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O-Shogatsu Festival, Japanese New Year

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Kadomatsu arrangements adorn the entrance of the Nezu Gate in a traditional display. Photo by Jonathan Ley.

Come join us for the Garden’s O-Shogatsu celebration!

O-Shogatsu is a time of celebration for the start of a new year and hopes of happiness and prosperity to come. At Portland Japanese Garden, we honor this special festival twice: once in appreciation for our members only on New Year’s Day and then again on January 7.  with traditional decorations and activities.

The Garden will honor this special festival from 10:30am to 3:30 pm with family-friendly activities and performances. Guests can also admire kadomatsu, or traditional arrangements of pine, bamboo, and plum branches, made by our gardeners.

Many programs will be taking place at various times and locations around the Garden. Please see the program below for an overview:

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Sumi-e, Japanese brush painting: Stop in to learn how to paint a dragon, in honor of the year of the dragon (Yanai Classroom)

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM: Kadomatsu demonstrations by Caleb Hendrickson, a member of Portland Japanese Garden’s garden team (Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner)

12:45 AM – 1:20 PM: Oregon Koto-Kai performance featuring a New Year’s themed story with accompanying music (Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner)

1:00 – 3:30 PM: Sumi-e, Japanese brush painting: Stop in to learn how to paint a dragon, in honor of the year of the dragon (Yanai Classroom)

1:45 – 2:20 PM: Oregon Koto-Kai performance featuring a New Year’s themed story with accompanying music (Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner)

Guests enjoyed learning sumi-e, Japanese brush painting. In 2023, they painted rabbits. In 2024, we’ll paint dragons. Photo by Jonathan Ley.

Let’s celebrate the beginning of 2024, the Year of the Dragon, together! According to folklore, those born under the Year of the Dragon are ambitious, confident, and seen as natural-born leaders.

Longtime partner of the Garden, Portland Coffee Roasters, will be preparing and serving complimentary coffee to visitors during this event. Thank you, Portland Coffee Roasters!