Japanese Summer Festival

The Japanese Summer Festival reatures exhibits, demonstrations and unique performances that appeal to all age groups

Japanese Summer Festival

A Celebration of Traditional Cultural Arts
July 30th & 31st

The Japanese Summer Festival features exhibits, demonstrations and unique performances that appeal to all age groups and foster a better understanding of the Japanese culture.

Festival activities are included with Garden Admission, advanced registration and additional fee required for tea ceremony participation.

2022 Japanese Summer Festival

Performances and Demonstrations begin at 10:00 AM and continue throughout the day

Please see map for all performance and activity locations

Free Admission for Premium Garden Members

Cost of Regular Garden Admission for Basic & Non-Members

 

Parking Lots Fill Early

Off-Site Parking Located at the College of Medicine

Complimentary Shuttle Service Offered to & from Visitor Center

 

Food Available for Purchase

Picnic area available during the festival. Please help us keep the grounds clean by not littering.

Please discard all garbage in the trash receptacles on-site.

Bottled water is permitted in the Garden. No other carry-in beverage or food is allowed in the Garden.

Performance Schedule

There are three designated performance locations, Pavilion Stage (Location A), Under the Pavilion (Location B) & Pavilion Lawn (Location C)

SATURDAY
TIME
10:00

Ho Etsu Taiko

Location A
10:30 Koto Performance by the Chicago Koto Group Location B
11:00 Candy Man Location C 
11:30 Shodo (Large Brush Calligraphy with Hekuin Oda) Location B 
12:00 Meifu Shinkage Ryu (Handheld Weapons) Location C 
12:30 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A 
1:00 Candy Man Location C 
1:30 Akido (the Art of Peace) Location C 
2:00 Candy Man Location C 
2:30 Koto Performance by the Chicago Koto Group Location B
3:00 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
SUNDAY
TIME
10:00 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
10:30 Candy Man Location C 
11:00 Awa Odori Chicago Location B 
11:30 Meifu Shinkage Ryu (Handheld Weapons) Location C 
12:00 Candy Man Location C 
12:30 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
1:00 Iaido (Swordsmanship) Location B
1:30 Meifu Shinkage Ryu (Handheld Weapons) Location C 
2:00 Awa Odori Chicago Location B
2:30 Candy Man Location C 
3:00 Ho Etsu Taiko Location A
Ho Etsu Taiko

We are a collective of musicians with a fresh take on the art of Japanese drumming. We push the envelope through collaborations with other taiko groups, musicians, and culturally focused performance artists while staying grounded in the rich tradition of kumi-daiko. Through our music we blend the culture of Japanese-American taiko with influences that celebrate the diversity of our ensemble. Our mission is to spread joy through each and every drumbeat by creating music that is true to who we are.

 

Koto Performance by the Chicago Koto Group

Chicago Koto Group is a traditional Japanese music ensemble that performs light classical pieces and promotes Japanese culture in the Midwest through their music and dress.

Candy Man

Candyman is a traditional cultural performer and a one-man show from Japan. Candyman keeps the audience entertained as he deftly creates intricate candy sculptures with extreme speed while engaging the audience with a variety of magic tricks and stories.

Shodo (Japanese Large Brush Calligraphy with Hekuin Oda)

Hekiun Oda Sensei was born in 1963 and grew up in Kobe City, Japan, a place known for having many shodo masters living there at the time. Oda Sensei began studying shodo at the age of 5 under the shodo master Goun Katsura. Oda Sensei moved to Chicago in 1990, and since then has held many exhibitions and demonstrations at venues including Uniqlo, the Japan Information Center (JIC), and right here at the Japanese Culture Center. In 2009 he established the Oda Japanese Calligraphy School and has taught over 100 students. Oda Sensei obtained the rank of Shihan (the highest rank in shodo) in November 2011 from the Genshin-kai, the Japanese Calligraphy Association in Japan.

Meifu Shinkage Ryu (Japanese handheld Weapons)

Come join Shehan Sensei, his students and learn about Meifu Shinkage Ryu – a traditional school of Japanese handheld Weapons – Kakushi Buki 隠し武器 including Shuriken, Fundo Kusari (chained weapons), hanbo, nunchaku and Japanese swordsmanship.

