OCNCC's Nikkei Games 2024

Sports & Recreation

In Person

Date: July 16, 2024 – Aug. 27, 2024

The Nikkei Games, originally established in 1928 as the Junior Olympics by the Japanese Athletic Union, began as a way to foster community, competition, and friendship among Japanese-Americans in Los Angeles. Interrupted by World War II, the games were revived in 1948 and renamed the "Relays" by the Japanese-American Citizen’s League in 1952, experiencing decades of success before ending in 1992. In 1994, the Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council rebranded the event as The Nikkei Games: Games for the Generations, emphasizing inclusive participation across all ages. The Games now feature a diverse array of activities, including track and field, martial arts, basketball, softball, golf, volleyball, and taiko performances, with participation growing to over 3,000 contestants from five continents. Held annually in July and August at California State University, Long Beach, and other venues in Orange and Los Angeles counties, the Nikkei Games celebrate cultural traditions and aim to preserve them for future generations.

Visit: www.nikkeigames.org for more info and to sign up!

OCO_Club Updated Dec. 7, 2024