October Fun at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

October programming:

Wednesdays Sept 28, Oct 5, Nov 2, Dec 7 or Saturdays Oct 1 & 8, Nov 5, Dec 10

Stroll for Well-Being

Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm or 1:30pm – 3:00pm

Cost: Free to qualified applicants

The museum’s therapeutic garden walking program (3 sessions) allows for participants to immerse
themselves in the natural beauty, peace, and serenity of the gardens. A myriad of benefits of
garden walking includes feelings of joy, acceptance, and optimism. Participants will receive
a complimentary journal, guided orientation, facilitator-led meetings, and a one-year complimentary dual membership upon program completion. For more information, visit morikami.org/stroll.

Saturdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Japanese Traditional Music: Koto (Class)
Time: Beginners – 10:15am – 12:15pm
Intermediate – 1pm-3pm

Cost: $155 (Morikami Members $150).Advance Registration Required.
The Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument first introduced to Japan from China in the 7th-8th centuries. Learn about the history, culture and techniques in how to play this exquisite instrument in this 5-week course. Instruments will be provided for participants to use in the class.

Saturday, Oct 1

Shibori Indigo – Napkin I (Workshop)

Time: 10am – 3pm
Cost: $70.Advance Registration Required.

The use of indigo dye, or aizome, has a long and cherished history in Japan. The deep blue colors for which Japanese textiles are celebrated come from the leaves of the tadeai, a plant introduced to Japan from China in the sixth century. Shibori is a Japanese technique of manual resist dyeing used to make patterns on fabrics. Learn various shibori techniques and create a set of special dinner napkins for your home.

Sundays, Oct 2, 9, 26, 23, 30

The Art of Bonsai (Class)
Time: Beginners – 12:30pm – 3:30pm

Intermediate – 9am – 12pm
Cost: $100 (Morikami Members $90).Advance Registration Required.
Bonsai means “a tree in a tray.” The art of bonsai creates the illusion of age and maturity of a tree which has developed and sustained the effects of nature for many years. Students of bonsai learn to artfully trim and train a tree in a container.

Sundays, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese (Class)

Time: Level I – 10:15am-11:15am
Cost: $110 (Morikami Members $100).Advance Registration Required.
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and IV use Japanese for Busy People II (JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series.

Sundays, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese (Virtual Class)

Time: Level I – 6:10pm-7:10pm
Level II – 11:30am-12:30pm
Level III – 7:20pm-8:20pm
Level IV – 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Cost: $110 (Morikami Members $100).Advance Registration Required.
Nihongo: Introduction to Japanese is a beginner and lower intermediate program teaching Japanese speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to Japanese culture and lifestyles through lessons and conversation. Levels I and II use Japanese for Busy People I (JBP I) and levels III and IV use Japanese for Busy People II (JBP II). Fall, winter, and spring sessions of each level should be taken sequentially as a series.

Tuesdays, Oct 4, 11, 18, 25

Ikebana Flower Arrangement –Ikenobo School (Class)
Time: Beginners – 11am – 1pm

Intermediate – 1pm – 3pm*

Cost: $80 (Morikami Members $70).Advance Registration Required.
*Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience or have taken at least three sessions of Ikebana classes.

Flower arranging, ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has various schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. Dating back to the 15th century, the Ikenobo School is the oldest and most traditional. Students in this course learn the basic principles and style of Ikenobo, creating fresh flower arrangements each week to take home and enjoy.

Wednesdays, Oct 5, 12, 19, 26

Ikebana Flower Arrangement – Sogetsu School (Class)

Time: Beginners – 10:00am –12:00pm

Intermediate – 1:30pm – 3:30pm*

Cost: $80 (Morikami Members $70).Advance Registration Required.
Flower arranging,ikebana, is a traditional Japanese art form spanning centuries. Ikebana has various schools of study, each with unique philosophies and aesthetics. The Sogetsu School is a contemporary school which focuses on the creativity and individuality of ikebana. The idea is that ikebana can be done by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything. Students will learn the basics of Sogetsu and create pieces each week to take home and enjoy. *Intermediate courses are for students with prior experience.

Thursday, Oct 6
Mori Stories: The Magic Rice Paddle
Time: 1:00pm
Cost: FREE (with paid museum admission)

A comical tale in which an old woman escapes from the Oni. Her escape is aided by a magic rice paddle, which also helps her feed poor hungry neighbors.

Thursdays, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27

Sumi-e Ink Painting (Floral Beginner) (Class)
Time: Floral – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Cost: $70 (Morikami Members $65). Advance Registration Required.

Sumi-e is a form of Japanese ink painting brought from China in the 12th century. Primarily done in black ink, the name literally means “charcoal drawing” in Japanese. Students grind their own ink using an ink stick and a grinding stone and learn to hold and utilize brushes to create the primary sumi-e brushstrokes. Floral and landscape classes will start with a review of the basic techniques before moving on to the main subject.

Fridays, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28

Sumi-e Ink Painting (Class)
Time: Floral – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Landscape – 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Cost: $70 (Morikami Members $65). Advance Registration Required.

