History

Shozo Sato arrives at the University of Illinois from Japan and begins teaching classes in Japanese arts and culture as an artist in residence affiliated with the College of Fine and Art Applied Arts.

With the assistance of Dr. Morton Weir, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Shozo Sato converts an 80 year-old Victorian house owned by the University, at 902 W. California, into the original Japan House.

The original Japan House serves as the University’s first teaching center for traditional Japanese art and culture.

Shozo Sato retires as Director of Japan House and the building is torn down for redevelopment.

The University selects a site in the Arboretum for a new Japan House. The Urasenke Foundation of Tea agrees to donate two tearooms for the new Japan House after a visit from Kimiko Gunji.

The Japan Illini Club begins a fundraising campaign for the new Japan House.

Associate Provost Roger Martin and Kimiko Gunji attend the Japan-Illini Club annual meeting and receive a commitment for $100,000 toward Japan House construction. The University of Illinois Foundation launches a fund raising campaign for the new Japan House. With the approval of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, construction begins.

The Commemorative Association for the Japan World Exposition and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership give large grants to build Japan House. The Urasenke Foundation sends Japanese Master Carpenter, Seiji Suzuki to install three Japanese tearooms into the empty building. Construction is completed and the new Japan House is dedicated on June 18, 1998. A symposium, "Peacefulness Through a Bowl of Tea," is delivered by Soshitsu Sen XV, Grandmaster of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea.

Japan House exhibits "Imperfect Harmony," a tea bowl exhibition, organized by the Greater Lafayette Museum of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana and partially funded by the Japan Foundation for Global Partnership.

A successful fundraising auction of exquisite kimonos, works of art and Japanese collectibles is held during the spring of 2000. The garden is formally dedicated and its donors Mr. & Mrs. James Bier are recognized for their generous contributions.

In response to the 9/11 tragedy, Japan House collaborates with the Japan Intercultural Network, the Japanese Students Association, and local grade schools to sponsor the Senbazuru one thousand cranes project. Three-thousand cranes are folded and sent to New York as a prayer for the victims and as a wish for peace in the world.

A one-day Designer Trunk Show showcasing designer fashions and jewelry while benefiting programs of the Japan House.

Japan House, Spurlock Museum and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts collaborate to celebrate the first five years of Japan House. Kimono Fantasy: Attire from the Heian Court Era to the Present Day is presented at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Sen’ei Ikenobo, the 45th Headmaster of the Ikenobo Ikebana, School of Japanese Flower Arranging. The Prairie Ikenobo Ikebana Chapter hosts its sixth anniversary celebration, including the Headmaster Sen’ei Ikenobo’s Ikebana demonstration.

Japan House holds its second fundraising auction of kimonos and Japanese works of art. The Hakubi Kyoto Kimono School donates a collection of kimonos to Japan House to create a Kimono Resource Center. Twenty-two members of the Friends of Japan House group Tomonokai embark on a seven-city tour of Japan.

Japan House collaborates with the Consulate of Japan at Chicago, the City of Osaka, and others to bring Bunraku, by the National Puppet Theatre of Japan, to Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. A second Designer Trunk Show successfully raises funds for Japan House.

Japan House celebrates its 10th Anniversary with special events including a performance at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts: "Hidden Beauty: Yugen in Tea, Noh, and Contemporary Washi Art" on October 25, 2008. Dr. Genshitsu Sen, the 15th generation of the Urasenke Tea School in Japan, donates 50 cherry trees to Japan House in the spring. They are planted under the direction of his gardener, Katsuo Kubo, who visits Japan House, to create the Sen Cherry Tree Allée.

The Japan House Endowment Fund Drive ends in December of 2009. The campaign brings in $3 million in estate gift and pledges with an additional $1 million in cash gifts during the course of the campaign.

In April, Kimiko Gunji and Jim Bier lead a group of Japan House supporters to Japan for a tour of important gardens, as well as temples and many well-known sites. In the fall, the third "Simple Elegance" Auction of works of art, kimonos and Japanese inspired works of art and experiences is held at the I-Hotel.

Professor Kimiko Gunji retires. Japan House supporters, friends and former students travel across the country to give her an emotional goodbye.

Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji is awarded the prestigious "Order of the Rising Sun" by the Japanese Emperor for significant achievement in international relations and the promotion of Japanese culture. Also, in 2012, Associate Professor Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud becomes the new Director of Japan House. Japan House launches an online course that focuses on the Japanese Way of Tea.

