Event Overview
Have you heard of “Charaben” before?
The power of kawaii food culture
Japanese cuisine is not only yummy and healthy but also cute or “kawaii.” Nowadays, charaben is getting popular in Japan especially mothers with small kids. Charaben is a shortened form of character bento. Charaben creators put a lot of effort into making colorful and cute charaben so that they can take cute pictures on share them on their social media accounts. Many Japanese moms are dedicating their time to make cute characters for their kids to enjoy and eat.
In this ORINIGIRI workshop, we would like you to experience Japanese kawaii culture by making kawaii ORINIGIRI, sharing your work with others and tasting your own kawaii ORINIGIRI!
What is “ORINIGIRI?”
ORINIGIRI is a new type of art (and way of eating!) that combines the fun features of “Origami” and “Onigiri (Rice balls).” It’s easy to make and guests who participate in this workshop can enjoy the great and interesting onigiri experience!
Learn more about ORINIGIRI from our previous workshops:
- ORINIGIRI Workshop 1: A Combination of Origami and Onigiri
- ORINIGIRI Workshop 2: Let’s Enjoy Creating and Cooking ORINIGIRI
- ORINIGIRI Workshop 3: Discover the Real Taste of Rice by Making ORINIGIRI!
- ORINIGIRI Workshop 4: Adopt a Japanese home-style meal to put on your table!
Which characters are we making?
Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company, Sanrio. She is a perpetual 3rd-grade student who lives outside London.
Totoro
Totoro is a forest spirit that lives in the largest camphor tree in a small village. He is featured in Studio Ghibli’s film, My Neighbor Totoro.
Pikachu
Pikachu is a main character in a Japanese manga series, Pokémon. Pikachu is a short, chubby rodent Pokémon.
What will we be making charaben with?
- Totoro ORINIGIRI Charaben
- Steamed sticky rice
- Seaweed
- Cheese
- Hello Kitty ORINIGIRI Charaben
- Steamed sticky rice
- Seaweed
- Cheese
- Ham
- Egg Yolk
- Pikachu ORINIGIRI Charaben
- Steamed sticky rice
- Seaweed
- Ham
- Egg Yolk
Decoration/Toppings
- Lactuca
- Tomato
- Carrot
- Sausage
- Cheese
- Ham
Rice Ball Filling
- Salmon
- Ume (Salted plum)
- Kombu (Kelp)
Gallery
About the Artists & Collaborators
Tomoo Nitta
Architect, Video Artist
Nitta was born in 1971. He studied at Kyusyu Institute of Design (presently Kyusyu University), Rhode Island School of Design and worked at Shigeru Ban Architects. In February 2014, he established Himawari Design, where he started to design varieties of space on public architecture as far as product design based on the study of using one sheet of paper. He is obsessed with design that connects various cultures and various people based on the simplicity of Japanese beauty. He also sends his message to the world through his conceptual videos. Since he married Aiko Sugiura, a writer and a concept designer in 2016, he's set up Project AICHI with her. Their activity of Himawari Design is constantly growing day by day.
Table For Two
Nonprofit Organization
TABLE FOR TWO USA (TFT), is non-profit organization that addresses the issues of hunger and obesity through a unique "meal-sharing" program.
25 cents from workshop fee will be donated to Table For Two to provide one healthy school meal to a child in low-income communities in the U.S including New York. Thank you for your support!
