Location

Shofukan Japanese gaeden: the wooden frame for the middile gate

The exhibition location is the Japanese garden of Shofukan, a Japanese culture centre which is located in the district of Oud Charlois in the South of Rotterdam. The Japanese garden of Shofukan has been maintained since the spring in 2006. The garden employs shipped building materials such as woods, stones and trees from Japan and carefully designed for its location by Dutch Japanese garden designer/builder Kees Ouwens, who works and lives in Japan more than 25 years. Especially, the entire garden is designed as a tea garden, for a traditional Japanese tea house. In this tradition, the garden has to follow sensitive positioning and philosophy by the authentic manner of tea ceremony. The tea house is not yet built. In the end of the garden in where the tea house will build can be the main site for the art works. It is very inspiring experience for all of us to explorer the garden, to walk on the stepping stones and finally to discover a hidden site for the tea house/art works. The construction of the tea house will be start from the summer in 2011. While we are waiting for a cup of tea, we can enjoy art.

Shofukan Foundation aims to promote the study and practice of authentic and classical Japanese disciplines and to present them to a large audience. Together, these disciplines propagate Japanese culture in its widest sense:by means of lessons and training, workshops, exhibitions, lectures, and events, both in the field of the Japanese arts and crafts, as in Japanese budo. To ensure high standards, the Foundation co-operates with a great number of teachers and organisations in Europe and from Japan. Moreover, you can lease the spaces of Shofukan to arrange your own events, meetings, or training sessions. Apart from the genuine dojo, Shofukan features a unique Japanese tea garden, both assuring an inspiring environment.

At this moment, the following activities regurally take place at Shofukan: aikikai aikido – aikido for kids – expositie – go – educational themes – Ikenobo ikebana -Japanese articles – judo for kids – kendo – Kenso ryu jujutsu – cooking lessons – shinto-excersises – music–　language courses – Urasenke tea ceremony – zazen – workshops – customizing events – press. 

more about Shofukan activities please visit;
http://www.shofukan.nl/