The highlights of the parade were dancers in kimonos, beauty queens on floats, and anime characters. Unexpectedly, I saw my friend as an anime character in the parade. She was Super Sailor Venus, the one in the orange and white outfit (see below). I called out her name and when she saw me, she yelled out mine in disbelief. It was a special moment. I felt like running onto the street and giving her a hug but I was blocked by people sitting on the ground. I haven't seen her in so long. It was nice seeing her again. The people around me laughed at our expression of joy and excitement. I knew she was really into anime. I had told my boyfriend that she might be in it before I saw her. We met up later after she was done with the parade and took pictures.

The event was special in that it brought out generations of Japanese Americans. I liked seeing old women and young girls performing the traditional dances to Japanese music. I loved their kimonos. Their outfits looked so simple and elegant. The wooden shoes, however, didn't look practical for modern day use. They were definitely not made for running, but then, women wouldn't run in kimonos either.

After an afternoon of being bombarded by different images and sounds of Japanese culture, I found peace in an alley. I observed an old man on a walker strolling down the alleyway towards a buddhist temple. It promised refuge, safety, and serenity. It was inviting, but closed.