The Japanese Culture Center hosts a wide variety of classes, events, and demonstrations to explore the rich cultural heritage of artists and creators worldwide. Come join us for an immersive experience right in the heart of Chicago!
Hands-On Japanese Homestyle Cooking Get Tickets Here With its focus on seasonality, balanced and healthy meal structures, and beautiful presentation, Japanese food has so much to offer beyond just sushi and ramen. Join us for a special hands-on cooking class where you’ll gain insight into Japanese food, cooking traditions, ingredients and techniques necessary to prepare […]
Reiki Level I Shoden: In-person certification training in JanuaryTraditional Japanese Reiki I/Shoden TrainingAbout this eventREIKI LEVEL I - SHODEN CLASSA 10-hour Reiki certification class in the Japanese form of Reiki the "Usui Reiki Ryoho".Class Dates: 2 Fridays, January 24 and 31 from 12PM to 5PM. Students are expected to arrive 10 minutes prior to class.Participants […]
Reiki Level I Shoden: In-person certification training in January at North Shore AikidoNORTH SHORE AIKIDO - REIKI LEVEL I – SHODENA 10-hour Reiki certification class in the Japanese form of Reiki the "Usui Reiki Ryoho".2 Saturdays: from 1 PM – 6 PM - in-person, January 25 & Feb 1.Reiki is a spiritual healing method that […]
Join us for an in-person Kintsugi Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Kintsugi for Beginners 3:30-5:30 pm on Saturday, 1/25Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break rather than erasing it and emphasizes that the break, or trauma, is what […]
Get Tickets Here Butoh dance training is an invaluable tool for dancers, actors, and creative people of all types. Sara leads you in exercises to expand your body physically and energetically through breath and meditation techniques, vocal warm-ups, Noguchi Taiso, Qigong, Daoyin, visual imagery and improvisational scores. This workshop lights on ideas of the transformative […]
Get Tickets Here Join us for an evening of tranquility and rejuvenation at the Japanese Cultural Center! Embark on a journey of serenity and self-discovery as we invite you to immerse yourself in the mesmerizing melodies of singing bowls, soothing vibrations of gongs, flute, bells, drums, and handpan. This captivating sound bath will transport you […]
Come and learn the seasonal art of e-tegami!CLASS DESCRIPTION:Winter E-tegami Workshop: CitrusCome and learn the seasonal art of e-tegami!E-tegami means picture letter (e=picture, tegami= letter) and is a kind of Japanese mail art. At its simplest, you will make an ink drawing of a seasonal object onto a watercolor postcard. At its most complex, this […]
Japanese ink painting, (sumi-e) is the art of painting using brush (fude), ink (sumi) and thin absorbent “rice-paper” (washi)."The Bamboo Path"The Four Noble Path and Beyond for Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced will continue with Awareness Through Movement warm up, Zen lesson, Sumi-e brush techniques and step by step paintings. Japanese ink painting, (sumi-e) is the […]
A virtual Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) program with instruction from Hekiun Oda Sensei.The Japanese Culture Center is excited to hold a 書道 - Shodo / Japanese Calligraphy program with Chicago's own Shodo master, Hekiun Oda!In the Shodo program you learn the art of Japanese calligraphy from Hekiun Oda-sensei, a calligraphy master from the Japanese Calligraphy Association […]
Japanese ink painting, (sumi-e) is the art of painting using brush (fude), ink (sumi) and thin absorbent “rice-paper” (washi)."The Bamboo Path"The Four Noble Path and Beyond for Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced will continue with Awareness Through Movement warm up, Zen lesson, Sumi-e brush techniques and step by step paintings.Japanese ink painting, (sumi-e) is the art […]
Join us for a special class for beginners, for an introduction to the Ohara School of Ikebana. 3 weeks.* Please Note Class Times have changed to the start time of 7:00PM*** 2 student class minimum**Class DescriptionThis class has 4 sessions, which are 60 minutes each. This class is great for first-time students, and beginning students […]
Join us for an Ohara Ryu Ikebana Workshop! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Join us for an Ohara Ryu Ikebana Workshop! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Join us for an Ohara Ryu Ikebana Workshop! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Sign up for an immersive experience for Ikebana enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner […]
