What is Nebuta Festival?

On August 19, 2007, Nebuta first appeared in Los Angeles Little Tokyo. This was the first landing in the mainland U.S. As the final float of 67th Nisei Week Parade, huge illuminated Nebuta Float showed up in the evening darkness, and had many audiences extremely excited.
Nebuta is one of the biggest festival in Japan which is held in Aomori city every August. There are so many huge floats with lantern decoration, dancers named "Haneto" and Japanese unique music.

Nebuta was created, constructed by Nebuta-team leaded by Mr. Hiroo Takenami, a 19 years-career master artist of Nebuta Float creation. The team came to Los Angeles after two months of construction in Aomori. The float was shipped to Los Angeles in pieces and the team also came to Los Angeles, assembled from large containers and completed the work before the parade.

Nebuta float was huge (17 ft high) float, which was designed in the shape of Samurai Warrior and was decorated with over 600 lights.
Nebuta is not only float. The dancers "HANETO", "taiko" drummers and Japanese flute players accompanied the float. On the parade, more than 200 haneto, including those from Aomori, Japan and Los Angeles dressed in Nebuta costume and danced along the streets.
You can find photos or movies in various websites, such as "YouTube". Search by words like "Nebuta Los Angeles ", then you can find so many movies updated by the audience in 2007 Nisei Week and you will realize the impact Nebuta has given to the attendants and community.

Nebuta in 2007 Nisei Week was perfectly successful.
However, it is really a pity not to take over the experience, emotion and impression.

We, the committee found it a new challenge to hold the Nebuta event again with Los Angeles originality for more portion.
After discussion, our conclusion is that holding "Kodomo(Children's)-Nebuta" is an ideal style for us to begin with.

Kodomo-Nebuta is a small Nebuta float, which is created by children's group in Aomori. It is designed, created and played only by small group, but it would be a good experience for our community to plan, create and perform a festival.

Please come, contact and join us!! We are happy to welcome your group (community/school/office/friends/organization) to create an unique float and dance over Little Tokyo this summer. We will offer you how to create and decorate and... JUST ENJOY!!