The free festival offers fun for guests of all ages
ORLANDO, Fla. – Presented by the Japan Association of Orlando (JAO), the 19th annual Orlando Japan Festival takes place on Sunday, November 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kissimmee Lakefront Park (69 Lakeshore Blvd.) in Kissimmee. The festival is free to attend and offers free parking plus fun activities and shows for guests of all ages.
The event features thrilling cultural performances including Judo, Iai (martial arts using swords), Koto (Japanese harp), Musha (samurai warrior display), Nihon-Buyo (traditional dance), and authentic Japanese Taiko drumming by the Orlando Taiko Dojo, among others. Performances will also feature a collaboration between the powerful rhythmic beats of the Matsuriza Taiko Drummers and the ballet choreography of Chiaki Yasukawa, former leading artist for the Orlando Ballet for 18 years.
As another special treat, the Consulate General of Japan in Miami is sponsoring an exclusive guest performance by virtuoso musician Marco Lienhard, who will be playing the Shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese flute. Lienhard is the founder and leader of Taikoza in New York, an ensemble of musicians that features Taiko, Shakuhachi, and Fue in unique, mind-blowing performances that energize the senses.
Additionally, the Orlando Japan Festival offers guests the chance to try on traditional kimonos, participate in a raffle, learn origami, join in the Bon Odori dance, play Japanese carnival games, watch a cosplay fashion show, and enjoy a live performance by the 100-drummer Taiko ensemble.
Japanese food, drinks, arts, crafts, jewelry and more are also available to purchase from dozens of vendors.
The Orlando Japan Festival is organized by the JAO and sponsored by ACT America, IACE Travel, Tachibana-ya, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc., Mitsukoshi U.S.A., Mickeynet, Asia Trend Magazine, Orlando Taiko Dojo, Caravan Serai Orlando, the City of Kissimmee, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami.
The JAO is a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Japanese culture within the community and supporting local organizations and individuals in endeavors to further Japanese visual and performing arts, culture, and education. For more information about the Orlando Japan Festival, visit www.jorlando.org or contact [email protected].
For more information about the JAO, please contact Mayuko Ishikura at [email protected] or Tony Takehara at [email protected] and visit jorlando.org/orlando-japan-festival-2019
, the 19th annual Orlando Japan Festival takes place on Sunday, November 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kissimmee Lakefront Park (69 Lakeshore Blvd.) in Kissimmee. The festival is free to attend and offers free parking plus fun activities and shows for guests of all ages.){kind=link}