About Nihon Matsuri

The 4thAnnual Nihon Matsuri street festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2008 on 100 South between 200 and 300 West in Salt Lake City. The program is sponsored by a non-profit group of dedicated individuals, the Nihon Matsuri organization, whose goal is to share and educate the larger Utah community about Japanese and Japanese American culture, history, and traditions. The program was initiated in 2005 by Floyd Mori, National JACL Director, as a way to also pass on the Japanese traditions and culture to younger fifth, sixth, and seventh generation Japanese Americans and to help them identify with their heritage. Nihon (Japan) Matsuri (Festival) will include artist demonstrations of tea ceremony, calligraphy, doll making, martial arts such as karate, kendo, iaido, and aikido; performances of odori (dancing), singing, taiko (drums); a fashion show; displays of ikebana (flower arrangements), bonsai, paintings, dolls, historical photographs; hands-on art projects for children; and much more. A variety of Japanese food will also be available.

Japanese immigrants and their descendants have been residents of Utah communities since 1884. In Utah today, individuals of Japanese descent are represented across all income, employment, educational and social categories. Most Utahns will encounter Japanese descendants in their neighborhoods, in the workplace, in schools, and while shopping, dining, or enjoying leisure activities. Unfortunately, many younger Utahns are unaware that a “Japantown” established in approximately 1907 and located in part where the Salt Palace now stands, played an important role for both the Japanese as well as for the larger community. The proximity of Japantown to Main Street enabled a daily contact and interaction between the Japanese community and the larger community. A century of activities and memories are the legacy of a Japantown that nurtured a sense of place and identity for individuals ofJapanese descent and endures for those who value Japanese culture.

The core of Japantown was demolished in 1966 to make way for the building of the Salt Palace displacing many Japanese residents and businesses. The Japanese Church of Christ, established in 1918 and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, circa 1912, located on 100 South between 200 and 300 West, are the remainders of a once vibrant presence of the Japanese community. These churches continue to serve as religious sanctuaries and as havens for community gatherings and activities. Unfortunately, the location has also been a target each time a change has occurred in the needs of the Salt Palace that has galvanized the Japanese American community to work towards minimizing potential future encroachments and to reestablish a sense of belonging. To this end, the Japanese Community Preservation Committee (JCPC) in their efforts to preserve the historical significance of the 100 South block have been successful in having the street designated as “Japantown.” The dedication of the honorary designation and the completion of the Japanese garden by the Salt Palace took place during the 2007 Nihon Matsuri.

Many Japanese Americans, some associated with the Japanese Church of Christ, the Salt Lake and Ogden Buddhist Temples, the Daichi Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, three local chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League, and many other organizations and individuals collaborated for the common goal of a successful Nihon Matsuri festival. These community based organizations understand that Japanese American history, culture, and traditions are best shared through live performances and onsite experiences. These groups as well as community members of Japanese ancestry cherish the opportunity that Nihon Matsuri presents to share the Japanese culture with the Utah community and embrace the diversity that exists in the Salt Lake valley.

The festival is open to the public and admission is free. The Nihon Matsuri committee welcomes everyone to attend.