This year the Portland Japanese Garden will celebrate O-Shogatsu (New Year's) with a special Family Day on Sunday, January 13 from Noon-3pm. The event will be held in the Garden's Pavilion and will include tea, sweets, traditional New Year's activities for kids, and calligraphy writing.

Families and friends are welcome to participate in a hands-on experience with Kakizome, the traditional custom of writing of the first calligraphy characters of the New Year. Children in Japan are encouraged to write a few characters with brush and ink in the very best style they can for good luck with their studies over the coming year. Beautiful calligraphy is as highly appreciated as painting in Japan. Guided by Japanese teachers from Richmond Elementary School, participants need no experience writing in Japanese to enjoy this traditional New Year's practice.

According to the Chinese zodiac (also observed in Japan), 2008 is the "Year of the Rat," so those who visit will want to try their hand at Sumi-e painting and make a nengajo New Year's greeting card with a picture of this amiable rodent, considered to be a hardworking and practical-minded symbol of prosperity.

"In Japan, O-Shogatsu sets the tone for the year to come and has always been a joyous annual celebration of hope and prayer for good health and happiness in the coming year," notes Diane Durston, the Garden's Curator of Culture, Art, & Education. The Garden's New Year's celebration runs from Noon-3pm on Sunday, January 13 and is free with Garden admission. To learn more about O-Shogatsu, visit www.japanesegarden.com/events/newyear.

The Portland Japanese Garden has been proclaimed by his Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, former Ambassador of Japan, to be "the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan." The Garden is above Washington Park at 611 SW Kingston Drive in SW Portland, Oregon. The Garden is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Hours are 10am-4pm October 1-March 31, and 10am-7pm April 1-September 30.