Japanese culture

Beautiful 2017 Spring Ikebana Show at Yume Japanese Gardens.

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If you don’t know much about the 5 schools of ikebana flower arrangments, here’s your chance to enjoy them all together at Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way. www.yumegardens.org for admission prices, hours of operation. “Winter: 10:00-4:30 Tues. through Sun.; closed Mon. Rain or cold may prompt early closure; to check, call 520-272-3200.” Ongoing ikebana … Read more

Tucson Japanese Festival to celebrate the New Year 2017

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tjffinal2Our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition (of which I have been the website Editor for 4 years) is sponsoring another New Year’s festival on January 14, 2017, at PCC Downtown campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is our fourth Japanese New Year’s celebration in Tucson.

Once again we are offering Japanese martial arts & musical performances (on 2 stages this year), cultural activities and games, delicious Japanese snacks, tea, takoyaki (octopus) balls, and other cultural information.  Mochi rice pounding will be again performed with the kine (mallet) in the stone or wooden usu (bowl).  See photo below from last year’s popular event.  Event schedule also posted below.

Mochi pounding at 2016 Japanese New Year's Mochitsuki, photo courtesy of James Tokishi
Mochi pounding at 2016 Japanese New Year’s Mochitsuki, photo courtesy of James Tokishi

Updates will be on our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/tucsonmochi/, with event schedule, listing of numerous Japanese restaurant door prizes, performers.  Come watch co-sponsor Odaiko Sonora perform their lively taiko drumming.

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Autumn Ikebana exhibition at Yume Japanese Gardens

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Fourth Annual Autumn Ikebana Exhibition  (Nov. 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27) “Dozens of traditional Japanese flower arrangements (Ikebana) will be on display throughout the Gardens to delight you in our Fourth Annual Autumn Ikebana Exhibiiton. This year’s exhibition is special, because we are extending it from three days to an an entire week, … Read more

Photo gallery of 3rd Annual Japanese Mochitsuki celebration

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The Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition (SAJCC, of which I am the website Editor) held our 3rd Annual Tucson Mochitsuki celebration for Japanese New Year’s  at PCC Downtown , 1255 N. Stone Avenue on Saturday, January 9. This event has grown from its inception 3 years ago at Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, then to last year at Rhythm Industry Performance Factory, home of the popular Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers.  This popular taiko troupe help open the celebration’s festivities.

Odaiko Sonora doing the opening welcome. Photo credit Brandy Gannon

Odaiko Sonora preparing to do the opening welcome. Photo credit Brandy Gannon

Odaiko Sonora performing,photo credit James Tokishi
Odaiko Sonora performing, photo credit James Tokishi
Odaiko Sonora drummers at 2016 Mochitsuki, photo credit James Tokishi
Odaiko Sonora drummers at 2016 Mochitsuki, photo credit James Tokishi

Here are more photos of the event, focused on the Japanese tradition of cooking, mashing, pounding rice into mochi cakes.  Samples of the mochi were provided to attendees (oshiruku soup), along with a festival atmosphere of various Japanese cultural activities, performances, games, and information.

Video of Odaiko Sonora performance and other activities by freelancer James Tokishi:

https://www.facebook.com/AzBunbunmaru/videos/577442482414877/?theater

Usu (mortar) and kine (mallet) before the pounding. Photo credit James Tokishi
Usu (mortar) and kine (mallet) before the pounding. Photo credit James Tokishi
Mochi pounding, photo credit James Tokishi
Mochi pounding, photo credit James Tokishi

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