The Japanese Friendship Garden will offer the public a chance to learn more about Japanese culture and enjoy an evening of beauty, food and entertainment on Friday and Saturday as it continues its annual tradition of hosting Otsukimi Moonviewing Festival.
Otsukimi is the Japanese word for moonviewing, and the festival is modeled after traditional Japanese celebrations of the full moon and fall harvest, providing the Japanese Friendship Garden the opportunity to share Japanese culture with the community. Due to demand, this year the event will span two evenings rather than one.
“Part of our mission is to spread information about the Japanese culture and provide cultural activities,” said Rebekah Dresp, event manager for the Japanese Friendship Garden. “This year is the first time we are holding it two nights because, consistently, our event would sell out. We like to limit the amount of people in the garden at one time, to keep it more elegant.”
Guests walking the garden’s candlelit pathways will be able to observe the moon in the garden’s outdoor environment, Dresp said. She said her first time at the event last year was breathtaking.
“As you walk through the garden, you have this sense of inner peace, and you’re mesmerized by the beauty and the elegance of the evening,” she said. “It’s important because not only are you able to enjoy a very pleasant evening, but at the same time, you’re participating in something that’s special and unique. It’s like being a part of something that you can’t be a part of anywhere else. You’re appreciating the moon, something that you wouldn’t normally do, along with 500 other people.”
Each evening will feature five performing artists, including Ken Koshio, a Japanese musician who will be playing the fue (flute), sanshin (three-stringed instrument) and guitar. He said that anyone can enjoy the festival and the garden as a whole.
“I think it’s a really beautiful garden and oasis in the desert. It’s a great time to spend a few hours in the garden, because they usually aren’t open in the evening,” Koshio said. “It’s culture and nature, and that gives them a really rich experience.”
In addition to the musical performances, there will be Japanese food vendors Yatai Ramen AZ and Island Loco as well as a traditional Japanese tea service. For the second year, members of Astro Devils, the ASU Astronomy Club, will be on hand to provide guests the chance to view the moon and sky through telescopes.
“We are going to be hanging out near the entrance of the garden with our high-powered telescopes set up and trained right on the moon,” said James Enos, an Astro Devils member responsible for outreach events. “Guests can see a lot of features on the moon, like craters, that aren’t necessarily visible with the naked eye, so it’s like a whole new moon that we’re looking at for a lot of people.”
Enos said the location is amazing, with the moonlight illuminating the large koi pond and waterfall.
“The Japanese Friendship Garden is stunning. It’s just an absolutely beautiful place to walk around, and it’s very peaceful,” he said.
For more information, visit the Friendship Garden website. Limited tickets will be available at the gate.
Contact the reporter at rbouley@asu.edu
