I thought this was useful info if you are in the NYC area!! For Immediate Release
JAPAN SOCIETY PRESENTS NEW YEAR'S FESTIVITIES SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES Japan's New Year's Day Celebration: Oshogatsu Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 2:00 & 3:00 pm
Kagami mochi New York, NY - Japan Society's Education Program presents the annual New Year's Day Celebration (Oshogatsu), inviting all families to share the customs and traditions of Japan's New Year's festivities. Japan's New Year's Day Celebration: Oshogatsu takes place in two sessions of the same presentation on Sunday, January 13 at 2 pm and 3 pm. Space is limited and advance registration is recommended. This event is suitable for children of all ages.
Hatsumode Taking place at Japan Society's landmark building near the U.N., participants experience Shrine maiden (Miko) dance performance as well as lion dancing (shishi-mai), in which a masked dancer with a flowing white mane weaves in and out of the crowd, performing daring feats of coordination while accompanied by live taiko drumming and traditional flute (fue). Offering activities throughout the event, children learn to paint auspicious Japanese words and phrases with New Year's calligraphy (kakizome). They design and build their own working kites with Japanese kite-making (takoage). Among many games, they play "funny face" (fukuwarai), creating faces on paper while blindfolded. Finally children partake in traditional rice pounding (mochi-tsuki), in which they pound rice balls into delicious, doughy treats.
Shishimai - Japan Society (c) About Japan Society's Education Program Japan Society's Education Program offers programs for primary and secondary school teachers and students, including teacher seminars, educators' study tours, workshops for students, curricula development, school partnerships, as well as programs for families. A major current project, About Japan: A Teacher's Resource, (http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org) launched August 24, 2007, providing K-12 educators with powerful online tools to teach about Japan. Japan Society Education Program works closely with 1 or 2 schools selected from 2008 Educators Study Tour participants, and provides assistance in curriculum development as well as exchange initiatives with schools in Japan. Participating school teachers and students are given firsthand opportunities to enhance their understanding of Japan through a variety of on- and off-site programs in visual & performing arts, films, and lectures. Tickets & Information Japan's New Year's Day Celebration: Oshogatsu takes place Sunday, January 13. Session I: 2-3:00 pm; session II: 3-4:00 pm. Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street between First and Second Avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 and 7 subway at Grand Central or the E and V subway at Lexington Avenue). Tickets are $20 per family (up to five people)/$15 per family including at least one Japan Society member. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 212-715-1258. For more information visit www.japansociety.org or call 212-832-1155. Education Programs are made possible by generous funding from The FreemanFoundation. These programs are supported by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Additional support is provided by Mr. and Mrs. Dean R. Thacker and Lesley Nan Haberman. M. Fujiwara
