2023 EVENTS & PROGRAMS

FAR EAST OF MIDLAND – Special Joint Programs with Alden B. Dow Home & Studio Throughout 2023

The Japanese Cultural Center is delighted to announce our partnership with the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio (Midland) to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Dow Family’s inaugural visit to Japan. This seminal experience significantly influenced Alden B. Dow’s appreciation of Japanese culture and had an enduring impact on both him and the community. Through a series of joint events, we aim to celebrate and explore the connection between the Dow family and Japan – Complete Details

• Far East of Midland Exhibit (Midland) – March 15-December 31, 2023 – Free of charge
• Ikebana Demonstration and Far East of Midland Exhibit (Midland) -March 19^th or September 10, 1-3 pm
• Far East of Midland Presentation and Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony (Saginaw) – Sunday, May 7, 11 am-1 pm or  1:30-3:30 pm
• Far East of Midland presentation and Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony (Midland) – Sunday, November 5, 2-4 pm

Reservations for all events can be made through the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio.

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01/14/2023 – 2nd Saturday Traditional Tea Ceremony – 2:00-3:00

02/11/2023 – 2nd Saturday Traditional Tea Ceremony – 2:00-3:00

03/11/2023 – 2nd Saturday Traditional Tea Ceremony – 2:00-3:00

03/18/2023 – Lecture, “Say what? Cool words That only exist in Japan!” by Dr. Monika Dix – Saturday, 2:00-3:30 – See Flyer

03/19/2023 – Ikebana Demonstration at Alden B. Dow Home & Studio (Midland) – Sunday, 1:00-3:00 – See Flyer

Reservation is Required through Alden B. Dow Home and Studio (989-839-2744) or their Website

03/25/2023 – Docent Volunteer Training – Saturday, 10:30-1:30 – See Flyer

04/01/2023 – Gardens and the Tea House opens for the season (Noon-4:00)

04/01/2023 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

04/01/2023 – Traditional Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00 (also on 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22 & 4/29)

04/11/2023 –  Teahouse and gardens closed for Staff Development

04/15/2023 – Docent Volunteer Training – Saturday, 10:30-1:30 – See Flyer

04/22/2023 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

04/29/2023 – Presentation ” The Way of Sports – Japanese Style” by Tsune Kawakita – Saturday, 12:15 – 1:30 – See Flyer

05/01 – 05/06/2023 – Garden Volunteer Week – Tuesday to Saturday, Noon – 4:00

05/06/2023 – Traditional Tea Ceremony –  Saturday, 2:00-3:00 (also on 5/13, 5/20 & 5/27)

05/07/2023 – Far East of Midland Presentation with a Special Tea Ceremony by Prof. Nabeta, Urasenke Tankokai – Sunday – See Flyer

Session 1: 11:00- 1:00

Session 2: 1:30-3:30

Reservation is Required through Alden B. Dow Home and Studio (989-839-2744) or their Website

05/20/2023 – Bonsai Workshop by Jack Sustic – Saturday, 1:00-4:00 – See Flyer

Meet Jack Sustic – Bonsai Master

06/03/2023 – Traditional Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00 (also on 6/10, 6/17, & 6/246)

06/17/2023 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

06/24/2023 – Bonsai Workshop by Jack Sustic – Saturday, 1:00-4:00 – See Flyer

Meet Jack Sustic – Bonsai Master

07/01/2023 – Teahouse and gardens closed for Independence Day weekend from July 1 to July 4 

07/07/2023 – Tanabata Star Festival – Friday, 1:00-3:00 – See Flyer

07/08/2023 – Special Tea Ceremony presented by Prof. Nabeta, Urasenke Tankokai Association – Saturday, 1:00-2:00 & 2:00-3:00 – See Flyer (reservation required)

07/08/2023 – Tomodachi Society Tea Ceremony by Prof. Nabeta, Urasenbke Tankokai Association  – Saturday, 1:00-2:00

07/12/2023 – Ikebana Class by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00- 2:30 – See Flyer

07/15/2023  Traditional Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00 also on 7/22 & 7/29)

07/19/2023 – Ikebana Class by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00- 2:30 – See Flyer

07/29/2023 – Japanese- American Internment Camps during WWII – Saturday 11:00-1:00 – See Flyer

Presenters

08/02/2023 – Ikebana Class by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00 -2:30 – See Flyer

08/05/2023 – Traditional Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00 (also on 8/12, 8/19, & 8/26)

08/16/2023 – Ikebana Class by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00- 2:30 – See Flyer

08/26/2023 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

09/02/2023 – Traditional Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00 (also on 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, & 9/30)

09/10/2023 – Ikebana Demonstration at Alden B. Dow Home & Studio (Midland) – Sunday, 1:00-3:00 – See Flyer

Reservation is Required through Alden B. Dow Home and Studio (989-839-2744) or their Website

09/12/2023 – Garden Volunteer Week – Tuesday to Saturday, Noon – 4:00

09/17/2023 – Japan Festival – Sunday, 1:00-4:00 – See Flyer

10/07/2023 – Traditional Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00 (also on 9/14, 9/21, & 9/28)

10/28/2023 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

11/01/2023 – 03/31/2024  ***Gardens and Tea House closed***

11/05/2023 – Far East of Midland with a Special Tea Ceremony by Prof. Nabeta, Urasenke Tankokai Association  – Sunday, 2:00–4:00 at Alden B. Dow Home & Studio, Midland – See Flyer

Reservation is Required through Alden B. Dow Home and Studio (989-839-2744) or their Website

