Japanese Style Festival MATSURI Rocks Dundas Square
MATSURI, a Japanese style summer festival, was held in Dundas Square in Toronto on July 28, marking the first time such an event was organized for the city’s downtown core. In addition to the Consulate General of Japan, some of the event’s supporters included Toyota, Sapporo, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, the New Japanese Canadian Association and eleven Japanese restaurants.
The Consulate General of Japan provided an information booth as well as the performance by the Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers (RAW) for the festival’s opening. Because there is tremendous interest in Japanese fashion, due in great part to the popularity of anime cartoons, a kimono fashion show and a traditional makeup demonstration were also held, drawing the attention of many attendants.
Due to ideal weather conditions, it is estimated over 20,000 people attended the event, causing long line-ups at food stalls.
Dundas Square is packed! (Photos courtesy of Kurakake Company）
Opening remarks given by Acting Consul General of Japan, Mr. Tetsuya Yoshimoto;
performance by the drum troupe RAW.
The makeup demonstration was held by local makeup artist Masayo Lang while
the Association of Japanese Culture, an organization devoted to the promotion of Japanese culture in the education system,
also drew attention through demonstrations of hair dressing and proper handling of kimono.
Our portable shrine, called omikoshi, paraded around the square
and created the feel of a true Japanese festival.
The kimono fashion show, held by the Toronto Kimono Club also featured a lecture
on this traditional garment to an attentive audience of about 500 people.
The Consulate General of Japan’s booth provided information on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.
The activities of the JET Alumni Association (top), and JAVA (Japanese Visitors Association; below)
were also presented, offering workshops on origami and calligraphy as well..
