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• Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day) Virtual Event

  • When
    3 Mar 2021
  •  
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (UTC-06:00)
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar

  Register

  Register here

  Join us for a virtual presentation of Hinamatsuri, or "Girl's Day" on Wednesday, March 3rd. We'll learn about the history of the holiday, hina dolls and each doll's significance, and special Japanese food associated with Hinamatsuri.

  Register in advance for our Zoom webinar. This event is limited to 100 participants. Registration is free of charge. This is a  family-friendly event for all ages! 

  Hinamatsuri is a special Japanese holiday held on the third day of the third month each year dedicated to young girls. Until they are about ten years old, young girls will enjoy a display of ornamental dolls known as hinaningyou, set up on a red tiered display known as a hinadan. Young girls celebrate by having parties with their friends, eating special snacks like ichigodaifuku (strawberries and red bean paste inside mochi rice cake) and hina-arare (special sweet rice crackers).

  
  

  
  

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• March Kayoubikai (Virtual Event)

  • When
    23 Mar 2021
  •  
    6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (UTC-06:00)
  • Location
    Zoom Meeting
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  Kayoubikai is virtual in Spring 2021!

  Kayoubikai (火曜日会) is JASA's monthly networking event where our members and friends have a chance to come together and talk about Japanese culture and their connection to Japan. 

  Traditionally we have met at a local Japanese restaurant each month, but in order to keep everyone safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19, we will be hosting a virtual event instead! 

  We've missed seeing our Kayoubikai regulars and meeting new friends each month, so we hope that you will be able to join us in this online format. Order takeout from your favorite Japanese restaurant, sit back in front of your computer in the comfort of your home, and make some new friends who love Japan! 

  This event will be hosted on Zoom. We will have a brief welcome from JASA leadership and then rotate through Zoom's "Breakout Sessions" in small groups so everyone has a chance to get to know each other. 

  Please be sure to RSVP with your email as we will be sending a Zoom link prior to the event. 

  Please email us with any questions at executivedirector@jasaweb.org. 

  We hope to see you there! 

  
  

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• Cherry Blossom Festival 2021 (Virtual)

  • When
    27 Mar 2021
  •  
    10:00 AM (UTC-06:00)
  • Location
    https://japanalabama.com/Cherry-Blossom-Festival

  Register

  Cherry Blossom Festival 2021
  

  Our annual Cherry Blossom Festival (sakura matsuri) is held in March each year at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We have a variety of performances, food, and Japanese cultural activities to add to your hanami (flower viewing) experience! Cherry Blossoms, or sakura, only bloom for a few weeks each year. In Japanese culture, sakura represent mortality and remind viewers of the beauty and transience of life. Thousands of people flock to parks in Japan to see the blossoms. This year, we're hosting some of our favorite guests virtually!

  Join us for YouTube Live performances, special interviews, and messages from your favorite Cherry Blossom Festival Guests and performers! Visit our website Cherry Blossom Festival page on March 27th for a full day of Japanese culture through video.

  We are lucky to have cherry trees all over Alabama that bloom each Spring. We encourage everyone to venture outside this month to appreciate the cherry blossoms! Note: Please respect social distancing guidelines and your area's COVID-19 precautions when attending any public gardens and parks. Visit Alabama Department of Public Health for more information on how to stay safe.

  See below for a list of participants and stay tuned for a full schedule for the day! We'll be updating our event with content throughout the month of March so you can appreciate Japanese culture throughout Cherry Blossom Season.

  Featuring...

  A.C.T. Defense Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu

  Birmingham Botanical Gardens

  Birmingham Public Library's Miss Iwate

  Birmingham Shinkendo Federation

  Ikebana - Japanese Flower Arranging

  Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan

  Origami - Japanese Paper Crafts

  Paperworkers Local Moku Hanga

  ...and more!

  
  

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