The Idaho Japanese Association invited Boiseans to immerse themselves in the traditions, artistry and spirit of Japanese culture during its annual Japan Day festival on Sept. 21.
Despite the rainy weather, hundreds of visitors gathered in Julia Davis Park for an afternoon filled with the sights, sounds and flavors of Japan.
“We create an opportunity for cultural exchange in our community,” said Keiko Flugel, board member for the Idaho Japanese Association. “It’s not only for Japanese people living in this area — we see lots of American people who like to learn about Japanese culture, so that’s why we host this bigger event.”
Visitors enjoyed performances of traditional Japanese dances, as well as martial arts demonstrations including judo and karate. Between shows, they browsed vendor booths selling food, clothing, collectibles, art and handmade Japanese items.
Volunteers from the Idaho Japanese Association connected with attendees and shared information about the festival and Japanese culture.
“We are proud of hosting and introducing Japanese culture to anybody,” Flugel said. “Watching everybody enjoy [Japan Day] encourages us to do it again next year.”
The event was made possible due to the City of Boise’s Art and History grant program, which funds quality arts, history and cultural projects and programming that they believe will benefit Boise residents.
Japan Day attendees had dozens of opportunities to engage with Japanese culture. They practiced writing their names in Japanese calligraphy, browsed through Japanese books and played a variety of children’s games for prizes.
Some visitors attended the festival to connect with their Japanese heritage, while others came to learn more about the culture or explore personal interests such as anime and Japanese pop culture.
“Lots of people show up,” Flugel said. “It surprises us to see that Boise has so many people interested in Japan.”
The Idaho Japanese Association is dedicated to sharing Japanese culture throughout the state to build understanding and friendship with local residents.
“Anybody can sign up to be a member of the Idaho Japanese Association,” Flugel added. “It doesn’t matter what your background is. You don’t have to be Japanese. Everyone is welcome.”
Vendors also sold Japanese art and clothing. Maki Jackson, a festival vendor and former board member for the Idaho Japanese Association, ran a booth selling used kimonos along with other secondhand and handmade items tied to Japanese culture.
Jackson emphasized Japan Day is a chance for cultural connection in Boise and to recognize the hard work the Idaho Japanese Association puts into it.
“[Japan Day] is a really difficult event to put on,” she said. “It takes a lot of organization, so it’s really impressive what they manage to do here.”
Jackson noted her favorite part of Japan Day was the performances. She explained the Idaho Japanese Association strives to bring a wide range of acts from different areas to offer visitors a fuller experience of Japanese culture.
She was also impressed by the large crowds that attended the festival.
“It’s really great that even though the weather is kind of crappy, so many people have managed to come out and enjoy Japan Day,” Jackson said.
Jo and Makenzie Daugherty, Japan Day attendees, said their love of Japanese culture drew them to Japan Day, and they appreciated the opportunity to enjoy such a rich cultural experience in Idaho, where opportunities like this can be hard to find.
“In an area like Boise, where you don’t see a lot of [diversity] every day, it’s cool to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and to put that in the forefront so everybody can celebrate it,” Makenzie Daugherty said.
