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