Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute Carnival 2011
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The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) has held its annual carnival for the past 33 years since 1978. Among delicious food, great performances and demonstrations, and fun games and exhibits, you can undoubtedly feel that lively, community spirit that has drawn people to this carnival for years. For more information about the GVJCI and the carnival, please visit http://www.jci-gardena.org/
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PerformancesThere were a wide variety of performances to watch throughout the weekend on the main outdoor stage. Shaded from the hot sun, carnival go-ers were able to sit back and enjoy performances such as heart-pounding taiko, beautiful hula dancing, and break dancing moves that had the crowd "OOHing" and … |
mkochiyama
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Judo DemonstrationShowcasing some of the martial arts classes that are held at the GVJCI throughout the year, various martial arts demonstrations were held indoors, downstairs in the JCI Hall. These demonstrations featured Shotokan Karate, Naginata, Judo, Kendo, Shorinji Kempo, and Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. In this picture, Judo students are showing the … |
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Kendo DemonstrationAt the end of their demonstration, Kendo students line up and take a bow before removing their equipment. |
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Quite a CrowdThe audience excitedly awaits the next performance. |
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JCI Taiko groupJCI Taiko group pumps up the crowd!
JCI Taiko Group |
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JCI Taiko Group 1 |
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Executive Director Conducts nTyme Pep BandA very surprised Alison Kochiyama, the Executive Director of JCI, was invited to conduct Glen Kamida's nTyme Pep Band on the spot.
JCI Executive Director Conducts nTyme Pep Band |
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And the Winner Is...Raffle tickets are drawn every half hour for which you can win prizes or gift cards donated by various vendors and local organizations.
JCI Raffle Tickets |
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Mochi!Dawn Kita sells her delectable mochi and arare cookie mixes every year. Butter mochi is a best seller.
JCI Mochi Booth |
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Okinawan Andagi BoothYou can't have JCI Carnival without those mouthwatering dangos! Always a crowd favorite that tends to sell out fast, so make sure you get them early! Rodney Kamiya from Kalama Hawaii has presumably been running this booth since the very first JCI Carnival! |
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YAKI-SOBA! YAKI-SOBA!During your visit at the JCI Carnival, you are bound to hear people boisterously chanting, "YAKI-SOBA! YAKI-SOBA!" If this doesn't encourage you to buy some scrumptious yakisoba, then the mouthwatering smells surely will. The always enthusiastic JCI Kendo club runs this booth. |
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Behind the ScenesTaking a break from cooking dangos and yakisoba, volunteers hang out in the back of the booths. |
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Beef and Chicken Teriyaki BoothFamilies from the local sports organizations, Sansei Baseball and South Bay F.O.R. Basketball, operate this booth.
JCI Carnival Beef and Chicken Teriyaki Booth |
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Hot Dogs, Chili Rice, and Tamales...Yum!The Gardena Judo club works the hot dog, chili rice, and tamale booth.
JCI Carnvival Hot Dogs, Chili Rice, and Tamale Booth |
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Shaved Ice :)Kurt Ikeda, shaved ice master, excitedly hands one of his snow cone creations to an eager girl. |
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JCI Shaved Ice |
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ImagawayakiYou can get either azuki or blueberry imagawayaki and taiyaki (which is shaped like a fish)!
JCI Imagawayaki |
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Into the JCI Nisei Veterans Hall...Throughout the year, the JCI Nisei Veterans hall is home for different classes such as Qi Gong, Creative Stitchery, and Stretching for Seniors as well as the site for an assortment of special programs and the daily Senior Lunch Program. |
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Combo BoothAt the Combo Booth, you can choose from a variety of options: corn, spam musubi, fresh watermelon slices, chirashi, char siu bao, and cold somen salad. Some of the volunteer teachers from the summer youth camp at JCI, Tanoshii, are helping out at this booth. |
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Spam Musubi Assembly LineSenior volunteers are hard at work making oishii spam musubi :) |
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UdonIf you go deeper into the JCI Nisei Veterans Hall, you will find the udon station!
