[Cultural Event] Memphis Japan Festival (September 30th)
2018/10/16
Guests enjoyed great weather and a wonderful day of Japanese culture at the Second Annual Memphis Japan Festival on September 30, 2018. Consul General Kobayashi was joined by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland together with NBA Memphis Grizzlies player Mr. Yuta Wanatanbe as a special guest in welcoming the crowd and encouraging them to make the most of their day at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. Consul General Kobayashi expressed his hope that guests of the festival not only learned more about Japan, but also created new friendships to strengthen the relationship between West Tennessee and Japan.
The festival offered a wide variety of performances, activities, food, and learning experiences. The Daikin Taiko Drum Team, Kent Family Magic Circus, and other dance and musical performances entertained everyone from the main stage, while multiple Japanese martial arts demonstrations took place on the lawn. Guests could browse a variety of vendors, and kids loved playing in the two bounce houses, fighting in sumo matches, and experiencing traditional Japanese festival games, such as ‘fishing’ for toy goldfish. Those looking to learn more about Japan could enjoy the ‘Culture Camp,’ which presented short lectures on topics from bonsai trees to tea ceremony, and also hosted dramatic large-scale calligraphy demonstrations by Seiran Chiba, who came to Memphis from Fukushima, Japan.
Thank you to the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, the City of Memphis, and all sponsors of the festival for making this day possible!
The festival offered a wide variety of performances, activities, food, and learning experiences. The Daikin Taiko Drum Team, Kent Family Magic Circus, and other dance and musical performances entertained everyone from the main stage, while multiple Japanese martial arts demonstrations took place on the lawn. Guests could browse a variety of vendors, and kids loved playing in the two bounce houses, fighting in sumo matches, and experiencing traditional Japanese festival games, such as ‘fishing’ for toy goldfish. Those looking to learn more about Japan could enjoy the ‘Culture Camp,’ which presented short lectures on topics from bonsai trees to tea ceremony, and also hosted dramatic large-scale calligraphy demonstrations by Seiran Chiba, who came to Memphis from Fukushima, Japan.
Thank you to the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, the City of Memphis, and all sponsors of the festival for making this day possible!
