September 30, 2017

Stop by the International Fair at Spurlock Museum this Sunday from 1-3:30 and say hello to the Japan House Internship interns. They'll be demonstrating yukata and kimono and teaching origami. There will be lots of other cultures represented too!

Very exciting news. As part of the Illinois Prairie Chapter of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society's 20th anniversary celebration (the weekend of our Open House with Senko Ikenobo), the The Art Theater will be showing "the ultimate ikebana film," Flower and Sword on Sunday, October 22nd at 10:00 am!

Feeling hungry? Take a look at this new creation from Cream & Flutter. Layered Matcha Lemon Cake to be debuted at Japan House's Sake Sessions at Miga this Saturday, September 30!

Great Sunday afternoon exploring Zen concepts through calligraphy with Sato-sensei yesterday. Thank to all that came who listened and laughed and learned.

Setting up for this Sunday's Zen Studies Calligraphy class with Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato. This one is sold out, but don't worry, we have more scheduled.

Thanks to our intern Ashriel for writing her thoughts about serving tea for the first time.

Sake Sessions at Miga Just Got Even Better - http://mailchi.mp/illinois/bd8mlsb1g9-934837 Miga #sake #sushi #tastings #saturdayafternoons

Did you know that you can know replenish your supply of matcha tea right here on our Facebook page? Just click on the 'Shop' tab on the left side and you can order your matcha and we will get it right out in the mail to you. Of course, you can also always stop by during our office hours (8-5 M-TH and 8-12 F) to purchase some as well!

We are tremendously excited to announce that a Living National Treasure of Japan, Noboru Fujinuma, will be visiting Japan House in October. Watch for more details soon!

We are honored to be welcoming Senko Ikenobo as our visitor for our Fall Open House on Saturday, October 21, 2017, with a free presentation at 11:00 am. Ikebana, the art of Japanese floral arranging, is a revered Japanese artistic and cultural tradition. Senko Ikenobo is the 46th generation of the Ikenobo family, who originated the art of Ikebana, and she is designated to be the first female Headmaster of the Ikenobo Ikebana School of Floral Art in its more than 550 years of recorded history. This is an extraordinary moment for women's history in Japan. The Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association will offer tea ceremonies throughout the day, at a reduced price, and there will also be free garden tours by our garden designer and caretaker, James Bier. 2017 is the 20th anniversary of the Illinois Prairie Chapter of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society. It is because of this benchmark that they are bringing Senko Ikenobo to campus, and Japan House is a proud sponsor of these events. In addition to our Open House visit are two other opportunities to experience Ikebana and the work of Senko Ikenobo. Krannert Center for the Performing Arts will host an exhibition of Ikebana arrangements in the foyer of the Foellinger Great Hall from 5:00 to 9:00 pm on Friday, October 20, 2017, and from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday, October 21, 2017 and Sunday, October 22, 2017. There will also be a ticketed demonstration by Senko Ikenobo at Krannert Center on Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Tickets start at only $10 for Illinois students and younger students. We are thrilled to be working with the Illinois Prairie Chapter and Krannert Center to help make these events happen. It truly is a very rare moment and opportunity.

Thank you to all who joined us for our third annual Japanese festival, Matsuri on Sunday, August 27. It was an incredible day ofJapanese food and drink, powerful drum performances by Ho Etsu Taiko, martial arts demos, fashion shows, yukata and cosplay dressing, bubbles and face painting, tea ceremonies, Ikebana displays, Bonsai demonstrations and displays and more! We had lots of great crafts vendors join us as well, and we were lucky with the weather too. It all came together. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Don't forget to mark your calendar for the last weekend of August in 2018---we'll be celebrating our 20th Anniversary as well as Matsuri!