My niece had a Japanese themed birthday party for her 14th birthday party with family. The focus of the theme was nature (crane, maple leaf, cherry blossom, and bamboo). We planned an Americanized version of Japanese food because many of the party attendees are not adventurous eaters. The guests enjoyed the theme and food.

Decorations:

• Birthday banner in Japanese
• Cherry blossom branches
• Origami cranes
• Pictures of Japanese nature
• Chopstick rests – We modified this idea. Instead of scrap booking rub-ons I printed out clip-art (maple leaf, cherry blossom and bamboo) and then used Mod Podge.
• Origami Nature Centerpieces – We used origami paper and folded bamboo, maple leaf and standing crane. We cut out a cherry blossom shape. I made labels for each nature in Japanese and taped to each cup.We attached the nature item on a stick to the top of a cup.

Cherry Blossom Branches

Hanging Cranes, Photos of Japan, Cherry Blossoms

Chopstick Rests

Chopsticks on Rest

Party Tables with Centerpieces

Appetizers:

• Vegetable and cheese tray with rice crackers
• Almond crush pokey
• Wasabi dried peas
• Roasted seaweed
• Apple swans with caramel dip & cut apples
• Sushi (from Wegmans)
• Origami crane wontons

Vegetable Tray with Cheese and Rice Crackers

Close-up of Vegetables

Wasabi Peas in Paper Box

Apple Swan

Wonton Origami Cranes

Main Meal:

• Salad with mandarin oranges and Japanese salad dressing option
• Homemade vegetable gyoza
  
• Yaki Onigiri
• Teriyaki steak
• Sesame chicken
• Black bean and corn wonton cups
• Fruit and yogurt wonton cups

Vegetable Gyoza

Black Bean and Corn Wonton Cups

Fruit and Yogurt Wonton Cups

Dessert:

• Dessert sushi
• Cherry cake
• Japanese flag cookies

Dessert Sushi

Cherry Cake

Japanese Flag Cookies

Activity:

14 questions about Japan. The winner was the first to get dessert.