Japan Fair 2014 will take place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1-2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at JACCC Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo.
The fair will be filled with specialty vendors, entertainment, and an abundance of foods and sake, much of which is being imported from Japan just for this event. The vendor list is very long. Included are Tenkatori (karaage) from Oita Prefecture, 100% Mikan Juice from Ehime Prefecture, and Nabedana Sake, to name just a few.
As for entertainment, come early and stay late to see all shows, which will include taiko performances, traditional Japanese dancing, koto musicians, and children’s choirs. There will also be information for those planning to visit Japan.
General admission is $3 in advance, $5 on the day of the event. Free admission for children ages 12 and under. Sake tasting with lecture: $20. To reserve tickets online, go to http://japanfair.org. Tickets are also available at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation office, Suite 410 in the JACCC, or by calling (213) 626-3067.
The Japan Fair is organized by three organizations that all have the same goal and mission — to promote Japanese and Japanese American culture to the diverse audience of Southern California. They strive to stimulate better understanding and relationships among various communities by hosting numerous events throughout the year. The fair also introduces well-known foods and sake that come directly from Japan.
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation was created in 1997 to support the charitable efforts of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. It strives to promote the welfare of the local Japanese American community and helps preserve its cultural heritage, strengthen mutual understanding and goodwill between the U.S and Japan, and foster future generations.
The JACCC, founded in 1971, is currently the largest Asian American cultural center of its kind in the U.S. It is home to a number of civic and arts organizations and serves as the cultural and community focal point of Japanese Americans throughout Southern California.
The Orange County Japanese American Association is a bilingual and bicultural non-profit organization whose mission is to provide and promote social services, events, programs, seminars and other Japanese cultural activities in Orange County, which it has done since 1986.
Event sponsors include Union Bank, Asahi Beer, Nabedana Sake, Pacific International Liquor, Upper Crust Enterprises, and Mutual Trading Co.