2025 O-Shogatsu Festival - Japanese New Year Event (Family-Friendly Activities & Performances..) Portland Japanese GardenNEW

O-Shogatsu, Japanese New Year Event - Portland Japanese Garden. O-Shogatsu literally means “standard month.” “Standard,” in this instance, means the standard a person sets during the first days of the first month of the year. This standard will then regulate their fortune for the rest of the year. Therefore, people are in their highest spirits and hope for the best. All ill-feeling and disagreeable recollections are left behind with the old year and a new chapter of life opens, replete with happy prospects.

During O-Shogatsu, people celebrate the start of a new year and hope for happiness and prosperity in the months ahead. 

Let’s celebrate the wonderful beginning of the new year together!

Japanese New Year Festival Date (OShogatsu)
January 12, 2025

O-Shogatsu Festival Time
10:00 am - 2:30 pm

Tickets Costs
Included with Garden Admission

O-Shogatsu Celebrations at Portland Japanese Garden (January 2025). Portland Japanese Garden will ring in the Year of the Snake (2025) with traditional Japanese New Year festivities. From January 12, 10:00am to 2:30pm, visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities, demonstrations, and performances. Festive kadomatsu (pine, bamboo, and plum branch arrangements) created by Garden staff will also be on display.

Schedule of Events

9:30am - 10:00am (Members Only) Sumi-e (Japanese ink-wash painting)
Location: Yanai Classroom
An exclusive members’ session where participants learn brush painting techniques.

10:00am - 2:30pm Sumi-e (Japanese ink-wash painting)
Location: Yanai Classroom
Open to the public. Celebrate the Year of the Snake by painting snake motifs.

10:30am & 1:00pm Edo Kotobuki Jishi (Traditional Lion Dance of Tokyo)
Location: Miller Living Room
Performed by Portland Shishimai Kai. The lion (shishi) will move through the audience and offer good luck by gently “biting” heads-a long-standing Japanese tradition believed to chase away evil spirits.

11:30am Ryomen Odori (Double-Masked Dance)
Location: Miller Living Room
Performed by Portland Shishimai Kai. A single dancer wears two masks: the female mask (Okame) and the male mask (Warai, meaning laughter), providing a playful and comedic performance.

About Portland Shishimai Kai
Founded by Eien Hunter-Ishikawa, this group specializes in Edo Kotobuki Jishi, Edo Bayashi (festival music), and Ryomen Odori. They are committed to preserving and sharing these art forms through performances, teaching, and community events.

All festivities are free with regular Garden admission. Come experience the spirit of O-Shogatsu and welcome 2025 with lively performances, hands-on activities, and traditional Japanese cultural displays.

Tickets


About Portland O-Shogatsu
Portland Japanese Garden invites you to join their annual O-Shogatsu Festival, a celebration of Japanese New Year!  O-Shogatsu Festival is a great way to experience Japanese New Year traditions, including hands-on activities and culinary treats. 

Location
Portland Japanese Garden, 611 S.W. Kingston Ave., Portland, OR 97205

All New Years Events