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.
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.
More info about our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition at www.southernazjapan.org.
Happy New Year of the Rooster, Japanese style.
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If you missed our festival, go to JaTo Photography on FB for more photos and videos of the performances: https://www.facebook.com/JaToPhotos/
Incidentally, the Rooster is my symbol.
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.