Explore the cultures of Japan this summer with a series of family-friendly workshops. During each workshop, participants can enjoy learning about Japan and unleashing their creativity while trying an activity using original Japan House London worksheets.

Design Your Own Uchikake

Uchikake are a type of outer kimono worn on formal occasions in Japan, for example by brides on their wedding day. They are usually heavily decorated with a rich array of images and patterns which are often inspired by nature. Take inspiration from the plants and flowers of Japan to design your own uchikake.

Six Native Dogs of Japan

Discover the six native dogs of Japan with our full series of educational and fun Japanese dog colouring-in worksheets. Learn about the origins and characteristics of each of the Japanese native dog breeds, then use your knowledge to colour in the dogs. Can you write each dog’s name in characters (kanji) in the correct stroke order?

Design Your Own Kokeshi

Kokeshi are painted wooden dolls from the Tōhoku region in north-eastern Japan. It is thought they were first made in the late Edo period (1603-1868 CE) by local craftspeople as toys for children and souvenirs for visitors to hot spring towns. Today, various kokeshi have developed in the Tōhoku region, characterized by different shapes and patterns. Choose from three different paper templates of kokeshi from the Tōhoku region and design your own patterns.

Make Your Own Origami Crane

Orizuru (lit. ‘folded crane’) is one of the best-known designs of origami, the Japanese art of paper-folding. Try making your own orizuru to wish for peace and hope for the future, with a coloured in pattern of your own design or colourful origami paper.

Make Your Own Tanabata Decorations

Tanabata is a summer festival celebrating the legendary meeting of two stars, Orihime, a weaver, and Hikoboshi, a cowherder. Separated by the Milky Way, Ama no gawa or ‘Heavenly River’ in Japanese, the stars are allowed to cross the distance by boat and meet only once a year on this day.

Today, Tanabata wishes are hung on branches of bamboo and written on strips of paper called tanzaku, which can be blue or green, red, yellow, white, and purple (which replaced black over the years). Design your own Tanabata decorations to hang on a plant or tree and learn more about this festival tradition.

Workshop Timetable

Saturday 20 August 2022, 14:00, 16:00 (Kokeshi, Tanabata) – The Hall

Sunday 21 August 2022, 14:00, 16:00 (Origami, Six Native Dogs) – The Hall

Monday 22 August 2022, 13:30,15:00 (Origami, Kokeshi) – The Library

Tuesday 23 August 2022, 13:30, 15:00 (Kokeshi, Six Native Dogs) – The Library

Wednesday 24 August 2022, 14:00, 15:30 (Six Native Dogs, Origami) – The Library

Thursday 25 August 2022, 14:00, 15:30 (Six Native Dogs, Kokeshi) – The Library

Friday 26 August 2022, 14:00, 16:00 (Uchikake, Uchikake) – The Hall

Saturday 27 August 2022, 14:00, 16:00 (Uchikake, Uchikake) – The Hall

Sunday 28 August 2022, 12:30 (Uchikake) – The Hall

 

Drop in | Admission Free
Entry to the drop-in-workshops is on a first-come, first-served basis
Children must be 6+ and accompanied by an adult.