First Annual Tanabata Festival & 11th Annual Summer Festival (First Annual Tanabata Matsuri & 11th Annual Summer Festival)

The courtyard of the Japanese American National Museum was abuzz with the large, moving crowd. These two large bamboo graced the entrance to the courtyard, inviting any and all to take part in the Summer Festival and to make their way to the dozens of tanabata kazari on display further in.
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The courtyard of the Japanese American National Museum was abuzz with a large, moving crowd. These two large bamboo graced the entrance to the courtyard, inviting any and all to take part in the Summer Festival and to make their way to the dozens of tanabata kazari on display further in at the 1st Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival in Little Tokyo.

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Photograph courtesy of Richard Fukuhara (August 15, 2009)
© 2009 Fukuhara, Inc.

2008 Nanka Kenjinkai Picnic (Kenjinkai Tanabata Picnic)

In 2008 the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai also had decorations to celebrate the Tanabata festivities alongside their annual picnic.
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In 2008, the Nanka Kenjinkai of Southern California held their annual Kenjinkai picnic amidst the tanabata decorations they had put up on display in Little Tokyo.

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Photo Courtesy of the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai (2008)

Tanabata: Community Kazari

240 of these kazari were hung outside the Museum of Contemporary Art from August 14-17, 2009 for the First Annual Tanabata Festival. Flowing in a sea of streamers these colorful decorations caught the eye of many.

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240 of these kazari were hung outside the Geffen Museum of Contemporary Art from August 14-17, 2009 for the First Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival in Little Tokyo. Flowing in a sea of streamers these colorful decorations caught the eye of many.

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Photograph courtesy of Richard Fukuhara (2009)
© 2009 Fukuhara, Inc.

Close Up of the Fukinagashi

These fukinagashi (streamers) are one variant for the Tanabata kazari displayed for the First Annual Tanabata Festival held in Little Tokyo August 14-17, 2009.
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These fukinagashi (streamers) are one variant for the Tanabata kazari displayed for the First Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival held in Little Tokyo August 14-17, 2009.

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Photograph courtesy of Richard Fukuhara (2009)
© 2009 Fukuhara, Inc.

Tanabata Fukinagashi

In accordance with the legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi, the streamers of the fukinagashi decorations represent the textiles of Orihime, who wove beautiful clothing for the gods.

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Photograph courtesy of Richard Fukuhara (August 15, 2009; First Annual Tanabata Festival, Little Tokyo)
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Photo of fukinagashi streamers from the First Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.

In accordance with the legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi, the streamers of the fukinagashi decorations represent the textiles of Orihime, who wove beautiful clothing for the gods.

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Photograph courtesy of Richard Fukuhara (August 15, 2009)
© 2009 Fukuhara, Inc.

Tanabata Framing Go for Broke (Tanabata Framing Go for Broke Monument)

Toward the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) lies the Go For Broke monument, and these tanabata wishes and decorations beautifully framed this memorial.
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Near the Geffen Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) lies the Go For Broke monument in Little Tokyo that honors the Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd RCT, 100th Battalion, and MIS.

These tanabata wishes and decorations beautifully framed the memorial as part of the 1st Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival.

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Photo courtesy of Vicky Murakami-Tsuda (August 2009).

JANM Logo Tanabata Decoration

In making this decoration we had to use many smaller versions of the paper flowers to get the details down correctly. In addition to the colorful streamers, this kazari had dozens of cranes made by volunteers trailing in the wind.
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This fukinagashi decoration featuring the Japanese American National Museum's logo was created for the 1st Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival in Little Tokyo. It was one of seven that hung from the top of the Museum's Pavilion Building. Behind it is a banner promoting the Glorious Excess (Dies) exhibition.

In making this decoration we had to use many smaller versions of the paper flowers to get the details down correctly. In addition to the colorful streamers, this kazari had dozens of cranes made by Museum Volunteers trailing in the wind.

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Photo courtesy of Richard Murakami (2009)

Tanabata Connecting the Little Tokyo Community

This Kokeshi Doll decoration, along with all of its other Tanabata Decoration nakama, are the result of the collaborated teamwork at JANM. But more than that I think it signifies a strong tie with the idea of community. With the historic JANM building to the right, the Little Tokyo buildings in the back, and the people milling around down below for some good food these decorations show how a common interest can bring people together.
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Kokeshi-inspired fukinagashi decoration, one of seven hung from the Japanese American National Museum's Pavilion building in August 2009 as part of the 1st Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival.

This Kokeshi Doll decoration, along with all of its other Tanabata Decoration nakama, are the result of the collaborated teamwork at JANM. But more than that I think it signifies a strong tie with the idea of community. With the historic JANM building to the right, the Little Tokyo buildings in the back, and the people milling around down below for some good food these decorations show how a common interest can bring people together.

The Kokeshi theme was inspired by the Museum's exhibition Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy.

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Photo courtesy of Vicky Murakami-Tsuda (2009)

Sendai Kazari

Though the Tanabata Project initially began as its own project at JANM, soon we found out that the Little Tokyo Nisei Week was having its own Tanabata festivities as well as Brian Kito, of the owner of the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association. This large decoration was imported from Sendai, one of five smaller decorations (out of ten total) that won the annual Tanabata competition.
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Brian Kito of the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association and members of the Tanabata Festival Committee inspect a fukinagashi decoration sent from Sendai, Japan for the 1st Annual Los Angeles Tanabata Festival.

This large decoration was one of five smaller decorations (out of ten total) that won the annual Tanabata competition. This was the work of many employees of a single company coming together to make a collaborative effort to present their hard work and community spirit.

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Photo courtesy of the Discover Nikkei Team (August 2009)