A salute to Shizuoka, Japan, and the Japanese culture

The Omaha Sister Cities Association helps host the Autumn and Japanese Ambience Festival, with a variety of activities to celebrate the Japanese culture. Japanese Ambience also celebrates the anniversary of the gift of the Japanese Sunpu Castle Gate at Lauritzen Gardens by Shizuoka, Japan, Omaha's first Sister City. Enjoy activities like Japanese calligraphy, koinobori, origami, chop sticks, traditional Japanese games, food tastings and more. Performances will include martial arts demonstrations, taiko drumming and traditional Japanese music and dance. Paid activities will help fund the construction of phases II and III of the future Japanese garden at Lauritzen Gardens.

Schedule of Activites: 

Saturday, October 7, 2023

9 a.m. to 2 p.m:  J's Coffee open - Cindy and Mogens Bay Gallery
9 a.m. to 5 p.m: Wicked Plants display - floral display hall
9 a.m. to 5 p.m: Alex Heveri's Glass in Flight 2 - throughout the garden
9 a.m. to 5 p.m: The Joy of the Painting by Silver Senior Artists - gallery
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m:  50-minute narrated tram tours (Members $3, Non-members $5) timed tickets available at the front desk
10 to 11 a.m: Japanese Flute - Japanese park
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m: Café open - great hall

10 a.m. to 4 p.m:
- Ikebana display by Ikebana International Omaha #60
- Bonsai display and sale by the Nebraska Bonsai Society
- Join the Omaha GO Association to learn about GO, a board game of skill and strategy that is hugely popular in Japan.
- Origami artist’s booth by Linda Stephen, Origami Artist, featuring original origami art for purchase
- Find out about the Japanese Hall of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, an organization that preserves the history and legacy of Japanese Americans in Nebraska.
- Children's crafts- Make a koi fish kite and enjoy some fun coloring pages
- Enter to win- Fill out an entry form to win Japanese dagashi and other fun snacks!

10 a.m. to 4 p.m: Activities with the Omaha Sister Cities Association
10:30 to 11:30 a.m:  Hinode Dojo - Japanese park
11 a.m. to 2 p.m:  Koto performances - foyer (short performances during time frame)
11 a.m: Soran Bushi performed by UNO and UNL students - Japanese park
11:15 a.m: to noon  Japanese Flute - Japanese park
Noon:  Omaha Kendo and Iaido Kyokai - festival garden lawn
1 p.m:  Kyudo - Japanese park (TENTATIVE)
1:30 p.m: Traditional tea ceremony demonstration with Japanese utensils - great hall
2 to 3 p.m:  Japanese Paper Arts and Easy Origami Workshop - children's classroom
2 p.m: Teas of Japan and Shizuoka presentation by The Tea Smith - great hall
3 p.m: Soran Bushi performed by UNO and UNL students - Japanese park
3:15 p.m: Introductory Taiko Lesson - great hall
3:45 p.m:  Kokyo Taiko Performance - great hall

Sunday, October 8, 2023

9 a.m. to 2 p.m: J's Coffee open - Cindy and Mogens Bay Gallery
9 a.m. to 5 p.m: Wicked Plants display - floral display hall
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m: 50-minute narrated tram tours (Members $3, Non-members $5)
timed tickets available at the front desk
10 to 11 a.m: Japanese Flute - Japanese park
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m: Café open - great hall

10 a.m. to 4 p.m:
- Ikebana display by Ikebana International Omaha #60
- Bonsai display by the Nebraska Bonsai Society
- Join the Omaha GO Association to learn about GO, a board game of skill and strategy that is hugely popular in Japan.
- Origami artist’s booth by Linda Stephen, Origami Artist, featuring original origami art for purchase
- Find out about the Japanese Hall of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, an organization that preserves the history and legacy of Japanese Americans in Nebraska.
- Children's crafts- Make a koi fish kite and enjoy some fun coloring pages
- Enter to win- Fill out an entry form to win Japanese dagashi and other fun snacks!

10 a.m. to 4 p.m:  Activities with the Omaha Sister Cities Association
Japanese calligraphy, origami, warrior helmet making, chopstick games, traditional games and toys, Japanese ice cream samples from Ted & Wally's Premium Ice Cream, tea with The Tea Smith, and more!
11 a.m. to 2 p.m: Koto performances - foyer (short performances during time frame)
11 a.m: Soran Bushi performed by UNO and UNL students - Japanese park
11:15 a.m: to noon Japanese Flute - Japanese park
11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m: Japanese Paper Arts and Easy Origami Workshop - children's classroom
Noon:  Tikan JuJitsu - Japanese park
1 p.m: Kyudo - Japanese park (TENTATIVE)
1:30 p.m: Traditional tea ceremony demonstration with Japanese utensils - great hall
2 p.m: Teas of Japan and Shizuoka presentation by The Tea Smith - great hall
2:30 p.m: Dance performance by Japanese American Citizens League - great hall
3 p.m: Soran Bushi performed by UNO and UNL students - Japanese park
3:15 p.m: Introductory Taiko Lesson - great hall
3:45 p.m: Kokyo Taiko Performance - great hall

Date: October 7 - 8, 2023

Location: Lauritzen Gardens Omaha's Botanical Center, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE 68108. 

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