Flower Drum Songs: The 64th Annual Niesei Week Festival
I am curious, but not yellow: It has been a lifelong habit for me to strike up random conversations with any and everyone, talks which have inevitably led to some interesting discoveries.
So it was that after unwittingly blocking his truck from the driveway at 7 a.m. last Wednesday, I rushed out to move my car and consequently spoke at length with local gardener Sam Sakahara.
Gardening: Another La Cañada thing. Hence the plethora of lushly manicured lawns bordered with vibrant color, many with La Cañada Valley Beautiful award signs proudly displayed.
Me? I have a black thumb which barely leaves room for survival of the fittest, as I am wont to slaughter innocent daisies during Sam's absence.
I haven't known Sam long, but on Wednesday morning it was early enough and cool enough to chat. I attempted to adress my elder as "Mister, uh... Mister?" He laughed. "Just Sam," he said.
Born in Covina, Sam is a first generation Nisei, or Japanese American. The same is true of his Sacramento born wife, Seishun.
We talked about plants, gardening in general (his specialty is fruit trees) and floral arrangements. I admitted that the breadth of my technique with flowers consists of plopping some blooms in a vase and hoping they'll droop artistically.
Sam mentioned that Seishun is an instructor in traditional arrangements, and her work would be on display in the Japanese American Caultural and Community Center during the Nisei week festival, Aug. 7-8 through Aug. 14-15.
Cut to the JACCC a few days later, Sunday noon-ish, where I arrived in time for the sensation of taiko drumming on the plaza stage.
If you haven't witnessed this form of entertainment, it's pretty exciting stuff. Usually preformed by a group of 10 or more, all drummers execute perfectly synchronized rythms in "songs" that are creatively complex-and quite athletic.
After a bit, I began to wilt from the heat (how do those drummers do it? Oh, yeah, no one appears to be older than 20) and moved inside the JACCC in search of Mrs. Sakahara. On my way I wandered through various exhibits including ceramics,
sumie (brush) painting and local historical Nisei photos.
I found Mrs. Sakahara to be a most gracious lady who also teaches the Japanese tea ceremony. Speaking of which, that was a demonstration I missed, along with various martial arts demos. So much to see and do, so little time!
No matter, it will give me more to look forward to at next year's festival.
The 64th Nisei Week festival will conclude this weekend on Aug. 15. For further information call (213) 687-7193 or visit www.niseiweek.org. Fereva may be reached at: fereva@earthlink.net.
