Education Everywhere — The Grand Rapids Public Library is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month all month with events and free game kits.
The library will offer free Ohajiki Kits to patrons at the downtown library. Ohajiki is a traditional Japanese children’s game which is similar to marbles, but is played with small, coin-like pieces made of glass or ceramic. The kits will include the pieces, which makes the game most suitable for children older than 5.
Also happening this month at the main branch of GRPL at 111 Library St. NE:
May 9, 3 p.m. – Jiraiya the Hero: Silent Film Screening with Live Improvised Score. Three musicians — Kioto Aoki on taiko drums, Mai Sugimoto on saxophone and Haruhi Kobayashi on electronics and vocals — perform an improvised soundtrack to the classic Japanese silent film “Gouketsu Jiraiya” (Jiraiya the Hero). After the film, the musicians and artist Chien-An Yuan will talk about the music and the film. The event is free and best for teens and adults.
May 21, 6:30 p.m. – Make Tomorrow Today: Challenges, Solutions and the Path Forward. Panelists including Dr. Kin M. Ma, associate professor at GVSU; Anna Miller, assistant director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at GVSU; Eric Van, program director of the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation; and Chien-An Yuan, artist and advocate will discuss the social and cultural challenges of the AAPI community. The event is free and open to the public.
May 23, 11 a.m. – Taiko Drumming with Kioto Aoki. Taiko drumming is a Japanese tradition that is more than 2,000 years old. The performance will feature taiko drums and shinobue (bamboo flute), and will combine music, dance and theater. The event is free and for all ages.
An exhibit of local Asian history will also be on display throughout the month of May at the Grand Rapids Public Library downtown.
