2025 Nisei Week Closing Ceremony & Street Ondo INFORMATION
UPDATE - ICE will not stop SPIRIT CULTURE COMMUNITY
Hi Everyone,
I was about to leave my home and run over to JANM to take some pictures of the "staging area" for the Nisei Week Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo. I didn't have to because social media was being bombarded with pictures of the exact location I was headed to... Here are pictures of the area we will be using in front of JANM for next Sunday's "staging area" minus the ICE agents and vehicles... Today, Little Tokyo and JANM belonged to ICE, but come Sunday August 17th, !st Street in Little Tokyo (and the area in front of JANM) BELONGS TO US !!! The show will go on. This is what we need to remember, this area during the Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo will be the most "secured" section of the city on August 17th. On the west end of 1st Street we have the LAPD headquarters just steps away. And on the other side of 1st Street (east side) we have the Federal Buildings just steps away with California National Guards and US Marines stationed. In a "war" Little Tokyo and 1st Street would be classified as a "GREEN ZONE" (or SAFE ZONE.) We will be in the most secure part of LA during the Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo... With that being said I'm reminded of a familiar saying from the Nisei generation, "GO FOR BROKE"... The pictures that I have included with this email personally disgust me. The idea that this "scare tactic" RAID not only took place at JANM, but steps away from the GFB Monument. NEXT SUNDAY AUGUST 17th at 4 PM we will ALL be together at the very same staging site that ICE is using today. When we "stage" next Sunday it will be a POWERFUL message of WHO WE ARE as we gather in SPIRIT CULTURE COMMUNITY. Please share with family and friends, JOIN US !!! in solidarity... HAPPY NISEI WEEK !!! thanks, Wesley
UPDATE - GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Hi Everyone,
We are just days away from the 2025 Nisei Week Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo. Here is a UPDATE to my last GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
- For the PARADE CHECK IN last Sunday we implemented a TEXT “check in” for participating groups. This will be an OPTION for the Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo as well.
- Text me at (213) 359-7755 (Wesley) or Albert at (323) 742-1947 (or both of us) after 2:30 pm that your group will assemble at JANM no later than 4:00 pm on Sunday August 17th. Our hope is to have all participating groups in the ONDO PARADE be at JANM by 3:45 pm. Group Line up # is actually a “letter”. This is the lineup groups will enter the street at the beginning of the STREET ONDO (we call this “the ONDO PARADE as all the groups will “parade” 1st street end to end”.) This is an OPTION only. We will have volunteers at JANM by 2:30 pm for regular check in.
- Banner Instructions for groups. In my last announcement I mentioned groups can bring a “banner” to parade with as you parade 1st Street. Your banner bearers (the two people that carry the banner) will not enter the street with the group as the “line” is narrow and a banner logistically will not fit. Banners and Banner Bearers will stage on the street and will position on the street as your group enters the street after the “receiving line” where groups are greeted by Nisei Week Leadership, 2025 Queen and Court and Consul General of Japan. After your group finishes the ONDO PARADE and just before the STREET ONDO begins, the banners can be stored in our Nisei Week rented UHAUL box truck during the event. Please let me know if your group will be bringing a “banner”. This is only a OPTION, groups do not have to bring a banner…
- The single most common question is “what is the program ???” For the first time ever I am sharing the “DRAFT PROGRAM SCRIPT.” This script changes up to the start of the event, but this gives you a pretty good idea how the event will flow (in regards to time.) This is a “minute by minute” script so times are estimated. Every “minute” counts… FYI, If your group is participating in the Ondo Parade, your group “LETTER” is listed under “Street Ondo Parade Participants *8 (LETTER)*” Draft program script included at the bottom of this email…
- Please continue to use the Little Tokyo Dance Club website at www.ltdanceclub.org for Nisei Week instructions, demonstrations (including the TWO FLASH MOB DANCES) and Nisei Week Music Gallery.
Thank you everyone. Stay safe and well. HAPPY NISEI WEEK !!! Thanks, Wesley
Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo Program Script - FINAL rev 0815b
2025 NWCCSO FINAL rev. 0815b
Prior to program
- 7 am - Yagura assembled at JANM
- 11:30 am - First Street closed - Yagura, tables and chairs set up on 1st St.
