Special Events

Join us for a “Kizoku Ishiki” Obon celebration at the Vashon Cemetery Saturday August 9th from 12pm-5pm. 

Kizoku Ishiki means a deep sense of belonging. This fun, educational, and restorative cultural event will include dance, art displays, walking tours, picnicking, performances and more.  The intent of the event is to honor and learn about our Asian immigrant ancestors along with recognizing our Black, Indigenous, and immigrant ancestors buried at the Vashon Cemetery.

The Vashon celebration will include special performances, including traditional Japanese music by Minyo members and Koto no Wa; poetry by author, lawyer and activist Troy Osaki, classical harp by Vanessa Stovall and dani tirrells’ Congregation with dance excerpts from Elysium (afterlife). Members from The Vashon Heritage Museum and Mukai Farm and Garden will be located throughout the grounds to share information about families buried at the cemetery. There will be guided walking tours highlighting the cemetery trees, including the recently planted cherry tree from the Vashon Island Fruit Club’s “100 Cherry Trees Project”. In addition, there will be cultural crafts and a Friendship Bench with the Aunties.

August 9th is the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The Vashon Obon will commemorate this terrible event by offering a special peace procession of costumed dancers in a “siege of herons” during the Obon celebration. Local artist, Chantal Uto designed costumes which were commissioned by the Wild Wood Foundation.

About:

King County Cemetery District #1 was established in 1977 is a public owned cemetery district located on Vashon Island. Part of their mission statement includes ensuring that the cemetery grounds reflect the character and traditions of Vashon-Maury Island, both historic and present.

Kintsugi Somatic Art is founded and directed by multi-disciplinary artist and social justice activist, Leah Okamoto Mann. Kintsugi is a Japanese concept which means mend with gold. It is the art of repairing broken things, traditionally pottery or glass. It is also a metaphor for human resiliency and recovery. The Kizoku Ishiki Obon celebration at the Vashon Cemetery Saturday August 9th is one event of a larger project: Sanctuary: At Home In the Body Artful strategies for thriving habitats. Performances, workshops, installations, panels, and communal experiences igniting the power of imagination and empathy. Sanctuary: At Home In the Body is a multi-year, art and science project, exploring thriving and well-being factors.  This inquiry based project examines “belonging”, “home”, and “safe space”  by sourcing input and solutions from those most impacted by variabilities in these factors. In collaboration with front line experts – scientists, artists, therapists, activists, and pastors, the project employs restorative practices and emergent strategies for the individual, the family, the community, and the environment through somatics, play, and multi-disciplinary art experiences informed by neuroscience, health science, psychology, and art therapy. Initial project expressions include Seattle, Tacoma, Vashon events  August 1 – 10, 2025 and Atlanta events December 21 2025 – January 4, 2026.

To find out more about the larger Sanctuary Project Events visit:

Sanctuary at Home in the Body , Lay Your Burdon Down Full Sanctuary Press Release