JCI Carnival Udon |
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OrigamiBeautiful origami displayed in one of the upstairs classrooms. |
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1000 Cranes for Fukushima"Fold your thoughts and prayers for the people of Fukushima into an origami crane. These cranes will be sent to Fukushima via the Fukushima Kenjinkai." Created by origami teacher, Arisa Su, this project kept people coming in to show their love and support for the people of Fukushima. Much sooner … |
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T-shirt Donations for FukushimaT-shirts were sold to help raise money for disaster relief in Fukushima.
JCI Carnival T-shirt Donations for Fukushima |
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Thoughts and Prayers for FukushimaPeople were also able to write messages on Japanese flags to the people of Fukushima.
JCI Carnival Thoughts and Prayers for Fukushima |
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The Bridge: JCI Heritage CenterSue Miyabe, a Bridge volunteer, talks to an interested couple about what The Bridge: JCI Heritage Center is. Its vision is to "bridge" the gap between generations and educate people about Japanese American cultural heritage, creating a legacy for the future. The center includes a library with a wide selection … |
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"The Eastern Japan Earthquake 3.11.2011." Tokonoma DisplayCarnival go-ers respectfully examine the The Bridge: JCI Heritage Center's featured display concerning the recent earthquake disaster in Japan.
"The Eastern Japan Earthquake 3.11.2011." Tokonoma Display |
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Information BoothAt the information booth, you can buy tickets for food and games, pick up the carnival program or flyers about JCI's classes and events, or ask the volunteers where the nearest bathroom may be. |
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Volunteer BoothA volunteer checks in before her shift. Volunteers are integral for this carnival to function. Volunteers from JCI classes and programs as well as community sports and church organizations come help take shifts for all aspects of the carnival. Volunteers run the booths, cook the food, and provide the … |
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View from Above...Taking a look at the carnival from the second floor of the JCI building.
JCI Carnival View |
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Produce Market and Nursery EmporiumHere you can get beautiful, healthy plants or even some juicy peaches for a great deal! |
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Games!Down this row, kids with blow up bats and stuffed animals in hand run back and forth to claim even more prizes! Games include Pitch-til-U-Win, Goldfish, Line-A-Line, Six Ball, Basketball Shooting Game, and Jingle Board.
JCI Carnival Games |
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In the Secret Prize Room...Dale is hard at work counting inventory and sorting prizes to be picked up for each of the booths. |
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Pachinko!Pachinko, the Japanese pinball machine, is very popular among the kids at the carnival. A long time friend of the JCI and Pachinko machine collector graciously lends some of his Pachinko machines to the carnival every year. |
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Senior Craft SaleSome crafty seniors donate their projects to the JCI to sell. |
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Wreckin Crew and the Beat KidzWreckin Crew and their students, the Beat Kidz, rehearse upstairs in a classroom before their performance. Wreckin Crew teaches a weekly youth breakdancing class to kids in the community.
JCI Carnival Wreckin Crew and the Beat Kidz |
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Japanese Language SchoolThe Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute Japanese Language School was established in 1912 as Moneta Gakuen and will be celebrating their 100th anniversary next year! They provide Japanese language classes for children and adults. |
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Saga Art CenterThey Saga Art Center provides a station for carnival go-ers to make bracelets every year at the carnival. |
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More CraftsPrivate craft vendors sell their special, handmade scarves, jewelry, and trinkets |
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BingoAt the end of the night, as the food starts to sell out and performances come to a close, people of all ages whip out their lucky charms for Bingo. Bikes or money are given to the winners.
JCI Carnival Bingo |
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Another Successful Year :)It is a bittersweet moment when the JCI Carnival comes to an end. The weekend that you have been working so hard for and looking forward to is over. You are exhausted from putting up all those banners and stuffed from constant eating throughout the day, but you know it … |
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Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute Carnival 2011
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