- 12 pm - Sound tech arrives, PA setup
- 12:30 pm - Break for lunch
- 2:45 pm - Call time for presenters
- NW President (administrative duties)
- MCs issued script
- Queen and Court
- Nisei Week Raffle
- 2:45 pm - Sound check for performers
- LA Taiko Collective / LA Mugen Taiko
- Ryujin Taiko
- Minyo Station
- Nobuko, Atomic Nancy & the Fandango Obon Band
- Rayko - Lolita Dark
- Team Kawachi Ondo / LA Kansai Club
- 3:15 pm - Ondo Line up at JANM, check in groups and organizations for Ondo
- 3:45 pm - Stand by (Yagura)
- LA Taiko Collective / LA Mugen Taiko
- NW President
- Consul General of Japan
- Queen and Court
START OF PROGRAM
- 4 pm - LA Taiko Collective and LA Mugen Taiko - 2 pieces (gathering) (12 min) *1*
- 4:12 pm - MCs introduce selves (2 min) Raffle Ticket announcement - “purchase raffle tickets” *2*
- 4:15 pm - MCs introduce NW President *3*
- NW President gives WELCOME speech (5 min)
- NW President “welcomes” Consul General of Japan (3 min)
- NW President introduces Queens Court Chairperson and Nisei Week Queen and Court (12 min) *4*
- 4:40 pm General Announcements
- Tamlyn Tomita “filming announcement” *5*
- Rilakkuma and VIZ Media *6*
- 5 pm - MCs introduce Minyo Station. Minyo Station performs two songs (10 min) *7*
- 5 pm - Ondo Line up begins - groups and organizations line up at Yagura to be INTRODUCED
- 5:10 pm - MCs thank Minyo Station and announce the start of the STREET ONDO (2 min)
- 5:12 pm - MCs introduce groups and organizations as they enter the street. NW President, Consul General, Queen & Court greet and welcome street participants as they enter the street. (18-20 min) *8*
Street Ondo Parade Participants *8 (LETTER)*
- A) LA Bando Ryu
- Bando Hidesomi
- Bando Hiromiya
- B) SFJCCC Meiji Dance Club
- Janet Yamamoto, Leader
- C) Nisei Week Public Ondo Dance Group / Sanjo Kabuki Dance Company - Sanjo Kanfuji, Leader
- Miles Hamada
- D) Fujima Kansuma Kai
- Fujima Kansuzu, Leader
- E) Japanese Speaking Parents Association of Children with Challenges (JSPACC) / Rising Star Youth Leadership Program
- F) Bando Kyo no Kai
- Bando Hirohichiro, Leader
- G) Sun Valley Japanese Community Center
- Christine Inouye, Leader
- H) Go For Broke National Education Center
- I) Hoshun Kai
- Hashimoto Hoshun Ki, Leader
- J) San Fernando Valley Japanese Language Institute
- K) JANM Volunteers and Staff / Little Tokyo Historical Society
- L) Boyle Heights Community Partners
- M) The Minnies
- N) Kotobuki No Kai
- Imoto Hoshun Jyu, Leader
- O) Long Beach Ondo Club
- June Donovan, Leader
- P) Team Kawachi Ondo / LA Kansai Club
- Q) Moe↗Age! from Asayoru Maid Cafe
- R) Little Tokyo Dance Club / Skid Row-Kyo Mission
- 5:30 pm - MCs announce, “Ondo dancing begins” Inner Circle Dance Leaders: East side of 1st Kotobuki no Kai and West side of 1st Meiji Dance Club. “Yagura Taiko” by Ryujin Taiko. Audience encouraged to join the dance circle, just “follow the leaders” *9*
1st half of the Street Ondo
- KYUSHU TANKO BUSHI 5vs / 6Pon (Live 3:30) Marisa, Natsu, Aki, Huuka
- KAGOSHIMA OHARA BUSHI 5vs / 6Pon (Live 3:06) Natsu & Mina
- AIZU BANDAISAN 4vs / 6Pon (Live 3:30) Aki & Huuka (Minyo Station performers exit floor stage, so Choichi Kai can set up)
- ICHI TATSU ICHI 1+1 (Live Karaoke Only 3:25) Marisa, Atomic Nancy, Rayko (Choichi Kai will start set up during Ichi Tasu Ichi)
- ASADOYA YUNTA – (Live 3:10) Ryukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai – LA Shibu (Choichi Kai performers exit off floor stage)
- SHO TOKYO ONDO 4vs / 5Pon (Live Karaoke & Shamisen 3:51) Sato Matsutoyo Sensei & Marisa
