News & Events

>> September 11, 2004
Osaka Garden Festival, Chicago's Annual Celebration of Japanese Culture at Osaka Garden. This annual event celebrates the traditional arts of a rich cultural heritage, including dance, flower arranging, and chanoyu. Urasenke Chicago Association will be giving an introduction to chanoyu presentation. The public is invited to share a traditional Japanese sweet and a bowl of usucha/thin tea for a nominal fee.
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: The Osaka Garden is located on the Wooded Island located in Jackson Park, Chicago, just south of the Museum of Science and Industry (58th Street and Lake Shore Drive). Parking: Public parking is available behind the Museum (enter southbound at 58th Street and Lake Shore Drive)
Admission: Entrance to festival is free, there will be a nomimal fee for sweet and bowl of tea
Phone: 312-744-8074

>> June 12 &13, 2004
Japan Day Festival at Chicago Botanic Garden. This annual event celebrates the traditional arts of a rich cultural heritage, including dance, flower arranging, and chanoyu. Urasenke Chicago Association will be giving an introduction to chanoyu presentation.
Time: Saturday, June 12, 10am - 5pm, Introduction to chanoyu presentation will be held in the auditorium at 1pm and 2:30pm
Sunday, June 13, 10am - 5pm, Introduction to chanoyu presentation will be held in the auditorium at 1pm and 2:30pm
Location: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
From the city, follow Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) west to Edens Expressway (I-94) and U.S. Route 41. Exit at Lake Cook Road and travel 1/2 mile east to the Garden.
Admission: Free (there is a parking fee)
Phone: 847.835.8208

>> March 28, 2004
Rikyu-ki/Memorial of Sen Rikyu, Urasenke Chicago Association
The Urasenke Chicago Association will host a special tea gathering to honor the life of Sen Rikyu (1522-1591), one of the most influential and innovative tea masters in the history of Chado, the Japanese Way of Tea. The present Grand Tea Master of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea is Sen Soshitsu, who is the 16th generation descendent from Sen Rikyu.
At this special tea gathering, a bowl of green powdered tea will be offered in memory of Sen Rikyu. Following this, five members of the Urasenke Chicago Chapter will present Hirakagetsu, one of the Shichijishiki/Seven Exercises that are traditionally done on this occasion. The five participants will prepare and drink four bowls of green powdered tea among themselves, which will be determined by the draw of special bamboo pieces. The Seven Exercises are a practice to develop one's concentration and awareness, as each participant needs to respond quickly to the situation determined by the draw.
Following the presentation of Hirakagetsu, all guests will be served Rikyu manju, a traditional sweet, and a delicious bowl of green powdered tea.
Please join the Urasenke Chicago Association as it honors the life of Sen Rikyu.
Time: Sunday, March 28, 2004 at 2:00pm
Location: Japan Information Center, 737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL (Entrance on Chicago Avenue)
Admission: Free. Donations are gladly welcomed.
Phone: 773.794.0504

>> February 8 , 2004
Tatezome/First Tea Gathering of the Year, Urasenke Chicago Association
This is a public tea gathering to welcome the year of the monkey. Tea will be prepared in the tearoom at the Japan Information Center. The tokonoma/alcove will be specially decorated for New Years, which includes the traditional weeping willow branches that symbolizes oneness and harmony. Guests will be served hanabira mochi, the traditional Urasenke New Year sweet and a bowl of usucha/thin tea. A special New Year box lunch will be catered by Renga Tei Restaurant of Skokie, IL.
Time: 12 noon
Location: Japan Information Center, 737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL (Entrance on Chicago Avenue)
Admission: $30.00 + $6.00 discount parking in building parking garage (Olympia Center Building)
RSVP Phone: 847.840.8365

>> January 3, 2004
Tatezome/First Tea Gathering of the Year, Chanoyu Center of Chicago
This Center event includes the preparation and enjoyment of a New Year meal, koicha/thick tea, usucha/thin tea, and hanabira mochi sweet. It is a time for tea students to gather together and welcome the new year.
Time: 11am - 2pm
Location: 4641 N. Racine Avenue, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL
Donation: $20.00
Phone: 773.316-2316

>> Through January, 2004
Art Institute of Chicago, will exhibit "Wrapped in Fashion: Japanese Kimono".
Location: 111 South Michigan Avenue
Phone: 312-433-3600

