2026 October Newsletter
Autumn Updates!
As things start to cool down, we don’t want you to forget & miss out on upcoming programs and community events!
Oct 15, 04:09 PM
In Case You Missed It:
2026 Taste of Kizuna Chef Line Up
The 5th Annual Taste of Kizuna returns November 4 at Drago Centro! Join us for an extraordinary evening featuring eight acclaimed chefs and culinary talents, handpicked by Andy Nakano: Celestino Drago (Drago Centro), Jennifer Lee (Aloha Cafe), Vicki Fan and Kazuto Matsusaka (Dear John’s), Andreas Nieto and Anh Do (LA Prime), Chris Ono (Heisei), Suzanne Tracht (JAR), Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’s), and Sherry Yard (Bakery by the Yard). We’re deeply grateful to these chefs for sharing their time and talents in support of Kizuna’s next generation of community leaders.
Wednesday, November 4 | Reception at 5:30PM | Dinner at 6:30PM
Los Angeles Youth250 Program Recap
As the United States recognizes its 250th anniversary, LA Youth 250 united teens from four LA cultural hubs (Chinese American Museum, Kizuna Little Tokyo, LA Commons in Leimert Park, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes) to tell the story of Los Angeles through the eyes of youth, answering the question, “What is LA’s history?” With support from the Japanese American National Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, these youth exchanged their cultures and histories by being welcomed warmly to each others communities from July through October.
Our 12 Kizuna teens gathered many times to prepare their walking tours and to host the other three teen groups by introducing them to Japanese and Japanese American culture and to take them on community walking tours. Our teens taught origami, how to write their names in katakana, decorated sensu (folding fans), and curated gift bags, which included souvenirs and treats from Little Tokyo small businesses (shoutout to Bunkado, Cafe Dulce, Fugetsu-do, Maneki Neko, and Yamazaki Bakery).
The walking tours were, by far, the highlight of the day! With much guidance from community favorite and tour guide expert, Dave Nagano, our teens taught their guests about the many aspects of Little Tokyo's history, including displacement, legacy businesses, art, food, and of course, community. Thank you, LA Youth250, for this enriching experience!
Apply for Leadership in Action!
Open to youth ages 13-18! Join us for 10 Saturdays in Little Tokyo, where you’ll learn from community leaders, dive into civil liberties issues, and build real-world leadership skills. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a youth leadership program that turns your ideas and words into action!
📅 Deadline to apply: November 29, 2026 at 11:59PM
Community News!
Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market
Visit the Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market, a vibrant new Saturday tradition in the heart of Little Tokyo. Presented in partnership by JACCC and Food Access LA, this weekly market brings together fresh, affordable produce, rich cultural experiences, and meaningful community connection.
Every Saturday 9AM-2PM at the Isamu Noguchi Plaza
UPRISERS Family Drive
The 5th Annual UPRISERS Family Drive is dedicated to celebrating intersectionality as a means to unite the diverse communities of LA for our collective repair. Family Drive uses wellness, arts & culture, movement, and food to bring Angelenos together for a day of care, connection, and culture. Together we build the LA we want to see. All ages are welcome - bring your friends, family, & neighbors!
LTSC Ebb & Flow
Ebb and Flow is Little Tokyo Service Center's fourth annual community mental health conference in Little Tokyo. This conference is a welcoming space for the Asian American community to address, examine, and understand mental health in its various forms.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
9:00am - 5:00pm
Terasaki Budokan