- NAGOYA MARUHACHI ONDO (Live Karaoke Only 5:36) Marisa, Atomic Nancy, Rayko - Looking for lyrics
- (Fandango Obon Band will start set up during Nagoya Maruhachi Ondo)
- BAMBUTSU NO TSUNAGARI (Live) Nobuko Miyamoto, Atomic Nancy Sekizawa & the Fandango Obon Band
- 6:10 pm - MCs announce BREAK from dancing (intermission), water available for ondo participants (south side of Yagura.) LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS. Drawing just MINUTES AWAY !!! (5 min) *2*
- 6:15 pm - MCs announces “Photo Opportunity” with “Rilakkuma” East side of Yagura (3 min) *10*
- 6:18 pm - Certificate of Appreciation presentation to dance groups
- Certificate of Appreciation presentation. Groups announced, COAs presented all together in groups
- 1) Dance Schools
- 2) Ondo Groups
- 3) Honored Guests
- (22 min) *11*
- 6:40 pm - MCs announce Raffle Drawing
- Presenter TBD (5 min) *12*
- 6:45 pm - Flash Mob - Bando Ryu - Kyo No Kai (10 min) *13*
- MCs announce, “As we start our 2nd half of Ondo Dancing Dancers please make your way back into the dance circle… We also have a LOST CAT !!! ...”
- *please note, this is part of the Street Ondo - public encouraged to participate...
- “MIC CHECK” Flash Mob - Rayko and Lolita Dark
- Big City Girl Ondo
- 6:55 pm - MCs announce 2nd half of Street Ondo continues - “Ondo dancing begins” Inner Circle Dance Leaders: East side of 1st Long Beach Ondo and West side of 1st Team Kawachi Ondo. “Yagura Taiko” by Ryujin Taiko. Audience encouraged to join the dance circle, just “follow the leaders” ondo dancing resumes *14*
- Ue O Muite Arukou / Sukiyaki Ondo - Live Rayko - Lolita Dark
- Tanko Funk (Tanko Bushi & Uptown Funk) - Live Team Kawachi Ondo / LA Kansai Club (TKO/LAKC)
- Tokyo Ondo - Live TKO/LAKC
- Pokemon Ondo - Live TKO/LAKC
- Ee Ja Nai Ka - Live TKO/LAKC
- Ashibina - Live TKO/LAKC
- Kawachi Ondo - Live TKO/LAKC
- Dancing Hero - Live TKO/LAKC
- ONDO HARD STOP AT 7:50 pm - may not get to all dances…
- 7:50 pm - Closing remarks by Nisei Week President Helen Ota, 2026 Nisei Week announcements and Group Photo (10 min) *15*
- 8:00 pm / 8:15 pm - Clear street for reopen by 9pm
PARTICIPANTS INFORMATION
The 2025 Nisei Week Festival Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo is less than a week away (Sunday August 17, 2025.) This announcement is for the Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo PARTICIPANTS... Instructions are the same as past Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo:
- Group check-in begins 2:30 pm at JANM (corner of Central Ave and 1st Street in Little Tokyo.)
- Only one person from your group needs to check in. At check in, your representative will be given your group’s ONDO PARADE line up number.
- ONDO Parade (when groups enter the street for the Street Ondo) starts at 4 pm, so we need your entire group at the staging area (JANM) by 3:45 pm.
- LA Bando Ryu will be the first group out followed by the Meiji Dance Club, then the Nisei Week Public Community Dancers. Note: this will be the “first time” the Nisei Week Public Dancers will go out at the beginning of the Ondo Parade and not at the end…
- ALL Ondo Parade Participants need to be at the JANM staging area by 3:45 pm. At this time please stay with your group or organizations as we will be lining everyone up in numbered order…
- Nisei Week Community Public Dancers do not need to check in, just be at the staging area NO LATER than 3:45 pm (JANM - corner of Central Ave. and 1st Street) Dress any way you wish (no actual dress code.) I would recommend comfortable walking shoes (but that is your choice.)
