Spring Festival/HARU MATSURI 2013

Statistics are showing that Toronto winters are warmer than in the past. While this might be true, it doesn’t make the winter any easier to bear. But there’s no better way to get ready for Spring than by heading to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) on March 2 and 3, 2013! The JCCC will be opening their doors to everyone as they celebrate a weekend filled with activities, entertainment and exhibits at Haru Matsuri 2013!! Even more exciting is that this year’s Haru Matsuri is part of the city-wide SPOTLIGHT JAPAN initiative in which the JCCC is joining Japan Foundation, Canadian Stage, Soundstreams and Toronto International Film Festival in a broad promotion of Japanese performance, dance, film and culture.

This year’s theme is Dolls. Dolls have been a part of Japanese culture for centuries. They are constructed from the simplest of materials, like the paper Daruma. But also can be far more elaborately decorated, like Hakata. They can be a part of large intricate display like the Hina Ningyo that will be in our front hallway and in celebration of Girl’s Day. Or they can be simple souvenirs like Kokeshi. Regardless of their construction or origin, we hope to expose the many facets of Japanese Dolls to all our visitors.

Haru Matsuri will also include Japanese arts and crafts demonstrations such as Ikebana (flower arranging), Bunka Shishu (embroidery), Origami (paperfolding) and Sumi-e (brush painting). The JCCC offers classes in all of these areas and you can sign up for our Spring programmes.

The JCCC's martial artists will demonstrate the techniques of "The Way of the Warrior" through Aikido, Karate, Iaido, Naginata, Kyudo and Kendo. We are especially thrilled to be working together with Women Leadership Committee of Judo Canada and Judo Ontario as we welcome Kelita Zupancic, a 2012 Olympian. Kelita will be leading a series of judo seminars during our festival (contact Pedro Guedes/Judo Ontario at 416 447 5836 for more information).

For entertainment, there will be odori (traditional Japanese dancing) by JCCC traditional dance groups Ayame-Kai, Himawari Buyo Kai and Sakura-Kai, Koto and Shamisen by the York University Japanese Music Ensemble and Taiko (Japanese drumming). Japanese cuisine will also be available in the food court.

As always, the JCCC entrance will feature an elaborate display of Hina Matsuri Dolls. For a small fee visitors can have the opportunity to dress in traditional costume then head on over to the display to take their own photos.

Gather your family and friends and come to the JCCC, and join us as we celebrate the arrival of Spring!

Date: Saturday March 2 and Sunday March 3, 2013
Time: 12:00-5:00pm
Admission: Family $14 (2 adults/2 children), Adults $6, Children (5 – 16 yrs) $2,
Seniors (over 65) $2, JCCC Members and Under 5 yrs free