JAPAN HOUSE

Sakura and A Spring Whirlwind of Activity

Japan House has been a whirlwind of activity this spring it seems.  The suprise of the early cherry blossoms started it all in mid-March.  Since then we have held our final Calligraphy workshop, our final cooking class, our Spring Open House and a special Cherry Blossom Celebration for our Tomonokai members.  In the next few weeks I will be sharing pictures with you.  

I will begin with a slideshow of many of our images of sakura.  You'll also find pictures of many other Japan House activities at the flickr page to which this slideshow takes you! Enjoy.

 

Sakura 2012

We thought the cherry trees would bloom early this year, given the mild winter.  They surprised us nonetheless, and were in bloom when I arrived at work on Monday, March 19th. Through the week we watched them, the change just between morning and evening itself amazing. By that weekend the blossoms were carpeting the sidewalk.  Although we were sad to think how many people were away on spring break and didn't get a chance to see it---we were thrilled with the great number of visitors, from early morning to dusk that came to enjoy the experience of walking admidst the blooms.

It was only four years ago that the trees were planted as a gift from Dr. Sen of the Urasenke Tea School in Japan.  Now it is like a new gift every year!

There are a few blossoms still hanging on....a double blossomed tree close to the ponds was one of the last to bloom...it is still lush and especially fragrant:

and now some scenes from the past few weeks....

by Cynthia Voelkl

Spring Open House with Shozo Sato April 7, 2012

Our Spring Open House will be a very special one this year.  Japan House is honored to welcome Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato for a presentation on kabuki and his final directorial performance of Lady MacBeth: A Kabuki Play at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Professor Sato is a theatre director and master of Zen arts.  Sato was officially adopted into the Kabuki family of Nakamura Kenzaburo XVII, and is a master of the highest order of Japanese Tea Ceremony, Ikebana (flower arrangement) and Sumi-e (black ink painting).  Sato was the founding director of the original Japan House.  He was granted a D.F.A. from the University of Illinois in 1998. Please join us for his presentation at 11:00 a.m.

Tour the gardens with James Bier, designer and builder of the Japan House gardens, at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.  Tea ceremonies will be performed throughout the day by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association.  

We are also honored to welcome the Consul General of Japan at Chicago, Yoshifumi Okamura, who will make brief remarks before Professor Sato's presentation.

 

To participate in a tea ceremony, a ticket must be purchased at the door for $5 per person (regularly $8).  Tomonokai members can participate in a tea ceremony for free by showing their membership card!

If you would prefer not to receive these email, just reply with your request and we will quickly remove your name.

Japan Disaster Tea Dedication/Messages of Hope

Don't forget:

On Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 11:00 am, we will be holding a One Year Memorial Tea Dedication for the victims of the Japan tsunami disaster. You will also have the opportunity to write a message of hope and support to attach to an origami crane. We will be sending these to the children of some of the communities hardest hit by the events.

As a recent visitor from Japan shared with us---what is needed most is expressions of hope and support.

We hope you join us. No reservation is needed.

One Year Memorial Tea Dedication for Victims of Japan Disaster

On Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 11:00 am, we will be holding a One Year Memorial Tea Dedication for the victims of the Japan tsunami disaster. You will also have the opportunity to write a message of hope and support to attach to an origami crane. We will be sending these to the children of some of the communities hardest hit by the events.

As a recent visitor shared with us---what is needed most is expressions of hope and support.

We hope you join us. No reservation is needed.

This event is co-sponsored by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association.

Setsubun and Mamemaki at Japan House Thursday, February 2, 2012!

"Demons out! Luck in!"

鬼は外! 福は内!

Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!

Join us at Japan House to celebrate Setsubun, the day before the beginning of spring in Japan.  At 3:00, this Thursday, February 2, we will hold the special ritual of mamemaki, or bean throwing.  Mamemaki is held to expel all of the evils and bring good luck to those that attend this ritual!

After that you can stay and participate in the tea ceremony for only $8 per person.  Email japanhouse@illinois.edu or call 244-9934 to make a reservation for the tea ceremony. 

All are welcome to come watch the mamemaki for free however!

Tea ceremonies will also be held at 2:00.

 

Damine Kabuki

The free performance by the Damini Kabuki held at Krannert Center and narrated by Shozo Sato made for an extraordinary afternoon! 

