O-Shogatsu New Year's Festival

Date: Jan. 10, 2010

Time: noon – 3 p.m.

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The Portland Japanese Garden celebrates O-Shogatsu with a special family day on Sunday, January 10.

Bring your family and friends for a hands-on experience with the practice of Kakizome, the traditional custom of writing of the first calligraphy characters of the New Year. Children in Japan are encouraged to write a few characters with a new brush in the very best style they can for good luck with their studies over the coming year. Beautiful calligraphy is as highly appreciated as painting in Japan, but guided by Japanese interns of Richmond Elementary School, participants need no experience writing in Japanese to enjoy this traditional New Year's practice.

2010 is the "Year of the Tiger," according to the Chinese zodiac (also observed in Japan). Tiger people, born in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, and 1998, are said to be sensitive, given to deep thinking, and capable of great sympathy.

Try your hand at sumi-e ink painting led by artist Chiho Murphy and make a Nengajo New Year's greeting card with an image of the Tiger to take home.

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