If you live around the Bay Area, get ready to discover and enjoy a celebration of the Japanese culture tomorrow, October 5, as it is Millbrae’s Third Annual Japanese Culture Festival. Every year, for three years now, the people of Milbrae have been gathering to share everything Japanese. From dances to food to other performances – you can find it all in this festival.
The Daily Journal has this report:
The festival shares the opportunity to learn more about the Japanese culture through a whole day of performances. Alyse Goni, Millbrae Recreation liaison to the Japanese Cultural Center, defines the festival’s mission to be the acknowledging of the Bay Area Japanese community that is here and to showcase the culture for the surrounding communities.
“We think that it is important to invite people of all cultural backgrounds to discover and enjoy ancient traditions, as well as the modern and reflect on the changes,” Goni said.
The day will begin with a short concert showcasing Japan’s national instrument, the Koto. The Koto is approximately 6 feet in length and offers 13 strings to pluck. Giving two performances, Japanese dancers have flown across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to present beautiful traditional dances. Following will be folk songs and a 15-minute Japanese comedic play.
To cap off the afternoon, there will be an energetic, heart-pounding Taiko presentation. Taiko is a Japanese word that means drum and it is an art form not to miss.
This festival is very important to Japanese-Americans in the area as it is their chance to get in touch with their roots once again. For us who are not of Japanese descent, it is still something to experience.