Escape the stresses of everyday life at the Vancouver Mokuyokai Society's Ohanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing), the 27th annual celebration of cherry blossoms!
Mokuyokai's 27th Annual Ohanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Festival
Time: 12:00 noon - 7:00 pm
Date: Saturday, April 9, 2011
This year, the ohanami takes on a special meaning. It is not only a time to enjoy the splendor of the cherry blossoms and experience Japanese culture, but is also a time to reflect and think about those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. In addition to our regularly scheduled events, please join us at 6pm by the Pacific Bell outside UBC Asian Centre to give prayers honouring those affected.
Special regular events begin at 12 pm and continue until 7 pm. Highlights include formal tea ceremonies on tatami mats in Nitobe Garden's traditional tea house, origami (paper folding) lessons, kamishibai (Japanese-style storytelling), cherry blossoms haiku and photo contest, opportunity to try on a yukata, guided tours of Nitobe Memorial Garden, Sakura bento boxes, limited-edition sakura and matcha soft chocolates, organic shiitake and oyster mushrooms, Japanese food and drinks, and shakuhachi and koto (Japanese harp) musical performances by Shakuhachi Society of BC and Ms. Kozue Matsumoto. Top off your day with a tour of the garden by lantern-light, a once-yearly event at Nitobe that should not be missed.
At 6pm, Keith Snyder of Tozenji-Seizan Temple will lead prayers in memory of those affected by Japan tsunami/earthquake. This will be at 6pm outside the UBC Asian Centre by the Pacific Bell. Public in attendance may ring the bell and send their prayers to Japan. Donations will be accepted throughout the day, all of which will be forwarded to the Canadian Red Cross Society.
Special option to pre-register for Sakura bento box and garden tea ceremony sittings available only for Mokuyokai members! Registration for all other tea ceremonies, bento and tours are on a first-come first-served basis at the garden entrance.
See you in the Garden!
Date: Saturday, April 9, 2011 Time: 12:00 - 7:00pm Place: Nitobe Garden & Asian Centre, University of British Columbia | |
Entrance to Garden | ·Asian Centre entrance: FREE ·Nitobe Memorial Garden (http://www.nitobe.org) o Adult: $6.00 o Youth (13-17), Non-UBC Student, Senior (65+), Persons with Disabilities: $4.50 o Child (Ages 6-12): $3.00 *Children 5 and under are free o Family (max. 2 adults, 3 children/youths): $15.00 |
JAPANESE TEA SERVICE at the Tea House in the Garden (12:30-4:30pm) | ·Venue: The Tea House in the Garden ·Cost: o $12 (Mokuyokai members price, prepayment available) o $15 (non member price) ·Times: 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, and 4:30pm ·Maximum 10 participants per sitting ·This is a formal tea ceremony on tatami mats in the Garden's traditional tea house ·Matcha tasting and traditional Japanese sweets (sakura-dango) will be provided ·Age: participants must be 10 years or older ·On-site registration for all non-reserved tea sittings is on a first-come first-served basis at the registration desk ·***EVERYONE can pre-register for tea ceremony o Advanced reservation please contact Jessie Pierre at: rsvp@mokuyokai.bc.ca o Indicate your: name, address, telephone, email, your first and second preference for start time o Please arrive registration table to pick up tickets 15 min. before the service begins. Please note, that tickets not picked up will be released for sale to the general public |
GARDEN TOURS (12noon-5pm) | Find out more about the symbolism and plants of the garden by taking a guided tour led by knowledgeable and helpful members of Friends of the Garden. ·Times: 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm and 5:00pm ·Length: Approximately 45 minutes ·Cost: by donation ·Maximum 12 participants per tour Please note, garden tour sign ups are on a first-come first-served basis at the registration table. |
MUSICIANS (1-6:30pm) | Shakuhachi and Koto (Japanese harp) performances will be held inside the Garden throughout the day FREE |
ORIGAMI, YUKATA & HAIKU (12noon-7pm) | Origami (paper folding) lessons, yukata-dressing, and Haiku (Japanese poetry) station will be available in the Asian Centre gallery and lobby FREE |
KAMISHIBAI STORY-TELLING (1:30 & 3pm) | Join Rebecca Fujibe Kool and Takeshi Fujibe at UBC Asian Library for "kamishibai" (paper theatre) storytelling of English-Japanese children's book Fly Catcher Boy. All ages are welcome! FREE |
SAKURA BENTO BOXES (12noon-7pm) | Enjoy a delicious Japanese meal before leaving the event! *limited supply ·Cost: $10 ·Choose either Vegetarian (tofu steak with Japanese mushroom, nimono, beans, and Japanese red bean rice) or Non-Vegetarian (fried shrimp, fried white fish, chicken karage, Japanese rolled egg, nimono, Japanese red bean rice) Bento boxes will be available for pick up at the garden entrance throughout the event. ·Only Mokuyokai members and volunteers can pre-register for bentos ·On-site sales are on a first-come first-served basis at the garden entrance. To order bento boxes: 1. Contact Jessie Pierre at: rsvp@mokuyokai.bc.ca 2. Indicate your: name, telephone, email, vegetarian or non-vegetarian bento 3. ALL BENTO ORDERS MUST BE PREPAID. Please make your cheque payable to "Vancouver Mokuyokai Society" and mail it to PO Box 48901 Bentall Station, Vancouver, BC V7X 1A8 by Monday April 4, 2011. 4. Failure to pay by April 4th will result in the cancellation of your Bento Box order. (If in the mail, your cheque will be returned to you). There will be no refunds for cancellations made after April 4. |
JAPANESE SNACK & SWEETS (12noon-7pm) | Japanese rice balls, matcha green tea, limited-edition Japanese sakura and matcha soft chocolates, handmade Japanese sweets, organic shiitake and oyster mushrooms, and other Japanese food and drinks will be on sale throughout the day |
LANTERN LIGHT UP (5-7pm) | Dozens of Japanese paper lanterns will welcome the spring season and illuminate the cherry blossoms inside Nitobe Garden. This is a once a year only illumination event inside Nitobe Garden that cannot be missed! FREE |
PRAYERS & BELL STRIKE (6-6:30pm) | Join Keith Snyder of Tozenji-Seizan temple in praying for those affected by the Japan tsunami/earthquake outside Asian Centre. Public in attendance are welcome to pray and ring the Pacific Bell outside the Asian Centre FREE |
We appreciate your cooperation with the above, and ask you to bear in mind that this event is made possible through the volunteer efforts of your fellow Mokuyokai members. Please make the most of your Mokuyokai membership, and come join us at this special event! We look forward to seeing you on April 9th! | |
Mokuyokai's 27th Annual Ohanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Festival is made possible with the support of the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, Urasenke Tankokai Vancouver Association, Izumi-Ya, La Chocolaterie, Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall, Asia Pacific Farm, Tozenji-Seizan Temple, Shakuhachi Society of British Columbia, Kozue Matsumoto, Sumako Kakiuchi, and Rebecca Fujibe Kool.
Please Note: Photos/videos may be taken at this event that may be used by the Vancouver Mokuyokai Society in connection with the activities of the Society or for promoting, publicizing or explaining the Society or its activities. These photos/videos may appear in any of the wide variety of formats and media now available and that may be available in the future, including but not limited to print, broadcast, videotape, CD-ROM, and electronic/online media.
