LITTLE TOKYO, Calif. — The coronavirus pandemic has impacted many aspects of the Southern California community. Large gatherings are banned, which means local food festivals have been canceled. But one event that honors Little Tokyo is pushing on, virtually.

Takoyaki is a traditional Japanese dish that owner of Tanota Takoyaki, Takeo Sibatani, has perfected. He moved to the U.S. just 12 years ago to cook his cuisine in Los Angeles.

“I wanted to introduce Japanese culture to the U.S.” said Sibatani.

What You Need To Know

  • The Delicious Little Tokyo Food Festival will be a virtual event this year

  • The event will now span a full month with daily Instagram lives, workshops, book readings, and more

  • Tanota Takoyaki's Takeo Sibatani is one business owner who participates in the event every year

  • The festival runs through July 26

This is why Sibatani loves participating in the annual Delicious Little Tokyo Food Festival. He usually prepares his takoyaki for an audience so they can taste the flavors of Japan.

But this year the event will look a lot different. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Delicious Little Tokyo has gone virtual, and Sibatani is grateful the event is continuing.

“We participate every year and we can enjoy at home,” said Sibatani.

The event organizers from the Little Tokyo Community Council are doing their best to continue the festival at home. Kristin Fukushima, Managing Director, has taken the unexpected job of host. She now stars in videos showcasing different businesses, such as highlighting the matcha at Tea Master.

“We feel like we need to still continue to say to people, 'Support small business, support Little Tokyo.' It’s a reminder these are real folks,” said Fukushima.

The traditionally weekend-long event will now span a full month with different Instagram lives, workshops, book readings, and more happening daily. Fukushima says this is an opportunity for more people than ever to learn about Little Tokyo.

“We have been able to put more faces behind the restaurants, behind the businesses. This is what a community looks like,” she said.

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The council decided to continue the fest because businesses are struggling already, and Fukushima wants them to still get the recognition they deserve.

“I know first-hand that the support means so much. There’s a lot of reasons to come to Little Tokyo, but food is definitely one of them,” said Fukushima.

 
 
 
 
 
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Highlighting delicious cold noodles of Little Tokyo! ❤️😋 Come along with James Choi and Alison De La Cruz as they try refreshing noodles from @menohramen_la, @totlittletokyo, @ebisu_la, and @marugame_monzo. 🍜⁣ ⁣ Please note that at the time of filming, restaurants were offering dine-in services, so our guests were allowed to enjoy their meals indoors. 👍🏼⁣ ⁣ ✨SPECIAL THANKS ✨⁣ @picsbydela⁣ @menohramen_la⁣ @totlittletokyo⁣ @ebisu_la⁣ @marugame_monzo⁣ ⁣ 🙌🏼PRODUCTION TEAM🙌🏼⁣ @xaandragram⁣ @alvinjooo @jameschoi608⁣ @kfook⁣ @thenightshift⁣ @shawnieween⁣ @ellettestudio⁣ ⁣ Stay tuned for future episodes of our Delicious Little Tokyo Video Series to be released on Sundays 7/19, and 7/26! See the entire Virtual Delicious Little Tokyo 2020 event schedule at golittletokyo.com/delicious

A post shared by Little Tokyo, LA #LoveLT🌸 (@golittletokyo) on

Of course, a food festival is all about eating, so Fukushima recommends ordering delivery or takeout to dig in while enjoying the online content, and Sibatani agrees. He alone lost 70 percent of his business due to coronavirus, so any order helps.

“I want more customers, but I want them to enjoy eating Japanese traditional food,” said Sibatani.

Enjoy traditional dishes and learn about Japanese history all from the comfort of your own home until July 26.