Go Little Tokyo for the Holidays!

We’re hosting another year of gift-giving and merry-making—virtually!

Skip big box retailers this year and shop small by supporting Little Tokyo businesses from near or far!

Stay tuned for our curated gift guides below, online restaurant gift cards, information about holiday programs, and our holiday giveaway.

Tag #golittletokyo for a feature!

Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest on holiday festivities in Little Tokyo!

Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo

Oshogatsu Family Festival

Kotohajime

JTOWN JINGLES

Presented by Go Little Tokyo & East West Players
Featuring Filosophy
Saturday, December 4
Saturday, December 11
2-4 PM: Caroling throughout Little Tokyo
5 PM: Final Performance at JANM Plaza (100 N. Central Ave.)

Enjoy live caroling at various locations throughout Little Tokyo performed by acapella group Filosophy, and be sure to join us for the full set performance at the Japanese American National Museum Plaza!

Free admission, open to the public.

 

SHOGUN SANTA

Everyone’s favorite Shogun Santa
is coming to town (with a safety barrier)!

Saturday, December 18 & Sunday, December 19
11 am – 3 pm
Japanese Village Plaza in front of Nijiya Market

Shogun Santa is coming to Little Tokyo to spread some holiday cheer. Plan your annual holiday photo and share your Little Tokyo holiday wish list with the one and only Shogun Santa!

Please note that there will be a barrier between Santa and visitors, sitting on Santa’s lap will not be permitted. Brought to you by the Little Tokyo Business Association (LTBA). Free admission, donations welcome.

 

RESTAURANTS & CAFES

RETAIL & SERVICES

COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPS

Support the Little Tokyo Community Council and share some Little Tokyo love this holiday season! Shop limited merch including Little Tokyo map tote bags and sweatshirts, as well as stocking stuffers like vinyl stickers and enamel pins!

The online pop-up shop is now closed, but items will be available for purchase in person on 12/10 and 12/11!

POP-UP & ORDER PICK-UP DETAILS:
369 E 1st Street
Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11
10 am – 2 pm

Sustainable Little Tokyo’s Annual Holiday Gift Sale! This holiday season, share the gift of sustainability with family and friends! When purchasing a sustainable gift, you will also be supporting:

🌱A Little Tokyo Business: Anzen Hardware
🌱Sustainable Little Tokyo
🌱And Planet Earth!

Popkiller Little Tokyo

 

Popkiller has created a “Thank You, Little Tokyo” collection of our Japanese-inspired designs, including best selling designs. During the rest of the month of November leading up to “Giving Tuesday” November 30th, Popkiller will be donating 20% of net sales from that collection to the Little Tokyo Community Council. That roughly breaks down to $4 for every tote bag, $6 for every shirt, and $8 for every sweater purchased that will be donated to LTCC (Popkiller will be rounding up to the closest dollar!)

UNDER $15

    1. Little Tokyo Pin Collection, $10, online at LTCC until 12/5 or Bunkado
    2. Little Tokyo Vinyl Sticker Pack, $6, online at LTCC until 12/5
    3. 101 Americans Tea Cup, $14, online at JANM Store
    4. Hand Painted Cloth Coaster, $6.50, online or in-store at Bunkado
    5. Yellow Hashi/Chopsticks (made in Japan), $12, online or in-store at Utsuwa-no-Yakata
    6. Ramen Washi Tape, $5, online at JANM Store
    7. Gudetama Reindeer, $14.50, online or in-store at Monkey Pants
    8. Back to the Sushi Bar Patch, $4.80, online or in-store at Popkiller
    9. Temple Bell Windchime, $10, online or in-store at Utsuwa-no-Yakata
    10. Sakura/Cherry Blossom Expandable Vase, $8.95, online at JANM Store

LITTLE TOKYO COMMUNITY COUNCIL POP-UP SHOP

PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE LITTLE TOKYO COMMUNITY COUNCIL

    1. Gift a Greeting!, $15 minimum donation
      4 1/2” x 6 1/4” Greeting Card set of 5, $14
      4 1/2” x 6 1/4” Greeting Card set of 10, $25
    2. Little Tokyo Pin Collection, $10 each (save 10% when you purchase a themed set or $20 when you purchase the full set!)
    3. Little Tokyo Map Tote Bag, $25 regular/$20 seconds
    4. Little Tokyo Map Sweatshirt, $40 (XL and XXL only*)
    5. Little Tokyo Vinyl Stickers, $2.50 each/set of 6 for $10

SHOP HERE UNTIL 12/5!

