2021 - 10th Annual Boston Japan Festival Event - “The Japan in Boston Experience 2021” (Nov 30 - Dec 5) 6 DaysNEW

2021 - 10th Annual Festival Event, Japan Festival Boston features: “The Japan in Boston Experience 2021”!  This year, the theme is: the safety of our communities’, the safety of our participants, the availability of labor, and the financial health of our partnered businesses. This feature will be a series of small, focused mini-events, social media features, and in-person/virtual workshops to help immerse our local community in Boston’s best offerings of experiential Japanese culture. We are collaborating with local influencers and businesses to bring you a little piece of everything from sake, to kimono, to bento, to arts & crafts! Workshop events are ticketed. Please see each program below for details and for ticket purchase.

Schedule of Events: Click Here for Event Schedule  

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Tea Ceremony in Kimono, an Authentic Spiritual Experience
Sat. Dec. 4, Sun. Dec. 5
Feat. Urasenke Boston, Matsuko Levin & Ara Mahar

A special treat for a truly immersive, authentic experience! Come experience a real Urasenke tea ceremony in the beautiful Showa Boston campus tatami tea room, while dressed in a full kimono.

You will be dressed by our local kimono influencers Ara Mahar and Matsuko Levin in a kimono of choice, and then get to experience an intimate, authentic tea ceremony hosted by the tea masters of Urasenke Boston. You will even have the opportunity to get your photos taken while you’re in your kimono!

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Sake Tasting with JFB, a Good Time Experience 
Tue. Dec. 2, Sat. Dec. Sun. 4, Dec. 5
Feat. Marina Giordano, WSET Educator

What is a celebration of Japanese culture without a little sake? In this workshop, certified instructor Marina Giordano, will guide you through the basic elements of sake including the ingredients needed to produce it, grades and styles of sake, what they taste like, how they are made and how to serve them.

The tasting will include several grades and specialty styles to ensure a thorough understanding of these concepts. We hope to see you in person, but if you can’t make it we will also have a special hybrid Zoom class on Thursday with the replay available to anyone who orders the home delivery of the tasting kit!

(Onsite & Virtual event)

TICKET SALES CLOSES ONE WEEK PRIOR TO EACH SESSION

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Washi, Itajime, & Origami, the Restorative Experience
Sat. Dec. 4, Sun. Dec. 5
Feat. Yasuyo Tanaka, & Paper Connections International

Traditional Japanese crafts have long symbolized spiritual peace and development. Join our two-day, two-part In-person workshop to restore personal balance through Washi, Itajime, and Origami. Learn about the traditional art of Japanese Washi paper making, creatively dye your own washi in the Japanese Itajime style, and make your creation come to life by folding them into Origami flowers, which will be tied together into a Kusudama medicine ball.

(Onsite only event)

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Yuzu Natsumi
Instagram live
Tue. Nov. 30, 19:00~ EST

Singer / Songwriter / Shamisen Player Yuzu is a Japanese singer/songwriter playing Japanese traditional Instrument called Shamisen. She has been making original fusion of Japanese traditional style and melody with modern style of music since 2014. So far she performed in 14 countries including France, Thailand and India. She is also known as a professional singer of Kiyari, traditional vocal art of Tokyo.

Join Japan Festival Boston’s Instagram for a special Instagram live session from Yuzu! If you can’t wait, check out her YouTube channel.

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Rili
Instagram live
Wed. Dec. 1, 19:00~ EST

Join Japan Festival Boston’s Instagram for a special Instagram live session by Rili! Based in Tokyo, Japan, Rili creates music from her heart as healing to reach her audience’s heart.

Rili’s recent performance includes: 2019 Japan Expo 20th Anniversary in France, Touch the Japan 5th Anniversary in Taiwan, and Japan Expo in Thailand, and Japan Festival Boston Virtual 2020!

Go check her out on Instagram and on her website! Her new single

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Hiroko Watanabe & Kumo no Ue
渡部裕子 & 雲の上
Instagram live
Fri. Dec. 3, 21:30~ EST

Join us for a special live performance by the world-renowned Hiroko Watanabe and Kumo no Ue (Above Clouds) at Mtsukoshi Hoshigaoka Department Store in Nagoya, Japan! Don’t worry, you can view this event on Japan Festival Boston’s Instagram as an Instagram live performance!

Watanabe Hiroko is known for her contemporary, powerful, performance that combines traditional Japanese calligraphy, taiko drums, and electric guitar! A long-time friend of Japan Festival Boston, you can see her electric performance from Japan Festival Boston Virtual 2020!