After a more than 10-year absence, the Chibi-K: Kids Fun Run made an enthusiastic return to Kodomo no Hi (Childrens’ Day) festivities in Little Tokyo on May 3.
“This is genuinely a core memory of coming to Little Tokyo,” said Marisa Kawakami, member of the Chibi-K team, who ran in the Chibi-K when she was 4 years old. “It was my first connection to the local community, and I really wanted to restore this to the legacy event it once was.”
The run is once again part of the annual celebration of children hosted by the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center at its campus in Little Tokyo. The run through the streets of Little Tokyo was followed by Kodomo no Hi activites in the plaza, including music and demonstrations, games, crafts and food booths.
JACCC President and CEO Patricia M. Wyatt thanked sponsors and scores of families in attendance.
“Today, the streets of Little Tokyo belong to the children,” she cheered.