Kotohajime: Arrow shooting ceremony to kick off New Year's celebration, Jan. 7
Topic: Event

 

Annul New Year’s celebration Kotohajime at Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles features the first arrow shooting by its Artistic Director Hirokazu Kosaka. Music and performance in a mix of modern and tradition accompany the arrow shooting ritual. (Photo courtesy of JACCC)

     The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles announces that Kotohajime, its original annual New Year performance and celebration, will take place on Sunday, January 7, 2007 from 1 p.m. on the JACCC Plaza.  The public is cordially invited to join the festivities.

 

     Hatsu Warai: First Laughter is the theme of this year’s celebration and is reflected in the original performance created by artist and JACCC Artistic Director Hirokazu Kosaka.

 

     “The closing of an old year and the beginning of a new one are viewed as a time of reflection and festivity,” explained Kosaka.  “The performance combines the traditional and the contemporary, and incorporates a cross-cultural juxtaposition apropos to Los Angeles, the new Silk Road.”

 

      The Kotohajime performance features Japanese dancer Midori Makino, flamenco guitarist Santiago Prechtel, koto ensemble Awaya-kai, Okinawan dance group Majikina Honryu and the Zen archery of Ikkyu.

 

    Following the Kotohajime performance, Kodama Taiko will perform and demonstrate the making of traditional rice cakes for the New Year. Other activities include a traditional kagami biraki (breaking of the sake barrel) and New Year toast, drop-in crafts for the kids, and New Year fortunes.

 

    The day also features a rare opportunity to learn how to make traditional and contemporary kites in the Doizaki Gallery from 1:30 pm.  Using Washi paper, members of the Drachen Foundation will lead a workshop that will teach gallery-goers their style of kite making.

 

    The workshop coincides with the “Washi to Wings” exhibition featuring the work of 30 different contemporary artists from the Drachen Foundation and the Shikishi Exhibition, a collection of more than 200 original and creative New Year greetings inspired by the Hatsu Warai: First Laughter theme.

 

     This event is made possible by funds from The Japan Foundation and the Drachen Foundation.  JACCC programs are made possible in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

 

    The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 628-2725, www.jaccc.org.   

Ohogatsu: New Year's Day Family Festival set at Japanese American National Museum, Jan 7 (Sun)
Topic: Event

LOS ANGELES.-The Japanese American National Museum will hold its annual Oshogatsu (New Year's) program with live performances and arts and crafts for children of all ages on Sunday, January 7, 2007, from 11 a.m.to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

"Oshogatsu: New Year's Day Family Festival" will be highlighted by a series of performances outdoors (weather permitting) that begins with the Kodama Taiko group presenting their mochitsuki program to commemorate the New Year at 11:15 a.m. The group pounds the steamed sweet rice while playing taiko. They will also perform again at 4:00 p.m.

Eth-Noh-Tec, a San Francisco-based interdisciplinary theater company that combines spoken word and precision choreography, will present various folktales and stories of ancient Asian mythologies at both 12 noon and 2:00 p.m. The subject matter is suitable for kids of all ages.

At 3:00 p.m., a family concert will be performed by Samba at Saticoy, an after school volunteer children's ensemble. The group, directed by Lee Corbin, is based at the Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood and highlights spirited rhythms from Brazil.

From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., several arts and crafts activities will be available to all visitors. The creation of bird pins, a craft practiced by Japanese American confined in domestic concentration camps during World War II, will be taught using a variety of materials. Also, participants can learn how to make a daruma puppet. A daruma is a good luck charm in Japan often used when someone has a wish. The wisher will draw one eye for the daruma and if the wish comes true, fill in the other eye.

Museum staff and volunteers will also teach origami to visitors. Ori means to fold and kami is the Japanese word for paper. A variety of objects made out of folded paper will be available to anyone who wishes to learn. Finally, the traveling exhibition, Ansel Adams in Manzanar, is installed at the Japanese American National Museum until February 18, 2007. Visitors can have a Polaroid taken with friends and family to create a special mural for the New Year.

Oshogatsu (the New Year) is the most important occasion in Japanese culture. Much preparation is done beforehand, including a thorough cleaning of homes, the paying of debts and the completion of tasks or projects. The New Year marks a number of firsts for each individual and their families, including first meals, often eating food related to good health, and first visits to their temples. Individuals also make resolutions for the coming year. Traditionally, the National Museum has marked the New Year with arts and crafts and performances on the first Sunday of the year following New Year's Day.

This program is sponsored, in part, by the James Irvine Foundation and the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. For more information, call the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414 or go to www.janm.org.

Events of Nov. 17-20 Weekend
Topic: Event

Friday, Nov. 17 – Sunday, Nov. 20

Friday, 7:30 – 10:00 PM  Geisha Gala Party: An Evening of Imperial Culture at Le Meridien Hotel, Garden Room, 465 South La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90048. Y&J Productions, 818-531-7662.

