Honouring Peace – Sunday, August 6th at the Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion

Join us on August 6th to celebrate peace, launch lanterns, and enjoy Japanese culture! Reserve a spot and get the map link here on Eventbrite.

Honouring Peace is a free, family friendly event that will be held outdoors at the beautiful Japanese-style Gorge Park Pavilion, on the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Each year, peace is celebrated and its importance remembered through music, poetry, dance and drumming that moves and inspires us.

Lantern-making will begin at 7:00 pm on the outdoor porch of the Pavilion (all materials provided), and an educational display will be available indoors. The program will begin at 7:30 pm and end with the launching of the lanterns in the Pavilion reflecting pools at 9 pm. Among the performers and presenters will be:

  • Elder Bear Sam, First Nation’s greetings
  • Tsugio Kurushima, Nikkei Society
  • Furusato Dancers
  • Uminari Taiko Drummers
  • Hanne Fair, flute
  • Raging Grannies
  • Gettin’ Higher Choir
  • Margaret Krawciw: “Children of the A-Bomb”

People are asked to bring lawn chairs or a blanket if possible; for others, seating will be provided. A donation bottle will be passed for those who would like to contribute to the cost of the event.

Honouring Peace is supported by the Greater Victoria Peace School (GVPS), with support from the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society (VNCS), the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada (IPPNWC) and the Victoria Multifaith Society (VMS).

Adult Japanese Language & Culture Program (2023)

Adult Japanese Language & Culture Program

Co-offered By Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society & Japanese Friendship Society
Mieko Fedrau

The program is for adults who wish to start learning Japanese language and culture. It consists of eight 1.5 hour lessons with basic Japanese expressions, grammar, introduction to Japanese writing systems, and hands-on cultural experience in Shodō (calligraphy) and Chadō (the way of tea). It is a good introductory program for those who have no experience of learning Japanese and those who had some experience in the past and wish to refresh it. Through the language learning and hands-on activities, the participants will also be introduced to the essence of traditional Japanese culture.

Day & Time:  Sundays 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, starting on September 17, 2023
(September 17, 24; October 15, 22, 29; November 5, 19, 26. There will be no lesson on October 1, 8 and November 17 due to statutory holiday weekends.)

Location:  Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion

# and duration of lessons:  8 lessons (90 min x8)

Max. # of participants:  18

Fees:  $120/person (material fees included)

Note:  VNCS or JFS members can receive a $20 discount from the respective organization by presenting a proof of registration.

Textbook:  Teacher-made handouts will be distributed in lieu of textbook.

Instructor:  Mieko Fedrau

Registration opens on Tuesday, August 1.  Go to the Esquimalt Recreation website and click the orange “Register Online” button, or call the Gorge Park Pavilion front desk at 250-412-8500.

Daikagura – Michiyo Kagami (Thursday, Aug. 3rd)


Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society presents
Daikagura performance by Michiyo Kagami

Thursday, August 3rd, 7:00pm
at the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA): https://www.ccpacanada.com/

Daikagura – a form of dance deriving from rituals performed by travelling priests between Ise Grand Shrine and Atsuta Shrine, who would travel to villages, crossroads, and other locations to help the locals by driving away evil spirits. Acrobatic feats and lion dances played a major role in these rituals.(Wikipedia)

Join us for an enchanting evening of Daikagura, traditional Japanese juggling and acrobatics and one of Japan’s most treasured and time-honored performing arts with a rich history spanning over 400 years.

Opening act: Minyo(Japanese folk music) performance by Rina and the Tohoku Minyo Band
Daikagura performance by Michiyo Kagami

Early bird ticket price ($15) in effect until July 23.
Regular ticket price: $20
Get your tickets at: https://bit.ly/daikagura

This event is sponsored by the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society and Arts Council Tokyo

Japan Fest 2023 (July 22)

Japan Fest – July 22

The Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society and Fudo Japanese Restaurant present Japan Fest 2023 on Saturday, July 22nd at the Broadmead Village Shopping Centre. This summer matsuri will run from 2 – 5 pm in the courtyard outside of FUDO. Enjoy

  • Savoury Japanese food – Spicy Scallop rolls, Kabocha korokke and Wakame salad,
  • Cultural performances by Uminari Taiko, Furusato Dancers, Kenzen Karate, a Minyo band and the Soran Youth Dancers,
  • a Raffle,
  • Things Japanese table and
  • Kakigori (Snow cones)

Mark your calendar so that you don’t miss Japan Fest 2023!

