Esquimalt’s Gorge Park Pavilion served as an important venue for the area’s Nikkei community as it hosted the annual Japanese Cultural Fair for the first time.
Saturday’s event was the first in the fair’s 22-year history to be held at the newly reopened pavilion, as organizers said this year’s event was one of their busiest. , early indications show that the changes will be popular with participants. This year also saw the trade fair date moved up from his traditional October slot.
“It’s a modern one where you do presentations about Japanese movies and anime, but there are also traditional ones like tea ceremonies and flower arrangements, and of course there are things like bazaars where people can buy anything Japanese.” Craig Mercer, leader of the Japanese American Cultural Association of Victoria.
Fellow co-leader Yukari Peerless added that the festival is an important celebration of Japanese and Japanese Canadian culture and history, many of which are in Greater Victoria. For example, Ross Bay Cemetery has 152 Japanese gravestones, and in 1907, when Hayato Takada and Kichitaro Kishida established the first Japanese tea house and garden in Canada, the gorge grounds of his Park became nationally known. Now
This year’s fair included performances and exhibits such as kendo and traditional tea ceremony demonstrations, lectures on Japanese culture and bonsai, kimono dressing activities, and of course foods such as rice balls and curry rice.
“The parking lot was full eight minutes into the show, so if that’s any indicator, we’re very happy with the number of attendees,” says Mercer. “I think people just love it.”
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Esquimalt Festival Japanese Canadian
A demonstration of the traditional tea ceremony attracted a large audience on Saturday at the annual Japanese Cultural Fair hosted by the Victorian Japanese Cultural Association at the Gorge Park Pavilion. (Justin Samansky Ranjiel/News Staff)
Our chefs work hard to keep up with demand for Japanese cuisine on Saturdays during the annual Japanese Cultural Fair hosted by the Victorian Japanese Cultural Association and held at the Gorge Park Pavilion. (Justin Samansky Ranjiel/News Staff)
Traditional tea ceremony demonstrations are held on Saturdays during the annual Japanese Cultural Fair hosted by the Victorian Japanese Cultural Association at the Gorge Park Pavilion. (Justin Samansky Ranjiel/News Staff)
Visitors will learn about kimono fashion on Saturdays at the annual Japanese Cultural Fair hosted by the Victorian Japanese Cultural Association and held at the Gorge Park Pavilion. (Justin Samansky Ranjiel/News Staff)
