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2019 Nikkei Matsuri

Nikkei Matsuri is Burnaby’s family-friendly Japanese festival in the heart of Metro Vancouver!

A “matsuri” (meaning festival) has long been part of the cultural landscape in Japan. Many nikkei communities across North America and around the world carefully preserve and follow this tradition. Nikkei Matsuri provides a platform to celebrate Japanese culture through food, music, entertainment, games, and more.
Come join the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre over the Labour Day weekend to be immersed in an authentic Japanese festival in your very own community.

日系祭りは、メトロバンクーバーの中心、バーナビーで開催される家族で楽しめる日本のお祭りです。

祭りは長い間日本の地域コミュニティで文化として受け継がれてきたもので、北米の多くの都市でもこの伝統を守ろうと、祭りが再現されています。日系祭りは多くの皆さまに楽しんでいただくよう、より一層充実した屋台フード、音楽、エンターテイメント、ゲームなどを通して、日本文化を紹介していきます。

レイバー・デーの週末は日系センターで地元のコミュニティの皆さんとともに、本場の日本の祭りに参加して思いきり楽しみませんか?

New Executive Director at the NNMCC

Starting on August 1, the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) has a new Executive Director – Karah Goshinmon. While Roger Lemire has passed on the baton, he will continue to help with the organizing of Nikkei Matsuri this year.

日系文化センター・博物館の事務局長職は、8月1日づけでロジャー・レミレーからケーラ後新門(ごしんもん)に交代します。ロジャー・レミレーは引退後も引き続き、今年の日系祭りの開催に関わっております。


Message from the Origanizing Committee Chair

The first Nikkei Matsuri was held in 2013, organized by Nikkei Place Foundation as a fundraiser for the Nikkei Centre. The following summer, Roger with Akiko Gomyo, the then Chair of Nikkei Matsuri, laid the foundation for the current event format. I was honoured to have been asked to take on the role of the Chair for the 4th Nikkei Matsuri. We have since grown, with last year’s event drawing some 14,000 visitors. Nikkei Matsuri could not be held without the dedication of the Nikkei Centre staff and the many volunteers and sponsors who help make it happen.

I invite you to join us this Labour day weekend for another fantastic Nikkei Matsuri.

Louise Akuzawa
Nikkei Matsuri Organizing Committee Chair

「日系祭り」実行委員長からのメッセージ

日系文化センター・博物館(以下、日系センター)では、7月31日に事務局長職がロジャー・レミレーからケーラ後新門に引き継がれました。レミレーさんは退職後も、第7回日系祭りの準備をサポートしています。
第1回目の日系祭りは2013年、ファンドレージング部門である日系プレース基金によって開催されました。翌年から日系センター主催となり、レミレーさんと当時の実行委員長として五明明子さんが尽力し、現在の形に築きました。私は第4回目から実行委員長を務めさせていただいております。年々知名度を増した日系祭りは、昨年は約14000人の入館者を記録しました。日系祭りがスタッフ、ボランティアほか多くのみなさまに支えられていることを、深く受け止めています。
今年もレイバーデーの連休に、楽しいひとときをお届けできればと思っております。

ルイーズ阿久沢
日系祭り実行委員長

Message from the Executive Director

The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) is pleased to present the 7th annual Nikkei Matsuri in the heart of Burnaby. On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers, I would like to extend a warm welcome to join us over the Labour Day weekend to celebrate Japanese culture and Japanese Candian heritage with specialty food, creative performances, entertaining demonstration, our new gallery exhibit, and engaging activities for the whole family.

The success of Nikkei Matsuri relies on the dedication of over 300 volunteers, including members of the Organizing Committee members and Chair, who give countless hours, and bring invaluable input and enthusiasm to the festival. I would like to thank former Executive Director, Roger Lemire, for his leadership in fostering the growth of Nikkei Matsuri. We are grateful for the generosity of our donors and sponsors, and as always, proceeds support the NNMCC in our mission to honour, preserve, and share Japanese culture and Japanese Canadian history and heritage for a better Canada through programs, exhibits, research, preservation, and events.

Issho ni tanoshimi mashou!

