These were some of the scary and delightful creatures to scamper into the IMB on Saturday, October 31st. “Halloween in Japantown”, a joint event by the San Jose JACL, San Jose Taiko, Wesley Church and the Japantown Lions, was a huge success as it was visited by well over a hundred children and parents.

The night was balmy and clear, the spectral omens were auspicious, spirits (non-alcoholic) were high, and fun was had by all. Wesley members hosted their infamous “Trunk-or-Treat” with car trunks wildly decorated in various Halloween themes and drivers dressed appropriately. Balloon animals were a big hit.

Taiko members dressed for Halloween gave a lively concert and later led a parade of candy hunters through Japantown where several businesses gave out candy.

The IMB was a ghostly spectre but inside were fun and games. Children could rotate between five different craft projects to take home scary skeletons, fangy bats, personalized jack-o-lanterns and other lovingly created art. Jack-o-Lantern Toss and Ghostly Darts were played on the back patio while weary parents relaxed in the cool back yard.

The event was a free, welcome-to-all neighborhood fun fest. A time to give back to the community which has been so supportive of all of our endeavors, a time to let children frolic and to even let the child in all of the adults out for a night.

Great events are the result of great volunteers and we had some of the best. Kudos to Iris Lou (co-chair), Irene Nakamitsu, Cindy Sugino, Kay Utsumi, Margie Cornehl, Joyce Oyama, Jean Yamaguchi, Liz Isa, Barbara Isa, Joyce Yamamoto, Margie Oyama, Leon Kimura, Emi Tsutsumi, Jalan Wong and Derek Hane for their high-spirited help and for bringing all the yummy food for the volunteers.

(by Marge Tsuji)