Welcome to the 11th annual Ann Arbor Japan Week! Join us from June 15 - 21 for free Japan-themed events and activities for all ages!
The Center for Japanese Studies presents the 11th annual Ann Arbor Japan Week!
All events are free and open to the public.
This year’s programming includes music performances, demonstrations, and a free, family-friendly screening of Lu Over the Wall on Sunday, June 15 at the Michigan Theater at 1:30 PM.
See below for a complete list of events and email us at cjsevents@umich.edu with any questions.
Scheduled Events
Sunday, June 15
- Lu Over the Wall Film Screening
Michigan Theater, 1:30 - 3:30 PM
The story centers on Kai, a gloomy middle school student whose life changes after meeting Lu, a mermaid (tickets here).
Monday, June 16
- Great Lakes Taiko Drumming Performance
AADL Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Great Lakes Taiko Center (GLTC) 五大湖太鼓センター is an arts & culture collective in Southeast Michigan USA, celebrating the empowering art of Japanese Taiko Drumming through education and performances since 2009. Taiko is rooted in the ancestral wisdom and cultural history of Japanese music traditions and continues to grow today as a global cultural arts movement that amplifies imagination, uplifts spirits, and builds community. Share in the joy of experiencing Taiko together with local members of the GLTC Taiko Arts Collective, including performers from Raion Taiko, Sazanami Taiko Arts Ensemble, and A2 Taiko Play community group.
Tuesday, June 17
- Koinobori Carp Streamers
AADL Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Create a colorful Koinobori carp streamer and learn about Children's Day, a holiday celebrated in Japan.
- Screening: Carving the Divine: Buddhist Sculptors of Japan
AADL Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room, 5:30 - 7:45 PM
Carving the Divine is a documentary film that offers a rare look into a 1400-year-old Buddhist woodcarving tradition and the practitioners struggling to preserve its legacy in a rapidly changing Japan. Produced, written, and directed by Yujiro Seki, this documentary tells the authentic story of Busshi, Japan's Buddhist sculptors. For more than a millennium, Japanese people have confronted the suffering and meaning of life through this magnificent art.
Wednesday, June 18
- Kinstsugi Demonstration with Aki Motoyama
AADL Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 1:30 - 2:30 PM & 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Delve into the Japanese art of Kintsugi (in Japanese, it means golden joinery or golden repair) with artist Aki Motoyama. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Aki will be using gold for the demonstration.Aki Motoyama is a Kintsugi artist based in Japan.
Thursday, June 19
- Paper Sashiko Demonstration & Artist Talk with Hiroko Lancour
Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Artist Hiroko Lancour will share a demonstration and a talk on her unique Paper Sashiko Series. Hiroko Lancour is a Japanese-born mixed-media artist with an MFA from Wayne State University. Hiroko's work is influenced by her cross-cultural background of East and West, as well as her prior career as a systems analyst.
Friday, June 20
- Ikebana Flower Arranging Demonstration & Talk
Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging. Join Ichiyo Associate Masters Terre Voegeli and Liz Larwa as they give a presentation on the history and aesthetics of Ikebana and do a few demonstration arrangements. - Shodo Japanese Calligraphy Performance with Ms. Kyoko Fujii
Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby, 6:00 - 6:45 PM
Shodō is a form of calligraphy or artistic writing in the Japanese language. Kyoko attained the title of Shihan in her 20s and has been dedicated to the art of Shodo ever since. She teaches calligraphy classes while creating commercial designs, including sake labels and sumi ink art. Passionate about sharing Japanese culture, she actively engages with the community through performances and workshops at events and colleges. Kyoko strives to bridge tradition and modernity, bringing the beauty of Japanese calligraphy into a contemporary setting.
Saturday, June 21
- Japanese Storytime with Momo Kajiwara
Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby; 11:00 - 11:30 AM
Local music teacher Momo Kajiwara will lead us in song, movement, and storytelling in Japanese!
Partners
- Ann Arbor District Library
- Marquee Arts: Michigan and State Theaters
- Great Lakes Taiko Center
- Yujiro Seki
- Aki Motoyama
- Hiroko Lancour
- Terre Voegeli
- Liz Larwa
- Kyoko Fujii
- Momo Kajiwara