*Contact info@golittletokyo.com if you would like to be added to the waitlist and be notified regarding restocking of other sizes.

BOOKS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Check out these selections from Edgar Award-winning author and Little Tokyo supporter Naomi Hirahara. Support Little Tokyo by purchasing your gifts at local small businesses!

Picture Books

Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites, written by Debbi Michiko Florence and Jamie Michalak. Illustrated by Yuko Jones, $18.99, available online at JANM Store

Dad Bakes, by Katie Yamasaki, written and illustrated by the muralist of JANM’s Moon Beholders, $17.95, available in store at Kinokuniya

YA

From Little Tokyo, With Love, by Sarah Kuhn, $18.99, available online and in store at Bunkado

Fiction

Two Nails, One Love, by Alden Hayashi, $17.95, available in store at Kinokuniya

Nonfiction

Pioneers of Japanese American Baseball, by Robert Fitts, $24.99, available online at JANM Store 

A Rebel’s Outcry: Biography Of Issei Civil Rights Leader Sei Fujii, published by Jeffrey Gee Chin & Fumiko Carole Fujita, $50.00, available from the Little Tokyo Historical Society

Cookbook

Japanese Cookbook for Beginners, by Azusa Oda, $16.99, available online at JANM Store, $16.99, available online and in store at Bunkado

Memoir

Not Yo’ Butterfly, by Nobuko Miyamoto, $29.95, available online at JANM Store

Poetry

Navigating Without Instruments, by traci-kato kiriyama, coming soon to JANM Store

Graphic Novel 

WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration, by Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura. Illustrated by Ross Ishikawa, $19.95, available online at JANM Store

Go Little Tokyo Pick

Clark and Division, by Naomi Hirahara (our awesome contributor!), $27.95, available online at JANM Store

About Naomi Hirahara

Naomi Hirahara is an Edgar Award-winning author of multiple traditional mystery series and noir short stories. Her Mas Arai mysteries, which have been published in Japanese, Korean and French, feature a Los Angeles gardener and Hiroshima survivor who solves crimes. Her first historical mystery is Clark and Division, which follows a Japanese American family’s move to Chicago in 1944 after being released from a California wartime detention center. A former journalist with The Rafu Shimpo newspaper, Naomi has also written numerous non-fiction history books and curated exhibitions. She has also written a middle-grade novel, 1001 Cranes.

WELLNESS & RELAXATION

    1. Sakura Incense Stand by Akiko Endo, $30, online or in-store at Utsuwa-no-Yakata
    2. Ginkgo Leaf Incense Stand, $10, online or in-store at Utsuwa-no-Yakata
    3. Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) Incense, $20, online or in-store at Utsuwa-no-Yakata
    4. Hinoki (Cypress) Spa Bags, $8.95, online at JANM Store
    5. Sumo Wrestler Mugs (set of 2), $26, online or in-store at Rafu Bussan
    6. Traditional Matcha Tea Bowl, price and selection varies, in-store at Rafu Bussan
    7. Hana Premium Grade Matcha Tea Powder, $35, online or in-store at Tea Master Matcha Cafe
    8. Hexagonal Ceramic Tea Cup Set, $49.95, online or in-store at Bunkado
    9. Generation Teas, $12, online at JANM Store
    10. Gratitude Journal, $28, online or in-store at Poketo
    11. Mini Ikebana Kit, $16.95, online at JANM Store

