Sunday, August 24, 2008

Japanese Summer Festival

balloon yo-yos floating in water

Every year the East Bay Japanese Language School holds a fair at our church (Japanese Christian Church). I always find myself inspired by the games, decorations, and food. Hope it will inspire you too!

Ikayaki - Grilled Squid
I consider myself fortunate I was able to get a picture of this. My husband and children were grumbling that they had to wait 30 seconds before eating.

Fish shaped cones filled with popcorn. Cute idea for a party?

Does it look like a fish now?


Water bottle wind chimes.

Wouldn't this make a fun kid's craft? There's a small bell hanging in the inside of the water bottle. Hanging below is an origami fish with two ribbons. I was told that this year they tried to incorporate recycled items as much as possible for the prizes and the games.

close up of the water bottle wind chime


The children from the school performed a short dance dressed as sumo wrestlers. I thought their outfits might make fun Halloween Costumes. The Sumo outfit was basically a one piece jumper with an inner tube inside it. A strip of black fabric was used for the mawashi (belt) which also held the inner tube in place .
at

15 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 24, 2008 at 6:37 PM

    That looks like it would be so much fun,oh and Ican just imagine the food! yum! and the little origami fish wind chime , wow the possibilities! :) hehe sorry for all the "ands" ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownAugust 24, 2008 at 9:29 PM

    Very interesting!! I love that squid ...mmmm...must be super tasty :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. nobuAugust 25, 2008 at 2:25 AM

    Ikayaki is popular at festival in Japan.
    That Furin(Japanese wind chaim) is nice.
    Please take a look my today's article about summer festival.
    Funabashi Daily Cell Phone Photo

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 25, 2008 at 5:06 AM

    Looks like fun! Love the little wind chimes- I may have to tuck that idea away for later.
    Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amber M.August 25, 2008 at 7:00 AM

    What a fabulous day! The fish is too cute and I couldn't stop giggling at the psuedo-sumos:-).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Christina JoyAugust 25, 2008 at 7:10 AM

    those Sumo costumes are adorable! What fun! I love ethnic festivals.

    Thanks for dropping the comment, and good luck on the contest! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 25, 2008 at 8:36 AM

    That festival sounds so great. I studied Japanese for two years in high school and my family always hosted Japanese foreign exchange students, so I'm very interested in the culture.

    ReplyDelete
  8. EvieAugust 25, 2008 at 9:43 AM

    Wait.. East Bay Japanese Language School? In El Cerrito?? I went there for about 5 years, from the time I was 13!!! Ah, the memories.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rachael HutchingsAugust 25, 2008 at 3:02 PM

    How fun! I love how they even had the balloon yo-yo's...can't have a matsuri without them! The ikayaki has me drooling...

    ReplyDelete
  10. GingerAugust 25, 2008 at 3:12 PM

    So much fun wish i'd had been there to join in.Loved the fish chimes and cool hangers,be a nice gift to go with new clothes or baby shower.
    hugs ginger

    ReplyDelete
  11. ms fireflyAugust 26, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    i love the wind chimes! and the squid of course. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. RennaAugust 26, 2008 at 6:09 PM

    The crafty ideas were great, and the event looks like alot of fun!

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousAugust 28, 2008 at 3:02 PM

    The squid wasn't on a stick? I so want to prove the whole squid on a stick at Japanese festivals to my hubby and nephew - they don't really believe me.

    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
  14. zakkalifeAugust 29, 2008 at 8:54 PM

    Tricia,

    here's a link to squid on a fish, I think it's just the picture you're looking for

    http://japundit.com/archives/2008/04/06/8257/

    ReplyDelete
  15. MKJCHApril 5, 2010 at 9:19 PM

    Thanks for the pic of the wind chime. It may have been a recycled one that is inferior to many other wind chimes, but it helped me get a good visual of what to do. I have to make a wind chime for my Clay Art Class, which I despise >.>, by April 9. I am intrigued by Japanese culture; therefore, i decided to make a Japanese wind chime. This website has helped me a little and i thank you for your help. Also, that picture of the girl with the wind chime is so cute.^^

    ReplyDelete