Events Archives - NorikoArt https://norikoart.com/category/events/ Noriko Matsubara Sun, 18 Jan 2026 15:34:59 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://norikoart.com/wp-content/uploads/hanko-small-100x100.jpg Events Archives - NorikoArt https://norikoart.com/category/events/ 32 32 Upcoming Chigiri-e Workshop & Latest News | January Newsletter https://norikoart.com/upcoming-chigiri-e-workshop-latest-news-january-newsletter/ Sun, 18 Jan 2026 14:58:52 +0000 https://norikoart.com/?p=8676 Welcome to my latest newsletter!If you missed any past issues, feel free to browse them all here. Hello and Happy 2026! šŸŽ‰ I know I missed sending a December newsletter, so I didnā€™t get a chance to say Merry Christmas or Happy New Year ā€” so hereā€™s a big, warm hello to all of you! […]

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Welcome to my latest newsletter!
If you missed any past issues, feel free to browse them all here.

Hello and Happy 2026! šŸŽ‰

I know I missed sending a December newsletter, so I didnā€™t get a chance to say Merry Christmas or Happy New Year ā€” so hereā€™s a big, warm hello to all of you! I hope your holidays were filled with joy, family time, and special moments.

Now that the new year is underway, Iā€™m excited to share my upcoming event and the latest news. Letā€™s start 2026 with creativity, curiosity, and a little bit of magic! āœØ

Online Chigiri-e Workshop

Monday 2 February, 17:00 – 18:00 (GMT)

Join my 1-hour online Chigiri-e workshop, an introduction to Japanese paper collage art. Using everyday materials like newspapers, Iā€™ll guide you step by step to create your first piece ā€” no experience needed.

The workshop will be held live on Zoom, with only 8 places available, so everyone can receive personal guidance. I donā€™t run these workshops often, so if youā€™ve been curious about Chigiri-e, nowā€™s the perfect time to join! šŸŽØ

Book Now

Japanese art, culture, and language workshops

Iā€™m running a series of Japanese art, culture, and language workshops at Steel Street Youth Club in County Durham, in collaboration with the Japanese section at Newcastle University.

Our first session of 2026 explored Japanese New Year. After learning about customs, festive foods, and the Chinese zodiac, the children enjoyed hands-on activities such as calligraphy, origami horses, and creating New Year cards with Japanese writing.

Our next workshop will be a manga session, which Iā€™ve never run before, so Iā€™m excited to introduce new ideas and activities.

Through these workshops, I love creating joyful, creative spaces where children can explore new cultures and express themselves šŸŒø

Ā If I had an “Anywhere Door”…

I recently joined the Happy Writing Marathon, hosted by the author I deeply admire, Ken Honda.
The Christmas prompt was:

ā€œIf you could use magic for just one day, what would you do?ā€

I was delighted (and very honoured!) when my piece was chosen by Ken as one of the ā€œstories that moved the heart.ā€ šŸŽ‰

The story is inspired by Doraemon ā€” a much-loved Japanese cartoon about a robotic cat from the future who helps a young boy using magical gadgets. One of the most famous is the ā€œAnywhere Door,ā€ which lets you travel instantly to anywhere in the world.

That childhood dream still lives on in my story today.

Read the full story on my blog

Donā€™t Say Hurry Up, Hurry Up

Hereā€™s another writing piece inspired by a prompt from Ken Honda:

ā€œWhat was a recent moment when your heart felt, ā€˜This is it!ā€™?ā€

In this piece, I reflect on a picture book that recently caught my eye ā€” Donā€™t Say Hurry Up, Hurry Up.

As a mum and a childrenā€™s author, I warmly recommend this book, especially for busy parents raising little ones. Although this book is written in Japanese, the message goes beyond language and culture.

Read the full story on my blog

ā™¦Ā Buy My Books (from me!) ā™¦

My picture books (signed & personalised) are available here!

Bocchi and Pocchi-A Tale of Two Socks written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara. Picture book for children aged 2-5. Published by Troika Books in 2013.
Buy now
Picture book for children age 2-5. Bocchi and Pocchi and the Bird written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara. Published by Troika Books in 2014.
Buy now
Picture book for children age 2-5. Bocchi and Pocchiā€™s Big Surprise written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara. Published by Troika Books in 2016.
Buy now

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The post Upcoming Chigiri-e Workshop & Latest News | January Newsletter appeared first on NorikoArt.

