On April 16th and 17th, Japanese Festival Inc. hosted the 23rd Annual Japan Festival in Hermann Park. Over two days about 30,000 people attended the event.
There were vendors for Japanese food and goods, places to enjoy Ikebana displays and tea ceremonies and a stage for Japanese martial arts demonstrations. Performances at the main stage showed the variety of Japanese culture from the traditional, such as drum performance and Japanese dance, to the modern, such as a cosplay contest. Throughout the weekend attendees were also able to purchase Tohoku merchandise, the proceeds of which went towards those affected by the 2011 earthquake. Donations were also accepted for victims of the recent earthquakes in the Kumamoto Prefecture.
On the first day of the festival, Consul- General Tetsuro Amano gave remarks at the Opening Ceremony where he thanked the many community members who contributed to Japan Festival’s success and also recognized the significance of U.S.-Japan friendship to the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Northern Japan in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Also during the Opening Ceremony, Japanese Festival Inc. President Justin Cooper led a moment of silence in remembrance of the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and in honor of those victims of the recent earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
The Consulate-General also provided a photo exhibition in honor of the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The exhibition featured 20 large signs circling the Pioneer Memorial near the main stage of the festival. These signs featured photos of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, the great recovery efforts that have been made with the help of the United States military and various other supporters from the U.S., as well as the new opportunities for travel and tourism in northern Japan. Many Festival-goers stopped to view the exhibition and learn about the “New Tohoku”. The Consulate also had a booth at the festival where people enjoyed Tatami coaster making and folding Origami cranes for senbazuru (1000 cranes), which are a symbol of hope and goodwill, and introduced the JET Program by members of the JET Alumni Association. |
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