2024 Sakura Days Japan Fair –
Experience Japan Tent
This year, the event sees the return of the Experience Japan Tent located in the Parking Lot in front of Shaughnessy Restaurant.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
| 10:00-11:30 | Temari Making Workshop with TEMARIMO (pre-registration required, walk-ins available) registration link |
| 12:15-12:45 | Children’s Story Reading with Author Emily Seo |
| 13:00-13:30 | Haiku Workshop with Poet Sophia Conway |
| 13:45-14:15 | Children’s Story Reading with Author Emily Seo |
| 15:30-17:30 | VJGA Kare-San-Sui Workshop: An Introduction to Japanese Dry Rock Gardens (pre-registration required) registration link |
Sunday, April 14, 2024
| 11:30-12:30 | Calligraphy, Origami and Japanese Language Workshop with Vancouver Japanese Language School (VJLS) |
| 12:30-13:00 | Photo Booth with Samurais |
| 13:00-14:00 | “The Joy of Haiku” Workshop with Poet Michael Dylan Welch |
| 14:30-16:30 | VJGA Kare-San-Sui Workshop: An Introduction to Japanese Dry Rock Gardens (pre-registration required) registration link |
Temari Making Workshop with TEMARIMO (Pre-Registration Required, Walk-Ins Available)
Saturday, April 13, 2024 (10:00-11:30)
Temari was once a traditional toy given at New Years from parents to their children. Over time, the practice has evolved into a detailed artform. You will learn the basic techniques of how to make a design on Temari (ball). Using nature-friendly materials, TEMARIMO’S goal and ambition is to bring beauty joy into people’s lives through the centuries-old art of Temari. Like each well made, delicate thread ball, a Temari is symbolic of wishing its recipient a full and well-rounded life.
Children’s Story Reading with Author Emily Seo
Saturday, April 13, 2024 (12:15-12:45 & 13:45-14:15)
Join Emily Satoko Seo, Vancouver based Japanese-Canadian author, presenting two of her children’s books, Our World: Japan and The Perfect Sushi.
Haiku Workshop with Poet Sophia Conway
Saturday, April 13, 2024 (13:00-13:30)
Join Vancouver-Island-based poet, Sophia Conway, as she leads an interactive workshop introducing the ancient Japanese poetry form of traditional haiku. Hear the poetry of the old Haiku Masters; Bashō, Buson, Issa, and Shiki, and practice writing your own! This is a fun and introductory class for all ages.
Japanese language and cultural experience with Vancouver Japanese Language School (VJLS)
Sunday, April 14, 2024 (11:30-12:30)
Founded in 1906, the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (VJLS-JH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to education, culture and community.
This year’s workshop will include Japanese language lessons by the principal, calligraphy experience and origami paper-folding workshops. Workshop attendees will learn to fold origami and write Japanese characters such as “cherry blossom” and “spring” using a brush and ink. Your finished work will be pasted on a coloured paper for you to take home.
Drop in this workshop to experience Japanese culture and language!
Photo Booth with Samurais
Sunday, April 14, 2024 (12:30-13:00)
In the Samurai Photo Booth, audiences are given an imitation sword, Japanese folding fan, and other photo props of their choice to hold and take a picture of themselves with samurai poses.
Yusei Uchida, kengido martial artist, will be on site showing you the correct way to hold a sword and stances.
“The Joy of Haiku” Workshop with Poet Michael Dylan Welch
Sunday, April 14, 2024 (13:00-14:00)
Drop in this free workshop to learn a short history of Japanese haiku and its major practitioners, and the various techniques used to write literary haiku. Poet Michael Dylan Welch will give an overview of haiku poetry, with English-language examples. Workshop participants will explore targets for haiku and learn why targets (opportunities) are better than “rules” (obligations). An optional writing exercise is included. Instructor Michael Dylan Welch founded National Haiku Writing Month (NaHaiWriMo), and is president of Haiku North America.
VJGA Kare-San-Sui Workshop: An Introduction to Japanese Dry Rock Gardens (Pre-Registration Required)
Saturday, April 13, 2024 (15:30-17:30) – Click here to register (Saturday)
Sunday, April 14, 2024 (14:30-16:30) – Click here to register (Sunday)
Karesansui is a style of Japanese gardening that symbolizes the craft of arranging natural elements. From mountains and islands, to waterfalls, streams, and ponds, Karesansui displays the elements of nature using inorganic compounds. It requires the creativity and craftsmanship of representing a macro sized landscape and provides a space free from distracted thoughts. “Samon” patterns are raked into the sand symbolizing waves and patterns that uniquely brings a sense of life into the landscape.
Hosted by Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association (VJGA), Japanese gardeners will guide you through crafting your own Japanese dry rock box garden, including how to make it, draw sand patterns (samon), and the basic knowledge behind rock placement and arrangements. Come join us to enjoy the art of Karesansui. This hands-on workshop provides all the necessary materials for participants to craft their dry rock garden. VJGA welcomes all enthusiasts and beginners and hope this event will provide a practice that tests focus and reward a tangible relaxing space of peace.
