banner with drawing of monkeys on the left. On the right side, text in red reads, "OSHOGATSU FAMILY FESTIVAL 2016 YEAR OF THE MONKEY

Special Events

Youth & Families

2016 Oshogatsu Family Festival—Year of the Monkey

banner with drawing of monkeys on the left. On the right side, text in red reads, "OSHOGATSU FAMILY FESTIVAL 2016 YEAR OF THE MONKEY

Special Events

Youth & Families

2016 Oshogatsu Family Festival—Year of the Monkey

About the Event

FREE ALL DAY!

Ring in the Year of the Monkey with food, crafts, cultural activities, and performances!

  • Watch Kodama Taiko pound fresh New Year mochi for you
  • Enjoy a Japanese-style lion dance and hip hop dance performances
  • Sample a variety of traditional Japanese New Year foods
  • See Shan the Candyman create amazing monkey candy sculptures, which will be raffled off throughout the day

See below for complete schedule!

Special perks available for JANM Members! Be sure to check in at the front desk to get a member sticker so you can take advantage of the perks highlighted below.

Sunday, Jan 03, 2016

11:00 AM PST

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About the Event

FREE ALL DAY!

Ring in the Year of the Monkey with food, crafts, cultural activities, and performances!

  • Watch Kodama Taiko pound fresh New Year mochi for you
  • Enjoy a Japanese-style lion dance and hip hop dance performances
  • Sample a variety of traditional Japanese New Year foods
  • See Shan the Candyman create amazing monkey candy sculptures, which will be raffled off throughout the day

See below for complete schedule!

Special perks available for JANM Members! Be sure to check in at the front desk to get a member sticker so you can take advantage of the perks highlighted below.

 Los Angeles Arts Commission Bandai

Media Sponsor: Rafu Shimpo 

Take advantage of free museum admission all day to view:

Activities

Puppetmaking

Celebrate the Year of the Monkey by making your own puppet.

Sketchbook Station

In celebration of Giant Robot Biennale 4, customize a sketchbook that you can spend the next year filling with drawings.

Ruthie’s Origami Corner

Learn how to fold a paper monkey.

Nerdbot Photo Booth

Come meet our monkey mascot and pose for a souvenir photo to take home. Express Line for members!

“Petting Zoo”

Surround yourself with monkeys of all stripes at our stuffed animal petting zoo.

Coloring Station

Learn about the qualities of people born in the Year of the Monkey, as well as the 11 other signs of the Asian zodiac.

Fukubukuro Sale

Our eagerly awaited fukubukuro (lucky grab bags) will be back and available for purchase at the JANM Store.

Curious George Bounce House

Kids of all ages can monkey around in our bounce house. Express Line for members!

Scavenger Hunt

Explore our Giant Robot Biennale 4 exhibition to complete the scavenger hunt and receive a custom JANM x Giant Robot sticker.

Toddler Room

Bring your toddlers here to relax, play with other toddlers, listen to a story (see scheduled activity at 12:15 p.m.), or watch Monkey Kingdom, a nature documentary about a monkey family living in the jungles of South Asia.

NOTE: all children must be supervised by an accompanying adult at all times.

Schedule

11:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Family Tour of Common Ground: The Heart of Community

Join JANM’s knowledgeable docents for a special family-oriented tour of our core exhibition.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

MEMBERS ONLY Osechi-Ryori Tasting

JANM members will have an exclusive hour at our popular annual osechi-ryori tasting. Sample a selection of traditional Japanese New Year foods—including various sweets and vegetables—and learn about what each dish means. Tasting will open to the general public at 1:30 p.m.

12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Monkey Candy Sculptures

Shan Ichiyanagi will demonstrate the ancient, and now rarely practiced, Asian folk art of candy sculpting, as he makes candy in the shape of monkeys. The finished pieces will be raffled off throughout the day. Members get double raffle tickets!

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

Storytime

Join JANM volunteer Kathryn Madara in the Toddler Room as she reads from Ed Young’s Monkey King, which tells the delightful story of China’s favorite supernatural trickster.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Lucky Soba Noodles

Kidding Around the Kitchen will give out sample bowls of lucky zaru soba (buckwheat noodles) to bring good health in the New Year. While supplies last.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Hip Hop Dance Performances

Join Coed Choreo, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School’s National Championship-winning hip hop dance team, for a rousing performance. Reserved seating for members!

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Osechi-Ryori Tasting

Our popular annual osechi-ryori tasting opens to the public. Sample traditional Japanese New Year’s foods while supplies last!

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Monkey Balloons

Balloon artists will create and give away balloons in the shape of monkeys. For children only, limit one per child, while supplies last. Line will end at 4 p.m. Express Line for members!

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Mochitsuki Demonstration by Kodama Taiko

Making fresh mochi is a beloved Japanese new year tradition. Join Kodama Taiko for their unique mochitsuki (rice pounding) demonstration, which incorporates taiko drumming, and enjoy delicious mochi samples while supplies last.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Japanese-Style Lion Dance

Take in a lively shishimai (Japanese-style lion dance) for good luck, accompanied by Kinnara Taiko. Reserved seating for members!

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Hip Hop Dance Performances

Join Coed Choreo, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School’s National Championship-winning hip hop dance team, for a rousing performance. Reserved seating for members!

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Mochitsuki Demonstration by Kodama Taiko

Making fresh mochi is a beloved Japanese new year tradition. Join Kodama Taiko for their unique mochitsuki (rice pounding) demonstration, which incorporates taiko drumming, and enjoy delicious mochi samples while supplies last.

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