Friday, 8:00 PM Sankai Juku Kagemi-Beyond the Metaphors of Mirrors at Royce Hall, UCLA. UCLA Live, www.uclalive.org.

Saturday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM  Japan Expo at Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall-K. General Admission, $12. Japan Expo, 213-617-0868, www.japanexpo.org.

Saturday, 12:30 – 7:00 PM  Harmonic Concert, a joint performance by developmentally challenged individuals from Japan and America, at Heritage Forum, 201 East Broadway Ave., Anaheim, CA 92805. Admission Free. Kintetsu International Express (USA), 310-525-1670 ext. 279 Katie Conlon.

Saturday, 7:30 PM Choral Arts South Bay Concert at Torrance Community Church of the Nazarene, 700 Maple Ave., Torrance, CA 90503. Shige Higashi, publisher of Cultural News, will sing various Japanese songs and Western Classic music. Admission Free.

Saturday, 7:00 PM  Long Beach Opera The Sound of a Voice and Hotel of Dream inspired by Japanese ghost stories at Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. Long Beach Opera, 562-439-2580

Saturday, 8:00 PM Sankai Juku Kagemi-Beyond the Metaphors of Mirrors at Royce Hall, UCLA. UCLA Live, www.uclalive.org.

Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM  Japan Expo at Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall-K. General Admission, $12. Japan Expo, 213-617-0868, www.japanexpo.org.

Sunday, 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM   Koi Auction at the Japanese Garden at California State University Long Beach. Admission: Adults $5, Seniors $4, Friends of the Japanese Garden Members $3, CSULB students free, Children 12 and under free. Auction begins at 12 noon. www.csulb.edu/~jgarden.

Sunday, 4:00 PM   Long Beach Opera The Sound of a Voice and Hotel of Dream inspired by Japanese ghost stories at Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. Long Beach Opera, 562-439-2580

Friday – Thursday   World Premiere of Film: Hannari – Geisha Modern at Laemmle Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 310- 274-6869
Fri, Nov. 17?€€     5:00pm      7:25pm        9:50pm
Sat, Nov. 18?€€   12:10pm     2:35pm        5:00pm    7:25pm    9:50pm
Sun, Nov. 19    12:10pm      2:35pm       5:00pm    7:25pm    9:50pm
Mon, Nov. 20?€€  5:00pm       7:25pm       9:50pm
Tue, Nov. 21?€€   5:00pm       7:25pm       9:50pm
Wed, Nov. 22?€€  5:00pm       7:25pm       9:50pm
Thur, Nov. 23 ?€€ 12:10pm     2:35pm       5:00pm    7:25pm    9:50pm

Japan Night at Women?s Football Game, July 1, 7 PM
Topic: Event
A sumo demonstration and a Japanese classical dance performance by Bando Hidesomi Buyo Class at the half time at Veterans Memorial Stadium, 5000 East Lew Davis Street, Long Beach. Antelope Valley Attack vs. Breakers.
www.avattack.com

West Covina Cherry Blossom Festival
Topic: Event
Saturday, May 6, 2006
12 noon to 7:00 p.m.

Presented by the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center

West Covina Civic Center Courtyard
1444 W. Garvey Ave.
West Covina, CA 91793
Free Parking at Civic Center

For more information, please contact the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center at 626-960-2566.

Japan Family Day at Santa Anita Park, Apr. 1
Topic: Event
Tokyo City Cup Race Celebrates A Decade-Long Relationship Between Two Premier Horse Tracks

Santa Anita Park and Tokyo Ohi Race Track provide various Japanese cultural exhibitions to local community. Raffle drawing grand prize is a pair of airline tickets to Japan.

Santa Anita Park will host the annual Tokyo City Cup, in conjunction with Tokyo Ohi Race Track on Saturday, April 1. The annual spring event celebrates a 12-year-long partnership between two of the premier tracks followed with the presence of Soma Nomaoi samurai warriors, and a wide variety of cultural exhibitions and travel information on Japan.

The Tokyo City Cup has been upgraded to a Grade III since last year. The upgraded race, with their higher level of competition, appeals to even more horse race fans. In the 71-year history of Santa Anita Park, Tokyo City Cup is the sole graded stake race that has been named for a major city outside of the U.S. and no other prestigious race tracks have similar graded races.

“We are very proud of our decade-long partnership with Ohi Race Track and looking forward to developing a new level of relationship,” said Ron Charles, Santa Anita Park President.

Every year, Tokyo Ohi Race Track also hosts ‘Santa Anita Trophy’, celebrating its friendship with having Santa Anita Park representatives. Santa Anita Park and Ohi Race Track have been actively developing their partnership in each side. “While we are celebrating our partnership through Tokyo City Cup race, all of the Santa Anita Park staff are pleased to present Japanese culture to the local communities because it provides wonderful cultural exchange opportunities,” Charles added.