Akido (the Art of Peace)

The Japanese martial art of Aikido is a comprehensive system of throwing, joint locking, striking and pinning techniques, coupled with training in traditional Japanese weapons such as the sword, staff and knife. Founded by Morihei Ueshiba early in the twentieth century following his own extensive study of various armed and unarmed martial systems, Aikido represents a potent distillation of centuries of Japanese martial knowledge.

It is one of the most widely practiced budo, or martial way, in the world. However, Ueshiba (commonly called O-Sensei, or “venerable teacher”) was determined that his Aikido be practiced as more than simply a method of fighting. The Japanese martial arts, influenced by the internal and meditative disciplines inherited from India and China, have often carried with them an emphasis on the development of internal, as well as physical, integrity. Wielding the life-taking sword with compassion and insight, the ideal warrior in Japanese thought is more than a simple killing machine; he is a model of uprightness, courage, and loyalty, gladly sacrificing life (but never honor) in the name of principle and duty.

Awa Odori Chicago

The Mikoren Awaodori Troupe was formed in 2015. This community dance group performs Awa odori, a folkdance originating from Tokushima Japan. It is the newest addition to the cultural programs of Asian Improv aRts Midwest. Aptly named, Miko- “beautiful lake” -ren “dance group”, the community dance group performs in various cultural outreach events and provides instruction to share the joy of this traditional festival folk dance.

Iaido (Japanese Swordsmanship)

Mugai Ryu is a traditional, feudal-era style of swordsmanship founded around 1700 by Tsuji Gatan Sukemochi. The style aims at teaching practical, combative sword techniques, with an emphasis also on Zen and the attainment of enlightenment through swordsmanship. Practice centers on learning the formal sword drawing and cutting solo forms, as well as paired combative forms using partners. More advanced students will have the opportunity to learn forms from other styles, such as the Sekiguchi Ryu and the Niten Ichi Ryu. Iaito (training swords) are optional if owned, otherwise beginners may borrow or purchase wooden training weapons. 6-week Introductory Course and Ongoing Training.

Tea Ceremonies

Tea ceremonies are hosted by Kimiko Gunji, Professor Emeritus of Japanese Arts & Culture in the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Anderson Japanese Gardens Tea Study Group.  Sensei Gunji is also the retired director of Japan House at the University. Advanced Registration for all ceremonies is required and space is limited at each tea ceremony.

There are three designated tea ceremony locations, The Guest House, Tea House, and Gazebo

Participants are asked to check-in at the registration cart in the Guest House Circle (Location 2) 20 minutes before their tea ceremony time.

$30.00 for Garden members | $35.00 for non-members

SATURDAY

Guest House 1:30pm  |  2:30pm
(18 Maximum Participants)
Tea House 12:30pm  |  1:30pm  |   2:30pm
(4 Maximum Participants)
Gazebo 12:30pm  |  1:30pm  |   2:30pm
(5 Maximum Participants)
SUNDAY
Guest House 12:00pm  |  1:00pm  |   2:00pm
(18 Maximum Participants)
Tea House 12:00pm 1:00pm  |   2:00pm
(4 Maximum Participants)
Gazebo 12:00pm  |  1:00pm  |   2:00pm
(5 Maximum Participants)

Activity Stations

There will be activity stations set up all throughout the Gardens. Please refer to the map for assistance. Activity stations provided thanks to our friends at the Japanese Culture Center.

There are four designated activity locations, Conversation Garden (1), Guest House Circle (2), Pebble Beach (3) & The Horticulture Shop (4).

