JCCC Haru Matsuri - Spring Festival 2009 March 7, 2009

Spring is sure to arrive early as the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) opens its doors for all to celebrate its annual Haru Matsuri – Spring Festival 2009. The theme of this year’s festival is the kimono and will include beautiful exhibits and demonstrations on how to put on a traditional Japanese kimono – something that can take hours to do – as well as other activities and entertainment for the whole family.

One of the highlights of the festival will be the Netsuke display including some recently donated to the JCCC. Netsuke are small toggles, traditionally carved out of ivory, that are used to secure a pouch or container to the obi (sash) of a kimono.

There will be Japanese arts and crafts demonstrations such as Ikebana (flower arranging), Bunka Shishu (embroidery), Origami (paperfolding) and Sumi-e (brush painting). The JCCC's martial artists will demonstrate the techniques of "The Way of the Warrior" through Aikido, Judo, Karate, Iaido, Naginata, and Kendo. For entertainment, there will be odori (traditional Japanese dancing) by JCCC traditional dance groups Ayame-Kai and Sakura-Kai, Koto by the Toronto Chikushikai and Taiko (Japanese drumming). Japanese cuisine will also be available in the food court and on Sunday afternoon, there will be a special showing of the movie “Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur.”

Date: Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8
Time: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Garamond Court, Toronto, Ontario (Don Mills and Eglinton, north east of the Ontario Science Centre), 416-441-2345
Tickets: $12 - Family Pack (two adults/two children), $5 - Adults, $2 - Seniors and Students, Free – JCCC Members

For more information on the JCCC and its activities, visit www.jccc.on.ca.

Media Contacts: Paul Tyler 905-235-7285, [email protected]

Official Website: http://www.jccc.on.ca