Japanese action comic punk band Peelander-Z will headline a family-friendly summer festival celebrating Japanese culture. The 2018 Oita Japan Festival #OitaATX is scheduled 12-4 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Asian American Resource Center (AARC) and will include entertainment and activities for all ages. The Austin-Oita Sister Committee is hosting the event.
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 band has appeared at major music festivals and been featured on such TV programs as VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and Comedy Central’s “Upright Citizens Brigade.” Media outlets including SPIN, Rolling Stone, Village Voice, NPR, The Onion and others have covered the band.
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.
Tickets are required for attendance at the festival and are now available for purchase: $10 for ages 13 and older and $5 for ages 5-12. Children 4 and younger will be admitted free. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Ticket availability at the door will be limited. For more information about the festival and to purchase tickets, go to www.AustinOita.org
The AARC is located at 8401 Cameron Rd., Austin, TX 78754.
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.
Sponsors of the festival include Tokyo Electron Ltd., City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Best of Austin Living Team at Keller Williams Realty, Japan Airlines, Bruce Gardner Insurance & Investments, and Asahi Japanese Groceries & Gifts.
Festival partners are the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, Central Texas Chado, the Japan External Trade Organization, Austin Taiko, Austin Sister Cities International, and KOOP 91.7 FM. An on-air personality from KOOP will serve as master of ceremonies for the festival.
For more information, contact:
Susan Hammons, PR & Marketing Lead, Austin-Oita Sister City Committee
512-585-1866, susan_hammons@sbcglobal.net