Friends are the family you get to choose, and Nakama Studio exemplifies that through its enrichment classes and event venue. “Nakama means ‘friends that are like family,’ in Japanese, and in the U.S., we don’t have a special word with that meaning,” says Julie Martin, Owner of Nakama Studio. “The goal of the studio is to bring the community together.
In bringing others together, Nakama Studio wants to help you slowdown in life and spend a little more time doing what you enjoy or even learn and explore different topics to discover new thins that may bring you joy. “Nakama Studio was created to be a part of a self-care routine,” says Martin. “It’s important for all of us to make time to care for ourselves by doing things that we enjoy and, after years of being separated, build the community we need now more than ever.”
Martin is the one-woman show behind Nakama Studio, and is a homeschooling mom of 3 celebrating 12 years of marriage in 2022. Before she ventured into running her own business, she focused on educating her children and helping her husband run his business, Anderson Gutter Company. The opportunity arose for her to start her own business when her husband purchased a building for his business and there was extra space he didn’t need.
“I decided to utilize the additional space that he had no use for and Nakama Studio was created,” she explains. “I saw a new to provide a wide variety of enrichment classes to the community. While I teach some of the classes, I also bring in many other local, small business owners to teach a wide variety of classes that are of interest to myself, my kids, and the community.”
When asked what’s offered at Nakama Studio, Martin says the better question is “what does the studio not offer?”
At Nakama Studio, you’ll find a variety of art and DIY classes offered for all ages, drawing classes, Lego robotics, Lego club, creature club, sound baths, engineering classes, ceramic painting, self-care focused classes and events for kids and adults, and youth and adults makers’ markets to name a few. Other classes include: cookie decorating, cake/cupcake decorating, blanket making, babysitting education, parents night out, gardening education, beekeeping education, holiday parties, guitar lessons, ukulele lessons, open play and art time, and so much more.
Martin says she’s regularly adding classes to the lineup and also open to hosting birthday parties with provided activities or simply space for the community to rent out and host their own events. Additionally, she’s offering a year-round reading program for the kids to earn prizes and local products from a variety of local, small businesses.
While there are event venues throughout the city, Martin says that there’s no other place quite like Cincinnati offering a variety of classes and events. She also sells local products available for purchase in the studio as part of her larger effort to support small businesses in Cincinnati.
As Martin looks forward to the continued growth of Nakama Studio, she says that she is launching a homeschool co-op. “Due to the high demand, the co-op will run Monday through Friday, with a different group of kids and parents each day,” she explains. “The co-op will have a child-led learning approach with a field trip each month to a local spot for educational, hand-on learning.”
Nakama Studio is located at 600 Kilgore Avenue in Batavia. To learn more, visit www.nakamastudio.org. There you can find all upcoming events as well as registration for upcoming classes and events. You can follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings.
