Little Tokyo New Year

Many people came to the annual New Year’s event in Little Tokyo this year. The event was sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. Many excited children and Nisei Queens did “mochimaki”, or rice throwing, at the popular event. The Koyasan was full of people for “hatsumode” who were trying to make this year even better than the last. Approximately 5,000 people visited Koyasan on New Year’s Day alone.
On the 2nd, the Japanese community gathered to exchange greetings and celebrate the New Year. The JACCC gave the opening words to open the 2011 celebrations.

Rose Parade 2011

Large crowds people gathered in Pasadena to watch the 122nd Rose Parade this year. As this year’s sponsor, Honda created the float that kicked off the parade. Honda’s float this year was a brilliant fairy tale castle that came straight from their theme, “The World of Dreams”.
The theme of this year’s parade was “Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories”. For many, just being selected as part of the parade is a long time dream. As part of the parade, participants make many lasting friendships and memories that they will keep with them always. That is the message organizers hoped to convey.
One of the most challenging floats that stood out this year was the Natural Balance float which attempted to be in the Guinness book for the heaviest float and relied on the performance of a number of dogs diving into a pool and riding water boards. All of the dogs auditioned and practiced hard for the spot. UTB attended one of their practices a month ago where we met Quinn and his dog Bubbles, who was having difficulties finding the nerve to make the jump into the pool without aid.
We found Quinn and Bubbles on the float at the parade, but would Bubbles have the nerve to jump? With a SPLASH, Bubble’s is a great success!
Also at the parade was Green Band. The only Japanese participants at the parade, Green Band is a collection of High School and University band members selected from all over Northern Japan. The 192 band members arrived in the United on June 22nd and stayed with host families where, many of them got their first taste of American life. At the parade, wearing their bright green uniforms, the band marched proudly and without any signs of fatigue throughout the 9km course.
This year’s Rose Parade had a total of 47 floats and 22 participating bands. More than 750,000 spectators gathered to watch the parade and celebrate the beginning of 2011.

Honda “Sharing Is Caring” Luncheon

Honda held it’s 20th Annual “Sharing is Caring” Christmas luncheon in conjunction with the Salvation Army at the Marriott in Torrance. The luncheon, which is aimed at helping the area’s needy, has been a yearly tradition that began after Honda stepped in to help after a Christmas Eve robbery left the Salvation Army without gifts to distribute to the community.
Around 100 volunteers pitched in to help the more than 1,200 low-income men, women, children and elderly who gathered for a warm Christmas meal.
Since it’s founding in 1959, American Honda has continued to strive as a community oriented organization.

Surf City Splash

On New Year’s Day 2011, under the clear blue California sky, Huntington Beach held its yearly “Surf City Splash” event. On a queue given at 12 noon, over 300 people from 19 months to 82 years old simultaneously made the dash into frigid ocean waters in order to wash off the old year and start the New Year fresh.
“Surf City Splash” was started 11 years ago by a small group of youth as something crazy to do for the New Year and has grown to what it is today.