CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Japan House will hold a public tea ceremony dedication at 1 p.m. Saturday (March 19) for the victims of the disaster in Japan.
The ceremony will differ from the typical tea ceremony, according to Cynthia Voelkl, assistant director of Japan House.
“We will welcome people, explain what Japan House does and why we feel so strongly about helping those in Japan,” Voelkl said. After a moment of silence, Japan House director Kimiko Gunji will perform the tea dedication ceremony. After the ceremony, tea and Japanese snacks will be served.
In conjunction with the University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts, Japan House has established a relief fund, and staff will be on hand at the ceremony to accept contributions.
“Donations have started pouring in,” Voelkl said. “We are really touched by the response.”
Japan House is at 200 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana.
For more information on the Illinois Japan Disaster Relief Fund, visit http://faa.illinois.edu/japanrelief.
