[grant-ju] Mark your calendars! MOCHITSUKI 2009

[Kim Tanada]

> Mark your calendars!  TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
>
> 13th Annual Japanese American New  Year Celebration
> MOCHITSUKI 2009
> "Mochitsuki Memories"
> Saturday, January 17 2009
>
> The Japanese American community begins observing Oregon’s 150th  
> birthday with Mochitsuki 2009, a celebration of Japanese New Year  
> traditions. “Mochitsuki,” or the making of mochi, a sticky rice  
> cake, has taken place in Oregon since the first immigrants arrived  
> in the late 19th century. Coming together to pound steamed rice  
> into hearty cakes gathered people from far-flung railroad and  
> lumber camps, farms and towns. Beginning the year with mochi  
> symbolized both the strength of community and starting the year  
> with a full belly.
>
> The Portland area Japanese Americans invite the public to join in  
> its lively annual celebration at Portland Community College  
> Sylvania campus. In the Performing Arts Center, Mochitsuki Memories  
> is a program of dynamic taiko drumming, Japanese folk dance, and  
> storytelling that brings Oregon’s Japanese history to life. The  
> concurrent Cultural Fair features a community stage, displays and  
> hands-on activities for all ages. The exuberant Asian American drum  
> performance group, Portland Taiko and their youth group, Tanuki  
> Taiko, will deliver heart-pounding rhythms in the Mochitsuki  
> Memories shows at 1pm and 3:15pm.
>
> Storyteller Alton Chung has immersed himself in letters and  
> journals of earlier generations of Japanese Americans to develop  
> insightful tales that will delight all. Japanese folk dance by  
> Sahomi Tachibana's dance troupe and Fujinami-Kai will fill the  
> stage with the flowing color of kimonos in motion.
>
> Tickets to Mochitsuki Memories are $12 for adults, $9 for students  
> and seniors (62 years and older), and $5 for children (12 and  
> under). There is no charge for children under 2. Advance tickets  
> are available through the PDX Ticket Network at the Hollywood  
> Theatre Box Office (4122 NE Sandy Blvd.; 1pm-9pm daily), by phone  
> (503) 205-0715 (Mon-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-1pm), and online at  
> www.mochitsuki.org. Admission includes access to the Cultural Fair.
>
> At the Cultural Fair in the nearby College Center, Japanese  
> American community groups will come together to showcase their  
> culture and traditions from 11am to 3pm. Food and entertainment  
> always go hand-in-hand at these festivals. An array of Japanese  
> food specialties will be available for purchase and the Community  
> Stage will feature local performers, clubs and school groups. In  
> Japan, the New Year begins with putting brush to ink to practice  
> calligraphy. Visitors will have a chance to try this ancient art  
> form to write an auspicious character for the New Year, or to write  
> their name. Hands-on opportunities compliment community  
> organizations' informational booths. There is a suggested donation  
> of $4 for adults, $1 for children or $10 for a family for entrance  
> into the Cultural Fair.
>
> At the center of the Japanese New Year celebration is mochi, a  
> sticky rice cake. Traditionally, the rice is pounded into soft  
> dough in a mortar, the usu, with a large wooden mallet called a  
> kine. Pounding mochi requires a team effort and timing, with one  
> person wielding the kine and another brave person flipping over the  
> mound of hot, steaming rice between the impacts of the mallet. Once  
> the rice has reached a smooth, consistent texture, the dough is  
> pinched off into individual servings and shaped into a smooth  
> mound. Traditional mochi pounding demonstrations, accompanied with  
> the rhythms of taiko drums, will take place at the Cultural Fair  
> starting at 11am. Children and adults alike will have the  
> opportunity to heft the mallet and try their hand at pounding mochi.
>
> Now in its 13th year, Mochitsuki draws a crowd of more than 2,500  
> and is sponsored and supported by the Portland Chapter of the  
> Japanese American Citizens League, Oregon Nikkei Endowment,  
> Portland Taiko, Portland Community College Multicultural Center,  
> the Japan-America Society of Oregon, Japanese Ancestral Society,  
> The Consulate General of Japan and Konko Church of Portland.
>
> For information about Mochitsuki, contact Kim Tanada via phone:  
> 503.804.9991 or email: ktanada at verizon.net
>
> ________________________________________
>
> RICHMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and OYA NO KAI at Mochitsuki!
>
> Richmond Elementary School and Oya No Kai have been wonderful  
> partners with Mochitsuki for many years.
>
> Stop by Richmond's and Oya No Kai's booths where you will see  
> members of our staff, our interns and volunteers spread the joy.
>
> Other areas of involvement are:  Calligraphy run by our interns and  
> Beautiful artwork created by our students displayed in the College  
> Center.
>
> Also, the Community Stage will have performances by many of our  
> students so stay tuned for the line up!
>
> ________________________________________
>
> CALLING ALL COMMUNITY STAGE PERFORMERS!
>
> Talented Community Groups and Individuals are welcome to perform on  
> our Community Stage.  Bands, Martial Arts, School Groups & Dance  
> Troupes are some of the talents that line our stage.  If you or an  
> organization you know is interested in performing contact Kazuyo  
> Ito via phone: 503.367.3597 or email: ran at entaiko.com.
>
>
> VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME TO HELP MAKE MOCHITSUKI 2009 SUCCESSFUL
>
> To follow are just some of the areas that we could use your help with:
> Initial Set up on the evening of Friday, January 16, Set up the  
> morning of event, General Information Booth, Greeters, Community  
> Partner Assistance, Community Stage and Break down/ Clean up.  To  
> volunteer your time contact Emi Avondstondt via phone: 503-777-9564  
> or email: emi.mochitsuki at gmail.com
>





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