Photo Gallery of 2017 Tucson Japanese Festival

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Tucson Japanese Festival (new name) was held on January 14, 2017 at PCC Downtown, 1255 N. Stone Ave. to celebrate the New Year.

For the 4th year, Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition (SAJCC) sponsored a New Year’s festival featuring numerous performances and once again, mochi pounding (from rice). Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers and Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson were festival co-sponsors.

Origami paper folding was taught and Go, fukuwarai and kendama games were played upstairs in the campus center building.  Also on display were ikebana flower arrangements, bonsai from the Tucson Bonsai Club, and calligraphy.   Photos below courtesy of freelance photographer James Tokishi, except for last 4 photos by M. Fumie Craig.

Odaiko Sonora doing the welcome at the New Year's festival
Odaiko Sonora doing the welcome at the Tucson Japanese New Year’s festival
Mochi (rice) pounding in stone usu and wooden kine
Mochi (rice) pounding in stone usu with wooden kine
Tucson Kendo Kai performing this skill
Tucson Kendo Kai ready to perform their skills

Yasokoi Dancers (Yurika Tatebe and friends) on stage
Yosakoi Dancers (Yurika Tatebe and friends) on stage B
Ayla Moreno (violin) and Shiho Takeda (piano)
Ayla Moreno (violin) and Shiho Takeda (piano) performing a duet
Tucson Japanese Language School choir performing a song
Tucson Japanese Language School choir performing a song
Paul Amiel (shakuhachi) and Akiwa Abe Brown (koto) performing a duet
Paul Amiel (shakuhachi) and Akiwa Abe Brown (koto) performing a duet
Ken Koshio (on the right) with K2 Enterprise from Phoenix, on taiko drum
Ken Koshio (on the right) with K2 Enterprise from Phoenix, on taiko drum
Tomomi Katz's delicious takoyaki (octopus balls) and ramen food booth
Tomomi Katz’s delicious takoyaki (octopus balls) and ramen food booth
SAJCC Volunteer Coordinator/Secretary K Negley, volunteer Louise Entwhistle, SAJCC graphic designer Crystal Akazawa
L – R: SAJCC Volunteer Coordinator/Secretary K Negley, volunteer Louise Entwistle, SAJCC graphic designer Crystal Akazawa, handing out free samples of senbei (rice crackers)
L to R: SAJCC Interim Director Yuki Ibuki, Tucson Origami Club founder M Fumie Craig, retired UA Professor Min Yanagihashi, PCC Chancellor Lee Lambert, SAJCC Editor Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, Festival stage manager Suke Nakata, SAJCC founder Ross Iwamoto, photo courtesy of M. Craig
L to R: SAJCC Interim Director Yuki Ibuki, Tucson Origami Club founder M. Fumie Craig, retired UA Professor Min Yanagihashi, PCC Chancellor Lee Lambert, SAJCC Editor Carolyn Sugiyama Classen (yours truly), Festival stage manager Suke Nakata, SAJCC founder Ross Iwamoto

PCC Chancellor Lee Lambert (who is half Korean) gave welcome remarks, and Dr. Min Yanagihashi explained the history of rice & mochi pounding. M. Craig taught origami upstairs, and Yuki Ibuki sang a tenor song “Stand Alone” on stage B.

Many different types of beautiful origami (paper folding) was taught upstairs by M. Fumie Craig and Chi Nakano
Many different types of beautiful origami (paper folding) was taught upstairs

More info about our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition at www.southernazjapan.org.

Happy New Year of the Rooster, Japanese style.

3 thoughts on “Photo Gallery of 2017 Tucson Japanese Festival”

    • then Georgia you must be either 12, 24, 48, 60, 72 or 84 years old this year, as the Asian Zodiac repeats every 12 years. Happy Year of the Rooster. My father in law (now deceased) and older cousin in Hawaii are Roosters.

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