Karah Goshinmon Foster, Executive Director
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre

第7回を迎える日系博物館・文化センター(NNMCC)の日系祭りをバーナビー市で開催出来ることを大変嬉しく思います。日系センター理事会、スタッフ、ボランティアを代表し、レイバーデーの週末に開催される日系祭りへの皆様のご参加を心よりお待ちしております。日系祭りでは日本食、パフォーマンス、実演などを通じて日本文化、日系カナダ人の伝統を知っていただくことができます。また、リニューアルした展示物、体験型アクティビティはご家族でお楽しみいただけます。
日系祭りは300人を超えるボランティア、実行委員会のメンバー、そして数え切れない時間と貴重なアドバイスでお祭りに熱意をそそぐ実行委員長など、みなさんの多大なご協力により成り立っております。
これまで、リーダーシップを持って日系祭りの発展に尽力した、日系センター前事務局長、ロジャー・レミレーへの感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。
日系センターではより良いカナダのために、日本文化、日系カナダ人の歴史や遺産を称え、保全し、共有するとという使命を、プログラム、展示、リサーチ、保存とイベントを通して実現しています。日系祭りの収益金、みなさまからのご寄付は日系センター運営のために使われます。ご支援・ご協力にお礼申し上げます。いっしょに楽しみましょう!

Message from the Mayor of Burnaby

On behalf of Burnaby City Council and the citizens of Burnaby, I offer best wishes for the 7th Annual Nikkei Matsuri Festival.

Held annually at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby, this important festival is a wonderful way to experience Japanese culture and traditions. Through performances, games, food and exhibitions the Nikkei Matsuri Festival shares the wonders of Japanese culture in a family-oriented event.

Burnaby is proud of its diversity with wonderful festivals like this one that celebrates the vibrancy of our community.

Thank you to the organizers, participants, and volunteers for their tremendous work in making this extraordinary event so successful.

Sincerely,

Mike Hurley
MAYOR

バーナビ市長よりご挨拶

バーナビー市議会、市民を代表し、第7回日系祭りのご成功をお祈りいたします。

毎年、バーナビー市にある日系博物館・文化センターで行われる日系祭りは日本文化、歴史を体験できるとても重要なフェスティバルです。日系祭りはパフォーマンス、ゲーム、食文化、展示物を通じて日本文化を家族と楽しめる良い機会です。

バーナビー市は市の多様性を誇りにしています。このようなフェスティバルが私たちのコミュニティを活気づけてくれていると信じています。

主催者、参加者、ボランティアの方々の多大なるご尽力に感謝いたします。

マイク・ハーリー
バーナビー市長

What you can expect at a Matsuri

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The Origins

The original matsuri in Japan is a ceremony to thank, pray, and commemorate gods, ancestors, and Buddha. There are many types of Matsuri: it can be a celebration to offer thanks for a large catch of fish, good business, health of a family, prosperity, and many more. During the event season, the focus of the Matsuri varies from region to region.

A typical Matsuri hosted by a Shinto Shrine or Buddhist Temple has local people carrying mikoshi, which represents the guardian god. These participants wear happi coats, and dance along (bon-odori dance) with the parade. Today, matsuri is held to unite the community through an event that brings young and old together. Hundreds of small and large matsuri happen throughout the year in Japan.

matsuri has two aspects. One is a strict religious ritual and the other is a merrymaking party that allows the people carrying mikoshi to wear fundoshi (loincloth).

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Mikoshi

In the Shinto religion, the Shinto spirit rests in the Shinto shrine. During matsuri time, the Shinto spirit gets carried in the portable shrine, or mikoshi.

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Bon-Odori Dance

The Bon-odori dance is held to honour a departed soul. Bon is a midsummer Buddhist celebration honouring the souls of the dead. Members of the local community perform the Bon-odori dance around the yagura, which is set up in the centre of the matsuri.

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Happi Coat

The traditional clothing worn at a matsuri is a knee- or hip-length top coat with long sleeves. It normally has a family, group, or town emblem on the back, chest, or on the collar. Happi coats are also worn at company promotions, and can also be a uniform for firefighters.

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Yagura

A tower set up in the centre of a plaza at the matsuri People play music on the yagura.

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Shishi-Mai (Lion Dance)

In Shishi-mai, or lion dance, a dancer dances around the matsuri wearing a lion head. Originally, this dance was used to ward off the plague and devils. Since the Edo period, it has been considered a lucky dance, and today it is performed at many festivals.

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Matsuri Food

Experience an array of food at Nikkei Matsuri!

We are happy to offer festival goers many great food options from our food vendors, food trucks, game zone food, and beverage spots.

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Japanese-style Kids Games

The fun never stops! Play games and WIN prizes!

Fish for colourful balloons at Yo-yo Tsuri (Yo-yo Balloon Fishing) without your hook breaking! Aim and see what you can shoot at Shateki (Prize Shooter) or see if you can find a matching pair at String Pull! Find these games and more in the Games Zone!

 

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