CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Kenji Shinoda, the consul general of Japan in Chicago, will be the featured speaker at the annual spring open house on April 14 at Japan House at the University of Illinois.
Located at 2000 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, Japan House is an educational and cultural facility focusing on Japanese arts, and is affiliated with the university's College of Fine and Applied Arts.
The open house is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shinoda will speak at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on "Japan and Illinois: Partners for Today and Tomorrow." He also will present the Japanese Foreign Minister Commendation to Morton Weir, former U. of I. chancellor. The award recognizes Weir's long-time promotion and support of Japanese arts and culture.
Also during the open house, Japan House gardens designer and builder James Bier will conduct garden tours at 1 and 3 p.m.
Throughout the day, members of the Urbana-Champaign Association of Chado Urasenke Tankokai will present tea ceremonies, and ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) by U. of I. art students will be on display.
More information about the open house, and other upcoming Japan House events - including a workshop (and lecture-demonstration at the U. of I.'s Krannert Art Museum) by Japanese calligrapher Eishi Sakuta on April 25 - is available online or by calling 244-9934.