Cherry Blossom Festival

The 9th annual Cherry Blossom Festival took place in Little Tokyo on April 10th and 11th of this month. This event is held every year by a volunteer organization "RYOMA" since 2002 to familiarize Japanese American culture to mainstream America. A total of over 60,000 visitors came to the event. On the main stage, children performed classical Japanese dances in costumes with the color of cherry blossom. Adults and children were excited about the impressive Sumo and Karate performances. The visitors had an opportunity to experience Japanese food culture, and they smacked their lips over Japanese food. This event in Little Tokyo was one where anyone could enjoy Japanese culture regardless of race and age.

North-South Tournament

The Southern California Kendo Federation and the Northern California Kendo Federation held their annual “North-South Tournament” on April 18th at Wilson Park in Torrance. Over 350 kendoists ages 5 to 88 participated in the individual matches. The team tournament included four categories: women, kyu, yudansha and kodansha. All but the kodansha categories were won by the Southern California Kendo Federation.