3 Winners! One ticket for $25, Five tickets for $100.

Three restaurants have donated an Omakase (Chef's Choice) meal for two guests.

First prize is for Omakase Yume, Second is for Mako, and Third is for Sushi by Bou. Each ticket purchased will be eligible to win one of the three prizes. Winners need not be present at Cranes & Cocktails to win.

Thank you Platinum Sponsor JMAS!

We are grateful for the generosity of JMAS and all our sponsors of Cranes & Cocktails. See the full list of sponsors HERE.

For more details click on image to visit the website https://ikebanaoharachicago.org/

Taiko Beginner Workshops

AIRMW Cultural Hub (4875 N Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60630)

$45 / person Payment due upon arrival. We accept Paypal / Venmo / Cash / Checks.

Instructors will vary depending on the workshop date.

Minimum of 7 participants required for workshop to proceed. Maximum of 20 participants.

Monday, May 6th | 6:30-8:00PM

*Email tsukasataiko@gmail.com to register

Japanese Dance Spring Intro Session

5-week beginner dance session with Shubukai for classical Japanese dance. Open to all ages and experiences.

Session Dates:

Tuesdays 6:30-7:30PM

March 26, April 2, April 16, April 23, April 30

*no session on April 9*

Saturdays: 3-4PM

April 20th & 27th

May 4th, 11th & 18th

$350 / person for a 5-week session. Maximum 10 participants. Payment due upon registration.

For questions email: rika@airmw.org

More information HERE.

At The Japanese Cultural Center 6:30-8:00PM

(2940 N Lincoln Ave #2, Chicago, IL 60657)

April 20th, May 25th & June 29th

$75 per person for each session or $215 for all three sessions

 Register for JCC Workshops HERE.

Hanami & Kodomo No Hi

Sunday, May 5th | Garden of the Phoenix | 10-2:00PM

Garden of the Phoenix, 6300 S Cornell Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA

From the Japanese Arts Foundation: 

Join the Japanese Arts Foundation in partnership with the Japanese Culture Center, Chicago Park District, Shubukai, Tsukasa Taiko, and the Consulate General of Japan in Chicago for an afternoon full of dance, drums, and of course cherry blossoms!

We invite you to the annual Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, festival! This family and friend centered event is held in Jackson Park’s historic Garden of the Phoenix and the surrounding Columbian Basin, which is home to about 160 cherry blossom trees that typically bloom each spring. The trees are located just south of the Museum of Science and Industry and in the Garden of the Phoenix on the Wooded Island, a short walk south of the Columbian Basin.

This year’s celebration overlaps with Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day, where we celebrate children for their individual strengths, personalities, and happiness. Carp streamers are often on hand to acknowledge the plight of the carp needing to swim upstream, against the current, to thrive – much like children growing up! To celebrate this endeavor, we invite everyone for the annual opening of the waterfall for the season in the Japanese garden!

The day includes performances from Shubukai (Fujima Ryu Classical Japanese dance) and Tsukasa Taiko (taiko drum), origami folding, activities for children including mini taiko drum workshops, and more!

Register HERE.

Upcoming release of the film EVIL DOES NOT EXIST, the highly anticipated follow-up to Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Academy-Award® winning film DRIVE MY CAR. 

EVIL DOES NOT EXIST won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Venice Film Festival this past fall and screened to rave reviews at the Toronto International and New York Film Festival. The film opens in NY and LA on May 3, and will expand to Chicago’s Landmark Century City on 5/10.