Keiro Celebrates Ninth Annual Keiro no Hi Festival
The Little Tokyo event drew more than 650 participants honoring older adults and caregivers.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Cultural
On Sept. 12, Keiro held its ninth annual Keiro no Hi Festival at Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (Nishi) in Little Tokyo. The sold-out event drew hundreds of community members from Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.
Why it matters
The festival honors Keiro no Hi, the Japanese holiday Respect for the Aged Day, and gives the community space to thank and celebrate older adults. It also marks Keiro's 65th anniversary of serving older adults and caregivers.
The festival welcomed more than 650 participants and sold out, marking the ninth annual edition of the event. The extraction does not provide ticket revenue, fundraising totals, or prior-year attendance figures for comparison.
The players
Keiro
Keiro is a Los Angeles-area organization that serves older adults and caregivers and celebrated its 65th anniversary with this festival.
Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation
The Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation presents the festival in support of Keiro's community programming.
The details
Performers included Asian Persuasian, Bandō Hidesomi, L.A.'s 33 Strings, Orange County Friendship Choir, and Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, while Art Ishii, Mary Ellen Wong, and Brian Kito gave demonstrations. Attendees bought items from local vendors, played festival games for character-button prizes, made crafts, and enjoyed a bento lunch.
Timeline
Sept. 12, 2026: Keiro held the ninth annual Keiro no Hi Festival at Hompa Hongwanji Temple.
Cultural Context
Respect for the Aged Day, or Keiro no Hi, is a Japanese national holiday observed each September to honor elders. Keiro's festival carries that observance into Little Tokyo, where Japanese American families have long maintained such traditions across generations.
Community members from across Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties attended the festival, which is a recurring annual event. Those interested in supporting Keiro's services can contribute through its donation page.
The takeaway
Keiro no Hi offers a yearly opportunity to recognize the contributions of older adults and the caregivers who support them. Attending or supporting local observances like this one is a direct way to take part.
Further reading
For more on local traditions, explore the Cultural section of our Los Angeles coverage.
More information
Support Keiro's work through the Keiro donation page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rafu Shimpo.
