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Health & Fitness

Japan in Fort Lee – (Saturday, March 3 – 2-3 pm) - Fort Lee Public Library

Local residents from Japan bring festival to Fort Lee.

TAIKO DRUM Workshop * SHAMISEN Performance * AWA Folkdance with audience participation……coinciding with Painting and Sculpture exhibit by Rika Takashima for International Women’s Month in the Gallery usher in International Women's Month.

Celebration of Hinamatsuri, an ancient Japanese festival, continues the Fort Lee Library’s decades-long cultural exchange with Japanese residents.

Saturday’s varied program features:

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Taiko drum performers from Fort Lee’s BIWANKO  drumming troupe –  playing their traditional drums –( who will conduct a free workshop for attendees.)

KOMA – SHAMISEN master….from Japan this internationally known performer resides in nearby Cliffside Park. His stringed instrument dates from medieval times in Japan.

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And for this performance he will play “Obladi,Oblada” (the Beatles), two old Japanese songs and a song he composed in rememberance of the Earthquake/Tsunami which struck Japan a year ago (March 11, 2011) in which he lost his mother and family members.

AWA dance – audience-participation folk-dance led by the performers concludes the program.

Attendees are invited to view the amusing art and sculpture of Rica Takashima in the Gallery outside the auditorium before and after the program.

The art exhibit, in honor of International Women’s Month (March) shares Gallery space with the HINADAN.  This gift to the Library from an organization of Japanese women who have now returned to live in Japan is the highlight of HINAMATSURI.

For this special occasion volunteers have refurbished the HINADAN, which depicts the Imperial Court of Japan in the Heian Era. Miniature dolls of the Emperor and Emperess and their court: hand maidens, musicians, warriors, dancers, chariots, furniture and sweets.

A limited supply of Hina Arare confection will be distributed to audience members under 7 years of age in keeping with the Japanese custom of honoring children from birth to 7 years.

(With appreciation to Mitsuwa Japanese Market)

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