LA Kansai Club Launches Third Annual Team Kawachi Ondo Uchiwa Campaign — Seeking Individual Donations to Preserve Bon Odori Traditions
LOS ANAGELES — LA Kansai Club announces the third annual Team Kawachi Ondo commemorative uchiwa (hand fan) campaign for the 2026 Bon Odori season and requests donations from individuals and the public to support this cultural initiative. The Club’s campaign goal is $500 in additional community contributions to help cover production, distribution, and program support costs.
Why Your Support Matters
The Team Kawachi Ondo uchiwa began in 2024 to mark the team’s selection to perform at Nisei Week and has since evolved into an annual community tradition. These commemorative fans are distributed free at Bon Odori festivals and Japanese cultural events across Southern California. They serve as more than a summer keepsake: the uchiwa celebrate Japanese culture, encourage participation in Bon Odori, and connect sponsors and donors with thousands of attendees throughout the season.
How Donations Help
Contributions from individuals directly support Team Kawachi Ondo’s year-round cultural and educational activities, including weekly practice sessions, public performances, youth participation initiatives, educational outreach, yukata dressing workshops, and preservation of traditional Japanese performing arts throughout Southern California. Donor support ensures that free uchiwa remain available at community events and that programming continues to engage participants of all ages.
2026 Uchiwa Distribution and Community Reach
The 2026 commemorative uchiwa have been completed and distribution begins second week of July. One thousand fans will be available free of charge while supplies last at Bon Odori and related events, including:
- Sunday, July 26 — Higashi Honganji Obon
- Sunday, August 2 — Gardena Obon
- Sunday, August 16 — Nisei Week Parade
- Saturday, August 22 — Nisei Week Plaza Festival
- Sunday, August 23 — Nisei Week Closing Ceremony
- Saturday, August 29 — Long Beach Obon
- Sunday, August 30 — Torrance Taste of Japan
By donating, individuals help distribute these fans to thousands of festival attendees, increasing visibility for cultural education and community engagement.
To find details and schedules of the above events, check
Instagram: @teamkawachiondo
https://www.instagram.com/teamkawachiondo/?hl=en
Facebook: LA Kansai Club
https://www.facebook.com/KansaiC/
Payment Methods for Individual Donors
Donors may contribute using the following methods:
- Check: Payable to Kansai Club, Inc. — Mail to LA Kansai Club, C/O Tom Maeda, 3721 Emerald Street #A, Torrance CA 90503
- Zelle: Send to lakansai.club@gmail.com
- Bank Transfer (ACH): Bank: US Bank | Account Name: Kansai Club, Inc. | Account #: 158301098360 | Routing #: 122235821
Recognition and Community Impact
LA Kansai Club acknowledges the ongoing generosity of businesses, nonprofit organizations, cultural groups, and individual donors who have supported past campaigns. Current sponsors include local businesses, performing arts groups, and community organizations. Individual contributions complement these sponsors and demonstrate grassroots community commitment to preserving Japanese traditions in Southern California.
About Team Kawachi Ondo and the LA Kansai Club
Team Kawachi Ondo, a cultural program of LA Kansai Club, is dedicated to preserving and sharing Japanese Bon Odori traditions. Founded by Dr. Shinichi Hirokawa and Ms. Fumio Maruyama Moo, the team holds more than 50 practice sessions annually, offers yukata dressing workshops, and performs widely across Southern California at events such as Nisei Week, Higashi Honganji Obon, local Bon Odori festivals, and community celebrations.
LA Kansai Club is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit committed to preserving and promoting Japanese culture while strengthening the Japanese American community through cultural programs, youth initiatives, educational activities, and community events.