Only at Japan House

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.

Cherry Blossom Time and Protocol

Our Open House last Saturday was one of our busiest ever.  Over 730 people came through Japan House for tea ceremonies, garden tours, ikebana displays and presentations on wagashi (Japanese sweetmaking)!

This week finds our cherry blossoms blooming! Come enjoy the pleasure of 50 cherry trees in bloom....

Also, on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 7 pm, we will host our last cultural enrichment meeting of the semester.  It will be an informal discussion by students recounting their experiences and perceptions of how protocol differs in the US and Japan. Students from both countries will be participating and as always, the discussion will be followed by tea and snacks.  We hope you join us!

Rare chance to hear Shamisen at Japan House!

Don't miss this RARE opportunity to hear world renowned classical Nagauta Shamisen performed by accredited grand masters of the instrument from the legendary Kineya Shamisen family.

Chizuru Kineya & Satomayu Kineya
with Tatsu Aoki and Amy Homma of Tsukasa Taiko

Monday, September 27, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Free Admission

This event is sponsored by Japan House, Spurlock Museum, and the Robert E. Brown Center for World Music.  It is also made possible by the Lorado Taft Lectureship on Art/College of Fine and Applied Arts and co-sponsored by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Haiku, Tea and Cherry Blossoms....

The cherry blossoms have begun to open!  Last year a late freeze prevented them from blooming so this is the first spring we will see all 50 cherry trees bloom that were so generously donated by Dr. Genshitsu Sen, the fifteenth grandmaster of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea in Japan.

Come by this week to see the trees! 

We also have a haiku workshop tomorrow, Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at p.m.   Free and open to all.

Walking through the blossoms would be perfect before or after a tea ceremonies.  We have openings at both 2:00 and 3:00 this Thursday, April 8, 2010.  Call 217-244-9934 for reservations or details.

Click on over to our facebook page for more pictures of the sakura....and more to follow as they continue to bloom....

Haiku Workshop on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

Our April Cultural Enrichment Group meeting will take place next Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. (note later time) with haiku expert Lee Gurga leading a free workshop.

The workshop is free and open to all.  Tea in the kitchen of Japan House will follow.

A longtime supporter of Japan House, Lee Gurga has served as president of the Haiku Society of America. He was editor of Modern Haiku, from 2002-2006. He is currently editor of Modern Haiku Press http://www.modernhaiku.org.  You can find more information on Lee here.  We hope to see you!

The History of the Way of Tea

David Mungenast presented a fascinating lecture Wednesday evening on the history of the Way of Tea in Japan.  There was a great crowd, with many people listening to the story of how both art and politics effected this tradition, as well as the story of the great master Sen Rikyu.  Thank you David---and thanks to all that attended!

 

Hinamatsuri

Don't forget to visit Japan House sometime during the month to view the dolls on display for Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival)!  Tea ceremonies are every Thursday at 2:00 and 3:00.  You can also view the dolls during our March Cultural Enrichment presentation on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 5:30 pm in which David Mungenast will do a presentation on the history of tea and the tea ceremony in Japan.

A Beautiful Night of Kimonos

It was cold outside last night but warm and colorful inside Japan House as members of the public were treated to a presentation on the art and customs of the kimono.  This was the first Cultural Enrichment Group meeting for the semester.  Next month on Wednesday, March 7, David Mungenast will discuss the history and art of the tea ceremony.  After the presentations you can join us in the kitchen for tea, some snacks and good converation!

Spring 2010 Cultural Enrichment Series: Exploring the Arts of Japan

Join us for our spring series of presentations and explore the arts of Japan.  Free and all are welcome!



Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Understanding the Kimono
Kimiko Gunji
Japan House, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The History of Tea and the Tea Ceremony in Japan
David Mungenast
Japan House, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Haiku Workshop
Lee Gurga
Japan House, 7:00 p.m.
(note different time)

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Exploring the Gardens of Japan
James Bier
Japan House 5:30 p.m.

Zen and Thanksgiving

If you're looking for something to do before or after your Thanksgiving celebration, you might try a walk through the beautiful and peaceful Japan House gardens and Arboretum.

Then on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving----December 2, 2009, the Reverand Elihu Genmyo Smith of the Prairie Zen Center will speak on Zen at 5:30 p.m. here at Japan House.  Join us for an peaceful evening before you get caught up in the busy holidays.  There is always tea and conversation after Cultural Enrichment meetings.  We hope to see you!

Elihu Genmyo Smith began his Zen training in 1974 at the Zen Studies Society in New York with Soen Nakagawa Roshi and Eido Shimano Roshi. He continued his training at Zen Center of Los Angeles, where he was ordained a Buddhist priest by Hakuyu Maezumi Roshi in 1979. After completing formal koan study with Maezumi Roshi, in 1984 he continued his training with Charlotte Joko Beck at Zen Center of San Diego. Genmyo received Dharma transmission (shiho) and authorization to teach from Joko in 1992. He is a co-founder of the Ordinary Mind Zen School and currently lives in Champaign, Illinois where he is resident teacher of the Prairie Zen Center.  Genmyo is the author of Ordinary Live, Wondrous Life which is published by the Prairie Zen Center.