Come to our FREE Fall Festival on Saturday, September 6, 2025. (In spite of the poor weather forecast, there were more problems with changing the date). This event will be on Jesup Green, outside the Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880, from 1:00 pm to 4 pm (we may end earlier depending on the weather).
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Pond Ridge Jodo
NEW THIS YEAR:
We will have a demonstration of the martial art Shintō Musō-ryū (SMR), by Pound Ridge Jodo. SMR is a Jodo style of stick fighting. The Jo is a 7/8" diameter stick approximately 50 1/4" long and used against an opponent who is armed with a wooden sword. "Shintō Musō-ryū, or Shindō Musō-ryū, is a traditional school of the Japanese martial art of jōjutsu, or the art of wielding the short staff. The technical purpose of the art is to learn how to defeat a swordsman in combat using the jō, with an emphasis on proper combative distance, timing and concentration.
Ikebana experts Judith Hata, Shizue Pleasanton, Roxane Wasserman, Connie Marchetti will present one arrangement each.
Gotchapon vending machines dispense capsule toys. For a few dollars, you buy a token, put it in a Gotchapon machine and you get an item. All items are similarly priced, but it’s random as to which prize comes out.
We invite you to join us in Japanese Bon dances, which will be led by Bon-Dan NYC. Bon-Dan NYC is a dance group for Bon-Odori, traditional Japanese folk dance, established in 2019 based in New York City. Our folk dances are easy. Check out these links:
TANKO-BUSHI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcmwzdqfB9E&list=RDFcmwzdqfB9E&start_radio=1
AWA ODORI (Choreography and original music by Takarabune):
Facing forward: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ANczoJJhPIPxM-LBkqWrmJ-XPxTtdn28
In a circle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O6nxaYUj6OhUcJ-PzbnLfpRUlyduaQTl
HANAGASA-ONDO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pruHDou7e9s
TOKYO ONDO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbyeBSjebc4
DANCING HERO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7q9KgK0kVE
2024 "Balloon" play Zodiac cast
Raccoons of Shojo Temple will be narrated and performed with original props made of twisted balloons. (The Japanese animal tanuki, or raccoon dog, is actually more closely related to the fox than to the North American raccoon).
Another brief play Obon season & the Water Lantern Festival will be done in a similar manner.
Kai Stern of the Clear Lake Zen Garland Order will lead Seiza meditation sessions. Seiza (quiet sitting) was established by Okada Torajiro Sensei about 110 years ago in Japan. At our festival, it will be shown that Seiza can be practiced while sitting on a chair.
All are invited to join a demonstration of Radio Taiso. This gentle fitness routine. set to music, is widely practiced in Japan. It was first introduced nearly a century ago and remains a staple of daily life with 6:30 AM broadcasts on TV and radio. Taking just three minutes to perform, the movements are designed to be suitable for all ages. See a teaching video:
Free parking is available in the three lots around the main library. Note: There is a 3 hour time limit for the lot in front of the library (Taylor Lot). See https://www.discoverwestportct.com/parking for parking information.
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