Casa Ásia - Francisco Capelo Collection dedicates cultural program to Japan

Courses, conferences, and workshops related to the Land of the Rising Sun will continue in 2025, spread across January, February, and March.

A Casa Ásia – Coleção Francisco Capelo presented its new cultural initiatives for the start of 2025, which continue to be dedicated to Japan. Visitors and participants can continue to count on courses, conferences, workshops, and a series of other activities that will allow everyone to learn more about Japanese culture.

Everything starts in January with a Japanese calligraphy workshop, followed by the conference "TENSHÕ" – The embassy of the 4 young Japanese 1582-1590 and the introduction of European music in Japan. As usual, the little ones will also have a dedicated program, such as the shadow theater The Song of the Tsuru.

Check out the complete schedule:

Feb 6 at 6pm
Wisdom Leaves Conference: The Millenary Art of Tea, by Luís Mendonça de Carvalho.
Biologist, master in biochemistry and physiology of plants, Doctor in Systematics and Morphology of plants (ethnobotany), from the University of Coimbra. Coordinating professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja, where he founded and directs the Botanical Museum. Researcher at the Institute of Contemporary History of FCSH – Nova University of Lisbon/University of Évora. Visiting Scholar at Harvard University.

Synopsis
"Each tea leaf tells a story, each cup reveals a secret. Guided by the tea plant, we will revisit ancient traditions and rare utensils that served tea and now enrich the Casa Ásia-Collection Francisco Capelo. Our journey takes us to China, Korea, Japan, and other places where humans used tea not only as a stimulant but as poetic inspiration. Join us on this journey and come feel the murmur of nature in a cup of tea."

Maximum 50 participants
Free entry with prior registration

Feb 20 at 6pm
Tea Ceremony for Beginners – Tatsuo&Reina I150 min.
Workshop in English
10 people per group – 2 sessions – 45min.
Q&A 20min.
Maximum 20 participants
Entry with paid registration – 40€

Mar 8 Sat at 3pm
Screening of the animated film Kappa no Sampei – Directed by: Toshio Hirata
1h 30min | Adventure, Animation, Family

Sampei is a boy who lives with his grandfather in a quiet village. One day, after passing through the muddy currents of the river, he wakes up in the land of the goblins.

Maximum 50 participants
Free entry with prior registration

Mar 15 Sat at 3pm
Sumi-e Workshop by Mami Higuchi

Sumi-e (sumie or suiboku) is an ancient painting technique that originated in China. The origin of Sumi-e is related to the Tang dynasty and the Buddhist monks, who brought it to Japan. There, it was renamed Sumi-e by the Japanese. "Sumi," which means ink, and "e," painting. This monochromatic artistic technique focuses on the use of Chinese ink as the main element.

Maximum 20 participants
Entry with paid registration – 25€

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN FOR FAMILIES

25 Jan. Sat at 10:30 AM/12:00 PM
The corner of the Tsuru
From 5 to 8 years old

Behind a white screen, with colorful characters, there is a Japanese emperor who loves the song of his singing bird and therefore does not let it go. In this Shadow Theater, we tell a story about friendship and freedom, between someone who has everything, a girl who has only one thing, and a Tsuru that wants to be free. At the end of the story, we go in search of this bird in the museum and its significance in Japan. And to make this adventure unforgettable, we keep in a music box, made and decorated by each child, with the sound of this bird's song.

Maximum 15 children
Free entry with registration

22 Feb. Sat. at 10:30/12h
Akimi Dragon
From 8/10 years old

A thousand years ago, in a small Japanese village, nestled between high mountains, the friendship between a brave girl and her dragon saved the entire population from dying of hunger and fear. Such an extraordinary story deserves to be told everywhere, and that is what the Japanese do: with a simple structure made of cardboard or wood, where the scenes fit together, they set up a theater and travel from town to town to teach and enchant children. It is called Kamishibai Theater, and we, at the museum, want to keep this long tradition of itinerancy with you. We will tell the story, create the scenes, and teach how to assemble the structure. At school, all that’s left is to invite the audience and start the show!

Maximum 15 children
Free entry with registration

22 Mar. Sat. at 10:30/12h
A Tea in China
From 5/8 years old

Imagine a big book that tells us the story of two emperors who get lost in a forest full of animals, cold and thirsty? And when everything seems to go wrong, the emperor's friendship for his wife, three lime leaves, and a little white cup save the day and tea is invented? At the end of the story, we go in search of the forest, the animals, the emperors, and even the little white cup, all hidden in the museum's rooms. And to make this adventure unforgettable, we drink the tea that the emperor invented and take home a little white cup, made with our hands, decorated to our liking, with lemon tree leaves.

Free entry with registration
Maximum 15 children

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN FOR SCHOOLS
From Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM by appointment

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATIONS | Tel.: 213 235 250 I Email: ca.cfc@scml.pt