BUNKA NO HI Japanese Culture Day
2018/12/13
Bunka no Hi (Japanese Culture Day) was held at the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington (JCCCW) on November 4, 2018.
The JCCCW holds Bunka no Hi every year. At this event, there were exhibits which focused on travel in Japan. Visitors were also able to enjoy traditional flower arrangements by Ikebana International, demonstrations of judo and other martial arts, a taiko performance, a quiz about Japan, Japanese stories for children to enjoy and a special booth for travel tips and ideas of places to visit in Japan. In addition, people were able to purchase handmade baked goods and curry rice. Visitors enjoyed themselves and hopefully learned more about traveling in Japan.
This year, the Consulate presented information about 47 different kinds of ekiben (boxed meals, which can be purchased on trains or at stations). Each ekiben represented one of the 47 prefectures in Japan. Consulate staff also showed how to make paper hashioki (chopstick rests), and there was a game to test peoples’ chopstick techniques and skills. The chopstick game and the origami hashioki were the most popular activities at the Consulate booth, drawing a constant flow of people throughout the day.
Bunka no Hi welcomed over 620 visitors. It was great opportunity for many people to learn about Japanese culture, from adults to children regardless of age.
The JCCCW holds Bunka no Hi every year. At this event, there were exhibits which focused on travel in Japan. Visitors were also able to enjoy traditional flower arrangements by Ikebana International, demonstrations of judo and other martial arts, a taiko performance, a quiz about Japan, Japanese stories for children to enjoy and a special booth for travel tips and ideas of places to visit in Japan. In addition, people were able to purchase handmade baked goods and curry rice. Visitors enjoyed themselves and hopefully learned more about traveling in Japan.
This year, the Consulate presented information about 47 different kinds of ekiben (boxed meals, which can be purchased on trains or at stations). Each ekiben represented one of the 47 prefectures in Japan. Consulate staff also showed how to make paper hashioki (chopstick rests), and there was a game to test peoples’ chopstick techniques and skills. The chopstick game and the origami hashioki were the most popular activities at the Consulate booth, drawing a constant flow of people throughout the day.
Bunka no Hi welcomed over 620 visitors. It was great opportunity for many people to learn about Japanese culture, from adults to children regardless of age.
 Visitors learned about different food specialties for all of the prefectures on the Consulate’s ekiben map. Ekiben are special boxed meals that can be purchased on trains and at train stations across Japan. |
 Consulate booth’s “Chopstick Challenge” tested people’s chopstick skills for picking up a variety of objects which ranged from easy to difficult. |
 Visitors were able to learn how to use paper wrappers that come with disposable chopsticks to make origami chopstick rests. |
 Japanese calligraphy at the Hyogo Business & Cultural Center’s booth. |
 The Okinawa Kenjin Kai taiko group’s performance was very popular. |
 The “Travel to Japan” exhibit invited visitors were able to share their personal recommendations and travel tips, by posting messages on a large map of Japan. |
 A local group of Butoh Dancers introduced this avant-garde style of Japanese dance to an intrigued audience. (Photo courtesy of JCCCW/Eugene Tagawa) |