Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival will take place on April 14-16, 2023, from 10am-6pm inside the Armory Food & Event Hall and the Fisher Pavilion. The festival, which is part of the Seattle Center Festál series, is dedicated to increasing the understanding and friendship between the people of Japan and the Pacific Northwest. It features ikebana, martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremonies, kimono dress-up, children’s activities, koto music, taiko drumming, and more. The festival was initiated by a gift of 1,000 cherry trees to Seattle from Japan’s former Prime Minister, Takeo Miki, to commemorate America’s bicentennial and the lifelong friendship of Japan and Washington. Hanami, cherry blossom viewing, is a reminder to celebrate life. HTTPS://SEATTLECENTER.COM/EVENTS/FEATURED-EVENTS/FESTAL/SEATTLE-CHERRY-BLOSSOM-FESTIVAL
Seattle JACL will present a virtual screening and discussion of the feature-length documentary film, Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, in a free virtual event featuring commentary and discussion with Peter Hasegawa and Wayne Au. Stay tuned! For more information, contact: INFO@SEATTLEJACL.ORG
[The Who We Are Project works to challenge the dominant narrative of our nation’s founding, demonstrating how slavery’s legacy has led to persistent and abiding racial inequality, and promoting education, discourse, and change.]
Film Trailer: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/IGSGRSGZBXY
Kenny Endo stands at the vanguard of the taiko genre. For over 45 years, he has led the way in the U.S. for this Japanese style of drumming. As a jazz percussionist and award-winning innovator in Japanese taiko, Kenny Endo embodies the history of taiko in the U.S. and his adventurous spirit continues to stretch the genre, incorporating such influences as funk, jazz, Afro-Cuban & Hawaiian, with roots firmly grounded in tradition. His performances are nuanced, brilliant, exciting!
HTTPS://WWW.EDMONDSCENTERFORTHEARTS.ORG/EVENTS/DETAIL/510/KENNY-ENDO-CONTEMPORARY-TAIKO/3641
Our Legacy: Generational Struggles For Democracy is the theme for the 54th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, which will be held live and in-person, conditions permitting, at the MANZANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 12:00 PM PDT. The 2023 Manzanar At Dusk program will also be held live and in-person in the hours following the 54th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Manzanar was the first of the American WRA concentration camps in which more than 120,000 Japanese Americans and their immigrant parents were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. No registration or reservation is required to attend (this does not apply to our bus transportation). The event is free and open to the public.
Information: HTTPS://MANZANARCOMMITTEE.ORG/MANZANAR-PILGRIMAGE-FAQ/
The 2023 in-person Jerome/Rohwer Pilgrimage will take place from May 3-6 in Little Rock, AR. Registration fee is $250 per person; those over 80 may register for free. Registration closes on March 31 or when capacity is reached.
Information: HTTPS://WWW.JAMPILGRIMAGES.COM/2023-JEROMEROHWER-PILGRIMAGE-PROGRAM
Registration: HTTPS://WWW.JAMPILGRIMAGES.COM/2023-JEROMEROHWER-PILGRIMAGE-REGISTRATION-ONLINE
The JCCCW’s annual Kodomo no Hi will be held on May 6th from 11 am to 5 pm. This year’s free-to-attend Children’s Day festival is the perfect place for guests of all-ages to explore Japanese and Japanese American culture, art, history, music and more!
Information: HTTPS://WWW.JCCCW.ORG/KODOMO-NO-HI/
Mark your calendars! This year’s Tomodachi Gala is scheduled to be held virtually on June 15th, 2023! More information about the JCCCW’s premier fundraising event — including sponsorship details, guest speakers, auction items, and raffle prizes — will become available as the event approaches.
Japan Fair is a free, two-day festival in Bellevue, WA, that celebrates Japanese art and culture. Japan Fair is a communal endeavor of musicians, artisans, community organizations, and businesses from both Japan and the U.S. who come together to share their products, talents, and knowledge of Japan. Through live performances, hands on exhibits, cultural workshops, and vendor booths, the public is immersed in the music, dance, artisanry, and philosophy of Japan. Information at: WWW.JAPANFAIRUS.ORG