会員の皆様、
3月28日（土）・29日（日）の2日間、Fairmont Park内Horticultural Centerにて開催された2026スバル桜祭りにて、当会は昨年に引き続きブースを出展いたしました。初日は肌寒い天候でしたが、2日目は春らしい陽気に恵まれ、両日ともに大変多くの来場者で賑わいました。
今年は、「兜（かぶと）」の折り紙と「七夕の短冊」作りを行いました。本物の兜を展示しながらの折り紙体験は大盛況で、土曜日に用意していた大判の紙100枚が途中で完売し、急遽追加発注するほどでした。完成した兜に日本語で参加者の方のお名前を書き、落款（らっかん）風のハンコを押してさしあげると大変喜ばれました。また、昨今の情勢を反映してか、七夕の短冊には多くの方が真剣に願いを書き込み、笹の枝がしだれ折れるほどの大好評となりました。
さらに、試験的に設置した募金袋には予想以上の温かいご支援が寄せられました。募金をしてくださった方へ折り紙をプレゼントしたり、当会にご興味を持たれた方にパンフレットをお渡ししたりと、来場者との素晴らしい交流の機会となりました。今回の経験を生かし、来年は家紋シールや雛人形の展示など、日本の節句をテーマにした企画をさらに充実させるとともに、ボランティアの皆様がより活動しやすい体制づくり（早めの募集や休憩時間の確保など）に努めてまいります。
最後に、多忙な中、ブースの準備や運営に多大なるご協力をいただいたボランティアの皆様に心より感謝申し上げます。
フィラデルフィア日本人会 イベントコミッティ
Dear Members,
On Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th, JAGP once again hosted a booth at the 2026 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, held at the Horticultural Center in Fairmont Park. Despite a chilly start on Saturday, Sunday brought beautiful, warm spring weather, and our booth was bustling with a large number of visitors on both days.
This year, our activities featured origami samurai helmets (kabuto) and writing wishes on Tanabata tanzaku (paper strips). The origami corner, featuring an authentic kabuto on display, was a massive hit. We even ran out of the 100 large sheets of paper we had prepared for Saturday and had to place an emergency order for the next day. Visitors were especially delighted when we wrote their names in Japanese on their finished helmets and added a finishing touch with a traditional red seal. The Tanabata activity was also a great success; perhaps reflecting the current times, so many people wrote heartfelt wishes that the bamboo branches bent under their weight.
Additionally, the donation bags we set out on a trial basis received much more warm support than we anticipated. It was a wonderful opportunity for community engagement, as we offered pre-folded origami gifts to donors and shared our brochures with those interested in JAGP’s activities. Building on this year’s experience, we aim to further enrich our programs next year with themes like Japanese seasonal festivals, perhaps including family crest stickers or Hina-ningyo doll displays. We also strive to improve our volunteer support system by recruiting earlier and ensuring adequate break times.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to the preparation and operation of the booth despite their busy schedules.
Sincerely,
JAGP Event Committee
Members and Friends in attendance