Nisei Week 2007 - First Arrival of Aomori Nebuta

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Published: Aug. 31, 2007 Modified: April 11, 2025

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Nisei Week 2007 - First Arrival of Aomori Nebuta

(2007 Nisei Court)

2007 Nisei Court and Aki the Akita at the 2007 Nisei Week closing ceremonies.

Yukata dog

Among the crowds waiting for the Nisei Week parade, there was this adorable spectator. The coat was also excellent. -- Among the crowds at the Nisei Week parade, what caught my eye was... this yukata-clad dog. Sitting quietly in a stroller, waiting for the parade to start, it was very adorable. Still, this yukata outfit puts even humans to shame. August 19, 2007, Los Angeles, California.

Nisei Week Parade (Girls waiting for the Nisei Week Parade)

For the Japanese American community in Los Angeles, Nisei Week is a traditional event that is a feature of the summer. This year, the event was delayed by a week to invite the nebuta from Aomori, where the original floats originate. This photo shows First Street before the annual Nisei Week Parade began. Many people were taking seats and waiting for the parade to start. It was apparently more lively than usual. -- First Street before the Nisei Week parade began. While many people were waiting for their spots, girls in yukatas were sitting in the best seats. Their innocent smiles were very memorable. The girl second from the left is wearing a Hello Kitty yukata. August 19, 2007

Large Nebuta (Nebuta - Takeda Shingen)

And this Nebuta was the final parade flag. I heard that it was made a little lower so that it wouldn't hit the electric lights, but I was overwhelmed by its size, 30ft wide x 24ft long x 17ft high. Apparently it was disassembled into nine pieces for transport from Japan to America. According to the official Nebuta website, Nebuta were not originally that big, and Aomori's Nebuta became larger after the war. After that, they became even bigger as the area became a tourist destination. For more information, please visit the official Aomori Nebuta website . -- Aomori's Nebuta made its first appearance in the Nisei Week parade. This year, the event was delayed by one week to invite this Nebuta from its home in Aomori. This large Nebuta is based on Takeda Shingen, famous for his song Fuurinkazan. It is made of colored washi paper and illuminated from the inside with hundreds of lights. I heard that it was disassembled into nine pieces, transported from Aomori, and assembled here. The imposing size of the huge float, 30ft wide x 24ft long x 17ft high, was quite overwhelming! August 19, 2007, Los Angeles, California.

Nebuta master (Nebuta and Nebuta master)

Of course, not everyone can make these nebuta. They are made by craftsmen called "nebuta masters." This year's Shingen Nebuta was made by Nebuta master Hiroo Takenami. After the year's festival, the Nebuta masters start thinking about the next year's Nebuta. In the home of the festival, Aomori, every year, a competition is held to see which Nebuta is the best in terms of theme and beauty. This year's winners are here. ( List of winning Nebuta ) -- This is the first Nebuta to appear in Nisei Week. Did you know that there are craftsmen called "nebuta masters" who make these nebuta? These Nebuta masters decide the Nebuta's preliminary design (blueprint), overall structure, colors, etc. This year's Shingen Nebuta was made by Nebuta master Hiroo Takenami. To transport the gigantic Nebuta, 30ft wide x 24ft long x 17ft high, to America, Takenami started making it at the end of January, and it was shipped from Aomori to Los Angeles by boat in early June. Of course, there was no container to fit such a large object, so it was disassembled into nine pieces and transported. Takenami arrived in Los Angeles in August and carried out the final assembly work in a corner of Little Tokyo in time for Nisei Week. August 19, 2007, Los Angeles, California.

The process of making a Nebuta (Nebuta - Takeda Shingen (side view))

There are various processes involved in making a Nebuta, and it takes several months. Nebuta are not made in a day! The official website introduces the process. ( How a Nebuta is Made ) -- This Nebuta made its first appearance during Nisei Week. Of course, the cart moves, and Shingen himself does not move, but I was struck by the sensation that Shingen was approaching me. This sense of dynamism is incredible! August 19, 2007, Los Angeles, California

Overseas dispatch (Nebuta - Tiger of Kai)

This is not the first time that Nebuta have been sent overseas. They have also been sent to various other places, such as the Sakura Festival in Hawaii and the 70th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Sao Paulo, Brazil. -- This is a view of the Nebuta from the back. This design is thought to come from the fact that Takeda Shingen (front) is known as the Tiger of Kai. August 19, 2007, Los Angeles, California

Nebuta - Haneto

The dancers called Haneto (Jumpers) are an essential part of the Nebuta Parade. About 190 people from Aomori and Los Angeles participated. I later learned that my ex-colleague also danced as a Haneto. They danced to the music, chanting "Rassera." Details of the formal attire: 1. Flower hat on the head 2. Bright red and pink "Tasuki" on the shoulders 3. "Shigoki" and "Gagashiko", a tin vessel for drinking water or sake, on the waist (unfortunately not visible in this photo...) 4. Matching yukata or cotton kimono 5. The hem of the kimono is rolled up to the knees, with pink or blue "Okoshi" underneath 6. "White tabi" and "Zori" on the feet. (From the Aomori Nebuta Festival official website ) You can also listen to the music on this official website. ( Nebuta music ) -- The dancers known as Haneto (Jumpers) are an essential part of the Nebuta Parade. There were about 190 participants from Aomori and Los Angeles. I later learned that my ex-colleague also danced as a Haneto. They danced to the music, chanting "Rassera." Details of the formal attire: 1. Flower hat on the head 2. Bright red or pink "sash" on the shoulders 3. "Shigoki" and "Gagashiko", a tin container for drinking water or sake, on the waist (unfortunately not visible in this photo...) 4. Matching yukata or cotton kimono 5. The hem of the kimono is rolled up to the knees, with pink or blue "okoshi" underneath 6. "White tabi" and "zori" on the feet. (From the Aomori Nebuta Festival official website ) August 19, 2007, Los Angeles, California.

The origin of Nebuta (Nebuta - Takeda Shingen (enlarged))

One of the attractions of Nebuta is the electric lights. Nowadays, they are lit from the inside with electricity, but in the past, they were lit with candles. Where did this idea come from? According to the official website, Nebuta is a variation of the Tanabata lantern floating festival. Originally, the Tanabata Festival was a purification event in which impurities were released into the river or sea, and the Nebuta Festival also has a similar custom of releasing Nebuta dolls into the river or sea on the seventh day. For more information, please visit the Aomori Nebuta official website . -- I enlarged another photo so that you can see the dignified expression and colorful colors. Please also pay attention to the expression of the helmet. I felt a strength that I couldn't believe was made from washi paper. August 19, 2007, Los Angeles, California.

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This year marks the 67th anniversary of Nisei Week in Los Angeles, California, where one of Japan's most famous local festivals, Aomori Nebuta, made an appearance.

Although this festival is well known as a traditional festival in the Japanese community, it is surprisingly little known among Japanese people who have recently immigrated to the United States, and it seems that there are many people who have heard of it but have never been to it! However, this year we heard the happy news that thanks to Nebuta, a new generation and group of people have returned to Little Tokyo.

My friend from Aomori, where the event originates, was surprised and asked me how we could create such excitement with just one machine, but I was really moved by the sheer force of it all.

I couldn't help but hope that we could continue to bring these traditional Japanese things to America and help revitalize Little Tokyo in some small way.