Categories
Arts & Crafts Haiku Merchandise Photos Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival

Sakura Days Japan Fair 2018

Sakura Days Japan Fair gave visitors a chance to experience Japan with hands-on workshops (calligraphy, origami, haiku) and amazing performances.  What a fabulous week-end!

20180414_sakuradays_samurai_crowd_tremblay_IMG_9555 20180414_sakuradays_singers_tremblay_IMG_9381

Several tree talks and walks were lead by Van Dusen garden volunteers. There were lots of cherry trees to talk about including the beautiful tai-haku (great white cherry).

20180414_sakuradays_cherrytreetalkandwalk_tremblay_IMG_9548 20180414_vandusen_taihaku_tremblay_IMG_9402

The winning haiku from the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Haiku Invitational 2017 were displayed in the garden for everyone to read and enjoy.

20180414_sakuradays_haikubamboo_tremblay_IMG_9362 20180414_sakuradays_haikubamboo_IMG_9872

At the Haiku House, you could attend a workshop, try your hand at writing a haiku, make a button, or take a guided walk to the haiku rock.

20180414_sakuradays_haikuhouse_tremblay_IMG_9607 20180414_sakuradays_haikuhouse_tremblay_IMG_9594

The food was a major draw.

20180414_sakuradays_food_tremblayIMG_9482 20180414_sakuradays_japadog_tremblayIMG_9734

Outdoor demonstrations included the forging of Japanese knives by knifewear.

20180414_sakuradays_knifewear_tremblayIMG_9736

If you preferred to be inside, you could visit the vendors and pick up a petal mat or guide to Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver at the VCBF table.

20180414_sakuradays_vendors_tremblay_IMG_9621 20180414_sakuradays_vcbftable_tremblayIMG_9624

People gathered on the hill, sitting on petal mats, to watch the show on the cherry stage.

20180414_vandusen_cherryhill_tremblay_IMG_9370

During her calligraphy demo,Kisyuu disappeared behind the canvas to paint the back of the canvas while the picture was slowly revealed to the audience at the front.

20180414_sakuradays_calligraphyKissyu_tremblay_IMG_9510

Hojo Hand-Crafted Samurai Armor Corps grabbed visitors’ attention as they walked to the stage to perform an elaborate play in full costumes.

20180414_sakuradays_samurai_stage_tremblay_IMG_9551 20180414_sakuradays_samurai_tremblay_IMG_9424

Two performers from Japan, Keita Kanazashi on the Japanese Drum and Kohei Honda on the shamisen, drew a big crowd with their amazing energy.

20180414_sakuradays_shamisenTaiko_Tremblay_IMG_9705 20180414_sakuradays_shamisenTaiko_Tremblay_IMG_9726

Outdoor performances kept us dancing until 7 pm.

20180414_sakuradays_singer_tremblayIMG_9748 20180414_sakuradays_youthacademy_tremblay_IMG_9800

The event ended with lantern procession from the Cherry Stage to the Visitor Centre.

20180414_sakuradays_lanternparade_tremblay_IMG_9816 20180414_sakuradays_lanternparade_tremblay_IMG_9765

Sakura Days Japan Fair is two-day festival organized by the Japan Fair Association of Vancouver as part of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. It took place at the Van Dusen Botanical Garden.

People who attended Saturday were able to walk over to Queen Elizabeth park to see the Sakura Illuminations.