2008 Finnish-American Folk Festival Is A Hit!

Although my spouse and I are of Japanese and Japanese-America ancestry, we had made plans this last weekend to attend the 2008 Finnish-American Folk Festival in Naselle, WA July 25-27.

Left: Swede Finnish author Agnes Rands Warren. Photo by Mizu Sugimura.

Agnes Rands Warren, author of Where The Huckleberries Grow (2000), Linden Press, a dramatized family history relating the experience of her immigrant parents in the Pacific Northwest, and its sequel Even Seagulls Cry (2005) Linden Press, covering life on the Home Front from 1939-1946, was just one of the interesting speakers during cultural programming at the bi-annual event.


During the short break in the vendors room Warren was asked to share a little about her books. She said it became increasingly important as the years went by to honor the legacy of her Finnish and Swede Finnish parents and their generation by preserving and passing-on some of the events and stories associated with their respective experiences in the United States as a gift to the young people in her family and the community at large.

As researching and recording what is available of my own family and ethnic roots has been a lifelong interest since grade school days when I asked for the history of my own grandparents journey to the United States as a child, only to be told my folks, aunts and uncles didn't know the details because "No one thought to ask" during the days they were coming up, Warren is a woman after my own heart.

Hubby and I had a lovely time during our visit to the festival in Naselle and highly recommend it when it returns to the Southwest Washington event again in 2010. For more 2008 festival pictures and more detailed information about the events in Naselle, this link will take you to my personal blog.

Below: Fresh festival floral decor colorfully echoes the clever theme the 2008 festival which was "Knee Deep In Finns" and a darling illustration of just that - by local artist Debbi Littlefield was featured prominently on festival posters, t-shirts and other publicity for the past two years. Photo copyright 2008 by Mizu Sugimura.

Seattle Bon Odori Continues To Make Memories

Above center: Crowds of all ages gather on both sides of the street by the Seattle Buddhist Church to get good views of the dancers at the 2oo8 Seattle Bon Odori. Photo copyright 2008 by Mizu Sugimura.

Like many residents of the greater Seattle area, my family and I mark the arrival of mid-summer with the arrival of a handful of our most favorite area festivals, one of them being the Seattle Bon Odori.

My father, Frank Aoyama, was a native of the Emerald City having arrived as the last of four children born to my immigrant grandparents, Koichi and Chiyo Aoyama, when they were living in a rental home at 10th Avenue S. and S. Main Street above Seattle's International District about fourteen years prior to the beginning of World War II.

Left: My dad, Frank Aoyama, as a boy.






This house was located across the street from the Seattle Buddhist Temple where the Seattle Bon Odori became a custom in the local Nikkei (Japanese-American) community since August 15, 1932, according to an article by Shihou Sasaki writing for The North American Post (Summer Memories of the Seattle Bon Odori, July 9, 2008.) In 1934, the festival moved four blocks away to what was then the heart of pre-war Nihonmachi or Japantown where it continued to attract yet more attention, but still in very close proximity to my father's house for the rest of his formative years. And while his family was not of the Buddhist faith, memories of the Bon Odori were among those Dad was most fond.
Left: Seattle rental house where my dad was born on 10th Avenue S. and Main Street.



I have been attending the Bon Odori off and on since my parents owned a home on Beacon Hill in the mid-fifties to late sixties, just a few blocks south of Holly Park. After my son was born in the mid-eighties, my husband and I would always consider a possible trip to the Seattle Bon Odori, now a part of Seafair (or one of two others in nearby Auburn or Tacoma) when booking our summer family plans.

Left: Taiko drummers lend their skills at the 2008 Seattle Bon Odori. Photo copyright 2008 by Mizu Sugimura.

Now that our son has become an adult, it has been a few years since my husband and I made the trip to town to visit the Seattle Bon Odori. The pictures included with this blog were taken during at this year's festivities held Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20th.

For those who may be interested The North American Post, is no newcomer to the ethnic community newspaper scene having served as its masthead declares proudly as "your voice of the Nikkei community since 1902."

Below center: Colorfully dressed dancers from the community carrying fans participated in one group number at the Seattle Bon Odori. Photo copyright 2008 by Mizu Sugimura.