Category: Events

Join us for a celebration of Japanese culture in Ottawa this summer at Natsu Matsuri (summer festival) 2025!

We will be sharing more exciting details in the weeks to come – stay tuned!

The Ottawa Japanese Community Association would like to acknowledge that the land on which the event is taking place is the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin nation. ️ 

Follow us on Instagram at @ojca_ojcc for updates keep an eye out on our FB event page: 

The OJCA proudly presents an evening of Okinawan Music.

Enjoy the sound of Okinawa this Spring at the Okinawan-themed show, Hello! Haisai! S’il vous plaît concert!

Friday, March 28th 2025

@ the Takahashi Dojo (5 Melrose Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 1T8)

$20 Cover Charge

Featuring

Musicians Takane Kochihira @Takane_kochi123 and Sho Takashima @churadushi_montreal

Takane Kochihira is on tour from Okinawa itself, while Sho Takashima is from Okinawa but based in Montreal. They will be collaborating together for the show and will play in Montreal the night before, and Toronto the night after.  It’s a whirlwind tour! 

Delicious Japanese snacks and refreshments will be available free of charge!

Beer, Signature Cocktail and Sake will be available for purchase on-site.

Purchase your tickets HERE

The OJCA proudly presents an evening of koto performances
Featuring Kahō Tokita, Misao Tsutsumi, and Tommy Bissonnette in solo and ensemble performances
Saturday, March 8th @ 7pm
Takahashi Dojo, 5 Melrose Avenue
$5 for OJCA/OJCC members/ $10 for non-members

complimentary Refreshments Served 

Saturday, February 1st the OJCA’s Sansei, Community Storytelling Project launches with its first online writing workshop.  There is still room to welcome those interested in participating, and we encourage you to register!  Sansei will host monthly zoom workshops facilitated by accomplished writers and storytellers who will help guide and develop the stories You Want to Tell.   What’s more, this summer, we will host community writing retreats – a place for you to write privately, but in community, AND with wonderful Japanese meals provided.  Our project will culminate with an (optional) storytelling event, and will publish both a paper and online magazine featuring your collection of stories.   
No matter your level of storytelling experience, this project is meant to be gentle and welcoming.  Its workshops will provide you with a manageable process to discover the words that articulate what you know intimately about the sansei experience. 

Interested participants are asked to register using the following google form.  Spaces are limited, but applications will continue to be accepted until all spaces are filled: https://forms.gle/oBJH1hRmnZMYNaj98.

Sansei is generously supported by a Japanese Canadian Legacies Society Community Grant 

Workshop #1: February 1, 2025 with Leanne Toshiko Simpson
Workshop #2: February 22, 2025 with Frances Itani

Dates to be confirmed soon for workshops #3-5. Facilitators include Lillian Nakamura Maguire, Julie Tamiko Manning, and Erica Isomura.

KAGAMI BIRAKI

Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 6 PM.

5 Melrose Avenue, Ottawa

Street Parking Available

Dress: Business Casual

Bring your favourite drink, potluck are also welcome:) 

Sushi, Mochi, tea and some sake to toast will be served. 

Kagami biraki is a traditional Japanese celebration of the New Year.  The Embassy of Japan alongside the Takahashi Dojo will be hosting this event to usher in 2025 with a bang!  All OJCA/OJCC members far and wide are welcome!

It has been 55 years since the Takahashi Dojo has hosted a Kagami Biraki, and we have lost contact with many people, so please forward this invitation to them.  We would dearly love to see you all. 

If you have another engagement, just invite them to this party! When you look up the new word in your encyclopedia, you will see that a lot of Japanese sake is involved, with the breaking open of a sake barrel with a mallet!…a lot of people might get splashed.  Apologies in advance! 

Come see another side of Japanese culture.  Hope to see you soon! 

Allyn Takahashi