The Buddhist Community Center will come alive Sunday
– rain or shine – with cultural displays, traditional foods,
entertainment and arts and crafts, all part of the 43rd Annual Haru
Matsuri.
The Buddhist Community Center will come alive Sunday – rain or shine – with cultural displays, traditional foods, entertainment and arts and crafts, all part of the 43rd Annual Haru Matsuri.
This traditional Japanese Spring Festival will also host the 7th Annual Northern California Taiko Exposition featuring nine Taiko drum groups, including the San Jose Taiko Dojo, Watsonville Taiko and Morgan Hill’s own Sandoshin Taiko.
The oldest cultural festival in South Valley, this year’s Haru Matsuri features the second phase of Brian Shiroyama’s efforts to honor local WWII Japanese American Veterans. Visitors can tour the exhibit of photos, letters, articles and artifacts describing the exploits of these brave men who were part of the 100th/442nd combat regiment and Military Intelligence Service, the most decorated of American regiments – and the one with the highest casualties.
Shiroyama has spearheaded the effort to build and install a set of display cases to house the photos and collection of artifacts from the 2002 exhibit. The display will be a permanent fixture in the annex building at the center.
Two guest authors will appear from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mina Harada Eimon, a childrens’ book illustrator and author, will sign her latest work is “Why Cats Chase Mice”.
Baseball fans will enjoy Kerry Yo Nakagawa’s recently published “Through A Diamond” – 100 years of Japanese American Baseball. The book cover features a photo taken in 1927 of Kerry’s uncle (Johnny Nakagawa) standing next to Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and three other top Japanese American ball players: Kenichi Zenimura (considered the father of Japanese American baseball), Fred Yoshikawa and Harvey Iwata.
Several arts and crafts vendors will display wares ranging from ceramics and clothing featuring Asian print motifs to books and publications for all ages by Asian authors.
Tilly Mayeda, whose husband Ron is a co-chair of the festival, said, in case of rain, the show will go on.
“We have that lovely, large gymnasium to move the booths inside,” she said. “And, since the chicken will be precooked on Saturday, the food won’t be a problem.”
43rd Haru Matsuri, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. There is no fee for admission or parking. The event grounds are located across from the soccer complex on Murphy Avenue, south of East Dunn, near Barrett Ave. Details: www.mhbcc.org or 779-9009.
