Upcoming: Late April & May Events

April 15th
Shunki Taisai - Great Spring Ceremony
Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America

17720 Crooked Mile Road, Granite Falls, WA 98252

10:30am until 1:30pm
Website
Facebook event page
**Please contact Kannushi@TsubakiShrine.org

regarding date - website says 15th in one spot and 10th in another. Celebration of the Spring season. Shinto priests will offer traditional prayers to the guests. Performances by the Seattle Kabuki Academy and Kin-ie School of Shamisen.

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April 21st
Chado Demonstration at the Seattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112
Demonstrations at 1 and 2pm.
Website
Facebook event page
Free to view from patio (garden admission fee still applies). You can purchase a $5 tea ticket at the Garden ticket booth to enjoy a bowl of tea and sweets. ~40 minutes, limited to 20 person session. Hosted by Shoseikai

April 29th
Chado Presentation, Mother's Day
Seattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112
Appointments available for 1 and 2pm.
Website
Facebook event page
Call 206-684-4725 for reservations.
$5, plus garden admission fee. 40 min presentation inside Shoseian tea house hosted by Tankokai.
Do not wear jeans, bare feet, rings, or fragrances.

May 1-31st
Kodomo no Oharae

Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America
17720 Crooked Mile Road, Granite Falls, WA 98252
Website
Facebook event page
During the month of May the priests offer special prayers for children. Children will receive omamori amulets and origami kabuto (samurai helmet). Koi nobori (carp flags) are flown at the shrine during May.
Contact for an appointment:
phone: 360-691-6389
email: Kannushi@TsubakiShrine.org

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May 6th
Kodomo no Hi Festival
Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington State

1414 S. Weller St., Seattle, WA 98144

11:00am until 5:00pm
Website
Facebook event page
Games and activities for children, such as martial arts, taiko, and yukata dress-up. It seems last year they had a cute display for taking pictures of the kids in yukata.

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May 6th
Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration
Seattle Center - 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109
11:45am - 5pm
Website
Facebook event page
Performances representing pacific islanders, Japanese cultural performances this year include taiko by Kaze Daiko, and Seattle Matsuri Taiko.

(source)

May 13th
Chado Presentation, Mother's Day
Seattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112
Appointments available for 1 and 2pm.
Website
Facebook event page
Call 206-684-4725 for reservations.
$5, plus garden admission fee. 40 min presentation inside Shoseian tea house hosted by Tankokai.
Do not wear jeans, bare feet, rings, or fragrances.

May 19th
Chado Demonstration at the Seattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112
Demonstrations at 1 and 2pm.
Website
Facebook event page
Free to view from patio (garden admission fee still applies). You can purchase a $5 tea ticket at the Garden ticket booth to enjoy a bowl of tea and sweets. ~40 minutes, limited to 20 person session. Hosted by Shoseikai

May 20th
Bonsai Show at the Seattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112
Website
Facebook event page
An annual display of local bonsai collections.

May 25th - 28th
Northwest Folklife Festival
Seattle Center - 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109
Website
Facebook event page
Details haven't been released yet, they should have a schedule posted around May 6th. It is a music festival, and there is supposed to be a broad representation of ethnic music. I have never been to it, so I am curious to find out what it is about. I will update if there is anything in the schedule that represents Japanese culture.

May 28th
Children's Day at the Seattle Japanese Garden

1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112

11:30pm until 2:30am
Website

Facebook event page
There will be hands-on activities for kids, such as origami, and there will be a taiko performance by Kaze Daiko and a puppet performance by Mimibunko. Here is a picture from last year, of a performance by Fujima Dance Ensemble.

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