LITTLE TOKYO : Family Fun for Children’s Day

Arts and crafts activities, a kiddie fun run and a family film festival are planned next weekend in celebration of Children’s Day, a traditional Japanese holiday honoring chibi-ko , or “little ones.”

The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center’s 10th annual Children’s Day festival combines Japanese traditions, such as flying koi nobori (fish-shaped banners) and demonstrations of Japanese ceramics, dance and other folk art, with contemporary activities like the Chibi-K Fun Run for youngsters and the “Healing Drums” multicultural family concert.

Most festival events are free and will be in the center’s plaza off San Pedro Street between 2nd and 3rd streets.

Saturday, children’s choirs from the Lumbini and Nishi Hongwanji child development centers will perform at 11:30 a.m. The “Healing Drums” concert follows at noon, spotlighting the universal role of the drum in cultural arts. Performers will use Japanese taiko drums, African “talking drums” and Latin congas .

The Chibi-K Fun Run for 4- to 12-year-olds leads off Sunday’s events. Warm-up begins at 8 a.m. and the first heat is at 8:30 a.m.

As part of registration, runners are asked to donate a new toy to be given to an organization serving children. The registration fee is $10 for center members, $20 for non-members and $25 on the day of the run.

A festival of feature and animated films from Japan, with English translations, will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Japan America Theatre. Tickets are $4 for adults; $2 for children 12 and younger.

Across the way, Japanese Village Plaza at 335 E. 2nd St. will also offer performances Sunday in honor of Children’s Day and the monthlong Little Tokyo Spring Festival.

Information: Japanese American Cultural and Community Center at (213) 628-2725; Japanese Village Plaza at (213) 620-8861; Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414; New Otani Hotel at (213) 629-1200.