Calling Japanese Classic Vehicle Enthusiasts!

We are looking for two to three vehicle owners to show case their old school (not newer than 1999) Japanese classics at this year’s Japanese Cultural Fair (held at the Esquimalt Gorge Park) on Saturday, August 26th, 2023 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Cars will be located on the field beside the Pavilion where owners can interact with fair attendees and show off their hard work maintaining a piece of Japanese automobile history.

Some examples of vehicles we are hoping to see (but not limited to) are:

  • Datsun (240Z, 280ZX, 510)
  • Honda (Civic, CRX, NSX)
  • Mazda (Cosmo, MX-5 Miata, RX7 FC)
  • Mitsubishi (Lancer Evolution)
  • Nissan (240SX Silvia S13, Skyline GT-R)
  • Suzuki (Cappuccino, Jimny/Samurai, Viatra/Sidekick)
  • Subaru (Impreza Turbo, Impreza WRX)
  • Toyota (2000 GT, 4Runner, Celica, Cressida, Corolla GT AE86, Land Cruiser J40, MR2, Supra)

If you are interested in potentially showcasing your vehicle at the fair please contact info@vncs.ca.

2023 Japanese Cultural Fair Coordinators needed

We have started planning for this year’s Japanese Cultural Fair on August 26, 2023! As many of you know, this is our biggest event, the fundraiser of the year, and it requires many volunteers. We are looking for following Coordinators to join our Fair Planning Team.

Finance Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible for working with each area that handles sales (e.g., Food, Silent Auction, Things Japanese) to determine what they need in terms of floats. In addition, on Fair day they are responsible for visiting each area regularly to ensure they have everything they need. Finally, they need to tally all of the sales, both physical and electronic, and provide a final report out.

Children (Kodomo) Coordinator

This role is responsible for planning and running a kid-friendly area at the Fair. In the past, there has been origami, fish pond, ceramics, colouring, etc. If you love children and have great ideas, come and put them to use!

Outdoor Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible to help supervise and support the outdoor activities (e.g., Tea Ceremony, Things Japanese, Food Trucks, Parking, etc.). They make sure all the areas have everything they need and regularly swing by to check up on them, while also staying in touch with the Fair Leads, Finance Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and the Indoor Coordinator. You’ll get a lot of steps in this role.

Indoor Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible to help supervise and support the indoor activities (e.g., Ikebana, Presentations, Performances, Silent Auction, Food Sales, etc.). They make sure all the areas have everything they need and regularly swing by to check up on them while also staying in touch with the Fair Leads, Finance Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and the Outdoor Coordinator.

Food Sales Coordinator – NOW FILLED

This role is responsible to help supervise and support the VNCS Food Sales (e.g., Manju, Cold Drinks, Hot Tea etc.) within the Pavilion on the day of the Fair. In addition, they help support packaging of the food on the day before the Fair. This role works very closely with the Food Leads.

Volunteer Coordinator(s)

This role is responsible to promote, recruit, organize, and support all of the various volunteers needed on Fair day. This includes ensuring each area’s volunteer needs are met, providing name tags and happi coats to each volunteer as they arrive, and ensuring they are collected when they leave. The position works directly with the Fair Leads and works closely with the Indoor and Outdoor Coordinators.

If you are interested or have any questions, contact Craig or Yukari through info@vncs.ca.

2023 Board of Directors

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre the Board of Directors for 2023 was elected by acclimation.

The 2023 elected Board of Directors are:

  1. President – Tsugio Kurushima
  2. Vice President – Debbie Ibaraki
  3. Treasurer – Ken Watai
  4. Natsuke Abe
  5. Maureen Bird
  6. Yuuri Daiku
  7. Karen Geiger
  8. Reyna Goshinmon
  9. Amy Kawano
  10. Yukari Peerless
  11. Joyce Tobo
  12. Kimiko West

To find out more about our current directors visit the Board of Directors page here: https://www.vncs.ca/about-the-vncs/vncs-board-directors/.