The Center for Japanese Studies presents the 12th annual Ann Arbor Japan Week!

All events are free and open to the public.

See below for a complete list of events and email us at cjsevents@umich.edu with any questions.

Scheduled Events

Sunday, June 14

  • Bonsai Demonstration
         Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
    Join Bonsai Specialist, Carmen Leskoviansky, for a bonsai demonstration and discussion featuring Satsuki Azalea.

Monday, June 15

  • Clay Totoro & Friends
         AADL Downtown Library: 4th Floor Program Room, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
    Use air-dry clay to create characters from iconic films like My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Howl's Moving Castle. Follow along as we provide easy step-by-step instructions.

  • Sakura Instrumental Group and Kyoko Fujii Calligraphy Performance
    AADL Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
    Immerse yourself in the vibrant cultural tapestry of Japan with the Sakura “Cherry Blossom” Japanese Instrumental Group. The presentation will also feature Shodō calligraphy artist Kyoko Fujii, who will create traditional Japanese calligraphy using an extraordinarily large-sized washi paper and brush, accompanied by traditional festival music.

Tuesday, June 16

  • Block Printing with UMMA
         AADL Downtown Library: Secret Lab, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
    Make a print inspired by Japanese artwork from the University of Michigan Museum of Art’s (UMMA) collection. You’ll learn about printmaking processes, trace reproductions from the museum, and add personal touches in this workshop led by educators from UMMA. Bring your imagination!
  • Make Your Own Summer Origami and Japanese Bean Bags
         Ann Arbor Summer Fest, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
    Fold, toss, and take it home! Stop by the KidZone at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival to make summer-themed Japanese origami and Japanese-style bean bags with educators from the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor.
  • Great Lakes Taiko Center Performance @ Top of the Park
    Ann Arbor Summer Fest, 5:30 - 6:10 PM
    Great Lakes Taiko Center (GLTC) is an arts and culture collective based in Southeast Michigan dedicated to sharing Taiko arts experiences through education and performances since 2009. Taiko, meaning “drum” in Japanese, is rooted in the ancestral wisdom and cultural history of Japanese music traditions.

Wednesday, June 17

  • Puppet Play: The Japanese Classic Tale “Omusubi Kororin” (Tumbling Riceballs)
         AADL Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 11:00 - 11:30 AM 
    Early Childhood teachers from the Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor will bring movement fun and a puppet play of the Japanese classic folktale of “Omusubi Kororin” for babies and preschoolers!

  • Letterpress Lab: Japanese Family Crests
    AADL Downtown Library: Secret Lab, 5:00 - 7:00 PM 
    Jillian Locke from the U-M Center for Japanese Studies will present a short talk on the history of traditional Japanese family crests and share information about this selection of crest plates in the Ann Arbor District Library's letterpress collection. This lab will feature a short guided activity to get familiar with assembling and printing a letterpress project. Due to the presence of lead-based type, this program is intended for adults.

Thursday, June 18

  • Yubinuki Workshop: Japanese Thimble Rings
         Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 4:30 - 7:30 PM
    Join local crafter Beth Battey for this unique workshop! Yubinuki translates literally to "thimble" in Japanese. It’s a soft and durable cloth thimble ring constructed of a paper or cardboard core wrapped in padding and stitched with colorful threads to create geometric designs.
     
  • “Okko’s Inn,” Featured Free Film Screening
    Michigan Theater, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
    After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn built on top of an ancient spring said to have healing waters. While she goes about her chores and prepares to become the inn's next caretaker, Okko discovers that there are spirits who live there that only she can see - not scary ones, but welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games, and help her navigate her new environment.

Friday, June 19

  • Sushi Demo with Chef Nakano
         Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
    Chef Nakano will give a brief presentation on authentic Japanese-style sushi. Then, she will demonstrate how to make temaki-sushi, maki-sushi, and nigiri-sushi!

Saturday, June 20

  • The Sounds of Japan: Performance and Hands-On Experience
         Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby; 6:00 - 7:00 PM
    This program by the Miyabi Koto Shamisen Ensemble introduces the traditional Japanese instruments koto (a 13-string zither) and shamisen (a three-string lute). The concert presents a wide range of music, from time-honored pieces passed down through generations to contemporary works, highlighting the richness of Japanese culture and its connection to the present day.

All Week

  • Visit the Melvyn C. Goldstein Bonsai Garden at Matthaei Botanical Gardens
    Matthaei Botanical Gardens
    Growing plants in pots is a timeless and universal human activity. What we know as bonsai has over 2,000 years of continuous cultural development. These little trees tell big stories of themselves, their artists, and those imagined by viewers. Stop by the Visitor Center front desk to pick up self-guided activity sheets, designed for young learners. Then, make your way to the Bonsai Garden to visit the collection.

Partners

  • Japan Business Society of Detroit Foundation
  • Ann Arbor District Library
  • Marquee Arts
  • Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
  • University of Michigan Museum of Art
  • Ann Arbor Summer Festival
  • Sakura Instrumental Group
  • Kyoko Fujii 
  • Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor
  • Beth Battey
  • Kaede Nakano
  • Miyabi Koto Shamisen Ensemble NY
  • Momo Kajiwara
  • Great Lakes Taiko Center

Ann Arbor Japan Week 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 live on in the archives. Check them out to get a notion of how the week has evolved.