Forget Winter...Spring is Coming Early to the Japanese Canadian Cultural
Centre

Annual Haru Matsuri (Spring) Festival to honour Japanese invention - the folding fan

TORONTO, Feb. 25 /CNW/ - For over 40 years, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) has not waited for that groundhog to see its shadow. It's annual Haru Matsuri - a weekend-long Festival - welcomes spring by showcasing of Japanese entertainment and culture.

Haru Matsuri 2010 celebrates the fan (Sensu) - it is believed the Japanese invented the folding fan in the 6th century. Fans have been used around the world in ceremonies and performances, as wardrobe accessories, to communicate secret love messages, and for military purposes...and, of course, for cooling oneself on a hot day.

Visitors to the festival will see dancers using their delicate fans during odori performances and they can purchase fans from Cocoro and children can make and decorate their own fans.

There is something for all ages including:

    
    -   Arts & crafts demonstrations - Ikebana (flower arranging),
        Bunka Shishu (embroidery), Origami (paperfolding) and Sumi-e (brush
        painting).
    -   Martial artists demonstrating the techniques of "The Way of
        the Warrior" through Aikido, Judo, Karate, Iaido, Naginata, and
        Kendo.
    -   Continuous entertainment - odori (traditional Japanese
        dancing), and musical performances on the Koto (zither), Shamisen
        (String instrument), Shakuhachi (flute) and Taiko (drum).

    Date:        Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7
    Time:        12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Location:    6 Garamond Court, Toronto
    Admission:   Family $12 (2 adults/2 children)
                 Adults $5
                 Children and Seniors $2
                 JCCC Members free
    

For information on JCCC: 416 441 2345, [email protected], www.jccc.on.ca.

For further information: Paul Tyler, GoldFenix Communications, tel: [phone], e-mail: [email protected]