You’re invited to celebrate all things Japanese at an upcoming festival.
The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre is holding its Tanabata event on Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7. Tanabata, known as the Star Festival, is a popular festival in Japan. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair, respectively.
In Japan, colourful displays of bamboo with paper streamers are put up in various places. The streamers, or tanzaku, are rectangular strips of paper on which people write wishes and then attach them to the bamboo stalks.
The Nikkei’s Tanabata event includes a host of cultural offerings, including Japanese movies, a book sale (including both Japanese and English novels, comics, DVDs and CDs), games, food and more.
It runs from noon to 6 p.m. both days.
MOVIE SCREENING DETAILS:
Films are all in Japanese, with English subtitles.
Okko’s Inn: Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7, 12:30 p.m. (doors at 12:15 p.m.)
The latest feature from famed anime studio Madhouse and director Kitaro Kosaka tells the story of Okko, who, after the death of her parents, goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother at a traditional Japanese inn and discovers the company of friendly spirits.
Mirai: Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7, 2:30 p.m. (doors at 2:15 p.m.)
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated feature, this film from acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda tells the story of four-year-old Kun, whose world is turned upside down when he meets his new baby sister, Mirai – and then encounters her teenage self as a guest from the future.
Shoplifters: Saturday, July 6, 5 p.m. (doors at 4:45 p.m.)
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s film earned the Palme d’Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. It tells the story of a poor family, struggling to survive through petty crime, who take in a little girl and find their lives changed.
Single film tickets for Okko’s Inn and Mirai are $6 for Nikkei members, $8 for non-members, if bought in advance, or $10 at the door. Single film tickets for Shoplifters are $8 for Nikkei members, $10 for non-members, if bought in advance, or $12 at the door. (GST will be added to all ticket prices.)
See centre.nikkeiplace.org/events/tanabata/ to buy in advance.
