Sunday was absolutely lit as I volunteered for the extravagant JapanHabba 🇯🇵 (Japan Festival ) organized by Japanese community along with the Indian Japanese language students group at the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bengaluru, India🇮🇳

How I Got there

My Sunday started early as I took a bus from my place to Indian Institute of Science Bangalore which is around 9 miles from where I stay in Bengaluru (Bangalore) I was supposed to be there at 9am. To get to the venue I had to change a bus in the main city bus station which is called Kempegouda Bus Station popularly know among the locals as Majestic. After about 1.5hrs bus journey I got to Malleshwaram 18th Cross that's the nearest bus stop to IISC. As soon I got out of the bus and started walking towards the institution I was welcomed lush greenery and some hanging out on the tree. They said Hi to all you Steemians! 😉

Theme of Japan Habba

Japan Habba showcased the art, culture, tradition and food of Japan.

While walking through the art gallery I saw the tables full of neatly arranged colorful origami art works and that's when I got to know the word Origami comes from two Japanese words "Oru- Fold" and "Kami-Paper" which literally makes up this beautiful art.

Colourful Origami Ducks.. 🦆🦆🦆

Origami Articles and Toys

I fell love with this art, such beautiful works these were don't know how many hours of work goes behind making them!

Origami Peacock

During the walk in the corridor walls of the auditorium I also saw some lovely paper cutting art works as well.

Paper Cut Masks and Shapes

My Job as a volunteer

My job as a volunteer along with few fellow Japanese Volunteers who later became my close friends was to explain the Traditional Japanese Toys and Games to the Participants there were around 9 toys/games to be demonstrated, the participants had the chance to play too!

The Toys/Games were

1. Yo-Yo Fishing

It's a traditional Japanese game where the Balloons tied to looped rubber bands are the fishes and paper strips tied to a paper clips become the fishing rods, one needs to fish the balloons without making the paper strip wet otherwise the paper will melt and the fish will go back to the water!If you pull the balloon out then it's yours. Sounds simple but it's not that easy, requires patience and few tries to get it.

Toddlers, kids, parents, grand parents everyone played this game. In fact I along with 2 other volunteers were made the in charges of this game. we had to make the balloons and put them into the pool as and when they get over and also make the fishing rods with clips and paper.

This little toddler broke all the rules and played like it was his private pool! Seems like he got the game in the end..

2. Koma- Japanese Traditional Spinning Toy (Top)

They were of different sizes and Shapes.. Here are few pictures!

Made of Paper

Wooden Ones

These needs to be spun using a rope.

3. Daruma Drop- By Using a small hammer the player needs to hit each of the wooden coloured pieces, from the bottom to top without letting the pieces to fall during the game..

Here the volunteer is building the pieces up so as to allow the participants to hit with the hammer! it's too much fun and requires some concentration

4. Wooden Puzzle

The puzzle had 6 pieces and they needed to be fixed correctly to for the shape shown. It was very difficult for few even though it only had 6 pieces. But few made it in the first try in less than 5min. I become a pro demoing this in the later half of the day!

5. Otama- Small bean bag juggling..

the small round things at all the four corners of the plate are the juggling bags, they came with a bell two so that the juggler can concentrate on what he is doing!

6. Kendama- A traditional hand-held Toy with a woooden ball attached to a thread and with a holding handle. Long enjoyed in Japan!

the player need to pull the ball up and make it to sit on the Handle which has a slot for it to sit. Basically the player needs to pull the ball up and catch it with the handle at the same time. Requires judgement and correct reflex action.

This guy was a pro or he became one there and then I don't know!

He was able to do it holding a full cup of tea in another hand and while walking! That was a treat to watch..

The event had Cosplay Competition!

Participants had dressed like different Japanese comic characters.. Here are few!

That's me with the normal dress and the sword I posted with one of the characters, may be from Start Wars

Bunch of characters posing for pictures after the event

The Japanese wishing wall 🌠

There was a Japanese wishing wall were you could write your wish and stick it on the wall! It will come true before you get back to the Festival next year is what people had to believe before sticking a wish!

I really wish this girl gets her art supply more and more soon!!

Why would grandpa be left behind, he also had a lot of wishes anyway!!

Finally I made some great friends!!

Yes my decision for volunteering paid off as I had a super blast on a Sunday and made some great like minded friends!

I would recommend you all to volunteer in any of the events or non-profits it makes you learn so many new things and meet so many people, interact with them, learn new and different skills which you could not have done otherwise and yet is fun and you can enjoy too!

Here I made few pictures to make this whole blog story of Japan Habba

Hope you all liked it!

Please let me know in the Comments below how you liked it and what more you wanna see! Like to support that will give a boost to tell you more stories and experiences like this, ReSteem for your friends to see this..

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Loads of Love♥️

Peace Out
Sagar
@smartphonewinks