Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Matsuri festival has gone virtual for 2021. You can purchase Matsuri tshirts (https://www.azmatsuri.org/matsuri-t-shirts), but the rest of the two day festival on Feb. 27 and 28 will be virtual. Performances will be virtual at the usual three stages. Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers, Suzuyuki-Kai dancers, Arizona Kyudo Kai archers from Tucson will hopefully be performing again.

Don’t forget to enter the yearly haiku contest, now in its 7th year. I won an Outstanding Haiku award last year in the Adult category, for the first time, what an honor. Here’s the link to enter and you can submit three haiku. Deadline is Feb. 10 to submit your haiku.

https://www.azmatsuri.org/haiku?fbclid=IwAR3Ohoo56fUzftoJ3o-rD2-bG1Jmt9hgWmNl3X4W9VtP8u6DTwLZn4_n1fs

The theme for the 2021 Matsuri is senbazuru, 1000 cranes:

” One thousand origami cranes (千羽鶴, senbazuru; literally “1000 cranes”) is a group of one thousand origamipaper cranes (折鶴, orizuru) held together by strings. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods. Some stories believe you are granted happiness and eternal good luck, instead of just one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. This makes them popular gifts for special friends and family. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise) and is said to live for a thousand years: That is why 1000 cranes are made, one for each year. In some stories it is believed that the 1000 cranes must be completed within one year and they must all be made by the person who is to make the wish at the end.”

All info at www.azmatsuri.org.

” The 37th Annual Arizona Matsuri will be VIRTUAL this year, streaming online on www.facebook.com/azmatsuri and the Arizona Matsuri Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphtXDEjxsXzY7TEadHST8w
Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm
Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm

Join us for two full days of videos showcasing martial arts, Taiko drums, dance, culture, food spotlights and cooking tutorials, Japanese tourism, performing arts, merchandise highlights, traditional folk tales, a tea ceremony, behind the scenes peeks, and more!
Visit www.azmatsuri.org for raffle tickets, food, merchandise and streaming links. Schedule coming soon!”

Jan. 26 @ 5 PM MST: The Center for Buddhist Studies presents the 1st 2021 Lingyin Lecture: “Hôtan in the World of Early-modern Japanese Buddhism” w/ Prof. Sueki Fumihiko, University of Tokyo and Nichibunken. Sign up for the email list for webinar link: http://eepurl.com/gb2yaD.

“IN RESPONSE TO THE LATEST SURGE OF COVID-19 CASES, TO SAFEGUARD OUR MEMBERS, VISITORS, AND STAFF,”

AS OF JANUARY 7, 2021

YUME JAPANESE GARDENS OF TUCSON

WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, BUT WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR THE PATH TO EMOTIONAL HEALING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS”

www.yumegardens.org, 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson

“Come to Yume Japanese Gardens on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 12:00 pm for a demonstration of how to create a kadomatsu, the traditional Japanese New Year’s holiday decoration made of pine and bamboo sprigs. Usually kadomatsu are placed in pairs (representing male and female) in front of the entrance ways of most homes and buildings all across Japan to serve the purpose of welcoming ancestral spirits or kami of the harvest season and inviting them to bless that location for the coming year.
Kadomatsu will be on display until January 15.”

Yume Japanese Gardens is located at 2130 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson

www.yimegardens.org

Based on a recent donation plea from the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 2800 W. River Rd., the SAJCC Council voted in December to donate $1000, as part of the 2020 pandemic relief fund. The New Year’s Tucson Japanese Festival was held at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center in Jan. 2019 and Jan. 2020. (The Festival is cancelled for 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic).

The Tucson Chinese Cultural Center has been closed since mid-March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and had to cancel their Year of the Rat Lunar New Year major fundraising dinner in February. They also have had to cancel ongoing events/festivals and the Senior program (exercise, tai chi, mah jong, etc.) for most of 2020. The Tucson Chinese School (for children) has been virtual during this time.

www.tucsonchinese.org

Previously in August 2020, the Council donated emergency relief funds to Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers, the Tucson Japanese Language School, Yume Japanese Gardens, and Ikkyu restaurant. See article: http://www.southernazjapan.org/sajcc-donates-assistance-funds-during-covid-19-pandemic/

SAJCC Council is made up of 13 individuals:
Sharon Arceneaux, Crystal Akazawa, Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, Clint Cooper,  M. Fumie Craig,  Karen Falkenstrom, Yuki Ibuki, Miyako McKay, K Negley, Miki Pimienta, Ginger Sugimoto,  Dr. Min & Evelyn Yanagihashi. (Founding members are Crystal, Carolyn, M., Yuki, Min & Evelyn).

Questions should be addressed to Director Yuki Ibuki at yuki@southernazjapan.org.