Saturday, November 5 - Sunday, November 6, 2016
Mitsuwa Marketplace Torrance
21515 S. Western Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
The Rising Tohoku Food Fair hosted by Mitsuwa Marketplace presents 2 full days of food and cultural festivities to celebrate the charms of the Tohoku region in Northeast Japan, which can be enjoyed by children and adults. In addition to presenting diverse and flavorful food products originating from the 6 prefectures of Tohoku, there will be a variety of paper craft activity workshops for families such as, coloring, origami, making hanagasa ornaments which can be used as fans, and writing wishes on tanzaku paper, in addition to city-specific dance performances and photo opportunities with city mascots.
Regional dance presentations include performances from Sendai City (Suzume dance), Yamagata City (Hanagasa dance), and Morioka City (Sansa dance); and appearances by festival pageant queen Miss Nebuta of Aomori City’s renowned Nebuta festival.
Photo opportunities with charming and endearing city-specific mascots include: Sendai City’s iconic Musubi-maru who wears a samurai costume and resembles onigiri (rice ball); Fukushima City’s adorable Momorin rabbit who represents Fukushima momo (peaches) and ringo (apples); and Aomori City’s Haneton, an adorable pig wearing a hanagata flower hat and dressed in the local haneto costume.
Two special workshops to create mini Tanabata decorations and wooden Kokeshi dolls will also take place.
Many colorful decorations and posters referencing the various city festivals will be on display throughout the venue, plus pictures of other Tohoku mascots, and a photo panel exhibition of their most famous festivals (Aomori Nebuta Festival, Akita Kanto Festival, Morioka Sansa-odori; Yamagata Hanagasa Festival; Sendai Tanabata Matsui; Fukushima Waraji Festival).
Schedule of Events
Food Fair: November 5-6 (Sat & Sun), 10 am - 7 pm
Dance Performances: November 5, 11:30 am-12:30 pm; November 6, 11:30 am -12:30 pm and 4 pm-5 pm
Craft Workshops: November 5 and 6, 11 am – 5 pm;
Craft Workshop to create mini Tanabata decorations (10 persons maximum): will be held at 2 pm on November 5 and 6
Craft Workshop to create wooden Kokeshi dolls (10 persons maximum): will be held November 5 at 4 pm, and November 6 at 3 pm
Photo Session with Mascots: November 5, 12:15 pm; November 6, 12:15 pm and 4:45 pm
