The 37th Annual Powell Street Festival3 min read

37th ANNUAL POWELL STREET FESTIVAL. SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 & SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013, 11:30AM – 7PM. Locations: Oppenheimer Park (400 Powell), Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova), Vancouver Japanese Language School – Japanese School – Japanese Hall (475 Alexander), Vancouver Buddhist Temple (220 Jackson), & Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy).

The Powell Street Festival is the largest Japanese Canadian festival in the country and the longest running community celebration in Vancouver! Enjoy traditional and contemporary Japanese Canadian performances and demonstrations, including taiko drumming, sumo wrestling, martial arts, bonsai and ikebana, folk and modern dance, alternative pop/rock/urban music, visual arts, film/video, as well as historical walking tours, tea ceremonies, and a fantastic array of Japanese food, crafts, & displays.

THEME FOR 2013: CHAMPION: This year, the Powell Street Festival celebrates artistic champions who have risen above an array of challenges in order to create dynamic works and build stronger communities. Look for Mitch Miyagawa’s film A Sorry State, which investigates the impact of the state apology on individuals who have borne the brunt of Canada’s colonial and racist past; a new work by taiko drummer Tiffany Tamaribuchi (USA) for Canada’s trailblazing taiko ensemble Katari Taiko (BC); and a stirring debut performance of the butoh-flavoured Pond by dance artist Tomomi Morimoto (QC).

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS: A reading by Governor General shortlisted author Mariko Tamaki (ON), author of Skim and (You) Set Me on Fire; Omodaka, a multimedia project led by Soichi Terada (Japan) that mixes Minyo (Japanese traditional-flavored folk song) and electronic music with motion graphics; performances by Polaris shortlisted psychedelic noh-wave opera group Yamantaka // Sonic Titan (QC/ON), Robson 800 Crew (BC), Rhythm Recall (BC), Tetsu Taiko with Dead Beat Ninjas (BC), improvisation loop-pedal sensation Doug Koyama (BC), indie dream pop performer Ohara (QC), Spring (BC), and dancer Aretha Aoki (BC); and the second year of the Jackson Avenue Block Party performance space and marketplace.

Soichi Terada, the electro producer of Omodaka combines traditional minyo (folk music) with contemporary electronic sounds performed in tandem to projected videos. The mask-wearing chip-tune enthusiast plucks live melodies from modified video game hand-helds to create live performances of bleeps and blips with traditional Japanese singing. Limited seating and by donation.

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan are a psychedelic noh-wave opera group fusing noise, metal, pop and folk music into a multidisciplinary hyper-orientalist cesspool of East-meets-West culture clash in giant monochrome paper sets. Founded in late 2007 by performance artists Alaska B and Ruby Kato Attwood, YT // ST is an Asian, Indigenous and Diasporic Art Collective that was shortlisted for the 2012 Polaris Prize. Presented in partnership with Queer Arts Festival.

A story of forbidden love, divided loyalties and culture clash unfolds in When the Sun Comes Out. This lesbian opera explores the oppression that queers face and the risks they take, in nations where homosexuality is illegal. Written by composer Leslie Uyeda and poet Rachel Rose. Directed by James Fagan Tait. Featuring Teiya Kasahara, Julia Morgan and Aaron Durand.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The Festival continues its 6th year of the Zero Waste Challenge, and offers a Free Bike Valet for all Festival attendees.

What about Ricepaper? We will have a table and great magazine and subscription deals! Stay tune for more info!

For more information, visit http://www.powellstreetfestival.com, like them on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/powellstfest) or follow them on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/powellstfest).