Hanafuda Cultural Festival
What about a Hanafuda Cultural Festival in Downtown Hilo that would include a tournament between generations playing this Japanese card game. Each card includes drawings of flowers and nature that are associated with the 12 months.
The Hawai‘i Japanese Center held a tournament last year. Maybe we could bring back Helen Nakano from Honolulu, who is the founder of Hanafuda Hawai‘i to be a part of this event.
Lessons can be held before the tournament to teach people the meaning of the cards and how to play Hanafuda. This would be a fun way to share culture and bring different generations together. Prizes could be homemade baked goods or locally-grown products.
Who would like to partner to help organize this event?
Where could this event be held in Downtown Hilo?
EDH 2025 Primary Focus Area: Encouraging Education, Culture, and the Arts
Secondary Focus Area(s): Strengthening and Sustaining Our Community
January 26, 2012 (last changed June 27, 2012)
Unfortunately, most non-local people do not know what Hanafuda is nor do they relate to the historical and cultural significance of this game. I still think this is a wonderful idea.
The booth could be used to invite people to sign up for the Hanafuda Festival.
Maybe just a pop-up tent,card table and a few hanafuda players at Lei Day? After all, the cards do have flowers!
Yes! Celebrating our cultural diversity. I remember sitting around on Saturday evenings playing Hanafuda as a kid. We were not Japanese so I’m sure the rules were not as refined as it should have been but we had fun. Of course the soft ice cream cone from the roaming ice cream truck was an important part of that evening. We turned off the TV!!!
Hi Leilehua,
Thank you for your suggestions! I don’t know if we are quite ready to move forward with this at May Day. We need to spread the word to secure a few more ‘likes’ first. Thank you so much for your offer! I have contacted the Japanese Culture Center and they are supportive. They actually held the first Hanafuda Cultural Day last November, 2011, which I unfortunately missed. That’s a great idea – to contact the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Nihon Restaurant. I understand Waiakea HS Japanese Club was involved last year and I have mentioned to Mrs. Masuhara at HIlo HS Key Club. We definitely want youth involvement!
I’d like to invite you to share hanafuda at Lei Day: Tuesday, May 1, Kalakaua Park. E-mail me at yuenl008@hawaii.rr.com for more information. http://www.LeiDay.net
Has anyone contacted the Japanese Chamber of Commerce http://www.jccih.org/ and the Japanese Culture Center http://hawaiijapanesecenter.com/about/ ? Nihon Restaurant might also be willing to help http://www.yelp.com/biz/nihon-restaurant-and-cultural-center-hilo
Sounds like a fun event!
It’s fun for all….young or old, so let’s have a Hanafuda Hawaiian Style Cultural Day.
Great idea! Support bringing generations together and sharing the culture with the community.