THANK YOU FOR VISITING GINZA 2025
We’ll be back in August 2026 – we hope to see you then!

Modern artisans mastering ancient crafts
The Midwest Buddhist Temple is honored by its long relationship with The Waza from Japan. The Waza is a federation of Japanese artisans dedicated to the continuation of traditional crafts handed down generation by generation dating back to Japan’s Edo period 300 years ago. Using ancient techniques today’s Waza master craftsmen create unique, handmade items that embody simple beauty through meticulous craftsmanship. Each item is carefully made through processes developed and refined over a span of centuries. And yet, every item has a timeless quality that is comforting in today’s world. Ginza visitors will have the unique opportunity to view works that are made with the same care and precision as those that are typically only seen in private shops or the most exclusive department stores in Japan.
This year, we welcome back ceramist Eiji Kinoshita from Kyushu Oita Prefecture, Masahiro Kawakami, a third-generation maker of tenugui (hand-painted cotton cloth) from Asakusa Tokyo, and Yuzo Mori, a third-generation bamboo craftsman from Kyushu Oita Prefecture. Making her first appearance at Ginza is candle-making artist Hiroko Shima from Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Eiji Kinoshita
EARTHENWARE
(click image to view gallery)
Eiji Kinoshita creates unique earthenware whose every creation is a new discovery of its own. Moving from the potter’s wheel, he became attracted to the natural beauty of stones and tiles. It is their forms that he transforms into ceramic earthenware.
Masahiro Kawakami
TENUGUI (towel art)
(click image to view gallery)
Masahiro Kawakami is a third-generation maker of tenugui, loosely translated as towel art. However, unlike the typical western use, it could serve as a belt or a head cover. While intended to be used as hankies, towels or wrapping, many are hung as wall art—fastened to simple scrolls or framed under glass. To learn more: https://tenugui-fujiya.jp/e/
Yuzo Mori
BAMBOO CREATIONS
(click image to view gallery)
Yuzo Mori’s creations come from a versatile plant of the grass family common to East Asia. With strength rivaling the best hardwoods but with great flexibility, bamboo was a natural choice for woven containment vessels. Today, Mr. Mori’s handiwork includes purses to baskets to serving trays, which all display elegance and practicality.
Mr. Mori, who comes from the southern island of Kyushu, is making his second appearance at the Ginza Holiday Festival, following his father’s footsteps in 2012. To learn more: https://chikukousai.com/retail-shop/
Hiroko Shima
CANDLE ARTISAN
(click image to view gallery)
Hiroko Shima was born and raised in a temple, surrounded by candles, which inspired her to give form to people’s feelings. She studied candle making in earnest so that she could translate those feelings into her designs. She hand crafts each candle using a variety of natural waxes including soy and palm that are kind to people and the environment. A favorite is beeswax that has a gentle, sweet scent and a soothing flickering flame that will warm your heart. Please use candles safely.
Stop by our BOOKSTORE/SHOPMBT Booth for a variety of offerings including Shin Buddhism literature and artifacts. We are also featuring new T-Shirts commemorating Ginza’s 70th Anniversary available in 3 colors and many sizes.

Available in White

70th Anniversary Gold - Front

70th Anniversary Gold - Back

Available in Navy
Get these and more by visiting our MBT BOOKSTORE/SHOPMBT BOOTH!

For those who seek treasures to take home we have many local artisans who display and sell their works in our outdoor shopping concourse – rows of booths festively decorated with cho-chin lanterns. Shoppers can typically find hand-made jewelry, beautiful examples of Origami (the art of folded paper), ceramics for both function and display, Japanese clothing, T-shirts and much more. See our full list of participating merchants below.
We thank the Old Town Triangle Association for their continued support of the Midwest Buddhist Temple and our Ginza Holiday Festival. 2025 is a special year for MBT as this will be our 70th Ginza Holiday. Fun fact: our first 25 Ginza Holiday Festivals took place on North Park and Menomonee right in front of the building that Old Town Triangle Association occupies today and yes, that very building was MBT’s first home (1954 photo of MBT 10th Anniversary). Thank you OTTA.
We thank the following organizations for their generous support of Ginza Holiday
A huge THANK YOU to our guests, exhibitors, performers, and countless volunteer workers (both temple members and friends of MBT). Ginza Holiday simply cannot happen without you!














HO ETSU TAIKO is a premier Taiko ensemble in the Chicago area with a fresh take on the art of Japanese drumming. Ho Etsu pushes the envelope through collaborations with other taiko groups, musicians, and culturally-focused performance artists while staying grounded in the rich tradition of kumi-daiko. Through their music, Ho Etsu blends the culture of Japanese-American taiko with influences that celebrate the diversity of the ensemble.




CHICAGO AIKIKAI is an aikido dojo currently based in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. It was started in 1961 as Illinois Aikido Club in a Lakeview Clark Street basement by a group of Nisei, and since the late 1970s has been under the umbrella of Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) founded by Mitsugi Saotome, Shihan (Master Instructor). Its now diverse membership is led by Chief Instructor and Dojo-cho Marsha Turner.




The MIDWEST BUDDHIST TEMPLE TAIKO GROUP was started by the Kinnara Taiko Group of Los Angeles in 1977 to bring Japanese American Buddhist Taiko to Chicago. A self-taught group, the MBT Taiko Group embraces the Buddhist concepts of harmony and oneness.



The NA KAPUNA UKULELE CLUB OF CHICAGO was formed in April, 1997 by a group of Island and Mainland senior citizens for the purpose of fellowship and the love of music. Na Kupuna in the Hawaiian language means “grandparents” or “elders”. Together, the group of island and mainland born seniors sing, strum the ukulele and dance the hula to over 300 Hawaiian classic songs.




The CHICAGO KOTO GROUP was founded in 1984 by Akiko Sugano in order to serve the greater Chicago community by introducing it to Japanese culture and music (Koto and Sakuhachi). They hold several public performances a year responding to requests from various organizations such as the Chicago Botanic Gardens and the Consulate General of Japan. They also serve to educate students at elementary schools and colleges about Japanese culture through music (particularly the music of the Koto).



The Mikoren Awa Odori group was formed in 2015. This community group performs Awa Odori, a folk dance and music from Tokushima, Japan.



















FURRY FELINE CREATIVES


ARIYAMA STUDIO

TANGERINE MOUNTAIN


JAPANTIQUES



SANSEI ARTISANS

ORIGAMI ONLY
TOUCH OF GLASS

SNLDESIGNZ / SANSEI ARTISANS

SUMOFISH

TRAN HANDCRAFTS



FLYING PLUMTREE STUDIO

EDO WOODBLOCKS

ENTROPYWARE
KIMONO JAPON SAC

LISA L CERAMICS



SHINSEN
ART TOWATA CERAMICS
CHICAGO JAPANESE CLUB
KIKI’S T HOUSE

W by L


JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE Chicago Chapter
JAPANESE AMERICAN SERVICE COMMITTEE – Chicago