Cultural Clubs & Community Organizations
Milwaukee Japan Association
The Milwaukee Japanese Association (MJA) is a group that aims to connect Japanese individuals and those interested in Japanese culture and language in the Milwaukee area. Through various activities, they foster bonds and deepen connections within the community.
Majison-Madison
This is a community group based in Madison, Wisconsin, that promotes social exchange with all those who are interested in or have ties to Japanese culture. Annual events include the Japanese Spring Festival and Autumn Festival.
Badger Bonsai Society
The Badger Bonsai Society (BBS) has been promoting and enjoying the ancient art of bonsai in and around the Madison-Wisconsin area since 1972.
Milwaukee Bonsai Society
This organization connects bonsai enthusiasts in the Milwaukee area, providing advice and best practices for those who are keen to start out or grow a bonsai collection, as well as introducing the art and beauty of bonsai to the broader community.
Ikebana International - Milwaukee and Madison Chapters
Have the opportunity to learn about the different schools of ikebana design and to foster “Friendship through Flowers”. New members are always welcome, with many events and programs to choose from.
Arts, Music & Media
Renowned Artist - Manabu Ikeda
Long-term resident of Madison WI, Manabu Ikeda has been an Artist in Residence at the Chazen Art Museum and on campus at Epic Systems. Ikeda’s most prominent works are his intricate, large-scale pen and ink drawings.
Madison Taiko Group - Beni Daiko
Founded in 2012, this lively inter-cultural group has the goal to teach, preserve, and perform the ancient art of Taiko drumming, a form of traditional Japanese musical expression that combines mental discipline and physical demand.
Milwaukee Taiko Group - Hibiki
Hibiki literally means "echo sound" in Japanese. This taiko drum group is based in the Milwaukee area. The group was formed in 2009 with the mission of promoting interest in and understanding of Japanese culture through taiko drumming.
Oshkosh Taiko
Oshkosh Taiko is a Japanese taiko-drumming group based at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. It consists of community members from Oshkosh, Fox Cities, Milwaukee and Madison areas as well as UW Oshkosh students and faculty. The mission of Oshkosh Taiko is to promote Japanese culture and increase cultural diversity through performing taiko-drumming.
Misako Rocks! – Japanese Manga Comic Artist
Misako Takashima is a Japanese Manga Artist who teaches virtual manga lessons and has published several manga graphic novels. Especially popular with younger audiences, she was based in Wisconsin for two years and continues to stay connected with her online community in Japan, the US, and all over the world!
Wisconsin Film Festival
An annual 8-day event with venues at the UW-Madison campus, theatres and cinemas across the city. With an emphasis on “world cinema”, each year there are Japanese films included in the line-up of documentaries, animation movies and many other movie genres. The 2025 Wisconsin Film Festival will be held from April 3-10, 2025. Stay tuned for the more details!
Places of Cultural Interest
Japanese Garden at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, WI
🌸🍃Enjoy the tranquil Japanese Gardens in the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville. Designed and built in 1989, the garden features many characteristics evocative of Japan, including stone landscaping, waterfalls, and Japanese lanterns.
International Crane Foundation, Baraboo WI
Baraboo, Wisconsin is the global headquarters of the International Crane Foundation with neatly 300-acres of conservation land dedicated to protecting cranes and their diverse landscapes. Visit here for the opportunity to see one of Japan’s national symbols, the endangered Japanese Red Crowned Crane.