TORRANCE, CA - Visitors will enjoy one of the best Japanese cultural arts programs in the South Bay with performances by students of many certified instructors who have studied in Japan.
The Bunka-Sai will open and close with the thunderous roar of the various taiko groups who practice at Asano Taiko, U.S. There will be presentations by groups representing martial arts; tea ceremony; kimono dressing; brush calligraphy; and Japanese and Okinawan dancing and music.
For those who enjoy the beauty of nature, there will be exhibits of Bonsai by Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai and Ikenobo (flower arrangement) by Minamitani Semho as well as mini lectures and demonstrations of these arts.
In the Assembly Room, fans of Japanese storytelling, or “kamishibai,” will be captivated by the presentation, and children and adults can engage in hands-on activities of origami and brush calligraphy.
In the plaza, there will be games with prizes for children. Also at the festival will be an Asian-themed arts and craft boutique with over twenty vendors selling hand-made items—pottery; home decor; clothing; jewelry; purses and decorative bags; stationery; and a gift booth with great bargains on new and gently-used items.
The Saga Art Center will exhibit student work, and children can participate in a free bead craft.
Since every festival is for foodies—shaved ice, cotton candy, dangos (donuts), BBQ grilled plate lunches, spam musubi, chicken curry with rice, and vegetable yakisoba are standard food items for sale at the Bunka-Sai.
Presented by the Torrance Sister City Association (TSCA), the Bunka-Sai is a major fundraiser supporting the student cultural exchange program with its sister city of Kashiwa (Chiba Ken) in Japan.
The festival will be from 11 am to 5 pm on April 18-19, Saturday and Sunday, at the Torrance Cultural Arts complex, 3341 Torrance Blvd., near the corner of Madrona Avenue and Torrance Blvd.
Please visit the TSCA website at https://torrancesistercity.org/ for more information and the schedule of stage performances for both days.
