Japanese Culture event organizers prepare for busy event

MHCC’s Japanese club will be collaborating with the Gresham Sister City Association next week to host their signature cultural event, “Skosh (a little) Japanese Children’s Festival and Cultural Fair. “

The free event will be held on the main Gresham Mt. Hood campus from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.

“A lot of things will be going on: There will be performances, art work, comic story telling. This is a good opportunity to get people aware of what Japanese culture is and to get emerged from where you come from,” said Yoko Sato, MHCC Japanese adviser. All ages are welcome, she said.

Performances are to include Japanese singing, dancing, Taiko drumming from the Portland Taiko group, Japanese Koto Music by Mitsuki Dazai, and more.

Art will be displayed across the campus, including the Student Union, Vista dining hall and the College Theater.

Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grille will serve food for the event, Sato said.

MHCC students with I.D. may get a  free lunch and snacks.

“Things like this happen sometimes in Portland but not in Gresham,” she said. We’re all hoping people come and we’d like to make this an annual event from now on.”

Last year, the event was much smaller and was staged at the Greater Gresham Baptist Church.

Mary Jo Warr-King, head of publicity for the Gresham Sister City Association, said the festival will be a large event, with more than 30 presenters and activities to provide something of interest to every age. The goal is “showing off the Japanese culture in an honorable, beautiful and fun way,” she said by e-mail.

Warr-King says she has admired the Japanese culture for many years  for its emphasis on hard work and respect.

“Going back in the 50s and 60s and my days in the Gresham schools, I developed a deep respect for East (Multnomah) County’s Japanese community.  I had lots of Japanese friends who worked very hard and set the bar high for the rest of us students,” said Warr-King.

“My interest in Skosh II (sic) is to highlight these special folks in a very fine way.  They certainly deserve the recognition,” she said.

The festival is expected to be the largest Japanese culture event in the Gresham area.

“MHCC, Gresham High and Reynolds High all have very vibrant Japanese programs.  It fit naturally that we should all join forces for Skosh II (sic),” said Warr-King.

Sato said Mt. Hood’s Japanese club has been meeting every Friday for the past three months.

“A lot of work has been put in to prepare for this event,” Sato said.