The Children’s Museum of Memphis recently kicked off its week-long celebration of Japanese Culture Week. Daily events are scheduled through August 4, where children can explore the rich heritage with hands-on activities such as origami, indigo painting, carp kites, woodblock printing, Japanese gardens, calligraphy, bookbinding, dance, and story times.
Activities are centered on art, language, and literature, honoring one of the oldest cultures in the world. With an array of planned activities to create a fun and engaging experience while learning about other cultures, below are just a few on the agenda. For a full list of daily programming and hands-on activities, visit CMOM.
Art and Innovation Lab Projects
- Origami - Art style seen in different forms such as folding cloth and leather.
- Japanese Garden: Zen gardens are well known and their beauty is easily recognizable in Japanese culture.
Pop-Up Activities
- Japanese language - Children will learn a few simple phrases by emulating sounds – a key component to learning languages.
- Whisking bubbles - Using chopsticks and common items to help learn the traditional technique for whisking while making green bubbles.
- Japanese bookbinding - Bookbinding is one of the oldest art forms associated with the preservation of knowledge.
Sensory Play
- Fireworks in a bottle - Fireworks are integral to summers in Japan.
- Dance party - Children will be combining the traditional Awa Odori dancing style with modern dance.
Story time
- Interactive story time with Peach Boy, a traditional Japanese story, and Yoko, a modern book about embracing and accepting our differences through cultural food.
The Children’s Museum of Memphis is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of inspiring children to explore, imagine, and create, growing their minds and filling them with endless possibilities. To learn more, visit cmom.com.