The Arts Council Tokyo, whose one of the aim is to introduce traditional Japanese culture to participants, will host a weekend of cultural programs aimed at foreign visitors to the country. The programs, all of which come at no cost to participants, offer a fantastic opportunity to experience various aspects of Japanese culture, from yuzen cloth (which is made of Kimono) painting to hand-lettering calligraphy on Edo-style paper lanterns..
The programs will be offered daily from Friday, March 18th to Monday, March 21st at the Moshi Moshi Gallery on the 2nd floor of the Moshi Moshi Box, a visitors' center in Tokyo's Harajuku neighborhood. Programs will be offered from 12:00pm to 5:30pm. The following crafts and experiences are available:
Freehand Yuzen coloring
Try your hand at yuzen-style painting, which involves stenciling designs onto a piece of cloth and applying pigment to fill them in. Participants will make their own decorated handkerchief, which they can take home at the end of the experience.
Date: Friday, March 18th and Saturday, March 19th
Time Involved: 30 minutes
How to book: application start on the website at 3:00pm on Monday, March 7th
Places Available: 30. If the number of reservations do not reach the maximum capacity, the places will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis (12:00 - 17:00).
*Supported by the Tokyo Kogei Senshoku Cooperative Association.
Edo-style hand-painted paper lanterns
Practice your calligraphy skills on the delicate paper of a traditional Edo-style lantern. Participants will pencil in characters of their choice onto the lantern's body before applying the ink. Once dry, lanterns can be taken home at the end of the program.
Date: Saturday, March 19th
Time Involved: about 60 minutes
How to book: application start on the website at 3:00pm on Monday, March 7th
Places Available: 30. If the number of reservations do not reach the maximum capacity, the places will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis (12:00 - 16:30).
*Supported by the Tokyo Paper Lantern Manufacturing Guild
Kimono dressing
Dress to impress in a beautiful Japanese kimono, learning the many layers of the traditional outfit and the occasions on which kimono are usually worn. You can also enjoy walking around Harajuku streets wearing them.
Date: Sunday, March 20th and Monday, March 21st
Time Involved: 90 minutes (30 minutes: dressing in kimono + 60 minutes: enjoying and walking)
How to book: application start on the website at 3:00pm on Monday, March 7th
Places Available: 30. If the number of reservations do not reach the maximum capacity, the places will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis (12:00 - 16:00).
*Supported by the Cultural Foundation for Promoting the National Costume of Japan
All of the cultural experiences will be offered in English.
Organized by Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture). Supported by and in co-operation with Tokyo Metropolitan Government
