Nisei Week
nisei week 二世週祭 niseishū matsuri annual festival celebrating japanese american ja culture history little tokyo los angeles nisei mean nd generation japanese describing first american born japanese group sevenday festival originally meant attract though named nisei generation nisei week longer targeted nisei festival still contained within week nisei week foundation president michelle suzuki described festival opportunity people background celebrate japanese heritage culture festivity held one month though main attraction held primary two weekend festival midaugust nisei week draw ten thousand participant year japanese community southern california area mostly grand parade specialized festival th annual nisei week festival grand parade take place august th annual tanabata festival held little tokyo midaugust cancelled deferred nisei week history began financially difficult era great depression — issei first generation japanese immigrant growing old gentlemens agreement prohibited new japanese immigration english speaking nisei became sought potential revenue source support little tokyo business dominated issei little tokyo falling stagnation nisei week celebration intended attract nisei help generate youthful exuberance district mihiko shimizu original inventor festival issei business owner vied alliance nisei run japanese american citizen league jacl promote festival however possibility labelled antiamerican antijapanese group remained concern due collaboration two generation american citizen japanese national cultural overtone festival issei business owner decided hand aspect celebration independent jacl settle problem first festival held august founded jacl beyond economic reason nisei week created promote ethnic solidarity utilizing nisei week cultural environment centering heart little tokyo holding cultural event issei hoped bring nisei back cultural fold older generation issei also hoped nisei become broker little tokyo dominant society around creation nisei week queen one year first nisei week may seen epitome cultural mediation broker japanese community white america mike haigwara nisei week street art carnival director attribute nisei week helping foster japanese american identity selfesteem japanese internment presented another tumultuous racially charged period nisei week greater japanese community executive order initiated relocating confining japanese american internment camp including running nisei week festival running continuously except year immediately internment nisei week celebrated th anniversary shifted year inactivity wwii era despite obstacle nisei week longest running japanese festival california celebrating th birthday retrospectively celebration seen time magazine dual reminder unofficially recall ugly footnote american history world war ii evacuation internment west coast japanese nativeborn u citizen lon kurashige professor ethnic study usc proposes lingering effect internment changed nisei week cultural tone affiliation part due weakening role men internment period shifted civil right period phillip morris first promotional event targeted asian pacific islander american community event staged nisei week event part larger pull strategy program included marketing increase brand recognition among asian marlboro booth provided sample attempted attract consumer displaying mclaren mp show car marlboro sponsored mclarens f team time nisei week festival businesswoman france hashimoto became first woman chair nisei week festival aki akita nisei week official mascot created renowned mascot artist dick sakahara nisei week defunct dog show aki appears costumed character greet entertain child cartoon form symbol festival nisei week wasnt held latter year saw virtual festival nisei week many attraction exhibition change annually though many tradition remain year nisei week parade take place primary sunday nisei week parade feature many varied participant mostly southern california japan including following local high school marching band ondo dancing group martial art dojos elected parade marshal usually celebrity community hero japanese local politician mayor los angeles mikoshi shrine float pageant queen taiko player etc spanning several hour nisei week parade last long due many participant slow walk pace traditional japanese dancer aomori nebuta famous festival within japan presented imported parade float grand parade parade took place august pm order float light visible nightfall parade august featured former los angeles dodger manager tommy lasorda grand marshal american figure skater mirai nagasu american actress singer gina hiraizumi japanese singer tv personality kenichi mikawa appeared parade world war ii exhibit introduced internment camp ja veteran including u th infantry battalion currently japanese american national museum janm go broke monument replaced separate exhibit old janm building ja veteran still march annually nisei week parade car show introduced produced mainstream production llc showoff car show show feature import car exhibit import model along car competition cash sponsor prize car show one admission based event nisei week covering cash prize logistics full fledge festival including live entertainment exhibit import scene argued influenced originated within asian american community linked asian american identity nd annual nisei week introduced nisei week pageant nisei week coronation ball pageant created help reinvigorate local business promote goodwill greater los angeles community early year pageant patron little