Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures Girls’ Day exhibit started on February 8 and ends on Girls’ Day on March 3. This Museum is at 4455 E Camp Lowell Rd., east of Columbus Ave. in Tucson. Celebrate the girls in your family on March 3, 2022 with special foods.

“Hinamatsuri or Girls’ Day is an annual holiday in Japan held on March 3^rd, which honors the health and well-being of girls. The holiday celebration includes special foods and sweets and the exhibit of a plum tree, flowers and a Hina doll display. The doll display is set up by families in mid-February to rid the girls of bad spirits and to renew and strengthen their character. The custom of erecting a doll display is rooted in a traditional belief that dolls have the power to contain bad spirits. To rid their homes of evil spirits, ancient Japanese people had a ritual called Hinanagashi, in which straw Hina dolls were set afloat on a boat down a river out to sea. In some regions of Japan, people follow this tradition and float the dolls from the Hina display on Girls’ Day.

The Hina doll display includes ornamental dolls representing the Emperor, Empress and their court set on a seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet or cloth. Since Hinamatsuri was first celebrated in the Heian period (10^th and 11^th centuries) the dolls are dressed in the court garb of that period. The Imperial dolls are placed at the top of the display followed by three tiers featuring particular attendants or musicians. The bottom two tiers are filled with palatial items such as furniture, tools and carriages. Traditionally the Hina doll display is set up in February and disassembled no later than March 4^th because it is believed that setting up the display early and clearing it out promptly will bring an early marriage for the girls. Failure to do so could mean a late marriage or no marriage at all.

The Girls’ Day Display at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is a five-tiered display including 15 dolls and other symbolic accessories. The display dates to the 1950s and was donated to the museum in 2014 by Nancy Phillips.”

The Arizona Matsuri was at first scheduled for in person at the Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix, but recently decided to go virtual again due to the rise in covid Omicron cases. Performances begin at 10 a.m. both days for about 4 hours.

“Watch this year’s Arizona Matsuri LIVE online from our website homepage, our YouTube channel, or our Facebook page.  

Check the schedule below for the approximate time your favorite performers, vendors, and speakers will be appearing during the live stream!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27″

Arizona Matsuri | 2022 Virtual Program Schedule (azmatsuri.org)

“The Ikebana Festival will announce the arrival of spring at Yume Japanese Gardens with a wide array of colorful floral arrangements displayed in original vases throughout the Gardens ground.

Ikebana, also known as “the Way of the Flowers”, is the meditative art of Japanese floral arrangements, and its ideals embody the essence of taste, beauty, and oneness with nature. Ikebana uniquely emphasizes shape, line, and form by giving equal weight to the branches, stems, and leaves of a plant rather than merely arranging its blooms. Classical Ikebana dates to the 15th century and successor schools have emerged since. In all of them, deep-rooted design rules and a Zen-like discipline subtly harmonize nature and the hand of the arranger.

During our annual Spring Ikebana Festival, traditional to contemporary artworks will be presented by local artists and will show the interesting variation in techniques and styles of five major Ikebana schools.

Timed admission tickets, purchased online, are required for entry.”

General admission: $17 adults – Children under 15: $5 – Members: $10

Purchase Tickets

Almost 80 years ago on February 19, 1942 President Franklin Roosevelt signed E.O. 9066 which set in motion the internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans in the U.S. — to 10 large internment camps. 2/3 were US Citizens, 1/4 were children who were evacuated from the Western areas of the US (California, Oregon, Washington and parts of Arizona and Hawaii), without due process of law.

University of AZ Asian Pacific American Studies Affairs dept. is hosting a panel on this Day of Remembrance on Feb. 18, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m in their office on the 2nd floor of the Nugent Building, 1212 E. University Blvd., room 205, and also via zoom.

Panelists are UA East Asian Studies Asst. Prof. Brett Esaki, whose grandparents met at one of the WWII internment camps. The other panelist is Carolyn Sugiyama Classen (Editor here), who was the Legislative Aide to US Senator Dan Inouye in 1980, instrumental in the passage of the federal bill which created the National Commission which investigated this injustice. Her father was expelled from USC Dental School in 1942 & forced to relocate from Los Angeles to Chicago.

Last year’s Day of Remembrance panel at UA was entirely virtual, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year the event is hybrid as most people are now vaccinated.

“Join us on February 17-19 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm when Yume puts on its most beautiful luminous garments. The stroll through the glowing lights of lanterns and candles is absolutely magical.

On this occasion, the Arizona Kyudo Kai, an association here in Tucson dedicated to the art of kyudo (the ancient art of Japanese archery) will perform a kyudo demonstration for your enjoyment. Kyudo, in Japanese, means “the Way of the Bow”.

Also, sculptural Ikebana floral arrangements will be on display in the illuminated gardens, to add to the enchantment. These arrangements are created by Ping Wei, a Sogetsu artist from Phoenix.

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.”

Admission Tickets: Adults: $18 – Children (age 3-15): $5

For more information, visit yumegardens.org or email Patricia Deridder at yume.gardens@gmail.com.

Yume sets capacity limits to safeguard visitors and staff and observes Arizona Department of Health Services guidelines for COVID-19 management. Timed admission tickets, purchased online, are required for entry; physical distancing and facial coverings are also required, in all indoor and outdoor spaces.”