On the Tokyo City Cup day, the Soma Nomaoi samurai warriors from Fukushima Prefecture, a National Important Intangible Folk-Custom Cultural Property, will participate to the event for the fifth consecutive year. Soma Nomaoi is a festival that recreates a battle scene from more than 1,000 years ago. Between the races, mounted samurai in traditional Japanese armor with ancestral flagstaffs streaming from their backs, will ride across the track.

The Japan Day, which was held along with Tokyo City Cup and provided various Japanese cultural exhibitions, has been renamed to Japan Family Day. The upgraded cultural exhibition will showcase more Japanese cultural exhibitions such as Sado (tea ceremony), Kado (flower arranging), Koto (Japanese harp), Shodo (calligraphy), Karate and Shin Kendo (Japanese martial arts) and Wadaiko (Japanese drums).

Also, as a new addition, Japan Travel Expo provides tourism information to the event attendees, introducing Japan as a more attractive travel destination. The event will feature two fabulous raffles - one for a pair of round trip tickets to Japan and the other for a trip to Las Vegas. Event attendees will receive one free admission ($5 worth) with the event advertising included coupon for the event. Free admission coupon will be also available at www.tokyocitycup.com. The web site provides more information about the specific event schedule.

Santa Anita Park is located in Arcadia, California, a residential community 14 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Santa Anita Park opens each year on December 26, with daily racing continuing through late April, from Wednesday through Sunday. On the Tokyo City Cup day, gates open at 10:30 a.m. and post time for the first race is 12:30 p.m. Please visit at www.tokyocitycup.com for more information.

(Photo)
The Soma Nomaoi samurai warriors from Fukushima Prefecture, a National Important Intangible Folk-Custom Cultural Property, will participate to the event for the fifth consecutive year.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library?s Cherry Blossom Festival, Feb. 24
Topic: Event
“The people of Japan and the people of America are friends of separate pasts. We have a different language, different ancestry, and yet together, our actions have helped to shape the future. Today we have a chance to bring freshness and a new direction to the deep friendship between our two peoples.” - Ronald Reagan, May 7, 1981

To continue this friendship, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library announces the debut of its Cherry Blossom Festival on Friday, February 24th from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

The festival will focus on the beginning of Spring and includes programs fun for the entire family. All activities and events relating to the Festival are free to attend, regular admission rates apply for Museum entrance. For more information, call 805-522-2977.

PROGRAM:

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (in the Library’s main courtyard):

Opening Remarks
Traditional Japanese Shinto Rite, conducted by Rev. Tsuyuki
Kendo Performance (Japanese Fencing Demonstration)
Japanese Harp Koto Music Performance
Samurai Sword Demonstrations
Taiko Drums

11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (in the Library’s Presidential Learning Center):
Japanese Odori Dance Performance
Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
Art of Japanese Brush Calligraphy Demonstration
Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement Presentation

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, California 93065

The Reagan Library and Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

The Museum admission fees are $12.00 general admission, $9.00 for seniors 62 and over, $3 for children 11-17, and free for children 10 and under. For more information, please call (800) 410-8354.

Phoenix's Matsuri: A Festival of Japan to feature martial arts, Feb. 25, 26
Topic: Event
PHOENIX - The 22nd Annual Matsuri Festival will take over Heritage and Science Park in the center of Downtown Phoenix on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 and 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The colorful Festival of Japan is a celebration of Japanese culture with authentic arts, crafts, food, and entertainment. Admission free. The Theme for 2006 is “Martial Arts.”

Matsuri: A Festival of Japan is sponsored by Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Japan-America Society of Phoenix, Japanese American Citizens League, Himeji Sister City Committee, Arizona Buddhist Church, Phoenix Japanese Free Methodist Church.

Heritage and Science Park is located at 7th Street and Monroe Street. For details, call Heritage Square Office at (602) 262-5071 or visit www.azmatsuri.org. Recorded information available at (602) 262-5029.

Highlights of the event include Japanese exhibits, demonstrations, arts and crafts, children’s activities, Bonsai displays, Japanese food and entertainment. Estimated attendance is 80,000.

Martial arts demonstration

There are many different styles of Martial Arts. Some of these arts are tied to the weapons of the Japanese Warrior Class – the Samurai. These weapons include the yumi (longbow), yari (stabbing spear), or tanto (short blade). The most important of the samurai weapons, the ken or katana (curved sword) will be taught in the event in two forms: Kendo – the Way of the Sword and Kenjutsu – Techniques of the Sword.

‘Do’ Martial Arts are competitive or contemplative forms. They are characterized by bogu (armor, from the Japanese word for ‘tools’) worn by players for safety reason and stress weapons mastery by allowing only deliberately chosen/artificially small target areas.

