The Japan Youth Collective – New Year Catch-Up and Wagashi Workshop

New Year is a great time for reflection and resolution. The Japan Youth Collective is back with a focus on Reflect and Refine this January!

For their first Catch-Up session after the winter break, the Collective members learnt about Japanese New Year traditions and customs, had a go at the popular New Year's game Fukuwarai (福笑い), and designed their very own ema board with wishes for the new year with artist and calligrapher Aya Burbanks.

In a separate session, a smaller group attended a wagashi-making workshop led by Noriko from 和 Japanese cafe an-an and learnt to make popular New Year wagashi (和菓子), traditional Japanese confection that is often served at tea ceremony.