Festivals are a huge part of Japanese culture, a safe outlet for social celebration amid the rigid hierarchy. And in Texas there is no finer place for one than the 7.5 acres of the Fort Worth Japanese gardens. This year they did it right due to the growing popularity over the years. No more long lines to get in through a single turnstile or poorly marked parking leaving patrons scrambling for spots. Instead, an entryway was created into the usual parking lot from the specially marked festival parking lot (which is about 20 times larger). This made for not only a smoother influx of people but gave another platform for events and booths. Smart thinking there!

I got there right as it opened. These chairs were set up for viewing events throughout the day. The tents were still setting up for the expected crowd, a good assumption considering the perfect weather for the day: breezy and bright.

First, let me tell you that the gardens were greeeen, very green. We've had a good amount of rain over the last few weeks and spring was bursting through the gardens in full blush. With or without us, the plants were rejoicing in their renewel.

I've never made it to the festival as it just opened, so it allowed me to capture it in morning light for the first time. There's a certain brilliance to the burgeoning light of the day as it grows to its peak, reminding me of the blinding whites of Mariko as she prepared to commit seppuku in Shogun.

Still shadows on the famous bridge in the morn.

Since I did decide to show up early, I finally got to see the great Taiko drummers performing their art. Drums are a huge part of any Japanese festival. Following the drummers were other performers, with events from martial arts to geisha dancing.

Jodo, the art of using a rod to disable without killing

Only samurai were allowed to bear swords after the unification

The Zen rock garden was amazing. I could have stayed there the whole time and communed with the universe. The shadows, the angles, the art of watching rocks grow all provided a glimpse into infinity, a release from earthly illusions and peering beyond space and time.

I love this shot.
It could be at any temple anywhere on earth.

Morning draping still intact

Almost awake

At one with the sun

Next I traveled down to visit my oldest and dearest friend in the gardens, the legendary Gracia Hosokawa.

Always far stronger than she appears. Note her moody colors even
in the blossoming springtime, her sorrows branding her forever.

Her husband, Buntaro, resides far from Gracia as was in
their lives. He still rages with color.

The people watching was scrumptious as well. I found a thousand moments of beauty to capture.

Blurry because I took it on the sly but she simply radiates.

An absolute angel!

The parking lot events kept the entertainment nonstop across the gardens. I came up on some brick breaking.

Afterwards I went up to him in contempt, looking down my nose in disdain,
sneering out the words, "Brick don't hit back."
I walked away, uncaring of his reaction.

A bamboo stalk for tameshigiri , the art of test cutting.

Notice how far the sword is past before the
cut stalk even has a chance to fall off.

All in all, a great day in the sun. I only captured a fraction of the activities here. It's as close as you can get to Japan here in the states and the experiences are universal and timeless. The best part is seeing so many people dip their hand in Asian culture and finding it to their liking. See you at the fall festival, until then sayonara!

A day no one could resist!

Click here to see the full set of photos.

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