A touch of Japan

Kimono-clad bunnies, cuddly bears, leis made of paper cranes, dolls and wall hangings.

These and a plentiful assortment of other crafts will line the tables and walls of the Sakura Helping Hands booth during the upcoming Seymour Oktoberfest.

The group puts its time and effort into making these Japanese-themed keepsakes not just to share a touch of Japan’s culture, but for another goal — to contribute to the community.

“All of our proceeds will go to public organizations in Jackson County,” said Emiko Ishihara, this year’s leader of the group’s Oktoberfest Committee.

“It’s a very nice place and people are so kind to us,” she said. “We’d like to give something back.”

Sakura Helping Hands is made up of the wives of businessmen who come to Seymour in connection with the Japanese industries in Jackson County. They call Seymour home for only a few years before returning to Japan, but during those years, the local community is their community.

Ishihara noted that the community offers benefits to them, as well, citing as an example the English as a second language classes that her daughter takes part in at Seymour-Jackson Elementary School.

This is Ishihara’s second stint in Seymour, having lived here from 1995 to 2000 when her husband was with Aisin. She returned in 2008, and her husband is now with Aisin Holdings of America Inc.

This year’s Oktoberfest Committee members, in addition to Ishihara, are Miyuki Abe, Miho Natsume, Kiwako Kawamori and Natsu Onishi. Masayo Kato also helped for a time, until the closing of Kobelco in Seymour.

Ishihara said the group has been active for 18 years, and each year, various schools or organizations are chosen to receive a part of the Oktoberfest booth’s proceeds. Last year’s recipients were Seymour-Jackson Elementary School, Margaret R. Brown Elementary School, Seymour Middle School, Seymour High School, Jackson County Public Library and Read Jackson County.

Each year, the variety of crafts available at the booth grows, and this year, there is a new element added.
“We focused on to be green,” Ishihara said.

Japanese slippers, for example, have been woven from recycled fabric.

To make containers that can be hung against a wall, “We used recycled boxes, like tissue boxes,” Ishihara said.

There are also special items for boys and girls that relate to Boy’s Day and Girl’s Day, which are celebrated in Japan.

For the boy, there is an item symbolic of a warrior’s hat. On Boy’s Day, Ishihara said, an alcove is filled with items related to being a warrior, as a wish that the boy will grow up safe and sound.

On Girl’s Day, a hina set is given, consisting of bride and groom dolls standing together.

Other items that will be for sale include earrings, tiny umbrellas, cloth flowers, tree ornaments, orange teddy bears, figures of Pierrot, fabric dogs, dolls, pictures, tree ornaments, hair ornaments and frog coin holders.

Stained-glass decorative hangings include cranes and friendly looking little ghosts.

This year’s Oktoberfest will be held Oct. 1-3 in downtown Seymour.