Activities
The Phoenix Sister Cities Himeji Committee manned the soda and water booth at Matsuri.
There were spectacular demonstrations of how to make Mochi/Omochi, which was the theme of the festival.
Many festival-goers enjoyed the freshly made mochi.
Many people participated in Cosplay at Matsuri.
The festival featured many Taiko drum performances by organizations such as All Arizona Taiko Team, Phoenix Taiko Kai, Saboten Taiko, Shojin Taiko, and many others.
The festival also featured many martial arts demonstrations from organizations such as Ryushinkan Dojo, Kinshin Dojo, and many others.
Many people came to participate in the traditional Matsuri parade.
from left to right: Kelly Moeur, Honorable Consul General of Japan; Paula West, Executive Director of Phoenix Sister Cities; Consul General Jun Niimi, Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles; Masako Takiguchi; David Cavazos, City Manager of Phoenix
Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos and Consul General Jun Niimi, Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, exchange gifts as a sign of the good relations between Phoenix and Himeji.
Ro Ho En
The Japanese Garden symbolizes the cultural bond between the cities of Phoenix and Himeji. The garden is a shelter from the busy world outside its walls with its beautiful rocks and plants arranged to create an atmosphere of serenity, peace of mind and a calmness within one's self. One of the main attractions at the Japanese Friendship Garden is the Japanese Tea House. It is an exact replica of the traditional tea houses in Japan except for substitutions of certain materials used that would withstand desert weather. The tea house will feature the traditional tea ceremony which is administered only by tea masters trained in the formal art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony.
To learn more, please visit their website. Japanese Friendship Garden |
Sunday, May 19, 2013
