New Year celebration in the Central Valley, California

Cultural News, February 2006

Mme. Fumi Akitagawa (left) presents a Kimono show for the New Year celebration event in the Lee Institute for Japanese Arts in Hanford, Central Valley of California (Photo courtesy of the Lee Institute) 

Editorial: The Lee Institute for Japanese Arts has been changed to the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture.

By Carol Hyland

      The beginning of the New Year found the weather cold and bleak in California's Central Valley.  Thick winter mists cloaked the bare branches of the walnut groves.  In the center of one such grove, however, is a wonderful surprise: the Ruth and Sherman Lee Institute for Japanese Art.  This oasis of Japanese art and culture in the midst of the San Joaquin Valley (in Hanford, Kings County) is a special treat.  Founder, Willard "Bill" Clark, and his wife have created a beautiful environment in which to share their collection of Japanese art.

      On Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, the institute held a New Year celebration which was attended by several hundred guests from all over California.  It included many traditional activities including mochi-tsuki (pounding mochi), karuta (a card matching game), kakizome (first writing of the New Year), making kagami mochi (a New Year decoration for the home), fukuwarai and hanetsuki (fun games), a koto performance by Mrs. Kay Tokumoto, and a kimono kitsuke and kimono fashion show by Mme. Fumi Akutagawa.

     Many types of kimono were shown and explained during Mme. Akutagawa's presentation, including two kimono designed by Sansai Saito.  Various women's houmongi, furisode and a purple bridal gown with embroidered cranes were shown.  Men's formal monstuki haori with hakama was also shown.  Several guests were dressed in kimono by Mme. Akutagawa, some wearing kimono for the first time.  A lively question and answer period followed.  Mme. Akutagawa was assisted by Yaeko Hosobuchi and Carol Hyland.

     This celebration is one of a number of events held from September through July at the institute, including a Fall and Spring festival.  A large corps of volunteers and docents along with Ritsuko Miyazaki, program director, and Yuri Yamada, collections assistant, made this a day to remember. The current exhibit at the institute features meisen kimono. Other exhibitions have included 18th and 19th century nanga, ceramics, byoubu (screens), baskets, paintings and sculpture. 

    More information on the Institute for Japanese Arts is available at their website:  www.shermanleeinstitute.org.   These exciting events and exhibitions help keep Japanese traditions alive and well in the Central Valley, California.

   Carol Hyland lives in Simi Valley and enjoys wearing kimono whenever possible.