Traditional “mochitsuki” (Japanese rice pounding ritual) performance by Kodama Taiko. (Photo credit: JANM)
LITTLE TOKYO, L.A. – The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) will bring its popular annual Oshogatsu Family Festival to the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) from 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The 2026 Oshogatsu Family Festival will include free crafts, performances, and cultural activities for all ages to ring in the Year of the Horse. Admission to Oshogatsu is free, and advance tickets are recommended. Tickets and details are available on janm.org/events.
New Year’s Day, or Oshogatsu, is one of Japan’s longest and most important holidays. One of the highlights of JANM’s Oshogatsu Family Festival is a traditional mochitsuki performance by Kodama Taiko where rice is pounded into a smooth and elastic dough called mochi to the beat of taiko drums. A calligraphy performance by calligrapher and dancer Kuniharu Yoshida will merge traditional and contemporary art. Shan Ichiyanagi (Shan the Candyman) will make candy in the shape of horses and other animals in the Asian zodiac and they will be offered as prizes for kids participating in the stamp rally.
The Family Festival will also include two ukulele performances by the JANM Band and Ukuleles for Little Tokyo, a stamp rally for prizes, an improv performance by Cold Tofu, a kendo demonstration by Sho Tokyo Kendo Dojo, a creative activity exploring family and food with Discover Nikkei, and an opportunity to add wishes to the Democracy Center’s pop-up Wish Wall in celebration of the US’s 250th birthday next year.
Visitors can also participate in Year of the Horse–themed activities that include folding an origami horse and making a rocking paper plate horse. The online JANM Store also has horse-themed merchandise available for purchase, including a t-shirt, plushy, tea cup, and more to get in the spirit of the new year.
The Oshogatsu Family Festival is part of JANM on the Go, the Museum’s schedule of special exhibitions, public programs, family festivals, and more on its campus and beyond while the renovation of JANM’s Pavilion continues until late 2026.