>> November 9, 2003
The Kubose family together with the Tea students will host an open house tea memorial to commemorate the first year memorial of Minnie Kubose. Minnie Kubose taught and shared chanoyu for 25 years, inviting all into the tearoom that she and Rev. Kubose built in their apartment next to the Buddhist Temple of Chicago. They named the tearoom Koso-an, fragrant grass hut.
Time: 9am - 4pm
Location: 4641 N. Racine Avenue, 2nd Floor
Phone: 773-794-1950

>> Through October 20, 2003
Gallery 37 will exhibit Japanese Doll Exhibition. Opening reception is 9/29, funded by the Japan Foundation.
Location: 66 E. Randolph
Phone: 312-744-8295

>> Through October 14, 2003
Art Institute of Chicago, Gallery 107, will exhibit 19th Century Prints of Americans in Japan.
Location: 111 South Michigan Avenue
Phone: 312-433-3600

>> September, 2003
In September, there will be a series of events celebrating the 150th anniversary of the visit of Commodore Perry to Japan. The Chanoyu Center of Chicago will participate in an outdoor tea gathering at the Chicago Botanic Garden on September 6.
> 9/20 Kobe College Corp will organize a symposium: Lessons from 150 Years of Educational Exchange between Japanese and Americans. Union League Club. Phone: 312-364-9336.
> 9/20 Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust will organize "Japan: A lifelong Inspiration of Frank Lloyd Wright. Lectures and documentary film: Frank Lloyd Wright and Japanese Art", Japan Information Center. Phone: 708-848-1976.
> 9/21 Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni will cosponsor a Karaoke Competition, Japan Information Center. Phone: 312-280-0430.
> 9/23 Concert featuring Nagaokakyo Ensemble, Unity Temple in Oak Park. Phone: 708-383-8873.
> 9/24 Art Institute of Chicago will have a program "Frank Lloyd Wright and Japan: 100 Years Later" that features a gallery walk, a Voices program with a professional actor scripted from Frank Lloyd Wright's writings and a bus trip to Unity Temple in Oak Park and Osaka Garden. Phone: 312-575-8000.
> 9/26 Concert featuring Nagaokakyo Ensemble and Cellist Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Art Institute of Chicago. Phone: 312-575-8000.
> 9/28 "Japan Friendship Poster Exhibit Award Ceremony" at the Japan Information Center. Cosponsored by the Illinois Association of Teachers of Japanese. Phone: 312-280-0430.
> 9/29 Opening of Japanese Doll Exhibit at Gallery 37. Phone: 312-744-8925.
> 9/30 Wadaiko, Japanese drum performance by Tsukasa Daiko, Daley Center. Phone: 312-346-3278.
> 9/30 "Kimonos on Stage" at Fullerton Auditorium of the Art Insitute of Chicago. Cosponsored with the Japan House, Univ. of IL at Urbana-Champaign, The Cultural Foundation for Promoting the National Costume of Japan, and Hakubi Kyoto Kimono Schools. Phone: 312-575-8000.

>> September 13 2003
Osaka Garden Festival, Chicago's Annual Celebration of Japanese Culture at Osaka Garden. This annual event celebrates the traditional arts of a rich cultural heritage, including dance, flower arranging, and chanoyu. Urasenke Chicago Association will be giving an introduction to chanoyu presentation. The public is invited to share a traditional Japanese sweet and a bowl of usucha/thin tea for a nominal fee.
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: The Osaka Garden is located on the Wooded Island located in Jackson Park, Chicago, just south of the Museum of Science and Industry (58th Street and Lake Shore Drive). Parking: Public parking is available behind the Museum (enter southbound at 58th Street and Lake Shore Drive)
Admission: Entrance to festival is free, there will be a nomimal fee for sweet and bowl of tea
Phone: 312-744-8074

>> June 21 &22 2003
Japan Day Festival at Chicago Botanic Garden. This annual event celebrates the traditional arts of a rich cultural heritage, including dance, flower arranging, and chanoyu. Urasenke Chicago Association will be giving an introduction to chanoyu presentation.
Time: Saturday, June 21, 10am - 5pm, Introduction to chanoyu presentation will be held in the auditorium at 1pm and 2:30pm
Sunday, June 21, 10am - 5pm, Introduction to chanoyu presentation will be held in the auditorium at 1pm and 2:30pm
Location: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
From the city, follow Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) west to Edens Expressway (I-94) and U.S. Route 41. Exit at Lake Cook Road and travel 1/2 mile east to the Garden.
Admission: Free (there is a parking fee)
Phone: 847.835.8208

