2022 VNCS Japanese Cultural Fair – Saturday, August 27th

The VNCS Japanese Cultural Fair is BACK!

Saturday, August 27th, 2022

At the NEW Gorge Park Pavilion (1070 Tillicum Road).

10:00AM TO 4:00PM

FREE ADMISSION
Family Friendly!

Food and Drinks

Inside, food and drinks will be available in the lower left (Room A) of the Pavilion. On the menu will be cold Drinks, delicious Pork Curry Bowls, Vegetarian Dry Curry Bowls, Teriyaki Chicken Bowls, and a limited supply of Sushi. Cash & Cards Accepted!

Outside, we are happy to announce that the Oni-Oni team (https://oni-oni.com/) will be onsite with their food van serving Onigiri (rice balls), packaged Japanese snacks, and cold Drinks. Look for them in the main parking lot. Cash & Cards Accepted!

First Aid

St. John’s Ambulance volunteers will be onsite to serve all fair attendees as needed. They will be located in the main parking area.

Fair Schedule & Floor Plans

Fair Schedule

Indoor Floor Plan

Outdoor Layout

Don’t know where to go? Come see us at the VNCS Information table just to the right inside the main entrance of the Pavilion or ask one of our roving fair ambassadors (wearing Happi coats).

If you missed the 2022 Japanese Cultural Fair at the new Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion you are in luck because the good folks (Sam Kirsch and team) at the Robin Hood Inn & Suites sponsored videographers Dale & Justin Baglo to come and film the fair and to compile this wonderful highlights reel. Enjoy!

Performance and Demonstration Details

10:00 – 10:30

Taiko Opening
Uminari Taiko
Location: Upper Level
Hear, see and feel the thunder of Japanese Taiko! Come see Uminari Taiko, Vancouver Island’s premier taiko ensemble, deliver a high energy performance that will move and shake you to the core.
http://www.uminaritaiko.com/

10:30 – 11:00

Japanese Culture; Koji
Satomi Kawamura
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
Satomi first began experimenting with making her own Japanese fermented foods in her late 20s. Her mom, just hospitalized for pancreatic cancer, was craving cucumber dipped in miso paste, a savoury summer snack popular in Japan. Rather than bringing her mom a store-bought version, Satomi decided to try making her own.

Working with koji as a raw ingredient, Satomi was surprised how simple it was to make miso from scratch, and how tasty it turned out. Suffering from her own digestive issues since she was a teenager, she dug deep into learning about the health benefits of koji, and has been creating recipes ever since.
www.cozykoji.com

11:00 – 11:30

Kendo Demonstration
Victoria Kendo Club
Location: Upper Level
Kendo is a Japanese martial art based on the use of the samurai sword. In kendo, protective armor (bogu) modeled on samurai armor is used, and bamboo sticks (shinai) represent swords. The primary purposes of kendo are to develop awareness, centeredness, wholeheartedness, endurance, concentration, respect for others, and self-confidence. Kendo can be approached in different ways as a competitive sport, for physical health, for spiritual and mental development, or as an introduction to Japanese culture and philosophy. http://www.victoriakendo.com/

Kimono Dressing

Mitsuko Uranaka
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
A demonstration of how to wear traditional and formal kimono for women and children, including a display of a traditional wedding gown. There will also be a hair style demonstration that is typically worn with a kimono.

Tea Ceremony #1
Urasenke Tankokai Victoria Association
Location: Outside – Right side of the Pavilion
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea.

11:30 – 12:00

Ikebana Demonstration #1
Michiko Seguev
Location: Lower Level – Room B (Middle)
Come to admire and learn more about the beauty of Japanese flower arranging. Sensei Michiko Segeuv will create several arrangements that demonstrate the principles of the basic forms as well as some free style arrangements. A gallery of ikebana made by Michiko’s students will be on display all day.

Kimono Dressing Hair Styling

Mitsuko Uranaka
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)

Historical Garden Tour #1
Michael Abe
Location: Outside – meet at the Takata Sakura Trees
Why is there a Japanese Garden in Gorge Park, and for that matter, a pavilion? Join Michael Abe for a short tour through the gardens and learn about the history of the Japanese Garden and Tea House that was a popular destination from 1907-1942.

12:00 – 12:30

Minyo
Rina El-Nahas
Location: Upper Level
Rina and the Japanese Minyo Band is a traditional Japanese music band playing music called Tohoku Minyo from the northern area of Japan. Rina has been performing and playing this style of music since age of 5 and won numerous awards in Japanese Traditional Competitions in Japan. Rina is also an accomplished shamisen player. (A shamisen is a traditional 3 stringed Japanese instrument.) Rina will be accompanied by her husband Danny also playing the shamisen and her son Eric and daughter Naomi doing back up vocals and playing percussion instruments.

Iaido – The Way of the Sword
Chris Tooley – Shoshinkai Victoria Iaido
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
Iaido is the traditional Japanese martial art of drawing and cutting with the samurai sword. The purpose of Iaido is to develop awareness, centeredness, sincerity, a calm mind, and mental and physical harmony through the practice of traditional sword techniques. See Iaido practitioners in traditional outfits demonstrate form and techniques (waza) of this unique martial art.

Tea Ceremony #2
Urasenke Tankokai Victoria Association
Location: Outside – Right side of the Pavilion
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea.

Note: From 12:30 -12:55, a different style of the Tea ceremony will be performed under the Wisteria arbor in the Takata garden. The main stage will host several performances of the ryurei, table and chair Tea ceremony throughout the day. Please come and visit!

