FACULTY

Kimiko Gunji
Associate Professor, Japanese Arts & Culture
Japan House

kimiko@illinois.edu | website | CV

Professor Gunji has been teaching at the University since 1979. Currently she teaches courses entitled the Way of Tea and Zen Aesthetics, the Art of Japanese Flower Arrangement, and the Campus Honors Program Seminar: Rigidity and Flexibility in Japanese Arts and Culture.

She is a Full Professor of the Ikenobo Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arranging) School in Japan and Chapter President of the Illinois Prairie Ikenobo Ikebana. She holds Chamei: Souki from the Urasenke Tea School and serves as President of the Urbana-Champaign Association of Chado Urasenke Tankokai, Inc. She also holds a teaching certificate of Japanese classical dance.

Professor Gunji received numerous awards for her teachings as well as her contributions to promote Japanese arts and culture. Among her awards are: Recipient of Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in the Field of Ethnic and Folk Arts, the International Culture Award from The Cultural Foundation for Promoting the National Costume of Japan, and University of Illinois Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. In 2004, she received two distinguished awards: On March 31, a Commendation in Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the United States-Japan Relationship from the Foreign Minister of Japan, Jyunko Kawaguchi. On June3, 2004, she also received a “Certificate of Thanks” from Sen’ei Ikenobo, 45th Generation Headmaster of the Ikenobo Ikebana School. Both awards recognized her contribution to promote and strengthen the ties of friendship and goodwill between the United States and Japan. On October 18, 2006, she also received Champaign-Urbana International Humanitarian Awards for her contribution to building a better world.