{"id":299364,"date":"2019-11-01T13:05:01","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T04:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitmatsumoto.com\/?p=299364"},"modified":"2019-11-01T13:12:11","modified_gmt":"2019-11-01T04:12:11","slug":"pickin-and-grinnin-at-japanese-culture-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/events\/pickin-and-grinnin-at-japanese-culture-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Pickin’ and Grinnin’ at Japanese Culture Days"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever wanted to try your hand at plucking out a traditional Japanese tune on a shamisen<\/em>? How about practicing your kanji<\/em> with some calligraphy? Are you the crafty type who\u2019d rather be making your own wooden pendants or chopsticks? Or maybe you want to unleash your inner warrior by wielding a katana<\/em> on stage for all to see?<\/p>\n

If you said yes to any of these, then come on down to Kurassic-kan on Nakamachi Street in Matsumoto City! The Japanese Culture Experience Days are currently being held on select Tuesdays every month.<\/p>\n

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Kurassic-kan on the left.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kurassic-kan is an event space on Nakamachi Street that hosts a variety of activities through which visitors from all walks of life can experience Japanese culture. Whether it\u2019s doing origami to fold paper cranes or trying on a fashionable yet traditional kimono<\/em>, the Japanese Culture Experience Days event offers something for everyone.<\/p>\n

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A lovely performance of song and dance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can also view the experiences if you don\u2019t wish to participate. An impromptu dance performance accompanied by two shamisen<\/em> players took place.<\/p>\n

Despite the rainy weather this past Tuesday, I tried my hand at two of the events: playing the shamisen<\/em> and folding paper cranes with origami.<\/p>\n

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Maintaining an upright position with the thumb is most important!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The shamisen<\/em> produces a tone altogether different from what we hear in Western music. Instead of a pick, shamisen<\/em> players use a large, white object called a bachi<\/em> to play its Eastern scales. Having played guitar for many years, I found it quite easy to pick up the shamisen<\/em> and was playing Sakura<\/em> in no time at all. Newcomers will find the experience fun, challenging, and sonically invigorating.<\/p>\n

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The folding begins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Next I attempted to fold a paper crane at the origami table. Attempt being the key word… I\u2019m terrible at folding things, but it was still quite fun to learn from a master. Renzuru<\/em>, or joined cranes, is a traditional origami fold that dates back to the Edo Period.<\/p>\n

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Success! Kind of.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next Japanese Culture Experience Day will be held on November 12th. Be sure to drop by Kurassic-kan and try your hand at some Japanese crafts, wearing traditional clothing, or putting on a musical performance!<\/p>\n