Shodo -- December 14, 2007

Three ladies attended this year's last shodo, which was really the last lesson for one member. She will be moving back to Finland soon. We presented her a certificate of completion of Basic course. After the lesson we had a fun chat over nice food.

Finnish home cooking -- December 11, 2007

We had the first session of a cooking program by a foreigner. Six Japanese ladies attended and enjoyed numerous Finnish Christmas dishes, from appetizers to desserts. It was also nice to know how people spend Christmas holidays in Finland.

Cooking -- December 10, 2007

We enjoyed making sushi rolls again today. It is really fun to make sushi rolls with a bamboo mat, though California rolls are a bit difficult to make.

Hikari School -- December 7, 2007

Today's workshop of Hikari School was quite unique. Though it was quite difficult to make awabi-musubi knot with mizuhiki cords, the ladies did a good job. The most enjoyable time for the ladies might be wearing yukata kimono and having pictures taken.They looked so lovely in kimonos!

Outing to Kawagoe -- December 1, 2007

Two couples of a mother and a daughter joined a trip to Kawagoe which is known as "Little Edo". Maples in the gardens of the temples and Kawagoe castle were just beautiful. They tasted sweet potatoes and saw sights of the city such asfireproof storehouses which are now used as shops and bell tower.

Wrapping -- November 30, 2007

Five people attended today's wrapping class. Started with a review of the basic box wrapping which is not familiar to them. Then we challenged wrapping a box with a paper crane on top. Everyone did a good job!

Shodo -- November 22, 2007

Five ladies enjoyed shodo, chattering and coffee beside a lovely Christmas tree. As the member's schedule in December is quite tight,this becomes the last shodo class in 2007.

Cooking - November 12, 2007

The menu was Buta-shabu(pork shabu-shabu), but a bit different from ordinary shabu-shabu. We used lettuce and watercress instead of chinese cabbage and long onion. It was very tasty! The sesame ice cream we made for dessert was lovely, too. We enjoyed the new flavor.

Shodo -- November 9, 2007

Three ladies attended November shodo class today. The photo above shows their beautiful pieces of work written on various color paper.

Shodo -- November 1, 2007

Four members joined shodo class today. One lady who has just started her Japanese lesson seemed quite interested in kanji and hiragana as well as pronunciation of some words which are the same as her language. Of course the meanings are different.

Wrapping -- October 30, 2007

Though four members had to cancel the lesson, two ladies enjoyed the fourth lesson of wrapping. They learned how to wrap a cylinder and a bottle with thin paper. It was difficult, but the most diffficult one was folding a crane on the wrapped box. First they practiced folding a crane with origami paper.

Hikari School -- October 29, 2007

Hikari School started again today! We did origami sachets for the workshop

and practiced the basic sencha tea ceremony.Everyone did a good job on

making origami sachets though they were very tiny.

Shodo -- October 18, 2007

Two new ladies joined our shodo class today.Nationalities and ages

are different, but both ladies said they enjoyed shodo very much

and would like to cotinue.

Shodo -- October 12, 2007

A newcomer from Finland joined us for shodo today.

Everyone practiced different kanji according to her level.

We had a nice chat over coffee after the lesson.

Graphic art shodo -- October 11, 2007

Ladies enjoyed making rubber stamps of seasonal objects

preparing for Christmas cards and New Year's post cards.

An animal sign of the next year is mouse.

Shodo -- September 26, 2007

Three ladies joined today's lesson. Words they paractised are 犬 dog、卵 egg、

十月 October、祭日 festival day、祭 feast,読書の秋 autumn for reading etc.

We started with reviewing the diagonal style of wrapping we learned at the first lesson.

The diagonal style of wrapping is the basic wrapping here but maybe not seen in the western countries. Then we learned how to tie a ribbon using the wrapped box.

Graphic art shodo -- September 20, 2007

Today five ladies made attractive seasonal wall decorations of shikishi.

First they cut out from rubber board some seasonal objects such as

cosmos flower, maple leaves or Japanese pampas grass. Then

stamped them beautifully in a shape of kimono on a shikishi.

Writing haiku with brush, the works were completed.

Shodo -- September 13, 2007

It's quite nice to start shodo again after summer holidays.

Three ladies enjoyed practicing and their works show they

don't forget what they learnt before holidays.

Cooking -- September 10, 2007

Today's menu was makizushi (thick sushi rolls) and inarizushi (brown bag sushi). After the preparation of the sushi rice and the fillings, everyone of us enjoyed rolling sushi with a bamboo mat and making inarizushi.

Shodo-3rd of September,07

It was a nice lesson time again after a summer break. Two newcomers joinedus for the first shodo and enjoyed writing kanji.

Shodo -- August 9, 2007

Though most members are out of town on holiday, three ladies enjoyed shodo today.

Have a look at lovely small fans 'uchiwa' with summer words.