Japanese New Year, Japanese Style

Celebrate in the New Year with the Heritage Museum of Asian Art at an enchanting evening inspired by Japanese traditions. Celebrate renewal, harmony, and good fortune through captivating performances, ceremonial rituals, and festive tastes.

Evening Highlights:

Word of the Year 今年の漢字

The Heritage Museum of Asian Art is adopting Japan’s “Kanji of the Year” tradition—where a single character is chosen to reflect the spirit of the year—and invites you to vote online or in person during the event, with the winning kanji to be written by calligrapher Hekiun Oda and displayed at the museum throughout 2026.

Group Koto Performance 箏の合奏

Enjoy the serene and evocative sounds of Japan’s traditional string music, performed by a talented local Japanese American ensemble.

Cultural Tradition 新年の風習

🍶 Sake Barrel Opening & Tasting Ceremony 鏡開き

🍡 Mochi & O-Zoni Station 餅 & お雑煮

🎁 Fortune Bag Exchange Game 福袋

🥃 Special Food & Drinks ご褒美

Sushi, Japanese Whiskey and more!

Join us for Japanese New Year, Japanese Style — a night of culture, flavor, and togetherness to welcome a bright and prosperous year ahead.

All ticket sales directly support participating artists and the museum’s future programs.

• $35 – General Admission: Includes access to all evening activities and performances.

• $80 – Premium Package: Includes admission, one gift bag of Japanese art and products, and one ticket to a workshop of your choice.

• $125 – Luxury Package: Includes admission, one gift bag, one workshop ticket, and a one-year museum membership.

About the Artists:

Hekiun Oda 小田碧雲 was born and raised in Kobe, Japan. He began practicing calligraphy at age five under master Goun Katsura. Kobe is known for its deep lineage of calligraphy masters, and Oda’s early training rooted him in traditional shodo 書道 while inspiring a lifelong pursuit of artistic and spiritual expression. He moved to Chicago in 1990, continuing his studies and sharing Japanese calligraphy through exhibitions, performances, and workshops.

In 2009, Oda founded the Oda Calligraphy Association to teach students and promote calligraphy as both art and meditation. He has exhibited and performed at venues including the Japanese Culture Center of Chicago, McHenry County College, and the Heritage Museum of Asian Art, and has collaborated with Yoshinojyo Fujima, master of Fujima Ryu Japanese Classical Dance.

Chicago Koto Group is a musical ensemble featuring the koto 箏 (Japanese harp) and shakuhachi 尺八 (bamboo flute). The group was founded in 1985 by Akiko Sugano, a talented koto performer who studied the instrument in Japan and greatly influenced the Japanese community in Chicago. After marrying her Japanese American husband, Frank Sugano, Akiko settled in Chicago and later succeeded him as the publisher of Chicago Shinpo, a Japanese-language newspaper serving the Midwest.

Chicago Koto Group performs for many organizations, including the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford and the Consulate General of Japan. The ensemble is also frequently invited to introduce Japanese culture to students—from elementary to college—through educational demonstrations and performances of koto music.

Word of the Year (今年の漢字)

In Japan, there is a long-standing tradition of selecting a “Kanji of the Year” (今年の漢字)—a single character that captures the feelings, events, and collective spirit of the past year. Every December, people across Japan vote for the kanji they believe best represents the moment, and the winning character is ceremonially written by a master calligrapher at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto.

This year, the Heritage Museum of Asian Art (HMAA) is excited to bring this beautiful cultural tradition to the United States. We invite our community to participate by selecting a kanji that reflects your hopes, concerns, and impressions of the world today.

The 16 words below were selected considering on major trending topics in the U.S. and Chicago in 2025

金 Gold 戦 War 政 Politics 闇 Darkness

選 Choices 変 Transformation 災 Disaster 税 Tax

AI 貧 Poverty 和 Harmony 乱 Chaos

移民 Immigration 愛 Love 幸 Happiness 新 New

Join the vote in person or online here.