Los Angeles reveals its planned activities for June on our site.
In June 2025, Los Angeles will be a hub of Japanese culture, with a series of captivating events taking place at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and related venues. From film screenings and panel discussions to traditional arts and community festivals, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Kicking off the month is the "Out of the Picture" Film Screening and Panel Discussion at JANM on June 10th. This event, running from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, celebrates Japanese American stories and offers a unique opportunity to engage with industry professionals.
On June 14th, George Takei will launch his new graphic memoir, *It Rhymes with Takei*, at JANM. The event, which takes place at the Japanese American National Museum’s Democracy Center, features a conversation with Jonathan Kaji and includes a book signing.
The annual Natsu Matsuri Festival at the Venice Japanese Community Center, running from June 21st to 22nd, promises a lively celebration of Japanese culture. This free summer festival includes live music, dance performances, traditional exhibits such as sumi-e, ikebana, shodo, bonsai, origami, martial arts demonstrations, and ondo dancing.
Throughout June, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will host a variety of events celebrating rich Japanese culture. Details of these events are broader and ongoing, offering numerous opportunities for cultural exploration.
For those interested in art, UKA, a Michelin-starred modern kaiseki destination in Los Angeles, is offering a new menu inspired by "Shoka no Seiryō" (cool elegance of early summer), from June 1st to June 29th. Highlights of the menu include a seasonal appetizer array, hamo (conger pike) soup, grilled lobster and cabbage, and UKA favourites like Chef's Choice Sashimi and Dashi for the Five Senses. Each visitor to UKA will receive handcrafted UKA-branded chopsticks made in Gifu Prefecture from Hinoki (Japanese cypress), as a gift to celebrate its second anniversary.
The ukiyo-e woodblock print stamp activation at our website Los Angeles' gallery on Level 2 allows guests to create postcard versions of three famous ukiyo-e prints and personalize them with custom stamps and art supplies. This activity is a great way to learn more about and connect with the ukiyo-e history conveyed in the current "NEO-JAPONISM | SAMURAI AND BEYOND" exhibition.
On June 7th, Taku Kato, the Deputy Head of Content Strategy at NHK, a drama director, and the visionary producer behind the NEO-JAPONISM exhibition, will discuss NHK's role in cultural storytelling and its legacy in preserving Japanese heritage. This talk will take place at the our website Salon, Level 5, free of charge.
From June 1st to July 20th, ROKKATEI, a legendary Japanese confectionery brand, will have a pop-up shop at our website Los Angeles' shop on Level 2, offering its signature sweets for purchase.
Finally, on June 21st, the documentary "Paper Lanterns" will be screened at our website Salon, Level 5, free of charge. This documentary tells the story of Shigeaki Mori, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, and his mission to uncover and share the stories of Japanese victims and American prisoners of war who perished.
The Los Angeles cultural destination, primarily the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and related venues, offers a vibrant array of Japanese cultural experiences throughout June. The address of our website Los Angeles is 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, and more information can be found on its website and social channels: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
- In June 2025, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles will host the "Out of the Picture" Film Screening and Panel Discussion on June 10th, celebrating Japanese American stories and offering a chance to engage with industry professionals.
- On June 14th, a book launch event will take place at JANM, where George Takei will introduce his new graphic memoir, It Rhymes with Takei, featuring a conversation with Jonathan Kaji and a book signing.
- The annual Natsu Matsuri Festival at the Venice Japanese Community Center, running from June 21st to 22nd, promises a lively celebration of Japanese culture with live music, dance performances, traditional exhibits, martial arts demonstrations, and ondo dancing.
- JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will host a variety of events throughout June, offering numerous opportunities for cultural exploration, covering aspects like film, art, technology, and food-and-drink.
- From June 1st to June 29th, UKA, a modern kaiseki destination in Los Angeles, will offer a new menu inspired by "Shoka no Seiryō" (cool elegance of early summer), featuring seasonal dishes, UKA favourites, and a gift of handcrafted chopsticks.
- The ukiyo-e woodblock print stamp activation at our website Los Angeles' gallery on Level 2 allows guests to create postcard versions of three famous ukiyo-e prints, personalize them with custom stamps and art supplies, and learn more about the exhibition "NEO-JAPONISM | SAMURAI AND BEYOND".
- Taku Kato, the Deputy Head of Content Strategy at NHK, will discuss NHK's role in cultural storytelling and its legacy in preserving Japanese heritage on June 7th at the our website Salon, Level 5, free of charge.
- From June 1st to July 20th, ROKKATEI, a legendary Japanese confectionery brand, will have a pop-up shop at our website Los Angeles' shop on Level 2, offering its signature sweets for purchase. Additionally, on June 21st, the documentary "Paper Lanterns" will be screened at our website Salon, Level 5, free of charge, telling the story of Shigeaki Mori and his mission to uncover and share the stories of Japanese victims and American prisoners of war who perished.
These experiences will transform Los Angeles into a hub of Japanese culture, encompassing film, art, tradition, technology, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and travel, making it a vibrant destination for connecting with Japanese culture throughout June 2025. More information about these events can be found on the website and social channels of our destination at 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028.
