"The L.A. Tanabata Festival (LATF) is a most unique and “colorful addition” to the Nisei Week Festivities in Little Tokyo. The fantastic displays are made by individuals, families, groups, organizations, businesses, churches, temples, government offices, and etc.

What is the Tanabata Festival?   The Festival celebrates the once-a-year meeting of star lovers, the Altair, Ox Herder and Vega, the Weaver Princess who are separated by the Milky Way all the other nights of the year.  Although held in many cities throughout Japan, the largest Tanabata Festival is held in Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture since 1946.   It was celebrated in a much smaller scale since the 1600s.  It is the custom to write personal wishes on small strips of paper called “Tanzaku” to hang on decorated bamboo branches."