Japan House's annual Fall Open House resumes on Saturday, October 5th featuring Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji and her latest cookbook, Wagashi: Season by Season.
Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies will be offered by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Urbana-Champaign Association at 11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, and 2pm. In addition to a bowl of freshly whisked matcha, a special Japanese sweet called wagashi will be served, made from recipes in Wagashi: Season by Season.
Guests may select from the outdoor ryurei (table-style) tea ceremony (seated on chairs) or the indoor tea ceremony on tatami (seated cross-legged on tatami). Please dress appropriately as legs are covered traditionally in Japan. All guests will be asked to remove shoes when entering Japan House, and to wear socks if participating in a tea ceremony. Tickets per person ($16.00) are required to attend a tea ceremony; no walk-ins will be permitted to ensure a tranquil experience for guests. The tea ceremony will take approximately an hour.
At 3pm, Professor Gunji will be giving a free presentation about her new cookbook and Japanese aesthetics found within wagashi and seasonality. From 11am-2pm, copies of the cookbook will be available for sale and she will be present for signing books after the presentation. The presentation is free, but donations are welcomed. Space is limited to the first 30 guests.
Outside garden tours are offered by gardeners Susan Kapacinskas and Lois Sjoken at 12pm and 1pm, and will take 45 minutes. Tickets are required to join ($5.00/person) - please dress appropriately to walk outside and note that there is an uneven stone path in the tea garden. Garden tours will take place rain or shine.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
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About Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji
Kimiko Gunji is Professor Emeritus of Japanese Arts & Culture in the School of Art & Design, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and taught from 1979-2011. She was also Director of Japan House at the University of Illinois from 1998-2011. She is a Full Professor of the Ikenobo School of Ikebana for Japanese flower arranging and Chapter President of the Illinois Prairie Ikenobo Ikebana Group. She holds the tea name, or chamei, Souki, from the Urasenke School of Tea and serves as President of the Chado Urasenke Urbana-Champaign Association. She also holds a teaching certificate of nihon buyo (Japanese classical dance). Gunji has received numerous awards for her teachings as well as for her contributions to promote Japanese arts and culture. Among them were the University of Illinois Campus Award of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in the Field of Ethnic and Folk Arts, and the Commendation from the Foreign Ministry in Japan for her contribution to promote and strengthen the ties of friendship and goodwill between the United States and Japan. The most distinguished award she received is the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Government, which was bestowed by the Japanese Emperor. Currently she teaches Japanese traditional arts to local students as well as to the community members at Japan House at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also gives lectures/demonstrations on Japanese arts and culture at various colleges and universities as well as many different organizations. Her wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) book, The Art of Wagashi, was published in April 2019 and sold over a thousand copies worldwide. Due to popular demand, Wagashi: Season by Season was published in 2024 to share even more recipes and highlight the beauty of seasonality within wagashi.
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FAQs
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
Japan House is located in the Arboretum at the University of Illinois at 2000 S. Lincoln Avenue between Kirby/Florida and Windsor Road. Parking is available in the lot to the north of Japan House (F-31 at St. Mary's Road and Lincoln) and to the south of Japan House (F-32 on Lincoln across from the Vet Med complex). Spaces are marked with a placard and must be paid with Mobile Meter (https://mobilemeter.us/) or Park Mobile (https://parkmobile.io/ ) phone apps, or by calling 217-207-3033. After 5pm and weekends all parking spaces are free.
There are bike racks near both parking lots for scooters, bikes, and electronic transportation devices.
The MTD Silver comes near Japan House on Lincoln Ave but buses also service PAR/FAR and you may walk from there to Japan House.
The front door is located on the north side of the building. Please allow plenty of time to arrive and get to the front door so we may start on time.
Questions about accommodations or accessibility?
Please email japanhouse@illinois.edu if you have any questions regarding any questions about accessibility, accommodations for food allergies, or other inquiries.
Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
Yes, ticket transfers are possible with a minimum of 48 hours advance notice and if there is space in the new time requested. Please contact japanhouse@illinois.edu if you have any questions.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
You do not have to bring your ticket. We will just need your name to check in.
The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay?
The purchaser of the ticket can go to "My Tickets" and change the name to whomever will be attending.
What is the refund policy?
Your registration is refundable if you contact us at japanhouse@illinois.edu at least 48 hours before the date of your reservation. Please note that EventBrite fees are non-refundable. Refunds will not be issued for lateness to the assigned ticket time so we asks that guests arrive a few minutes prior to check-in.
Are there certain requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
The tea ceremonies, garden tours, and presentation are for all ages. Children are welcome as long as they are able to sit quietly throughout the tea ceremony. A paid ticket is required for all regardless of whether they partake in the tea and sweet if they wish to participate in the tea ceremonies. Otherwise, for guests passing through to observe, please be mindful of noise levels and remain seated during the tea ceremony. For the garden tour, children are welcome as long as they are able to behave appropriately and follow garden etiquette. We kindly ask that strollers/bikes are not brought into the tea garden to avoid damaging plants along the path. For the presentation, children are welcome as long as they are able to sit quietly throughout the presentation.
What is Tomonokai? How can I support Japan House?
Tomonokai are "Friends of Japan House". The Tomonokai program was established in 1998 with a goal of supporting Japan House programming and events and promoting an understanding of Japanese Arts and Culture. This tax deductible membership entitles you to special member benefits including discounts on events and merchandise, and vouchers for private tea ceremonies.
Japan House is non-profit and fully relies upon the generosity and kindness of supporters to continue to provide our campus and community vibrant programming that is immersive, engaging, and most importantly, that celebrates diversity! Consider becoming Tomonokai, or Friend of Japan House, or support by clicking here.