The Japan Society

Access to Experts

Access to Experts is designed as a tool to help those organising Japan-related events. Experts are professionals who charge a fee to lead workshops and can tailor their workshop or presentation to different audiences. They may be able to visit schools and deal with larger numbers of students per day than JIYC volunteers and can be engaged to spend successive days at your school.

Please note that inclusion on this list does not imply recommendation by The Japan Society.

Manga, Arts & Crafts Experts


IMADA Hiroko

Japanese Woodblock Printmaking, Paper Making, Folded Screen & Hanging Scroll Making 

Type of activity: workshop, demonstration, lecture, project leader
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: depends on the type of activity. Please ask Hiroko directly

email:  hirokoimada.uk@gmail.com
website:  www.hirokoimada.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/hirokoimada.uk
instagram: www.instagram.com/hirokoimada_artist/

Imada has been based in London and as well as exhibiting her own art work she has been running many workshops, events, lectures related to Japanese art techniques. She runs Japanese Woodblock Printmaking workshops for schools via the British Museum and for adults via the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts.
 

More information


KUTSUWADA Chie

Manga/Anime Style Illustration, Japanese Sub/Pop Culture

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere (Based in East Sussex)
Age range: 10+
Number of participants: 1-30

email: chitan.garden@gmail.com
website: www.chitangarden.wix.com/chiekutsuwada

More information


BIRCH, Russell

Art, Craft, Netsuke, Carving, History

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, workshop
Available to travel:
anywhere
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: any – smaller groups work better but can adapt to suit large groups

email: russelliott123@hotmail.co.uk
tel: 01424 439 855

Netsuke Carving Workshops - The workshops are usually split into two halves. The first half covers history and design of Japanese Netsuke through the years. The second half gives the students a chance to make their own Netsuke out of modeling clay. This gives them an idea of form, shape and design. I have tried this with adults and younger children. They commented on how they enjoyed the practical side of the lecture as well as the theory. A short round up of the history to bring the session to a close. This format could be adapted to suit.


CAPLE, Nigel

Art, Painting, Drawing

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, workshop, project leader
Available to travel: Based in Hastings, East Sussex. Available to travel to London and southern UK.
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

website: www.nigelcaple.co.uk/index.html

To contact Nigel Caple, please write to him care of The Japan Society. We will forward correspondence to him.


HOLMES, Cas

Paper, Textiles and Mixed Media Based on Adaptation of Japanese Processes

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 11 +
number of participants: 5-30

email: cas@casholmes.co.uk
website: www.casholmes.co.uk

More information


LAVERY, Pauline
Papermaking, Origami, Sumi-e

Type of activity: demonstration, workshop
Available to travel: Scotland
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

website: www.pauline-lavery.com

More information


CAVACIUTI, Peter

Traditional Painting - Sumi-e, Nihonga

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop
Available to travel: Cambridge
Age range: 8+
Number of participants: 10+

email: pinestudio@googlemail.com
website: www.camopenstudios.co.uk

More information


TAKENAMI Yoko

Arts, Craft, Origami, Calligraphy

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: yokotakenami@aol.com
tel: 020 7723 2029 / 0778 097 2350

More information


Sweatdrop Studios

Manga, Artwork, Illustrations, Comics

Type of activity: commission, workshop, demonstration
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 10+
Number of participants: any

email: sonia@fyredrake.net
website: www.sweatdrop.com

Sweatdrop Studios is a UK-based independent publisher and comic collaborative. Since 2001, they have been creating original comics and artwork in a wide variety of genres and styles; publishing single issues, collected volumes, anthologies and light novels. 

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HOMMA Kaori

Craft, Papermaking, Art

Type of activity: lecture, workshop, demonstration
Available to travel: anywhere (Based in London)
Age range: 18+
Number of participants: 1-10

email: info@kaorihomma.co.uk
website: www.kaorihomma.co.uk


GIBSON, Edna

Crafts, Kumihimo, Temari

Type of activity: lecture, workshop, demonstration
Available to travel: England and Wales (Based in Devon)
Age range: 18+
Number of participants: 1-10

email: egibson@globalnet.co.uk
tel: 01752 408262

Edna Gibson has visited Japan several times to study kumihimo and temari and has a teaching certificate from the Japanese Temari Society.


FANSHAWE KATO, Jill

Ceramics, Pottery

Type of activity: workshops, demonstrations, lectures, project leader, exhibitions
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: 16 + (would consider younger age range)
Number of participants: any

email: jillfanshawekato@talktalk.net
tel: 020 8800 7101
website: www.jillfanshawekato.com
instagram: @jillfanshawekato

Jill Fanshawe Kato is a Japan-trained potter who exhibits in Japan regularly. She taught for 17 years at Goldsmiths College and takes hands-on creative clay workshops in the UK and internationally. Her working methods are predominantly from Japan with a strong influence from the natural world. 

More information


GOODMAN, Malcolm

Kite Making, Displays

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop, project leader, kite displays, kite making kits
Available to travel: please contact to enquire
Age range: 7+ 
Number of participants: any

email: malcolm.goodman@virgin.net
tel: 01833 640584
website: www.kiteman.co.uk


COOPER, Elaine

Papermaking, Kite Making

Type of activity: demonstration, workshop, project leader
Available to travel: Midlands, South West England, Wales
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: elainecooper_art@yahoo.co.uk
tel: 01275 463606


BIDDLE, Steve

Craft, Model Making, Origami

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: papermagic@btinternet.com
tel: 01424 439855
website: www.paper-magic.net

Steve is an author, entertainer and origami expert. He studied in Japan with top Japanese origami masters, thereby acquiring a deeper knowledge of a subject that has always fascinated him. Steve is also a member of the most famous magical society in the world, The Magic Circle, holding the degree of Associate of The Inner Magic Circle with Silver Star. Additionally, he is a member of Equity and therefore holds PLI via them.

More information


OKUYAMA Misako

Arts, Crafts, Japanese Painting, Calligraphy, Origami

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop leader, project leader
Available to travel: International
Age range: 3+
Number of participants: workshops for 1-10 participants; lectures or demonstrations for 10–50 participants and performance for 50+.

email: msmilem@hotmail.com
website: www.misakoart.com

Okuyama Misako’s MA and PhD research relates to art projects in community settings. She has experience running workshops for those with special needs and vulnerable groups. Example events carried out at schools include: book week, Clapham Festival, Japanese art, bag making, mask making, origami workshop at Morley College. Misako also did calligraphy work for ‘NEIGE’ opera at Luxembourg Theatre.


TAKABAYASHI Miwa
Origami, Painting, Fine Art

Type of activity: lecture, demonstration, performance, workshop, project leader
Available to travel: anywhere
Age range: any
Number of participants: any

email: MiwaArt@hotmail.co.uk

Dr Miwa Takabayashi is a contemporary artist who has recently completed her PhD in Fine Art at the University of Newcastle. She specialises in the traditional Japanese art forms of Origami, 2D and 3D Anesama Dolls and traditional Japanese-style painting (Monochrome). She is also a Kendo Japanese sword fighting expert.