The third annual Matsuri, dubbed Best Festival by our Smile Politely Culture section, is coming back to the Japan House this Sunday, and with smart location adjustments and returning fan favorites, it looks like third time will be quite a charm for the celebratory event! The largely free festival will take place in and around the Japan House at the U of I Arboretum from 3 to 8 p.m., ending with a bang of fireworks. Matsuri, meaning ‘festival’ in Japanese, is not unlike summer festivals you could attend in communities throughout Japan. There will be food vendors, traditional Japanese festival games for children, craft vendors, art demonstrations, and performances throughout the day.
“We try to show different aspects of Japanese culture [at the Japan House], and we’re built around the tea ceremony, the way of tea. That is a very quiet and contemplative practice, but there’s also an incredible celebratory nature to the culture and we want to share that,” said Assistant Director of Japan House, Cynthia Voelkl.
Two highlights of the day will include The Consulate General of Japan, from Chicago, who is bringing down samurai armor that people can try on, and after missing last year due to scheduling conflict, The Candy Man will be returning. His name is Masaji Teresawa and he is an Amazaiku artist, which is a traditional Japanese art of producing candy in art form. According to Voelkl, “It’s almost like blowing glass but it’s candy, and really is a street theater, and the crowd here just loved him.” Check out this fabulously 90’s video of him in action.
Japanese art and design will be on display with Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, bonsai demonstrations from Bonsai Society of Central Illinois, and a returning calligrapher named Chiba Seirin. “She does these large-scale calligraphies that are taller than her, like 6 feet high. It’s really amazing to see her do them because it’s so physical, like a dance with a brush.”
To help block the intense August sun, vendors have been moved into the trees of the arboretum. Local food vendors will be featuring Japanese or broadly Asian dishes in the Oak Grove area. Iced matcha tea and flavored popcorns such as curry, sesame, and matcha salts will be available on the porch of the Japan House, with scheduled tea ceremonies happening inside.
The tea ceremonies are a ticketed event. Half of the tickets are available online now at go.illinois.edu/matsuritix and the other half will be first come, first served that day. Ticket bundles can also be purchased ahead of time at the website for food and drink vendors and some activities, such as yukata and cosplay dressing. You can pick up at will call or purchase day of at one of three ticket booths near the entrances from the parking lots or near the food vendor area.
There will also be a VIP tent for donors who support Japan House with a $100 donation or more per year. Complimentary cocktails and special menu will be available in the tent for those donors. “Matsuri is a huge line item in our budget,” said Voelkl, “and it’s only because of our supporters and donors that we can do this. People can sign up that day to be a supporter and enjoy the tent right by performance stage”
A full schedule of events is listed here, with highlights including a wide variety of martial arts, the university’s Jasmine Fields vocal group, and two Taiko performances. Voelkl considers them the highlight. “They’re a group from Chicago called Ho Etsu Taiko, and they are just extraordinary. Every year we’re amazed at how their performance seems even better. The music and choreography is just astounding. They’re the grand finale, and then at 8:00 we’ll have the fireworks.
“We’re really excited. Each year we have gotten bigger and better. Next year will be our 20th anniversary celebration for Japan House, so next year will be a 3 or 4-day event. It will be Matsuri, but will also be more tea ceremonies, dinners, and a lot of visitors from Japan. This year will be great, and next year we’ll blow it out even more.”