Begin the New Year by learning to write Japanese words and phrases associated with the holiday. Children and parents of all ages will experience the time-honored classics of brush and sumi ink calligraphy art.

Guests pound rice dough in a large mortar (usu) with a wooden mallet (kine) and enjoy this traditional cultural experience first-hand! Then, participants are invited to make decorative mochi called Kagami-mochi from the pounded dough. (Edible mochi, prepared by a local Japanese vendor will also be available for purchase.)

Play Fukuwarai, which roughly translates to “Lucky Laugh,” by assembling a face by placing paper cutouts of wacky facial features on a blank face while blindfolded. Observer and players alike get a rise out of this traditional children’s game.

Ready-Set-Go! Race to create a pair of phrases read by a third player before the other participants beat you to it. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins! Try your hand…and ears…as the game is played in Japanese and English. You can also create your own set of original Karuta cards to take home and play with family, friends, and schoolmates!

Try your hand at top spinning and other fun Japanese wooden folk toys such as Kendama and Daruma-otoshi.

Design your own traditional Japanese kite! Assemble the frame from bamboo and decorate it with any number of festive designs to add a personal touch.

Create your own Hagoita (a decorative wooden paddle), a folk game similar to paddle ball, played with a shuttlecock. This decorative Hagoita is also a popular folk toy perfect for display and New Year gifts to bring good luck.

Connect with a Japan of yester-year as you paint and decorate a hyotan (gourd) with your favorite design, zodiac sign, or calligraphy character. Handle and enjoy the light weight, natural beauty of these gourds and learn the history of these delicate, yet sturdy containers.

Create a New Year’s card (nenga-jo) to celebrate the year of the Rooster and share your messages and drawings with friends and family. Participants will learn how to write “Happy New Year” in Japanese and the pervasive use of these greeting cards during the start of the year.

Is it just a story? How are myths and folktales told through Kamishibai (paper-theater)? Listen here to popular New Year’s folktales such as “Hats for the Jizos” and “How the Years Were Named” as your perspectives and viewpoints are built up and encouraged through the power of story. Put your listening ears on as each story will be performed in English and Japanese.