Japanese In Arizona's Blog

Fireworks 4th of July in Phoenix, AZ 2/2

2010-02-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

July 4th Fireworks at Tempe, AZ 2/2

July 4th, Independence Day
Fireworks At Steele Indian School Park in Central Phoenix AZ

There are a few good spots for 4th of July celebration and enjoying the fireworks in Phoenix, AZ.
One such place is the Steele Indian School Park in Central Phoenix,
which is located at the corner of Indian School Rd and Central Ave.

It was very hard for us to get there at 8 pm, so if you are planning to visit the spot on the 4th of July,
it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get there early enough around 5 or 6 pm to find a good parking
and have enough time to enjoy the many activities possible at the Indian school park.

This year, it was so crowded that we were afraid we wouldn’t arrive in time for the firework display.
We struggled to find a parking spot but finally managed it several streets away shortly before 9:30pm.
As we were approaching the indian school park from a distance, we realized we wouldn’t be able to
wrestle our way through the crowd into the middle of the park in time to watch the fireworks.

Luckily we found the perfect spot, right next to the park, on the other side of Central Avenue, an empty lot with a clear view to the sky.
It was the perfect spot for capturing the fireworks on camera as it was dark and the lights coming from the street lamps didn’t reach at all.
We felt safe as there was heavy police presence looking after the attendants and passersby, so we prepared our camera right there.

The fireworks started shortly after we finished setting up and our location provided us with the perfect vantage point to capture fireworks.
We were unable to enjoy some of the food or artist performances that usually take place at the center of the park this year because the day ends
with the fireworks but we have been there during the past few years and it’s very enjoyable.

Some of the attractions you may find are music and dance performances by the local bands and artists,
and the available food is simply delicious and plentiful for there are many vendors with many different platters to choose from,
including traditional homemade hamburgers, barbeque beef, pork or chicken, and pizza, among many other American platters.

The Steele Indian School Park in central Phoenix, AZ is a decent, relaxed, and safe spot to celebrate the 4th of July with friends and family,
especially if you live in Phoenix or its immediate surrounding areas. It gets very crowded,
so it’s a good idea to get there early enough to enjoy everything it has to offer, including this amazing fireworks display.

July 4th, Independence Day 1/2

2010-02-23T20:25:00.000-08:00

July 4th in Phoenix AZ

This year’s Independence Day celebration was really beautiful.
My wife and I were able to enjoy the fireworks from Central Ave and Turney Ave in Phoenix, AZ.
We located an empty lot where the neighbors meet to celebrate and enjoy the great fireworks display shown by the City of Phoenix.

The celebration is called the “Fabulous Phoenix Fourth” and it’s held at the Steele Park on Central Ave & Indian School Rd,
however, the fireworks can be viewed comfortably from any distance close to the park.
It was an amazing view and everyone was very courteous and friendly at the indian school park in Phoenix.

We also noticed the great job the Phoenix Police Department did assisting with the safety of thousands of visitors.
In previous years’ fourth of July celebrations as many as 200,000 people have watched the fireworks in Phoenix, AZ.
We hope you like the videos, and we invite you to join us next years’ Independence Day celebration in Phoenix.

July 4th fireworks Videos

This is the original firework's sound version. It's beautiful and several fireworks just kept booming in a row at the last. Must watch to the end for for the big display.

Many people are heading to downtown Phoenix to watch fireworks on fourth of July.

Nightlife on Mill ave. Tempe, AZ 2 of 2

2010-02-23T20:23:00.001-08:00

We are very happy to share with you about one of the most popular places in Tempe, AZ.
This area is known as Mill Avenue & Lake District.
This is one of the most popular places to visit in Tempe for entertainment, shopping and a dining.

The Mill Avenue District allows all visitors to park their cars anywhere and have accessibility,
within a five minute walk, of some of the Valley's best restaurants like Chinese, Mediterranean, Mexican, Southwestern, and Italian.

You can also find theatres to watch movies.

Also one of the unique things that happen in this part of town is the “Music on Mill”.
On Thursday nights from 5pm-9pm you will be able to enjoy all types of music performed by musicians and performers playing on the streets.
Please look at the picture below showing the areas where they play.

