Past Events

Sake Festival in Los Angeles (March 2007);

Recently with the spread of Japanese food, Japanese Sake has gained some recognition in America as well. There are multiple ways of drinking sake - cold, room temperature, or hot. Premium-grade Sake, such as Junmai, Ginjyo, and Daiginjyo, have all gained much appreciation. However, even with all their attractiveness, as premium-grade sake is only distributed in a limited number of Japanese restaurants and has not been as popular as wine in American restaurants or households.

At this time, using "Introducing Sake to the mainstream American market" as a key phrase, we are estimating that over 350 brands of Sake will be featured at this event.

This event can be an opportunity to introduce the attractiveness of Sake and expand its market appeal, as well as a chance to promote better understanding between the U.S. and Japan within a very pleasant ambience.

International Art Festival, (Art Camp and Exhibition, October 2002);

This international art event provided various ethnic communities in Los Angeles with a valuable opportunity to be united under the universal language of art and to work together toward the common goal of encouraging the appreciation and preservation of art.

Art Camp was a three weeks event in September. Twenty artists from 7 countries got together under one roof, inspired one another and collaborated to create art works.
These artists visited local schools and invited students for symposiums, lectures, demonstrations and creative activities to promote and communicate creative spirit.

After the art camp there was one month long art exhibition at three venues in Los Angeles. One hundred thirty eight artists participated from thirty one countries.
People from each communities and Consul General of each country were invited to the Kick off Party. Four Consul Generals attended from Japan, Korea, Argentina and Guatemala. Audience enjoyed various ethnic performances, Korean Folk Dance, Chinese Group Dance, Argentine Tango and Japanese Koto music and Taiko Drums.

To make this event successful many volunteers worked hard for Fundraising BBQ Party, Fundraising Tea Ceremony, Kick off Dinner Party and Art Exhibition.

Edison Collection Tribute (July, 2003);

This event had been held for educational opportunity to show the great creativity of the Edison’s invention for the audience, especially for children to encourage.

One of USJRF board members, Mr. Koda shipped his 2600 items Edison collection to Japan for a new Edison museum.
He gave a talk about what made Edison a great inventor and showed several Edison’s inventions. The audience was impressed with the enduring quality of Edison’s inventions manufactured about 100 years ago. Surprisingly those items are still work and usable. The audience also enjoyed tasting a piece of bread toasted by an Edison’s original toaster. Children will never forget the taste of the bread.

Samurai Parade (Mach, 2004);

Samurai Parade was organized to provide a community involvement wherein the citizens work with the police force in the area of crime prevention, thereby offsetting the shortage of officers on the streets and to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the United States and Japan.

This was a collaboration event with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California to develop more close relationship between Police Department and citizens.
Two hundred volunteers worked hard and two hundred seventy participants joined this parade with huge spectators. Mounted Samurais from Japan and mounted police officers from LAPD walked in parade on the Little Tokyo area streets.

This event included the parade, Japanese cultural exhibition & demonstration and celebration dinner party.

The Samurai Parade was on air by 6 TV stations, CBS, NBC, ABC, KCAL, KSCL and KMEX. The Parade was introduced to the subscriber of the Los Angels Times, the Daily Breeze, many Japanese news papers and magazines. It was a good chance to show Japanese community presence in the Los Angels area.

This event brought more than sixty Japanese organizations together for the common goal. People in Japanese community are still talking about when the next is.