Los Angeles – The Nisei Week Foundation proudly hosts its 83rd summer event with free cultural activities for all ages. The Nisei Week Japanese Festival features a Grand Parade as part of its first weekend of events, which will make its way through the streets of Little Tokyo on Sunday, August 10, starting at 4 p.m.
The parade will be led by the 2025 Grand Marshal, Thomas Iino, and Parade Marshal East West Players.
This year’s parade songs are “Kawasaki Odori” and “Sorega Daiji,” two songs are curated by Mam. Bando Hidesomi, the 2025 Nisei Week Official Choreographer.
The parade procession will start at Central Avenue and head west on 2nd Street, turning north on San Pedro Street, turning east on 1st Street, then turning south and ending on Central Avenue.
The Nisei Week Grand Parade will feature traditional Japanese taiko drum performers, local community groups, high schools, elected officials and representatives, and the newly crowned 2025 Nisei Week queen and court.
The two will be honored on Saturday, August 9, at the Coronation and Awards Celebration at the Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro Street. Starting at 6:30 p.m.
Thomas Iino
Grand Marshal – Thomas Iino
Thomas Iino retired from Deloitte as partner in charge of international practice in the western region from 1983 through 2005. He subsequently was named chairman of the board of Pacific Commerce Bank, which, after two acquisitions and a merger, was acquired by Enterprise Bank in 2017. Additionally, he served as a board member for Southwest Water Company, a publicly held company.
Thomas is the first Japanese American to serve as president of the board of both the California Board of Accountancy and the National Association of State Boards. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the California Society of CPAs for his contributions to the accounting profession.
Currently, Thomas is the treasurer of Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert, serves on the finance committee of Los Angeles Country Club, and is a member of the advisory board to US Bank.
Since the 1990s, Thomas has been active on several boards and is currently on the board of directors of the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center and the board of governors of the Japanese American National Museum. He is the founding chairman of the U.S.-Japan Council and a former director of Keiro. He continues his work with the two organizations in an advisory board capacity. Thomas is also a member of the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles steering committee. Past affiliations include Little Tokyo Service Center and the Aurora Foundation.
Thomas received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon from Japan in 2013. Additionally, he has currently formed an advisory committee to assist the Japan Consulate in Los Angeles and the Japan Business Association in their outreach initiatives in Southern California.
Thomas is a graduate of UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. His mother, Shizuko (Alice) Watanabe, was the first Nisei Week Queen and his father, Sho, was the first Japanese American CPA in the United States.
Parade Marshal – East West Players
East West Players (EWP), the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, was founded in 1965 at a time when Asian Americans faced limited or no opportunities to see their experiences reflected outside of stereotypical and demeaning caricatures in the American landscape.
EWP is now focused on ensuring Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian (AAPINH) stories are told, and working to increase access, inclusion and representation in entertainment and media. Designated by the Ford Foundation as one of America’s Cultural Treasures in 2020, EWP continues its groundbreaking work by defining and expanding the representation and stories of the AAPINH community. With more than 60 years of visionary leadership and artistic excellence, EWP delivers deeply inclusive theater, building bridges between communities, amplifying diverse voices and advocating for social justice on and offstage.
Each year, EWP produces 3-4 professional productions in the David Henry Hwang Theater and leads a professional playwrights’ cohort. It also offers a growing array of educational programs that train nearly 200 multicultural artists annually. These include its Theatre for Youth touring production, which brings live theater to schools and libraries across Los Angeles; EWPlay!, a program that develops new works with student artists; and professional enrichment classes. Learn more at eastwestplayers.org.
East West Players is supported in part by the Perenchio Foundation, Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, California Arts Council, and many other generous foundations, companies and individuals.
The 2025 Nisei Week Choreographer Bando Hidesomi began her training under Madame Bando Mitsuhiro at age three. She started additional training under Madame Bando Hideko, the daughter of Grand Master Bando Mitsugoro IX (9th) at 12. While attending Keio University, she trained in Japan for five years under the care of Bando Mitsugoro IX. During that time, she received the title of Shihan (master’s degree). She also participated in the Bando school’s Charity Recital in Tokyo and Bando-Kai’s 75th Anniversary Recital, at the National Theater of Japan. Currently, Bando Hidesomi is one of the representatives for the Bandō Ryu in Los Angeles.
Upon returning to the United States in 1996, she began building her career as a professional dancer, dedicating herself to upbringing her students in the Los Angeles area. For 20 years, Bando Hidesomi taught at the afterschool cultural enrichment program (now continued by her student) at El Marino Elementary School. Bando Hidesomi also teaches students ranging from the age of three to the late 80s at the Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute (JCI), Gardena JCI, and the Mai no Kai studio in Torrance.
In 2006, Bando Hidesomi held her first recital and participated in the Los Angeles Bando Ryu Charity Recital, at the Aratani Theater. Recently, she has been a guest performer at various concerts of Makoto Taiko, choreographing taiko and shakuhachi music. Bando Hidesomi has led and choreographed the Nisei Week Parade and has been the choreographer for the Nihon Buyo section of the Nisei Week Coronation since 2015.
Apart from performing, she has shared her passion through having lecture demonstrations and workshops at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, Nibei Foundation, East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center, University of California, Santa Barbara, Chapman University, and other local cultural and educational facilities. In recent years, she has had the privilege of sharing her passion with lecture demonstrations and events through the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles.
As a school, Bando Hidesomi and her students have performed at many different venues throughout the years. Annual events include performances in the Nisei Week Festival, Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Torrance Bunka-sai, Gardena JCI carnivals, and obon at Zenshuji Soto Mission. Some other performances include events at the Bowers Museum, Southcoast Botanic Garden, San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum Cherry Blossom Festival, Iris Festival at the Arboretum, Awaya-Kai Koto Concerts, Warner Grand Theater, and the Arizona Matsuri Festival. Bando Hidesomi and her school also visit nursing homes in the greater Los Angeles area, hoping to bring joy into the hearts of the residents.
Through Nihon Buyo, Bando Hidesomi wishes to express her appreciation and respect for all cultures. She hopes her passion for Nihon Buyo will bring love, joy, peace, and hope, creating a bridge of unity between all cultures.
The 83rd Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running cultural festivals in the United States. This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 9-17. For the festival schedule, visit NiseiWeek.org
