The Center for Japanese Studies presents Ann Arbor Japan Week! Join us for a week of Japan-related programming designed for families and children from June 18th through June 24th. All events are free and open to the public.
The Center for Japanese Studies is teaming up with our partners at the Michigan Theater and Cinetopia International Film Festival to offer two special kickoff screening of Ancien and the Magic Tablet (Hirune Hime) on June 11th and 18th. Japan Week 2017 also brings back some of our most successful programming, including a taiko drumming performance, martial arts, sushi making, family arts activities at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and a shibori dyeing workshop in the Ann Arbor District Library’s “Secret Lab” space. See below for event listings, and email us at umcjs@umich.edu with any questions. Ann Arbor Japan Week is co-sponsored by the Japan Business Society of Detroit Foundation.
Plus! Week long restaurant specials: 10% off food at Nagomi Sushi and 50% off house sake (mention AAJW) and 10% off at Slurping Turtle (say kame)
Ann Arbor Japan Week Schedule
Saturday, 6/3
- Cinetopia International Film Festival offers an Ann Arbor Japan Week preview screening of Hirune Hime / Napping Princess, Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, 5:15pm
Sunday, 6/11
Cinetopia International Film Festival offers an Ann Arbor Japan Week preview screening of Hirune Hime / Napping Princess, Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, 12:05pm
Sunday, 6/18
Ann Arbor Japan Week Kickoff film screening of Princess Mononoke / Ancien and the Magic Tablet at the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, time TBA.
Monday, 6/19
Conversation Tables with the University of Michigan Japanese Language Program, South Thayer Building 1F 1022, 12:30-2pm. Practice Japanese with students, teachers and volunteers with the University of Michigan Japanese Language Program. Sushi and Japanese snacks will be available.
Shibori Dyeing, AADL Downtown Library: Secret Lab, 343 S. Fifth Ave., 2-4pm. Shibori is a Japanese dyeing technique that involves folding, twisting or bunching cloth and binding it, then dyeing it in indigo. Whatever is used to bind the fabric will resist the dye, resulting in areas of the cloth that take the distinctive blue dye in patterns created by the resistance, and other areas of the cloth that remain white. We'll provide the supplies for you to dye one small piece of cotton cloth. This event is intended for grade 6-adult.
- Fiber Arts Lab: Sashiko Embroidery, AADL Downtown Library: Secret Lab, 343 S. Fifth Ave., 7-8:30pm. This week Fiber Arts Lab will be demonstrating the basics of sashiko stitching, a traditional embroidery style from Japan. They will provide everything you need to get started. Stop in and learn the basics. Or, feel free to bring along another project you've been working on (knitting, crochet, or embroidery) and hang out with us while enjoying the company of other crafters. All skill levels welcome, no prior knowledge is necessary.
Tuesday, 6/20
Japanese Flower Arranging Workshop with Ikebana International Detroit Chapter, Matthaei Botanical Gardens room 125, ages 8 and up, 3-4:30pm. Advance registration required; contact emcanosa@umich.edu by 6/16.
Anime Screening with Animania, Palmer Commons, Forum Hall, 5:30-7:30pm, all ages
Wednesday, 6/21
Gyotaku Fish Printing, AADL Downtown Library: Secret Lab, 343 S. Fifth Ave., 3-5pm. Gyotaku (Japanese 魚拓, from gyo "fish" + taku "rubbing") is a traditional Japanese method of printing fish, a practice which dates back to the mid-1800s. This form of nature printing may have been used by fishermen to record their catches, but has also become an art form of its own. Participants will print with rubber replicas of North American fish. All supplies will be provided. This event is intended for grade 6 - adult.
Japanese Summer Festival (Natsu Matsuri) Games, Ann Arbor Summer Festival KidZone Tent, 5-8pm, ages 4-14
Karate with the Japanese Martial Arts Center, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Power Center Lawn, 5-6pm
Taiko Performance by Godaiko Drummers, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, 8-8:25pm
Thursday, 6/22
Family Japanese Art Studio, University of Michigan Museum of Art Multi-Purpose Room, 11-1pm & 2-4pm. Advance registration is required: email umma-program-registration@umich.edu (indicate date and time). Ages 6 and up; children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Temaki-sushi workshop with Chef Nakano Kaede, AADL Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, 343 S. Fifth Ave., 6-7:30pm. Demonstration of Japanese style temaki (hand-rolled) sushi by Chef Nakano, followed by a make-your-own workshop.
Friday, 6/23
Charles Baird Carillon Performance, Burton Memorial Tower. The carillon is not ADA-accessible (take the elevator to the eighth floor and then walk up two additional flights of stairs). Performance 12-12:20pm, tour 12:20-12:30pm. Tiffany Ng will play a special premier of a new carillon arrangement of “Sakura” by Jeffrey R. Treviño, a professor at Cal State Monterey Bay. The performance will also include “One Summer's Day” from Spirited Away (2001), arranged for carillon by Isaac Levine (UM class of 2016), and the theme from Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986).
Japanese Video Games, University of Michigan Library Computer & Video Game Archive, Duderstadt Center Room B474, 2281 Bonisteel Blvd., 4-6pm. Come to the gaming center to enjoy playing games on the Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 64, PS3, PS Vita, Sega Saturn, Wonderswan, Super Famicom and Atari systems.
Saturday, 6/24
Storytime at the Museum: Japanese Art, University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), meet in front of the UMMA store, 11:15am-12:30pm. Ages 4-7. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No registration required.
AAJW Partners
- Animania
- Ann Arbor District Library
- Ann Arbor Summer Festival
- Cinetopia International Film Festival
- Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit
- Godaiko Drummers
- Ikebana International Detroit Chapter
- Japan Business Society of Detroit Foundation
- Japanese Martial Arts Center
- Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
- Michigan-Shiga Sister State Program
- The Michigan Theater
- Nagomi Sushi Downtown
- Slurping Turtle
- University of Michigan Japanese Language Program
- University of Michigan Library Computer & Video Game Archive
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- University of Michigan School of Music, Theater & Dance
