BOISE, ID (CBS2) — The Idaho Japanese Association is set to host Japan Day this Sunday, September 21, at the Gene Harris Bandshell in Julia Davis Park, offering a vibrant showcase of Japanese culture in the Treasure Valley. The annual event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
“We are going to have performers performing all day, dances, music, martial arts, and more, both local and out-of-state performers,” said Sonia West, treasurer of the Idaho Japanese Association.
Japan Day celebrates Idaho’s Japanese community and aims to share Japanese culture with the broader Treasure Valley. West noted that the event addresses a cultural gap she experienced growing up in the area.
“There wasn’t really a way to connect culturally to Japanese culture,” West said. “But then Idaho Japanese Association we started in 2008. Ever since then, we have had big events like Japan Day, which is the biggest annual event that we do. It’s been a really good way for not only Japanese people to connect and the culture, but also anybody in the community to come and connect with it as well.”
The event will feature unique activities for children of all ages, including live traditional Japanese music and a flea market filled with Japanese books and products.
“You’ll get to listen to live Japanese music, traditional music, using Japanese instruments that you don’t really get to see around here,” West said. “Even our flea market is actually filled with Japanese books that you can’t really get a hold of here and products from Japan.”
Japan Day has grown consistently each year, allowing the Idaho Japanese Association to expand its efforts in representing Japanese culture in the Treasure Valley.
AloJapan.com