Explore the cultures of Japan during the festive period with a series of free family workshops at Japan House London.
During each drop-in workshop, participants can enjoy learning about Japan and unleashing their creativity with activities including making an origami orizuru (folded crane), crafting a paper shinkansen (bullet train) and decorating a nengajō (New Year greetings card) to send to friends and loved ones.
Create Your Own New Year Card (nengajō)
Wednesday 27 – Saturday 31 December 2023, 14:00-15:30
The Library, Lower Ground Floor
Wednesday 3 January 2024, 16:00-17:00
Friday 5 January 2024, 14:00-15:00
Saturday 6 January 2024, 14:00-15:00
The Hall, Lower Ground Floor
In Japan it is customary to send New Year greetings cards (nengajō) to relatives, friends and colleagues. Decorated with special greetings and seasonal illustrations, nengajō are usually delivered on New Year’s Day. Colour in and cut out our selection of pictures associated with the New Year season to decorate your own original nengajō.
Make Your Own Paper ‘Series N700S’ Shinkansen
Wednesday 3 January 2024, 14:00-15:30
Thursday 4 January 2024, 15:30-17:00
The Hall, Lower Ground Floor
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.
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. Running at 300 kph (186 mph), it has many cutting-edge features in Japanese train technology – including a more streamlined and lightweight design, superior noise reduction, and robust safety measures – making for a greener, smoother and safer journey for passengers.
Make Your Own Paper Ema
Thursday 4 January 2024, 14:00-15:00
Sunday 7 January 2024, 14:00-15:00
The Hall, Lower Ground Floor
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.
Origami
Friday 5 January 2024, 15:30-16:30
Saturday 6 January 2024, 15:30-16:30
Sunday 7 January 2024, 15:30-16:30
The Hall, Lower Ground Floor
Try your hand at origami, Japanese paper folding. Guests can make their own orizuru (folded crane) to wish for peace and hope for the future or make a paper helmet (kabuto) based on those worn by Japanese warriors including samurai.