Aki Takahashi is a Japanese traditional shamisen (lute) player and folk singer. She studied traditional folk music in Kyoto, and has given shamisen and vocal performances at numerous venues and events. Since arriving in Canada, Aki has furthered her pursuit of traditional Japanese music with the addition of taiko drumming. Now Associate Artistic Director with pre-eminent Canadian taiko drumming group Nagata Shachu, she teaches taiko drumming, shamisen and voice. She is the founder of the Japanese Folk ensemble ten ten, and has performed with numerous artists from a variety of other cultural backgrounds and traditions. She also creates her own original compositions and has choreographed dance pieces to accompany her music. (from Odaiko Sonora’s Facebook page),  Websites: www.tentencanada.com, www.nagatashachu.com.

Guest Kyle Abbott, founder of www.Bachido.com will be performing as well.

Sponsored by Odaiko Sonora, taiko drumming ensemble, and the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition.

Tickets $15 members,  $17 nonmembers, $20 at the door.  www.tucsonjapanesegardens.org, or 520-332-2928.

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Japanese language classes – for children and adults — starting January 11 at Yume Japanese Gardens (updated)

Ever wanted to learn to speak Japanese? Children’s classes offered twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays; adult classes on Saturdays, both for 5 weeks. See hour & fee schedule below.  Yume Japanese Gardens is at 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson.  Website: www.tucsonjapanesegardens.org, 520-332-2928.

Happy Holidays at Yume Japanese Gardens!

Learn to wrap your holiday gifts in the Japanese style with paper or lovely cloth (furoshiki)  for two hours on Saturday December 14. Fee is $15.

Join in with members of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition (SAJCC) to pound mochi and sample some different types of mochi  (sweet, colorful chichidango) at Yume Japanese Gardens on Jan. 4, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at 2130 N. Alvernon Way in Tucson.  Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers will be performing as well (1 to 1:30 p.m.)

“Mochi is Japanese rice cake made of a short-grain Japonica glutinous rice.  The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.  In Japan, it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki.  While eaten year round, mochi is traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time.

SAJCC will be demonstrating how mochi is made by pounding with a wooden mallet (kine) in a traditional mortar (usu).  Two or more persons alternate the work, one or two doing the pounding and the other turning and wetting the mochi.  Today, mochi making by most families is done with a mochi making machine,

Admission for this event – $9 adults, children  under 5 years will be free.  More info at www.tucsonjapanesegardens.org.  Contact M Craig for more information or if you want to volunteer to help cook and prepare the mochi, at morigami2@yahoo.com.

“For more than 500 years, Japanese have been arranging and displaying flower arrangements in the disciplined art form known as ikebana – “giving life to flowers.” More than simply an arrangement of blooms, ikebana brings nature and humanity together and attaches equal importance to other parts of the plant, such as stems and leaves, while drawing attention toward shape, line, and form. The exhibition features dozens of arrangements from five schools of flower arranging spanning the traditional to the modern. Entrance is free with regular admission to the Gardens”.  Hours of the gardens are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., www.tucsonjapanesegardens.org.

“Enthusiasts of Japanese flower arranging will not want to miss a gala evening on Nov. 29,  6:00 p.m. that opens this three-day exhibition of ikebana flower arrangements. Japanese food and lantern light will set the mood for viewing flower arrangements located throughout the Gardens, including in our new Japanese house. Admission is $35 for non-members and $30 for members. Please RSVP by November 20 at yume.gardens@gmail.com.”

34th Southern Arizona Koi Association Koi Show, November 9 & 10, 2013

Beautiful koi on display for sale, judging & auction for 2 days at Kino Veterans Memorial Park, 2805 E. Ajo Way, Tucson.  See www.sakoia.org.

Enjoy an hour of classical Japanese music and folk tunes performed on violins and piano keyboard by the Tucson trio of Toru and Laura Tagawa and Shiho Takeda.  They will perform for one hour, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson.

Toru Tagawa is the Conductor & String Coordinator of the Tucson Repertory Orchestra.

 Japanese Culture at Tucson Meet Yourself on October 12 & 13, El Presidio Park and Jacome Plaza in front of Joel D. Valdez Main Library

Demonstrations:

Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Folk Arts area at Pima County Courthouse courtyard, 115 N. Church St.

Temari thread balls taught by Fukumi Zapp (also furoshiki exhibit) of Desert Origami, calligraphy by Akiko Victorson, and origami by Chieko Nakano

Saturday,  Oct. 12

12:30 to 1p.m. –   Arizona Kyudo-Kai archery club, Church Street Stage

5 to 6 p.m.  -  Odaiko Sonora taiko drumming at City Hall Stage, El Presidio Park

Sunday, Oct. 13

1 to 1:30 p.m -   Aikido at the Center, Church Street Stage

4 to 5 p.m. – Suzuyuki-Kai Dance Company (kabuki style), Global Rhythms Stage, Jacome Plaza

For map/schedule go to www.tucsonmeetyourself.org.