The Furusato Dancers are a recreational dance group that learns and performs Japanese folk dancing called odori. We practice twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at the Fairfield Activity Centre located in the Cook Street Village at 380 Cook Street. Practice times are from 7:00 - 8:30. Two or three times a year our Sensei (dance instructor) comes over from Vancouver to teach us new dances.
To become a member of the Furusato Dancers you must be a member of either the Japanese Friendship Society or the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society. Currently our annual membership is $50.00.
For more information contact Tsugio Kurushima (tsugkurushima@gmail.com).
Uminari Taiko is Vancouver Island's first taiko drumming ensemble. Its mission is to share and promote the art of Japanese taiko drumming through teaching and performance.
Since its founding in 2002, Uminari Taiko has performed in numerous schools, and public and private functions both in Victoria and around Vancouver Island, and has taught many workshops and classes.
Uminari is a Japanese word that can be translated as “roaring sea” – the sound of the crashing waves and the silence in between. It is a name that captures equally the essence of taiko and of our windy, wave-swept island.
Uminari Taiko is a non-profit, community-focused organization based in Victoria, British Columbia. It is supported by the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society, the Victoria Foundation, the National Association of Japanese Canadians, and members of the Vancouver Island community.
Visit Uminari Taiko at: www.uminaritaiko.com
Sakura Fujinkai is a social group for women to share ideas about Japanese culture and support the VNCS activities and events. Monthly dinner meetings are scheduled on the last Tuesday of each month. We patronize the restaurants that have contributed to our Fall Fair. We collect “Things Japanese” and make sewing and craft items with a Japanese influence for sale at the Cultural Fair each year. We also co-ordinate the food preparation for the sushi and manju sales.
For more information please contact Susan Kurushima (fujinkai_at_vncs.ca).