By: Lise Tarui, GVJCI Program Intern
One of GVJCI’s biggest events of the year is the annual Matsuri Fundraiser. In Japanese, “matsuri” means festival and refers to any and all festivals that occur throughout the year and across regions in Japan.
Matsuri has origins in Shintoism. It was meant to celebrate kami, or Shinto “gods”/deities. Further, matsuri was meant to celebrate a local shrine’s kami, or a seasonal or historical event. While most Japanese individuals do not regard themselves as being religious today, many of the practices of Shintoism have become ingrained in Japanese culture; this is why matsuri is still celebrated today.
One prominent matsuri in Japan is natsu-matsuri, which are the festivals that occur in the summer season (July and August). This is the matsuri celebrated by GVJCI every June.
Despite the fact that matsuri differ based on when and where they occur in Japan, many characteristics remain consistent. Matsuri usually features mikoshi, or palanquins that are small portable shrines; the local shrine’s kami is said to be carried around the town in mikoshi during the festival. Another feature of matsuri is dashi and yatai, or decorated festival floats. These floats are meant to resemble mountains, which in its Shinto origin were believed to be where kami reside. While mikoshi carry the kami honored at the local shrine, dashi and yatai are built more generally for all the kami that live in the mountains. Dashi and yatai usually also feature a Taiko, or drum, stand. Other common characteristics of matsuri include hanabi, or fireworks, games and activities, and food.
Matsuri has origins in Shintoism. It was meant to celebrate kami, or Shinto “gods”/deities. Further, matsuri was meant to celebrate a local shrine’s kami, or a seasonal or historical event. While most Japanese individuals do not regard themselves as being religious today, many of the practices of Shintoism have become ingrained in Japanese culture; this is why matsuri is still celebrated today.
One prominent matsuri in Japan is natsu-matsuri, which are the festivals that occur in the summer season (July and August). This is the matsuri celebrated by GVJCI every June.
Despite the fact that matsuri differ based on when and where they occur in Japan, many characteristics remain consistent. Matsuri usually features mikoshi, or palanquins that are small portable shrines; the local shrine’s kami is said to be carried around the town in mikoshi during the festival. Another feature of matsuri is dashi and yatai, or decorated festival floats. These floats are meant to resemble mountains, which in its Shinto origin were believed to be where kami reside. While mikoshi carry the kami honored at the local shrine, dashi and yatai are built more generally for all the kami that live in the mountains. Dashi and yatai usually also feature a Taiko, or drum, stand. Other common characteristics of matsuri include hanabi, or fireworks, games and activities, and food.
Traditional matsuri foods include yakisoba, or stir-fried noodles, takoyaki, or small balls of cooked octopus in pancake batter, and yakitori, or grilled chicken skewers. Additionally, matsuri traditionally features sweets. Many of these sweets are also common features of festivals and carnivals in the United States. They often include taiyaki, or fish-shaped pastries filled with red bean paste, wataame, or cotton candy, kakigori, or shaved ice, and dango, or skewers of dumplings made from rice flour.
GVJCI’s matsuri endeavors to maintain the integrity of traditional Japanese matsuri, though it does not take as much influence from Shintoism. Rather, it is catered more toward children and families in the South Bay area, offering a fun cultural experience to those of Japanese descent or interest. A large part of what makes GVJCI’s masturi is the community that comes together to celebrate Japanese culture. Similar to traditional Japanese matsuri, GVJCI’s matsuri features games and activities and familiar Japanese foods. Beyond the inclusion of traditional Japanese activities, such as pachinko machines, GVJCI has created games themselves, like “Duck-Duck-Duck” and “String Pull,” which are all favorites with the kids. Additionally, because the South Bay area has a large population of Japanese-Hawaiians, Hawaiian influences are also seen here. For example, Hawaiian dancing and music can be experienced within the mix of other traditional Japanese entertainment.
GVJCI’s matsuri foods often include yakisoba, as seen in traditional matsuri, chicken teriyaki, a popular Japanese dish, and spam musubi, a popular Hawaiian dish. In terms of the sweets, this matsuri includes kakigori (shaved ice), also as seen in traditional matsuri, and sata andagi, or deep-fried donut balls that originate from Okinawa. GVJCI often works closely with the Okinawa Association of America (OAA), which has influenced the inclusion of sata andagi, one of the most popular items offered each year!
GVJCI is extremely proud of its tradition of hosting matsuri every year. This event has been put on for decades and continues to bring the community together.
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