Mark your calendars for the upcoming 12th Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest on 4/26/14, from noon-5:00 p.m. at Pima Community College NW Campus, 7600 N. Shannon Rd. , Building G. Students studying the Japanese language in middle, high and college level compete for prizes.
The afternoon features: speech contest, cosplay contest (first ever), exhibitions and performances. You don’t want to miss it. Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers and Suzuyuki Kai traditional Japanese dance group will be performing.
More info at:
Southern Arizona Association for Japanese Education.
Yours truly will be there “womaning” the table for our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition (SAJCC) of which I am the Editor, trying to spread the news about “all things Japanese” in our community (see our Calendar online). In the past year I’ve been posting information about Japanese wood block prints, origami, igo and hanafuda games, music & dance, tea ceremonies, shakuhachi flute & shamisen concerts, koi ponds, matsuri (festivals), animated films, taiko drumming, shiatsu massage, ikebana, manga & anime, internment camp information, etc.
New this year at our SAJCC table will be local Tucson author T. Martin Bennett selling/autographing his gripping new novel “Wounded Tiger” about the Commander of the Pearl Harbor attack Mitsuo Fuchida, and two other parallel stories taking place in Japan.
Hope you can join us at this speech contest/matsuri.
Amazingly authentic Cosplay costumes, soothing shakuhachi music, beautiful traditional dancers, athletic judo demos, and lively taiko drumming at the 12th annual speech contest. Exhibitor tables included calligraphy, origami, kyudo (archery), ikebana, cosplay, manga & anime, and Wounded Tiger author Martin Bennett who sold & signed several of his books. Congrats to the winners of the speech and cosplay contests.