Japan Day (part 2)

Makibano Kids Drummers

Ikebana booth

This is my ikebana (flower arrangement), my instructor was the one arranging the flowers (not me) all I need and want...... the free flowers LOL and I let her do my arrangements

Pottery booth

Kids can make their own pottery from different designs they provide (hello kitty, pokemon, etc)

The old ones, showing off on how to make a pot

Bonseki (Sand Art) Booth, Japanese lady making a Mt Fuji view

Close-up of Sand Art

Sand art on a tray (full view)

Washi dolls

A doll with no face LOL

I like this design, a woman carrying a basket with small apples inside it

Paper plane making

Noh Masks display booth

Oto- Female mask

Aomori Kite Making booth

Different Designs of Kites

Calligraphy booth

Nebuta Lantern Making Booth

Japan Day (Part 2 of 2)

Sorry for this late post, I was so busy lately!!

My favorite booth during Japan Day was the "bonseki" or the sand art. This was the last booth I went to and was able to make my own sand art. I enjoyed making a mountain shape which is the Mt. Fuji using a small feather, sifter and the white sand. They provided me the pink sand and the pattern the cherry blossom which you can see below (that's my sand art piece!! hehehe).





Can you see my finish sand art??? This was taken when we were waiting to dry up the sand




The other booths that I tried were, Ikebana and the lantern making and the rest are for kids to enjoy more.

By the way, here's the exerpt of the definition of "bonseki" from wikipedia:

Bonseki (盆石; lit., tray rocks) is the ancient Japanese art of creating miniature landscapes on black lacquer trays using white sand, pebbles, and small rocks. Small delicate tools are used in Bonseki such as feathers, small flax brooms, sifters, spoons and wood wedges. The trays are either oval or rectangular, measuring about 60 by 35 centimeters in size. Oval trays have a low rim while rectangular ones are flat.
Bonseki scenes often depict mountains, seashores, and gardens. Small stones are used to represent mountains, shore lines or rocky islands that waves break upon. Miniature structures, usually of painted copper, are sometimes added to the work to make houses, temples, bridges, and the like.
Bonseki scenes by design are generally meant to only be temporary. Sometimes, by using special methods, a Bonseki scene can be preserved. This is called either Bonga ("Tray Picture") or Suna-e ("Sand Picture").

Japan Day 2010 (Part 1)

Koto- Japanese Harp

Japanese girls playing Koto

23rd Annual Japan Day- April 3, 2010 Collocated Club, Misawa Air Base

I had a great time last Saturday on Japan Day, it's truly indeed another great experience to see and watch Japanese culture. There were lots of booths which displayed different arts, music and crafts such as the exhibitions of Noh Mask, bonsai, embroidery, Japanese paper dolls, ikebana (flower arrangements), kimono wearing, pressed flower arts, making of paper planes, sand art, lantern painting, kite painting, calligraphy and more!

One of the booths that struck my attention was the Koto Music which was on the lobby along with the bonsai display. Though I missed their performance I stayed in front of them and watched them teaching American kids on how to use the instrument. I was gonna ask them to teach me but I didn't bother I have to go around other booths to see more of their cultures ;-) and to take more pictures hehehe.

Koto is a traditional Japanese string instrument from China. It is the national instrument of Japan and it's about 180cm or 71 inches long and made from Kiri wood. It has 13 strings and can be plucked by using 3 finger picks (thumb, indez finger and middle finger).

I will post more of my pictures soon.

Japan Day- Demonstration of Kumihimo (Braid Making)

The Japanese lady demonstrating on how to make a braid using takadai ( a high stand frame used in making braid)



Marudai- a round stand frame used in making braid



The different type of braids



The hands-on

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of the demonstrations in Japan Day was the braid making or "kumihimo" in Japanese.
I got curious what kumihimo means so I googled it and found the definition.

According to wikipedia:

Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands.

Kumihimo cord was first created by a form of finger-loop braiding. Later tools such as the Marudai and the Takadai were employed to make more complex braids in shorter time. The most prominent historical use of the cords were by Samurai as both a functional and decorative way to lace their lamellar armor, and that of their horses' armor (barding). Kumihimo cords are now used as ties on haori jackets and obijimes, which are used for tying on an obi (kimono sash).

I googled more and found info about marudai and takadai:

Taka (high) + Dai (a stand) = Takadai, high braiding stand
Maru (round) + Dai (a stand) = Marudai, round braiding stand

Japan Day in Misawa

Little Drummer Boys and Girls, the Makabano Kids




Towada Thunder Drum Music Group



Kabuki Play and Dancing Hanasuzukai performed in Edgren High School's gym




Yosakai Soran Dancing by Honkikai



Nishizuka Nambu Local Dancing





Food




Yaki Soba, look at the Japanese guy he tasted the noodles :-) hmmm



My son taking the ikebana lesson, the flower arrangement....go boy!! I want the flowers! hahaha


kites


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Misawa Air Base hosted a Japan Day last Saturday, April 4, 2009 at Edgren High School, this was the 22nd annual celebration. There were lots of demonstrations and displays showing Japanese culture with the Americans stationed in Misawa.

The event started 10am and lasted 4pm. We were there early since my daughter volunteered to be one of the interpreters for Japanese people sponsored by their Japanese Club.

The kids definitely enjoyed this event. There were lots of hands-on displays and demonstrations. My son enjoyed the making of paper plane and kite, potter making, how to make a slime, how to braid or make a cord made of interlacing strands and flower arranging or the ikebana class. My son even tried to wear the Sakurada Armor and took picture of him with the costume.

There was also kimono wearing and display which I did not try, it was a long line anyway. I enjoyed the ikebana class, we got to bring home the flowers which we used in their demonstration of flower arranging. Although I know ikebana, I was after the free bunch of flowers :-) so I even asked my son to take the lesson so we'll get two hahaha.

We missed some of the displays but we didn't miss the food, Japanese and American food! There were lots of food stalls, some have long lines and didn't get the chance to try them.

Overall it's a great experience to know more of Japanese culture.