PAST EVENTS

CULTURAL ENRICHMENT MEETING
Haiku with Dr. Lee Gurga on May 8, 2008

IKEBANA CLASSES
Interested in taking soem classes at the Japan House? We offer community classes and University classes. Take a look at some images from some recent Ikebana classes here or for more information on our classes see the education page.

CHERRY TREES
This spring we planted some new cherry trees in our beautiful garden. Take a look at the slideshow or come visit the gardens. Can you think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon?

HINA DOLL DISPLAY
The Hina Doll display was available for viewing during the month of March, 2008. Hinamatsuri is associated with Girls' Day and the Peach Festival. Households with daughters set up a tiered platform covered with festive red felt and display about fifteen richly-costumed dolls.

SPRING OPEN HOUSE
The 2008 Spring Open House was held on Saturday, April 12 featuring a very special presentation on KODO, the art of traditional Japanese incense by our distinguished visitors, Mr. Gyosetsu Mauryama and Ms. Nobue Irako from Nippon Kodo, Inc. of Tokyo.
Breathing in and appreciating the different varieties of incense is called "listening to the koh." There was also a tour of the gardens with James Bier, Designer and Builder of the Japan House gardens. Tea Ceremonies were held throughout the day and student Ikebana was on display.

AN EVENING OF SHAUKAHACHI
performend on Wednesday, March 5, 2008
(Japanese bamboo flute) performed by Koji Matsunobu.
The shakuhachi was traditionally played by members of the Fuke sect of Japanese Zen for meditation practice, with the goal of achieving personal and spiritual maturity through the realization of the "ultimate tone" (tettei-on). Today, the shakuhachi can be played by all and is enjoying a renaissance.

Koji Matsunobu received a Ph.D in music education from Tokyo Gakugei University. He is currently pursuing a second Ph.D in aesthetic education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois at Urbana.

IWAI CLARINET ENSEMBLE
The Iwai Clarinet Ensemble performed at the Japan House on Thursday, November 29. As well as giving concerts domestically in Japan, the Clarinet Choir has performed around the world: in Belgium, New Zealand, U.S.A., and Korea. The group has a large repertoire, covering from classical, jazz, folksong, to contemporary pieces. Every concert fascinates the audience not only with the attractive music but also with the heartwarming atmosphere through the stage.

FALL 2007 OPEN HOUSE
Fall 2007 Open House was held on Saturday, October 20, 2007. The featured speaker, Mr. Takuji Okuno spoke on the topic "Japan Cool: Revelation of Edo Culture." On this day there were also tea ceremonies and garden tours.

"SIMPLE ELEGANCE" TRUNK SHOW
Held on Saturday, November 10, 2007. The show featured jewelry, kimonos, textiles, and more by artists such as Lisa Alan, Laurel Campbell, Melissa Huff, Kyoko Ibe, Laurie Jacobi, Masako Onodera, and Jo Yoshimura. There was a silent auction for the steel artwork of Mindy Gardner.
Download (728kb) an invitation to "Simple Elegance".
Download (968kb) a selection of the auction items.

BUNRAKU NATIONAL PUPPET THEATER PERFORMANCE AT KRANNERT
On Saturday, October 6, 2007, the Bunraku National Puppet Theater of Japan gave a performance at the Krannert Center for Performing Arts. There was also a lecture and demonstration for the public on Saturday at 4:00 pm at the Spurlock A.B. Knight Auditorium.

AEMS FILM SCREENING
AEMS Film Screening: "Lovers Exile,"(A Bunraku Documentary) will be held at Japan House on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 5:30 pm. This event is free.

CHILDREN'S DAY
Children's Day was held at Japan House on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 1:00 pm.