SATURDAY
TIME
12:00pm – 4:00pm Japanese Paper Making Location 1
12:00pm – 4:00pm Japanese Calligraphy & Gold Leaf Sprinkle Location 1
1:00pm – 3:00pm Origami Station Location 4
2:00pm – 3:00pm Haiku Station Location 3
10:00am – 3:00pm Kintsugi – Beauty for Brokenness Location 2
SUNDAY
TIME

12:00pm – 4:00pm

Japanese Paper Making Location 1
12:00pm – 4:00pm Japanese Calligraphy & Gold Leaf Sprinkle Location 1
1:00pm – 3:00pm Origami Station Location 4
2:00pm – 3:00pm Haiku Station Location 3
Japanese Paper Making

In this workshop, participants will make hand-made Japanese paper, called Tesuki (hand-scooped) Washi (Japanese Paper). Washi is made from Japanese Mulberry wood bark. This bark has been used in Japan’s everyday life, including architectural elements like Shoji screens, and folding fans called Sensu. A short demonstration on process followed by a various size Washi-making. Participants enjoy decorating the wet paper after scooping the fiber from a water container. The decoration materials (color threads, strings, yarn, dry leaves, flower petals, cut paper, etc.) will be provided, but welcome to bring their own items. (Objects from nature and daily life – dry or fresh leaves/flower petals (flatter is better), used mail stamps, yarn and strings, and anything else that is either flat or string-like.)

Age: min 5 years old

Japanese Calligraphy & Gold Leaf Sprinkle

Participants will learn simple words and line drawing with sumi-ink using a Chinese brush, which would be a fun and meditative experience to internal endeavor to East Asia. The instructor will give you a sample and demonstrate in front of you, so that you can follow. Participants will also learn how to decorate the calligraphy by gold leaf sprinkles.

Age: min 8 years old

Origami Station

Ty Yamamoto is a Chicago-based filmmaker, photographer, and Japanese teacher with a passion for the art of folding paper. Ever since childhood, Ty has loved folding all sorts of intricate paper creations. Over the past year, Ty has taught virtual origami lessons to people of all ages, bringing the traditional Japanese art form to households all over the world.

Haiku Station

The participants will hear a short talk about the history of haiku, what it is and how to write it from William Seiyo Shehan Sensei. Shehan Sensei is the resident Haiku poet at the Japanese Culture Center – 日本文化会館, has been published worldwide including Haiku International, Haiku Society of America, Modern Haiku, and spoken on Japanese Television on Haiku. Sensei has been writing for nearly 40 years and continues to write daily. Recently he was featured in the weekly Japanese Newspaper Shimpo and was published and reviewed by Haiku International. Sensei runs Kumanoko Arts Foundation and teaches GO for the Japanese Culture center as well.

In addition to his Arts, Sensei is also the leader of the Chicago Keikokai of Meifu Shinkage Ryu style of ShurikenJutsu, Religious Scholar from Purdue University, Buddhist Lay Chaplain at the local Veterans Administration Hospital.

Kintsugi - Beauty for Brokenness

Kintsugi is a 400 year-old Japanese art form which mends broken ceramics using precious metals such as gold and silver. The practice of Kintsugi is not to simply repair an item but rather to bring new beauty to the object by highlighting the brokenness. As one writer has said that Kintsugi is “an intimate metaphoric narrative of loss and recovery, breakage and restoration, tragedy and the ability to overcome it.”

It is one of the most widely practiced budo, or martial way, in the world. However, Ueshiba (commonly called O-Sensei, or “venerable teacher”) was determined that his Aikido be practiced as more than simply a method of fighting. The Japanese martial arts, influenced by the internal and meditative disciplines inherited from India and China, have often carried with them an emphasis on the development of internal, as well as physical, integrity. Wielding the life-taking sword with compassion and insight, the ideal warrior in Japanese thought is more than a simple killing machine; he is a model of uprightness, courage, and loyalty, gladly sacrificing life (but never honor) in the name of principle and duty.

Food and Vendors

Tangerine Mountain Imports & Designs

Visit their website

Authentic, vintage Kimono for Men, Women & Children; imported directly from Japan.

Visit them in the Guest House Circle (Location 2 on Map) , All day Saturday and Sunday.

Fast Food Anime

Visit their website

Fast Food Anime is a convention and online retailer of anime products based in Yorkville, Illinois. Founded in 2003, it has grown to be the largest anime-based retailer in the Chicago area.

Visit them in the Guest House Circle (Location 2 on Map), All day Saturday and Sunday.

Food Vendors Subject to Change

Presenting Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

Sustaining Sponsors

Cultural Partner