Feb. 25 marks the 11th anniversary of the City of Los Angeles’ official recognition of Sawtelle Japantown.
In 2015, the Los Angeles City Council voted to honor a petition request by the West Los Angeles community to rename the area Sawtelle Japantown in recognition of the history and legacy of the Japanese American community. Sawtelle Japantown joined Little Tokyo, San Francisco and San Jose as one of four remaining Japantowns in the U.S. — all in California.
Sawtelle Japantown Celebration (SJC) was established with the third anniversary in 2018 to commemorate and celebrate this long-standing ethnic minority community.
This annual not-for-profit grassroots event continues to grow while bridging communities — Sawtelle, Little Tokyo, Santa Monica, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Mar Vista, Culver City, Del Rey, San Gabriel, Crenshaw Square, Torrance, Gardena and Baldwin Hills.
The SJC 2026 banner will be on display at Hashimoto Nursery, 1935 Sawtelle Blvd., and includes the legacy flower quilt contributed in 2023 by students of Nora Sterry Elementary School and LAUSD’s first Japanese Dual Immersion Program in Region West.
This year’s 10-day celebration begins Friday, Feb. 20, and concludes Sunday, March 1. The schedule is as follows:
- Feb. 20-March 1: Merchant promotions at multiple locations
Merchant promotions require a paper or digital version of the SJC 2026 list that can be accessed via the QR code or at https://SawtelleJTown.org. Special front-liner promotions for police, firefighters and medical workers also require ID and the list.
- Saturday, Feb. 21, at 12 p.m.: UCLA Kyodo Taiko performance at LAFD Station 59 Training Facility Community Room, 2117 Butler Ave. (at Mississippi Avenue)
The nation’s first collegiate taiko drumming team will give a special performance to promote the art of Japanese American taiko and a respect for and an understanding of Japanese American culture.
An SJC 2026 spin giveaway will follow. No receipts are required, but winners must be present. No cash prizes.
- Sunday, Feb. 22, at 12 p.m.: Spin giveaway at Nijiya Market Sawtelle, 2130 Sawtelle Blvd.
Present an SJC 2026 Merchant/Celebration Friend receipt for a purchase dated Feb. 20-22 for a giveaway prize. While supplies last. No cash prizes.
- Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 8 to 11 a.m.: WLA Police Division catalytic converter etching and bicycle safety/registration at WLA Community Police Station, 11401 Iowa Ave. (at Purdue Avenue)
This event is spearheaded by WLAPD Senior Lead Officer Jose Bermudez, who serves the Sawtelle Japantown community. First-come, first-served. No preregistration required. Allow about 15 minutes for the etching. - Wednesday, Feb. 25, all day: 11th Anniversary Day specials at various locations (TBA)
- Friday, Feb. 27, at 10:30 p.m.: Cine Insomnia at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., presenting Makoto Shinkai’s anime feature “Weathering with You” (2019)
The series continues in March:
March 6: Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” (1985), starring Nobuko Miyamoto and Tsutomu Yamazaki
March 13: Hiroshi Inagaki’s “Samurai I: Miyamoto Musashi” (1954), starring Toshiro Mifune
March 20: Toshiya Fujita’s “Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance” (1974), starring Meiko Kaji
March 27: Yasujiro Ozu’s “Tokyo Story” (1953), starring Chishu Ryu
- Saturday, Feb. 28, at 12 p.m.: Spin giveaway at Marukai West Los Angeles, 12121 Pico Blvd.
Present an SJC 2026 Merchant/Celebration Friend receipt for a purchase dated Feb. 20-28 for a prize. While supplies last. No cash prizes.
For further information, including program updates, visit https://SawtelleJTown.org or email WLASawtelle@gmail.com.