New Year’s Calligraphy Workshop: Celebrating the Year of the Horse
Date
Saturday 31 January 2026
Time
(a) 11.00am-12.15pm
(b) 1.00pm-2.15pm
(c) 3.00pm-4.15pm
Venue
The Japan Society
13 / 14 Cornwall Terrace (Outer Circle)
London NW1 4QP
Booking Details
Booking essential – Priority booking for members of The Japan Society and their guests
Members of The Japan Society: £20 per person
Non-members: £25 per person
All tools, equipment and materials will be provided on the day
Bookings open for non-members from Monday 5 January 2026 (More details on how to become a member here)
Please note that spaces are limited and so early booking is recommended.
The Japan Society is pleased to invite you to a kakizome workshop led by esteemed calligrapher Yoko Takenami.
Kakizome, meaning “first writing,” is a cherished Japanese New Year tradition. Using brush and ink, participants will create uplifting kanji (Chinese characters) and Japanese phrases on large sheets of calligraphy paper to welcome the year with positivity. Across Japan, kakizome gatherings are widely enjoyed, with the most notable event held annually at the Budokan in Tokyo.
This workshop is suitable for complete beginners. It will introduce the history of Japanese characters, explore various calligraphy styles, and teach essential brush techniques. By the end of the session, you will create your own meaningful piece, a word or phrase that reflects your aspirations for 2026.
We hope you will join us for this opportunity to experience an important Japanese art form under the guidance of a skilled professional.
Yoko Takenami started her calligraphy studies at the age of seven. Educated in Japan and in Ohio, US, she qualified as a master of calligraphy in 1990. Yoko now lives in London and teaches calligraphy at various institutions such as British Library while also working as an interpreter. She regularly returns to Japan for inspiration for her calligraphy and tuition from her Teshinkai Master. Yoko is the author of The Simple Art of Japanese Calligraphy.
Booking Info
- Due to limited space, we can only accommodate a limited number of participants under 16 as they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian—unless they are also registered to take part in the event.
- Please enter the full name for each attendee in the booking form. If you are registering as a member, please provide the email address linked to your membership so we can match your information in our system.
- Confirmation Email
You should receive an automated email from The Japan Society confirming your booking. If you don't receive any confirmation emails, please check your spam folder or email events@japansociety.org.uk. We will send you the details to attend the event closer to the date. - Cancellation Policy
A full refund will only be given where notice of cancellation is received no later than Thursday 15 January 2026. After this date, we will attempt to resell your ticket(s). If we are unable to resell your ticket(s), unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a refund.
- Waiting List
If the tickets are sold out, please sign up to the Waiting List.