358. Haru Matsuri Japanese Spring Festival March 2 and 3, 2013

P. Anne Winter writes:

This is my third year writing about Japan’s spring festival for Toronto Multicultural Calendar. It probably won’t be my last. Each year I find interesting new items to check out such as the Canada Chikushi Kai Musical Ensemble, a koto-playing group.  

This time the festival will focus on girls with displays of traditional day dolls or hina ningyo. These dolls are made of paper or washi, wood or clay. The colours and variety are incredible. 

New to me this year will be a demonstration of embroidery or bunka shishu. It will be good to check out the origami paper folding and sumi-e brush painting as well. 

Last year, the focus was on little boys. There will be martial arts demonstrations for both boys and girls, an opportunity to see Canadian Olympian Kelita Zupancic who has studied judo in Japan. She is a world-class performer having won gold in the 2010 Pan-American games. She can be found in the rooms reserved for teaching in the back where people can cheer without disrupting the other activities.

As usual, there will be an exciting array of crafts new and old, along with yummy foods with which to celebrate the festivities. I usually purchase a little too much as my eyes are clearly bigger than my stomach and it all looks and is so good. I expect to meet old friends either manning booths or performing on the wonderful JCCC stage that holds so many happy memories for me. The stage will of course include some taiko drumming and traditional dances.  

Last year’s offer for women to dress in traditional kimono for a minimal fee was very successful and will be repeated. Did you try it out? It is not easy. The Toronto Kimono Club experts will show you how. Once you get the hang of it, it’s lots of fun and you will get many compliments. 

See March 2 and 3 www.torontomulticulturalcalendar.com for address, price and other details.

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