This is a free event to all current (paid 2012) members!

What a great idea for date night!

Friday, March 9th, 6:30 p.m. at the Savoy Ballroom at 244 Commercial St.

No RSVP is required, but please contact Cindy Jobe at 864-1341 or cjobe@springfieldmo.gov if you are interested in reserving a table.

Downoad printable announcement here: 2012 Annual Meeting announcement

Traditional Irish Ballads on January 13, 2012 from 6:30 – 8:30 by Kellswater

Paco Padilla and his band also performed at Drury, plus Field and McBride Elementary Schools. The students at McBride have learned a song Paco wrote titled “Jugnado Limpio” or “Playing Fair” and accompanied him in the school auditorium. Some of the students will also do professional recordings of the song with Paco at Nick Sibley’s studio and at Noble and Associates, and will perform at Nathanael Greene Park during the Botanical concert. Paco, his band, and McBride students will perform at the concert on Saturday, October 15 at 5:15 p.m.

Before returning to Mexico, the two bands will also perform on Monday for students at Pittman, Sherwood, Sequoita, and Bissett Elementary Schools and at Missouri State University Plaster Student Union.

Related link:
Botanical Center Garden Party and Concert, Oct. 15-16

Botanical Center Garden Party and Concert – enjoy a full day of music on the outdoor stage on Saturday, October 15, Noon-7 p.m.

Free concert featuring visitors from our Sister City Tlaquepaque, Mexico – Mexican recording artists Luna Sureste, Paco Padilla, and Shelia Rios. Also featuring local musical artists Amber Norgaard, Kellswater, Queen City Cats, and M-Dock Band.

Concert Schedule:

noon – Queen City Cats
1 p.m. – Kellswater
2 p.m. – Amber Norgaard
3 p.m. – Luna Surestre
4 p.m. – M-Dock Band
5 p.m. – Paco Padilla and his band, later accompanied by Springfield Public Schools singing “Playing Fair”

Also enjoy these other weekend events:

• NatureGrounds and Playtrail Equipment
• Guided walks
• Visit the Japanese Stroll Garden
• Visit the Gray-Campbell Farmstead
• Register for Tablescapes “Formal Feast” (Friday)
• Register for a Bonsai Workshop (Sunday)
• Flute Concert with Bettine Clemen (Sunday)
• Solar Tram Tours

Sponsored by the:

Botanical Gardens and Complex

Springfield-Greene County Park Board

Friends of the Garden, Inc.

University of Missouri Extension

in the Nathanael Greene Park
2400 S. Scenic Ave.
417-891-1515

The evening banquet at the top of the Tower Club began with comments by SSCA president John Price who mentioned he has traveled to Japan twice, once as a member of M-Dock Band and once as President of the Springfield Sister Cities Association. He said having traveled as part of Sister Cities, “you understand what is means to have friend waiting for you when you get off the plane — friends and relationships are what the program is all about.”

Price reminded the audience that the 25 year history of Sister Cities includes 22 student exchanges, soccer, softball, cultural, girl scout, and citizen exchanges and “all those people do more than travel. They truly experience “Peace Through People.”

Other speakers included Mayor Jim O’Neal, Springfield Public Schools Board President Dr. Tom Prater, Green County Commissioner Jim Viebrock, and Past SSCA President Wally Munden. Japanese interpreter for the evening was Mika Logan, and dinner hostess was Joyce Munden.

Ceremonial gifts were exchanged, and Mayor Igarashi thanked Springfield for the support it gave Japan following the earthquakes and tsunami of March 2011. He said money from the SSCA Japan Relief Fund went towards purchase of a disaster rescue vehicle, although he added that he hoped it would never be needed again.

Signing of a new educational agreement between MSU president Cliff Smart and Mayor Igarashi formalized a series of student exchanges that began this summer, when 30 Isesaki students traveled Springfield to study at Missouri State University’s English Language Institute.

Another highlight of the evening was to honor Kenzo Nakato and Nakato Japanese Restaurant for significant donations to the Japan Relief Fund.

