Fabulous Festival Season Preview

Summer in Vancouver, with its abundance of natural beauty, is a natural fit for outdoor festivals, of which there are many to choose from. Whether your tastes run to jazz, folk or world music, Shakespeare, dragon boating or fireworks, there is something for pretty much anyone. If you wanted to plan your summer around attending local festivals, you could be busy every weekend sampling the unique sights, sounds and tastes that accompany each event.

While increasingly popular, though, festivals in Canada are a relatively recent phenomena, at least compared to Japan, where the matsuri, or street festival, is an ancient tradition, most often associated with the harvest.  Each region and town has its own matsuri, usually centred around the local temple or shrine. It is a time for the people to let loose and throw off the constraints of everyday life. Popular festivals draw not only locals but thousands of out-of-town visitors who enjoy roaming the street enjoying local delicacies, watching entertainment and joining in on the various activities.

For many Metro Vancouver-based Japanese Canadians, community festivals are a way to bridge the two cultures, a time to connect or reconnect with their roots, and to spend quality time with friends and relatives. This summer there are three Japanese Canadian-themed festivals spread evenly though the months of July and August, each with its own character. 

Summer kicks off on Canada Day, Tuesday July 1st, with the Steveston Salmon Festival which, while not strictly a Japanese Canadian event, has a strong cultural component and relationship dating back many years. The Festival, which began in 1945, is one of the area’s longest-running community events and draws thousands of visitors each year.

The Powell Street Festival, held the BC Day long weekend (August 2 and 3 this year), is Vancouver’s longest-running community arts festival. The Festival marks a yearly return to the pre-war home of what was once a vibrant community surrounding Oppenheimer Park, with thousands of festival-goers lining up for the popular food booths or stretching out on the grass to enjoy the numerous stage performances. 

The new kid on block is the Nikkei Matsuri, now in its second year, held the Labour Day long weekend at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre in Burnaby. With a more overtly-Japanese flavour, the Nikkei Matsuri has found a distinctive niche that compliments the other offerings throughout the summer and provides that last kick at the can before heading back to school and work.

Never able to pass up a good time, The Bulletin provides a guide to the festivals of summer. We think you’ll agree that it’s difficult to choose between the three, and it’s probably best to just attend them all!

Steveston Salmon Festival
When: Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Where: Steveston Park 4111 Moncton St. Richmond
Cost: free!
First Festival: 1945
stevestonsalmonfest.ca

THE FESTIVAL
The Steveston Salmon Festival is celebrating its 69th year. The first festival started in 1945 to help raise funds to build a playground in Steveston Park. The Nikkei community was approached upon their return to the West Coast to help construct a new community centre and with the promise of a dedicated space for judo and the use of the gymnasium for kendo, the Nikkei community agreed to participate. They donated $15,000 towards the construction cost and this became the start of the relationship between the community centre and the Nikkei community. This relationship later worked together to build the Martial Arts Centre, which is the first purpose-built dojo outside of Japan, and later the Steveston Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.

The Japanese Cultural Show at the annual Steveston Salmon Festival is an integral part of the day’s celebrations. The Cultural Show takes place in the Steveston Martial Arts Centre and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. This year in the Judo Hall will be demonstrations of judo, iaido, kendo and karate. In the kendo hall, there will be displays of bonsai, shodo (calligraphy), ikebana and a tea ceremony demonstration and a koto performance. In the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre there will be displays of Japanese doll-making, paper doll-making (kami ningyo), model shipbuilding, and displays by the Nikkei Seniors Group, Nikkei Museum and Tonari Gumi. There will also be craft sales by the Japanese Seniors Crafts group.

HIGHLIGHTS
Come out and enjoy a fun-filled day starting with the annual parade beginning at 10am. Opening ceremonies follow the parade’s finish and then the day’s activities begin. Taste our chow mien prepared by the many Japanese Canadian groups in Steveston as well as our famous salmon bake. Also enjoy our trade show, flower and vegetable show, children’s festival, stage shows featuring the Angry Worms as well as numerous other performances, Teen Rock Show, King of the Fraser competition as well as numerous other activities and demonstrations. While you’re at it, stroll down to the Fraser River by Imperial Landing to enjoy the “Ships to Shore” visit by many sailing vessels to our tiny harbour. What makes the Festival unique

WHAT MAKES THE FESTIVAL UNIQUE
We call our Festival the “Canada’s Biggest Little Birthday Party since 1945” and the Nikkei community has actively participated in this annual event since the 1950s and has hosted the Japanese Cultural show highlighting nikkei culture and traditions since the early 70s. The Steveston community has always been proud of its Japanese heritage and the annual Steveston salmon Festival and its Japanese Cultural show is just another example of how the nikkei community has contributed to the Canadian multi-cultural mosaic.

THE FOOD
Chow mein, salmon bake, pancake breakfast, and a variety of other ethnic foods and fast foods hosted by other non-profit organizations in Richmond.

FUN FACTS
We start our festivities the weekend before with the annual Children’s BullHead Fishing Derby at Garry Point Park. This year’s event is on June 22 from 10am – 12noon. Registration begins at 9am. Over 75,000 people attend each year’s festival. We barbecue and serve over 1200 pounds of sockeye salmon during the day! There is no admission fee for any of the events or performances. You only pay for food and drink!!!