- EVERYONE: USE the Little Tokyo Dance Club website for continued “practice” and to find ALL Nisei Week Ondo instructions, demonstrations and music gallery. Google search “Little Tokyo Dance Club” or go to www.ltdanceclub.org
EVENT PROGRAM for 2025 Nisei Week Closing Ceremony and Street Ondo
EVERYONE, remember to just have fun, it's going to be a GREAT MONUMENTAL EVENT. Famous character “Rilakkuma” will be joining Nisei Week’s Mascot “Aki the Akita” greeting everyone (LOL, well kind of. We have to keep them separated for safety concerns…) We have LA Taiko Collective, LA Mugen Taiko and Ryujin Taiko. Minyo Station with guests from Matsutoyo Kai and Choichi Kai. BAMBUTSU NO TSUNAGARI (Live) Nobuko Miyamoto, Atomic Nancy Sekizawa & the Fandango Obon Band, our friends from Great Leap never disappoint… Not one, but TWO FLASH MOB DANCES during intermission - Maneki Neko Ondo and Big City Girl’s Ondo. Then Rayko (Takahashi) and the band Lolita Dark will start off the 2nd half of Street Ondo with an exclusive cover of “Ue O Muite Aruko” as we dance “Sukiyaki Ondo.” It happens to be Rayko’s BIRTHDAY and all her friends and fans are joining us… Then LIVE performers from Team Kawachi Ondo and the LA Kansai Club will finish the street ondo with LIVE singers such as President of the LA Kansai Club Shinichi Hirokawa, professional singer NorikoYamashiro Yonami and many other great talents… NO OTHER NISEI WEEK CLOSING CEREMONY AND STREET ONDO in recent times has been put together like this… It’s going to be a BLAST !!!
Chance to Dance at Centenary Arigato Bazaar
Saturday May 2nd 10am to 4pm
Come join us at the Centenary Arigato Bazaar on Saturday May 2nd from 10am to 4pm. Centenary is located in Little Tokyo DTLA at 300 S. Central Ave. LA CA 90013 (corner of 3rd St. & Central Ave.) The annual bazaar is known for its food, a very well stocked "white elephant" sale and a "silent auction" that is second to none. A raffle with tons of door prizes as well.
Entertainment ALL DAY
The ENTERTAINMENT is like no other festival, with something for everyone:
* AKUA OHANA O'HULA
* HIKARI TAIKO
*J-TOWN TAIKO CLUB / SAN FERNANDO VALLEY TAIKO
*CHIKARA DAIKO
*TAIKO PARTY WITH ALL THE TAIKO GROUPS...
*KOTOBUKI NO KAI (JAPANESE MINYO DANCE)
*KID CITY BANDS
ONDO ALL DAY
But is there something missing ??? How about a "Chance to Dance !!!" The Little Tokyo Dance Club was asked to provide PA for the event and manage the stage. Unfortunately the LTDC was not given a time slot for an ONDO. So we are going Little Tokyo Dance Club "old school" and will "hijack and flashmob" the ENTIRE DAY with ONDO MUSIC... Here is a "Chance to Dance" the entire day. Joining the LTDC stage crew will be Ryujin Taiko to provide "Yagura Taiko" for the Ondo dances. June Donovan and the Long Beach Ondo Club have been invited to participate and lead some of the Ondo Flashmobs throughout the day. What dances ??? "Potluck Ondo" LTDC is bringing music, Long Beach Ondo Club will bring music, no planned set list, this is going to be a lot of fun...
So if you want a "chance to dance" join us at the Centenary Bazaar. Come dressed in yukata, jin bei, temple / organization hapi coat or just as you are. Cosplayers always welcome to join in the fun. This is guaranteed to be an event that you don't want to miss. Please share with family and friends Public Ondo Dancing all day at Centenary on Saturday May 2nd from 10 am to 4 pm... Thanks - www.ltdanceclub.org