2009 Tanabata Festival at the Seattle Japanese Garden

2009 Tanabata Festival at the Seattle Japanese Garden July 5, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

You are invited to join the traditional practice of writing poetry and wishes on paper strips (tanzaku) and tying them to the trees.

Throughout the Festival:

• Shoseian Tea House
• Mitsuko Soko Gale and Shoseikai will present a Tanabata Chakai,
• or Star Festival Tea Gathering, at 1 and 2 p.m.
• Reservations are available at the Ticket Booth.

Performances
11 a.m. Presentation Japanese Poetry by Micheal Dylan Welch
11:30 a.m. Telling of the Tanabata Tale in Azumaya
12:30 p.m. Chiyo Sanada Demonstrates ‘Sho’ Calligraphy on the Moon Viewing Platform.
1 p.m. Poetry Reading by Micheal Dylan Welch: A selection of love poems from his translation of the Ogura Hyakuin Isshu: 100 Poems by 100 Poets
1:30 p.m. Telling of the Tanabata Tale in Azumaya
2 p.m. Miho and Diego Duo will perform in a fusion of Latin, Japanese, African and American music, employing the Andean Flute and Marimba in the entry courtyard.

• Tours of the Japanese Garden are conducted by Unit 86 Guides. Meet a guide at the entry gate at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. for a 45-minute tour.
• The Tanabata Display in the Garden Entryway is by Unit-86 Volunteers.
• The display of Artwork is by Unit-86 Photo Art Group in the Tateuchi Community Room.
• The Textile Display is presented by Sumie Yasuda & Ayako Yamada in the Interpretive Foyer.
• Ikebana arrangements are provided by Ikebana International in the Tateuchi Community Room.
• Enjoy hands on Tanabata Paper Craft, Calligraphy in the Orchard with our Unit-86 Volunteers.

The legend of Tanabata
Long ago, on the west bank of the Milky Way, there lived a beautiful princess, Orihime. She was a skilled weaver of beautiful kimonos. Tentei, the Emperor of the sky, was very happy with her diligence and married her to a hard working herdsman Kengyu from across the Milky Way.

Kengyu and Orihime fell in love. But they spent so much time together that Orihime neglected her weaving and Kengyu allowed the livestock to stray and become frail. The emperor ordered that they be separated by the Heavenly River, the milky way.. They were allowed to meet one day a year, the 7th day of the 7th month, provided they had worked hard.

Celebrate the tradition by writing poems and wishes on paper strips (tanzanku) and tying on branches to be carried on the wind to heaven.

The Tanabata stars, Vega (weaving princess star) and Altair (sheepherder star) are visible in the night sky during the time of the Tanabata festival.