Musicians can be easily identified by donation paint cans on the ground next to them, where you can donate to them in appreciation for their music and talent.
The restaurants are great, and you can find anything from casual bars, to quiet private lounges, to family restaurants on mill ave in Tempe, AZ.

Nightlife on Mill Ave. Tempe, AZ Videos

Tempe AZ Nightlife 1/2

2010-02-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

The Mill Ave Shopping Area at the ASU in Tempe, AZ

We arrived at around 8 pm that night to mill avenue, which is located right next to the Arizona State University, ASU.
The atmosphere in mill ave is usually very pleasant.

Mill ave is full of asu students from the ASU main campus right next to it, and they are very lively and relaxed.
Mill ave is a good and secure place for window shopping, eating, and relaxing.

It has several social lounges, family restaurants, comic and literature bookstores, movies and drama theaters.
The local movie theater usually plays international movies, including Anime, so we make it a point to keep an eye out for new releases that seem to be interesting.

We first decided to eat at a local restaurant. We found that we had many choices to choose from.
There’s even a cosplay, or costume dress-up, restaurant with the staff wearing school-girl outfits.
We finally settled for a healthy measure of pizza at the local pizza shop.
If you arrive there after 9 pm, some of these places will offer a “closing” happy hour, in which you can get very delicious platters for less than half the regular price.

After eating to our hearts’ contempt, we headed out to do some window browsing and walking.Usually, the main attraction of mill ave at night is not so much what you can buy or eat, but the people you see.

Mill ave is usually a host to a number of aspiring artists and singers eager to show their skills to a passerby audience.
It’s almost always impossible to walk through mill ave without finding a band playing some jazz music, an aspiring rock star jamming to some “Greenday” with his guitar, or the occasional performer dressing up as a celebrity and dancing down the street.

Mill ave has also a wide selection of night clubs, and student after-school hangouts that play Techno, Dance, Disco, and some Hip Hop music.
It is not strictly necessary to visit them as there are other things to see, but there are definitely many choices and flavors if you really feel like having a drink and enjoy dancing.

Mill ave Tempe, AZ seems like a very fun and secure place to go out at night for some food, dancing, and socializing.
We enjoy walking through it and look forward to going back each and every time.

Phoenix swap meet

2010-02-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

The Phoenix Park and Swap is located at 40th St. and Washington St. in Phoenix, AZ.

Admission is $2 per person and is open year round on Wednesdays evenings, and Saturday/ Sunday morning.
Theme: Bargain buys, community garage sale, Used Auto sales, and services.

A Day at One of the Biggest Organized Garage Sales in Phoenix AZ

We wanted to buy a few video games and some candy, what better place to go than one of the biggest organized yard sales in Phoenix Az. This place has been open for years. It was open when I moved to Arizona in 1996, and little has changed over time. You can find virtually anything at this place. From the usual to the unexpected, from the brand new car stereo to the slightly used Sega Genesis Video Game Cartridge, there’s something for everyone to see.

The idea of this place is that anyone can come and sell their new or used merchandise in the open. You walk through isles full of parking-space-sized partitions, where each space is occupied by a different person and their items. The isles are semi-covered by a roof, so you don’t have to bring an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun or rain, food and drinks are available if you get hungry or thirsty.

If you’ve ever bought anything on eBay because you couldn’t find it anywhere else, it’s very likely you might find here. We ended up picking a Horror game for the Playstation 2, and a bag of Mexican Chips with chili and lemon called “Churrumais” which is one of my favorite corn snacks.

Best, High paid jobs in Japan

2010-02-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

Best/High paid jobs in Japan

In the 2008 version of the Average Annual Income Ranking, as in the previous year, the highest ranking was “Investment Banking”, followed by “Investment Companies (Fund Managers/Analyst Dealers)”. The 3rd ranked occupation, moving up from 4th last year, was “Corporate Planning/Project Planning/New Project Development”.

Among the top 10, financial systems occupied 4 occupational categories. Even separating the rankings by age 25-29 year old, 30-34 year old, and 35-39 year old “Investment Banking” ended up in the 1st place ranking for all of them, and again, the annual income range for the industry as a whole was noticeably high.

