Oita Japan Festival #OitaATX

Attired in colorful anime-like costumes, New York-based Peelander-Z promises a performance with intense audience participation and a chance for the entire family to exercise and rock out.

The festival also will showcase a dynamic Japanese drumming performance by Austin Taiko, an elegant Japanese tea ceremony by Central Texas Chado, and hands-on children activities such as origami folding, kanji writing, and using chopsticks. Seminars about traveling and doing business in Japan will be conducted during the event.

A Shodo calligraphy contest will feature five age groups that each will have one minute to re-create a calligraphy artwork. The audience will vote on the calligraphy reproduction that most resembles the original work, and members of the winning group will win prizes. Contestants can participate regardless of whether or not they know how to draw Japanese calligraphy.

Attendees may purchase traditional Japanese food and drinks, and such wares as kimonos, calligraphy and art. A silent auction, which will include a 2019 SXSW interactive badge, also will be held.

The Austin-Oita Sister City Committee’s mission is to promote and heighten public interest in and appreciation of the culture, people, languages, businesses, and products between the City of Austin and Oita, Japan. Oita, one of Austin’s 13 Sister Cities, has been a Sister City to Austin since 1990.