Arigatou no Kokoro
Arigatou no Kokoro means “thankful mind-heart-spirit.” And it is with a thankful kokoro that we introduced our Fall Open House 2021 and Ogura-Sato Annex Groundbreaking on October 17. At a time when we can start to carefully and respectfully come together again, it is important to remind ourselves of the colorful world in which we live. By rejoicing in music, dance, matcha, and art with one another, we can again start to communicate, educate, and ultimately celebrate us as individuals contributing to the greater whole. Please consider supporting Japan House by donating to our Arigatou no Kokoro campaign.
We seek your continued support for Japan House and our future. If you have ever attended an event, a past Matsuri, a class, workshop, tea ceremony, and if you believe in and enjoy what we do and share, we ask that you please consider supporting us by giving a donation online. We are truly grateful for all of you and the kindness that you share with us. We are hoping to reach our goal of 77 gifts for the day!
Commemorative t-shirts (featuring artwork by Zenkyu Niwa!) will be available for purchase by in-person at the JH Tent or online.
We send our deepest gratitude to all of our friends and supporters in Japan and across the United States, our tea students, our volunteers, and friends of Japan House as we celebrated Arigatou no Kokoro in-person and online.
Japanese Tea Ceremony
The Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association demonstrated a special outdoor style of tea ceremony called chabako.
Ikebana
The Prairie Chapter of the Ikenobo School of Ikebana demonstrated ikebana and making arrangements.
Judo
Kokushi Midwest Judo demonstrated judo featuring Grace Talusan sensei and her students.
K-Project, a k-pop cover dance group at UIUC, performed on the grounds of Japan House.
CU Haiku Project
CU Poetry talked about haiku and its history, highlighted some of their favorites from the CU Haiku column in the News-Gazette, and guided participants through creating their own haiku.
TASC Special Ops
Anthony Lu, from the Taiwanese American Students Club, demonstrated Chinese Yo-Yo (Diabolo) as he walked the grounds as a roaming performer.
Tinikling
Barkada, the cultural group within the Philippine Student Association, performed Tinikling, a traditional folk dance involving dancers hopping between sliding bamboo poles in imitation of the tikling bird.
Iaido
Members from Kobudokan Dojo demonstrated sword techniques of iaido.
Origami
Mark Hirsbrunner demonstrated origami.
Kendo
The University of Illinois Kendo and Naginata Club demonstrated kata (forms), basic strikes, and more!
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.