Dear Friends & Supporters,
On behalf of the Love to Nippon Project, it is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us at the 8th Anniversary of Love to Nippon 2019 – 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Memorial and Candlelight Prayers.
The Theme is “BE PREPARED LOS ANGELES!” and the day event will be from 12:00 pm, Sunday, March 10, 2019, at the LAPD HQs (100 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012) and the evening event will be from 9:00 pm at the Santa Monica Pier North.
As you recall, on March 11, 2011, catastrophic earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan’s northeastern region (Tohoku) and many other areas since, forever changing the lives of millions. The long and challenging road to recovery continues.
To honor the memory of those who have perished and to celebrate the resilient spirit of those rebuilding their lives, we will come together as a community to pray, to remember, and to learn from the tragic experiences to help our community in the future.
We encourage members of your organization to participate and share the importance of natural disaster preparation here in Los Angeles and Southern California.
Please save the date on your calendar for this annual community wide gathering.
We thank you for your continued support.Please forward any questions by email:
Janet LeBlanc (janetleblanc23@gmail.com)
Masako Unoura-Tanaka (unoura@ttta.com) or telephone 310-484-1800, ext. 0
MC: Janet LeBlanc & Lori Gardea, Board Members of Love to Nippon Project
10:30 - 2:30 pm L.A. County Fire Department Fire Truck on 1st St.
12:00 - 2:15 pm Registration Desk Opens:
Love to Nippon Project Information, Media Desk, Merchandises Desk
12:00 - 2:15 pm Booths:
Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, Tochigi & Kumamoto Prefectural Organizations of Southern California
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) & Japan Airlines
12:20 - 12:40 pm Japanese Taiko Tribute:
UCLA Kyodo Taiko First Performance
Sophia Inaba, Kellie Lee, Minami Sasaki, Lindsay Masukawa, Kyle Nakahira, Bradley Nishida, Gianna Furumoto, Isaac Caldas, Jason Muljadi, Brandon Fujii, Kiana Shibata, Cade Okohira, Mattie Kao, Reilly Terao, Michael Tabe
12:40 -1:00pm & 2:30 - 2:50pm Flamenco Dance Tribute:
Mikaela Kai, Yoko Shibata, Mayumi Hayasaka
2:50 - 3:10 pm Japanese Taiko Tribute:
UCLA Kyodo Taiko Second Performance
Lindsay Masukawa, Kyle Nakahira, Co-Directors, UCLA Kyodo Taiko
MCs: Lori Gardea & Janet LeBlanc
11:55 - 12:00 pm Greetings & Introductions of Stage #1 and Stage #2
12:00 - 12:20 pm Shinto Ceremony:
Izumi Hasegawa, Senior Priest of Shusse Inari Shrine of America
12:20 - 2:30 pm Booths:
Los Angeles County Fire Department Preparedness Information
“Kata tataki” by Dr. DoAnn T. Kaneko
12:40 - 12:45 pm MCs: Lori Gardea & Janet LeBlanc
2:30 - 2:50 pm Japanese Martial Art Demonstrations:
Southern California Kendo Organization (SCKO)
Sharon Kumagai, Mai Mori, Koji Mori, Shigei Nakamura, Yujin Takayanagi, Sullivan Bryant, Katie Kamimoto, Kouji Kamimoto
MCs: Lori Gardea, Toby Mallen of NBFK and Kay Kayoko Inose, Kitty Sankey of Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California
12:00 - 2:30 pm Flower Offering Desk
12:45 - 12:50 pm Love to Nippon Project Greetings & Introductions
12:50- 1:00 pm National Anthems of the United States of America and Japan: Sung by Noi Maeshige
1:00 - 1:45 pm Interfaith Service: Rev. Masaaki Shiraiwa, Union Church of Los Angeles
Rabbi Shalom Rubanowitz, Pacific Jewish Center “The Shul on the Beach” in Venice
Nikkei Interfaith Group of Little Tokyo and Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Federation
Rev. Join Inoue, Minister of Nichirenshu Temple
Rev. Nobuko Miyoshi, Minister of West Covina Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
Rev. Peter Hata, Minister of Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
Rev. William Briones, Rev. Kazuaki Nakata, Ministers of Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Rev. Shumyo Kojima, Head Priest, Rev. Daiki Toho of Zenshuji Soto Mission Temple
Rev. Ryuzen Hayashi, Rev. Daichi Kihara, Ministers of Koyasan Temple
Rev. Mark Nakagawa, Centenary United Methodist Church
1:00 - 1:45 pm Japanese Traditional Music Tribute:
Koto: Yukiyo Shelley Ikebe of Los Angeles Todo-Kai
Guitar: Ken Glaser, Shakuhachi: Greg Matsuura
1:45 - 2:00 pm Music Tribute:
“Hana Wa Saku” by the Students of the Japanese Language School Unified System
“Hands in the Sun”「手のひらを太陽に」Takako Osumi (Conductor)
2:00 - 2:15 pm Introduction of Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Presentation on Natural Disaster Preparedness
2:15 - 2:20 pm Appreciation Remarks:
Deputy Consul General Hiroki Matsuo, Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles
2:20 - 2:30 pm Closing Remarks:
Doug Erber, President of Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC)
Masako Unoura-Tanaka, Founder of Love to Nippon Project & member, Board of Governors, JASSC