BATH
A celebration of Japanese culture and Bath’s sister-city relationship to Tsugaru City in Japan will run from Thursday through Feb. 5 at various venues throughout the city.
Many events are free or pay what you wish, and all are open to the public.
Events start Thursday with a free drop-in sake tasting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Now You’re Cooking, followed by the Japanese film, “Shall We Dance,” from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Winter Street Center, 800 Washington St.
A Japanese cooking class will be offered at Now You’re Cooking with chef Chris Toy from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 3.
The new Hampton Inn in Bath will be the site for director Akira Kurosawa’s classic film, “Seven Samurai,” which was the basis for the later American film “The Magnificent Seven.” The film will run from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with refreshments and homemade desserts available.
A series of family events are scheduled for Feb. 4. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Starlight Café on Lambard Street will host a benefit breakfast. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Bath-Tsugaru fund for travel scholarships and hosting.
All other activities on Feb. 4 will be at the Bath Middle School, 6 Old Brunswick Road. Events include a family carnival from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., featuring carnival games and Japanese crafts and activities. A Japanese dinner will be served from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrity Sumo wrestling, Japanese Bingo and a performance by the Bowdoin College Taiko drumming group is scheduled to run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the carnival and Sumo/Taiko events is by donation.
Tickets for the dinner are available in advance at Now You’re Cooking, and a limited number will be sold at the door the night of the dinner.
The celebration will conclude on Feb. 5 with events at the Patten Free Library from noon to 5 p.m. These include a presentation, “Creating Japanese-Inspired Gardens in Maine.”
Green tea ceremonies, a discussion of four books about the ancient Japanese tradition of Geisha, and a Haiku workshop also are planned. Interested parties need to reserve a space for the tea ceremony by calling Patten Free Library at 443-5141. All library events are free.
The weekend is organized by the Bath-Tsugaru Sister City Exchange Program, to celebrate more than 20 years of student cultural exchanges between the two cities. For further details, exact times and prices, if applicable, visit the sister-city website at bath-tsugaru.org.
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