10th Matsuri Japon Festival

The 10th edition of the traditional Japanese festival. Enjoy the culture and activities of Japan.  Martial arts demonstrations, okonomiyaki and other delicious foods, games for kids, taiko drum concerts, kimono rentals, Japanese arts and crafts and many other activities. Admission is free !

The Matsuri Japon Festival takes place on Saturday, August 13th, from noon to 9:30PM, at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal, 8155 Rousselot, Montreal, H2E 1Z7, rain or shine.

Matsuri Japon is an event presented in the spirit of a traditional Japanese festival, as a means to develop greater awareness of Japanese culture among Montreal citizens and foreign visitors.

For the tenth year, thousands of people will be welcomed to celebrate and share the spirit of Japanese culture in a unique event. The Matsuri, meaning ‘festival’ in Japanese, will not only feature many of the activities and entertainment found at traditional festivals in Japan, but will also introduce other dynamic and unique attractions to make it a memorable occasion.

The 2011 Edition of the festival will be held on August 13th at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal!

http://www.festivaljapon.com/

Entertainment Schedule

Main Stage

12:00 pm  Opening Ceremony
12:30 pm  Omikoshi (Adults)
1:00 pm    Taiko (Inazuma)
1:30 pm    Japanese Folk Dance (Minyokai)
2:00 pm    Taiko (L'École l'Envolée / Kazekko)
2:30 pm    Omikoshi (Children)
3:00 pm    Mini Taiko Workshop
3:30 pm    Japanese Folk Dance (Komachi  Montréal)
4:00 pm    Nihon no Uta (Aya Aikawa)
4:30 pm    Juggler (Chikara Yoshinaka)
5:00 pm    Taiko and Dance (Arashi Daiko / Inazuma / Yamada Hanyabushi)
5:30 pm    Japanese Folk Dance (Komachi Montréal)
6:30 pm    Taiko (Arashi Daiko)
7:00 pm    Japanese Folk Dance (Komachi  Montréal)
8:00 pm    Taiko (Arashi Daiko)
8:45 pm    Japanese Folk Dance (Komachi  Montréal)
9:30 pm    Closing Ceremony

Martial Arts Stage

12:30 pm  Judo (Shidokan)
1:00 pm    Aikido
1:30 pm    Karate (Ohan)
2:30 pm    Iado (Sandokai)
3:30 pm    Nawatobi
4:00 pm    Bujinkan
5:30 pm    Naginata 

 On-site Activities

	Bon Odori Bon Odori (meaning simply Bon dance) is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one's ancestors.
	Kyudo Kyudo literally meaning "way of the bow", is the Japanese art of archery. It is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budo).
	O-Mikoshi A mikoshi is a portable Shinto shrine. Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle of a divine spirit in Japan at the time of a parade of deities. During a matsuri, people bear a mikoshi on their shoulders by means of the two poles. They bring the mikoshi from the shrine, carry it around the neighbourhoods that worship at the shrine, and in many cases leave it in a designated area, resting on blocks for a time, before returning it to the shrine.
	Taiko Taiko means "drum" in Japanese (etymologically "great" or "wide drum"). Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums (‘wa-daiko’, "Japanese drum", in Japanese) and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming (sometimes called more specifically, "kumi-daiko".
	Yukata Yukata is a Japanese summer garment. People wearing yukata are a common sight at fireworks displays, bon-odori festivals, and other summer events. The yukata is a casual form of kimono that is also frequently worn after bathing at traditional Japanese inns. Though their use is not limited to after-bath wear, yukata literally means bath(ing) clothes.