ANCHOING THE LEGACY OF BOYLE HEIGHTS
Three Milestone Celebrations
FIVE Years of Nikkei Celebration | SEVENTY Year Anniversary of Otomisan | FIVE Years of Preservation
Saturday, August 8, 2026
5p – 10p
A Free Community Event for All
Our organization is dedicated to the preservation of our Japanese cultural history and diversity in Boyle Heights
The Evening’s Program
5:00pm Parade is lined up in front of Tenrikyo Church, 2727 E. 1st St.
Parade ends at Otomisan, 2506 E. 1st St.
Presenter: The Consul General of Japan with his opening remarks.
Vivian Escalante, President & C.E.O. acknowledgments and thanks
Performances by: Hikari Taiko performance, The Neighborhood Music School, Nisei Week 2025 Queens Court, Rebel’s Outcry,
Bando Hidesomi - Japanese Classic dancers
The evening ends with our traditional
Sing-along to Ue Wo Muite Arukou’s “Sukiyaki”.
The Grand Finale: Bon Odori:
A Circle of Unity
Before Little Tokyo, There Was Boyle Heights
For many, the history of Japanese Los Angeles begins and ends in the neon-lit blocks of Little Tokyo. But for the families who built this city, the story was rooted across the river.
Before Little Tokyo became the cultural landmark it is today, there was Boyle Heights.
While Little Tokyo served as the "front office"—the place for business, shopping, and professional services—Boyle Heights was the "living room." It was the neighborhood where the Issei (first generation) and Nisei (second generation) actually lived, went to school, and built their lives.
First Street physically and spiritually linked the two neighborhoods.
Residents would take the yellow streetcars or walk across the First Street Bridge to commute from their homes in Boyle Heights to their jobs in Little Tokyo. This corridor was the lifeline of the community, connecting the private family life of the Heights to the public commerce of downtown.
At a time when restrictive housing covenants barred Japanese Americans from living in most parts of Los Angeles, Boyle Heights stood as a rare gateway. It was a multicultural anomaly where Japanese, Jewish, Russian, Italians, and Mexican families shared backyards, classrooms at Roosevelt High, and a collective identity as Angelenos.
The walk across the First Street Bridge was a daily ritual for many, bridging the gap between their quiet residential streets and the commerce of downtown.
• Investing in the preservation of the foundational history of the Japanese American community in Boyle Heights.
• Your support sustains irreplaceable cultural anchors.
• From legacy and local businesses to longstanding community and educational establishments that anchor our region.
• Ensuring this vibrant, multigenerational heritage is not lost to redevelopment.
• Ensuring that this celebration continues for generations to come.
…Boyle Heights Community Partners
…603 North Breed Street
Los Angeles, California 90033
For Corporate Sponsorship, please contact Ellie ellie@boyleheightscommunitypartners.com
All donations are tax-deductible
Boyle Heights Community Partners is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.