Furthermore, in the 2007 ranking, among all three age groups, “Property Manager/Real Estate Professional”, which was then ranked among the top 10, vanished from the 2008 ranking. The situation in the Real Estate market, heavy with stagnation, is reflected in the annual income.

Looking at the regional rankings, the annual incomes in the Tokyo/Nagoya/Osaka area were quite prominent. Additionally, regional differences appear as follows: Kanto, ranked #1, at 4.71 million yen; Kyushu, ranked #7, at 4.26 million with a 450 thousand yen difference.

Ranking	Occupation	Average Yearly Income	Ranking (Previous Year)	Increase/Decrease from Previous Year
1	Investment Banking	8.27 million yen	1	35 up
2	Investment Company (Fund Manager/Analyst Dealer)	6.56 million yen	2	87 up
3	Corporate Planning/Project Planning/New Project Development	6.14 million yen	4	3 up
4	IT Consultant	6.12 million yen	5	10 up
5	IT Project Manager	6.05 million yen	3	23 up
6	Consultant	5.93 million	6	8 up
7	Corporate Management (Megabanks, Regional Banks, Securities)	5.77 million yen	-	-
8	MR	5.74 million yen	7	18 up
9	Financial back-office	5.55 million yen	16	27 up
10	Sales Engineering, FAE	5.49 million yen	10	25 up

Japanese Weather Forecast

2010-02-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

Japanese Weather Forecast

The highest temperature recorded is 40.9 Celsius in Saitama and Gifu, Japan, the lowest temperature recorded is -41.0 Celsius in Hokkaido, Japan.
The highest precipitation recorded per hour is 153 millimeter in Chiba and Nagasaki, Japan. The highest precipitation recorded per day is 844 millimeter in Nara, Japan.

Need to turn on JavaScript and Explore 7.0 or newer or Firefox 9.0 or newer and Adobe Flash 10 or newer for Japanese weather forecast to play properly.

There are 3 different function buttons in the picture, 天気 called tenki is weather, 気温 called kion is temperature, and 降水確率 called kousui kakuritsu is precipitation rate.

By clicking each word, you will see the weather, temperature, and precipitation rate.
For the temperature, the top is highest expected and the bottom is the lowest expected.
The temperature is in Celsius, not Fahrenheit.

月 called gatsu is the month, 日 called nichi is the date, the default is current day.
You can see the week ahead by clicking the number, the date is shown on the top.
The Japanese kanji listed on top of the date is the days of the week.

The date is in Japanese time, which is 16 hours earlier than Arizona, USA.

Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion

FREE Japanese Games

2010-02-23T10:56:00.000-08:00

FREE Japanese Games
These games are free games to play, use arrows from your keyboard, [↑][↓][←][→] or mouse.
The Japanese games are updated regularly, so please feel free to come back and see what's new.
Need to turn on JavaScript and Explore 7.0 or newer or Firefox 9.0 or newer and Adobe Flash 10 or newer for games to play properly.

Labyrinth game

This is the easiest Japanese game and has a computer-game kid style music. You can get food to recover from the damages, keys for the doors, maps for treasures, and jump into some different stages by going through the doors. The game starts by clicking the screen. Use arrows to move the boy. This game is available only with Firefox.

Tetris game

This is a Tetris. You can use arrows to change the blocks that fall down from the top and fill the spaces with them. This game is available only with Firefox.

Slot Machine game

This is a Japanese slot machine game provided by a Japanese burger shop. Just click the 3 red buttons below to stop the columns from spinning, Get 3 matches and some cute funny burger characters will show up and celebrate with you.

Baseball Game

This is a Japanese baseball game that simulates hitting the baseball. Click the screen to swing the bat and hit the ball, which becomes a home run. If you miss the timing, it will be a strike.

Anime game

If you like Japanese video games, this is an anime game. The anime characters look like cartoon, manga characters. Click the screen when something falls down and you will get the point.

Sudoku

Tic tac toe

Reversi

Gomoku game

There are 4 different games, Sudoku is 数独,　Reversi is オセロ,　Gomoku is 五目,　Tic tac toe is ○×.
Just click on the words, the screen will change to the each game. There is also a cat paw, click it, the cat shows up and follows the cursor. The default is Sudoku.

