JASWDC's Spring Program Recap

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC wrapped up another successful spring program season this past April. Every year, from mid-March until mid-April, JASWDC puts together three consecutive events - CineMatsuri, the National Japan Bowl, and Sakura Matsuri. These programs - a film festival, an academic quiz bowl competition, and a huge cultural festival, respectively - bring people together from all over the United States to experience different aspects of Japanese culture in the Nation's Capital.

Here is a brief recap of all three events:

CineMatsuri (March 20 - 27, 2016)

CineMatsuri, JASW's film festival, opened on March 20 at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center with the DC premiere of Sugihara Chiune / Persona Non Grata. The film told the story of Sugihara Chiune, a Japanese diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Jewish lives during WWII by writing and giving visas to ensure their travel out of Europe. Director Cellin Gluck attended the festival opening and answered the audience's questions after the showing.

CineMatsuri continued with showings of Biri Gyaru / Flying Colors, Zakuro Zaka no Adauchi / Snow on the Blades, Boku wa Bosan / I am a Monk, and Nihon no Ichiban Nagai Hi / The Emperor in August at E Street Cinema in downtown DC. There were also several encore showings of Sugihara Chiune / Persona Non Grata. 

992 people attended CineMatsuri in all, with Sugihara Chiune / Persona Non Grata as the most well-attended film.

National Japan Bowl (April 14-15, 2016)

On April 14 and 15, 2016, the Japan-America Society of Washington DC held the 24th National Japan Bowl® in Chevy Chase, Maryland. This year, 221 students from 76 teams came from all over the United States to compete: California, Connecticut, Florida, Guam, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

Students competed at three different levels in several rounds for both days. Questions covered not just the Japanese language but also modern history, the literary arts, Japan’s political and economic systems, Japanese etiquette, gestures, and body language, and Japanese food, clothing, and housing. Students also attended cultural workshops, including one held by Sebastian Masuda, a Japanese art director who brought a life-sized Domo-kun time capsule to the venue as part of his international TIME AFTER TIME CAPSULE project.

You can see the winners of the National Japan Bowl here. The winning team from the most advanced level, Level 4, will travel to Japan later this year thanks to the generosity of the Mazda Foundation. 

Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival (April 16, 2016)

This year, the Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival was held at the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood and attracted over 25,000 visitors. Though the location changed, the festival retained its mission of spreading Japanese culture to the Washington DC area through performances, cultural activities, food, games, and shopping for the entire family.

The festival showcased 5 different areas:

• Arts and Culture / Artisan - Exhibits of Japanese culture and sales of handmade traditional items
• Ginza Marketplace - Sales of authentic items imported from Japan
• Japan Now - Exhibits and sales of modern-day Japanese pop culture
• Taste of Japan - Food vendors from the DMV area
• Culinary Arts Pavilion - Japanese food demonstrations showing how to use American ingredients in traditional recipes

Performers included Kyoto-based rock band Kanadete sourou, who use folklore as a basis for their songs and lyrics, and the Tamagawa University Dance & Taiko Group, who perform each year to a standing ovation. The Governor of Tokyo, Yoichi Masuzoe, and Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae joined the festivities at the Riverfront Stage to give speeches regarding the U.S.-Japan friendship to congratulate JASWDC on their hard work. Celebrity chefs Rika Yukimasa from NHK WORLD's show Dining with the Chef and Naoko Takei Moore, or Mrs. Donabe, came to the Culinary Arts Pavilion to give cooking demonstrations.