This Deadly Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival Takes Place In Dublin Tomorrow

If you’re intrigued by all things Japanese culture and really love cherry blossoms, then this is the event for you. 

The Experience Japan Hanami Festival takes place this Sunday, April 23 from 12pm until 4pm out in Farmleigh, Castleknock, Dublin 15. 

Join members of Dublin’s Japanese community and Dublin based groups interested in Japanese culture to celebrate a Hanami (cherry blossom) Festival.

Hanami is an annual event in Japan where friends and family come together for outdoor parties to welcome spring and celebrate nature. 

Sounds positively dreamy — here’s what’s in store…

Main stage events: 

• 12pm: opening — J-Pop dance / Taiko/ Nankin Tamasudare (Japanese traditional performance) / Martial Arts demo / Irish & Japanese healing music 
• 13:10pm — children’s performance / Japanese traditional dance / Irish modern music band  / Shamisen (Japanese string instrument) / Cosplay 
• 14:30pm — welcome performance: EJ & Kids’ Taiko fusion of Bodhrán and dance / Bodhrán performance / Soranbushi 
• 15:45pm —  Japanese Matsuri grand finale

About the performers:

Hibiki Ishikawa  is a Tsukaru Shamisen player based in the UK.
Junshi Murakami, Philip Horan & Sean Whelan  fuse Japanese and Irish instruments, music and traditions. Junshi plays the Irish harp, Philip plays the Japanese shakuhachi  and Sean plays guitar.
Robbie Walsh is a bodhrán player from Dublin. He’ll play Irish music with his friends, and this year is also working on a fusion performance with our EJ kids Taiko team.
Lowlight Gathering are a folk-rock band from Monaghan who released their debut EP ‘Young Hearts’ in 2016.

Festival activities:

• Face painting
• Origami
• Calligraphy
• Yo-yo fishing
• Tamaire
• Graffiti wall
• Kimono dressing
• Japanese Culture Club
• Poetry reading

Martial arts demos:

• Kenjutsu Ireland
• JKA Shotokan
• WSKF Karate
• Kodokan Judo Club
• Bujinkan Namiryu Dojo
• Irish Karate Kyoukushinkai
• Dublin Aikikai Aikido
• Irish Kendo Federatio

Festival stalls:

• Asia Market
• Eatokyo
• Fiona Uyema
• Oishii Foods
• Wa Café
• Cactus
• K&Q Snacks 

Workshops and talks: 

• Japanese Gardens Kildare with Niamh Flynn and Yvonne O’ Conor
• Rakugo with Till Weingartner
• The World of Noh Costumes with Akira Yamaguchi
• Prose and Haiku “Even The Mountains – Five Years in a Japanese Village” with Sean O’Connor

More info here.

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