tokyo business would receive ballot vote queen today queen crowned community service presentation skill formal coronation held judging celebration new queen princess inducted annually featured prominently float nisei week parade queen court crowned formal dinner guest primary weekend nisei week festival oneyear reign nisei week court member opportunity gain wide exposure global dignitary local industry leader chance travel city including nagoya japan san francisco honolulu hawaii experience various sister festival make lifelong connection pageant controversy pageant without controversy originally queen selected ballot given purchase little tokyo allowing making many purchase vote many time rule changed allow fairer chance contestant one controversy remains within ja community mixedrace contestant competitor must least japanese ancestry due increased outmarriage ratio japanese american multiracial also known hapa japanese community contestant began appear frequently causing questioning japanese cultural spirit competition competing beauty standard white versus asian lon kurashige professor ethnic study usc argues nisei queen played subordinate role ambassador issei nisei white american queen viewed bicultural possessing quiet charm lively personality attributed japanese white american respectively criticism sexism brought forth womens concern committee within jacl typical beauty portion pageant swimsuit competition eliminated queen coronation – originally similar matsuri japanese style festival carnival street festival held weekend featuring game craft ride child along food art vendor street art created addition carnival feature southern california craft food vendor old style carnival largely removed festival year street art carnival always open public admission fee fair included eating contest dumpling gyoza world champion eater sonya thomas joey chestnut competed international federation competitive eating sanctioned event competitor eating dumpling old school carnival return mike hagiwara nisei week committee member announced return old school nisei week carnival festivity direction press release circulating email ja news describes nostalgia eventual dwindling carnival carnival goal include creating long lasting enjoyable memory new generation along helping older generation relive memory nisei week past carnival also plan avoid commercialization using community group populate vending game booth hagiwara belief carnival help foster japanese american identity giving jas medium feel better heritage partnering japanese student network jsn nisei week th annual celebration included japanese style carnival thrown jsn coordination little tokyo service center tofu fest added subcommittee nisei week focusing japanese cuisine obon like atmosphere name suggests tofu primary ingredient dish cultural icon festival tofu festival discontinued nikkei game offer competition activity japanese american sport league open event running child also feature martial art competition exhibition nisei week support ja community nikkei game japanese american sport league remain important part ja culture history see also nikkei sport little tokyo anime festival feature video gaming manga martial art anime cosplaying japanese popular culture export part booth exhibit cosplay contest held arbitrated best costume winner presented cosplayers also take part nisei week parade cosplay contest held august inside little tokyo shopping center hundred cosplayers participated annual nisei week parade stopped second street san pedro street large group picture nisei week fashion show showcase fashion provides entertainment act nisei week court usually opening number commence event eg choreographed dance japaneseamerican model often past nisei week court member walk runway represent clothing line stemming queen pageant baby pageant allows parent showcase new born member community provide event parent networking annual los angeles tanabata festival started nisei week little tokyo public safety association various community group participate colorful handmade paper ornament streamer called kazari literally mean decoration japanese many performer example japanese performance artist miyuki matsunaga geta dance art appear main stage th annual festival take place midaugust janm plaza little tokyo festival went hiatus daylee food world gyoza eating championship annual event since held become major event major league eating calendar event attracts top star competitive eating circuit joey chestnut matt stonie winning past year notable star competed include miki sudo eric badlands booker geoffrey esper tradition japanese matsuris traditional ondo dance conducted closing celebration nisei week event madame fujima kansuma official choreographer fellow instructor held chochin lantern marked name deceased instructor past public participation encouraged formal dance troupe nisei week queen court family community group joining dance official passing nisei week foundation office position new cabinet also take place closing speech history japanese los angeles japanese american japanese american citizen league japanese american national museum japanese diaspora little tokyo matsuri obon tofu festival nisei week official website japanesecitycom nisei week festival tip little tokyo older nisei week site scanned flyer document tofu festival official website nisei week car show official website nikkei game official website jacls official website little tokyo anime festival myspacecom page los angeles tanabata festival official website