Visitors to the JCCC’s Haru Matsuri event were greeted by an elaborate display of dolls (Photography by Donia Varghese)
Paper lanterns and a curtain of dolls greeted visitors during this year’s Haru Matsuri Festival at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC). Haru Matsuri literally translates to spring festival and was traditionally celebrated to welcome rainfall and a good harvest.
The colourful weekend event (March 1 and March 2) reminded guests that spring wasn’t too far away despite the current cold-weather spell.
The JCCC was decorated with an elaborate display of dolls to mark Hina Matsuri, also called Doll’s Day or Girls’ Day. This day, observed in Japan every year on March 3, is a time to pray for the well-being and safety of young girls.
Parents gift ornamental Hina dolls to their oldest daughter who passes them down to her own oldest daughter. Hina dolls made of straw were thought to eradicate troubles and so were put on a boat and sent down a river into the sea. They were believed to take the bad spirits and negativity along with them. As the dolls became more intricate and expensive over the years, the trend changed and people started using them for display purposes instead of setting them afloat.
The spring festival held every year at the JCCC revolves around a certain theme and this year, the focus was on Sakura or Cherry Blossoms.
While children made tissue paper blossoms at the arts and crafts section, the adults were encouraged to dip their thumbs in pink ink and paint a huge drawing of a Cherry Blossom tree.
JCCC volunteers helped out those who were interested in wearing the Japanese kimono or wanted to try their hand at playing the stringed musical instrument called Koto.
In a room with glass walls, martial artists demonstrated their trained skills through Judo, Kendo, Laido, Naginata and Kyudo. Guests were taught easy self defense techniques like high kicks and how to flip someone over.
The Haru Matsuri Festival included a demonstration of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony (Photography by Donia Varghese)
Visitors were also able to attend a short version of the traditional tea ceremony where three women (a host and her two guests) demonstrated the ritual while the process was explained in detail by an expert. A full ceremony is about three to four hours long and involves careful attention to all elements such as cleaning of the garden paths, hanging scrolls, flowers, lighting, temperature, etc. Sweets are given to guests who are invited to the tea ceremonies so as to prepare the palette and complement the slight bitterness of the tea.
York University’s Japanese music ensemble performed folk pieces and through their music, told tales of certain clans and drinking contests. Yakudo artists delighted the crowd with the beauty and rhythm of authentic Taiko drums while the Sakura Kai group (Cherry Blossom dancers) swayed gracefully to music.
A performance by Yakudo artists using traditional drums (Photography by Donia Varghese
For those who wish to learn the various dances, martial arts and music, the JCCC also offers classes where you can sign up for the spring programs.
Popular dishes like fish cakes and sushi were served at the food court while small stalls at the JCCC sold artistic wall hangings, paper kites, wooden Japanese shoes, incense sticks and handmade trinkets. At another stall, an old Sumi-e painter patiently put the finishing touches to his bookmark painting – a bowl of fish. One man asked passers-by to try their luck with an M&M’s chopstick challenge, where you move as many M&M’s as you can into another bowl using only chopsticks in one minute.
The JCCC Gallery currently has an Ochawan exhibit where simple rice bowls are transformed by creative artists to make personal statements. For example, one artist was inspired by her parents and grandparents to make a Family Tree Bowl using a collage of old family photos. Another artist’s rice bowl art was inspired by a line her mother always told her during dinner : Eat Every Grain. The exhibition continues till March 31.
The Japanese hospitality was evident at the JCCC where volunteers greeted guests with an ever-present smile and went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.
