The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (JCCSC) and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation (JCCF) are excited to announce the annual Oshogatsu Matsuri New Year's Festival, taking place on January 1, 2026, at Weller Court and the Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
This beloved tradition welcomes the New Year with a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture in the heart of our community. Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of traditional Japanese food, entertainment, and cultural activities, including mochi making, taiko drumming, lion dance, aikido demonstrations, minyo folk songs and dance, shorin kempo, a kimono fashion show, kendo, ondo dance, and much more.
Everyone is invited—bring your colleagues, friends, and family to celebrate peace, love, and joy on New Year's Day. The festival features activities for all ages, including a special sake fest and children’s cultural programs.
Download Link to 2026 Oshogatsu Program
2026 Japanese New Year Celebration Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo
Presented by
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California
Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Weller Court: 10:50 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.
123 Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Stage Program
10:50 a.m. Kick-off Taiko Drums 太鼓演奏 / Taiko Center of L.A.
11:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony with Greetings and Sake Barrel Breaking 開会式
11:15 a.m. Taiko Drum Performance 太鼓演奏 / Taiko Center of L.A.
11:25 a.m. Lion Dance “Shishimai” 獅子舞 / Taiko Center of L.A.
11:35 a.m. Mochi-maki #1 もちまき / Nisei Week Queen & Court
11:40 a.m. Calligraphy Demonstration 書き初め / Beikoku Shodo Kenkyukai
12:00 p.m. Aikido 合気道 / Sanbukai
12:25 p.m. Minyo & Odori 民謡と踊り / Matsutoyo Kai
1:00 p.m. Shorinji Kempo 少林寺拳法 / Shorinji Kempo
1:30 p.m. Kimono Contest & Fashion Show 着物コンテスト＆ファッションショー / LA Kimono Club
1:55 p.m. Kendo Dojo 剣道 / LA Kendo Dojo
2:25 p.m. Kimono Contest Results Announcement 着物コンテスト結果発表 / LA Kimono Club
2:35 p.m. Team Kawachi Ondo 日本の音楽と踊り
3:10 p.m. Mochi-maki JCCF/JCCSC Officers/Board もちまき
3:20 p.m. Awa Odori Dance (Awa Odori members to lead Weller Court crowd to JVP for finale there) 阿波踊り
3:40 p.m. Closing 閉会
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Japanese Village Plaza: 12:30 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.
335 E. 2nd Street. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Stage Program
12:30 p.m. Kick-off Taiko Drums 太鼓演奏 / Taiko Center of L.A.
12:40 p.m. Opening Ceremony with Greetings 開会式 / MC, JCCSC Pres. & CG
12:55 p.m. Mochi-maki #1 もちまき / Nisei Week Queen & Court
1:00 p.m. Taiko Drum & Shishimai Performance 太鼓演奏と獅子舞 / Taiko Center of L.A.
1:40 p.m. Minyo & Odori 民謡と踊り / Matsutoyo Kai
2:15 p.m. Aikido 合気道 / Sanbukai
3:15 p.m. Team Kawachi Ondo 日本の音楽と踊り
3:50 p.m. Awa Odori Dance 阿波踊り
4:15 p.m. Closing 閉会
Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Street Booths
Pop-Up Shinto Shrine of Shusse Inari in America Booth アメリカ出世稲荷神社
10:00 a.m. Saitan-sai 歳旦祭
1:30 p.m. Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
Food Booths: Mochi, Karaage, Yakisoba, Yakitori, Takoyaki, Sweets, etc.
Sake Booth: Beer, Sake, Shochu, etc.
*All programs listed in this brochure may be subject to change without notice.
Los Angeles Buddhist Church Federation Events 元旦法要
Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple (Temple will be closed for members and friends) 505 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Dec. 31: 5:00 p.m. 除夜会 Year-end service
Jan. 1: 10:00 a.m. 修正会 New year service
Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of Los Angeles
342 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dec. 31: 4:00 p.m. 大晦日・報恩謝徳法会 Year-end service
New Year Temple Open Hours: Jan.1-3, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily
Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Goma Service
10:00 a.m. 修正会・護摩祈祷 | 2:00 p.m. 護摩祈祷 Goma Services
Jan. 2 New Year’s Day Goma Service
10:00 a.m. 護摩祈祷 | 2:00 p.m. 護摩祈祷 Goma Services
Jan. 3 New Year’s Day Blessing Service at 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m.
