Matsuri '19, 3/31/2019 (Press Release)
at Ross Sports Center, St. Michael's College

The Japan-America Society of Vermont (JASV) and Saint Michael’s College are presenting Matsuri ‘19, a Japanese Cultural Festival on Sunday, March 31 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Ross Sports Center, Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont.

“Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival. I grew up in Japan with Matsuri three times a year, spring, summer and fall,” said Toshi Saitoh, the president of the JASV, who moved to the United States 21 years ago. “Japan was a rice country. In the spring, we all prayed for a good rice harvest. We danced together at our local shrines to the sound of drums and enjoyed several cultural entertainments. In the summer, we danced to forget the hot summer. In the fall, we gathered at the shrines again and thanked the gods for giving us a good harvest and we again enjoyed ourselves.” Toshi added, “Matsuri in Vermont is more than that. The JASV developed the concept further and added many events, creating and bringing a Japanese cultural festival right to your door with its sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Local artisans in Vermont help to make this all possible by volunteering their time and skills. There are so many amazing people participating!”

Over two dozen booths and 50 nine-foot tables will provide opportunities for the festival attendees to get hands on experience with Japanese arts and crafts. Visitors can try on a kimono, have their names written in Katakana characters, fold a paper crane, or fish rubbing. Local artisans will be hosting displays of bonsai plants, flower arrangements, pottery and other crafts. A publisher will be selling books about Japanese culture. There will be games for both adults and children to play and foods to buy.

The Matsuri stage area features a wide assortment of entertainment, including a Taiko (drum) performance, Koto music, martial arts, Kyudo (zen archery), Japanese dance, high school dance, Children's Japanese speech and Bon Odori (line dance.) Door prizes will be awarded several times throughout the day.

Mr. Rokuichiro Michii, the Consul General of Japan in Boston will be setting up a One-Day Consulate to assist anyone with registration, Japanese passport, visa needs or questions.

Admission tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens and $20 for families (preschoolers are free). More information about Matsuri ‘19 is available at the JASV web site, http://www.jasv.org.

Booth Participants

On Stage Performance

Matsuri '17 Press Release

Download Press Release

One Day Japanese Consulate

At Matsuri ’17 the Consulate General of Japan in Boston will organize a “One-day Japanese Consulate” at the venue, Saint Michael's College Sports Center. Following are the invitation details. Please click, http://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/r_one_day_Vermont.html

You will be able to pick up a Japanese passport or certificate there if you submit an application for each business to the Consulate no later than March 15, 2017. Please email or call the consulate beforehand.

Consulate General of Japan in Boston: TEL 617-973-9772

EMAIL consulate@bz.mofa.go.jp

Financial Support for Noh Dance Performance at Matsuri '17

We are very happy to announce that the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership will be supporting a large percentage of the expense of a Noh performer invitation to Matsuri '17.

Mr. Takashi Yamamura from Japan will perform "Kiyotsune" dance on stage and will open a workshop in his booth.

Free Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's Corporation will be donating ice cream to serve the Matsuri '17 audience. It will be served at the Ben & Jerry's booth at the venue. First come first served. We appreciate their generosity.