2026 Oshogatsu Family Festival—Year of the Horse

Celebrate the New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse at the Japanese American National Museum’s 2026 Oshogatsu Family Festival, hosted at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC).

This free, all-ages festival invites the community to enjoy a full day of hands-on crafts, live performances, and cultural activities rooted in Japanese New Year traditions. A longtime favorite, the mochitsuki demonstration brings the rhythm and spirit of Oshogatsu to life as steamed rice is pounded into smooth, elastic mochi.

All-day activities include Year of the Horse crafts and origami, Shan the Candyman, a stamp rally, a photobooth, partner organization tables (including Kizuna and Sustainable Little Tokyo), and JACCC's 9th Annual Cultural Ikebana Exhibition and 21st Annual New Year Shikishi Exhibition, open throughout the day.

Scheduled highlights feature a calligraphy performance with custom calligraphy giveaways by Kuniharu Yoshida, mochitsuki demonstrations with Kodama Taiko, a Cold Tofu improv performance, and a performance by JACCC's Ukulele's for Little Tokyo students.

Join us in welcoming the new year through tradition, creativity, and community at the heart of Little Tokyo.