Another fun koi show event coming up on November 13 & 14 at the Kino Veteran’s Memorial Park, 2805 E. Ajo Way. Lots of koi (Japanese carp) to view, plus tai chi, martial arts & Samurai sword demonstrations, Japanese traditional music on koto & shakuhachi by Muso (duo of Hiroko Coates & Paul Amiel), and dance & taiko drumming by Suzuyuki-kai. There’s even a koi coloring contest for the kids.

See the flyers & program schedule below. FREE admission, 9 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, 9 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. This is their 31st annual show sponsored by the Southern Arizona Koi Association (SAKA).

For more info: www.sakoia.org, 520-747-7278. I wrote about a previous koi parade of ponds tour in the Spring (click here).

Taste of Asia flyer

Come to the Inaugural Taste of Asia (a taste of food, music, cultural performances & exhibits) all at one site, the beautiful Tucson Chinese Cultural Center (1288 W. River Rd.) on two days, Friday April 30 and Saturday, May 1st.

This cultural event runs 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 11 to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $3 (children under 12 free). Food and beverage tickets will be sold separately.

Food vendors will be offering delicacies from the countries of Thailand, Laos, Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, Kazakhstan, and China, and there will also be Filipino and Japanese food for sale at the Marketplace. The performers will be diverse as well: Tucson Chinese Association Lion Dance Team, martial arts dojos, tai chi, Leiola Hula Halau, Fine Stream Gamelan, Arirang Korean Dancers, Odaiko Sonora, Tucson Sino Choir, and many more.

I am especially looking forward to hearing a Japanese traditional musical duo “Muso” on Saturday at high noon, performing shakuhachi flute (by Paul Amiel) and koto (by master teacher Hiroko Coates).

Being Japanese American from Hawaii, I will be looking for my cultural foods and music, but also expanding my knowledge about all the other Asian/Pacific Islander cultures as well. This is similar to smaller Asian/Pacific Islander heritage events which have been held in Tucson, but this is the first annual Taste of Asia.

For further info, call 520-292-6900 or log onto www.tucsontasteofasia.com or www.tucsonchinese.org. The Tucson Chinese Cultural Center is on the north side of River Rd., just east of La Canada.

Everyone is welcome to taste a Taste of Asia 2010.