Mahjong game

Mahjong solitaire. This is a Japanese mahjong, it looks a little different from the classic mahjong, but the mahjong rules are the same. Playing mahjong is more popular among older Japanese males than younger ones. Enjoy the free mahjong. Click ゲーム開始　to start.

Yakiniku, Grilled beef Game

Yakiniku is a Japanese grilled beef. It is available at Japanese restaurants. Flip Yakiniku beefs and eat them when they are ready. Cook the Yakiniku beef well, make sure you don't eat it raw. Watch out for the guy in front of you, he will eat your Yakiniku, grilled beef. Click 開始　to start and check ヘルプ for instructions on when your Yakiniku is cooked.

Cute Cat Game

The kitty follows your cursor and tries to play with you, making sounds.

Taiko Video

2010-02-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

Taiko Video

Watch this Taiko performance, you can feel the passion of these Taiko drummers.
They are energetic and deliver a exciting performance at Matsuri, Japanese festival.

Amazing Taiko Performance

Great Passion Taiko Performance at Matsuri

Taiko Performance at Matsuri

Watch this Taiko video and let's yell out with excitement by saying ! Wasshoi ! and ! Sore ! Sore ! Sore ! Sore.
Wasshoi is a sound made during Japanese festival. Sore Sore Sore Sore means kind of again, again, again, and again.
Let's enjoy the Japanese Festival, Matsuri.

Taiko Performance

Young Taiko drummers with Japanese song

Martial Arts Video

2010-02-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

Martial arts, Karate at Matsuri

From children to adults, exhibit karate techniques in competition and practice. Both women and men show you cool martial arts demonstrations at the Matsuri Japanese festival.

Martial Arts

Watch this instructional martial arts demonstration at Matsuri. It shows some of the Shoden level moves. First, Yumeotoshi which are techniques to shift the attackers balance to gain the advantage.

Martial arts, Intermediate Level

Once you master the Shoden level, you can move on the Chuden level. Demonstration of the Yamarachi move or mountain storm.

Martial arts with Yoroi (Armor)

Watch this instructional martial arts. Traditional Japanese battle hand to hand in armor. Yoroi (Armored) solders show you Yumeotoshi, dream drop.

Martial arts with Japanese warrior armor, Yoroi

Cool martial arts with armor. Traditional Japanese warrior costume is called Yoroi. Martial arts technique with Yoroi.

Martial arts Naginata

Watch traditional Japanese martial art called Naginata. Defensive moves from attack by a long bladed spear.

Kimono Video

2010-02-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

Kimono Video

The videos are Kimono dance performances by Japanese women.
They dance in Kimonos to traditional Japanese music.
The Kimono is a traditional Japanese costume with wide sleeves and a sash.
The sash is called Obi, a Kimono belt. The Kimono fabric is thick and designs vary. Some Kimonos have beautiful flower patterns while others have cranes and other beautiful patters.

A Geisha is a Japanese girl trained in singing, dancing and the art of conversation. They serve as a hired companion to men. Gei means art of dancing and singing while sha refer to a person.

Japanese Women Kimono Dance

Geisha Dance

Japanese Girls Kimono Dance

Japanese Traditional Kimono Performance at Matsuri

Matsuri Video

2010-02-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

Matsuri Video

Enjoy Japanese festival called Matsuri.
There are Taiko performances, Kimono dances, and martial arts instruction. Taiko is a traditional Japanese drum.
Here is a short sample video of what Matsuri is all about. For more videos about each performance, go to Kimono dance, Taiko drum and Martial Arts.

Matsuri in Phoenix, AZ 2008 2/2

2010-02-23T10:34:00.000-08:00

Matsuri my favorite Japanese festival in Arizona.
My wife and I wait with great anticipation these lovely weekend
where we can experience the wonderful connection between the Japanese communities in Arizona,
and we can see the beauty of their culture portraited during these two days.

We start off the day by getting up early in the morning and driving to downtown Phoenix.
Matsuri takes place on the 3rd weekend of February.
For example this year's date was (Feb 21-22).
The place? The Heritage and Science Park located between Van Buren St & Washington St on 7th St.
The time? 10:30am to 4:30pm on both days.

