JAPAN HOUSE

Happy New Year!

We send our warmest best wishes for a peaceful holiday season and look forward to seeing you at Japan House in the New Year.

Our Thursday afternoon tea ceremonies will resume on Thursday, January 21, 2009.

ARTD 209 Kaiseki Dinner

On the evening of December 4  the students of ARTD 209: Chado, the Way of Tea, demonstrated what they have learned about Japanese aesthetics and the Way of Tea by serving and participating in a kaiseki, or traditional multi-course Japanese dinner, in the tearooms of Japan House.  They were honored to have Interim Chancellor Robert Easter and his wife as their guests.

 

 

 

 

Winter Comes to Japan House

The wind, snow and ice has begun so the walled Tea Garden, which has rocky and uneven pathways, will be closed until spring.  However the Dry Garden and surrounding Arboretum are still open for wintertime walks and solitude. 

Tea ceremonies will be offered Thursday, December 10 and Thursday, December 17---at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.  After that the next tea ceremony will be offered on Thursday, January 21st----and thereafter on Thursdays in the New Year.

Garden Tour Deadline Extended to December 18, 2009!

You may have heard that Japan House is hosting a special garden tour of Japan this April 5-16, 2010.  This post is to announce that the sign-up deadline has been extended until December 18, 2009!  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore some of the most famous gardens of Japan during cherry blossom time, and learn about them in detail from guides James Bier (designer of the Japan House gardens) and Kimiko Gunji (Director of Japan House).

 
Additional information about the trip and its itinerary can be found here:
http://japanhouse.typepad.com/japanhouse/2009/10/visit-the-gardens-of-japan-in-april-of-2010.html

or Download JapanHouseGardenTour2010

There have been inquiries as to whether you can use frequent flyer miles for this trip, and yes, you can!  Also, if you have interested friends that live outside the Champaign-Urbana area, arrangements can be made for them to join us at some point (either in Japan or Chicago).  We want to make every opportunity available for you to enjoy this trip!

If you have questions regarding the tour, or are ready to join us, please contact Nancy Quinn (secretary of Japan House) at 217-244-9934 or ngquinn@illinois.edu.  Trip deposits will be refunded if insufficient people sign up, so please don't delay!
 
Japan House hopes you'll join us on this exciting tour, as we enjoy and share the beauty of Japan's gardens!
 

Zen and Thanksgiving

If you're looking for something to do before or after your Thanksgiving celebration, you might try a walk through the beautiful and peaceful Japan House gardens and Arboretum.

Then on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving----December 2, 2009, the Reverand Elihu Genmyo Smith of the Prairie Zen Center will speak on Zen at 5:30 p.m. here at Japan House.  Join us for an peaceful evening before you get caught up in the busy holidays.  There is always tea and conversation after Cultural Enrichment meetings.  We hope to see you!

Elihu Genmyo Smith began his Zen training in 1974 at the Zen Studies Society in New York with Soen Nakagawa Roshi and Eido Shimano Roshi. He continued his training at Zen Center of Los Angeles, where he was ordained a Buddhist priest by Hakuyu Maezumi Roshi in 1979. After completing formal koan study with Maezumi Roshi, in 1984 he continued his training with Charlotte Joko Beck at Zen Center of San Diego. Genmyo received Dharma transmission (shiho) and authorization to teach from Joko in 1992. He is a co-founder of the Ordinary Mind Zen School and currently lives in Champaign, Illinois where he is resident teacher of the Prairie Zen Center.  Genmyo is the author of Ordinary Live, Wondrous Life which is published by the Prairie Zen Center.

Happy Thanksgiving from Japan House!

Japan House will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but the gardens will be open.  Enjoy the peace and the fresh air before or after your meal!  Tea ceremonies will be available again on Thursday, December 3, 2009.

Twitter and Tea Ceremonies!

You can now follow us on Twitter at JapanHouseUI. 

 

And don't forget that we are offering tea ceremonies every Thursday afternoon now at 2:00 and 3:00.  Call 217-244-9934 for reservations.

Buddhism in Japanese History: Rethinking Practice, Buddhas/Kami, and Salvation

Join us for this Japan House Cultural Enrichment Meeting.   All are welcome, free of charge....and a chance for tea and conversation afterward!

Wednesday, November 4, 5:30 pm

Buddhism in Japanese History:  Rethinking Practice, Buddhas/Kami, and Salvation

Brian Ruppert, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Visit the Gardens of Japan in April of 2010!

Have you ever wanted to experience the amazing gardens of Japan as you spend time in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto?  You'll have a chance to visit temples, eating in amazing restaurants, shop in some of the most famous entertainment districts----all the while touring the magnificent gardens of Japan during cherry blossom time accompanied by the designer of the Japan House gardens, James Bier, and the Director of Japan House at the University of Illinois, Kimiko Gunji.   Download Japan House 2010 Garden Tour of Japan for more details!

Tsukimi: Moon Viewing

Our first Cultural Enrichment meeting of the semester was held on Monday evening.  It was a gorgeous evening, cool but clear.  The tea ceremony was held on the small porch running along the east side of Japan House.  As our guests participated in the tea ceremony conducted by members of the Japan House Tea Study Group, they watched the full moon rise over the trees.  Traditional sweets were served and displays of grass, also traditional for Tsukimi, were displayed.  It was a special evening observing the beauty of the moon amongst the peace of Japan House.

We hope you join us for the next two Cultural Enrichment Meetings.

Wednesday, November 4, 5:30 pm
Buddhism in Japanese History:  Rethinking Practice, Buddhas/Kami, and Salvation

Brian Ruppert, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Wednesday, December 2, 5:30 pm
Exploring Zen

Rev. Elihu Genmyo Smith
Prairie Zen Center, Champaign, Illinois

Presentations are free and open to all.  Please join us for tea and conversation afterward.