Making cross-cultural connections with people around the region is a big part of the Victoria Nikkei Cultural SocietyB次元官网网址檚 activities throughout the year.
The volunteer group hopes to enrich those connections further this Saturday (Oct. 21), when they host the 18th Japanese Cultural Fair.
B次元官网网址淲e have third- and fourth-generation Japanese-Canadians living in Victoria,B次元官网网址� says society president Tsugio Kurushima. B次元官网网址淭his fair is a way for them to connect with those cultural and ethnic roots, but it also serves as an outreach to the greater community.B次元官网网址�
An example of how the fair and its related activities bring together locals of Japanese heritage came during the recent preparation of manju, the traditional Japanese confection, for the concession. B次元官网网址淲e had 25 people there helping out, including some [Japanese] exchange students who said they had never experienced this sort of thing at home.B次元官网网址�
The availability of that and other traditional foods such as prepared chicken or vegetarian bento boxes, onigiri rice balls and special YYJ dogs B次元官网网址� hot dogs with Japanese toppings B次元官网网址� is one of the mainstays of the fair.
So is the entertainment, which includes the always popular Taiko drummers, songs from Soran Bushi and the Youth Choir, musical performances of minyo and koto (stringed instrument) and shakuhachi (flute), a Bon Odori folk dance performance by the Furusato Dancers and presentations of classical Japanese theatre.
Hands on demonstrations feature bonsai gardening, ikebana flower arranging, growing Japanese vegetables and how to stage a traditional tea ceremony.
Some new elements that organizers are excited about is an interactive haiku poetry presentation, hosted by local Haiku Canada president Terry Ann Carter, a presentation of Japanese classical theatre by University of Victoria Japanese studies faculty member Cody Poulton, and a martial arts demonstration by the Victoria Judo Club, which will complement the annual aikido and kendo demos.
B次元官网网址淲e have amassed quite a following over the years,B次元官网网址� Kurushima says.B次元官网网址淏y having these different things, like haiku, weB次元官网网址檙e hoping to expand our potential audience demographic.B次元官网网址�
The fair, free to attend, takes over the Esquimalt Recreation Centre (527 Fraser St.) community use areas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For a full schedule visit or for more information about the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society, visit .