>> May 10, 2003
Introduction to chanoyu presentation, Chanoyu Center of Chicago
In celebration of the Asian American Heritage month, the Des Plaines Public Library will sponsor an Introduction to chanoyu presentation.
Time: 2pm
Location: 1501 Ellinwood Street, Des Plaines, IL
For directions, please visit www.desplaines.lib.il.us
Admission: Free
Phone: 847.827.5551

>> May 24, 2003
The Arts of Japan series, Northwestern University
Introduction to the Tea Ceremony with Master of Tea Ceremony Shozo Sato will focus on the tea ceremony’s long history and relationship to Zen philosophy. The age-old art still focuses on human relationship, an interaction with nature and the appreciation of arts and crafts. Important to the tradition is the importance of conducting the ceremony with extreme empathy to the guests’ needs.
Time: 1pm
Location: Northwestern University, Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Drive
Admission: Free
Phone: 847.491.5312

>> April 12, 2003
University of Illinois-Japan House, Urbana-Champaign Association
The Japan House Open House is held every Spring and Fall and is open to the public. Guests are invited into the tearooms to participate in a tea gathering and are served a traditional Japanese tea sweet and a bowl of usucha/thin tea. Guests are welcome to stroll through the tea garden and the zen garden. There will be an exhibit of ikebana arrangements designed by the Ikenobo Ikebana Society, Illinois Prairie Chapter and an exhibit of student calligraphy.
Time: Tea will be conducted throughout the day. Featuring Shozo Sato at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Location: 2000 South Lincoln, Urbana, IL
Admission: Free. Donations are gladly welcomed.
Phone: 217.244.9934

>> March 23, 2003
Rikyu-ki/Memorial of Sen Rikyu, Urasenke Chicago Association
The Urasenke Chicago Association will host a special tea gathering to honor the life of Sen Rikyu (1522-1591), one of the most influential and innovative tea masters in the history of Chado, the Japanese Way of Tea. The present Grand Tea Master of the Urasenke Tradition of Tea is Sen Soshitsu, who is the 16th generation descendent from Sen Rikyu.
At this special tea gathering, a bowl of green powdered tea will be offered in memory of Sen Rikyu. Following this, five members of the Urasenke Chicago Chapter will present Hirakagetsu, one of the Shichijishiki/Seven Exercises that are traditionally done on this occasion. The five participants will prepare and drink four bowls of green powdered tea among themselves, which will be determined by the draw of special bamboo pieces. The Seven Exercises are a practice to develop one's concentration and awareness, as each participant needs to respond quickly to the situation determined by the draw.
Following the presentation of Hirakagetsu, all guests will be served Rikyu manju, a traditional sweet, and a delicious bowl of green powdered tea.
Please join the Urasenke Chicago Association as it honors the life of Sen Rikyu.
Time: Sunday, March 23, 2003 at 2:00pm
Location: Japan Information Center, 737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL (Entrance on Chicago Avenue)
Admission: Free. Donations are gladly welcomed.
Phone: 773.794.0504

>> February 16, 2003
Tatezome/First Tea Gathering of the Year, Urasenke Chicago Association
This is a public tea gathering to welcome the year of the ram. Tea will be prepared in the tearoom at the Japan Information Center. The tokonoma/alcove will be specially decorated for New Years, which includes the traditional weeping willow branches that symbolizes oneness and harmony. Guests will be served hanabira mochi, the traditional Urasenke New Year sweet and a bowl of usucha/thin tea. A special New Year box lunch will be catered by Renga Tei Restaurant of Skokie, IL.
Time: 12 noon
Location: Japan Information Center, 737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL (Entrance on Chicago Avenue)
Admission: $25.00 + $6.00 discount parking in building parking garage (Olympia Center Building)
RSVP Phone: 847.840.8365

>> January 12, 2003
Tatezome/First Tea Gathering of the Year, Chanoyu Center of Chicago
This Center event includes the preparation and enjoyment of a New Year meal, koicha/thick tea, usucha/thin tea, and hanabira mochi sweet. It is a time for tea students to gather together and welcome the new year.
Time: 11am - 2pm
Location: 4641 N. Racine Avenue, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL
Donation: $20.00
Phone: 773.316-2316. Please RSVP. Seating is limited so please respond early.

>> January 2003 - May 2003
Symbol and Substance: The Elaine Ehrenkranz Collection of Japanese Lacquer Boxes
Time: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am-8pm
Saturday, Sunday 11am-5pm
Location: Located on the University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus, the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art is located at 5550 S. Greenwood Avenue
Admission: Free
Phone: 773.702.0200