​Build Your Own Matsuri Workshop

​Create a Legend. Build a Festival. Start a Tradition.

​What if you could invent a new Japanese festival from scratch?

​Japan is home to thousands of local festivals ("Matsuri"). Some celebrate harvests, some honor local traditions, and some are wonderfully strange.

​In this workshop, you'll create a completely original Matsuri of your own.

​You'll design:

​• A legendary figure, spirit, or symbolic character

​• A visual representation of your legend

​• A festival name

​• The purpose of the festival

​• Rituals and traditions

​• Anything else that makes your Matsuri unique

​We'll begin with a short introduction to real Japanese festivals—from famous celebrations to unusual local traditions—before creating our own.

​Participants will work on a shared digital worksheet and present their completed Matsuri to the group.

​For your legend's visual design, you're welcome to use:

​• AI image generation tools

​• Drawing software

​• Hand-drawn sketches

​• Any other creative method

​No artistic skills are required.

​What to Bring

​💻 A laptop is required.

​Please also bring access to any image creation tools you'd like to use (AI image generators, drawing software, design tools, etc.).

​You'll be creating a visual representation of your legend during the workshop.

​Schedule

​3:00 PM – Welcome & Introduction to Matsuri Culture

​3:30 PM – Build Your Own Matsuri

​4:15 PM – Festival Presentations

​5:30 PM – Networking

​6:00 PM – End

​Who Should Join?

​• Creators

​• Designers

​• Artists

​• Writers

​• Game Developers

​• Founders

​• People interested in Japanese culture

​• Anyone who enjoys making strange and interesting things

​📍 SoHo, Manhattan

​Exact venue details will be shared with registered participants.

​👥 Capacity: about 15 participants

​🕰️ Time: Saturday, June 20, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM

​💰 Cost: Free

​Hosted by Kanure Inc.