Our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition is sponsoring its 7th New Year’s mochi pounding festival on Jan. 18, at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (2nd year there). The festival runs from 11 to 3 p.m. and here’s the performance schedule below, with information on the exhibitors and food vendors.

Ticket price is still the same, $5 adults, Free for children 5 years and under. Cash preferred.

Gift certificates from Japanese restaurant donors Sachiko Sushi, Sushi Cortaro on River, Takamatsu, Yoshimatsu, Sushi on Oracle, Sushi Cho will be given out during the festival, as door prizes. Will update if more gift certificates come in by Saturday. Ikkyu restaurant donated 100 lbs of sweet rice for the mochi pounding and tasting.

Parking is limited, so please carpool. Also Sun Shuttle #412 travels on River Rd. on Saturdays. Updates will be posted on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/southernazjapan/

Enjoy the Year of the Rat 2020 at our festival. Year of the Rat t-shirts in color will be for sale (limited run of 100) for $20. Cash preferred, first come first served.

“Little One-Inch is a popular Japanese folktale about an aged couple whose prayers are answered when find a tiny baby. The show features stunningly crafted marionettes, detailed scenery, and hand-painted scrolling backdrops. Young audiences are delighted by the magical elements, inspired by the idea that a little person can achieve great things, and reassured that love can blossom in unusual circumstances. Designed for ages 3-12.” Presented by Red Herring Puppets.

Sundays: Jan. 12, 19, 26 and Feb. 2 and 9, at 2 to 3 p.m.

tickets $8
Tucson Mall (Level 2 between Macy’s and Forever 21

https://www.redherringpuppets.com/store/p6/Little_One-Inch_puppet_show%2C_January_12%2C_2020_at_2%3A00_PM.html?fbclid=IwAR0CiLR-oRDy-6oGzt904wmeVbYqN9SZKTJ_wJYr9XAEHpwGWr3JWUIqOCs

The Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition is once again sponsoring a New Year’s festival (for the 7th time) on January 18, 2020 at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Rd. Co-sponsored by Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers and the TCCC.

Our first Tucson Mochitsuki (mochi pounding) festival was in 2014 at Yume Japanese Gardens, the 2nd was at Rhythm Industry Performance Center (home of Odaiko Sonora), then 3 times at PCC Downtown. Last year the festival moved to the lovely Tucson Chinese Cultural Center.

Ticket price is still the same $5 adults, free for children 5 years and younger. Door prizes will be given out as usual.Parking is limited, so please car pool. Accessible by Sun Shuttle 412.

To volunteer or for more info contact K at communications@southernazjapan.org.

Updates will be on our FB page. www.facebook.com/southernazjapan/

Join us in celebrating Japanese culture in the Year of the Rat, 2020.

A new book by Dr. Min Yanagihashi  (retired from UA East Asian Studies Dept.) wrote in collaboration with Leiola Galla, Kumu Hula: Challenging Journey of a Hula Master has come out in early December.  It also deals with Japan—”There is a section on the globalization of hula, where Min discuss the development of hula in Japan, where there are today about 500,000 hula dancers, more than in Hawai’i, and there are two hula magazines.  It has caught on with the Japanese women!”

” We will demonstrate how to make a large, traditional Japanese New Year’s arrangement, made with pine and bamboo, called a kadomatsu. In Japan, these arrangements flank the entrances of homes and shops in pairs to welcome ancestral spirits and to assure prosperity in the New Year. The demo is free with regular Gardens admission. After the demonstration, a hands-on workshop at 1:00 pm gives you the opportunity to make your own small kadomatsu to take home. Workshop cost: $30. Reservations required.”

Sat. Dec. 14, from 11 to 2 p.m. at Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson

https://www.facebook.com/events/2173748189599851/