My wife and I arrive early in the morning to ensure we to enjoy Mikoshi Parade,
and get front seats at the Kyo Rei Taiko Kai performace.
After this we usually head towards the food court to get some delicious Japanese food for our breakfast.

Other unique performances that you can look forward to are the Martial Art presentations at the Monroe stage, the All Arizona Taiko Team performance at the ASU stage, and the Cosplay contest.

Please make sure you obtain an event schedule from the information booth to ensure you don't miss any of the performances that happen at all three stages (Monroe Street Stage, Plaza Stage and ASU Stage).

We hope you all enjoy the pictures and videos that we have taken for the past 2 years and we hope to see you at the next Matsuri!

Matsuri, A festival of Japan 2008 1/2

2010-02-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

Heritage and Science Park in downtown Phoenix

The Japanese Matsuri is one of my favorite yearly events in Arizona.
So far I’ve attended Phoenix Matsuri for four consecutive years.
There’s so much to do, so many things to see and so much delicious food to try, that one day isn’t enough for me.
So I usually go there both of the days when the Matsuri takes place.
From salmon Bento boxes, to Nikuman, Anpan, and other delicious Japanese platters,
there are so many choices your appetite is sure to be pleased.

We usually start off the day by watching the Mikoshi Parade,
which goes around the whole Park with beautiful women in Yukata dancing to the beat of the drums, and then head over to the food stands for a healthy measure of Salmon rice, osake, and ocha, our favorite green tea.

The Phoenix Matsuri has many presentations, performances, demonstrations,
and exhibitions showcasing some of the many wonders of Japanese culture.
Some of such performances we were able to attend were the Kotobuki Jishi,
the Japanese lion dance, and my all time favorite: the all Arizona Taiko Team Taiko performance.

The Japanese Matsuri has also demonstrations such as the Amezaiku demonstration,
or Japanese candy sculpting by Shan the “Candyman,” and the Udon demonstration,
the art and profession of Japanese Noodle Making.
Many Martial Arts disciplines are also demonstrated in one of the stages, including Judo, Kendo, and Aikido.

The Japanese Matsuri is definitely one of our most anticipated events each year.
My husband and I make it our yearly commitment to go and enjoy its many events and performances.
With the many Anime cosplayers who attend, the Japanese food and fashion vendors,
and the incredible pounding of the Taiko drums, you are bound to find something special every year
to attract your attention and put a smile on your face that will last you for the whole year.

For more pictures and videos for Matsuri, go to A festival of Japan 2/2

Japanese Friendship Garden

2010-02-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

Japanese Friendship Garden

Ro Ho En - An Authentic Japanese Garden

“Ro Ho En” is an authentic Japanese style garden landscaped in the heart of Phoenix, AZ, in complete cooperation between the city of Phoenix and its sister city in Japan, Himeji.

This Japanese friendship garden came into existence through the cooperation of Arizona volunteers and many technicians from Himeji, as well as through countless mutual visits across the Pacific by representatives from both cities beginning in 1987. Within the garden there is a crystal-clear stream, a promenade, a pond where Koi swim, and a large waterfall. There is also a beautiful tearoom, where you can host a tea ceremony.

The name “Ro Ho En” is both the city bird of Himeji, and a joining of the character “Sagi” used in “Shirasagijo”, pseudonym for Himeji Castle, and a Japanese translation of the word “Phoenix”(“Otori”). In accordance with that name, this garden is a symbol of the friendship between Phoenix and Himeji, as well as a broader symbol of the friendship between America and Japan.

The name of the Japanese garden is Ro Ho En, and it is also called the “Japanese Friendship Garden”. This garden was made by Himeji city. Japanese flora, which are not well-suited to the climate of Arizona, are not planted in the garden.

Phoenix’s sister city Himeji’s cultural exchange team visited Phoenix in 1987, and it was on that occasion that the proposal was made to build a Japanese friendship garden in downtown Phoenix. The following year, the cultural exchange team, acting as a representative for Himeji’s mayor, Totani, submitted detailed blueprints of the proposed garden. Phoenix, for its part, received the proposal with open arms, and that same year, through an election on the city’s cultural public bonds, approved the allotment of a subsidiary payment toward the garden of $2.1 million.

