From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be live entertainment and a variety of hands-on activity stations to give visitors of all ages an opportunity to enjoy Japanese cultural traditions.
The performances, many of which will be interactive, include “Issunboshi - The Inch High Samurai: A Modern Telling of an Ancient Japanese Story,” by local puppet theatre West Cascade Puppet Brigade; an energetic taiko drumming show by youth group Kaze Daiko; an Aikido demonstration by the instructors and kids of Seattle Aikikai; and a presentation with Japanese swords by Seibu Ryu Iai-Battojutsu.
Local group Haiku Northwest will assist kids and adults with crafting garden-inspired haiku poetry. Washington Park Arboretum Education and Outreach staff will lead nature-inspired crafts, while PAPER volunteers will host mini-lessons on origami, including how to make wearable samurai kabuto hats.
In a nod to the Japanese Garden’s Zen roots, children can rake their own miniature sand-and-stone garden and try water-based sumi-e brush painting with Japanese Garden volunteers.
Children’s Day is a Japanese national holiday that traditionally takes place on May 5, the fifth day of the fifth month. It is a day set aside to respect children’s personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was designated a national holiday by the Japanese government in 1948.
For more information, including the exact time of the performances, visit www.seattlejapanesegarden.org.