Upcoming events and festivals! Japanese culture, kimono, tea ceremony, ikebana, Japanese traditional dancing, Japanese food, sake, green tea, etc. Go out in your kimono!

Tanabata Star Festival (七夕祭り) is a traditional Japanese festival where people make wishes and send them to the stars. Mark your calendar for a special day of cultural exploration, creativity, and heartfelt wishes at JFT Library!

Tanzaku Wish Card
11:30 am – 4:30 pm

Write your desires and aspirations on a tanzaku wish card (a colourful strip of paper), then hang it on sasa (bamboo branch).




Kamishibai Storytelling
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Listen to the mesmerizing art of kamishibai, a traditional Japanese form of street theatre and storytelling, where folk tales and children’s stories are brought to life through vibrant illustrations and dynamic narration! This year, we will be presenting two classic folklore stories:

The Story of Tanabata  『たなばたものがたり』
The Mouse’s Wedding  『ねずみのよめいり』
*Our Kamishibai storytelling will be in English, so you don’t need Japanese language ability.


Origami Fishing Pond
11:30 am – 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Goldfish catching is a quintessential festival activity in Japan. For our Tanabata Star Festival, we have prepared an origami fishing pond instead. Try catching some origami sea creatures with a fishing rod!





Uchiwa Making Workshop
11:30 am – 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Unleash your creativity with paper craft and make your own uchiwa (Japanese hand fan)! The quintessential Japanese hand fans are most often seen in summer, for creating a cooling breeze and adding a stylish touch when wearing yukata at summer festivals. Join us for a fun, creative session and take home a piece of Japanese culture!





Yukata Dress Up
11:30 am – 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Don’t miss the chance to try on a Yukata (a traditional Japanese garment worn during the summer season). Feel a connection to the vibrant traditions of Japan!





Photo Booth
11:30 am – 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Capture the memories of this special day at our photo booth with entertaining props and a festive backdrop!