One of the questions we are asked most frequently is this one – occasionally certainly with a small side remark. I would like to briefly put our activities of the past two years into context and address this question in the process. In fact, the name is both a blessing and a curse.
We attract a fairly classic audience: people from the neighborhood, friends of the Küfa concept, artists, students, and so on. At the same time, it is important to us to keep the audience as heterogeneous as possible. Through the name, people also come to us who are learning Japanese, have been attending a karate class for years, enjoy reading manga, like to travel, dream of traveling to Japan one day, or have already been there – in other words, people who are looking for a point of contact somewhere between Japanese pop culture and traditional culture. These people would probably never have ended up in a place like ours otherwise, but in the end they stay because of the social aspect and enrich our environment.
The downside is that hardly any other country evokes so many stereotypes as soon as it is mentioned. Accordingly, there are people from different directions who either assume there is too little “Japan” or too much cultural appropriation. Japan itself, however, is a heterogeneous country, and we do not claim to represent the entire country. There is therefore a short answer and a long answer to the question.
Short answer:
A part of the Japanese community in Leipzig opens its door and invites people to spend time together: cooking, playing, eating together, finding a quiet corner, or simply getting to know other people.
The long answer:
Our association consists of roughly half people of Japanese background and half local people. This mix is also necessary in order to deal with the various challenges of everyday association life, but it is equally part of our desire to foster local community. We organize local events and see ourselves as a kind of “youth club for adults.” These include obvious formats such as Japanese festivals, exhibitions, or concerts by Japanese artists, as we provide an easy point of access here and have the relevant expertise within the association. At the same time, we are a meeting place for many Japanese people in Leipzig, where they can also exchange ideas in Japanese from time to time.
At the same time, we see ourselves as an open association for everyone – regardless of where they come from. This is why we also host workshops and events with local artists who have no direct connection to Japan. The “Japanese” in the name therefore refers to the Japanese people in the association and their contribution, and only to a limited extent to the content of the activities or even the atmosphere.
Events 2024–2025
Note: No guarantee of absolute accuracy. Some events were canceled, others we forgot to note.
JH Events 2024
06 Jan – Uzu presentation
20 Jan – Lizzy Ladida
03 Feb – Setsubun (children’s festival) ⁕
02 Mar – Hina Matsuri (children’s festival) ⁕
23 Mar – Karaoke / Radsfatz spring festival
04 May – Kodomo no Hi (children’s festival) ⁕
11 May – Mothers in Japan
16 May – FairBundKüfa
23–25 May – Exhibition: artist from Amami Ōshima (textile dyes)
30 May – SoliKüfa Uzu House (with live link)
01 Jun – SoliKüfa + discussion on Georgia
01 Jun – Concert: Dual Solos
22 Jun – Café Kaputt
06 Jul – Tanabata (family event) + Nagashi Sōmen ⁕
18 Jul – Salsa class
20 Jul – SoliKüfa (Iranian)
25 Jul – Rocío and Martin Schmieder (flamenco)
27 Jul – Michiko and Hiroko: Salt (stage + discussion)
08 Aug – Screensavers (concert)
10 Aug – Family afternoon ⁕
22 Aug – Concert: Javier Pittorino
29 Aug – Concert: Dmytro Radzetskyi (solo and with Maxim Kolomiiets)
31 Aug – SoliKüfa Indonesian evening
07 Sep – Summer festival ⁕
14 Sep – Mee (concert) + ramen day Yamato
26 Sep – Salsa
12 Oct – Outside the Rain (concert)
19 Oct – Sayes & MC Kehrblech (concert)
24 Oct–02 Nov – Photo exhibition: Mai Nakama
26 Oct – Lantern crafting ⁕
16 Nov – Film + music: Murakami Kyōki
21 Nov – Schminski & Band (concert)
23 Nov – Asuki presentation
28 Nov – Salsa + SoliKüfa-Sai
30 Nov – DSF
07 Dec – Tea ceremony with Anderson
07 Dec – Küfa “Safer Spaces in Public Space – Art as Medium and Method”
14 Dec – Pop-up card workshops ⁕
19 Dec – Christmas Küfa
JH Events 2025
16 Jan–01 Feb – Photos by George and Josh
25 Jan – Concert: Rei
08 Feb – Setsubun (family afternoon + Ehomaki-roll Küfa) *
20 Feb – Lecture for curators from China (Goethe-Institut)
22 Feb – Japanese paper lanterns (workshop)
22 Feb – Indonesian evening
01 Mar – Hina Matsuri (with Saori and Daniela) *
29 Mar – Thomas Bauer reads from his book about a trip to Japan (part of Leipzig liest / Book Fair)
12 Apr – Hanami (at the Grassi Museum)
25–26 Apr – Booth at the Gieszerfest
29 Apr – “Mujeres Inspiradoras Latinas” from Borna host a SoliKüfa
10 May – Orizome Wahon notebook (with Saori and Daniela) *
15 May – HOT COUTURE (concert)
17 May – IndoKüfa 3
22, 24, 29, and 31 May – Exhibition: Dayoung Jung and Yunseon Jeong
24 May – Kokedama workshop
14 Jun – Children’s fan workshop *
14 Jun – Impropita (cooking and live improvisation)
15 Jun – Japan Market at Werk 2
21 Jun – “Mujeres Inspiradoras Latinas” from Borna host a SoliKüfa
23 Jun – Lecture by Nanako about Uzu House in Georgia
05 Jul – Nagashi Sōmen and children’s workshop *
26 Jul – Art whistler Yusuke Matsumura visits
31 Jul – Lecture by Kanade
14 Aug – Flamenco with Rocío and Martin Schmieder
17 Aug – Neustädter Market breakfast
23 Aug – Summer festival
13 Sep – Alleycat
18 Sep – Lecture by Shahul
27 Sep – Open Mic with Sadahiro
09 Oct – Freshers’ evening, Japanese Studies
11 Oct – Saori – children’s bookbinding workshop *
25 Oct – Pop-up cards with Kana *
31 Oct – Halloween evening
22 Nov – Turbine 2000
29 Nov – Milan Raduz
04 Dec – Solidarity evening for Naund
13 Dec – Origami afternoon
18 Dec – Art market with Saori and Makoto
20 Dec – Christmas Küfa
⁕ Family-friendly afternoon events
Family Group
21 Jun (Yuko) – Trial session: speaking
28 Jun (Ruri) – Trial session: drawing
06 Sep (Yuko) – Trial session: speaking
13 Sep (Yuko) – Trial session: speaking
25 Oct (Ruri) – Trial session: drawing
13 Dec (Yuko) – Trial session: speaking