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.
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.
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.
Autumn Leaves 2017
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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 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:
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:
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!