A Grand Entrance
Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — At the 67th Annual Nisei Week Grand parade, the nebuta float carrying a Japanese War Lord danced and dipped into the crowd with the same dexterity as LAPD tow trucks maneuvering around 2nd St with captured parked cars. A cheer could be heard at 2nd and Central while the front of the parade made its away around Little Tokyo with bands, princesses and queens, dance groups, council members and other honored members of community.
The float was brought in from Japan to lift the festival's traditional parade now held at night to showcase the illuminated float, and added a break from heat from the usual daytime route. At the end of the route at 1st and Central, the crowd was buzzing having grabbed a peek at the float before it disappeared behind new buildings, so by the time it rolled into the end of the route everyone was ready with cameras while others gave a polite nod to the paper guest.
More at a flickr set.
Urban Bruin on August 20, 2007, at 12:47PM – #1
If the Tofu Festival organizers were looking for a show stopper or maybe a show topper they found it with the Nebuta float. Once the giant float made its way down 2nd the crowd went wild and followed its path onto Los Angeles and 1st. Hopefully this will not be a one time attraction (in Japan Nebuta floats are a staple for traditional festivals and the one we had last night would be considered small) but a growing tradition.
Miriam on August 20, 2007, at 02:16PM – #2
Well just to set the record straight the Tofu Festival organizers didn't bring in the Nebuta float. The Nisei Week festival organizers did.
Tim Quinn on August 20, 2007, at 03:59PM – #3
I had no idea about Garcetti.
Urban Bruin on August 20, 2007, at 05:02PM – #4
Miriam: I stand corrected. My congratulations goes out to all the organizers of yesterdays event. The festival was a success and the Parade was a phenomenal event to witness.
Ed Fuentes on August 20, 2007, at 07:38PM – #5
Previous notes about the float credited Nisei Week Grand organizers, but a hat tip to the Tofu Festival for working with Nisei Week organizers in doing it a week later to share the weekend while dealing with reduced booth space.
Urban: I agree that it was a success. While it would be expensive to bring out more floats from Japan, one wonders if there could be some smaller less mobile ones made here, while the main "guest" float closes the parade.
Tim: Not that it's a bad thing.
Tim Quinn on August 20, 2007, at 11:51PM – #6
Oh, no no of course not . . .