After spending four years living and studying in Japan, Encinitas native Katie Clark is returning to her hometown community to share the mysterious and supernatural side of Japanese culture.
Clark will present “Yokai: Unveiling Japanese Ghosts and Monsters,”an afternoon Tea Talk at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum in Balboa Park on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
From mischievous spirits to fearsome monsters and mysterious ghosts, Clark’s presentation will explore the strange and sometimes terrifying tales of traditional Japanese folklore. Guests will discover the fantastical creatures known as yokai and the stories that have captivated generations in Japan. Tea will be served during the program, offering guests a chance to calm their nerves and warm their bones as they explore Japan’s supernatural traditions on Halloween, a news release stated.
Admission: $16 garden admission, plus an additional $5 for Tea Talk registration. Registration: Go to: balboapark.org/event/yokai-unveiling-japanese-ghosts-and-monsters/ or shorturl.at/5LwFX
Clark’s fascination with Japan began in high school while studying Japanese at San Dieguito Academy. She continued pursuing her interest at the University of California, Irvine, where she studied Global Cultures and spent time studying abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto.
Following her undergraduate studies, Clark earned a master’s degree at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, focusing on a range of topics in Japanese humanities. Her research centered on the tengu, a legendary creature in Japanese folklore, and its connections to yamabushi—mountain ascetics associated with Japan’s spiritual traditions.
While completing her graduate studies, Clark also worked for a Japanese tea company as a writer and researcher, exploring and communicating the history and cultural significance of tea in Japan.
Now back in San Diego, Clark is eager to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for Japanese history, folklore and culture with the local community. This will be her second Tea Talk at the Japanese Friendship Garden, the news release stated.
Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum is a cultural and botanical destination dedicated to connecting, educating and inspiring people through Japanese culture. Established as an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, the garden opened to the public in 1991. Today, it welcomes more than 330,000 visitors annually and offers educational programs, exhibits and cultural festivals that foster greater understanding and appreciation of Japanese traditions.
The Halloween Tea Talk offers a unique opportunity to experience a different side of Japanese culture through the folklore, legends and supernatural characters that continue to fascinate audiences around the world, the news release stated.