As one of the main attractions of the 71st Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival, the Grand Parade will hit the streets of Little Tokyo on Sunday, August 14, starting at 5:30 pm.
The parade route begins at Central Avenue traveling west on 2nd Street, north on Los Angeles Street, then east on 1st Street and completes its procession at Central Avenue.
Various local community groups, high schools, elected officials and representatives from Nagoya, Japan, Los Angeles’ sister city, as well as the newly crowned 2011 Nisei Week Queen and Court and other visiting queen/court members will participate in the parade.
This year’s parade features Nebuta (smaller “kodomo” Nebuta floats made of paper and lights).
As a special edition to the Nebuta, 35 students representing L.A.’s Best – an after school enrichment and supervision program for kids, will be marching in the parade carrying special constructed Japanese style paper kites.
These kites will be flown in recognition of the efforts continuing to be made in rebuilding Japan after the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster to show their local community spirit, along with a banner that reads ‘Japan will soar again!’
Also, Odori dancers and taiko drum performers will fill the streets of Little Tokyo, making this festival a must see family event.
The 2011 Grand Marshal will be Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, a Japanese American civil rights activist. The Parade Marshal will be Tommy Lasorda, former Los Angeles Dodgers’ Manager.
Among the other community leaders riding in the parade will be four out of the eight Keiro Senior HealthCare Founders, who were selected to be this year’s honorary grand marshals. The Keiro Founders who will ride in the parade are, George Aratani, Kiyoshi Maruyama, James Mitsumori and Frank Omatsu.