Nishi Hongwanji L.A. Betsuin
815 1st St. L.A., CA 90012
Dec. 31: 6:00 p.m. 除夜会 Year-end service
Jan. 1: 10:00 a.m. 修正会 New year service
Senshin Buddhist Temple
1311 W. 37th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007 (Near U.S.C)
Dec. 31: 5:00 p.m. 除夜会 Year-end service
Jan. 1: 10:00 a.m. 元旦会 New year service
Zenshuji Soto Mission
123 S. Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dec. 31: 4:00 p.m. 歳末諷経 Year-end service
Jan. 1: 10:00 a.m. 修正会 New year service
Consul General Murota Kosei
Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all gathered for the 2026 Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo. This festive occasion is a beloved annual event where the community celebrates the New Year together while enjoying longstanding cultural traditions in the heart of Little Tokyo.
Since assuming my duties in August, I have had the opportunity to meet many Japanese Americans and have come to deeply appreciate their tremendous contributions to the development of American society in the postwar era.
These achievements are the result of the longstanding efforts of nisei, sansei, and the generation known as shin-issei. I would like to express my sincere respect. At the same time, in order to strengthen and develop the
Japanese American community further, I hope to see greater leadership from younger generations: yonsei, gosei, and the shin-nisei.
The Japanese Consulate will continue to support the activities of younger generation Japanese Americans.
I offer my deep appreciation to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California and its Foundation for providing support and services for the Japanese American community and striving to preserve and pass on Japanese oshogatsu culture to future generations, including those outside of the Japanese American Community.
I congratulate the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California and its Foundation on a successful Oshogatsu event in Little Tokyo. Please accept my best wishes to all for good health and prosperity throughout the Year 2026!
Sincerely,
Murota Kosei
Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles
Jeff Yamazaki
President
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California
Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Happy New Year!
In Japan, on January 1st, families, and friends, many dressed in traditional kimono, gather at temples to pray for a healthy and prosperous year while setting resolutions during this season, striving for growth, harmony, and personal fulfillment.
Today we will be celebrating the 28th Annual Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo Event. You will have the opportunity to share in the Japanese festivities that make the start of the New Year so special. Just as many others do around the world, the Japanese believe that January 1st is the time to start anew.
As we reflect on the past year, we take this time to resolve to become better in the New Year.
However, unlike Japan where many businesses are closed on Oshogatsu, you will be able to shop and eat in many locations throughout Little Tokyo.
We hope that you will designate Little Tokyo as your destination of choice and return again and again to visit our shops, restaurants, hotel, and cultural venues. We look forward to seeing you soon!
May 2026 bring you joy, health, and success!
Sincerely,
Jeff Yamazaki
President
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California
Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Download Link to 2026 Oshogatsu Program
2026 Japanese New Year Celebration Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo
Presented by:
Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California
Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Honorary Chair: The Honorable Kosei Murota, Consul General of Japan
Event Committee: Jeff Yamazaki, JCCSC & JCCF President; Grace Shiba, Event Co-Chair; Jeff Yamazaki, Event Co-Chair; Paul Abe, Junzo Arai, Akira Fujimoto, Yoshiharu Hamano, Darlene Kuba, David Kudo, Howard Miyoshi, Nicole Miyoshi, Happy Mizutani, Trudy Nodohara, Tomoko Omura, Kitty Sankey, Ark Sano, Shun Sekiguchi, Yuriko Shikai
Volunteers: We would like to thank our nearly 100 volunteers for their time and support.
Supported by: Weller Court Shopping Center: Ysabel Jurado, Councilmember, 14th District of City of Los Angeles
Gold Sponsors: Japanese Village Plaza, Mutual Trading, U.S. Bank
Silver Sponsors: Japanese American Treaty Centennial Scholarship Fund, Inc, Southern California Gardeners’ Federation, Shinsen Gumi Group
Bronze Sponsors: Little Tokyo Service Center, Keiro, Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California, Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California, Nijiya Market, Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of Japanese American Citizens League
Sponsors: Little Tokyo Business Association, Miyako Hotel Los Angels, Japanese Community Pioneer Center, Nisei Week Foundation, Weller Court Shopping Center, Fugetsu-Do Confectioners, Japanese Restaurant News, U.S. Kajima Group, Takara Sake USA, Japanese Restaurant Association of America, Fukui Mortuary, Glico, Sincere Orient Food Co, Otafuku Foods, Sapporo Premium Beer, Iichiko Shochu, Gardena Dance Studio, Rafu Bussan, Sushi Gen, Uyehara Travel, Westwood Presbyterian Church, Koraku, DoubleTree by Hilton, Entertainment Hobby Shop Jungle, Nanka Shizuoka Kenjinkai
Media Sponsors: Cultural News. Little Tokyo Community Council, Japanese Restaurant News, Nikkan San, Rafu Shimp
