Kizuna Summer Camp
Gardena Buddhist Church, 244 S San Pedro Street, Suite 504, Los Angeles, CA 90012
About
Kizuna Summer Camp includes activities such as mochitsuki, Japanese calligraphy, family oral histories, book readings, and an INCARCERATION ESCAPE ROOM workshop. The program is a week-long summer camp that focuses on Japanese American values, culture, and traditions, and is described as a fun and exciting way for kids to learn about their culture and heritage. Kizuna also charters buses to bring campers to Little Tokyo for field trips to tour historical spots, murals, and more.
• Ages: 7–13 years old
• Schedule: Week-long summer camp sessions, operating from 8:30AM to 4:30PM with morning dropoff between 8AM and 8:30AM and pickup from 4PM to 4:30PM
• Price: $375 per camper until April 3rd at 11:30PM; $425 thereafter. Aftercare from 4:30PM to 5:30PM is $5 per 15 minutes with a cutoff at 5:30PM, late pickup fees are $1 per minute after 5:30PM, and childcare fees are capped at $80 for the week if prepaid.
For the field trip, campers are asked to bring sunscreen for hot summer skies, water for walking around, and cash for any lunch, toy, or boba purchases, and they may either buy to-go lunches from a grocery store or bring a packed lunch. Full-tuition scholarships are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who qualify, until funds have been exhausted.
Kizuna is a community-based nonprofit organization in Little Tokyo that was founded in 2011. Its mission is to build a future for the community in Little Tokyo and beyond through the education, empowerment, and engagement of the next generation. Kizuna continues to grow and expand its Program Pipeline to serve new audiences throughout Southern California and is supported, in part, by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Chris Fitzgerald, Programs Coordinator Alan Takashi Riley, Development & Administrative Coordinator Miki Matsumoto, and Communications Coordinator Kali Ayumi Kishi. The board includes Board Chair Eric Komatsu, Vice-Chair Maya Hernandez, Ph.D., Secretary Terra-Lynn Tokiwa, Treasurer Kelli Tademaru, and Board-at-Large members Nina Takenouchi, Ally Oishi, Desiree Tanimura, Ariel Imamoto, Maya Valluru, and Matt Wenner.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
• Ages: 7–13 years old
• Schedule: Week-long summer camp sessions, operating from 8:30AM to 4:30PM with morning dropoff between 8AM and 8:30AM and pickup from 4PM to 4:30PM
• Price: $375 per camper until April 3rd at 11:30PM; $425 thereafter. Aftercare from 4:30PM to 5:30PM is $5 per 15 minutes with a cutoff at 5:30PM, late pickup fees are $1 per minute after 5:30PM, and childcare fees are capped at $80 for the week if prepaid.
For the field trip, campers are asked to bring sunscreen for hot summer skies, water for walking around, and cash for any lunch, toy, or boba purchases, and they may either buy to-go lunches from a grocery store or bring a packed lunch. Full-tuition scholarships are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who qualify, until funds have been exhausted.
Kizuna is a community-based nonprofit organization in Little Tokyo that was founded in 2011. Its mission is to build a future for the community in Little Tokyo and beyond through the education, empowerment, and engagement of the next generation. Kizuna continues to grow and expand its Program Pipeline to serve new audiences throughout Southern California and is supported, in part, by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Chris Fitzgerald, Programs Coordinator Alan Takashi Riley, Development & Administrative Coordinator Miki Matsumoto, and Communications Coordinator Kali Ayumi Kishi. The board includes Board Chair Eric Komatsu, Vice-Chair Maya Hernandez, Ph.D., Secretary Terra-Lynn Tokiwa, Treasurer Kelli Tademaru, and Board-at-Large members Nina Takenouchi, Ally Oishi, Desiree Tanimura, Ariel Imamoto, Maya Valluru, and Matt Wenner.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
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