Category: Festivals & Events

2020 Cherry Blossom Festival: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Cherry Blossom Festival Fort Wayne Indiana is back, and this ever growing festival promises to offer even more entertainment and activities! This Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the largest in the Midwest, and is the largest in the tri-state region of Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. From cosplay to kimono the festival crowd typically enjoys dressing for this occasion!

Date: May 17th, 2020
Official Site: https://www.cherryblossomfw.com/
Admission: FREE
Address: 900 Library Plz, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Activities & Entertainment: Taiko, cosplay contest, tea ceremony, shopping, bonsai display, and more!

MABA 2020 Bonsai Show

For nearly 50 years, the Milwaukee Bonsai Society has held an Annual Exhibit. In 2020 the 50th annual exhibit, Mid-America Bonsai Alliance Convention heads back to Milwaukee to help celebrate! This MABA convention will be the third hosted by the Milwaukee Bonsai Society and we expect the best.

For nearly 30 years Mid-America Bonsai Alliance has gathered bonsai artists, bonsai enthusiest, and delegates together to build stronger networks and more vibrant bonsai communities. What started as a small group of about 10 people in 1989 has now grown to more than 19 clubs. Join in this celebration of Bonsai.

Official Website: http://www.milwaukeebonsai.org/maba/

On-line Registration will begin on Sunday, January 5, 2020.
Registration Cost: $195 starting January 5, 2020 | $250 after 3/1/2020

Chicago Japanese Matsuri 2019

If you happen to be in the Chicago area this weekend, you are in luck! Chicago Japanese Matsuri 2019 is taking place at the Newcity Plaza, and admission is free to the public! This family friendly festival offers a rich selection of traditional Japanese culture, shopping, food, and entertainment. So put on your authentic Japanese kimono and head to the festival!

Offical Site: https://www.chicagomatsuri.com/

Address: 1457 N Halsted St, Chicago IL 60642

Admission: FREE


Friday 9.20

3 – 4 pm | Alexander Staples | Anime Music DJ

4:15 – 5 pm | Taiko (Tsukasa Taiko)

5 – 8 pm |Van Paugam | 70s and 80s vinyl (City Pop)

Saturday 9.21

11 AM | Iaido Swordsmanship (Mugai Ryu Iaido)
11:30 AM | Karate (JKA Chicago)
12 PM | Aikido (Aikido Association of America) & Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)
12:30 PM | Cosplay Contest (Anime Chicago)
1 PM | Koto (Tokiko Kimura)
2 PM | Taiko (Tsukasa Taiko) &  Hekiun Oda Calligraphy Performance (Inside)
3 PM | Sumi-e (Patricia Larkin Green) & Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)
4 PM | BATSU! Chicago (Comedy Show)
5 – 8 PM | Euphor Collective (Contemporary Japanese Music DJs)

Sunday 9.22

11 AM | Iaido Swordsmanship (Mugai Ryu Iaido)
12 PM | Shurikenjutsu (Chicago Keikokai Meifu Shinkage Ryu) & Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)
12:30 PM | Aikido (Aikido Association of America)1 PM | Koto (Tokiko Kimura)
2 PM | Kizuki Ramen Eating Contest3 PM | Chado Urasenke Tankokai Chicago Association Tea Ceremony Performance (Inside)3:30 PM | Large Scale Shodo / Calligraphy (Seiran Chiba Sensei)
4 PM | Taiko (Tsukasa Taiko)

Artist’s Booths and Vendors: ACEN | AnimeChicago | Ariyama Studio | Chicago Chapter of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society | Crizltron (Art) | Daisho Con | Fred Follansbee (Ceramics) | GEN-J Grassroots Exchange Network | Hidden Treasures | IACE Travel | Intercultural Montessori Language School | Itasha Car Display | Japan America Society of Chicago | Japanese American Service Committee | Japanese Arts Foundation | Japanese Culture Center | Japan Information Center, Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago | JETAA Chicago |Kandy | Kinokuniya | Ohio Kimono | K-Mama Sauce | KiKi’s T House | Kristyn Ivey (Certified Marie Kondo Consultant) | Mori wa Umi no Koibito | Osaka Sister City Committee | PAWS Chicago | Reiko Takahashi (supported by the Illinois Prairie Chapter of Ikenobo Ikebana) | Seiran Chiba Sensei (Shodo) | Shiseido | Teagschwendner | Tensuke Market | TOTO | Wrightwood 659 | Yuko Inoue Darcy (Ohara School of Ikebana)

Japanese Summer Festival 2019 Photos

Once a year the Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois hosts a Japanese Summer Festival with a heavy focus on traditional culture. With suits of samurai armor to try on, hand on origami work shops for kids, taiko, and even obon odori this event is an amazing sampler! Admission is generally under $10, and free to members of the gardens.

Garden Website: https://andersongardens.org/

Tea Group At Anderson Japanese Gardens: https://andersongardens.org/traditional-japanese-tea-gatherings-2-2/

Ginza Holiday Festival 2019

Save the date and mark your calendar for the 64th GINZA 2019 Holiday Festival– A 3 day celebration of Japanese Culture at Midwest Buddhist Temple – Chicago!

Date: Aug 9th – 11th, 2019
Location: Midwest Bhuddist Temple @ 435 W Menomonee St, Chicago, IL 60614
Website: https://ginzaholiday.com/

Ginza Festival Entertainment Lineup:

  • Minyo Japanese Folk Dance – MBT Minyo Group
  • Taiko Drumming – MBT Taiko Group / Ho Etsu Taiko
  • Ukelele Performance – Na Kupuna Ukelele Group
  • Judo – Kokushikan Judo Academy
  • Kendo – Choyokan Kendo Dojo
  • Aikido – Midwest Aikido Federation
  • Koto Music – Koto’n with Flute from the Chicago Koto Group

Ginza Festival Merchants:

  • ARIYAMA STUDIO – Contemporary woodblock prints
  • ASIAN ARTIQUE – Asian antique art objects
  • ENTROPYWARE – Jewelry
  • JEFF CHIU CERAMICS – Handmade ceramics
  • LISA L CERAMICS – Handmade ceramics
  • MIHARU SHIRAHATA & MORI WA UMI NO KOBITO – Framed artworks, picture books
  • MBT BOOKSTORE – Books and other educational materials about Buddhism
  • OHIO KIMONO – Japanese clothing and kimono
  • ORIGAMI ONLY – Origami art
  • PLUMTREE STUDIO – Functional ceramic pieces
  • POMEGRANATE DESIGNS – Washi paper art
  • SANSEI ARTISANS – Japanese craft items
  • SHINSEN CALLIGRAPHY – Japanese calligraphy
  • SHOP MBT – Japanese items, shopping bags, household items
  • SNL DESIGNZ – Japanese crafts
  • SUMO FISH – T-shirts
  • TOUCH OF GLASS – Glass jewelry and other glass items
  • UNIVERSAL ARK – Jewelry