Children under 12 admitted free at Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon way on May 5, 2013, Children’s Day in Japanese culture.

There will be gold fish netting, origami paper folding, traditional Japanese toys, yukata (light kimono like clothing), plus taiko drumming by Odaiko Sonora. New Hours for May at the gardens is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Traditionally May 5 was Boys’ Day, with Girls’ Day being on March 3. Note the calendar sequences of numbers, 5-5 for boys, 3-3 for girls, which is how we remembered it growing up in Hawaii, where May 5 is still considered Boys’ Day. Families fly wind sock koi over their homes on bamboo poles to indicate how many boys they have in the family. So my biological family always flew two carp koinobori for my two brothers.

Celebrate Children’s Day, and honor the boys in your family as well.

Origami flower on boulder, photo courtesy of M. Craig

Yesterday I watched instructor M. Craig (half Japanese Nisei) teach and fold origami (Japanese paper folding) in a children’s workshop, and also took photos below of her lovely origami creations scattered throughout the newly opened Yume Japanese Gardens in Tucson.

An origami workshop for adults is scheduled for today at 2 p.m. at the Yume Japanese Gardens. The workshop costs $10 and does not include admission to the gardens.

M. Craig teaching two children and a parent to fold origami butterflies

Ursula Hein admiring her origami butterfly

L – R: Origami teacher M. Craig, students Madeline Riccitello, Ursula Hein

Here’s a sampling of some of the beauty of what you will see at this origami exhibit, ongoing till April 14. Yume Japanese Gardens is open daily, 9:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 2130 N. Alvernon Way (just south of Tucson Botanical Gardens). There are many more beautiful & colorful origami creations throughout the gardens to view.

origami butterfly

origami plant boxes

origami turtles

origami fish near koi pond

origami turtle next to koi pond

origami star on display shelf

origami white rose

origami hummingbird on wisteria vine

Fore more information about Japanese culture/events in Tucson, please go to Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition www.southernazjapan.org. My previous post announcing this first-time 2 week origami exhibit (click here).

Tucson Japanese Culture & Origami Meetup Group founder M. Craig will be teaching origami (Japanese paper folding) to children & parents on March 30, 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the newly opened Yume Japanese Gardens, 2130 N. Alvernon Way. An adults-only workshop will be held the next day March 31 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the same location.

These workshops are a kickoff for a two week exhibition of over-size paper creations and sculptures at the Gardens from March 30 to April 14. Regular admission prices to Yume Japanese Gardens will apply during the outdoor show, but the exhibition will be free to view. This origami exhibition will feature life-size and larger paper cranes, koi, roses, butterflies, and other paper sculptures placed throughout the gardens.

rose origami creation by M Craig

To enroll in the workshops which cost $10/adult, $5/children, call M. Craig at 520-331-0602. The workshop fee does not include admission to the gardens. For information about the exhibition, contact Yume Japanese Gardens at 520-445-2957, www.tucsonjapanesegardens.org.

More information about Japanese culture/events is available at our Southern AZ Japanese Cultural Coalition website www.southernazjapan.org (including Calendar of upcoming events).