In 1989, representatives from Phoenix visited Himeji and inspected the Japanese gardens there. Then, in the following year, 1990, a landscaping technician from Himeji came to Phoenix, and submitted a plan for the garden. In 1991, a monument, roof tiles, and garden lantern worth $50,000 were sent from Himeji. That same year, the Japanese Friendship Garden Committee was formed. A year later, a model garden was completed, and on April 25th, the Margaret T Hance Park, which would later be the location of the garden, was completed and opened. In 1992, campaigns for donations and contributions from the public ($1 million) were initiated. In 1996, the tearoom was finished.

Phoenix Japanese Cosplay

2010-02-23T10:13:00.000-08:00

Phoenix Cosplay
Cosplay pictures will enlarge by clicking.

What is Cosplay?

"Cosplay" is a "Japan-ized" English word which has its origins in the phrase "costume play", meaning to play dress-up.
In the narrow sense of the term, it refers to the act of dressing up like an Anime character.

A person who does Cosplay is called a "Cosplayer".
Among enthusiasts the term is commonly abbreviated to "Layer".

What do Cosplayers do?

The enthusiasts of anime, manga (Japanese comics), games, singers and so forth wear clothes made to resemble the outfits of their favorite character and behave like that character.
In other words, they pretend to be their favorite character.

They take cosplay photos. By taking pictures, and even more so for the cosplays that have widespread friend networks,
they become not a simple method of communication, but through the internet, the more appealing the photo, and to what extent its appearance is attractive and resembles a character, the more impressive it will be perceived as.

Perhaps they are "otaku", or perhaps not, but everyone, not matter who you are
("regular" people included) has some desire to be seen by others as "amazing".

Why do Cosplay?

Perhaps it is an obsession with changing one’s appearance.
Additionally, expanding one’s circle of friends is also a very common reason.

Who does Cosplay?

"Cosplay is girl culture". Cosplay users as a whole are 90% female. So, cosplay is "girl culture".

The creation of cosplay costumes is a something women excel at, and it seems that the obsession with changing oneself to resemble a favored character is also very strong. Because men enjoy looking at their favorite character, they collect figurines and so forth.

By age group, women occupy 90% of the 10-20 year olds.
Recently, perhaps due to the drop in costume price, the number of middle school aged users has begun to rise.

Most popular Cosplay characters?

Whether inside or outside of Japan, "Naruto", "Bleach", and "Prince of Tennis" are popular characters.

Where does Cosplay take place?

The "Comic Market", commonly abbreviated to "Komike", or else "Komiketto",
is one of the world’s largest display and sale of "doujinshi" (or "fan comics")
sponsored by the Comic Market preparatory committee.

Various events which kick-off the Comic Market, where cosplayers and devoted fans of anime characters and related genres gather,
as well as Visual Kei band performances, can all be found there.

Kite Festival & Greater Phoenix Koi Show

2010-02-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

Children’s Day and Kite Festival

Children’s Day, Kite Festival of 2009 Greater Phoenix, and Koi Show located just outside Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix, Arizona.

Event theme: “Martial Arts, Game, Food, Fun! Wear your Kimono. Bring your Kite or Make one”

2009 Greater Phoenix Koi Show

We’ve always wanted to go and visit the kite and Koi festival that takes place once every April at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix. Our chance arrived when our friends invited us to join them. I love watching Koi, specially the big fat ones which are very cute, and watching kites flying around all over the place is quite a sight!

This year they had a Koi show and competition. There were many of them in large blue tanks all over the place. Some of them were small, but other ones were quite big. Mr. Valdez, who brought his own Koi to the festival, told us Koi’s average lifespan is 70 years! According to him, the oldest recorded age of Koi is 200 years. He mentioned that his Koi like to eat Cheerios and oranges, and that he prefers to feed them Cheerios because it helps with their digestion, and oranges are good for their bones.

Mrs. Beard, who also brought her beautiful Koi to the festival, told us that the average size of Koi is from 36 to 39 inches, although the record size for the biggest Koi is five feet long!

Moonlight Festival Event in Phoenix, Arizona 2/2

2010-02-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Moonlight Star Festival 2 of 2

Sunday October 18, 2009.

Today we would like to review the Moon Light Star Festival that we attended this past weekend.
The festival was held on October 10 from 5pm-8pm at the Steinway of Phoenix in Scottsdale Arizona.

