Vancouver’s Matsuri- Japanese Powell Street Festival 2009

Editor’s Captures

The scorching humid heat, okonomiyaki at one booth, yakitori at another, shaved ice, and an ice cold bottle of ramune in my hand. . .everything, including the energy of a Japanese matsuri (festival) was present at the 33rd Annual Powell Street Festival in Vancouver, Canada. And there was no shortage of cute yukata-wearing (summer kimonos) girls!

Omikoshi Event

I got really excited that the Festival even had a small mikoshi, a portable Shinto shrine. The mikoshi is usually the centerpiece of a festival, as Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle of a divine spirit in Japan.

The mikoshi usually belongs to a local shrine, and during a festival, people bear the mikoshi on their shoulders by means of the two or four poles. They carry it around the neighborhoods that worship at the shrine, as a blessing to the community.

Believe it or not, the biggest mikoshis in Japan can weigh up to 4 tonnes - this one was much smaller, but the spirit of the people made it a moment to remember. Here’s some footage I got of the omikoshi festival ritual. Enjoy! (Video background music is Misora Hibari’s Matsuri Mambo)

And of course, here are my matsuri (festival) munchies I just love!

Yakisoba and Korroke (Japanese Potato Croquette)

Friends eating kakikoori (shaved ice) - (L) strawberry & ice cream, (R) azuki, matcha & ice cream

Iced Cold Ramune (Japanese soda drink)

History of the Powell Street Festival

It was 33 years ago, in 1977, that the Japanese Canadian Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi) decided to bring the summer festivals of Japan on to new grounds. The Powell Street Festival initially started as a small celebration of the historical Japantown in Vancouver, but has grown into a much-loved annual event, anticipated by Vancouverites and Japanese Canadians across the nation each summer. Today, the Japanese Powell Street Festival is a proud display of Asian Canadian arts and culture. The Festival celebrated its 30th year in 2006.

More photos. . .

(L) No outfit is ever complete without a Mickey Mouse Omen (mask)

Big line-ups for food!