Japan Festival coming to Encinitas

The 9th annual Japan Festival will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive, in partnership with the city of Encinitas.

The free festival features Naruwan Taiko Drummers, a kimono fashion show by the San Diego Kimono Club, and performances by the Silk Wind Trio with Reiko Obata on koto, Masazumi Mizuno on shamisen and Jonathan Crick on shakuhachi. “Asian Confusion Fusion” items will be sold by the Yo Yo Bento food truck from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Highlights include a tea ceremony and kendama toy demonstrations, origami, small prizes, free refreshments, and Japanese-themed books, movies and music available for checkout.

Encinitas is a member of Sister Cities International, a group that promotes friendship and goodwill among nations through sister city relationships. Encinitas, Carlsbad and San Diego Sister City representatives will be on-site.

This is the 30th year that Encinitas has been a sister city with Amakusa, Japan.

As part of the annual student exchange, three local student delegates and an adult chaperone are spending a week with host families in Amakusa and will be back to speak with folks at the festival.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Visit encinitaslibfriends.org.