For more information, contact:

Chairman: Kenzo Nakato
Director: Yutaka (Steve ) Oshita
Debbie Hicks 849-8737
debbie@nakato.com
Jeremy Osten 766-0621
jeremy@nakato.com

Date: Saturday, October 1 Time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Playing 3:00 – 4:00 Jon & Denzil Band
Playing 4:00 – 5:00 Kellswater
Playing 4:00 – 6:00 Jon and Denzil Band

Raffles for prizes and gift certificates Food and beverages available; bring your lawn chairs

Jon & Denzil Band will represent Springfield at the 2012 Isesaki City Music Festival.

in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, 2400 S. Scenic, Springfield, MO
September 9-11, 2011
daily admission is $5 for adults; $3 for kids 12 and younger
toddlers two years of age and under are free.
check out the Japanese Fall Festival photo gallery here

Sunday, Sept. 11 – 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

11:00 – Gates open
12:00 – Springfield Aikido School
1:30 – St. Louis Osuwa Taiko (Japanese Drums)
2:30 – USA SUMO MATCH with special appearance by World Champion Byamba
3:15 – Garbazo’s (2011 Isesaki Matsuri performer)
4:00 – Zeni Daiko and Sensu (Japanese Fan dance)
4:30 – Tony’s Karate
5:30 – Japanese Flute performance by Chapul Tagami

All Day
Candy Art by Candy Miyuki
Japanese Top-Spinning by Hiroshi Tada
Tea Ceremony – 12:30, 2:00 ($5 -register at souvenir tent)
Try on and take a photo in a Yukata (cotton kimono) – 12, 2, 3:30
Traditional Japanese games and crafts for kids – 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Japanese souvenir booth and 100 Yen store – 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Gardening, Craft, and Art booths and displays

The original craft of Ame-zaiku dates back over 250 years ago to the Edo era where candy artists were the stars of the street corner entertainment and local folk festivals.

Today there are only 15 candy artists in Japan. Miyuki began her training in 1989 under grandfather, candy master Mr. Kinura, one of the most renowned candy artists in Japan. She is first and only woman to receive training in Japan.

When not traveling to conventions and festivals, Miyuki performs several times at day at the Japan Pavilion of Epcot Center at Walt Disney Resort in Orlando. She has also performed in throughout Japan, in Europ, and has appeared on the Travel Channel and The Rosie O’Donnell show.

This is the second time she will be the Japanese Fall Festival. Check out the amazing candy sculpture gallery on her website and come out to the Japanese Stroll Garden to watch her create original candy art. Miyuki will be performing at the festival all weekend, with periodic breaks.

See the full 2011 Japanese Fall Schedule here.

photo by the City of Springfield

World Champion Sumo Byamba will make a special appearance at the Japanese Fall Festival on Friday evening, September 9 and participate in a Sumo match on Saturday, September 10 at 7 p.m. in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden

Mongolian-born Byambajav Ulambayar competed in sports since he was a child. By age 15, “Byamba” had captured national junior champion titles in judo, sambo, and Mongolian wrestling. Discovered by Japanese Grand Champion, Onokuni, Byamba was invited to join a professional sumo team and train in Japan.

Life was not easy for in Japan for Byamba who started with no knowledge of the sport, Japanese language, food, or culture , but young “Daishochi” (Byamba’s pro sumo fighting name) adapted, and at age 16, won a divisional championship in professional sumo. By age 18, Byamba was the highest-ranked sumo wrestler on his entire team.

Although Byamba was predicted to achieve Champion or Grand Champion status in Japan, at age 20 Byamba decided to leave professional sumo. At age 21, he was invited to perform sumo in the film Oceans 13. After spending time in Los Angeles after the shoot, Byamba decided to stay longer.

After leaving Japan, Byamba had opportunities not available to sumo wrestlers in Japan. He now competes worldwide and has been absolutely dominant on the world stage, winning tournament after tournament, all over the planet. At one point, Byamba had a streak of over 100 consecutive victories!!

Byamba won two consecutive World Sumo Champion titles (2006 in Japan & 2007 in Thailand). In 2009, when the World Sumo Championships was not held, Byamba competed in the World Games, which is held every four years and run by the International Olympic Committee. At the competition in Taiwan, Byamba thrilled the crowds, by winning the gold medal – his third World title!

Byamba continues to compete internationally, while simultaneously developing his acting career. Since acting in “Oceans 13″, Byamba had performed in over 120 TV shows, films, commercials, and live events all over the world, including being the face of Subaru Canada, competing on America’s Got Talent, spending a week on Gran Hermano (Big Brother). Wherever he goes, Byamba’s quite a crowd-pleaser!

Go to http://SumoByamba.com to see videos, commericals (the KGB Super Bowl deput is a winner!),  and more information about Sumo Fitness.

See the full 2011 Japanese Fall Schedule here.