My wife and I were greeted courteously by participants of the event and were provided an event schedule. (see below).
The event started at 6pm. My wife and I took two cameras this time to be able to share more with you.

We had an opportunity to interview Ms. Janet P Sandino who organized the event.
She explained to us that this is the second Moon Light Star Festival that they organize, and their main reason for this event is to share the beauty of the Asian culture with America which is the reason for their theme "East Meets West" Touch of Creation Cultural Events".
The event included singing, dance and piano performances from many local very talented artists.
We truly enjoyed the Japanese traditional stories of Kaguya Hime, and Tanabata-Sama which were very beautifully recited by Holly Parsons.

During the intermission of the event, we were provided very delicious Asian Tapas by Kirin Wok and towards to conclusion of the festival we
enjoyed a beautiful live recreation of the Moon Light Star Festival canvass.

In our interview with Ms. Sandino, we also had an opportunity to ask her about the possibility of another Moon Light Festival. She stated that she is very hopeful for another festival
to be hosted by Steinway of Phoenix in the near future.

Watch More Pictures and Video(Coming soon)for Moonlight Star Festival AZ 1 of 2

Moonlight Star Festival in Phoenix, AZ 1/2

2010-02-23T09:49:00.000-08:00

Moonlight Star Festival 1 of 2

“East Meets West”, Touch of Creation Cultural Events. Celebrated on Saturday, October 10, 2009
We were invited to this Festival by our friends a few weeks ago. We had been patiently waiting for this festival to arrive so it was with great anticipation that we jumped in our car and left for the Scottsdale location where the festival took place. The traffic was heavy on our way there, and we were starting to worry we would arrive too late, but we were very lucky, and happy, for we arrived just in time to witness the introduction.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted at the entrance by our friends. With dozens of shining Pianos adorning the background, and a most kind and attentive staff, we felt so very welcomed. They made us feel right at home from the very start.
We felt much honored for the invitation and the opportunity to attend.

The introduction started shortly thereafter. Ms. Janet Priset Sandino, the event host, warmly greeted the audience before the performances started.
From her introduction, we were able to learn more about this event. We learned that the Moonlight Star Festival takes place once every year at the Steinway of Phoenix Scottsdale location. We learned this is its second consecutive year. We also learned that part of this year’s festival benefitted a local non-profit organization that helps children with disabilities.
According to Ms. Priset Sandino, its purpose is to “breach all cultural communities,” and it’s “east meets west” theme incorporates performances by Japanese, Chinese, American, Vietnamese, Indian, and Philippine participants. We also had the honor and opportunity to talk to Ms. Keiko Conn, the event producer and organizer, to find out more about the festival’s purpose and participants. We learned the Moonlight Star festival incorporates aspects of the Japanese Tanabata-Sama (Evening of the Seventh,) and Otsukimi (Moon Viewing) festivals.

This year, there was a wish tree for children to hang their hand-written wishes in the tradition of the Japanese Tanabata Festival. Shortly after the introduction, a most charming master of ceremonies took the stage to present the performances. She first introduced us to the meaning of Kuroko, the stagehands’ black-colored uniform, that the staff members used in character with traditional Japanese Kabuki Theater to represent invisibility.

The first part of the festival included a number of very enjoyable and impressive piano, cultural, and singing performances as well as a story recital in the tradition of the Tanabata festival. In this recital, we learned more about the beautiful love story behind the Tanabata festival, a heartwarming story describing the relationship between Hikoboshi and Orihime, the daughter of the king of the universe Tentei, and their loving commitment to see each other on the seventh day of the seventh month every year. We were also able to enjoy very delicious cooking, which was provided to every event attendee during the intermission, which included very yummy Asian tapas and refreshments.

The second part of the festival included two impressive piano melodies by a renowned local young pianist. It also included two songs performed by a young local talent with a very delightful voice, and three breathtaking dances representing the local Asian and Indian community. I really enjoyed witnessing these dances. One of them featured a performance by a lovely lady in Indian clothes dancing to a very catchy and pleasant song I can’t forget about yet. Another song, about a young girl walking into a bamboo forest and playing with the birds, featured the talent of a charming young girl dancing solo. This was a very nice dance representing the Chinese Culture. Another dance, for the Chinese culture, featured three young ladies dancing in unison to the rhythm of Chinese Classical Dance.