Japan House initiates the Japan House Internship Program. A group of 8-10 students joins the program each Fall to assist in student programming, research, marketing, and helping to coordinate Japan House programming. The first "East Meets Midwest Dinner" fundraising event is held at Prairie Fruits Farm which is co-hosted by Nick Offerman and Chefs Shin Matsuda, Thad Morrow and Drew Starkey. The first "Mottainai" Holiday Bazaar is held at Japan House as a fundraiser for the internship program.

Star of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman's woodworking skills are on display on the grounds of Japan House. In honor of his Sensei Shozo Sato, Offerman designed and built a gazebo (azumaya) in his woodshop in California and had it shipped to Champaign.

"I feel like my life has been so enriched by Japan House and the program instituted by our sensei, so I'm just thrilled that I can pitch in a little bit, hopefully to provide a spot to meditate on the beautiful views of the garden," says Offerman.

Japan House begins a new annual tradition of Matsuri, a festival of Japanese culture with performances, demonstrations and food, on the grounds of the University of Illinois Arboretum surrounding the house. This festival welcomed over 3000 visitors. Also, during this year, Japan House partners with Maverick Wines and Vine Connections to introduce a series of sake tastings at local restaurants and stores. This partnership continues to flourish and engages all in the understanding and love for sake. Japan House hosts its first 10-course tuna and sake dinner prepared by Chef Suzuko Enomoto.

The Japan House interns and the scholars of the Japan Illini Club host a Japanese Breakfast and Etiquette event. This delightful event introduced a traditional Japanese breakfast and shared with the participants the proper way to eat traditional Japanese foods. Japan House partners with local store Art Mart to introduce sake paired with cheeses and chocolates.

Japan House announces plans for an addition the current facility, to be named the Ogura-Sato Annex, after Shozo Sato and his wife Alice Oguro Sato and Alice's brother Dr. George Ogura. Chef Suzuko Enomoto returns and partners with Chef Drew Starkey of Bacaro to host a sake dinner. Japan House partners with owner of Miga, Jin Park, to host another sake dinner with sake brewers from Japan.

Japan House celebrates their 20th anniversary at our permanent home with a weekend of exciting events including a bevy of national and international performers and artists at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, a fundraiser dinner featuring a team of local and Japanese female chefs, Urasenke Tea Seminar, and the annual Matsuri Festival at the Arboretum in and around Japan House. The weekend culminated with a performance by the 5.6.7.8's and Shonen Knife. In early December, Nick Offerman returns to campus to perform to shows to raise funds for the Ogura-Sato Annex.

After many years in the making, Japan House releases the cookbook "The Art of Wagashi: Recipes for Japanese Sweets that Delight the Palate and the Eyes" written by Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji, with photos taken by Japan House Staff and Volunteers, and designed by Director Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud. Over 700 copies have been sold worldwide. Japan House celebrates the 5th Annual Matsuri in September with a record number of attendees.

Japan House started the year sharing Indian cuisine at “Ananda, Ultimate Bliss,” with Professor Archana Shekara. A tea ceremony commemorating the recovery of Fukushima was performed by visiting scholar Dr. Kazumasa Shimada. Although classes and Matsuri were cancelled due to the pandemic, Japan House created “GANBARU!”, a 13 hour online festival highlighting some of our favorite performers and vendors. Japan House staff visited Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, IL. Japan House Shares, Japan House Cares, Japan House Reflections, First Friday Meditations, and Kokoro Insights were created as means of keeping connected with supporters and friends. Lindsey Stirek was hired as Japan House’s Assistant Director of Academic Programming with a gift of support from Professor Shozo Sato.

The year began with a collaboration with the Arboretum staff on pond edge maintenance. The Red Crane Project was created, and volunteers and staff folded thousands of red cranes which were then distributed to Japan House donors. Japan House establishes a new rubric ARTJ and classes and internship are back in person. Anderson Japanese Gardens docents and volunteers visit Japan House and meet Jim Bier. Japan House celebrates “Arigatou no Kokoro” Fall Open House and the Ogura-Sato Annex Groundbreaking Ceremony with Professor Shozo Sato, invited guests and dignitaries from the University.

Japan House carefully resumed in-person programming and courses and launched the Japanese Arts and Aesthetics Minor, the first of its kind in the United States for university students to learn about Japanese arts and culture from traditional to contemporary through a diverse assortment of ARTJ courses. Spring Open House resumed, featuring Douglas Brooks, who worked intensively to build a 21' Japanese river boat with university students. Japan House began a monthly series of outdoor music concerts called Shinrin Onyoku to enjoy the gardens. Events such as Fall Open House, Tsukimi, and the Bazaar also resumed.

Celebrating 25 Years at the University of Illinois, Japan House resumes Matsuri! 2023 has seen over two hundred students enrolled in ARTJ courses, hundreds of visitors for public tea ceremonies and Spring Open House, and countless more to the gardens.