Learn Japanese in this five-week introductory session!Learn to read, write, and speak with fellow classmates in our Introduction to Japanese Language class!GENERAL INFO:‣ Price ⇰ $120.00 per student (textbook NOT included)‣ Duration ⇰ Five weeks (one hour every Thursday)‣ Instructor ⇰ Mieko Fujii SenseiPlease note exact class dates for the class:Thursday Class Dates: 2/6, 2/13, […]
Get Tickets Here Sonic Sanctuary: Gong Wash Sound Therapy Details: Please Note This Specific Event is at Northshore Aikido, Not the JCC Step into a realm of deep relaxation and healing at Sonic Sanctuary: Gong Wash Sound Healing. This immersive sound healing journey harnesses the powerful vibrations of gongs, complemented by singing bowls, chimes, flutes, […]
Join us for an in-person 2 Week Ohara Ryu Ikebana Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome. Sign up for an immersive experience 2-week course for Ikebana enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a beginner eager to discover the art of Japanese flower arrangement or an experienced practitioner seeking to refine your skills, this course […]
Learn Japanese in this five-week introductory session!Learn to read, write, and speak with fellow classmates in our Introduction to Japanese Language class!GENERAL INFO:‣ Price ⇰ $120.00 per student (textbook NOT included)‣ Duration ⇰ Five weeks (one hour every Saturday)‣ Instructor ⇰ Mieko Fujii SenseiPlease note exact class dates for the class:Saturday Class Dates: 2/8, 2/15, […]
Join Yamamoto Sensei for a fun Valentine's Day themed origami workshop!Join Yamamoto Sensei for a day of Valentine's Day themed origami! Bring a date, a friend or come alone to meet new people as we fold cute hearts and boxes!A variety of paper will be provided. Space is extremely limited at this event so register […]
Come enjoy the Valentine's edition of our popular origami Fold and Sip event!Event InfoCome join the Japanese Culture Center for the Valentine's edition of our popular Fold and Sip event! We will be learning the traditional art of Japanese paper folding with Yamamoto-sensei while also enjoying drinks from a wonderful neighborhood liquor store. This event […]
Join this one-hour virtual Reiki practice for self-care to relax, refresh, and find balance!**$20 per person**ABOUT THE SELF-CARE PRACTICEThis one-hour online Reiki self-care practice in the traditional Japanese style of Reiki offers participants the opportunity to take a pause during the day to relax, refresh, and come back to their original state of balance. This […]
Reiki Level I Shoden: In-person certification training in FebruaryTraditional Japanese Reiki I/Shoden TrainingAbout this eventREIKI LEVEL I - SHODEN CLASSA 10-hour Reiki certification class in the Japanese form of Reiki the "Usui Reiki Ryoho".Class Dates: 2 Fridays, February 14 and 21 from 12PM to 5PM. Students are expected to arrive 10 minutes prior to class.Participants […]
Join us for an in-person Multi-level 2 Week Ohara Ryu Ikebana Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Join us for an in-person 2 Week Ohara Ryu Ikebana Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Sign up for an immersive experience 3-week course for Ikebana enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a beginner eager to discover the […]
Reiki Level I Shoden: In-person certification training in February at North Shore AikidoNORTH SHORE AIKIDO - REIKI LEVEL I – SHODENA 10-hour Reiki certification class in the Japanese form of Reiki the "Usui Reiki Ryoho".2 Saturdays: from 1 PM – 6 PM - in-person, Feb 15 & 22.Reiki is a spiritual healing method that promotes […]
Join artist Pamela Martinez for a 2 hour introduction to Suminagashi Japanese paper marbling and heart shaped stencils!Suminagashi translated means floating black ink. It is the ancient meditative Japanese practice of gently floating pigments on the surface of water with a brush and then capturing the mono print image on an absorbent paper. This exciting […]
Join us for this Introductory Ikebana Workshop in the Ikenobo style of Ikebana. Workshop Information Date: February 16 Time: 2:30-4:30pm Location: Japanese Culture Center Number of Students: 10 Students Number of Classes: one workshop Length: 2 hours Cost: $80.00 Registration Deadline: Two weeks prior to workshop date. If the 10 student minimum is not met, […]
Join us for a traditional Hinamatsuri Tea Ceremony, celebrating Girl's Day!Hinamatsuri / Girl's Day Tea GatheringJoin us for a delightful afternoon tea ceremony at the Japanese Culture Center in Chicago, IL, as we celebrate Hinamatsuri, also known as Girl's Day.Hinamatsuri /雛祭り is the Doll Festival of Japan an is also known as Girl’s Day. It […]
Get Tickets Here Join us for an evening of tranquility and rejuvenation at the Japanese Cultural Center! Embark on a journey of serenity and self-discovery as we invite you to immerse yourself in the mesmerizing melodies of singing bowls, soothing vibrations of gongs, flute, bells, drums, and handpan. This captivating sound bath will transport you […]
Anyone who took the Kinstugi for Beginners workshop is welcome to take this small group advanced Kintsugi session.Anyone who took the Kinstugi for Beginners workshop is welcome to take this small group advanced Kintsugi session. In this 4-session class, 2 hours each session, you will learn to use Urushi sap from the beginning of the […]
A 10-hour Reiki certification class in the Japanese form of Reiki the "Usui Reiki Ryoho".Class Dates: 2 Fridays, March 7 and 14 at the JCC from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Students are expected to arrive 10 minutes prior to class.Participants need to attend all sessions to certify.This class has a minimum of two students, […]
Reiki Level I Shoden: In-person certification training in March at North Shore AikidoNORTH SHORE AIKIDO - REIKI LEVEL I – SHODENA 10-hour Reiki certification class in the Japanese form of Reiki the "Usui Reiki Ryoho".2 Saturdays: from 1 PM – 6 PM - in-person, March 8 + 15.Reiki is a spiritual healing method that promotes […]
Join us for an in-person Kintsugi Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Kintsugi for Beginners 3:30-5:30 pm on Saturday, 3/8Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break rather than erasing it and emphasizes that the break, or trauma, is what […]
We are excited to offer the next 6 Week Ikebana Course! We are excited the return of the 6 Week Ikenobo Ikebana Course at the Japanese Culture Center! Class begins Sunday 3/9/2025. Class Dates: 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, & 4/13. 4:00-5:00pm Introductory Course The course fee is $220, which includes flowers and all tools […]
Come enjoy the St. Patrick's Day edition of our popular origami Fold and Sip event!Event InfoCome join the Japanese Culture Center for the St. Patrick's Day edition of our popular Fold and Sip event! We will be learning the traditional art of Japanese paper folding with Yamamoto-sensei while also enjoying drinks from a wonderful neighborhood […]
Join us for a special class for beginners, for an introduction to the Ohara School of Ikebana. 3 weeks.* Please Note Class Times have changed to the start time of 7:00PM*** 2 student class minimum**Class DescriptionThis class has 4 sessions, which are 60 minutes each. This class is great for first-time students, and beginning students […]
Learn the basics of the Japanese language with this in person beginner session!About the EventDuring this four-week course, students will learn the foundations of the Japanese language including basic phrases, how to read and write hiragana, simple sentence structures and more!This course uses the textbook and workbook from Genki 1Third Edition. Please be sure to […]
Come enjoy the St. Patrick's Day edition of our popular origami Fold and Sip event!Event InfoCome join the Japanese Culture Center for the St. Patrick's Day edition of our popular Fold and Sip event! We will be learning the traditional art of Japanese paper folding with Yamamoto-sensei while also enjoying drinks from a wonderful neighborhood […]
Get Tickets Here Sonic Sanctuary: Gong Wash Sound Therapy Details: Please Note This Specific Event is at Northshore Aikido, Not the JCC Step into a realm of deep relaxation and healing at Sonic Sanctuary: Gong Wash Sound Healing. This immersive sound healing journey harnesses the powerful vibrations of gongs, complemented by singing bowls, chimes, flutes, […]
Join us for an in-person Multi-level 3 Week Ohara Ryu Ikebana Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Join us for an in-person 3 Week Ohara Ryu Ikebana Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Sign up for an immersive experience 3-week course for Ikebana enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a beginner eager to discover the […]
Learn the art of Japanese Papermaking with Takahashi-sensei!Japanese Papermaking WorkshopAt this paper-making workshop, participants will make traditional Japanese paper, called Wash from the fibers processed by the bark of Kozo (Japanese marybery) tree. Washi is typically made by Japanese Mulberry or Mitsumata wood bark and has been used in Japan’s everyday life, including architectural elements […]
Nerikiri (Japanese sweets wagashi) making workshop - Cherry Blossom2025 Nerikiri Cherry Blossom:As we welcome the arrival of spring in March, we will celebrate the season with a special wagashi workshop. We will make Nerikiri shaped like beautiful sakura (cherry blossoms). Sakura holds a special place in Japanese culture, symbolizing the arrival of spring and the […]
Learn Japanese in this five-week introductory session!Learn to read, write, and speak with fellow classmates in our Introduction to Japanese Language class!GENERAL INFO:‣ Price ⇰ $120.00 per student (textbook NOT included)‣ Duration ⇰ Five weeks (one hour every Thursday)‣ Instructor ⇰ Mieko Fujii SenseiPlease note exact class dates for the class:Thursday Class Dates: 3/27, 4/3, […]
Join us for an in-person Kintsugi Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Kintsugi for Beginners 3:30-5:30 pm on Saturday, 3/29Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break rather than erasing it and emphasizes that the break, or trauma, is what […]
Join Gyotaku instructor, Robert Chenoweth for a 2-hour fish printing class where you will make prints of real fish & octopus to take home!Join us for Gyotaku - Fish Ink Printing!Date: Sat Apr 05 2025Time: 3:30 PMLocation: Japanese Culture CenterCome and learn the traditional Japanese art of Gyotaku (魚拓 -ink rubbing of a fish; (making […]
Get Tickets Here Sonic Sanctuary: Gong Wash Sound Therapy Details: Please Note This Specific Event is at Northshore Aikido, Not the JCC Step into a realm of deep relaxation and healing at Sonic Sanctuary: Gong Wash Sound Healing. This immersive sound healing journey harnesses the powerful vibrations of gongs, complemented by singing bowls, chimes, flutes, […]
Join Takahashi-sensei, in this 3-week course on traditional Japanese painting!Nihonga, a general term for traditional Japanese painting, means, literally, “Japanese painting”. Here is an explanation about Nihonga at Yamatane Museum of Art, one of Japan’s most important Nihonga museums. “Now in common use, this term originated during the Meiji period, to distinguish Japanese painting from […]
Reiki Level I Shoden: In-person certification training in AprilTraditional Japanese Reiki I/Shoden TrainingAbout this eventREIKI LEVEL I - SHODEN CLASSA 10-hour Reiki certification class in the Japanese form of Reiki the "Usui Reiki Ryoho".Class Dates: 2 Fridays, April 11 and 18 from 12PM to 5PM. Students are expected to arrive 10 minutes prior to class.Participants […]
Join this one-hour virtual Reiki practice for self-care to relax, refresh, and find balance!**$20 per person**ABOUT THE SELF-CARE PRACTICEThis one-hour online Reiki self-care practice in the traditional Japanese style of Reiki offers participants the opportunity to take a pause during the day to relax, refresh, and come back to their original state of balance. This […]
Join us for an in-person Woodblock Printing Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Join us for an in-person Spring Themed Woodblock Printing Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Students will experience basic carvings and print the one-block printmaking process with a simple design provided by the instructor. They will also ink/color on two to three […]
Get Tickets Here Join us for an evening of tranquility and rejuvenation at the Japanese Cultural Center! Embark on a journey of serenity and self-discovery as we invite you to immerse yourself in the mesmerizing melodies of singing bowls, soothing vibrations of gongs, flute, bells, drums, and handpan. This captivating sound bath will transport you […]
Anyone who took the Kinstugi for Beginners workshop is welcome to take this small group advanced Kintsugi session.Anyone who took the Kinstugi for Beginners workshop is welcome to take this small group advanced Kintsugi session. In this 3-session class, 2 hours each session, you will learn to use Urushi sap from the beginning of the […]
Join us for an in-person Kintsugi Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Kintsugi for Beginners 3:30-5:30 pm on Saturday, 5/24 Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break rather than erasing it and emphasizes that the break, or trauma, is […]
