Cultural Exhibits

Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo of San Francisco have been awarded the Circle of Excellence Award by the National Storytelling Network.

The award is presented to storytellers recognized by their peers as demonstrating a lifetime commitment and dedication to the art of storytelling.

A practicing psychotherapist, Wang is a trained dancer in contemporary and traditional forms. Kikuchi-Yngojo is a musician and songwriter with several film scores to his credit. The husband-and-wife team performs as Eth-Noh-Tec.

by JAMES WOODARD
Hokubei Mainichi

Every artist has a set of tools that they rely on to produce their work, including: palettes, paints, inks, brushes, fish ... yes, fish.

Chris Dewees, a fisheries biologist based in Davis, has been creating Gyotaku — or fish rubbing — for over four decades. He gave a talk on Sept. 4 at the Japan Information Center, located at the Consulate General of Japan in downtown San Francisco, describing the different types of printing methods, as well as the background and history of this unique art-form.

SARATOGA — Hakone Gardens' Japanese gardening class series, taught by Peter Bowyer, continues in October and November. The schedule is as follows:

"Evergreens in the Japanese Garden" on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. An introduction to the character, uses and care of wood evergreens in Japanese gardens.

"Japanese Maple Aesthetics and Arboriculture" on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Both classes meet in the Cultural Exchange Center and the gardens. An introduction to the character, uses and care of Japanese maples.

SACRAMENTO — Ikebana International will hold its general meeting, including a Sogetsu demonstration and workshop by Norma Jennings, on Monday, Sept. 15, at the Garden & Arts Center, 3300 McKinley Blvd. in Sacramento.

The program begins at 12 noon with a potluck lunch. Participants are asked to bring a dish ready to serve.

The cost is $3 for a glass container, which participants can keep. Everyone must bring flower scissors.

Participants are asked not to enter the center before 11:30 a.m. and to leave before 3 p.m.

For more information, contact Joanne Iritani at (916) 488-8821.

The San Francisco Urasenke Association held its annual Mugenki memorial tea ceremony on Aug. 10 at the Nichi Bei Kai Cultural Center Kansoan tea room in San Francisco.

Hosting the event on behalf or the Urasenke organization were Soryu Bratton, Sokyo Inouye and Sosetsu Kuramoto, with 65 members and guests in attendance.

San Francisco chanoyu instructors Soko Takechi and Sokyo Tiscornia have announced the following tea-related events for September.

A wagashi Japanese sweet- making class will be held on Friday, Sept. 5, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

This class will feature sanshoku ohagi and yamamichi. Sanshoku (three-color) ohagi is made with sweet rice and has various outer coatings. Included will be aonori (green powdered seaweed), kinako (roasted soy bean flour) and an (sweet bean paste).

The National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) announced that its next exhibit, “Transforming Kami: The Art of Origami,” will be on display from Sept. 6 to Dec. 31 at the NJAHS Gallery, 1684 Post St. between Laguna and Buchanan in San Francisco’s Japantown.

To celebrate the opening, a reception with light refreshments will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

SAN MATEO — The San Mateo Bonsai Club presents the 45th annual Autumn Bonsai Exhibit at Central Park Recreation Center, 5th Avenue and El Camino Real in San Mateo.

The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, with displays, demonstrations and sales. There will also be drawings for prizes after each of the demonstrations.

The event runs from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, with a 2 p.m. demonstration by Yone Suruki and Kiyomi Ishii; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, with a demonstration at 2 p.m. by Stephen Prevost and Fred Shimo.

OAKLAND — The Golden State Bonsai Federation will offer a juniper bonsai workshop for beginners on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the GSBF Bonsai Garden.

The collection is located in Oakland’s Lakeside Park, 650 Bellevue Ave. in Oakland, past the Garden Center on the left and approximately opposite the boat house on Lake Merritt. For directions, visit http://web.mac.com/ltferzoco/GSBF/Sep__Demo.html.

The workshop is free. The cost of materials is $5. Students will go home with their own bonsai.

OAKLAND — The Golden State Bonsai Federation Collection North will offer a bougainvillea workshop on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Participants will make small bougainvillea bonsai plants or start them from one-gallon nursery stock. A bougainvillea will be provided for $8 or you can bring your own.