2018 Historic Japantown Immersive: Uchiwa Fan Making & Pop-Up Performances | San Jose

Submitted by the Event Organizer

San Jose’s historic Japantown bursts into a series of explorable interactive experiences, bringing to life its history and future.

2018 Japantown Immersive
Saturday, May 12, 2018 | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
San Jose Japantown, N 5th & Jackson Streets, San Jose
FREE

The evening kicks off at 5:30 pm at the San Jose Buddhist Church, where San Jose Taiko started 45 years ago. From there, attendees can enjoy 3 types of experiences:

1. Ongoing Hands-on Experiences
   • Learn to play Hanafuda (a classic Japanese card game)
   • LED uchiwa (fan) making
   • Learn about the Internment Camp experience
   • Bon Odori pop-up dance school
   • Japantown Secrets Scavenger Hunt
   • Learn the Japanese New Year’s Tradition of Pounding Mochi and more
2. Pop-up Performances: Brief 10-minute street performances from Japantown-based artists with occasional San Jose Taiko flavorings
   • San Jose Betsuin Youth & Adult Choir
   • Kyle Abbott and Bachido (shamisen)
   • Containher (vocalist)
   • Steve Nakano (jazz)
   • Hālau Nā Wai Ola (hula)
   • Lotus Preschool Taiko
   • Asagao Taiko (Yu-Ai Kai senior group)
3. Marquee Performances: Large-scale San Jose Taiko collaborative productions
   • Swingposium (40 minutes): Epic Immersive, Wesley Jazz Ensemble, and San Jose Taiko join forces once again to celebrate how Big Band music & dance were sources of hope at WWII Internment Camps. If you missed last year’s time-travel experience, join us as we bring you a condensed version.
   • SJT/DJ Cutso/ The Get Down Studio (40 minutes): For those of you who enjoyed our collaboration with The Bangerz, we’re bringing it back to the streets. Japantown residents DJ Cutso provides the tracks, The Get Down Dance Studios provide the moves, and we provide the taiko.

Admission is free, thanks to Knight Foundation & California Arts Council Creative California Communities.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.