Guests who were Japan House Tomonokai members were allowed backstage to see the transformation from the group that enjoyed tea at Japan House into the striking performers they all---from very young to adult---became.  This is just one example of some of the special experiences available to Tomonkai members!  Thanks to Shozo Sato for making this possible....and thanks to all the members of the Damnie Kabuki for their artistry.

Check our facebook page for even more photos and video!

Special Opportunity for a Backstage Tour with Shozo Sato!

Are you a Japan House Tomonokai member?

Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of Japan House Shozo Sato is offering a special backstage tour for Tomonokai members prior to the Damine Kabuki children's performance at Krannert Center this Sunday, January 22, 2012 in the Tryon Festival Theater. Tickets are free for everybody for the 3:00 p.m. performance but at 1:00 p.m. Shozo Sato will bring Japan House Tomonokai members backstage for an exclusive tour! Just look for the 'Japan House tour' in the lobby of the Tryon Festival Theater and Professor Emeritus Sato will meet you there. There is no need to make a reservation----just be in the Tryon Festival lobby, by the 'Japan House tour' sign a few minutes before 1:00 p.m.

 

Would you like to become a Tomonokai member to take advantage of this unique backstage experience? Membership levels begin at just $25 and you will then be able to take advantage of special rates for our upcoming calligraphy and cooking workshops, as well as an invitation to a members-only  cherry blossom celebration. And that's just SOME of what's happening this semester! If you are interested in joining, please call Japan House at 217-244-9934, or click here to join online.

And don't forget----even if you aren't a Japan House Tomonokai member---you can still attend the Damine Kabuki performance for free at 3:00 p.m. 

AND on this Saturday, January 21, 2012, we will begin offering tea ceremonies on the third Saturday of each month at 3:00 p.m. Call or email japanhouse@illinois.edu to make a reservation.

 

Calligraphy and Cooking Workshops Offered at Japan House Spring Semester 2012

Professor Emeritus, and Founding Director of Japan House, Shozo Sato, returns to campus this spring.  His final directorial performance at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts will be of his  highly respected Kabuki adaption of Shakespeare's Macbeth from March 29-April 7, 2012.  He will also be narrating a free kabuki performance by children from the Damine elementary School and adults from their small community near Nagoya City, Japan.  Professor Emeritus Sato will also be working with ARTD 299 class at Japan House and conducting a presentation on Kabuki at the Japan House Spring Open House on April 7, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.

He has also graciously agreed to conduct a series of five workshops on calligraphy to be offered at Japan House on Sundays at 1:00 p.m.  The five Sundays are January 29, February 12 and 26, and March 11 and 25, 2012.  Space is LIMITED to 20 participants.  You may sign up for any number of the workshops.  If you sign up for all five, one workshop will be free.  NO previous experience is necessary.  The cost is $20 per workshop for Tomonokai members or $25 for non-members.  There is also a supplies fee of $5 per session for brushes and ink.  Call Japan House at 217-244-9934 with your credit card information.  Space is limited----reserve your place now!

Japan House is also pleased to offer a very special series of Cooking Workshops conducted by Tamaki Levy.  Japanese appetizers will be featured in the first workshop on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.  The cost is $25 for each workshop for Tomonokai members and $30 for non-members.  Space is limited to 16 participants to ensure lots of hands-on participation!  The second workshop is on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. and will focus on Japanese entrees, while the last workshop, on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. will teach to create delicious Japanese sweets!

Reservations are made when we receive payment.  You may call with your credit card information (217-244-9934) or send a check (payable to Japan House) to Japan House, 2000 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802.

Frost Comes to the Gardens, Tea Ceremonies Available

The frosty mornings are beginning in the Japan House gardens.  We have had to close the walled tea garden.  Unfortunately it is not safe in icy weather.  The rest of the gardens---and the rest of the Arboretum---are open all year round, dawn to dusk however.  One of the greatest joys of the Japan House gardens is that its beauty is just as strong all year long----through spring, summer, fall and now winter.

There are four tea ceremonies scheduled through the end of the year:  2:00 and 3:00 on Thursday, December 8 and Thursday, December 15, 2011.  We have open spots in all at the moment.  Just $8 per person----it is a wonderful way to find a moment of peace for yourself----or to share one with somebody special.  Call 217-244-9934 or email japanhouse@illinois.edu for reservations.