]]> Event, YouTube & Freebies! – September Newsletter 2025 https://norikoart.com/event-youtube-freebies-september-newsletter-2025/ Mon, 22 Sep 2025 21:54:33 +0000 https://norikoart.com/?p=8571 Welcome to my latest newsletter!If you missed any past issues, feel free to browse them all here. Celebration of Imagination in Newcastle šŸŽ‰ I had a surprisingly sunny summer here in the UK, and now Iā€™m back in full swing! This week, Iā€™m so excited to joinĀ Ann Englishā€™s Celebration of ImaginationĀ in Newcastle as a guest […]

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Welcome to my latest newsletter!
If you missed any past issues, feel free to browse them all here.

Celebration of Imagination in Newcastle šŸŽ‰

I had a surprisingly sunny summer here in the UK, and now Iā€™m back in full swing!

This week, Iā€™m so excited to joinĀ Ann Englishā€™s Celebration of ImaginationĀ in Newcastle as a guest panelist.

The Dream Maker Panel (co-hosted byĀ Tricia Scott, Founder ofĀ The Female CEO) includes:

  • Ashleigh KingĀ ā€“ Podcast Producer

  • Lauren McWilliamsĀ ā€“ Brand Photographer & Strategist

  • Jennifer GaneĀ ā€“ Web Developer & Fundraiser

  • Samantha OsmondĀ ā€“ Storyteller, crochet designer, & journal-maker
    ā€¦and me!

When:Ā Tuesday 16thĀ Sept, 5:30ā€“8:30pm
Where:Ā Brinkburn St Brewery, Newcastle, UK

What to expect:
āœØSpark your imagination with creative activities, practical strategies and inspirational stories
āœØ Connect with visionary founders, dreamers and doers
āœØ The launch of the Celebration Edition of The Clarity Quest IdeasBook

Sorry, this event is over

New Video šŸŽ„

My new Arigato Magic video is live on YouTube!

Learn how to say ā€œThank you, river!ā€ in Japaneseā€”a fun and simple way to introduce children (and grown-ups!) to the joy of everyday gratitude.

Our latest Arigato Magic video was filmed by our neighbour, the River Derwent! I feel so lucky to live near this peaceful, beautiful spot. šŸ„°

Hope you enjoy it!Ā 

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

A Message That Touched My Heart

ā€œThank you for the work you have done.ā€

I recently received an order for my picture books from Danny, for his daughter Claire. He shared this message with me:

ā€œClaire has autism and loves watching videos on YouTube. She discovered your videos and has been practicing the Japanese sentences you teach every day. This is a big deal because she used to be non-verbal. Seeing her motivation to speak and even learn a second language is amazingā€”thank you for the work you have done.ā€

šŸ˜­šŸ’– I was deeply moved. I never imagined my videos could be part of someoneā€™s language journey like this.

To Claire, Danny, and everyone quietly cheering from the other side of the screenā€”thank you. You inspire me to keep creating with love and gratitude. ā¤

Visit my YouTube Channel

Special Gift: FREE Colouring Sheets

Last year, my very first novelty picture book was published in Japanā€”and it quickly went into multiple printings! šŸŽ‰

To thank all my wonderful readers, Iā€™ve created aĀ special set of colouring sheets! šŸŽØ

Download them for freeĀ from Iwasaki Publishingā€™s website.
They have a bit of Japanese text, but I hope you have fun with them anyway!

If the website appears in Japanese, you can translate it into English by right-clicking anywhere on the page in Google Chrome and selecting ā€œTranslate to English.ā€

Grab Your Colouring Sheets

ā™¦Ā Buy My Books (from me!) ā™¦

My picture books (signed & personalised) are available here!

Bocchi and Pocchi-A Tale of Two Socks written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara. Picture book for children aged 2-5. Published by Troika Books in 2013.
Buy now
Picture book for children age 2-5. Bocchi and Pocchi and the Bird written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara. Published by Troika Books in 2014.
Buy now
Picture book for children age 2-5. Bocchi and Pocchiā€™s Big Surprise written and illustrated by Noriko Matsubara. Published by Troika Books in 2016.
Buy now

Enjoyed this post? Share it with your friends on social media! ā¬‡

Missed any of my past newsletters? Browse them all here.

Join my mailing list

Would you like to learn about upcoming events, see my latest artwork, and receive insight into the process of making art?

Sign up my mailing list below to receive my newsletters.

The post Event, YouTube & Freebies! – September Newsletter 2025 appeared first on NorikoArt.

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