12:30 – 1:00

The Gorge of Summers Gone
Dennis Minaker
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
This year we will have Dennis Minaker, Gorge historian and author of the book, The Gorge of Summers Gone – A History of Victoria’s Inland Waterway. Join Dennis as he recalls the waterway of a century ago – a time of regattas, swimming galas, high-diving towers, an amusement park, mansions, a Japanese Tea Garden and more.

1:00 – 1:30

Bon Odori Dance
Furusato Dancers
Location: Upper Level
See traditional Japanese folk dances called Odori or Bon Odori, performed by the Furusato Dancers wearing Japanese yukatas, casual summer kimonos. There will also be an opportunity for you to learn a popular bon odori dance.

Anime’s Journey to the West
Tsukino-Con
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
In this brief discussion we’ll be talking about how anime was first brought over to North American TV. What it took to stay here and what anime needs to meet today in order to get an English dub.

Tea Ceremony #3
Urasenke Tankokai Victoria Association
Location: Outside – Right side of the Pavilion
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea.

1:30 – 2:00

Kyudo (Japanese Archery)
Brian Angene
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
Brian is a yondan (4th-dan) who was trained in Kobe. He is a founding member of the Kyudo Association of Canada and the founder of the Victoria Kyudo Association. Brian will give a brief explanation of the origins of modern kyudo, the basic movements (kihontai), and stages of shooting (hassetsu). There will also be a display of kyudo equipment and opportunity for questions.

Historical Garden Tour #2
Michael Abe
Location: Outside – meet at the Takata Sakura Trees
Why is there a Japanese Garden in Gorge Park, and for that matter, a pavilion? Join Michael Abe for a short tour through the gardens and learn about the history of the Japanese Garden and Tea House that was a popular destination from 1907-1942.

2:00 – 2:30

Koto Performance
Satomi Edwards
Location: Upper Level
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument dating back to the 7th century. Professional koto player Satomi Edwards will perform traditional and contemporary pieces from Japan. These authentic sounds will take attendees at the Japanese Cultural Fair back to ancient times in Japan.

Japanese Cinema WAY Too Fast!
Donovan Aikman
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
A quick look at over 100 years of Japanese cinema in just 20 minutes. We’ll be talking about historical and modern trends of all kinds Come and discover your new favourite cinematic subgenres with Donovan, former programmer for The Victoria Film Festival.

Tea Ceremony #4
Urasenke Tankokai Victoria Association
Location: Outside – Right side of the Pavilion
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea.

2:30 – 3:00

Sumie Presentation
Michael Abe
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
Sumi-e uses ink, water and a brush to create textured paintings with endless gradients of black. Using as much empty space as painted area, the finished product depicts nature in its simplest form. Join Michael Abe for a short demonstration of the materials and techniques of this simple yet complex art form.

Ikebana Demonstration #2
Michiko Seguev
Location: Lower Level – Room B (Middle)
Come to admire and learn more about the beauty of Japanese flower arranging. Sensei Michiko Segeuv will create several arrangements that demonstrate the principles of the basic forms as well as some free style arrangements. A gallery of ikebana made by Michiko’s students will be on display all day.

3:00 – 3:30

VJHLS Soran Dancers
Victoria Japanese Heritage Language School Society
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)
The Dancers will perform an energetic dance to music based on the Japanese traditional song Soran Bushi.
https://vjhlss.com/

Bonsai Demonstration
Vancouver Island Bonsai
Location: Lower Level – Room C (Right Side)

https://victoriabonsai.bc.ca/

3:30 – 4:00

Taiko Finale
Uminari Taiko
Location: Upper Level
Hear, see and feel the thunder of Japanese Taiko! Come see Uminari Taiko, Vancouver Island’s premier taiko ensemble, deliver a high energy performance that will move and shake you to the core.
http://www.uminaritaiko.com/

Getting Here

Taking the bus?

The following bus routes access the Esquimalt Gorge Park:

On Tillicum Road: Route 26: Dockyard / UVic (https://www.bctransit.com/) – get off at the Gorge Bridge (Stop ID: 100539/Stop ID: 100532).
On Craigflower Road: Route 14: Vic General / UVic (https://www.bctransit.com/) – get off at Forshaw (Stop ID: 100644/Stop ID: 100634) and walk down Sioux Place, cross the bridge and walk through the park to the Pavilion.

Driving?

Parking is limited at the Gorge Park Pavilion so cycling, walking, and transit are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED! If you do plan to drive, please respect and listen to our volunteer parking staff who can direct you to an open spot.

Staying in Victoria?

Did you know that the Robin Hood Inn and Suites has complimentary courtesy shuttle service for their guests to the Esquimalt Gorge Park from 9:00am to 9:00pm daily?

Proudly Sponsored By:

PLATINUM Level Sponsors

Bell Media (CTV Vancouver Island, CFAX 1070, Virgin Radio 107.3)
Bento Sushi
Black Press Media (Monday Magazine, Victoria News)
Fudo Japanese Restaurant
Fujiya Japanese Foods
Robin Hood Inn & Suites
Sakura Sushi and Grocery
Township of Esquimalt

GOLD Level Sponsors

Campus Auto Group
Fairway Market
JagaSilk
Joyce Matzke
Julia M. Miller
La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Decor
Sushi Story

VNCS

The Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society | ビクトリア日系文化協会 Celebrating Japanese-Canadian Culture