama leads a Pokemon-themed dance from atop the yagura on First Street.
Singers with Matsutoyo Kai provide traditional songs for the ondo – from left in front, Ayane Kobori and Mina Petrolia; from left in back, Aki Hirahara, Marisa Kosugi, Miwa Lyric, Huuka Hirahara, Ryoko Kobori and Sato Matsutoyo Natsu.
Maya, the mother of Buddha, was inspiration for the huge walking puppet created by Beth Peterson and Mike Okamura for the Little Tokyo Historical Society.
the new Nisei Week Queen and Court react with volunteers and the large crowd to events on top of the yagura.
Visitors from San Diego attended in inari fox-themed masks and attire.
Marc Amba (in striped jinbei) and his high-spirited dancing troupe enjoy the moves to “One Plus One.”
A young dancer left her favorite stuffed bear at home, arrived in summer yukata and learned the steps on the fly.
Ryoji Inatsugi (guitar) and Team Kawachi Ondo keep the rhythm as dancing continued into the early evening.
Members of the public raise their uchiwa fans and join in the dancing on First Street in Little Tokyo.
Nisei Week Queen Moragn Gee, First Princess Seia Watanabe, Miss Tomodachi Amy Kubo, Princesses Caitlyn Sasaki, Carina Sakimura and Anita Komatsu lead the dancers at the Nisei Week Ondo.
Joann Shin Cordeiro, Nisei Week Foundation president, addresses the crowd. She is joined by Helen Ota, who will be president next year.
Consul General Kenko Sone and his wife, Mami, join in the dancing.

By GWEN MURANAKA, RAFU SENIOR EDITOR

Under the watchful gaze of Robert Vargas’ Shohei Ohtani mural, Nisei Week concluded its 82ndfestival on Aug. 18 with a joyful nod to both the past and the future of Little Tokyo.

Thousands filled First Street as the historic Downtown neighborhood celebrated its 140thanniversary steps from where Hamanosuke Sugita opened the first Japanese-owned business, Kame Restaurant, in 1884, now the site of Bunka-Do gift shop.

The crowd tossed colorful streamers into the air to celebrate the anniversary, led by Kristin Fukushima of Little Tokyo Community Council and Mike Okamura of the Little Tokyo Historical Society.

Joann Shin Cordeiro, president of the Nisei Week Foundation, gave special recognition to the 2021 Nisei Week Court: Queen Jaime Sunny Hasama, First Princess Brianne Mari Yasukochi and Princesses Michelle Toshiko Murakami, Kiyoko Alicia Nakatsui, and Princess Kendra Alana Motoyasu.

The festival was canceled in 2020 and altered in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic. Still, Shin Cordeiro said Nisei Week is what continues to bring the community together.

“We recognize how fortunate we are to have this celebration for 82 years,” she said. “We have so many multiple generations that are a part of this festival This year we celebrate connection, that is the theme and it really is inspired by the beautiful and meaningful ways we come together as a community to celebrate Japanese and Japanese American heritage and tradition.

“What makes me so inspired is to see our young rising leaders and they are going to be representing our community this year.”

James Okazaki and Junko Goda served as emcees, standing atop the yagura in the middle of First Street. They provided encouragement to the dancers, welcoming all to join.

“I notice we filled up the street! San Jose is claiming to have the largest group of ondo dancers at one event,” said Okazaki. “They’re claiming 3,500 so we’re hoping we get more people joiing us to beat that number. Let’s get 4,000 people out there!”

Leading the dancers were Nisei Week Queen Morgan Mayuko Gee, First Princess Seia Loraine Watanabe, Miss Tomodachi Amy Ryoko Kubo and Princesses Carina Aiko Sakimura, Anita Sumi Yayi Komatsu,and Caitlyn Tera Sasaki.

Dance groups included Hanayagi Rokufukumi Kai (led by this year’s Nisei Week choreographer), Japanese American National Museum, L.A. Bando Ryu, Go For Broke National Education Center, Bando-ryu Kyo no Kai, Fujima Kansuma Kai, Japanese-Speaking Parents Association of Children with Challenges, Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program, Kotobuki no Kai Nippon Minyo Kenkyukai,  Nippon Minyo Kenkyu Kai Hoshun Kai, San Fernando Valley Meiji Dance Club, Valley Japanese Community Center, Long Beach Ondo, Terminal Islanders, Little Tokyo Dance Club, Team Kawachi Ondo L.A. Kansai Club,  and Nisei Week Public Community Ondo Dancers.

Dancers lined the street performing popular ondo dances including “Sho Tokyo Ondo,” “Kyushu Tanko Bushi,” and “Nagoya Maruhachi Ondo.” “Bambutsu no Tsunagari” was performed by “Atomic” Nancy Sekizawa and Mariko Rooks with Sean Miura on shamisen. Live music was provided by Minyo Station, L.A. Taiko Collective and Ryujin Taiko.

Consul General Kenko Sone awarded special recognition to Robert Vargas for his mural “L.A. Rising,” which was recently unveiled on the side of the Miyako Hotel. Vargas will be throwing the first pitch at the Dodgers game on Sept. 8 with Shohei Ohtani catching.

As the dancers took a break, Tamlyn Tomita introduced the cast of “Ultraman Rising,” a Japanese-American co-production which is being shown on Netflix.

After the dancing, certificates were presented to participating groups and the final raffle prizes were awarded.

Steve Kaneshiro traveled from Honolulu to experience the festival. His uncle Edwin Yoshida worked for NASA and was a close friend of Ellison Onizuka, the late astronaut who was a Nisei Week grand marshal.

“I passed the Ellison Onizuka Memorial. I love (Little Tokyo), all the decorations, the buildings. Everyting is so quaint, it’s like an old town. I love it,” Kaneshiro said.

Sean Lee brought his family for Nisei Week. He owns Cap Robot on First Street North and said he has been part of Little Tokyo for seven years.

“The community is good,” Lee said.

Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS and JUN NAGATA/Rafu Shimpo