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UID:events.uid.1333@www.discovernikkei.org
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DESCRIPTION:Japanese American New Year Celebration will take place Sunday\
 , January 29\, 2006 at the Sylvania Campus of Portland Community College f
 rom Noon to 4:00 PM.\n\nPortland area Japanese American New Year celebrati
 on\, Mochitsuki\, is ten years old! Starting from the first public event i
 n the basement of Oregon Buddhist Temple as part of the JACL New Year Cele
 bration\, Mochitsuki has grown into a community tradition with close to 30
  organizations participating\, and attendance at over 1\,200.\n\nThe goal 
 of Portland area Mochitsuki is twofold. First is to maintain the vitality 
 of traditions in the Nikkei community. That means keeping alive the custom
  of gathering with friends and family to pound mochi with a heavy wooden m
 allet\, and giving people a chance to experience firsthand the mochi pound
 ing that they may have only seen in folktale books. The vitality comes fro
 m recognizing that traditions change\, and Nikkei of today also keep mochi
  traditions alive in churches and family groups\, but may use an electric 
 machine.\n\nThe second goal is to build strength in the Nikkei community b
 y working together on a common project. In these years\, Portland Taiko\, 
 Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center\, Japanese American Citizens League\, Porgand 
 State University Japanese Studies Program\, and Portland Community College
  Multicultural Center have gained a closer relationship by sharing in the 
 creation of Mochitsuki. To make the tenth anniversary special\, these part
 ners have been joined by the Consul General of Japan\, Shokookai of Portla
 nd\, Nikkei Jin Kai and The Japan America Society of Oregon. We are excite
 d to bring so many organizations together.\n\nTo make the event very speci
 al\, a mochi pounding group from San Francisco\, Kagami Kai will perform. 
 They share our interest in building community with mochi traditions\, and 
 they use taiko drums and dance-like movement to make mochi pounding a live
 ly performance.\n\nBeloved performers Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo\, storyteller\
 , Portland Taiko\, Tanuki Taiko\, Fujinami Kai and Sahomi Tachibana Dance 
 Company will perform.\n\nFood\, hands-on activities and many community per
 formances will make a big cultural fair interesting for all ages. The ice 
 carving team that will represent Portland at the Sapporo Snow Festival wil
 l demonstrate\, thanks to the Portland Sapporo Sister Cities Association. 
 \n\nMake sure to bring family and friends to enjoy this wonderful traditio
 n.\n\nDownload the event flyer (attached PDF) for detailed event informati
 on.
SUMMARY:10th Annual Mochitsuki\, Portland\, Oregon - Sunday\, January 29\,
  2006
URL:/en/events/2006/01/29/10th-annual-mochitsuki-portland-oregon---sunday-
 ja/
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