ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Thursday, March 4, 2004

MICHAEL RACEY
Villager Staff Writer

The Dublin Arts Council's annual Celebration of Japan Festival turns 10 this year and is celebrating by bringing to the festival one of the country's most famous exported traditions -- karaoke.

There will be two karaoke, or "empty orchestra," machines set up at the festival this year, one for public singing and a private booth for the more shy singers.

Both will include many Japanese songs, from traditional music to current popular music, and participants are encouraged to try to sing them in the native tongue.

If participants want to follow the whims of karaoke singers in Japan, they should try to sing an "enka," which is typically a heartbreaking ballad.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Dublin Scioto High School, 4000 Hard Road.

"It's hard to believe (the festival is 10 years old)," said Jessica Fagan, spokeswoman for the DAC. "It started out as a much smaller event."

The original intent of the arts council, according to Fagan, was to feature a different culture each year in festival form.

However, the response to the event was "so positive" after the first year, Fagan said the DAC "decided to keep that as a focus."

It is estimated that up to 7,000 people will attend this year's festival.

The morning hours of the event will feature Okinawan folk dancing and music from a shakuhachi -- a Japanese bamboo flute.

At 1 p.m., a San Francisco-based Japanese acting troupe, Theater of Yugen, will perform the traditional play styles of Noh, meaning tragic, and Kyogen, meaning comic.

Returning to the festival is the most popular exhibit in years past, a performance by the Burlington Taiko Group.

The word taiko stands for "big drum," and the Vermont-based group's show will begin at 3 p.m.

Also returning to the festival is gyotaku, or fish printing, which has proven to be a favorite among the younger crowd.

Karate, aikido and tea-ceremony demonstrations will be performed throughout the day, as well as a number of hands-on activities and workshops held throughout the day.

Admission to the festival is free; patrons wanting to eat can buy food from Kikyo Restaurant and Crescent Cafe and Bakery.

Fagan said all of the workshops, demonstrations and activities are free save for people who decorate ceramic rice bowls.

There is a charge for that because the bowls have to be fired in a kiln and shipped.

For more information about the event, call the DAC at 889-7444 or log on at www.dublinarts.org.

<center>mracey@thisweeknews.com