

The Japanese Arts Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates inclusive and equitable opportunity, education, and support of Japanese arts thriving in Chicago’s diverse community and beyond. The JAF celebrates the multitude of voices in our community exploring and expanding Japanese arts and culture.
The JAF supports this mission by hosting unique programs and open educational opportunities that share Japanese art equitably and accessibly, while highlighting our diverse community of artists, thinkers, and makers. If you would like to support these efforts, please consider donating
This event will be hosted on our Twitch channel. Registration is free, and can be done through our Eventbrite.
The Japanese Art Foundation and Culture Center in partnership with the Chicago Park District, Tsukasa Taiko and Shubukai invite you to the inaugural BON Fest Chicago. Join us virtually Saturday, July 31st at 8:00pm for taiko drumming, bon odori dancing, and festivities in Chicago’s historical Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park. The BON Fest Chicago is entirely virtual this year, but will expand to welcome everyone in the years to come!
An Obon Matsuri / Bon Festival is traditionally held in the peak heat of summer when space between the natural and the supernatural world is thinnest. This is a time when individuals come together to remember ancestors and those lost as a community. As we continue to process the tremendous loss from the COVID-19 pandemic, we welcome our community to come together through the arts. Traditionally, Bon Odori dancing is performed by those in attendance to welcome spirits, though each community and region has their own style of dance and music.
The night begins with global guests sharing their local Obon Festival traditions, memories, and community. Guests include Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago Kenichi Okada, Fujima Kimiei of Shizuoka, Japan, Atsushi Koike of Mitsuwa, Arlington Heights, Melody Takata of Tsukasa Taiko San Francisco, and more!
We then stream from the Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park at dusk with Tsukasa Taiko performances, and Bon Odori dancing by Shubukai that you can join remotely from home! This FREE event will stream to the Japanese Arts Foundation Twitch channel where we will be live chatting with everyone!
These classes will be hosted on our Twitch channel. Register for one, or all three classes through our Eventbrite.
Shubukai is honored to collaborate with Kimiei Fujima Sensei from Shizuoka, Japan and Ageha Bijou Sensei from the Nihon Bon Odori Association to learn four bon odori: Shizuoka Meguri, Shizuoka Ondo, Tanko Bushi, and Tokyo Ondo.
Kimiei Fujima Sensei began learning classical Japanese Dance from age three, and has attained her stage name and grandmaster license in the Fujima Style. Her teacher, Shu-ei Fujima, taught the bon odori for the Shizuoka Obon Festival and after her passing, Kimiei Sensei has carried on the teaching for the Bon odori Festival, the Shizuoka Festival, and the Fujieda Festival.
Ageha Bijo Sensei is the main ambassador for the Nihon Bon-odori Association, whose mission is to try and popularize the Bon-odori Dances which exist throughout Japan; not limited to where each dance originated, but nationally as well as throughout the world to promote community activation and strengthening intergenerational harmony. They also collaborate and perform with the Nihon Minyo (folksong) Society, local tourist organizations, cultural preservation groups, and with various businesses and organizations (e.g. Cool Japan, NHK) to promote Bon-odori culture. (check out their Facebook page @BonOdoriJapan)
Bon Odori is made for people to come together and express their joy, respect, and feeling of community; to feel a connection with their ancestors and with everyone. One does not have to be a professional dancer, the dances are simple and fun.
Join the virtual class and learn with Yoshinojo Fujima and Ikunojo Fujima of Shubukai!
Asian Improv aRts Midwest presents the 17th-anniversary presentation of the annual Taiko Legacy concert. This year, the stage will pivot to a world premiere livestream performance from the Edlis Neeson Theater at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. The special program will feature youth and adult community ensemble members alongside National Gintenkai Project performers and Chicago creative musicians. Directed by multi-instrumentalist and media artist Tatsu Aoki, Taiko Legacy 17 marks Tsukasa Taiko’s 24th-year journey since the inception of the group in 1996.
This event will be hosted and live streamed by Tokyo House Party.
The Japanese Arts Foundation is supported by the generous contributions of corporate, foundation, and individual donors sharing our mission to create inclusive and equitable opportunity, education, and support of Japanese arts thriving in Chicago’s diverse community and beyond.
The Japanese Arts Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.