Nelson Izu-Shi Friendship Society
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    • NELSON EXCHANGE VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2019
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    • NELSON DELEGATION VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2017
    • IZU-SHI DELEGATION VISIT TO NELSON - SUMMER 2017 >
      • The yunomi jyawan
      • celebratory quilt
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      • Flashback to summer
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    • Building the Friendship Gate
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      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2023
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      • O-Bon Summer Picnic - August 2022
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2022
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2022
      • 35Th Anniversary, Opening The Garden Shed, And Honouring Jim Sawada
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      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2021
      • Canada Day July 2021
      • Olympic & Para Olympic Cycling July 2021
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2021
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      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2020
      • Canada Day Tent July 2020
    • Community Events 2019 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2019
      • Obon Summer picnic - August 2019
      • Onibana Taiko Drumming Performance - August 2019
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2019
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2019
    • Community Events 2018 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2018
      • Canada Day July 2018
      • O-bon Summer Potluck Picnic - August 2018
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2018
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2018
    • Community events 2017 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2017
      • Songs and Laments May 2017
      • Canada Day July 2017
      • Obon Picnic August 2017
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading) Sept. 2017
      • Autumn Leaves October 2017
    • Community Events 2016 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2016
      • Canada Day July 2016
      • Obon Picnic August 2016
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing and Haiku Reading) Sept. 2016
      • Presentation to City Council September 2016
      • Autumn Leaves October 2016
      • Consul General visits Nelson November 2016
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Picture

Izu dancers came to Lakeside Park

​Obon (August 1 – 16) is the period when in Japan one thinks about one’s ancestors.   In cities such as Kyoto large bonfires in the shape of kanji characters are burned and the smoke dissipates symbolizing the transfer of the soul to the next world. It is also a time of happiness in which people gather for bon odori dancing.
 
Each year the Nelson Izushi Friendship Society commemorates obon in Lakeside Park with a community picnic and singing of seasonal songs in the Rotary Shelter, and bon odori, dressed in yukata (summer kimono) or jimbe on the Labyrinth.
 
This year the event was held as part of the program to welcome the delegation from Izu-shi and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship.  We were delighted to have members of the delegation join us in singing a summer song “umi”, and participate in bon odori dancing.


The celebratory quilt , sewn for the 15th anniversary of the sister-city relationship, and that had been displayed in Izu-shi for the last 15 years, was brought by one of the Izu delegation members especially for the 30th anniversary celebration and displayed at the obon picnic.  Three of the seven quilters joined the picnic. For more on the quilt click here.
Picture
​Everyone was invited to join a folk dance to the song “Tokyo ondo”. This song was composed in the 1930s and praises the growth of Tokyo and its wide variety of exciting places.  The second dance was “Tanko bushi”, a coal miners’ song from Kyushu.   Both dances were led by Keiko Fitz-Earle, were narrated by Diana Morita Cole, and were enjoyed by all.

​The Izu delegation members danced to a popular song from Shizuoka prefecture, “Tokko ondo”,  led by Tsuyoshi Misu ( in light blue yukata), and several Nelsonites joined in.

​  


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​Autumn Leaves 2017

..
On Sunday October 22 2017 the rain stopped in time for the Friendship Society to hold our annual ‘Autumn Leaves Viewing’ community event in Cottonwood Falls Park.  This was the last community event of the year in which we celebrated the  30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Nelson and Izu-shi.
 
Twenty members of the Society gathered to enjoy the vibrant colours of the different types of Japanese Maples in the Friendship Garden.
 
A short program, MC’d by Robin Trudel (thank you, Robin!), comprised
 
  • A summary of the year’s events
  • An update on the new Friendship Gate
  • An explanation of the two meanings of Kouyou (Autumn leaves viewing and Momiji – Japanese maple)
  • Singing of the seasonal song ‘Momiji’ in Japanese, led by the singing group 
 
A big thank you for the delicious baked goods made for the fund-raiser.
 
Thank you to many people for set up and take down.
 
Here is a selection of photos from the event:

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 From the webmaster:   Everything that appears on the home page is archived.  The article on the celebratory quilt is now under 'Sister Cities'; the photos of the delegation from Izu-shi taken by Mona Smith are under 'Delegation from Izu'; Otsukimi 2017 is under Community Events 2017; the new Friendship Gate is featured under Friendship Garden .  Photos of the special event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Izu-shi coming soon!
*Click the Menu Headings for the main pages.*
  • Home
  • Sister Cities
    • Origins of the Nelson – Shuzenji (now Izu-shi) Relationship
    • NELSON EXCHANGE VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2019
    • IZU-SHI EXCHANGE VISIT TO NELSON - SUMMER 2019
    • NELSON DELEGATION VISIT TO IZU-SHI - SPRING 2017
    • IZU-SHI DELEGATION VISIT TO NELSON - SUMMER 2017 >
      • The yunomi jyawan
      • celebratory quilt
      • Saturday market
      • Mona Smith's Photos
      • Flashback to summer
  • The Friendship Garden
    • A Short History
    • Building the Friendship Gate
  • Community Events
    • Community Events 2023 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2023
    • Community Events 2022 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2022
      • O-Bon Summer Picnic - August 2022
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2022
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2022
      • 35Th Anniversary, Opening The Garden Shed, And Honouring Jim Sawada
    • Community Events 2021 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2021
      • Canada Day July 2021
      • Olympic & Para Olympic Cycling July 2021
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2021
    • Community Events 2020 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2020
      • Canada Day Tent July 2020
    • Community Events 2019 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) 2019
      • Obon Summer picnic - August 2019
      • Onibana Taiko Drumming Performance - August 2019
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2019
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2019
    • Community Events 2018 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2018
      • Canada Day July 2018
      • O-bon Summer Potluck Picnic - August 2018
      • Otsukimi Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading Sept 2018
      • Autumn Leaves Oct. 2018
    • Community events 2017 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2017
      • Songs and Laments May 2017
      • Canada Day July 2017
      • Obon Picnic August 2017
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing & Haiku Reading) Sept. 2017
      • Autumn Leaves October 2017
    • Community Events 2016 >
      • Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) May 2016
      • Canada Day July 2016
      • Obon Picnic August 2016
      • Otsukimi (Full Moon Viewing and Haiku Reading) Sept. 2016
      • Presentation to City Council September 2016
      • Autumn Leaves October 2016
      • Consul General visits Nelson November 2016
  • About us
    • Executive and board
    • Contact
    • Brochure
  • MEMBERSHIPS