Japanese Culture in St. Louis

Chanoyu

Chanoyu (Chado), or the Way of Tea, is a spiritual practice formalized by Sen no Rikyu in the 16th century.  To register for a tea ceremony hosted by our licensed Urasenke instructor, visit our events page here.

http://www.urasenke.or.jp/texte/

Ikebana

Ikebana (生け花) is the Japanese art of flower arrangement that dates back to the 15th century.  To register for an ikebana workshop hosted by our licensed Ikenobo instructor, visit our events page here.

http://www.ikenobo.jp/english/

St. Louis Okinawa Eisa Yui  |  セントルイス沖縄エイサー結

Eisa is an ancient form of traditional folk dance originating from obon, which is a sacred time of honoring and celebrating ancestors.  St. Louis Okinawa Eisa Yui is an exhilarating and dynamic ensemble that brings the vibrant spirit and cultural traditions of Okinawa to life through the powerful beats of our drums. Our performances showcase the rich heritage and cultural pride of Okinawa.  

Instagram
@st.louis_okinawaeisayui

TikTok 
@stlouisokinawaeisayui

Contact Chiaki Langley at chidemp@gmail.com

Fude No Kai Calligraphy Society

Fude no Kai, the St. Louis Japanese Calligraphy Association, meets once a month in order to teach the ancient art of Shodo, or Japanese Calligraphy. In addition to the Japanese language-based Thursday sessions, we are now offering English-friendly sessions on the second Saturday of each month. If you are new to the Japanese calligraphy and English instructions are preferred, please come to the Saturday sessions.

Contact Katsuko Nadeau at katsukonadeau@gmail.com

Kendo

Kendo is the traditional Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords and protective armor.

For more information, contact:

• Yuka-sensei at stlkendo@gmail.com
• Jim DeBrecht at kendo@su.wustl.edu

St. Louis Naginata 

A traditional halberd-style Japanese martial art with competitive aspects similar to Kendo, using bamboo naginata and protective gear. The art of wielding the naginata has been handed down for generations since its use on the battlefield in medieval Japan. They practice Atarashii Naginata (新しいなぎなた), which is the contemporary study of naginata practice, first taught following World War II.

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/stlnaginata/

For more Information, contact:

stlnaginata@gmail.com

Show Me Sumo Club

The Show Me Sumo Club is an organization headed by Yama, famous Japanese former professional Sumo Wrestler. In this club, you can learn directly from Yama about the art of sumo, Japan's national sport. Sumo is a form of full-contact wrestling, where the wrestler attempts to get his opponent out of the ring, and has been played since the 17th century.

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/show_me_sumo_club/

Koi Ponds 

In Japan, the koi is a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune, and also of perseverance in the face of adversity.[45] Ornamental koi are symbolic of Japanese culture and are closely associated with the country's national identity.

For more information, visit Gateway Koi and Pond Club or contact Pamela Jokerst at pamjokerst@gmail.com

Taiko

St. Louis Osuwa Taiko fosters Japanese-American cultural exchange through the study and performance of taiko, the art of Japanese ensemble drumming. 

http://www.stltaiko.com/

Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis

The Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis was established by a small group of bonsai hobbyists to promote the knowledge, interest, and enjoyment of bonsai and other living plants. Bonsai is the practice of growing and shaping miniature trees in containers or pots, which the Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis strives to preserve and share. They meet every first Tuesday of the month at 7:00PM and generally located at the Commerce Bank Education Center at the St. Louis Botanical Garden. 

For more information about membership, please refer to their website:

http://www.stlbonsai.com/

St. Louis Go Club

The St. Louis Go Club plays the traditional Japanese strategy board game Go, where two players compete for who can claim more territory on than their opponent on the board. The Go Club meets every Tuesday night from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at Game Nite. They welcome players of all levels and experience.

https://baduk.club/club/stl