Music! Dance! Drummers! Crafts! Food! Free admission and parking awaits festival attendees at the exciting 50th annual Bunka-Sai Japanese Cultural Festival on April 5 and 6th, at the Torrance Cultural Arts complex.
As part of its major fundraiser supporting the successful student exchange program with its Sister City of Kashiwa in Japan, the Torrance Sister City Association (TSCA) will host an event featuring fun for the entire family.
There will be an Asian-themed arts and craft boutique with over twenty vendors selling hand-made items that will be perfect gifts for the upcoming holidays. Included among the items for sale will be new and gently used kimono items with some that can be repurposed into new garments, as well as a limited number of like-new already-made children’s obis (sashes), and a few wedding kimonos that will make beautiful home displays.
Also, there will be vendors with pottery; home decor; clothing; jewelry; purses and decorative bags ; stationery; a gift booth sale with great bargains; and more.
Also free will be one of the best Japanese cultural arts programs in the South Bay with performances by students of many certified instructors who have studied in Japan.
The Bunka-Sai will open and close with the thunderous roar of the various taiko groups who practice at Asano Taiko, U.S. A very special guest artist, Shan Ichiyanagi, AKA The Candy Man, is scheduled to make a rare appearance on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. He is one of the few Japan–trained artists in the art of “Amezaiku,” Japanese candy sculptures. He will demonstrate and sell his candy art and even take special requests.
Also, enjoy demonstrations of martial arts; tea ceremony; kimono dressing; brush calligraphy; “rakugo” (storytelling) and “kendama” (children’s game), and performances of Japanese and Okinawan dancing and music; and two students of the world famous tsugaru shamisen artists–The Yoshida Brothers.
For those who enjoy the beauty of nature, there will be exhibits of bonsai by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai and Ikenobo (flower arrangement) as well as demonstrations of these arts.
Fans of Japanese storytelling, or “kamishibai,” will be captivated in the Assembly Room. Children and adults can engage in hands-on activities of bead-making, origami, and brush calligraphy, and there will be outdoor games for children as well.
Since every festival is for foodies—shaved ice, cotton candy, dango, BBQ grilled items, spam musubi, curry, and yakisoba are standard food items for sale at the Bunka-Sai.
The cultural festival will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 5-6, Saturday and Sunday, and will be located at the Torrance Cultural Arts complex at the corner of Madrona Avenue and Torrance Blvd.
Part of the complex houses the Ken Miller Recreation Center, where the stage will be host to performers. Make your way to 3341 Torrance Blvd, Torrance 90503, for all the excitement. Please visit the TSCA website at https://torrancesistercity.org/ for more information.
Bunka-Sai Performance Schedule - April 5-6, 2025
Ken Miller Recreation Center Stage, Torino Plaza Outdoor Stage & Assembly Room
Schedule Subject to Change Without Notice
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
Outdoor 11:00 am - 5:00, Culture: Amezaiku Japanese Candy Artist: Shan Ichiyanagi
Outdoor 11:15 am - 11:35, Taiko: Fred Visaya and LA Miyake Kai
Outdoor 11:35 am - 11:40, Welcome Speeches
Indoor 11:45 am - 12:15, Tea Ceremony: Urasenke Tanko Kai Los Angeles Association
Indoor 12:15 pm - 12:30, Announcement: Anime Contest winner presentations
Indoor 12:40 pm - 1:05, Martial Arts: Torrance Kendo Dojo
Indoor 1:15 pm - 1:45, Music: LA’s 33 Strings (Japanese Music Ensemble)
Indoor 1:55 pm - 2:25, Martial Arts: South Bay Judo Club
Indoor 2:35 pm - 2:50, Music: Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (Okinawan Drums)
Indoor 2:50 pm - 3:05, Dance: Tamagusuguryu Kansen Atae No Kai (Okinawan Dance)
Indoor 3:15 pm - 3:45, Music: Fuji Japanese Music (Japanese Music)
Indoor 3:55 pm - 4:20, Music: Shusaku and Tsumugi (Tsugaru Shamisen)
Indoor 4:30 pm - 5:00, Taiko: Prota
Assembly Rm 12:00 pm- 12:30, Ikenobo: Flower arrangement demo by Minamitani Semho
Assembly Rm 1:00 pm - 2:00, Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
Assembly Rm 2:30 pm - 3:00, Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
Assembly Rm 3:30 pm - 4:30, Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
Assembly Rm 12:00 pm to 3:00, Hands-on Japanese calligraphy-Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu Kai
Assembly Rm 12:00 pm to 4:00, Hands-on origami paper folding led by Yoko Sekine
SUNDAY, APRIL 6
Outdoor 11:10 am - 11:35, Taiko: ASANO TAIKO US Youth
Indoor 11:45 am - 12:10, Culture: Nishiyamato Academy Students (Rakugo and Kendama)
Indoor 12:20 pm - 12:50, Music: Matsutoyo Kai (Japanese Folk Singing)
Indoor 1:00 pm - 1:30, Kimono: Nadeshiko Kai (Japanese Culture and Traditions)
Indoor 1:40 pm - 2:10, Calligraphy: Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu Kai (Ink brush writing)
Indoor 2:20 pm - 2:35, Dance: Rin No Kai (Japanese traditional dance)
Indoor 2:35 pm - 2:50, Dance: Wakahisa Kai (Japanese traditional dance)
Indoor 3:00 pm - 3:30, Martial Arts: Torrance Naginata Dojo
Indoor 3:40 pm - 4:10, Music: Yoko Awaya Koto Music Conservatory
Indoor 4:20 pm - 5:00, Taiko: ASANO TAIKO US and Los Angeles Taiko Institute Groups
Assembly Rm 11:30 am - 12:00, Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
Assembly Rm 12:30 pm - 1:30, Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
Assembly Rm 1:45 pm - 2:15, Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
Assembly Rm 2:30 pm - 3:30, Bonsai: Horticulture demonstration by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
Assembly Rm 3:45 pm - 4:15, Kamishibai: Japanese story reading for children
Assembly Rm 12:00 pm to 3:00, Hands-on Japanese calligraphy by Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu Kai
Assembly Rm 12:00 pm to 4:00, Hands-on origami: Peninsula Paper Folders - Pam Miike and Joy Fujita
Assembly Room Exhibits
Bonsai by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai
Japanese Girls’ Day Doll Display by Torrance Sister City Association.
Ikebana - Ikenobo School (Japanese flower arranging) by students of Minamitani Semho
Saga Art Center - Students of Shun Kohrogi
