The Japan Center at Stony Brook is hosting the 15th Annual “Sakura Matsuri” Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday, May 3, from at 12 pm to 5 pm, at the Charles B. Wang Center. Japanese lunch and tea will be available for sale.
The day is filled with a variety of cultural activities and entertainment for the entire family. World-class performers Kaoru Watanabe and his Taiko group, Masayo Ishigure and her Koto ensemble, Junko Fisher and her Okinawan Dance company, and more will light up the stage and dazzle you with a variety of Japanese art, dance and music. Daniel Nyohaku Soergel will perform on the Shakuhachi in the Bamboo Atrium throughout the day. For a full list of performers, click here.
Activities for children will include origami, color your own Japanese “oni” demon mask, learn to draw Japanese comics (manga), workshops in martial arts, taiko and dance. Adults can partake in the Japanese tea ceremony (Cha no Yu) and the unique art of flower arranging (ikebana) and try kimono fashions.
There will also be performances of Shakuhachi-bamboo flute with the mysterious sounds of Zen Shakuhachi and a collaboration of haiku poetry; martial arts demonstrations with Okinawan Karate and Kobudo (ancient weapons) and Kendo (Samurai swordsmanship), and a special presentation of the Japanese Halberd martial art, the Naginata. For a list of all demonstrators and exhibitors, click here.
Two separate theater performances will take place — Classical and Contemporary at 1 pm and Traditional and Modern at 3 pm — with admission to both performances: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students and $9 for children, ages 5-12. Click here for more information about the performers.
For more information, please call Ryu Shu Kan at (631) 698-2467.
Add comment