Oshogatsu Festival welcomes 2025 at Japanese American National Museum in LA
People cross First Street to go to the Japanese American National Museum for the Oshogatsu Festival, that ushered in the new year on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Creatures made of candy by Shinobu Ichiyanagi are on display. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Candy maker Shinobu Ichiyanagi, aka Shan the Candy Man, crafts a horse out of candy. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Children make crafts celebrating “2025 the Year of the Snake.” The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Barbara Seek McGuire held her son Otis,6, as they play a Taiko drum.The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Tracy Timelier takes a photo of her children Olivia and Xavier. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson reads from “The Mochi Makers.”The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
People try their hand at Taiko drumming. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Artist James Jean created this piece called Woodcutter. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
People line up to go on a scavenger hunt. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
A giant mural showing Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is seen across the street. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Hal Keimi teaches Taiko drumming. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
S Always McGuire,6, learns about the Taiko drumming. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Paintings by the husband and wife artists Darren and Trisha Inouye. The Oshogatsu Festival ushered in the new year at the Japanese American National Museum on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
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People cross First Street to go to the Japanese American National Museum for the Oshogatsu Festival, that ushered in the new year on Jan. 5, 2025 in Los Angeles CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
The Oshogatsu Family Festival ushered in 2025 on Sunday at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.
A variety of cultural performances for the new year included a traditional Japanese rice-pounding (mochitsuki) that was drummed in — so-to-speak — by Kodama Taiko and candy sculpting folk art was demonstrated by artist Shan Ichiyanagi.
In addition, author Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson gave readings of her book “The Mochi Makers,” a Women in Kendo team demonstration, a taiko workshop for children, and souvenir photos were part of the museum’s free admission annual event.
Festival attendees also had an opportunity to get ready for the upcoming Lunar New Year, too.
The Year of the Snake — Jan. 29 to Feb. 16, 2026 — was represented with snake-theme activities including origami, a scavenger hunt, a bookmark and making spiral snakes.
The finished candy sculpture depictions of snakes and other animals of the Asian zodiac made by the candy artist Ichiyanagi, by the way, were offered in a children’s raffle at the event.
The festival was also the last opportunity to see exhibits before the museum’s pavilion closes for renovation. Programs will continue during the renovation, through late 2026, on the museum’s campus in Little Tokyo, other locations and virtually (janm.org/onthego).
Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. 213-625-0414. janm.org
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