| What: |
An
annual community celebration and festival of the New Year.
The event features arts and crafts, family entertainment,
food and the Japanese ritual of omochi (rice) pounding.
The
New Year is the most important holiday in Japan and is celebrated
for several days. It is a highly social time when people visit
the homes of friends, neighbors, relatives and coworkers offering
a New Year's greeting. On the eve of the new year, starting
just before midnight, temple bells are rung 108 times - eight
chimes in the old year and 100 in the new, in total representing
the 108 sins of the Buddhist religion. It is also common at
this time for children to receive gifts of money which are
presented in ornately-decorated envelopes.
|
| When: |
January |
| Where: |
The Peace Plaza or JCCCNC |
| How
Much: |
Entrance
to the event is free
|
| Dowa
No Omatsuri |
| What: |
This
family-oriented, fundraising event features a theater performance
by the children, stories, a silent auction, a live auction and
refreshments. |
| When: |
March |
| Where: |
Palace
of Fine Art in San Francisco
3301 Lyon Street
|
| The
Annual San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri) |
| What: |
The
Cherry Blossom Festival has been an annual celebration in
San Francisco for more than thirty-nine years. The exciting
event features food and information booths from various nonprofit
organizations and local businesses, as well as family-oriented
entertainment, a children's activity area and arts and crafts
booths.
The
viewing of the cherry blossoms is an age-old tradition which
originated during the Heian Period (794-1185 AD). Commemorating
the arrival of spring, people gather to view the soft pink
and white blossoms as well as rejoice, reflect and feast before
they embark on the start of a new year. The blossoms are thought
to signify the brevity of human life as they only last a week
or two before falling to the ground.
|
| When: |
April |
| Where: |
San
Francisco's Japantown
|
| Nihonmachi
Street Fair |
| What: |
Since
1973, the Nihonmachi Street Fair has been a day of fun, food,
music, arts and celebration. At the "Food Fest" you
can feast on traditional delicacies and the prices are right.
You'll find community information booths, arts and crafts and
the "Children's World", where children have fun and
learn about Asian culture through games, arts, crafts and performing
arts designed especially for them. Other thrills include Taiko
drumming, Lion dance and live music by local talent. NLF is
always a participant. |
| When: |
August |
| Where: |
San
Francisco's Japantown
Post and Buchanan Streets
|
|
