Centenary United Methodist Church in Little Tokyo held its annual Arigato Bazaar on May 4, featuring food, games, prize drawings, handicrafts, a silent auction, a country store, and entertainment. Above: Contestants in the church’s second annual dance-off showed off their moves to constantly changing music, from the Electric Slide to the Macarena to Gangnam Style.
The bazaar’s third annual odori event was a preview of the upcoming Obon season, featuring the Meiji Ondo Dancers from San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center and George Abe on taiko.
The bazaar’s first anime/cosplay contest drew four contestants.
Kids and adults from Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu of Little Tokyo, under the direction of Art Ishii, gave a karate demonstration.
The menu included chicken teriyaki (left), strawberry shortcake (right), and such Centenary specialties as Haute Dogs and Smashed Potatoes.
Left: Centenary’s Rev. Mark Nakagawa. Right: Sax Men from Mars.
Activities for kids included Pass the Daikon, a variation on Musical Chairs.
Centenary’s Chikara Daiko (top photo) and Bombu Taiko from Higashi Honganji performed separately and together.
Photos by J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo
