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!
Introduction to Japanese Tea Ceremony The Japanese Culture Center is excited to announce the next introductory course on Chanoyu/Tea Ceremony! General Information: Class Dates : Fridays - January 23, January 30, February 6, & February 13 7:00 pm – 8:30pm $120 per student Business casual attire and white socks are required 4 students maximum Introductory […]
Study the art of bonsai at the Japanese Culture Center! Discover the perfect blend of creativity and relaxation with our beginner bonsai workshops. Whether you’re a seasoned bonsai enthusiast or a curious beginner, our workshops provide all the materials and guidance you need to create your own miniature living art with the Japanese principles of […]
Join us for a warm, creative session and craft something meaningful for yourself or someone you care about! Celebrate the season of love and creativity with our Family Valentine’s Day Origami Workshop, where we’ll be folding a charming heart-shaped box—perfect for holding small treats, notes, or gifts for someone special. Date: Feburary 5th, 2026 Time: […]
Nerikiri (Japanese sweets wagashi) making workshopValentine's Day Nerikiri: Hearts and the Thread of DestinyEnroll now for our special Wagashi workshop, dedicated to the theme of Valentine's Day!This class offers a perfect opportunity to prepare a thoughtful, handmade gift for your loved ones. We will focus on two beautiful and meaningful designs:Heart: Nerikiri shaped like a […]
Join us for this Introductory Ikebana Workshop in the Ikenobo style of Ikebana.Workshop InformationDate: FEB 8Time: 2:30-4:30pmLocation: Japanese Culture CenterNumber of Students: 10 StudentsNumber of Classes: one workshopLength: 2 hoursCost: $80.00Registration Deadline: Two weeks prior to workshop date.If the 10 student minimum is not met, registration will be moved to the next workshopPlease take this […]
Come and learn the seasonal art of e-tegami! Come and learn how to carve your own e-tegami signature stamp and design a Valentine stamp e-tegami! CLASS DESCRIPTION: E-tegami translates literally to “picture letter,” (e=picture, tegami= letter) and entails the process of designing, drawing, and sending a postcard. The final step in this process is figuring […]
Come join us for a 6-week class where you'll learn the art of Ikebana flower arrangement!Come join us for a 6-week class where you’ll learn the art of Ikebana flower arrangement!We are excited the return of the 6 Week Ikenobo Ikebana Course at the Japanese Culture Center!Class begins Sunday, FEB 15Class Dates: Feb. 15, Feb. […]
Reiki, Japanese Healing Art – an introductionReiki, Japanese Healing Art – an introductionReiki is a traditional Japanese healing method developed in the 1920s by Usui Mikao. Its formal name, Shin Shin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryōhō, translates to “The Usui Healing Method for Improving Body, Mind, and Heart.” Today, Reiki is practiced globally as a system that supports overall well-being […]
Come and learn the art of Sashiko with Ide-sensei!CLASS DESCRIPTION: Join artist mai ide, a visual artist based in Portland, OR, for a relaxing day of Sashiko stitching — not just to learn a technique, but to explore cultural significance. This workshop invites you into the world of traditional Japanese mending, where each stitch carries […]
Join us for an in-person 2-week Ohara Ryu Ikebana Session! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Join us for an Ohara Ryu 2-week Ikebana session! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Dates: February 21 & 28Sign up for an immersive experience for Ikebana enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a beginner eager to discover the art of […]
Join us for an in-person Kintsugi Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Kintsugi for Beginners 3:30-6:00 pm on SAT, 2/21Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese lacquer / Urushi art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. Urushi is the natural resin collected from the lacquer tree. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break […]
Butoh dance training is an invaluable tool for dancers, actors, and creative people of all types.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 […]
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 […]
Join us for a fun Suminagashi - Ink Marbling Workshop where you can learn the ancient Japanese art of paper marbling!Suminagashi - Ink Marbling WorkshopJoin artist Pamela Martinez for a 2 hour introduction to Suminagashi Japanese paper marbling!Suminagashi translated means floating black ink. It is the ancient meditative Japanese practice of gently floating pigments on […]
Join us for a Japanese bookbinding & temple stamp book (Goshuinchō) WorkshopExplore the beauty and cultural depth of traditional Japanese bookmaking in this hands-on workshop. Participants will learn two classic binding techniques—Yotsume Toji (four-hole binding) and Kikkō Toji (tortoise-shell binding)—methods that have been used for centuries for notebooks, manuscripts, and artist books in Japan.The workshop […]
Join us for an in-person 2-week Ohara Ryu Ikebana Session! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Join us for an Ohara Ryu 2-week Ikebana Session! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Dates: March 14, & 21Sign up for an immersive experience for Ikebana enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a beginner eager to discover the art of […]
Join us for an in-person 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 eager to discover the art of Japanese flower arrangement or an […]
Join us for an in-person Kintsugi Course! No experience necessary. All levels welcome.Kintsugi for Beginners 6:30-9pm on Friday, 3/20Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese lacquer / Urushi art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. Urushi is the natural resin collected from the lacquer tree. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break rather […]
Butoh dance training is an invaluable tool for dancers, actors, and creative people of all types.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 […]
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 MAR 28, 2026Time: 3:30 PMLocation: Japanese Culture CenterCome and learn the traditional Japanese art of Gyotaku (魚拓 -ink rubbing of a fish; (making […]
Join us for this Introductory Ikebana Workshop in the Ikenobo style of Ikebana.Workshop InformationDate: APR 19Time: 2:30-4:30pmLocation: Japanese Culture CenterNumber of Students: 10 StudentsNumber of Classes: one workshopLength: 2 hoursCost: $80.00Registration Deadline: Two weeks prior to workshop date.If the 10 student minimum is not met, registration will be moved to the next workshopPlease take this […]
Come join us for a 6-week class where you'll learn the art of Ikebana flower arrangement!Come join us for a 6-week class where you’ll learn the art of Ikebana flower arrangement!We are excited the return of the 6 Week Ikenobo Ikebana Course at the Japanese Culture Center!Class begins Sunday, APR 26Class Dates: Apr. 26, May […]
Study the art of bonsai at the Japanese Culture Center! Discover the perfect blend of creativity and relaxation with our beginner bonsai workshops. Whether you're a seasoned bonsai enthusiast or a curious beginner, our workshops provide all the materials and guidance you need to create your own miniature living art with the Japanese principles of […]