Date: Saturday, April 12, 2008
Time: 3:00 - 8:00pm
Place: Nitobe Garden & Asian Studies Centre,
University of British Columbia

Spring is in the Air!

Escape the stresses of everyday life at Ohanami, the 24th annual celebration of cherry blossoms presented by the Vancouver Mokuyokai Society at Nitobe Memorial Garden and the Asian Centre at the University of British Columbia in cooperation with the University of
British Columbia Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research.

Time: 3:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2008
Place: Nitobe Memorial Garden and Asian Centre, UBC.

Find peace of mind beneath the splendor of cherry blossoms as you drink in the tranquility of an authentic Japanese tea ceremony and relax to the soothing tones of shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and koto (Japanese harp). Take a guided tour of the authentic Japanese garden, enjoy some refreshing matcha, origami demonstrations and a traditional bento dinner. Participate in our Digital Photo Challenge and/or Haiku Challenge and have your creativity displayed on the Mokuyokai website (see below for more info).

Top off your day with a tour of the garden by lantern-light, a magical, once-yearly event at Nitobe that should not be missed. Nitobe Memorial Garden is considered to be the one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America and among the top five Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Entrance to the Nitobe Memorial Garden is by donation during the Ohanami event.

* Please note that Bento must be pre-ordered, see below for details. This event runs rain or shine.

Only Mokuyokai members can pre-register for tea ceremony sittings until March 28, 2008.

For Ohanami details, please see the following!

Ohanami Digital Photo Challenge

Email us your best digital photo taken at the Mokuyokai Ohanami Event on Saturday April 12, 2008 for an opportunity to have your creativity proudly displayed on the Mokuyokai website!

How To Enter:

1. E-mail your digital photo to Mokuyokai at photo[at]mokuyokai.bc.ca ( [at]=@ ) by April 20th, 2008.
   (*one entry per person only)
2. Please provide your name, email address & photo title with your entry.
3. Please save your original digital image, and if special digital effects have been added, please document.
4. For privacy reasons, if your image contains a person(s), please ensure that you have their consent to have the image posted on our website.

Please note - by submitting your photo, you give us permission to post it on our website.

Entry Deadline:
Sunday April 20, 2008 to photo[at]mokuyokai.bc.ca ( [at]=@ )

Thank you for participating in our first ever Digital Photo Challenge!

Ohanami Haiku Challenge

Write a haiku at the event and submit it in the box in the Asian Centre for a chance to have your creativity featured on the Mokuyokai website. We will post our favourite Haikus on the Mokuyokai website.

All entries must be received on the day of the event. We cannot accept entries via email.

Please note - by submitting your Haiku, you give us permission to post it on our website. We thank all participants.

Do not forget to
Visit our website to see
Favourite Haiku

• Asian Centre entrance fee = FREE
  -----------------------------------------------------
  
• Nitobe Memorial Garden, http://www.nitobe.org
• Entrance to the Nitobe Memorial Garden is by donation during the Ohanami event.

• Venue = The Tea House in the garden
• Mokuyokai members: $13.00, Non-members $18.00
  
• Times= 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00pm
• Maximum 6 participants per sitting
• This is a formal tea ceremony on tatami mats in the Garden's
  traditional tea house.
• Age: participants must be 10 years or older
  
• Only Mokuyokai members can pre-register until March 28, 2008
  ---------------------------------------------------------
  
• *** On-site registration is on a first-come first-served basis at the garden entrance.
  
• *** for advance reservation please contact Shelley at:
  rsvp[at]mokuyokai.bc.ca ( [at]=@ )
  
  Indicate the:
  - Name
  - Address
  - Telephone
  - Email
  - Name(s) of guest(s), if applicable
  - Whether you are a Mokuyokai member or non-Member
  - Your first and second preferences for start time
  ---------------------------------------------------------
• Please come to the registration table to pick up tickets 15 min. before the service begins.

• Venue = The Tea Gallery in the Asian Centre
• Mokuyokai members: $10.00, Non-members $15.00
• Times= 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30pm
• Maximum 12 participants per sitting
• Seating for this ceremony is on benches
• Only Mokuyokai members can pre-register until March 28, 2008
  ---------------------------------------------------------
  
• *** On-site registration is on a first-come first-served basis at the garden entrance.
• *** for advance reservation please contact Shelley at:
  rsvp[at]mokuyokai.bc.ca ( [at]=@ )
  
  Indicate the:
  - Name
  - Address
  - Telephone
  - Email
  - Name(s) of guest(s), if applicable
  - Whether you are a Mokuyokai member or non-Member
  - Your first and second preferences for start time
  ---------------------------------------------------------
  
• Please come to the registration table to pick up tickets 15 min. before the service begins.

Find out more about the symbolism and plants of the garden by taking a guided tour led by knowledgeable and helpful members of Friends of the Garden.

• Times: 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30
• Length: Approximately 60 minutes
• Cost: $2 per person
• Maximum 12 participants per tour

Please note, all tickets for the tour are sold on a first-come first-served basis at the registration desk.

BENTO BOXES

Enjoy a delicious Japanese meal before leaving the event!

• Cost: $8 for Mokuyokai members
  $10 for non-members
• Choose either delicious Chicken Teriyaki or Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura (All Vegetable Tempura also available) accompanied by nimono (assorted simmered vegetables), gomaae (spinach with sesame sauce), green salad and rice.

BENTO BOXES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR TO THE GARDENS BETWEEN 5:00 - 6:00PM.

** Please note that the bento boxes MUST be pre-paid.
There will be VERY few available for sale on-site.

To order bento boxes

1. Contact Shelley at
   rsvp[at]mokuyokai.bc.ca ( [at]=@ )
   
2. Please provide the following information:
   - Number of bento you would like
   - Which kind you would like:
   ----- a) Chicken Teriyaki
   ----- b) Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura
   ----- c) All Vegetable Tempura
   -------------------------------------------------
   
3. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL BENTO ORDERS MUST BE PREPAID. Please send your cheque to Shelley by Wednesday, April 4th, 2008.
   -------------------------------------------------
   * Please make your cheque payable to "Vancouver Mokuyokai Society" and mail it to
   PO Box 48901 Bentall Station, Vancouver, BC V7X 1A8
   -------------------------------------------------
   
4. Please note that failure to pay by April 4th will result in the cancellation of your Bento Box order. (If in the mail, your cheque will be returned to you). There will be no refunds for cancellations made after April 4th.

We appreciate your cooperation with the above, and ask you to bear in mind that this event is made possible through the volunteer efforts of your fellow Mokuyokai members. Please make the most of your Mokuyokai membership, and come join us at this special event! We look forward to seeing you on April 12th!