JAPAN EXPO, a convention to highlight and celebrate all things Japanese, will be held Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19, 2005, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event will feature a Sushi Maki competition, a Soul Caliber III video game tournament, Japanese food, music, dance, and exhibitors.

The theme for the expo is PEACE 60. JAPAN EXPO will recognize and celebrate the 60th anniversary of PEACE between the U.S and Japan. One purpose of JAPAN EXPO is to provide an enjoyable opportunity for both countries' citizens to bridge cultural differences and to learn from each other.

JAPAN EXPO will offer a multitude of exhibits including fine art, automobiles, apparel, anime-manga, games, arts and crafts, food, health products, garden exhibits, workshops and multiple entertainment stages.

Several workshops will be offered during the Expo including traditional woodcarving, origami, Japanese calligraphy (shuji), a textile design (roketsu-zome) class, and more. A range of holiday gift ideas will be offered for sale, ranging from silks, jewelry, books, and health products to arts and craft supplies. Japanese food products will include green tea, seaweed, and a variety of health food products.

For the sake and shochu connoisseur there will be sampling stations and for the culinary connoisseur there will be an array of Japanese culinary delights including sushi, teriyaki, yakisoba and udon noodles.

The Sushi Maki Competition should be interesting and entertaining, with two teams of 50 people competing to make an 80-foot-long Maki-Sushi!

General admission prices at the door are $12 for adults, children under 12 are free. According to the event website, discounted tickets are also available online until November 19. The discounted prices are $9.00 for adults and children under 12 are free.

The expo will be held in the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall A, at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015

For more information, see
http://www.japanexpo.org/index.html