February 2026 – Cultural News

USC Shinso Ito Center Grateful Crane Ensemble

Grateful Crane Ensemble Japanese Culture - LA Japanese song USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture

University of Southern California Presents “Grateful Crane Shows Over the Years” at University Campus on Friday, Feb. 27, 3:00-5:00PM

February 27, 2026

Huntington Library Bonsai

Japanese Garden

The Huntington Hosts Bonsai Celebration and Bonsai A Thon Showcasing One of the Nation’s Premier Bonsai Collections on Weekend of Feb. 28-Mar. 01

February 27, 2026

Healing Novel Japanese Culture - LA

Santa Monica Public Library Announces “What You Are Looking For is in the Library” as 2026 Santa Monica Reads Selection and Author Appearance by Michiko Aoyama on Feb. 28, 2:00-4:00PM

February 27, 2026

Fluxus Art Kaoru Kuribayashi Yoko Ono

Japan Foundation Presents “Fluxus Art for Yoko Ono” — A Performance Program Celebrating Experimental Art and Music of 1960s and 60s on Feb. 28, 1:00-2:30PM

February 27, 2026

Contemporary Art Kanemitsu Matsumi

Celebrating a Postwar Master’s Los Angeles Legacy in Lithographs and Woodcuts, “Kanemitsu on Traction” to Open in Little Tokyo on Saturday, Feb. 28

February 27, 2026

Yanai Initiative Art of Benshi UC Santa Barbara Pic

Benshi Film-TV Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities

Japanese silent film screening with live music and “Benshi” at Egyptian Theater on Feb. 27 at 7PM, UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 28 at 2PM

February 27, 2026

GVJCI Day of Remembrance 2026 Thumbnail

Day of Remembrance Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute - GVJCI Nikkei Legacies - LA

Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute to Hold “Day of Remembrance 2026 –Then and Now – From WWII Incarceration to Today’s ICE Raids” on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2PM

February 27, 2026

Film - Tashima Chris Nikkei Legacies - LA Visas and Virtue

Ventura County JACL Announces Academy Award-Winning Director Chris Tashima and “VISAS AND VIRTUE” Screening at California Lutheran University on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:30PM

February 26, 2026

Hawaii - Japanese Topics

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition “Japanese War Brides: Across A Wide Divide” to go to Louisiana’s Old State Captal Opening Mar. 21, 2026

February 26, 2026

Japan Foundation Los Angeles Museum - Japanese Art - LA VanHartingsveldt Michael

Monthly | Japan Foundation Presents In-Person Lecture Series of “Japanese Sculpture” by Michael VanHartingsveldt from November 2025 through April 2026

February 26, 2026

Koyanagi Kimiko and Book Kokoro Header

Japanese Topics - World Koyanagi Kimiko Museum - Japanese Art - LA

Kimiko Koyanagi, 93-Year-Old, Publishes Her Memoir of A Legacy of Doll-Making

February 26, 2026

Online Store

BA_SHO Launches U.S. Platform Celebrating Japanese Everyday Life and Regional Foods

February 26, 2026

Tato Takahama U.S. Politics Report Thumbnail

Takahama - Japanese Views from America

Tato Takahama – U.S. Politics Report | Learning from Shohei Ohtani: “The Secrets to Achieving Goals” — Insights from Harvard

February 26, 2026

Hogaku - Japanese Music Hogaku - Yamatogaku USA Japanese Culture - LA

From Edo to LA: Yamatogaku USA’s 25th Anniversary Concert Bridges Cultures and Generations

February 26, 2026

Delicious Japan - LA Japan - Hiroshima - Local Ramen Ramen - Tenkaippin USA

Japan’s Legendary Ramen Chain Restaurant Tenkaippin Grand-Opens in Little Tokyo

February 26, 2026

Bando Hidesomi

Buyo - Bando Hidesomi Japanese Culture - LA Nihon Buyo

Yuubi: Celebrating 30 Years of Elegance and Grace—Bando Hidesomi’s Nihon Buyo Shines at the Aratani Theatre

February 26, 2026

Katsura Sunshine NYC

Hawaii - Japanese Topics New York City Rakugo - Katsura Sunshine Rakugo - Yose

Now in its 7th Year in New York City, KATSURA SUNSHINE’S RAKUGO Extends Its Run Through 2026 at New World Stages: New Block of Tickets Now Available!

February 26, 2026

Gardena Valley JCI Japanese Language School

Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute - GVJCI Japanese Culture - LA Language

Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) is hiring for part-time Japanese Language School Teachers.

February 26, 2026

Arcade Entertainment

Japanese Arcade Entertainment Comes to Santa Monica: Japan’s Big Corporations Launch Capsule-Toy Pop-Up to Third Street Promenade

February 26, 2026

Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles US-Japan

Defense Minister Koizumi Joins Los Angeles’ 15th Anniversary of Operation Tomodachi Reception Hosted by Consulate General of Japan

February 26, 2026

Bando Hidesomi

Buyo - Bando Hidesomi Buyo - Wa No Kai Nihon Buyo

Madame Bando Hidesomi Creates Spectacle Show “Yuubi” at Aratani Theatre as Her 30th Anniversary of Bando Mihon Buyo School

February 26, 2026

Tato Takahama U.S. Politics Report Thumbnail

News - International Takahama - Japanese Views from America Takahama Tato

Tato Takahama Reports: In Washington, Operation in Venezuela has long been seen not as a question of “whether” to act, but “when” to act. It was a matter of timing, not principle.

February 26, 2026

Immigration Japanese American National Museum - JANM

Lawmakers and Community Leaders Convene at Japanese American National Museum to Announce California Assembly Bill to Stop Immigration Enforcement

February 26, 2026

Cultural News Slideshow Kawaratani Interview

Japanese Topics - World Little Tokyo Community

Cultural News Slideshow | Little Tokyo Development History | Churches and Temples are important to preserve Japanese culture in Little Tokyo, says Yukio Kawaratani, retired urban planner

February 26, 2026

Immigration

Hundreds of High School Students Walk Off Their Campuses in Glendale, North Hollywood and Van Nuys to Protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

February 26, 2026

Films of Remembrance 2026 Thumbnail

Day of Remembrance Film Nichi Bei Foundation Nikkei Legacy - No Am San Francisco - Japanese Topics Wartime Experience

2026 February | In-Person Screening of “Films of Remembrance” in Northern California Feb. 21-22

February 22, 2026

Arizona Matsuri 2026 Thumbnail

Arizona - Japanese Topics

2026 Feb. 21-22 | Arizona Matsuri Returns to Phoenix: Celebrate Japanese Culture and Community Bonds

February 22, 2026

Gallery - Egenolf Japanese Prints Museum - Japanese Art - LA Woodblock Prints

2026 Feb. 21-22 | Egenolf Gallery Japanese Prints to showcase quality ukiyo-e and shin hanga at Rare Books Pasadena

February 22, 2026

SFVJACC Day of Remembrance 2026 Thumbnail

Day of Remembrance Nikkei Legacies - LA San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center

2026 Feb. 22 | San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center to Host Day of Remembrance Event

February 22, 2026

Day of Remembrance Nikkei Legacies - LA

2026 Feb. 21 | Annual Los Angeles Day of Remembrance Attended with 300 People at Hompa Hongwanji Temple

February 21, 2026