PAPER CRANES FOR PEACE
After thinking about recent events, the war, and in particular the Virginia Tech killings, Japan House hosted an event on May 2nd, 2007 to begin a campaign for Paper Cranes for Peace. It is a Japanese legend that upon folding 1000 cranes, the folder is granted a wish. All the cranes included the name of the folder and their wishes. People from various groups and schools were invited to contribute cranes. Professor Kimiko Gunji lead a Campus Honors group to Japan in May and delivered all of the cranes to Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOP WITH MR. EISHI SAKUTA
Japan House sponsored a workshop by Mr. Eishi Sakuta, renowned Japanese calligrapher, on Wednesday, April 25, 2007. He also gave a lecture and demonstration at Krannert Art Museum. He brings a fresh, contemporary feel to this traditional Japanese art. Mr. Sakuta is president of the Naniwa Calligraphy Association and has presented exhibitions and workshops in Japan, Canada, Iran and California.

SPRING OPEN HOUSE 2007
During the Spring 2007 Open House, the Honorable Kenji Shinoda, Consul General of Japan at Chicago was the guest speaker. He spoke on "Japan and Illinois: Partners for Today and Tomorrow." He also awarded Dr. Morton Weir (former U of I Chancellor and Japan House supporter) the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation for his promotion of friendship between the United States and Japan.

Tea ceremonies were performed throughout the day by members of the tea group and ikebana was on display by students of Professor Kimiko Gunji.

BUS TRIP TO THE INDIANA MUSEUM OF ART
Japan House sponsored a trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and their newly installed Asian Galleries on Saturday, March 30, 2007. Thirty-seven "Tomonokai" (friends of Japan House) enjoyed the guided tour along with lunch in Wolfgang Puck's restaurant located in the museum. We also were given a guided tour of the gardens and the "Lily House" located on the grounds of the museum.

A NIGHT OF KABUKI
In November 2006, a busload of Kabuki fans left from Japan House for a dinner at a Japanese restaurant and opening night performance of Shozo Sato's production of Othello's Passion: A Kabuki Play held in Bloomington, IL. It was a wonderful evening with both new and old friends of Japan House!

MUSICA SAKURA
Musica Sakura: An Evening of Traditional Japanese Music and Dance, with an introduction by musicologist Dr. Yamamoto Hiroko and performances by Dr. Negishi Keiko and Dr. Horiguchi Saeko. The event was held on November 30, 2006 - See the flier here for more information.

MOCHIZUKI'S VISIT
Visiting Artist Mr. Suizan Mochizuki, Chinese Pictographic Calligrapher, held a workshop at Japan House on Saturday, September 30. He also gave a lecture and demonstration at the Spurlock museum on Sunday, October 1. See the event flyer here.

CHILDREN'S DAY
Children's Day was held Saturday, May 20, 2006 from 1:00pm to 3:00 pm. See the flyer here.

IKEBANA DEMONSTRATION
A demonstration on the art of Ikebana was given by Senior Professor Shinichi Shimizu on Sunday May 7th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.

JAPAN HOUSE TALK
Osamu Yoshida gave a talk at the Japan House on Sunday, April 30th at 1:00 pm. For complete details see the flyer here.

SPRING OPEN HOUSE
Spring Open House took place in Japan House on April 8th, 2006, from 10am-4pm.

INTRODUCTION TO JAPANESE GARDENS
Instruction sessions given by James Bier, designer and builder of the Japan House gardens.

KIMONO VOLUNTEERS
A class on how to dress someone in a kimono.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON TALK
Talk given by Hiromi Matsushita at the Japan House on November 13th, 2005 from 1-2:30 pm. *Co-sponsored by Japan House, the Illinois Japanese Association and J-Net.

KYOKO IBE
World renown washi artist Kyoko Ibe gave a presentation
on September 23, 2005 at 10am at the 20th Century Gallery at the Krannert Art Museum. Download flyer (pdf).

GARDEN WORKSHOP
A Taste of Japan Series: Garden workshops by Mr. James Bier
September 17 & 24, October 1 & 8, 2005

FALL OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, October 22, 2005 from 10 am to 4 pm.