But they allow for free-form practice. Some Japanese high schools and colleges have kendo teams, just as an American school might have a football team.

Other arts include: Kyudo – the Way of the Bow, Naginata-do – the Way of the Reaping Spear, Iaido – (from iai, Japanese word for ‘to assume a swordplayer’s posture’)

‘Jutsu’ Martial Arts, sometime also spelled ‘jitsu’, are technique-oriented forms. They stress the historical nature of the ryu – or school, to which the sensei/student belongs, through the explicit reproduction of the techniques used with historically accurate weapon replicas.

The entire body is considered a target as well as, for example, weak points in the style of armor that was in use at the time the ryuha – family lineage within a specific ryu – was codified.

These arts allow for muted demonstrations; but, as many techniques contain a ‘subdue by death or injury’ nature, these arts do not allow for free-form practice or competition. These arts remain private to the families that teach and maintain them.

Other Martial Arts made use of simple tools available to farmers and craftsmen that could be used, if necessary, for self-defense. These weapons include the bo (Japanese staff used by traveling monks), and even farm implements, such as kama (rice harvesting sickles) attached to a length of kusariga (chain).

As the Shogun era came to a close in the 19th century and the Meiji restoration opened Japan to the outside world, educated Japanese wondered how to make their traditions available to Japanese youth, as young men from all social classes were now offered equal opportunities in voting and public education.

Fighting forms were combined from elite, historical ryu to create standardized education-oriented and modern forms such as: Judo – (from ju, Japanese word for softer/gentle) and Aikido – (from ai-ki, Japanese word for ‘to bring different spirits into harmony’)

The 2006 Arizona Matsuri offers its first ever-formal Tendo Ryu Naginata Jutsu demonstration.

(Photo)
Kendo practices are characterized by bogu (armor) worn by a player.

(Photo)
A form of Iaido

The 8th Annual Shikishi Exhibit Extended
Topic: Event
The 8th Annual Shikishi (Japanese Greeting Card) exhibit at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) is being extended through Sunday, February 26, 2006.

The exhibit in the JACCC's George J. Doizaki Gallery includes work from of a former Prime Minister of Japan to school children in America, and everything in-between. The theme for this year's exhibit is Hatsu-hanashi (First Story).

Seen as a way to ring in the New Year (2006, Year of the Dog), the exhibit includes over 70 Shikishi from Japan and Korea, making the total on exhibit over two-hundred Shikishi. The exhibit also includes a colorful variety of Japanese kites and tops.

8th Annual Shikishi Exhibit
George J. Doizaki Gallery (JACCC)
244 So. San Pedro St., L.A., CA 90012
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12 noon-5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Jan. 8, 2006-Feb. 26, 2006
Admission: Free

Dec 9 Harmonic Concert, Anaheim
Topic: Event
Japanese and American developmentally-challenged people will perform music and dance at the first Harmonic Concert on Friday, Dec. 9, 1:00 p.m. –6:00 p.m.

The first collaborative show by developmentally-challenged individuals from Japan and the U.S. will be held at Heritage Forum, 201 East Broadway Ave., Anaheim, CA 92805, (714) 776-7776 on Friday, Dec. 9 from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Admission free.

“The Japan - U.S. Harmonic Concert ~ Crossing the Ocean Through Harmony” will be a showcase of performances by disabled and handicapped performers form the U.S. and Japan. The show will include songs and dances which Japanese performers practice so many times for their American counterparts.

By exchanging their artistic achievements, the U.S. and Japanese groups are hoping to grow their friendship as their personal experiences.

The programs includes “Taisho Koto” string music by the Sunnies, dances, physical expressions and flute music by the Crystal Troupe of Tokyo, the Hanagasa Odori by the Potato House of Shimane prefecture.

The Fifth Kibo no Tsubasa of Yamagata prefecture will join in the Japanese delegation.

From the U.S., the Hope Choral Group and the Hi Hopes 9 from Hope University will perform; The Hope High School Choir will sing; The Pride group of the Creative Identity will perform songs and music; The Burbank Center for the Retarded will dance.

In the lobby, pictures, crafts, and arts that were created by the participants will be exhibited.

The Harmonic Concert is sponsored by Kinki Nippon Tourist travel agency of Japan as its 50th anniversary project. The concert is supported by Anaheim / Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau and endorsed by Cultural News.

The Harmonic Concert is open to public and free of charge. For more information, contact Ritsuko Powell or Katie Conlon at (310) 525-1670, Kintetsu International Express (USA), Inc. in Gardena.

Dec 3 Cancelled Iwami Kagura & Zuiho Taiko
Topic: Event
Iwami Kagura & Zuiho Taiko Concert at Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo on Saturday, Dec. 3, is cancelled.