At 11:00 am, watch members of the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association present the traditional tea ceremony game of kagetsu. 

At 1:00 pm, Japan House welcomes Dr. Jennifer E. McDowell for her presentation on Kokeshi Dolls. 

Dr. McDowell is a cultural anthropologist whose research focuses on material culture, folk art, disaster, and tourism in Japan.  She completed her PhD in May 2011 at the University of Pittsburgh, writing her dissertation titled “Kokeshi:  Continued and Created Traditions (Motivations for a Japanese Folk Art Doll)” which examined the use and meaning of kokeshi for artisans and Japanese collectors. 

Take part in the tranquility of a tea ceremony and enjoy a bowl of matcha with a traditional sweet.  Tea ceremonies will be offered at 10:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association for a special reduced rate of $5.00 for this day – and free for Tomonokai members!  No need for reservations, just join us that day to purchase a ticket for the tea ceremony of your choice. 

Enjoy a tour of the James & Lorene Bier Gardens at noon and 2:00 p.m., led by the designer and donor of the gardens himself, Jim Bier! 

Japan House is honored to display a selection of the Dunn Collection of Kokeshi Dolls.  Gift of Kokeshi and Japanese Tops by Elsa and Professor Floyd Dunn (EE ’49, ’51, ’56); Cataloged by Atsuko Hashimoto 

The presentations, displays, and garden tours are free and open to all.  Please come and celebrate spring in the peace and beauty of Japan House.  Please contact japanhouse@illinois.edu or 217-244-9934 with any questions.  Get more information about Japan House at japanhouse.art.illinois.edu or find them on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/Japan-House-at-the-University-of-Illinois-135991429014/! 

Take your mom!  Take your friend!  Take your cat!  (OK, maybe not the last one…)

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