Recently, a family from Frankfurt visited me for a private nerikiri workshop during their stay in Düsseldorf. It was a particularly special occasion: their son’s birthday. Instead of choosing a typical birthday activity, they wanted to try something new together and experience a small part of Japanese culture.
For the workshop, I had prepared four different designs: a sunflower, a hōzuki, a cherry blossom and a little cat. Using the soft nerikiri dough, each family member shaped their own small wagashi by hand. At first, the texture and techniques can feel unfamiliar. But little by little, simple balls of dough become petals, fine lines and tiny details—and suddenly, everyone is holding a personal piece of wagashi in their hands.
This calm and intimate atmosphere is one of the things I especially enjoy about private workshops. The aim is not for every piece to look identical or technically perfect. What matters much more is sitting around the same table, showing one another what has taken shape and seeing how differently each person interprets the same design. The birthday was therefore celebrated not only with something sweet, but also with time spent together and a memory the family could take home with them.
Four Designs between Summer Joy and Japanese Seasonality
The four designs were intentionally quite different. With its bright yellow petals, the sunflower expresses the warmth and cheerfulness of summer. The cherry blossom brings to mind Japan and the beauty of fleeting moments, even though its natural season is spring. The little cat added a playful touch—and of course, it could not be missing from a birthday workshop.
The seasonal centrepiece, however, was the hōzuki, or Japanese lantern plant. Its vivid orange, almost translucent husk resembles a tiny lantern. In Japan, hōzuki are a familiar sight in late summer and are closely associated with Obon.
Hōzuki and Obon
Obon is a Japanese period of remembrance for family members and ancestors who have passed away. It is believed that their spirits return to visit their families during this time. Lanterns and small fires play a special role, guiding the spirits home and later showing them the way back.
Because of its lantern-like shape, the hōzuki has also become a symbol of this season. It is used as a seasonal decoration and offering, its warm orange colour recalling the lanterns of Obon. At the same time, there is something delicate and transient about it: a small fruit is hidden inside the bright husk, while the outer shell gradually dries and becomes finer and more fragile.
I wanted to capture this combination of colour, shape and meaning in nerikiri. Using warm shades of orange and red, I created a small hōzuki from white bean paste—a wagashi that does not simply depict late summer, but also carries a story within it.
Experiencing the Seasons through Our Hands
This is what continues to fascinate me about wagashi. They are more than simply Japanese sweets. Their colours, names and forms reflect the seasons, plants, festivals and memories. A single small piece can evoke the first blossoms of spring, the rain of early summer, the heat of August or the sound of autumn leaves.
In my workshops, I therefore want to share more than the techniques used to shape nerikiri. It is also important to me to tell a little of the story behind each design. In this way, participants not only learn a new craft but also gain a small insight into the Japanese way of observing and appreciating the changing seasons.
The workshop with the family from Frankfurt was a particularly lovely example: a birthday in Düsseldorf, four very different designs and an afternoon spent turning simple ingredients into small, personal works of art.
Private Nerikiri Workshops in Düsseldorf
A private nerikiri workshop is a lovely activity for birthdays, family outings, gatherings with friends, or simply for anyone who would like to discover wagashi in a calm and personal setting. The designs can be selected to reflect the season or your special occasion.
If you are planning a private workshop in Düsseldorf, you are welcome to contact me through the contact form. Together, we can find a suitable date and choose designs that fit you and your occasion.
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