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Bamboo In Japanese Culture and Art

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Bamboo is a ubiquitous part of Japanese culture, and is an important material both in everyday life and in art. In fact, the Morikami’s collection is full of pieces made of bamboo, one of which is a basket made by master bamboo artist, Shochiku Tanabe (see below). In advance of Shochiku’s sold out basket making workshop on April 7, we spoke with our former Director of Education and bamboo expert, Reiko Nishioka, who gave us some insight on why bamboo is such an important part of Japanese art and culture, as well as …

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Guest Post – Listening for Rengetsu: Texture and the Poetry of the Multi-sensory

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In Advance of her appearance, and as a continuation of our blog series on Otagaki Rengetsu,  Professor Sayumi Takahashi Harb took some time to pen a guest post just for you, our devoted readers, discussing the dynamic artistry of Otagaki Rengetsu, whose work is featured in our current exhibition, and is the focus of our upcoming symposium. Read on for a preview of some of the themes Prof. Harb will touch on in her lecture. [hr] A mountain keeps an echo deep inside itself. That is how I hold your voice. – Jalal …

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Otagaki Rengetsu – Lotus Moon

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Our current exhibition, Poetry In Clay: The Art of Otagaki Rengetsu, is a glimpse into the life and work of one of Japan’s most famous female artists, but why was Rengetsu such a sensation? What made her work so popular and sought after? Read on to find out a little more about this prolific artist, and be sure to join us at our upcoming symposium – with guest speakers Prof. Yukio Lippit and Prof. Sayumi Takahashi Harb – to learn more. [threecol_two] Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)  was born in the spring of 1791, …

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Kit Kat Craze at Morikami

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KitKats were introduced to Japan in 1973. However, it wasn’t until 1996 that the first flavored KitKat, almond, appeared, followed by strawberry and orange in 1998. In 2005, regional KitKats that featured the unique flavors of various cities and prefectures in Japan became popular, and the number of flavors increased dramatically. Since then, over 100 different flavors have been produced, and the list continues to grow. Japan is famous for its regional specialties, and KitKats are no exception. Our KitKat exhibit features flavors from Hokkaido (the northernmost of Japan’s four …

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Valentine’s Day 2015 at Morikami

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Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day at Morikami. From a lovely garden stroll to a bite of mochi for two, we’re sure you’ll have a Valentine’s Day to remember with us. Read on for more on how we’re celebrating![threecol_two] At the Museum Store The Morikami Museum Store always strives to find treasures that will delight all of our guests, and this Valentine’s Day weekend is no different. Stop by the store’s Valentine’s Day display to find the perfect gift at any price point. Once you’ve found just the thing for that …

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