Ringing in the New Year in Little Tokyo
Posted by 0rion on January 3rd, 2008 - 1:00 am
This year I decided to forego the usual western customs in favor of following a more Japanese approach to celebrating the New Year. Fortunately for me, the Japanese community in Los Angeles puts on quite a celebration on the first few days of the year, with traditional food, music, and dancing.
After enjoying the first sunrise of the year (hatsuhinode), I headed down to Little Tokyo to catch the festivities (and buy some manga, of course). They had stages set up for various performances at both Weller Court in front of the Kinokuniya bookstore, as well in the Japanese Village Plaza, pictured below.
Among the many performances of the day, this was my by far my favorite. As you can see, it was an ensemble performing traditional Japanese music and dances, but it was composed of both traditional instruments (shamisen and drums), as well a bit of a more modern touch (electric guitar and bass). The performers were all fabulous, especially this young lady who did several types of traditional dance and seemed to be quite the pro.
This guy playing the electric guitar was pretty cool, if a bit odd looking. I talked to him for a while after the show and he really reminded me of Ryuusuke from Beck.
Bon Odori (Bon dance) at the stage in Weller Court.
In addition to the regular Bon Odori, they also had several guys who did some awesome breakdancing while wearing traditional Japanese garb and dancing to traditional music. It really reminded me of how Little Tokyo and the Japanese who live here are a perfect example of blending old and new ideas. They celebrate their Japanese culture and heritage, but they like to do it in very American ways oftentimes.
They had a lot of fun getting the crowd involved and trying to teach the gaijin how to do a Bon dance, as well.
Also, as a random sidenote, in the very upper right of the frame is the local Curry House, one of my favorite places to eat down here in Little Tokyo, with Orochon Ramen (on the third floor out of the shot) being a close second. Man, I love their chashuu ramen. 
In addition to the various performances, they had guys pounding mochi, stalls selling the usual festival goodies like yakisoba and takoyaki, and just generally a great festive atmosphere. It also was not nearly as crowded as your average “real” Japanese festival. And by “not nearly as crowded”, I mean that I was still able go in the direction I wanted while in the middle of the crowd, whereas usually you don’t have much of a choice – you go wherever the crowd is going. I’m sure the guys who just got back from Comiket can attest to that. 
This lady, with her amazing kimono, very kindly agreed to pose for me. I only wish I could’ve done the shoot at a better location. <_<
Another of the traditional New Year’s Day activities in Japan is the first temple visit of the year (hatsumoude). I went mainly because they give out free spiced sake with gold flakes in it on the first day of the year.
After trying some, I really wished I could’ve found out what kind it was, because it was daaaang good, too. Some sort of junmai ginjo, but I couldn’t tell anything beyond that.
While I was there I went ahead and got an omikuji (fortune slip) as well, which says that my luck for the year is good and that I will have success in finance but fail in love. Yeah, that sounds about right. >_>
While I’m at it, here’s a quick tour of some of the more interesting spots in Little Tokyo (and by interesting, I mean you can get anime goods). First and foremost is the local Kinokuniya, one of only 6 in the United States, and the largest of the ones I’ve visited. This is the premier spot to get manga and artbooks, especially Japanese language imports, which is what I’m primarily interested in. They stock pretty much everything imaginable, they’re really fast about getting new releases in, and if they don’t have it they can order it for you free of charge.
Today I was happy to see that they had several new manga I wanted, including the latest Yotsubato! tankouban (manga book), number 7 in the series. Woohoo! The prices are also quite excellent, ranging from 3 to 6 dollars for a tankouban; in other words, generally equal to the price in yen listed on the back. This is a huge improvement over the English translated equivalents, which are usually twice as expensive. Being able to read Japanese has really saved my wallet, I gotta say! 
Kamikaze Anime is the smallest of the three anime related stores in Little Tokyo, but they’ve found a nice niche, with a good selection of import games and Japanese T-shirts, as well as lots of hard to find out-of-print manga.
Anime Jungle has two locations in Little Tokyo. The one pictured here deals also exclusively in figures and similar goods like plushies, posters, doujins, and other fairly rare items. I don’t really collect figures, did from what I’ve seen they’re pretty good about getting the latest hot releases in stock, although they don’t last very long.
Their second location across the street has a greater variety, including lots of OSTs, cosplay items, and gothloli stuff.
All in all, between these four shops and the various other stores scattered around the area, there’s not too much that you can’t find here.
I have to say, the Japanese really know how to celebrate the New Year right. I haven’t been to too many of the festivals down in Little Tokyo, but all of the ones I have been to have been an absolute blast. If you’re anywhere near the LA area, consider coming down during August for the other major festivals of the year, Obon.
* Photos used with permission from the subjects.
Oh, the one playing guitar’s male? I could’ve sworn otherwise.
Aside from how entirely inappropriate “Kamikaze” is as a name for an anime shop (no, really, do they even know the ramifications of the word?) and how “Jungle” is as well-suited as lime green pants on a neon pink shirt and florescent orange coat — nice pictures. How cold is it over there right now?
