FREE ALL DAY
Join us at the Japanese American National Museum as we welcome the Year of the Snake with cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages!
- Traditional mochitsuki (Japanese rice pounding ritual) performance by Kodama Taiko.
- Candy sculpture demonstrations by Shan Ichiyanagi (Shan the Candyman)
- Interactive storytimes
- Souvenir photos by cre8tive outlets
- Fun Oshogatsu and Year of the Snake–inspired crafts and origami
- Scavenger hunt for prizes
- Exclusive benefits available to JANM Members
- …and so much more
Plus, free admission all day, your last chance to see all of our exhibitions before the Pavilion closes for renovation.
- Giant Robot Biennale 5
- Contested Histories: Preserving and Sharing a Community Collection
- The Interactive StoryFile of Lawson Iichiro Sakai
- Common Ground: The Heart of Community
Special perks available for JANM Members!
Check in when you arrive to get a Member sticker and take advantage of all the benefits! Members will also get a free gift when they check in at the membership table.
Not a current Member? Join now
Can’t join us in person? We’ll post select performances and activities on our YouTube channel throughout the day.
Scroll down for complete schedule
Sponsored by:
Media Sponsor: 
FREE ALL DAY
Join us at the Japanese American National Museum as we welcome the Year of the Snake with cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages!
- Traditional mochitsuki (Japanese rice pounding ritual) performance by Kodama Taiko.
- Candy sculpture demonstrations by Shan Ichiyanagi (Shan the Candyman)
- Interactive storytimes
- Souvenir photos by cre8tive outlets
- Fun Oshogatsu and Year of the Snake–inspired crafts and origami
- Scavenger hunt for prizes
- Exclusive benefits available to JANM Members
- …and so much more
Plus, free admission all day, your last chance to see all of our exhibitions before the Pavilion closes for renovation.
- Giant Robot Biennale 5
- Contested Histories: Preserving and Sharing a Community Collection
- The Interactive StoryFile of Lawson Iichiro Sakai
- Common Ground: The Heart of Community
Special perks available for JANM Members!
Check in when you arrive to get a Member sticker and take advantage of all the benefits! Members will also get a free gift when they check in at the membership table.
Not a current Member? Join now
Can’t join us in person? We’ll post select performances and activities on our YouTube channel throughout the day.
Scroll down for complete schedule
Sponsored by:
Media Sponsor:
For press inquiries, email mediarelations@janm.org or call 213.625.0414.
Activities
CANDY SCULPTURE DEMONSTRATION
Watch Shan Ichiyanagi (Shan the Candyman) make candy in the shape of snakes and other animals of the Asian zodiac. They will be offered as prizes in the Kids’ Raffle.
PHOTO BOOTH
Grab some fun props from Cre8tive Outlets and take a souvenir photo with friends and family.
Express lane for Members!
LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY
Sign up for a library card with friends from the Los Angeles Public Library! Stay for fun crafts perfect for kids!
RUTHIE’S ORIGAMI CORNER
Learn to fold an origami snake!
This activity is named in honor of JANM Volunteer Ruthie Kitagawa (1937–2020), who led origami activities for many years.
SPIRAL SNAKE
Celebrate the year of the snake by creating your very own slithering snake pal!
SNAKE BOOKMARK
Add reading to your new year’s resolution because with these snake bookmarks you’ll never lose your place!
SCAVENGER HUNT
Explore our core exhibition Common Ground: Heart of the Community, with a scavenger hunt and win a special prize!
While supplies last. Members receive two chances to win!
BOOK SALES
Purchase secondhand books at our Collections Book Sale!
FUKUBUKURO SALE
Our popular fukubukuro (lucky grab bags) will be available for purchase at the JANM Store. Shop the Museum Store in person on January 5, and shop online during JANM on the Go.
While supplies last.
Membership Table
Join or renew your membership and receive a special gift!
JANM on the Go Table
Find out how JANM on the Go is coming to a community near you!
Schedule
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
EISA PERFORMANCE
Kick off Oshogatsu with an eisa performance by the fourth grade students of the El Marino Language School! Every year, students perform different Japanese cultural dances, and this year they studied eisa, a dynamic and traditional Okinawan folk dance and musical performance with drums to honor the spirit of Okinawan ancestors during Obon season. The students will be performing the eisa, Nennjyu- kudu-chi (年中口説 - ねんじゅうくどぅち).
Reserved seating for Members!
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
CANDY SCULPTURES
Watch Shan Ichiyanagi (Shan the Candyman) make candy in the shape of snakes and other animals of the Asian zodiac. They will be offered as prizes in the Kids’ Raffle.
See All Day Activities above.
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
TAIKO WORKSHOP
Join JANM Volunteer Hal Keimi for an energetic lesson in basic taiko drumming.
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
THE MOCHI MAKERS BOOK READING
Join author Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson for a reading of The Mochi Makers.
Reserved seating for Members!
There will be a second reading at 4:00 p.m.
12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
WOMEN IN KENDO
In kendo, women practice and compete on equal footing with men. Don’t miss the chance to see members of the 2024 USA women’s team face off against Southern California’s rising female kendo stars!
Reserved seating for Members!
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY STORYTIME
Join friends from the Los Angeles Public Library for a fun filled storytime session!
Reserved seating for Members!
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
KODAMA TAIKO PERFORMANCE
Making fresh mochi is a beloved Japanese new year tradition. Join Kodama Taiko for their unique mochitsuki (rice pounding) demonstration, which incorporates taiko drumming.
Reserved seating for Members!
There will be a second performance at 4:15 p.m.
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
COLD TOFU IMPROV AND COMEDY GROUP
Enjoy a performance by the nation’s longest running, Asian American improv and sketch comedy group Cold Tofu as they improvise scenes and games based on audience suggestions.
Reserved seating for Members!
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
THE MOCHI MAKERS BOOK READING
Join author Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson for a reading of The Mochi Makers.
Reserved seating for Members!
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
KODAMA TAIKO PERFORMANCE
Making fresh mochi is a beloved Japanese new year tradition. Join Kodama Taiko for their unique mochitsuki (rice pounding) demonstration, which incorporates taiko drumming.
Reserved seating for Members!
