LONG BEACH“Hiraite(open up), hai, cho chon no chon, banzai, left and right” — June Miyamoto Donovan (pictured, second from left) leads an ondo practice session at the Long Beach Japanese Community Center.
The group has been practicing for the upcoming Summer Festival, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30. At the practice session, approximately 70 people participated and made a double circle in the parking lot for the ondo practice.
Among nine songs, a new one, “Fureai,” was introduced this year, choreographed by Keiko Shibata, a long-time community member and dance instructor. The group is practicing every Monday and Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. At the festival, popular items are teriyaki chicken and beef, udon, hot dogs, miso soup and chili rice. The schedule of matsuri held by Japanese communities/churches for the next three weekends is:
June 29— West Covina Buddhist Temple, 1203 W. Puente Ave., West Covina, 2 to 9 p.m. (dance: 7 p.m.) For information, call (626) 337-8373 or visit www.livingdharma.org.
June 29-30— Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute, 1964 W. 162nd St., Gardena, (Sat) 12-9 p.m., (Sun) 12-7:30 p.m. For information, call (310) 324-6611 or visit http://jci-gardena.org.
June 29-30— Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale Ave., Anaheim, (Sat) 2-9 p.m., (Sun) 2-8:30 p.m. (dance: 7 p.m.) For information, call (714) 827-9590 or visit www.ocbuddhist.org.
June 29-30— Long Beach Japanese Community Center, 1766 Seabright Ave., Long Beach, (Sat) 3 to 9 p.m., (dance: 7 p.m.), (Sun) 3 to 8 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.) For information, call (562) 437-9924 or visit www.lbjcc.org.
June 29-30— San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Temple, 9450 Remick Ave., Pacoima, (Sat) 4:30 to 9 p.m. (dance: 7 p.m.), (Sun) 4:30 to 9 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.) For information, call (818) 899-4030 or visit www.sfvhbt.org.
July 6— Senshin Buddhist Temple, 1311 W. 37th St., Los Angeles, 7 to 10 p.m. (dance: 7 p.m.) For information, call (323) 731-4617 or visit www.senshintemple.org.
July 13— Oxnard Buddhist Temple, 250 S. “H” St., Oxnard, 1 to 9 p.m. (dance: 6 p.m.) For information, call (805) 483-5948 or visit www.oxnardbuddhisttemple.org.
July 13-14— Pasadena Buddhist Temple, 1993 Glen Ave., Pasadena, (Sat) 4 to 9 p.m., (Sun) 4 to? 8:30 p.m. For information, call (626) 798-4781 or visit www.pasadenabuddhisttemple.org.
July 13-14— West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple, 2003 Corinth Ave., Los Angeles, (Sat) 4 to 10 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.), (Sun) 3 to 9 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.) For information, call (310) 477-7274 or visit http://westlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org.
— Story and photo by RYOKO OHNISHI/Rafu Shimpo