Japan Fest welcomes all this weekend

One of the most colorful and unique festivals in the Northwest suburbs opens Saturday: Japan Festival 2010.

The festival has become a summer staple at the Forest View Educational Center, 1212 S. Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights, featuring the best in Japanese music, dance, martial arts, cultural displays, food and a special kids' corner.

Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 27.

Highlights are:

• Demonstrations and lectures by the director and three master traditional Japanese craftsmen from the Future-Applied Conventional Technology Center in Kyoto.

• A Japanese autoharp (taishogoto) group from Kyoto, Taishogoto Koto-Sanga, will play Japanese music with the Chicago Shinobue (Japanese Flute) group.

• Two entertainment stages feature Koto, Taiko drum groups, classical Japanese dance, Okinawa Taiko Drums and Dances, Japanese Folk Dances, martial arts of aikido, judo and more.

• Cultural Exhibition Halls: Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangements); Miyuki Art Flowers; Katana (Japanese swords); Chano-Yu (tea ceremony); Shodo (Japanese calligraphy).

• Taste of Japan (always the center of attraction) with sushi, chicken teriyaki and more.

• Marketplace (arts and crafts): Handicrafts, cards, Japanese books, fabric crafts and kimono.

• Information tables will be staffed by travel agents and other Japanese representatives, including Kyoto.

For details, visit www.japanfest-chicago.org.