Join us as the moon rises above the rooftop garden at the Vancouver Public Library downtown Central Branch for an evening of Japanese poetry, Ikebana demonstrations, live calligraphy performance, music, and classical dance celebrating the beauty and significance of the Harvest Moon in Japanese art and culture.
DATE: Tuesday October 7, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LOCATION: 9th (rooftop) Floor Vancouver Public Library Central Branch
FEE: This is event is free to attend but registration through VPL is appreciated.
Since ancient times, the Harvest Moon has held deep seasonal significance in Japanese culture, manifesting in a wide range of different art forms. This 2-hour event will offer opportunities to learn about the legends and symbolism of the moon and associated seasonal motifs across a range of different traditional arts presented and performed by classically trained experts in their respective fields.
Featuring Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos (shakuhachi), Weijing (Jean) Zou (Ikenobo School flower arrangement), HANAYAGI Toshikotono/Mamie Kakimoto (classical Japanese dance), Sonja Arntzen (poet and literary scholar), and Kisyuu (calligraphy performance).
We look forward to spending the evening with you under the Harvest Moon!
About the Artists:
Alcvin Ryūzen Ramos
Born and trained in Japan in the classical Zen shakuhachi tradition, Alcvin also studied shakuhachi construction with several of Japan's finest makers. He is currently studying shakuhachi with Miura Ryūho in Akita and hityoyogiri with Takeo Izumi in Kyoto. Alcvin lives on the Sunshine Coast of BC, where he teaches and makes shakuhachi flutes and bamboo-inspired jewelry in his workshop in Madeira Park.
Weijing (Jean) Zou
Weijing (Jean) Zou studied western style flower arrangement with Damien Koh AIFD since 2003. After admiring Japanese flower arrangement for many years, Jean had a chance to study Ikenobo Ikebana with Ms. Cecily Chang in 2015. She has earned the Ikenobo Diploma of Assistant Professor of Ikebana, 1st Grade (Kako). In 2024, she started offering weekly Ikenobo classes in Richmond. She currently serves as the 1st Vice President of the Vancouver Ikebana Association.
HANAYAGI Toshikotono (Mamie Kakimoto)
HANAYAGI Toshikotono sensei began dancing at age two in Tokyo, Japan, under HANAYAGI Shizutoshi. She earned her professional name at age 16 and her teaching license when she was 26. She has performed at the National Theatre of Japan multiple times, as well as dancing overseas in Paris. She currently performs and teaches private lessons and small group classes in Vancouver, where her students perform at various community festivals under the name Tomoe Kai.
Sonja Arntzen
Sonja Arntzen taught classical Japanese poetry and literature for twenty-five years, first at the University of Alberta and then at the University of Toronto. Currently living in Vancouver, B.C, she continues to research and translate works of pre-modern Japanese literature. Her most recent publications include the 11 th C. poetic memoir by Takasue’s Daughter, The Sarashina Diary (2018) and Ikkyû and the Crazy Cloud Anthology: A Zen Poet of Medieval Japan (2022). Since 2005, she has been publishing her own English tanka and haiku in journals such as Gusts, Eucalypt, and Kokako. She has collaborated with Naomi Beth Wakan, to produce two books of “response tanka,” Double Talk (2010) and Reflections (2011).
KISYUU 姫洲
Born and raised in Japan, Kisyuu started learning calligraphy when she was seven and was given a calligraphy master name “Kisyuu” from her master Kosyuu Kobayashi at the age of 18. She earned numerous awards from calligraphy competitions both in Japan and Canada.
Since moving to Canada in 2007, she has been working on her calligraphy installations, workshops, lessons, exhibitions, live performances and commissioned art works. She has been performing in collaboration with various types of artists. She has also worked on projects with different companies such as Microsoft, Shiseido, 20th Century Fox, Toyota and Netflix.
She writes both traditional and modern freestyle calligraphy - a brush and sumi-ink are her tools to express her true self. Through her calligraphy art, she wishes to create peace, both inner and outer.
This program is presented in partnership with Vancouver Public Library
With support from:
