One of my favorite events of the year is coming up September 8th from 12 to 9 p.m. Matsuri happens annually at Japan House, and they seem to improve upon it each year. This time around, that involves incorporating India in the festivities through henna artists, food, and entertainment. Here is the full press release:
Japan House will celebrate summer with a day of Asian-inspired performers, food, and artists inside and around Japan house and the Arboretum at the University of Illinois. There will be a variety of free performances, including Ho Etsu Taiko drum group, martial arts demonstrations, “The Candyman” street performer who makes candy sculptures and “wows” audiences with his style of magic, traditional dances, and Japanese tsugaru-jamisen player Michiyoshi Sato. Returning for their 2nd year, the crowd favorite international Japanese all-female band the 5. 6. 7. 8’s will end the night rocking out until the fireworks start at 8:30.
This is a family-friendly event with something to do for everyone. Artists and crafters will have items for sale, as well as interactive activities, such as ikebana (flower arranging), origami (paper folding), yukata dressing, traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, and tours of the Arboretum by Master Gardeners. A kid’s area featuring the amazing artistry of Joyful Bubbles and a variety of games will be the highlight for the younger guests.
Local restaurants who rarely do off-site events, will bring delicious and affordable Asian-inspired dishes and drinks to the crowd. Matsuri will also include a sake and beer tasting featuring a limited edition Japan House brew from Triptych Brewing!
This year, we are excited to introduce India as part of Asia with the addition of food, performances and henna artists from the community. Guests are encouraged to wear traditional clothing such as Japanese yukata, Indian sari or Korean hanbok, as well as your favorite cosplay attire for the day. Matsuri t-shirts will be available for purchase from the Japan House Interns for anyone who wants join in with the festivities.
Tickets for the event go on sale July 29th. Note, the event itself is free, but this is an opportunity to get your food tickets ahead of time, as well as reserve your space for things like tea ceremonies, which fill up quickly. Want a taste of what it’s like? Check out our coverage from last year.
Photo from Japan House