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Studio Ghibli Summer Film Series, Children’s Calligraphy, and Sado Tea Ceremonies...
West Palm Beach, FL - by Sally Shorr - Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2017, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens has been a center for Japanese art and culture in South Florida since opening in 1977. Now, Morikami invites to different activities and events to celebrate its anniversary.
From traditional Japanese tea ceremonies to spotting mystical woodland creatures, there is plenty to see, do, and eat this summer at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.
August workshops, classes, and demonstrations:
Saturday, August 4
Children’s Calligraphy (Workshop)
Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; 1:30–2:30 p.m. (2 sessions offered)
Cost: $20 Advance Registration Required.
Age: Tweens and Teens
*Children under fourteen must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in the workshop. The parent/guardian is welcome to enroll in the workshop alongside their child.
Learn how to write your name and some Japanese words with ink and brush, and traditional calligraphy implements. For required materials or to register, visit morikami.org.
Sundays, August 5, 19, 26
Sado: Tea Ceremony (Class)
Time: 10:15 a.m.
Beginners: August 5, 19
Intermediate: August 19, 26
Cost: $55 (Morikami Members $50). Advance Registration Required.
Expand upon your knowledge of Japanese tea ceremony in this hands-on class. Perform traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with its ever-evolving seasonal subtleties, in the authentic Seishin-an Tea House under the guidance of instructor Yoshiko Hardick. The tea ceremony changes from month to month and from season to season. The Beginners class and Intermediate class will share one class session together. To register, visit morikami.org.
Wednesday, August 8
Studio Ghibli Summer Film Series
Cost: $5 with paid museum admission (children ages 3 and under free)
Special Summer Pass: $20 for 6 films of your choice (each pass is to be used by only 1 person)
Pom Poko – A Film by Isao Takahata
Time: 11 a.m.
(119 min., Rated PG)
(In Japanese, subtitled in English)
In this brilliant and often overlooked Studio Ghibli masterpiece from Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Isao Takahata, the forests are filled with groups of magical tanuki, mischievous raccoon-like animals from Japanese folklore that are capable of shape-shifting from their standard raccoon form to practically any object. The tanuki spend their days playing idly in the hillsides and squabbling over food until the construction of a huge new Tokyo suburb clears the nearby forest and threatens their way of life. In an effort to defend their home, the tanuki learn to transform into humans and start playing tricks to make the workers think the construction site is haunted, ending in a spectacular night-time spirit parade, with thousands of ghosts, dragons and other magical creatures descending on the city — in an abundance of fantastical characters that would not be matched on screen by Studio Ghibli until Spirited Away.Whisper of the Heart – A Film by Yoshifumi Kondo
Time: 2 p.m.
(111 min., Rated G)
(In Japanese, subtitled in English)
Shizuku is spending her last summer vacation before high school reading and translating foreign music into Japanese. Perusing the eclectic selection of books she has checked out from the library, her curiousity is piqued when she notices that the name Seiji appears before hers on the checkout card of each one. Through a series of curious and magical incidents, she comes to meet and establishes a connection to Seiji – who has dreams of becoming a famous violinmaker in Italy, while she has aspirations of becoming a writer. As their life goals pull them in different directions, Shizuku and Seiji are determined to remain true to their feelings for one another. A masterpiece about the awakening of creative talent, Whisper of the Heart was the first and only full-length feature by Hayao Miyazaki’s protégé Yoshifumi Kondo before his sudden death at the young age of 47. It remains one of the classics of Japanese animation.
Friday, August 10
Sushi & Stroll Summer Walk Series
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Price: Adults $8 (ages 11+); Children $6 (ages 4–10); FREE for museum members & ages 3 & under; $3 taiko performance (optional)
Summer nights in South Florida are something special, especially when they are augmented with taiko drums and a cultural backdrop that can't be beat! Add a cold drink, a breathtaking sunset, and a stroll through a tranquil garden, and you've got Sushi & Stroll! Excite your palate with something delicious from the Cornell Café, indulge in shopping at the Museum Store, and tantalize your senses with a drumming performance by Fushu Daiko. Please note that the museum galleries are closed for these special nights. Food and drink are sold separately and are not included in admission price.
Saturday, August 11
Family Fun Day: Hachimaki Headband
Time: 12–3 p.m.
Cost: FREE for members or with paid museum admission. No Reservation Required.
Summer is the season of festivals and fireworks! Personalize your own hachimaki headband, commonly worn during festivals and other events in Japan.
Saturday, August 11
Studio Ghibli Summer Film Series
Cost: $5 (with paid museum admission) (children ages 3 and under free)
Special Summer Pass: $20 for 6 films of your choice (each pass is to be used by only 1 person)
Whisper of the Heart – A Film by Yoshifumi Kondo
Time: 11 a.m.
(111 min., Rated G)
(Dubbed in English)
Shizuku is spending her last summer vacation before high school reading and translating foreign music into Japanese. Perusing the eclectic selection of books she has checked out from the library, her curiousity is piqued when she notices that the name Seiji appears before hers on the checkout card of each one. Through a series of curious and magical incidents, she comes to meet and establishes a connection to Seiji – who has dreams of becoming a famous violinmaker in Italy, while she has aspirations of becoming a writer. As their life goals pull them in different directions, Shizuku and Seiji are determined to remain true to their feelings for one another. A masterpiece about the awakening of creative talent, Whisper of the Heart was the first and only full-length feature by Hayao Miyazaki’s protégé Yoshifumi Kondo before his sudden death at the young age of 47. It remains one of the classics of Japanese animation.Pom Poko – A Film by Isao Takahata
Time: 2 p.m.
(119 min., Rated PG)
(Dubbed in English)
In this brilliant and often overlooked Studio Ghibli masterpiece from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Isao Takahata, the forests are filled with groups of magical tanuki, mischievous raccoon-like animals from Japanese folklore that are capable of shape-shifting from their standard raccoon form to practically any object. The tanuki spend their days playing idly in the hillsides and squabbling over food – until the construction of a huge new Tokyo suburb clears the nearby forest and threatens their way of life. In an effort to defend their home, the tanuki learn to transform into humans and start playing tricks to make the workers think the construction site is haunted, ending in a spectacular night-time spirit parade, with thousands of ghosts, dragons and other magical creatures descending on the city — in an abundance of fantastical characters that would not be matched on screen by Studio Ghibli until Spirited Away.
Summer Maintenance
Morikami will be closed Sunday, August 12 through Friday, August 17. The museum will reopen to the public on Saturday, August 18.