FREE ALL DAY
Join our annual summer celebration featuring free cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages!
- Performances by Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko and East LA Taiko
- Book readings with Nadine Sachiko Hsu
- Souvenir photos by cre8tive outlets
- Fun summer-themed crafts and origami
- Scavenger hunt for prizes
- And so much more!
Plus, free admission all day to see all of our exhibitions Giant Robot Biennale 5, J. T. Sata: Immigrant Modernist, The Interactive StoryFile of Lawson Iichiro Sakai, and Common Ground: The Heart of Community.
Special perks are available for JANM Members! Check in when you arrive to get a Member sticker and take advantage of all the benefits including a Members-only check in line and a chance to win prizes!
Can’t join us in person? We’ll post select performances and activities on our YouTube channel throughout the day!
Sponsored by:
Media Sponsor: 
About the Event
FREE ALL DAY
Join our annual summer celebration featuring free cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages!
- Performances by Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko and East LA Taiko
- Book readings with Nadine Sachiko Hsu
- Souvenir photos by cre8tive outlets
- Fun summer-themed crafts and origami
- Scavenger hunt for prizes
- And so much more!
Plus, free admission all day to see all of our exhibitions Giant Robot Biennale 5, J. T. Sata: Immigrant Modernist, The Interactive StoryFile of Lawson Iichiro Sakai, and Common Ground: The Heart of Community.
Special perks are available for JANM Members! Check in when you arrive to get a Member sticker and take advantage of all the benefits including a Members-only check in line and a chance to win prizes!
Can’t join us in person? We’ll post select performances and activities on our YouTube channel throughout the day!
Sponsored by:
Media Sponsor:
Activities
PHOTO BOOTH
Grab some fun props from Cre8tive Outlets and take a souvenir photo with friends and family.
Express lane for Members!
LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY
Sign up for a library card with friends from the Los Angeles Public Library! Stay for fun crafts perfect for kids!
RUTHIE’S ORIGAMI CORNER
Learn to fold a jumping frog or a paper lantern—a colorful festival decoration!
This activity is named in honor of JANM Volunteer Ruthie Kitagawa (1937–2020), who led origami activities for many years.
FAN CRAFT
Keep cool in the summer heat and decorate your very own paper plate hand fan!
SKETCHBOOK CRAFT
Inspired by Felicia Chiao’s sketchbooks on display in Giant Robot Biennale 5, decorate a sketchbook and use it to document your adventures this summer!
SCAVENGER HUNT
Explore J. T. Sata: Immigrant Modernist, with a scavenger hunt and win a special prize!
While supplies last. Members receive two chances to win!
BOOK SALE
Purchase secondhand books to benefit JANM’s Collections Management and Access!
Schedule
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Performance by Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko
Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko will kick off the festival with an eisa (traditional Okinawan obon festival drum dancing) performance!
Reserved seating for Members!
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Obon Lecture and Community Dance
Learn about Japan’s obon festivals, which honor and celebrate the spirits of ancestors with a lecture from Rev. Briones. A group bon odori (traditional dance) will then be led by Elaine Fukumoto.
12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
Sachiko Goes Racing Book Reading
Join author and former pro race car driver Nadine Sachiko Hsu for a reading of Sachiko Goes Racing.
There will be a second reading at 3:15 p.m.
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Los Angeles Public Library Storytime
Join friends from the Los Angeles Public Library for a fun storytime session!
Reserved seating for Members!
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Giant Robot workshop with Giorgiko
Join Giant Robot Biennale 5 artists Darren and Trisha Inouye, the duo known as Giorgiko, for a short drawing workshop!
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Cold Tofu Improv and Comedy Group
Enjoy a performance by the nation’s longest running, Asian American improv and sketch comedy group Cold Tofu as they improvise scenes and games based on audience suggestions.
Reserved seating for Members!
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Sachiko Goes Racing Book Reading
Join author and former pro race car driver Nadine Sachiko Hsu for a reading of Sachiko Goes Racing.
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Taiko Workshop
Join JANM volunteer Hal Keimi for an energetic lesson in basic taiko drumming.
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Performance by East LA Taiko
Enjoy a performance from East LA Taiko! A fiery eclectic blend of world rhythm that travels the globe with Latin-rock-punk taiko beats and takes you right into the heart of Los Angeles.
Reserved seating for Members!