Lunar New Year
February 5, 2018
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 11
The Year of the Dog kicks off at
22nd annual Mochitsuki celebration
Mochitsuki — the Japanese New Year
celebration — returned to Portland State
University (PSU) in downtown Portland
for its 22nd annual event. The day of
festivities opened promptly at 11:00am as
eager participants poured through the
front doors of PSU’s Smith Memorial
Student Union (SMSU). The gathering,
welcoming the Year of the Dog, took place
Sunday, January 28.
Soon after walking past the first-floor
hallways at Portland State’s SMSU,
visitors encountered a number of food
options in the dining area. The Konko
Church of Portland gave away free mochi
samples, the Nichiren Buddhist Temple
sold spam musubi, the Oregon Buddhist
Temple served chili over rice, en Taiko
offered ramune and other drinks, and
Oyatsupan Bakers featured Japanese
baked goods, among several other options.
In addition to mochi available for sale all
day, children’s mochi-pounding sessions
were held as part of the Mochitsuki
Community Fair, which also featured
performances by A-Key Kyo and Dance
Leo, calligraphy with Sekko Kai, kendo
and tea-ceremony demonstrations, photo
opportunities with Hello Kitty, and more.
On the second floor, participants found
several rooms of activities. At the Portland
Taiko table, there was an interactive taiko
video game; the Japan America Society of
Oregon offered a quiz, coloring, and
information; MiyakoCon featured a
yukata dress-up station and photobooth;
the JET Program Alumni Association held
a
Suikawari
(watermelon-splitting)
activity; the Kumoricon booth had
information and a craft station at which
youth were assisted in making a pair of
clip-on cat ears; and much more.
The performance stage, held in the
building’s third-floor ballroom, featured
entertainment nearly all afternoon long.
Oregon Koto-kai opened the first set with
beautiful koto music, which was followed
by storyteller Alton Chung, the Sahomi
Tachibana Dancers, storytelling Robert
Kikuchi-Yngojo, and Takohachi taiko,
MAKING MOCHI. Mochitsuki — the Japanese
New Year celebration — returned to Portland State
University in downtown Portland for its 22nd annual
event. The gathering, welcoming the Year of the Dog,
took place Sunday, January 28, and featured calligra-
phy (top left photo), toys and games (top right photo),
children’s mochi-pounding sessions (bottom right
photo), Hello Kitty (bottom left photo), performances
on two stages, a yukata dress-up station, an interac-
tive taiko video game, food demonstrations, and much
more. (AR Photos/Jan Landis)
Set two started with remarks by consul
general of Portland Kojiro Uchiyama. A
reading and enactment of the book Thank
You Very Mochi! preceded an obon dance
workshop and a performance by Portland
Taiko. The closing set of the day included
singer-songwriter Joe Kye, violinist
Tomoki Martens, and Unit Souzou.
Also on the third floor were food
demonstrations, calligraphy, and ikebana,
as well as booths set up by Ikoi No Kai, the
Portland-Sapporo Sister City Association,
the Oregon Nikkei Endowment, the
Institute for Asian Studies at PSU, the
Portland chapter of the Japanese
American Citizens League (JACL), and
many others offering games, information,
crafts, toys, greeting cards, and gifts.
It was an activity-packed day for
attendees of Mochitsuki 2018. The
celebration featured endless tasty food
options, activities galore, numerous photo
opportunities, and fun for all ages. To
learn about next year’s event, call (503)
224-1458 or visit <www.mochipdx.org>.
An Educ a tion Big g e r
tha n a Ne ig hborhood.
Wishing You a Happy, Healthy New Year!
If you’re looking to make a change in 2018,
employment opportunities abound at Multnomah
Athletic Club. Learn more by visiting our Careers
page at theMAC.com/careers.
Sc ho o lwide O pe n Ho use : Ja n 30, 6- 8pm
Cha t with Alumni Nig ht: Ma r 20, 6- 7:30pm
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