I bet ‘kamikaze’ is being used in a nod-nod, wink-wink way – ‘What’s the most innapropriate Japanese word, appropriated by the English-speaking world, for an anime store?’ I’ve always been fascinated by the word’s use in subtitles (both fan and official license) both when it is and when it isn’t present in the Japanese dialogue, and the tension between its literal and attached meanings. Better stop that train of thought before I start burbling about heteroglossia.
And, arguing for argument’s sake, I’d say ‘Jungle’ works well – it implies a lush, rich (in products) environment in which one can get lost, and also has connotations of unexplored territory (Heart of Darkness, anyone?) which suit a shop selling niche-interest products from another country. Though the colonial connotations are less wholesome. I’m going to start talking about heteroglossia again, so once again, time to derail that train of thought.
Also, if I was female I would want to wear that kimono.
Jungle sounds like a club name lol, in fact, I think there is a “Jungle club” downtown where I live. Jungle looks like they have lots of figures, I wouldn’t mind if they setup a store here, of course I would lose all of my money to them in the short and long run lol.
Noooo, you can’t buy love!!!
The idea of shamisen + electric guitar sounds cool. Next up, Shamisen Hero!
Sheesh. I can’t quite decide if I’m merely envious or downright furious. I spent New Year’s playing, and losing miserably at, Mario Party 8. The blighted dice betrayed me once again.
You saw an incredible festival. I cursed vehemently at a fictitious turtle on a children’s game. Great…just great.
There’s no justice in the world.
Well, seeing as how the people who run these stores are all Japanese immigrants, half of whom hardly speak English, I imagine they understand the meaning just fine. It’s all just marketing; it would never fly in Japan, but in the US people have no problem with it so it works.
No doubt that’s why it says I’ll fail.
Haha, as you should be. That’s what you get for trying travel over the holidays instead of staying here and blogging.
“Oh, the one playing guitar’s male? I could’ve sworn otherwise.”
LOL, I thought so too.
And Guff, you’re not the only one. :
I wonder why there aren’t more Kinokuniyas here in Tokyo itself , there’s only 2 here in Shinjuku, located within walking distance from each other.
Happy New year ! :]
In my defence, I had just read up on Japanese history the other day, kamikaze included. But if it’s Japanese immigrants, then, well, I have nothing else to say.
Also, it’s funny how you have random English words like “Animate” and “Gamer(z?)” over there for their anime shops. Must be the novelty factor…
Wish you had taken a video of the dance or something
I’d really like to see her in action.
Ah, I wish would’ve gone. Unfortunately I was returning from a trip on the 1st and I have no ride to Little Tokyo anyway.
For the events, did they talk a lot in Japanese? Because then I wouldn’t have understood much… >_>
DUDE!! That looks like sooooo much Fun
Maybe I can join you next January.
What are the odds? I was just in Little Tokyo today on my way back from vacation, and I see this post.
Still, somehow I managed to miss this Kinokuniya, although I did hit another one in Costa Mesa. Personally, they’ve always felt expensive to me, though. I personally enjoy Book Off, a cheap used book store with a good collection (anime artbooks, manga, CDs, books in both languages, one even had import games). I know they have 3 stores down in the L.A. area.
So, uh, thanks for the heads-up, or something. XD
Yeah, I’ve often wondered that myself. I think part of it is because of all the discount chains like Book Off, which are far more common. Also, travel around Tokyo is much easier than here in Los Angeles, so you can get to your favorite stores more easily. People just come to the popular shopping locations, so the stores that are in those areas always get plenty of business.
I’m just a humble still photographer. Guff is the videographer side of our operation, and he was off on vacation and thus couldn’t join me this time. Blame him.
The announcements and such were all either in English or were biligual. Many of the songs themselves were of course all in Japanese, though.
Definitely! You should come on down to Little Tokyo and meet up some time.
Wow, that’s really funny! If I had known you would be in the area I would’ve come down to show you around.
Maybe next time you’re in town.
WHATT??? My family got pissed off because we got somewhat lost trying to find Kinokuniya in L.A. (I went to Kamikaze Anime and Anime Jungle though). It’s cool how they have those little performances in that little area, I went for vacation, and it was crowded though. It has a nice atmosphere with all the little vendors on the street, it feels like a little town.
At least there’s a Kinokuniya near me (in Japantown, SF). However next time I’ll surely find it.
When you went into the temple did you have to pay a fee or know how to speak Japanese?
Man you got to talk to Miyavi(guitar dude)!
SOooo LUCKY!
@ SH
There isn’t strictly a fee when you go into the temple, but since you receive a New Year’s omikuji and a drink of expensive sake for free, it’s considered polite to make some kind of offering before you go. Don’t worry, they have signs and explanations in English for the curious and Japanese-illiterate, so don’t let something like that stop you from trying out a cool cross-cultural experience.
ive been going their and back many times mainly for the imported anime
<3
i live in bell gardens so its pretty close…[well i think its close =w= even tho others say its way far.....lazyness people.. <.x<
also how do i order manga from the Kinokuniya? one time i asked for a english verion of the manga [petiti hound] they couldent order it…
i was just confused at the momument to what to do :/ so ya… =w=