Hanami Festival 2011

Face Painting and Yo-Yo Fishing

We will also hold fun events for children, including face painting and Yo-Yo Fishing. Kids can have their faces painted with sakura (cherry blossom) petals to mark the occasion of Hanami. Yo- yo fishing is a popular event at Japanese festivals (matsuri), it involves ‘fishing’ colourful balloons filled with water from a pool.

Origami workshops

The popular art of ‘folding paper’ is a major part of Japanese art.  There will be 20 minute sessions for children held in the ‘Cowshed Theatre’ where they will be taught how to make origami cranes.

Shakuhachi and Irish Harp

A fusion of Japanese and Irish traditional music, Philip Horan will play the shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute and Junshi Murakami will play the Harp.

Nihon Buyo

Nihon Buyo is a traditional Japanese dance which is performed on stage. It embodies elements of earlier performing arts such as ‘bugaku’ and ‘nohgaku’.

Kimono dressing

A presentation of how Japanese women dress up in their tradition outfit, the Kimono.

Cosplay

Cosplay (costume play) by the best performance artists in Dublin. The participants will dress as characters from popular Japanese Anime. There will be a prize for the most impressive character and they will be awarded the ‘Experience Japan Day Cosplay Award 2011.’

Japanese Story Telling

As in all cultures, Japan also has myths and legends which have been passed down for centuries. Story telling for children will take place under the Sakura (cherry blossom) trees.

Soranbushi

Soranbushi is a traditional Japanese sea shanty. It accompanies the bon dance, which depicts fishermen dragging nets and pulling ropes. This dance will be performed by the Soranbushi group from DCU and UCD.

Judo

Judo means ‘gentle way’ and involves using techniques like joint locking and strangle holds to throw or take down an opponent.

Kendo

Kendo means ‘way of the sword’ and is based on traditional Samurai swordsmanship.

Taiko Drum Performance

Taiko has been part of Japanese culture for many centuries. The word Taiko means ‘wide drum’ in Japanese.  There will be a performance by Taiseiyo Taiko and the DCU/UCD Taiko group.

Japanese Fine Art, Anime and Manga and J-Pop Seminar

Experts will give seminars on the popular art forms in Japan. A particular highlight will be Jimmy Murakami discussing his work in Anime and Manga.

Aikido

Aikido means ‘the way of harmonious spirit’, and is a martial art that focuses on blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack.

Iaido

Iaido displays the controlled, smooth movements of drawing a sword, striking the opponent and replacing the sword in its sheath.

Japanese Food Stalls

There will be food stalls in which people can buy popular Japanese food like sushi and sashimi.