Hanamatsuri: The Celebration of Buddha's Birth A Day of Lectures and Activities at Japanese American National Museum April 11

The birth of Buddha will be celebrated at the Japanese American National Museum on April 11 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a variety of programs scheduled for both young and old. Included on this special day will be lectures in Japanese and English, a taiko performance, a Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival) service, as well as storytelling and craft activities designed especially for children.

Beginning at 11 a.m., Ippei Nomoto, a Los Angeles Columnist and former Buddhist priest, will give a lecture in Japanese entitled “Buddhism in Daily Life.” A lively taiko performance will follow at 1 p.m. Then at 1:30 p.m., Ministers of the Los Angeles Buddhist Church Federation will conduct a Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival) service in honor of Buddha’s birth. At 2 p.m., Stanford University professor Carl Beilefeldt will deliver a lecture in English entitled “Buddhism in the New Millenium.” Meanwhile, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Museum will host Hanamatsuri storytelling and crafts especially for children, which will include a sumi-e brush painting workshop.

Springtime is the season of rebirth, and the Museum welcomes all families to share in the celebration of Buddha’s birth on this very special day of activities. This event is co-sponsored with the Los Angeles Buddhist Church Federation. The programs are free of charge and open to the public. No reservations are required for this program. The Japanese American National Museum is located at 369 East First Street, in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles. For more information, call 213.625.0414.