Explore the cultures of Japan this October half-term with a series of free family-friendly activity workshops at Japan House London. During each workshop, participants can enjoy learning about Japan and unleashing their creativity.

 

Make Your Own Paper Ema 

Ema (lit. ‘picture horses’) are palm-sized wooden tablets seen at shrines throughout Japan. Typically, shrinegoers write prayers or wishes on them and hang them at the shrine as offerings. In the Hida Takayama region of Gifu Prefecture, ema are made from paper and decorated with a picture of a horse.

Make your own paper ema using an original Japan House London activity worksheet. The worksheet features a template created by Ikemoto-ya, a famed ema-maker based in Takayama City. Decorate the horse with lucky patterns, add wishes for good fortune and good health and display the completed ema at the entrance of your home to invite in good luck. Remember to hang the ema with the horse’s head facing inwards, so as to carry good fortune inside.

Sunday 27 October 2024, 14:30–16:30

Thursday 31 October 2024, 14:30–16:30

 

Make Your Own Paper ‘Series N700S’ Shinkansen

Learn about rail innovation in Japan by creating your own paper ‘Series N700S’ Shinkansen using an activity sheet created by Japan House London in collaboration with Central Japan Railway Company.

The Shinkansen, ‘bullet train’, is an important symbol of Japanese technology and innovation and runs along various lines connecting the country – from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. Running at 300 kph (186 mph), the award-winning ‘Series N700S’ (‘S’ is for Supreme) Shinkansen, runs along the Tōkaidō and Sanyō Shinkansen lines, connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakata, and was introduced in July 2020.

Tuesday 29 October 2024, 14:30–16:30

Sunday 3 November 2024, 14:30–16:30

 

Origami

Try your hand at origami, Japanese paper folding. Make your own orizuru (folded crane) to wish for peace and hope for the future, or fold an origami frog and see how far you can make it jump.

Friday 1 November 2024, 14:30–16:30

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