TARGET FREE FAMILY DAY 'ON THE GO!' SET FOR SATURDAY, JULY 17

The Japanese American National Museum continues its popular on-going series, Target Free Family Saturdays, with its latest presentation, "On The Go!", with an emphasis on travel and transportation set for Saturday, July 17, beginning at 11 a.m. in Little Tokyo. The event is free to everyone.

Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together. Usually held on the second Saturday of the month, this National Museum event coincides with other organizations’ presentations across the country who benefit from the sponsorship of Target. Media sponsors for the Museum’s event include Los Angeles Downtown News, KSCI-TV LA-18, and The Rafu Shimpo.

For many families, summer is a time for vacation. At 1 p.m., the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) will present an informative list of travel tips for those thinking about visiting Japan. Among the information will be explanations of Japanese customs as well as a language class. JNTO is involved in a broad range of activities promoting travel to Japan through various activities overseas as well as tourism-promoting activities in Japan. For more information about JNTO or to learn more about traveling to Japan, visit: www.japantravelinfo.com or www.jnto.go.jp

At 2:15 p.m., Six Tastes will lead a Free Family Little Tokyo Gastronomy Tour (limited to 14 participants, families only). The tour, which lasts over three hours, will walk through Little Tokyo, from Fugetsu-Do, a confectionary shop and the oldest building in Little Tokyo to Chado Tea Room, where participants get to taste some authentic Japanese tea, along with several other restaurants and other eateries. The Gastronaut Tour includes a balance of history, culture, and delicious food, stopping at some of the most fascinating historical locations in Little Tokyo, meeting owners of some of the longest running stores in Little Tokyo, and trying amazing food at seven different locations, For more information about Six Taste and it’s other tours, go to: http://www.sixtaste.com/.

Kodo Arts Sphere America (KASA) presents singer Yoko Fujimoto and composer/pianist Derek Nakamoto in concert at 3 p.m. The concert theme is "Our Story", and will talk about their travels over the years. Fujimoto, acclaimed singer from the renowned taiko ensemble Kodo, and Nakamoto, record producer and keyboardist, will draw from Yoko’s repertoire with Kodo as well as songs from her CD with Derek, "Morisa Komoris", in a contemporary setting. This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., arts and crafts activities will be available to all visitors. Among the activities will include Tag! You're it! where participants create a fun luggage tag to identify their bags for travel. Also, Pack it up! enabling visitors to decorate a backpack to use while on the go. Also, visitors will be able to learn how to fold an origami camera at Ruthie’s Origami Corner.

Throughout the day, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) will be on hand with information on traveling around Southern California without a car. Currently, MTA’s Gold Line system travels from Pasadena through Union Station and to East Los Angeles, with a Little Tokyo/Arts District station directly across the street from the National Museum. Other trains travel from Long Beach to downtown and from the San Fernando Valley to Union Station.