celebrating its 30th anniversary year, the powell street festival is the largest japanese canadian festival and the longest running community celebration in vancouver! there are always so many fun filled traditional and contemporary japanese canadian performances, and this year was no exception. because the festival celebrates 30 years in the making, they have brought in a very special guest. rick shiomi, who was one of the original festival coordinators, waaaaay back in the 1970s, came with his taiko group from minnesota, mu-daiko. this year's taiko drummers included the festival's special minnesota guests as well as local groups such as sawagi taiko, katari taiko and chibi taiko. sumo wrestling and martial arts demos took over the ring, and the annual kokoro dance wowed us again this year with a special collaboration introducing their son, joe hirabayashi and his band life without water. what a fantastic band! check them out at www.lifewithoutwater.com



of course, the festival is never complete without tanko bushi, a traditional coal miners' tune and dance, and omikoshi, an incredibly elaborate structure of carved black and red lacquered and gilded wood which is the residence of the local kami, the local gods. the omikoshi hefted on the shoulders of carriers from the community and jogged through the festival grounds. not to forget are samples of alternative pop/rock/urban music, showings of visual arts, screenings of film and video, as well as a fantastic array of japanese food, crafts & displays. as i wandered through the booths of so many talented artists and craftspeople, i couldn't help but feel a tinge of nostalgia for my friend candice, whom i introduced to the powell street festival last year. candice is away, teaching english in korea, so she's not around to walk around with me, but her spirit is there with me in every corn that i chew into and every cool craft that i pick up. i hope that she'll be back next year for the 31st anniversary of powell street festival!