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Portland, OR – Families are invited to a free all-ages program at the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) on Sunday, September 23 from 12pm – 4pm that focuses on culture and diversity in Oregon.
From 12pm – 1:30pm, Japanese calligrapher Grand Master Yoshiyasu Fujii will create calligraphy artworks of various sizes for the audience. Visitors are encouraged to view more of his work, and the work of his students, in the current OHS exhibit, The Playful Brush: Works by the Meito Shodo-Kai Calligraphy Association. The Meito Shodo-Kai Calligraphy Association was established in the Pacific Northwest in 1996 and is one of the largest Japanese calligraphy associations in the nation. With over one hundred members, Meito Shodo-Kai's members promote this traditional Japanese art form in the United States through education and exhibition.
At 2:30pm, enjoy a performance by members of Oregon Koto-Kai. The koto is a relatively rare and venerable traditional Japanese musical instrument. It has a very beautiful yet dynamic sound, and the player uses unique methods to bring forth its lovely voice. Oregon Koto-Kai was founded by koto master Mitsuki Dazai, who moved to Oregon in 2002.
Craft and other activities taking place during the day include:
- Origami: Jumping Frog and Ladybug
- Japanese Lanterns
- Den-den Daiko Drum
- Hanging Japanese Fish
- Calligraphy your name and Japanese words on a Buddha Board
- Try your hand at Kendama, a traditional Japanese toy
- Fidget with The Original Kururin
Families can also explore History Hub, a permanent exhibition where kids and families can explore diversity through hands-on interactives, objects, and pictures. View historic artifacts like suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway’s typewriter, learn about different cultures by reading books in the “Book Nook,” and discover how Oregonians have stood up for fairness throughout history.
Oregon Historical Society Family Days occur six times a year – save the date for upcoming Family Day programs on November 3 and December 15! The Oregon Historical Society museum is open seven days a week, Monday – Saturday from 10am – 5pm and Sunday from 12pm – 5pm. Admission to Family Day activities and to museum exhibitions is free.
About the Oregon Historical Society
For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms & website (www.ohs.org), educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.