Sumi-e is a form of Japanese ink painting brought from China in the 12th century. Primarily done in black ink, the name literally means “charcoal drawing” in Japanese. Students grind their own ink using an ink stick and a grinding stone and learn to hold and utilize brushes to create the primary sumi-e brushstrokes. Floral and landscape classes will start with a review of the basic techniques before moving on to the main subject.

Sundays, Oct 9, 23 or Thursdays, Oct 13, 27

Sado: Tea Ceremony (Beginners) (Class)
Time: 10:15am -12:15am

Cost: $60 (Morikami Members $55). Advance Registration Required.

Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season.

Sundays, Oct 9, 23

Sado: Tea Ceremony (Intermediate) (Class)
Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Cost: $60 (Morikami Members $55). Advance Registration Required.

Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season. Intermediate course requires approval by the instructor before registering.

Saturday, Oct 15
Sado: The Way of Tea (Demonstration)
Time: 12pm, 1:30pm or 3pm
Cost: $5 with paid museum admission.

Observe Japanese sadō, an ever-changing demonstration rich in seasonal subtleties. Your involvement in the true spirit of sadō — harmony (wa), reverence (kei), purity (sei), tranquility (jaku) — along with a sip of matcha green tea and a sweet treat will help you bring a calm perspective into your busy life.

Saturdays, Oct 22, Nov 12, Dec. 10

Nihongo Intensive I – A (Virtual Workshop)

Time: 1pm – 4pm
Cost: $100. Advance Registration Required.

This three-day workshop is an introduction to the Japanese language. It covers the basics, an introduction to hiragana, and Unit 1 of the required text. There are no prerequisites for this workshop. Students who take workshop 1-A may continue to Nihongo Intensive II Workshop or the Nihongo Level I Session 2 class.

Saturday, Oct. 29
Family Fun: Spooky Origami
Time: 12:00pm-3:00pm
Cost: FREE for members or with paid museum admission. No Reservation Required.

Boo! Learn how to make an origami ghost to celebrate Halloween.

Saturday, Oct 29

Ghosts, Changelings and Apparitions in Traditional Japanese Tales – Talk by Author William Wilson 

Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities
Time: 1pm
Cost: FREE (with paid museum admission)

Traditional tales are like thumbnail sketches of the Japanese psyche and a glimpse into submerged memories passed down through generations. Many of these stories are explanations of supernatural events that took place in specific locales that people have believed and often still believe to have been true. As tales of the “common folk,” they provide a counterpoint to high literature of individual classic and modern authors.

William Wilson has worked on Japanese and Classical Chinese literature for over 50 years. He has translated over 20 books, some of which have been translated in turn into over 20 foreign languages. He has received a commendation from the Foreign Ministry of Japan for his part in spreading Japanese culture, and has been inducted into the Order of the Rising Sun. He lives and works in South Miami with his two dogs, three cats, and a flock of sparrows that visit him daily.

Saturday, Oct. 29
Film Screening: Ju-On: The Grudge

Sponsored by the JM Family Enterprises

Time: 3pm

(90 mins., 2002, Rated R, Horror, In Japanese, subtitled in English)
Cost: $5 (with paid museum admission) 

Perplexing, creepy, episodic thriller in which an unsuspecting social worker unlocks the terrifying past of a house haunted by its former inhabitants’ darkest secrets. Written and directed by Takashi Shimizu, who also made the 2004 U.S. version starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Sunday, Oct. 30
Film Screening: A Letter to Momo

Sponsored by the JM Family Enterprises

Time: 11:00am (Dubbed in English) and 2:00pm (In Japanese, subtitled in English)

(120 mins., 2011, Non-Rated, Animation)
Cost: $5 (with paid museum admission) 

The last time Momo saw her father they had a fight – and now all she has left to remember him by is an incomplete letter, a blank piece of paper penned with the words “Dear Momo,” but nothing more. Moving with her mother to the remote Japanese island of Shio, Momo soon discovers three yokai living in her attic, a trio of mischievous spirit creatures that only she can see and who create mayhem in the tiny seaside community as she tries desperately to keep them hidden. But these funny monsters have a serious side and may hold the key to helping Momo discover what her father had been trying to tell her.

A Letter to Momo was seven years in the making, and the handmade animation is superb, from the painstakingly rendered serenity of the island’s Shinto shrines to the climactic finale – a frantic chase featuring thousands of squirming, morphing ghosts and spirits that is the best cinematic flight of supernatural fancy in years.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-0233 or visit morikami.org.

About Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Since opening in 1977, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens has been the epicenter for Japanese art and culture in South Florida. Morikami invites guests to discover its South Florida’s history, connection with Japan, and explore a series of six diverse Japanese gardens, each inspired by a different historical period and style of Japanese gardening. Visitors experience traditional and contemporary Japanese culture through engaging exhibits, varied educational programs and seasonal events, bonsai display, Pan-Asian cuisine, and a distinctive museum store. Morikami Museum is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.