Submitted by Oshogatsu in Olympia: Japanese New Year Celebration
The Olympia-Kato Sister City Association invites the public to attend its Japanese New Year Celebration, Oshogatsu in Olympia. The event takes place Saturday, January 26 from 10am-4pm at The Olympia Center in Downtown Olympia.
Oshogatsu in Olympia creates the atmosphere of a Japanese New Year celebration and brings the community together to share in a unique experience and learn about Japananese culture. Live entertainment on the mainstage will showcase Traditional Japanese dance and music, taiko drumming and cosplay vocal performances. The family-focused event includes a variety of cultural activities and make & take crafts, demonstrations and an Art Exhibition where visitors can view and purchase Japanese calligraphy, sumi paintings, paper cuttings and traditional crafts.
Featured this year in our “Taste of Japan” Kitchen is a varied menu of Japanese foods prepared and served on-site by Hiroshi’s Restaurant & Catering of Seattle. Come hungry – because the aromas from the kitchen are sure to entice you!
At the heart of this year’s Oshogatsu event is the Sakura Friendship Ceremony commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the “Gift of Trees” given by Japan to the U.S. as a symbol of friendship. Thousands of Japanese sakura (flowering cherry trees) still line the tidal basin of our nation’s capitol in Washington D.C. The Olympia-Kato Sister City Association, in cooperation with the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, will commemorate this historic gift and the enduring relationship between our countries with this special ceremony. Japanese music, dance and a live calligraphy performance will enhance the significance of this event.
Visitors to Oshogatsu 2013 are invited to sample a taste of fresh Japanese mochi and experience “Mochitsuki”– the ceremonial making of the chewy rice cakes that are traditional fare for Japanese New Year. A professional Mochitsuki troupe will elevate mochi-pounding to an art through their use of traditional implements, chanting, and choreographed movements.
In an impressive display of dexterity and endurance, troupe members will swing large wooden mallets in a steady rhythm to pound steaming batches of cooked rice into a smooth, stretchy dough. As the pace increases, they’ll demonstrate quick reflexes and expert timing as they flip the dough by hand between each crash of the mallets.
Event admission is free with a suggested donation of $2/person or $5/family. Proceeds benefit the Olympia-Kato Sister City Association (OKSCA), a local non-profit group whose mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding between Japan and America through community events, educational outreach, and cultural exchanges. For information and performance schedules for Oshogatsu in Olympia, or to learn more about the Sister City Association, visit www.celebratejapan.org.
