“…now that people in Japan understand what it means to be vegetarian, we hope that the next step will be that people understand what VEGAN means…”
~ Chiko
The people who organize Kyoto’s Vegetarian Festival every autumn (since 2003!) have decided to up the pace and add a spring vegan festival to the calendar! The very first VEGAN EARTH DAY festival will be held next Sunday May 2nd in Okazaki park.
“The biggest vegan festival in Japan… gives you a place to enjoy veggie food and workshops and listen to music while focussing on the relationship between environmental issues and our diet…”
Features include:
(1) An exhibition of NPOs for animal welfare and environmental issues
(2) Work shops and discussions by environmental educators and animal rights activists.
(3) A VEGAN food booth area
(4) Stage performances
(5) Organic vegetables for sale
(6) VEGAN products for sale (clothes, cosmetics…)
Jen Teeter has posted an interview with organizer Chiko on the blog Ten Thousand Things:
Now, there is more of a positive response when people say “I am a vegetarian.” You hear more often people responding with “Wow, that’s cool” and “Teach me some recipes.” Also, we receive lots of messages telling us how people have become vegetarian after coming to the festival and learning about environmental problems and the devastating situation of animals for the first time. A great part of this open-air event is that while eating delicious food and learning, people can have a great time and reflect on their own eating habits and ways of thinking. LINK
Date: 2nd May 2010
Location: Okazaki Park, just east of Kyoto Kaikan, and south of Heian Shrine. If coming from Kyoto Station, from the A-1 bus stop, take route 5 to “Kyoto Kaikan/Bijutsukan-mae” (about 30 minutes). Here is a map.
Time: 10:00-17:00 （rain or shine）
Entrance: Free！
In an effort to reduce garbage, please bring your own eating utensils, and eco bags.
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