Powell Street Festival
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, August 1, 2, 3, 2014
Where: Oppenheimer Park, 400 Powell Street, Vancouver
+ other venues
Cost: free!
First Festival: 1977
powellstreetfestival.com

Photo: Richard Tom

THE FESTIVAL
A matsuri (festival) has long been part of the cultural landscape of the Japanese community not only in Japan but in many other cities across North America. In 2013 Nikkei Place Foundation embarked on the challenge to host the first Nikkei matsuri in British Columbia. The resulting overwhelming success, with attendance of 8000, laid the foundation for this Japanese festival to be one of the higlights of the summer season. In 2014 the event was transitioned to the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. With the support of over 250 volunteers and staff the second annual Nikkei Matsuri will be held on August 30 & 31, 2014

THEME
Nikkei Matsuri, Burnaby’s family-friendly Japanese festival in the heart of Metro Vancouver.

HIGHLIGHTS
This year, direct from Japan, our headline performer is Hiroshi Yamaguchi, one of Japan’s top young tsugaru shamisen performers.  First on stage at the age of 4, Hiroshi learnt tsugaru shamisen from his father Koji Yamaguchi and other Shamisen artists.   He completed his undergraduate and graduate degree at the Tokyo Geijutsu Digaku (Tokyo University of the Arts) in 1999 and 2001 respectively.  Since then he has been  a leading member of a new generation of performers in the genre, involving in various performances, workshops, TV & radio programs  in Japan, USA, China, Korea, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Vietnam, Thailand, UK and Spain.  His first album Kuro Maru collaborating with western instruments was released in 2011.

WHAT MAKES THE FESTIVAL UNIQUE
The Powell Street Festival is the largest Japanese Canadian festival in the country and the longest-running community celebration in Vancouver! Enjoy traditional and contemporary Japanese Canadian performances and demonstrations, including taiko drumming, sumo wrestling, martial arts, bonsai and ikebana, folk and modern dance, alternative pop/rock/urban music, visual arts, film/video, as well as historical walking tours, tea ceremonies, and a fantastic array of Japanese food, crafts, & displays. The Powell Street Festival represents the diversity of Japanese Canadian arts, culture and heritage in all its various guises. A special aspect of the Festival is the fact that it is held in Vancouver’s historic Powell Street and Powell Grounds, home to a once-thriving business and residential Japanese Canadian community.

THE FOOD
The Powell Street Festival features a fantastic array of traditional Japanese and fusion style food options from a variety of longtime community organizations and some of our favourite city-wide restaurants and food purveyors with delicious options such as okonomiyaki, chikara udon, gyoza, osaka balls, curry beef, yakisoba, imagawayaki, cold ramen salad, bbq salmon, spam sushi, chicken karaage, icy-cold frozen treats and more! This year the festival adds two new vendors serving up hot ramen and Japanese style hotdogs from their lists of delectable menu items!

FUN FACTS
There are lots of participatory activities at the festival, including the ever-popular sumo completion, origami-making at the Children’s tent, and traditional bon odori dancing!

All day-time activities and performances are free!

The Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall, Vancouver Buddhist Temple are also home to a range of exciting activities, displays, exhibitions and performances too! Come in from the heat to enjoy what these other venues have to offer.

Nikkei Matsuri
When: Saturday, Sunday, August 30, 31, 2014
Where: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
6688 Southoaks Crescent. Burnaby
Cost: free!
First Festival: 2013
nikkeimatsuri.ca

THE FESTIVAL
A matsuri (festival) has long been part of the cultural landscape of the Japanese community not only in Japan but in many other cities across North America. In 2013 Nikkei Place Foundation embarked on the challenge to host the first Nikkei matsuri in British Columbia. The resulting overwhelming success, with attendance of 8000, laid the foundation for this Japanese festival to be one of the higlights of the summer season. In 2014 the event was transitioned to the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. With the support of over 250 volunteers and staff the second annual Nikkei Matsuri will be held on August 30 & 31, 2014

THEME
Nikkei Matsuri, Burnaby’s family-friendly Japanese festival in the heart of Metro Vancouver.

HIGHLIGHTS
This year, direct from Japan, our headline performer is Hiroshi Yamaguchi, one of Japan’s top young tsugaru shamisen performers.  First on stage at the age of 4, Hiroshi learnt tsugaru shamisen from his father Koji Yamaguchi and other Shamisen artists.   He completed his undergraduate and graduate degree at the Tokyo Geijutsu Digaku (Tokyo University of the Arts) in 1999 and 2001 respectively.  Since then he has been  a leading member of a new generation of performers in the genre, involving in various performances, workshops, TV & radio programs  in Japan, USA, China, Korea, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Vietnam, Thailand, UK and Spain.  His first album Kuro Maru collaborating with western instruments was released in 2011.

WHAT MAKES THE FESTIVAL UNIQUE
Nikkei Matsuri is a one-of-a-kind experience in British Columbia that combines all of the elements of visiting a  matsuri in Japan in our own back yard in Burnaby. Every effort has been made to ensure that the authentic feel of the event will provide attendees with an experience that they will enjoy. The Nikkei Matsuri Family Festival has something for all ages and will inspire pride in Japanese culture here in Canada.