15th (Fri), January 2010

6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

179 Benhiam St., Calamvale

“TOC Summer Festival” was held at the Oceania Centre for the first time in January 2000 as part of its activities to introduce Japanese culture to the local community. Since then, this event is regularly held on a Friday night in the middle of January every year.

The Summer Festival this year (2009) that marked the 10th drew over 270 people; children who had participated in “Children’s Sleepover”, their families, Japanese class students, neighbours and Tenrikyo followers including those from distant places such as Sydney, and the participants spent a pleasant time in a summer night.

The venue was filled with food stalls such as “Octopus ball dumpling”, “Yakiroti grilled chicken”, “Rolled Sushi”, “Japanese fried noodle”, “Shaved ice”, etc. while the game area provided children with “Quoits”, “Yo-yo fishing”, “Strike-out” and a well-received game called “Splash Tom!”

The program included a wonderful performance with song and dance by “TOC Fife & Drum Band”, various songs and dances and the “Bon Dance” around the Yagura scaffolding tower with red and white lanterns. All of the participants fully enjoyed the Japanese-style Festival on a summer night.