Takoyaki man (Making takoyaki)

Takoyaki is a Japanese treat sold at festivals. It is a ball made of flour with a piece of octopus inside. Trust me, it's really tasty!
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Making takoyaki

A man makes takoyaki to sell at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Sumo demonstration

At the martial arts stage, amateur sumo wrestlers show how they warm-up. Amateur sumo is very international and has weight-classes.
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Amateur sumo wrestlers from a club in Los Angeles demonstrate the Japanese style wrestling at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Spring in the city (Street fair at the Cherry Blossom Festival)

Cherry Blossom trees are not common in Southern California--palm trees feel more at home in our hot and dry weather. So even though we were missing the beauty of the sakura in full bloom, people came out to Little Tokyo to enjoy the beautiful day.

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Street fair at the Cherry Blossom Festival

The crowd enjoys the sunny day at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Origami (Origami craft booth)

At this booth, kids can make paper cranes and other arts and crafts.
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Origami craft booth

Kids learn how to make origami and other crafts at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. Young volunteers on the right, show them how to fold paper cranes. April 5, 2008

Out and about (Senior citizen at the Cherry Blossom Festival)

This Little Tokyo resident is enjoying the Cherry Blossom Festival.
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Senior citizen at the Cherry Blossom Festival

This woman lives in Little Tokyo. She is enjoying the day at the Cherry Blossom Festival. Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Fun to watch! (Arthur Nakane, the one man band)

He can play the guitar, harmonica, keyboard, drums, even a tambourine at the same time!
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Arthur Nakane, the one man band

Arthur Nakane, a one man band street performer, plays a rock song at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Art Nakano - the one man band (Arthur Nakane, the one man band - close up)

Art Nakano has been a street performer for a long time. He was one of the entertainers at the festival.
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Arthur Nakane, the one man band - close up

Arthur Nakane, a one man band street performer, sings a rock song at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Close up of street dancer (Street dance performer)

A woman dances at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Street dancers (Yamaguchi-ken ladies)

These ladies are originally from the same prefecture in Japan. They enjoy getting together to participate in cultural events.
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Yamaguchi-ken ladies

Ladies from the Yamaguchi-ken dance group pose before performing a traditional street dance at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Hungry people (Waiting in the food line)

These people are waiting for their takoyaki!
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Waiting in the food line

A long line of hungry people wait to buy takoyaki and yakisoba at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Street fair (Hawaiian goods booths)

There were vendors of all kinds at the festival. Here are some vendors selling Hawaiian goods.
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Hawaiian goods booths

The vendor booths in this section of the Cherry Blossom Festival street fair sell Hawaiian goods. Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Street dance

Ladies perform a Japanese street dance at the Cherry Blossom Festival. They are wearing happi coats - a traditional light cotton jacket worn at festivals. Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Kimono-clad couple (Couple in kimono)

A young couple get into the spirit of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
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Couple in kimono

A young couple dress up in Japanese kimono for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. The man is of Latin descent, the woman is Filipino. April 5, 2008

Cosplay kids (Cosplayers at the Cherry Blossom Festival)

Kids who are hard core anime fans like to dress up as their favorite characters and hang out in Little Tokyo.
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Cosplayers at the Cherry Blossom Festival

A group of anime fans meet up at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. Some of them are dressed in costume from the "Naruto" anime. April 5, 2008

Smile! (Craft booth fortune cookie)

This young volunteer is showing kids how to make a fortune cookie from felt. The kids can write their own fortune and put it inside the "cookie."
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Craft booth fortune cookie

Young volunteer at the Cherry Blossom Festival holds up fortune cookies made from felt at the kids' crafts booth. Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Do a good deed daily (Koyasan Boy Scouts)

The local Boy Scout Troop participated as a way to drum up new scouts. Troop 379 has been a part of Little Tokyo for many many years. Unfortunately, few boys (and girls) are involved with scouting these days, so without new members, what will happen to the troop?
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Koyasan Boy Scouts

Scouts and leaders from Koyasan Boy Scout Troop 379 at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008

Fundraiser for kids (Basketball Fundraiser)

These girls were selling cookies and drinks to raise money for their basketball team.
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Basketball Fundraiser

Kids from the Dragonflies team in the Hollywood Dodgers youth basketball organization raise funds by selling cookies and drinks at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Little Tokyo, downtown Los Angeles, CA. April 5, 2008