City of Hillsboro, OR

06/30/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2022 17:42

Spooky Stories & Chilling Tales Comes to the Walters Cultural Arts Center

Looking for an evening of spooky stories and chilling tales this summer? The Walters Cultural Arts Center is thrilled to present Haunted Rim: Chills for a Summer Night with professional storyteller Alton Takiyama-Chung on Tuesday, July 26 from 7 - 8 pm. Bringing the Japanese tradition of sharing ghost stories during humid summer nights, this free event is sure to bring a few chills to audience members. The evening is presented as part of our Creative Connections Series.

According to Takiyama-Chung, "summers in Japan can be hot and humid. Back in the Edo Period (1603 - 1868 CE), people would play a game called Hyakumonogatari Kaidenkai or 100 Weird Tales to experience a little shiver during the hot summer months." This free summer event will bring the chilling tales of a faceless ghost in Japan, the Night Marchers of Hawaii, and the strange things that occur under Portland's streets, along with some spooky details from the last time that Takiyama-Chung presented ghost stories at the Walters. For more details, visit Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/Walters.

For anyone looking to tell their own family stories and oral histories, spooky or not, they can join Takiyama-Chung for his workshop, "Collecting Oral Histories: Gathering and Telling Family Stories," on Saturday, July 30. Participants will learn ways of capturing and preserving oral family histories and stories for future generations, while work in small groups through hands on storytelling exercises, demonstrations, and more. Learn more about this workshop and register at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/WaltersClasses.

Alton Takiyama-Chung first began storytelling after attending a class at an independent bookshop. Chung explains that "it has been 25 years since I took that class. Since then, I have been embraced by the storytelling community, found many teachers, mentors, and allies, and for that I am truly grateful. Now this is my full-time job." Chung has shared stories from his Hawaiian roots and Asian heritage across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.