[Hanamatsuri in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California, April 4, 1954]

Miyatake, Toyo
Rafu Shimpo [ bio ]
Toyo Miyatake Studio [ bio ]

Description

9 photographic prints : b&w ; 5 x 7 in.

Published in Rafu Shimpo, April 6, 1954.

Hanamatsuri or "Flower festival" Buddhist procession and services to commemorate the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha, featuring a flower pavilion (Hanamido) on top of a small man-made white elephant and the rite of bathing the body of Buddha (Kanbutsu) at Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California, April 4, 1954.
1. Hanamatsuri service at Nishi Hongwanji for adults.
2. Little girl pours sweet tea on statue of infant Buddha with the help of Reverend Sogabe at Koyasan temple. Three priests look on at right: Reverend Nozaki, Rinban Ito and Reverend Kumata (back)
3. Boy pouring sweet tea on statue of infant Buddha at Koyasan temple.
4. Children leading hanamatsuri procession away from Koyasan temple after hanamatsuri service. Reverend Ryosho Sogabe of Koyasan on the extreme right.
5. Hanamatsuri procession parade led by children holding striped rope exiting Nishi Hongwanji.
6. Hanamatsuri procession parade through Little Tokyo, at First Street and San Pedro Street intersection. Los Angeles City Hall in background.
7. Children praying at Koyasan temple.
8. Girls carrying flowers walking up aisle toward altar in Koyasan temple.
9. Buddhist priest praying in Koyasan temple.

Inscription
Typed on original envelope: Hanamatsuri.

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to the Hirasaki National Resource Center at the Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org).