Thank you for attending the 2008 Japan Festival
A spirited 2008 festival review by Eulaula Jennings of JETAA
The 27th of September was a day to remember! OHN KO CHI SHIN was the theme=visit/learn the old, to know/appreciate the new! As guests passed through the huge, bright, red Torii gate, a day of fun and excitement did await! Wah Yo Setchu, master artists, representing the very best of east and west, from jeans to yukata, all coalesced! Singers, dancers, mime, musicians, and every kind of dento teki na technician!From the J-Band’s contemporary pop, to the rousing rhythms of Denver Taiko that made the theatre rumble and rock! From the sensational Ottawa Suzuki strings, to Hiraoka Yoko’s ethereal, celestial o koto, so serene!! To the wonderful wit and humor of Kaishi Katsura’s rakugo, to the guests polishing and refining their Nihongo! Sessa takuma they practiced their Japanese kaiwa! Spirited KU Okinawa min yo folk dance, to Yoshiko Yamanaka’s yuugen classical buyo elegance!
The Yosakoi (come by night) dancers from K-State were truly GREAT!!
Chefs extraordinaire, with mouthwatering aromas filled the air as they taught guests how to prepare the finest food under the sun!! Tenka ippin! Delicious! Oishii!! Wa shoku cuisine!! Noodles, gyoza and sushi too, epicurean delights to please all appetites!! To share her expertise at Japanese sweets, there was Kaishi, the artistry of candy, taught by Sugimori Miyuki!
Kuniko Yamamoto’s magical masks and mime gave children a great time!!--Listening to legendary characters of glory from mukashi banashi- time-favorite children’s stories!! The ambidextrous fingers of Nancy Bjorge shared her skill in origami- For adults too it was a great way to learn and play!! It was a very enjoyable = tanoshikatta day !! Yoku manabe! Yoku asobe!
There was anime and manga too!! The kids were intrigued!=Muga muchu!!
Guests learned the meticulous nurturing of miniature bonsai, to the careful mono no aware aesthetic eye of ikebana’s philosophical design of ten, chi, jin, that must be kept in mind= Heaven/ Earth/ Man/- With the guiding hand of Sachiko and Sue they carefully trimmed and placed each stem, then proudly took home what they had arranged, to display the knowledge they had gained on this cultural exchange!
There were displays of engei gardens by Gil Novak -And lectures by Dr. Elaine on “How to wrap” considering the season, purpose, color and texture so deeply engrained, so important for “wa” relationships to be maintained. She imparted techniques to make it perfect and neat!! There were intricately traditional hand woven baskets of every size purpose and shape. Koji Morimoto taught How to build a bamboo fence or gate. If you have a lake or backyard pond, you could learn how to cultivate koi carp by Bennie Armstrong.
Ukiyoe is from centuries ago, but contemporary art by Dr. Kaneko to the contemporary heart of young women and men who follow the latest trend of looking for a chance at Romance. Dr. Takeyama’s research was revealed to all, as we sat deeply enthralled!
For those more inclined to a “war of the mind” if one wished to know how to play GO there are 180 stones and 361 paths to know!! OR one could learn the strategy of shogi, 9 files, 9 ranks; Checkmate!! O TEH ZU MEH!! I win! THANKS!!
When guests were tired of running to and fro’ they relaxed with Tea Master Dale Slusser for Sado. As guests would quietly sit and from the chawan sip, they could contemplate: Wah, Kei, Jyaku, Sei= Harmony, Respect, Purity,Tranquility all together in this one moment of unity-to share this wabi sabi ceremony of tea! This one chance ichi go ichi e = “Each moment…has its own beauty, a picture which was never seen before and shall never be seen again” Ralph Waldo Emerson. One could be inspired by the elaborate, embellished, ornate calligraphy with one bold release of energy from the thick black brush, then, --experience the rush of beauty of Shodo by Midori!
Martial Arts Artists of Iaido, showed power, perfection and precision, their dazzling, sharp swords drawing, slashing, in a blinding blitz!--Then “the gentle way” of judo tossed, kicked and flipped as they displayed their unarmed combat skills that gave us all quite a thrill! John Drakey led Kendo warriors wielding long bamboo sticks, wearing black masks fiercely set about their task to show their bushido at kendo.
After all this hustling bustling nigiyakana atmosphere one could “chill-out” with a nice cold Japanese beer!! OR For those sake connoisseurs, a little sip of sake; amakuchi karakuchi sweet or dry, you could taste and try! Whatever your shumi/hobby or interest/kyomi be, there was something for everyone to learn, do and see!! Yes, the 11th Annual Japan Fest was truly the best! An auspicious day to celebrate and play! Enter the Torii-- Experience Japan’s past and present glory!! Nihon bashi, a bridge to the past, a bridge to the future, a bridge to the east, a bridge to the west.
For the young to explore, attractions galore! Everywhere from floor to floor! For the 1st time aficionado, or the more mature, as well as the Japanese cultural connoisseur! Next year, we hope to see you here for the 12th Annual Japan Festival celebration! We promise it will be a sensation!
Watch our AMC Theater Ad from this year
