Kimono, Kanji, Kamishibai, Koi and Kyudo Festival Day Takes Place at Memphis Botanic Garden

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Japan Festival’s “5-K” offers five more reasons to spend Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

In addition to half-price admission to the garden all day, hands-on exhibits, demonstrations and lectures highlighting aspects of traditional and modern Japanese culture will be on tap, including:

• Kimono (how to dress in traditional Japanese attire);

• Kanji (how to recognize a style of Japanese written language);

• Kamishibai (an Japanese street theater featuring oral storytelling tradition using illustrations on paper);

• Koi (how to identify Japanese carp that add beauty and movement to garden ponds); and

• Kyudo (Japanese archery).

Other featured activities especially for children and the young at heart will include origami (Japanese paper folding), rock painting, making koi windsocks from paper, brush painting (or calligraphy), a chopsticks challenge, and summer kimono (called yukata) dress-ups. Sumo suit wrestling and a Hello Kitty Bounce House are also included.

Workshops and demonstrations with teens and adults in mind include:

• A puppetry workshop with Bunraku Bay Puppet Theater;

• Gardening insights and Japanese Garden tours with the Memphis Botanic Garden staff;

• Japanese flower arranging with Ikebana International, Memphis Bamboo Chapter #44;

• A Japanese language lesson;

• The art of Bonsai with the Memphis Bonsai Society; and

• A traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

The Festival will be held outdoors, rain or shine. Half-price admission fees are $5 per adult and $2.50 for children 3-12 years old. Admission is free for children under 2 years. Parking is free of charge.

For more information, visit www.memphisjapanfestival.org.

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