The 2nd Annual LA Tanabata Festival - Little TokyoNEW

The Tanabata Festival (the Star Festival) is based on the folk legend of the Cowherd Star (Altair) and The Weaver Princess Star (Vega) - two lovers whose paths cross the Milky Way but once a year - on July 7th.

In ancient times, Tanabata came to Japan from China during a time when one prayed to the stars for proficiency in sewing and calligraphy.
The prayers were written on multicolored paper streamers attached to bamboo poles along with decorations for display in the family garden.

This meeting of two star lovers occurs on July 7th, but in Sendai, Japan, the Tanabata Festival is celebrated one month later, on August 6th through 8th, when the streets of Sendai are covered with elaborate and glittering decorations that are famous throughout all Japan. And during the three days of this festival, fabulous parades crowd the streets every day. Currently, this festival has gained poularity throughout the world.
In San Paulo City in Brazil, the Tanabata Festival has been celebrated every year since 1979, with the support of Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City.

Background
The 2nd Annual Los Angeles Tanabata ( Star) Festival. Last year's event involved 240 colorful Tanabata Kazari (paper ornament streamer) that were made by over 3000 community members, young and old. Truly, this was the largest participation project in the Japanese and Japanese American community ever. We also will have 10 prize winning Kazari from Japan, donated by the Shiromatsu Monaka Co. of Sendai. During the Little Tokyo Children's Day held this past May 15 and 16, the Narumi Paper Company from Sendai conducted workshops constructing one large Kazari. Over 300 adults and children helped make flowers for this community Kazari. It will stand close to 20 feet high and feature a Geisha on the hanging washi paper.

What is the Tanabata Festival?   The festival celebrates the once-a-year meeting of star lovers, the Cow Herder and the Weaver Princess, who are separated by the Milky Way during the other 364 days of the year. Although held in several cities throughout Japan, the largest Tanabata Festival has been held in Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture since 1946, although it was celebrated in a much smaller scale since the 1600s.

In Japan, the festival is celebrated mainly along streets and inside shopping malls, which are decorated with large, colorful streamers ("kazari") suspended by cables and rope.  People celebrate, by writing wishes in small strips of paper ("tanzaku") and hanging them from decorated bamboo branches.

Three Japanese-American non-profit organizations – the Nisei Week Foundation, the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association, and the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai - are proud   to present the 2010 Tanabata Festival. Our organizations have come together to continue this annual event that will benefit the entire community. We wish to promote cultural awareness, teamwork, and show pride in our heritage. Our goal is to have community groups and churches, schools and sports teams, businesses and families, participate by designing and making their own "kazari" colorful streamers, which will be judged and displayed in Little Tokyo from August 13th thru 16th.

Location
Next to JANM Museum