Odaiko Sonora

Rhythms of Resistance: Internment, Identity + the Power of Taiko

by Carolyn Classen, blogger “Wednesday, May 21, 6:30-8pmJoin us for an evening of dialogue and drumming, highlighting the power of art to build resilience and community!The event includes a discussion between Karen Falkenstrom, Director of Odaiko Sonora, and Dr. Kate Alexander, Associate Professor at the University of Arizona, followed by an award-winning taiko drumming performance … Read more

Photo gallery of 2024 Tucson Japanese Festival

After a 3 year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition (of which I am the Editor of the website) decided to host our annual Tucson Japanese Festival once again at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (1288 W. River Rd.), on March 23, 2024. We had previously hosted this as … Read more

Photo Gallery of 2020 Tucson Japanese Festival

Our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition’s 7th New Year’s mochi pounding festival was held on Saturday January 18, 2020 at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Rd.  Thousands of people attended, and enjoyed the delicious food, matcha green ice cream, taiko drumming, traditional dancing, games, martial art demonstrations, tea ceremonies and more. Photo … Read more

Photo Gallery of 2019 Tucson Japanese Festival

Our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition sponsored our 6th annual New Year’s Tucson Japanese Festival on Jan. 20, 2019 at the a new location, the lovely Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River  Rd. We seemed to have outgrown PCC Downtown where we hosted the 3rd, 4th and 5th festivals.

The highlight again was the mochi pounding (from rice), making and sampling.

This festival was a huge success with about 2000 people attending, and several dance/music performances, martial arts group demos, exhibitors (including Southern Arizona Koi Assn.), tea ceremonies, the art of kimono, children’s games (Go, kendama, fukuwarai), and of course, delicious Japanese food for sale and sample. As publicity chair, I was astounded at the # of attendees, considering that most information went out via FB or online, and not in print.

Photos below taken by M. Fumie Craig, founder of Tucson Origami Club and MC Louis Rivera, except for one by volunteer Teena Werley, which are all captioned.

Mochi display for New Year’s, courtesy M Fumie Craig
Volunteers serving mochi samples with kinako, courtesy M Fumie Craig
SAJCC Director Yuki Ibuki welcoming the audience, courtesy of Louis Rivera
koi on display by Southern Arizona Koi Association, courtesy of M  Fumie Craig
Tucson Japanese Language School display, courtesy M  Fumie Craig

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Annual Tucson Japanese Festival on January 20, 2018

Want to sample & eat Japanese food? Watch taiko & dance performances and kendo demonstrations? Learn to fold origami? Draw calligraphy? Learn about origins of manga and anime in Japan?

All this and much, much more at this 2018 New Year’s celebration, the fifth sponsored by our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition and Odaiko Sonora.  Name change from Tucson Mochitsuki to Tucson Japanese Festival last year, so hence it is the 2nd Annual.  Performance schedule flyer (updated 1/17/18) below.

Mochi making and pounding from rice will be demonstrated.  Join us to learn about Japanese culture in Japan and in the U.S.

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