Japan House Matsuri

2000 South Lincoln Avenue,Urbana IL 61802

06 May, 2023

Description

Japan House will celebrate the end of the spring semester and 25 years in the Arboretum at the University of Illinois with a celebratory day of performances, food and artistry followed by fireworks. Matsuri, the Japanese word for festival, will be held Saturday, May 6 from 12pm to 9pm in the Arboretum just south of Japan House, a new location for the event. The schedule includes a variety of free performances, including Ho Etsu Taiko drum group, DJ Van Paugam, martial arts demonstrations, hula, and more. During the family-focused portion from 12pm-6pm, there will be something for everyone to do. Younger guests can enjoy the amazing artistry of Joyful Bubbles, try their hand at origami (paper folding),or be mesmerized by “The Candyman”, a Japanese street performer whose specialty is the ancient Japanese art of amezaiku, a method of sculpting hot taffy-like candy into fantastic shapes of animals and other creatures. Over a dozen artists and artisans will be located in a large Retail Tent featuring handmade crafts and goods with demonstrations and performances scattered throughout. A variety of restaurants will be lined up offering delicious Asian-inspired food and beverages for all. Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremonies will be offered by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association inside, and outside near Japan House hourly. Tickets ($15) are required to attend. Guests receive a bowl of matcha and wagashi (Japanese Sweet). In the interactive Activities Tent, ticket holders ($30) get to experience 3 traditional Japanese arts hourly: ikebana (flower arranging), yukata (informal kimono) dressing, and a chance to create a one-of-a-kind art piece with Japanese artist Zenkyu Niwa or large-scale calligraphy artist Seiran Chiba. Character artist Zenkyu Niwa has been a longtime supporter of Japan House and has created this year’s Matsuri mascot, an adorable maneki-neko (beckoning cat) traditionally seated, holding a koban (oval gold coin), with one paw raised in a beckoning gesture. Festival t-shirts and other items featuring Zenkyu’s artwork will be available during the day. A Libations Tent featuring a limited-edition Japan House beer and sake seltzer from Triptych Brewing will be alongside Michael’s Catering serving Japanese Street Food until 8pm. Returning for their third time, the crowd favorite, international Japanese all-female band, the 5. 6. 7. 8’s will end the day rocking out from 7pm until the fireworks start at approximately 9pm. Guests are encouraged to wear traditional clothing such as Japanese yukata, Indian sari or Korean hanbok, as well as your favorite cosplay attire for the day. ________________________________________________________ The tradition of offering classes and workshops in Japanese arts and culture predates the current Japan House. It began in 1964 with Shozo Sato, Professor Emeritus of art and design and an artist-in-residence at Krannert Center from 1969 to 1992. He began offering tea ceremonies, first at the art school and then in his own home until the university offered him the use of a Victorian house owned by the university on California Street in Urbana, which became the original Japan House.Sato retired in 1992 and the house was torn down. Kimiko Gunji, who succeeded Sato as the director of Japan House, worked with university administrators to select a site at the Arboretum for a new building. Gunji sought donations for the project, securing funding for two tearooms from the Urasenke Foundation in Japan, a $100,000 donation from the Japan Illini Club, $100,000 grants from the Commemorative Association for the Japan World Exhibition and the Japan Foundation for Global Partnerships, and with many gifts from local community membersThe new Japan House, with three Japanese tearooms, was dedicated in 1998. Later additions include a Japanese tea garden, Zen-style rock garden designed and installed by Jim Bier, and an allée of cherry trees leading to the building courtesy of Dr. Genshitsu Sen, the 15th generation Grandmaster of the Urasenke Tea School in Japan. Plans are in the works for a 6000 sf addition, the Ogura-Sato Annex, to the main structure with construction starting later this year.Japan House is a unit of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It has both university classes for academic credit, as well as community classes open to the general public. Although it is not a cultural center for Japanese students, it often becomes a home away from home to many Asian students because of its traditional stylings and peaceful environment.