FAVORITES FOR FOOD LOVERS

    1. Utensil Stand by Yuko Yenser, $35, online or in-store at Utsuwa-no-Yakata
    2. Copper Oyakodon Pan, $45, online or in-store at Utsuwa-no-Yakata
    3. Bokashi Starter Kit, $30, online at Sustainable Little Tokyo/JACCC
    4. Sakai Takayuki Damascus Hammered Gyuto (Chef’s Knife) 180mm $173.50, in store only at Anzen Hardware
    5. Shoyu Bottle Ornament, $16, online at JANM Store
    6. Delicious Little Tokyo Pin Collection, $10 each/$27 set of three, LTCC until 12/5 or Bunkado
    7. Sesame Grinder, $6.50, in store only at Anzen Hardware
    8. Iwachu Cast Iron Tea Pot, $110, in store only at Rafu Bussan
    9. Hinoki (Cypress) Cutting Board, $36, in store only at Anzen Hardware
    10. Japanese Icon Kitchen Towel, $14.95, online or in-store at Bunkado

LOVE FOR LITTLE ONES

    1. A Life Made By Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa, $17.95, available at Bunkado and JANM Store
    2. Mochi Dumpling Rattle, $24, online or in store at Monkey Pants
    3. Pusheen Christmas Stocking, $29, online or in store at Monkey Pants
    4. Totozilla T-shirt, $23.80, online at Popkiller
    5. My Neighbor Totoro Pouch, $14.99, online at Anime Jungle
    6. Rainbow Koinobori, $9.95-$39.95, online at JANM Store
    7. Shiba Magic Changing Lamp, $50, online at JANM Store
    8. Sumo Board Book, $9.99 each, online at JANM Store
    9. Tiger Fusen, $3, online at JANM Store
    10. Blockitecture Deco, $35, online at Poketo

For updated information on restaurants and retailers, click here.

 

Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo: Japanese New Year Celebrations

Ring in the New Year in Little Tokyo!

New Year’s, or Oshogatsu, is one of Japan’s most important holidays. Although Oshogatsu originally referred to the whole month of January, most people associate it with the first three days (sanga nichi) of the month. On these days, people go to shrines or temples, spend time with friends and relatives and eat special New Year’s dishes.

Come to Little Tokyo this year to ring in 2020, the Year of the Rat!

 

2020 Japanese New Year’s Oshogatsu Festival

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (JCCSC) are bringing the tradition to Little Tokyo for another year for their 2020 Japanese New Year’s Oshogatsu Festival in Little Tokyo! Watch the opening ceremony kick-off with the pounding beats of taiko drums, and shishimai (lion dancers) take the stage on the first level of the Weller Court Shopping Center. Stay to learn how mochi is traditionally made with this year’s Nisei Week Queen and her Court, and enjoy calligraphy demonstrations, kimono and Harajuku-style fashion shows, anime booths, Japanese street food & more!

January 1st, 2020, 10:50 AM–4:00 PM @ Weller Court and Japanese Village Plaza.

Admission: FREE

For more information, visit japanese-city.com

 

Oshogatsu Family Festival – Year of the Rat

Ring in the new year and celebrate the Year of the Rat with fun arts and crafts, food, cultural activities, and exciting performances! Enjoy traditional mochitsuki (Japanese rice pounding ritual), lucky zaru soba (cold buckwheat noodles) and and osechi-ryori (traditional Japanese New Year foods) tastings, fukubukuro (lucky grab bags), and more.

January 5th, 2020, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM @ Japanese American National Museum (JANM)

Admission: FREE

For more information, visit janm.org

 

Kotohajime

Join the JACCC for the 37th Annual Kotohajime and Shodo for Little Tokyo Halfway Exhibition, and immediately following, the Community Open House of the Toshizo Watanabe Culinary Cultural Center.

January 5th, 2020, 1:00 PM @ Aratani Theatre

Admission: $18 –$20

For more information, visit jaccc.org

 

 

 

 

 

X