By Elizabeth Backstrom
Forty people of all ages sit around craft tables in the basement of Spokane Buddhist Temple on Perry Street, surrounded by plates of mochi and baskets of colorful origami paper. They’re gathered for the temples One Thousand Cranes event, a kickoff to Spokane’s 22nd Annual Japan Week happening April 17-26.
“The crane is a significant Japanese social image of long life and prosperity,” said Gene Nelson, chairman of the Japan Week committee.
The crane-folding event is new to the Japan Week lineup this year, said Mari Haworth, spokesperson for the temple. According to Japanese legend, a person exhibiting the talent and patience to fold 1,000 cranes would be granted a wish. One of the most famous crane stories in recent Japanese history is that of 12-year-old Sadako Sasaki, a leukemia victim of the Hiroshima bombings, who folded hundreds of cranes before she died in 1955. A nonfiction book, “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes”, was written based on her life and has been used in peace advocacy efforts throughout the world. Crane folding at the Spokane temple is a nod to the wish for peace, Haworth said.
The event is just one of more than a dozen events taking place during Japan Week. Touted as ‘a time to raise awareness of Japanese cultural treasures,’ the events are sponsored by the Spokesman-Review, Spokane Falls Community College, Gonzaga and WSU, among others.
It’s run by volunteers, including a volunteer committee of 25, Nelson said, from T-shirt designers (T-shirts sell for $12 at most events and all proceeds support Japan week), to website support staff to event planners. It’s grown over the years and every year is attended by several thousand people, he said.
The biggest hurdle in running the event is probably letting a wider audience know it exists, Nelson said. Lately they’ve expanded their presence on digital platforms like Facebook, but keeping up with social media is challenging with a volunteer staff.
“It really is difficult in today’s age to get the message out about something like Japan Week,” he said.
Everyone is welcome — many events are family and kid-friendly, and they’re taking place all over town. While Japan Week itself is run by a nonprofit, dozens of organizations get involved as event hosts, Nelson said.
Highlights include a new opening day this year at the MAC (free), happening Saturday, April 18, a Bento box and sushi festival Sunday April 19 at the Buddhist temple, Manga lessons Monday, April 20 at the Comic Book Shop in NorthTown Mall, and the SFCC International Film Festival Tuesday, April 21 at the Garland Theater ($5).
For a complete list of events, including days, times, locations and costs, check out Japan Week’s Facebook or website.
