japanese

Arts & Crafts Takes on a Whole New Meaning in Our Newest Exhibit

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Fall is a busy time at Morikami. From gearing up for Lantern Fest to preparing for the new season of educational programs there are lots of changes happening during the “cooler” months coming up. One of those changes is happening as we speak – our galleries are being transformed from a haven for some awe-inspiring Kokeshi dolls, into a space for outrageous fashion and amazing works of Kōgei  art. You probably already know a little about our Japanese Street Fashion exhibit, but you may be unfamiliar with Kōgei, as it …

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Check-In to Check Us Out

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybw_dYZhXPY&w=420&h=315] We all know that Morikami Membership has its benefits, but what if we told you that you could get those benefits at 25% off for the entire month of August?  You read that right – from August 1 -31, 2013 we’re offering a 25% discount on Dual and Netsuke level memberships just for checking in to Morikami on Facebook or Yelp. It’s pretty simple: visit Morikami this August, bring your smart phone and log onto the Facebook or Yelp app. Then, check in and show your confirmation to the …

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Morikami Hems In Tokyo Fashion Exhibit This Fall

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Harajuku, an area between Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo, has risen to the highest ranks of Japanese fashion. In the late 50s and early 60s the neighborhood was transformed from U.S. soldiers’ housing into a well-spring of youth culture (similar to the likes of Haight Ashbury in 1960’s San Francisco) that solidified into what many call the Harajuku-zoku, or the Harajuku tribe. The neighborhood was overtaken by photographers, models, artists, fashion designers and local youth, and has become the ultimate youth stomping ground. Some of the most visible and popular …

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Setsubun: The End of Winter

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by: Reiko Nishioka, Director of Education On February 3rd or 4th (depending on the year), the Japanese celebrate setsubun, the end of winter, with a ritual known in English as the “Bean-Throwing Ceremony.” “Bean-Throwing Ceremony” sounds comical and childish, however, the setsubun ritual has a long history. The first recorded setsubun ritual was in A.D. 706, more than a thousand years later year, Hokusai (Ukiyo-e artist 1760-1849) illustrated a man throwing beans at a demon. What does setsubun mean?  (setsu) and (bun) means division and setsubun means “division of seasons.” …

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