I hope we get to see more of these dances next year. They were very pleasant performances.

The last performance featured another story recital in character with the Moon viewing festival. In this story, we learned about the young princess Kaguya-sama, who came from the moon with the sole purpose of bringing joy to an old, hard working couple who dedicated themselves to weaving bamboo baskets, and who had no children of their own. We learned how one day, the old bamboo cutter found a beautiful and tiny baby girl inside a shinning stalk of bamboo. We learned how the couple adopted the mysterious girl and watched her grow and marry a young prince, and her unavoidable departure to her home in the moon.

The festival ended with a colorful tableau, or live picture representation, of the Moonlight Star design performed live by Ms. Conn and her Kuroko staff. This festival was a delightful, pleasant, and educating experience. It had lots of surprises, delightful performances, entertaining stories, and most delicious food! We learned so much and we look forward to the opportunity of attending next year’s festival.

Obon Festival 2/2

2010-02-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

Obon Festival, Japanese Event in Phoenix, Arizona
Bon Odori 2 of 2

We arrived early on that Saturday to the Japanese Buddhist temple in west Phoenix.
We felt very lucky and happy to be a part of this Japanese event called Obon Festival and were able to enjoy a delicious Japanese Bento lunch box with the members of the temple.
The Japanese food was simply delicious and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.

We were not sure what to expect at this Japanese festival, and felt very nervous because we didn’t know anyone in the temple.
I was wearing my Japanese Yukata when we first arrived, and I felt embarrassed due to the fact that nobody else was wearing one at the time.
But the people at the temple were very kind to us, and offered us chairs to sit down, along with their friendship.

The Japanese festival started with the Bento, Japanese meal among the Obon festival attendants.
After we ate, we sat down to wait for the dances to start. I noticed many of the Obon festival attendants had started changing into their Yukata for the main Japanese event.
I started feeling excited, and a bit less nervous for wearing my blue Yukata.

The Japanese dancing called Bon Odori started at around 7 pm, and went on until past nine.
Even though we do not understand completely the meaning of each dance, we were able to appreciate the significance of friendship, gratitude, and union of this wonderful Japanese event through Japanese Buddhist tradition.

We really enjoyed watching each of the dances or Bon Odori and appreciate that we were able to witness this Japanese event, Obon Festival.
We look forward to practicing the dance for next year so that we may join the dance in respect and admiration of this beautiful Japanese event.

Bon Odori Videos

Watch Japanese Line Dance at Obon festival, a traditional Japanese festival held in Phoenix, Arizona.
They dance to fun Japanese music and everybody enjoys it.

Bon Odori 2 of 2

Bon Odori, Japanese Festival 1/2

2010-02-21T10:01:00.000-08:00

Japanese Event in Phoenix, AZ
Bon Odori 1 of 2.

Japanese Festival

Today we are visiting and attending the Japanese Buddhist Temple here in Phoenix, Arizona.
The reason we are attending is because today we are celebrating the Japanese event, Obon.
Obon is a Japanese Custom and we celebrate Obon as a time to remember and honor all those who have gone before us.
It's the joy in the awareness that we are all embraced in Amida Buddha.

The day has been very sunny and warm.
The Japanese event was started by Japanese Buddhist temple members serving us some very delicious bento boxes for lunch, and after lunch my wife and I enjoyed some very tasty okashi, (Japanese sweets).

We invited our brother in law to come with us and enjoy this beautiful Japanese celebration.
After the Japanese lunch, we all went out side to sit around the dance area.
As time went on, more and more of the members have started to change into more traditional Japanese clothing such as Kimonos and Yukatas in preparation for the main part of this Japanese event.
My wife loves to wear her Yukata and even though this year we could not join the dance, we will join the Obon Odori dance classes next year to join the dance.

There were a total of 16 Japanese dances with a small intermission in between.
The atmosphere was very family oriented and we would like to invite anyone to join us in this Japanese event for next year's Odori Festival.

Bon Odori Videos

Enjoy Japanese dance videos similar to line dances. The music is traditional, yet fun Japanese music.