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at the Missouri Botanical Garden St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com 
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by Betty Magrath, SLFP.com Photos by Bob Moore, SLFP.com S. LOUIS, MO (SLFP.com) August 31, 2003 - Every year visitors to the annual Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Labor Day weekend enjoy an opportunity to experience Japanese culture, from ancient to contemporary. This year the festival theme is the kaki, or persimmon tree, an ancient hardwood tree with an edible orange-red fruit. In both America and Japan, the persimmon symbolizes the waning days of summer and the approach of autumn's harvest season. Guests at the opening ceremonies, Saturday morning, were treated to an energetic performance by the Hinode Taiko drum group of Winnipeg, Canada, and a taste of sake from commemorative wooden boxes. The annual event featured traditional processions and bon odori festival dancers, and Japanese music performed by members of the Saint Louis Symphony. Other highlights included displays of bonsai and ikebana botanical arts in the Visitor Center; a presentation on anime ("AH-nee-may") films; ice sculpting; origami workshops; demonstrations of Zen, martial arts and Japanese cooking; children's activities and crafts; a kimono fashion show; and guided Japanese Garden tours through the beauty and tranquility of Seiwa-en, the 14-acre Japanese "garden of pure, clear harmony and peace".
The crowd-pleasing Candyman, Masaji Terasawa, returned this year to delight audiences with his unique sidewalk entertainment at Spoehrer Plaza. Nearby visitors browzed through an outdoor marketplace that offered a variety of merchandise and cuisine. Activities began at 10 a.m. all three days and continued until 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and until 5 p.m. on Monday. Admission to the Garden each day during the festival is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors age 65 and over and $3 for members. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free and must be accompanied by an adult. Admission includes all entertainment except tea ceremonies, which require $10 tickets purchased on the day of the event. The Japanese Festival is sponsored by the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Japanese Activities Committee, a coalition of organizations that includes the Japanese American Citizen's League, Japan American Society of St. Louis, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of St. Louis, St. Louis Japanese Language School for Children, St. Louis-Suwa Sister Committee, St. Louis Japan Society, Seinen Committee, The Women's Association of the Japan America Society, and the Office of the Consulate General of Japan in Kansas City.
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