Thursday, May 2, 2013

7th Annual Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival - Downtown Fort Wayne

What: 7th Annual Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival
When: Sunday, May 19, 12 Noon to 5 p.m
Where: Allen County Public Library, Main Branch (downtown Fort Wayne)
Cost: Most events free for the public

The opening ceremony begins at 12 Noon with Minyo Japanese Folk Dancers, the Suzuki Strings - playing the Star Spangled Banner and the Japanese National Anthem, and Amadare (Rain).




There will be many featured artists and events at the Cherry Blossom Festival including:
  •  Fort Wayne Taiko, from the Fort Wayne Dance Collective
  •  Minyo Japanese Folk Dancers, from Indianapolis
  •  Yoko Reikano Kimura, Japanese Koto
  •  Hikaru Tamaki, Cello
  •  The Fort Wayne Guitar Quartet, lead player Dan Quinn
  •  Dorothy Kittaka, Soprano
  •  Janice Furtner, Soprano
  •  Irene Ator, Piano accompanist
  •  Suzuki Strings, conducted by Debra Graham
  •  Mrs. Shie Otani, Japanese Tea Ceremony
  •  Zentai Martial Arts, Decatur Mudokwan and Indianapolis Kendo Club
  •  Mike Schmid and Janice Furtner, Origami demonstration and hands-on origami activities
  •  Karaoke, the public
Also featured will be Arts and Crafts of Japan Marketplace:
  •  Bethany Lee – Paper arts
  •  DCB Discount Comics - Manga comics
  •  Hida Shashiko – Japanese embroidery
  •  Japanese Saturday School – Accessories, crafts and Japanese souvenir items
  •  Paul Griswold –Japanese-themed T-shirts
  •  Rei Kihara – Japanese fabric dresses, cosplay costumes, art prints, “cherry blossom”   accessories
  •  Ronia Marie Krieg – Shibori Silk Scarves
CONTESTS
  • Anime Art! Draw a famous anime character or your own original character for prizes
  • Can You Haiku? Students will submit work prior to festival. Finalists from the schools will have their haiku displayed and will be invited to read their haiku at the festival. 
  • The public may also compose haiku at the festival for prizes.
  • CosPlay Competition! Students may wear costumes depicting their favorite anime character for prizes.
TASTE OF JAPAN
  • Toyko Seoul Restaurant, Sushi.
  • West Coast Grill, Yakitori
  • Woo’s Oriental Grocery & Mart, Japanese candies, drinks, ice cream, crackers etc.
HANDS-ON AND/OR DEMONSTRATIONS OF JAPANESE ACTIVITIES
  • Bonsai by the Fort Wayne Bonsai Club
  • Japanese Goldfish Catch
  • Japanese-themed “Make and Take”, ACPL Children’s Services
  • Origami Demonstration and Hands-on sessions, Mike Schmid, Art educator/artist and Janice Furtner, artist/musician
FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Michele Yamanaka - email: yamanakam@cs.com phone:260-427-2196