The Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture

Japanese New Year Festival, Jan. 20, 2007

 

 

In the courtyard of Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, visitors can watch and participate in the vigorous pounding of the sticky rice cakes during the New Year Festival on Saturday, Jan. 20. (Photo by Carol Hyland)

 

  HANFORD, California - As a new challenge for 2007, why not start by trying to fold an origami boar at the Japanese New Year Festival? The Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture invites the public to its Japanese New Year Festival on Saturday, January 20. Back by popular demand, the event will feature traditional Japanese games, activities, and entertainment for the whole family.

 

   Starting at 11 a.m. and running through the afternoon until 4 p.m., the gallery, library, and outdoor courtyard will be bustling with Japanese New Year activities all free of charge.

 

  Outside, in the courtyard, visitors can watch and participate in the vigorous pounding of the sticky rice cakes during the New Year Festival and will even get a chance to taste the freshly-pounded cakes made from rice provided by specialty Japanese rice growers, Koda Farms, based in the San Joaquin Valley.

 

   Youngsters will have a chance to try their hand at hagoita, the predecessor of modern badminton with wooden paddles and a hard shuttle with colored feathers as well as lively games of matching picture cards called karuta that will teach visitors basic written Japanese characters and some simple words to go along with them.  Bring a warm coat to appreciate the full experience, both indoors and out! Most activities will be repeated periodically throughout the day. 

 

   Central California Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist group consisting of eight Buddhist temples in the Fresno area will introduce an activity of the ritual 108 strikes of a bell, which normally happens at temples throughout Japan on New Year’s eve.

 

   Origami artist, Ray Thomas of Hanford, will give instructions for folding origami in the theme of the New Year – cranes for beginners, or participants who like a challenge, try folding the animal for the year of 2007, the boar. The first calligraphy of the New Year is always associated with good fortune so the Center staff and volunteers from the Fresno State University Japanese Students Association will assist visitors in creating their own festive writings in Japanese.

 

   The gallery space will feature periodic performances on koto.

   This event is made possible by the support of Target and Union Bank of California.

   The Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture is a non-profit study center dedicated to Japanese art and culture located 6 miles south of Highway 198 in Hanford between Jackson and Jersey Avenues at 15770 Tenth Avenue.

 

   The Ruth & Sherman Lee Institute for Japanese Art is a part of the Clark Center and hosts regular exhibitions of Japanese art of various styles and media ranging from the 12th to the 21st centuries. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. with a docent-led tour every Saturday at 1 p.m.