11/11/2023 – 2nd Saturday Tea Ceremony – 2:00-3:00

11/17/2023 – Holidays in the Heart of the City by Positive Results Downtown Saginaw – Friday, 5:30 – 8:00 –  See Flyer

12/09/2023 – 2nd Saturday Tea Ceremony – 2:00-3:00

2022 EVENTS

02/12/2022 – 2nd Saturday Traditional Tea Ceremony – 2:00 – 3:00

03/12/2022 – 2nd Saturday Traditional Tea Ceremony – 2:00 – 3:00
03/26/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 2:00
03/26/2022 – Intro to Japanese by Prof. Monika Dix –  Saturday, 2:00 – 4:00 – View PDF

04/01/2022 – Gardens and the Tea House opens for the season 

04/02/2022 – Docent Volunteer Training – Saturday, 10:00 – 1:00
04/09/2022 – Docent Volunteer Training – Saturday, 10:00 – 1:00
04/09/2022 – 2nd Saturday Traditional Tea Ceremony – 2:00 – 3:00 
04/16/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00
04/16/2022 – Ukiyo-e: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints – Saturday, 1:00 – 3:00 – View PDF

4/23/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

05/21/2022 – Bonsai Workshop by Jack Sustic, Bonsai Master – Saturday, 1:00 – 4:00 – View PDF

5/28/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

06/04/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00
06/11/2022 – Tomodachi Society Tea Ceremony (Prof. Nabeta) – Saturday, 1:00 – 2:00
06/11/2022 – 2nd Saturday Tea Ceremony (Prof. Nabeta) – 2:00 – 3:00
06/25/2022 – Bonsai Workshop by Jack Sustic, Bonsai Master – Saturday, 1:00 – 4:00 – View PDF

07/06/2022 – Ikebana Class (Japanese Flower Arrangement) by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:30 – View PDF

07/07/2022 – Tanabata Star Festival – Thursday, 1:00 – 3:00 – View flyer

07/13/2022 – Ikebana Class (Japanese Flower Arrangement) by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:30 – View PDF
07/14/2022 – Tea Ceremony at Castle Museum (Saginaw), Summer Cultural Celebrations – Thursday, 1:00 – 2:00
07/16/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00
07/20/2022 – Ikebana Class (Japanese Flower Arrangement) by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:30 – View PDF
07/27/2022 – Ikebana Class (Japanese Flower Arrangement) by Judy Thomas – Wednesday, 1:00 – 2:30 – View PDF

08/18/2022 – The Japanese History of  Buddhist Art by Prof. Monika Dix, Thursday, 1:00-2:30 – View PDF

09/17/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00
09/18/2022 – Japan Festival – Sunday, 1:00 – 4:00 – View PDF

9/24/2022 Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00

10/01/2022 Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 12:30-1:30 & 2:00-3:00

POSTPONED until further notice*** 10/01/2022 – Japanese Internment Camp by George Saito, David Yamamoto, and Bob Iwamasa – Saturday, 1:30 – 3:00 – View flyer

10/08/2022 Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00

10/15/2022 Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00

10/22/2022 Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00

10/29/2022 Tea Ceremony – Saturday, 2:00-3:00

10/29/2022 – Garden Volunteer Day – Saturday, Noon – 4:00

11/01/2022 – 03/31/2023  ***Gardens and Tea House closed***

11/12.2022 – 2nd Saturday Tea Ceremony – 2:00-3:00

11/18/2022 – Holidays in the Heart of the City by Positive Results Downtown Saginaw – Friday, 5:30 – 8:00

12/10/2022 – 2nd Saturday Tea Ceremony – 2:00-3:00 – CANCELLED

2021 EVENTS

Tokushima-Saginaw Friendship Garden Open to Public: 04/01/2021-10/31/2021

Garden Volunteer Day: 06/05/2021 (Saturday 12:30PM – 3:30PM)

Traditional Tea Ceremony: 06/12/2021

Origami Workshop by Mark Wolf-Ott: 06/26/2021 (Saturday 2PM) Free admission, reservation required

Garden Volunteer Day: 06/26/2021 (Saturday 12:30PM – 3:30PM)

Traditional Tea Ceremony: 07/10/2021

Art & History – Memories of Topaz and Poston Internment Camps by George Saito and Bob Iwamasa: 07/17/2021 (Saturday 1:30PM) Free admission, reservation required

Garden Volunteer Day: 07/17/2021 (Saturday 12:30PM – 3:30PM)

Traditional Tea Ceremony: 08/14/2021

Garden Volunteer Day: 08/28/2021 (Saturday 12:30PM – 3:30PM)

Garden Volunteer Day: 09/04/2021 (Saturday 12:30PM – 3:30PM)

Traditional Tea Ceremony: 09/11/2021

Japan Festival in Saginaw: 09/12/2021 (Sunday 1PM – 4PM) Free admission. Tea Ceremony – $10. View the Festival Poster and Program.

Ikebana Workshop (Flower Arrangement) by Judy Takako Thomas: 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27/2021 (Wednesdays 1PM – 2:30PM). $20 per workshop, flowers included.

Traditional Tea Ceremony: 10/09/2021

Garden Volunteer Day: 10/23/2021 (Saturday 12:30PM – 3:30PM)

Traditional Tea Ceremony: 11/13/2021

Open House, Holidays in the Heart of the City for November has been canceled

Traditional Tea Ceremony for December has been canceled

2020 EVENTS

Japan-Saginaw Week (online): 10/26 – 11/01, 2020

Saginaw-Japan Week was presented as a virtual online event the week of October 26 through November 1, 2020. Videos of the event can be accessed on the Saginaw-Japan Week page.