Arlington Heights' Mitsuwa hosts Japanese festival

Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese grocery store in the Midwest, has announced the schedule for its upcoming Bon-Dancing Festival Aug. 6, also known as the annual Natsu-Matsuri (traditional Japanese summer festival).It will feature traditional Japanese dancers, Taiko drummers, authentic Japanese foods and drinks, Japanese games and more. For the second year, Mitsuwa presents a one-hour performance of jazz by Yoko Noge's Japanesque.The Bon-Dancing Festival is from 2-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Marketplace, Algonquin and Arlington Heights roads, Arlington Heights. It is free to attend.Thanks to the generosity of the Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, additional parking will be available. Yoko Noge's Japanesque will perform from 5:30-6:30 p.m.At 7 p.m. visitors are encouraged to dance around the Yagura (the tower from where the entertainers play music), which is called Bon-Odori in Japanese. #8220;Bon#8221; means the Buddhist festival of the ancestors and #8220;Odori#8221; means to dance. It is similar to line dancing and you will see many Japanese and American families in colorful traditional kimonos or yukatas attire.During the Bon-Dancing, Mitsuwa has prepared 11 songs for the general public to dance to, one of which is called Chicago Ondo, the original song honoring Chicagoans. Other events within the festival are:#376; Live entertainment by the professional Taiko Drummers.#376; Tsukasa-Daiko, traditional Dance by the Okinawans. #376; Karate demonstrations by Shidokan Karate. #376; Watermelon Smash. For details, call (847) 956-6699.