Japan Society

Japan Society Founded in 1907, Japan Society in New York City presents sophisticated, topical and accessible exper
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Today, Japan Society has evolved into a world-class, multidisciplinary hub for global leaders, artists, scholars, educators, and English and Japanese-speaking audiences. At the Society, more than 100 events each year feature sophisticated, topically relevant presentations of Japanese art and culture and open, critical dialogue on issues of vital importance to the U.S., Japan and East Asia. Activit

ies at Japan Society are set against a stunning backdrop of indoor gardens, a reflecting pool and a waterfall. Facilities include a 262-seat theater, art gallery, language center, library and conference rooms. Japan Society's landmark building—located near the United Nations on 47th Street and First Avenue—was designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura and opened in 1971 as the first building in New York City by a leading Japanese architect. The classic elegance and simplicity of Yoshimura's original vision has been preserved even as the building has been enhanced by a substantial renovation. Japan Society was founded on May 19, 1907 by a group of prominent New York business people and philanthropists, many of whom shaped the policies of exchange and collaboration that guided the Society until the outbreak of World War II. After the war, activities slowly resumed, and the stewardship of John D. Rockefeller 3rd from 1952 to 1978 led to a unified vision, a firm financial foundation, and a revitalized mission that continues to inspire and sustain the organization today.

09/22/2023

John Cage, one of the 20th century’s most iconoclastic avant-garde artists, was profoundly influenced by his experiences in Japan in the early 1960s. Here's Laura Kuhn, executive director of the John Cage Trust, with a few words on our fall performing arts series, "John Cage's Japan." 🎙️✨

We're less than one week away from the series' first performance! Running for two nights only on Sept. 28 & 29, Paul Lazar's "Cage Shuffle" is the perfect introduction to Cage's music, featuring a mesmerizing blend of spoken word and movement choreographed by Tony Award-winner Annie-B Parson.

🎟️ Get tickets & learn more here: japansoc.org/JohnCage

09/22/2023
09/20/2023

We can’t wait for our series of performances with Tomomi Adachi at Japan Society as part of their “John Cage’s Japan Series.” Don’t miss out on this first-ever John Cage festival that focuses on Japan’s influence on this significantly influential composer of the 20th century!

First up is RYOANJI on October 21. Embracing Cage’s free-spirited approach to the score, composer/musician/vocal performer Tomomi Adachi brings his composition to life in a cutting-edge concert that connects two cities remotely. Mike Lormand (trombone), Lizzie Burns (double bass), and Clara Warnaar (percussion) will perform alongside musicians in Kanazawa City, Japan – Hitomi Nakamura on the ancient hichiriki woodwind and Maki Ota on vocals – streaming live from a tea house.

Tickets at https://japansociety.org/events/ryoanji/

In celebration of , our friends at Christie's New York invited Japan Society members to go behind the scenes at auction...
09/19/2023

In celebration of , our friends at Christie's New York invited Japan Society members to go behind the scenes at auction last weekend—here are some highlights from the private tour! 🖼️👏

A huge thank you to Hua Zhou, Junior Specialist in Japanese and Korean Art at Christie’s, for guiding our members through this selection of artworks, including iconic woodblock prints like Hokusai's "Great Wave," as well as stunning Joseon Period ceramics and other significant prints, paintings and sculptures.

We had a fantastic time exploring these incredible pieces of art with you!

POV you're commuting to work this morning ☔Here are some chaotic, storm-inspired prints to help cure your rainy Monday...
09/18/2023

POV you're commuting to work this morning ☔

Here are some chaotic, storm-inspired prints to help cure your rainy Monday blues—including one of the best-known scenes from Utagawa Hiroshige's famed "Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" series (second image).

🖼️ [1] Katsushika Hokusai, "Shower at the New Yanagi Bridge," 1806.

🖼️ [2] Utagawa Hiroshige, "Sudden Shower at Shōno, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō," 1834–35.

🖼️ [3] Utagawa Kuniyoshi, "Onmayagashi in Edo," 1830–44.

🎷🔥 PSA anime & jazz lovers! We're excited to announce that BLUE GIANT will have its North American premiere at Japan Soc...
09/13/2023

🎷🔥 PSA anime & jazz lovers! We're excited to announce that BLUE GIANT will have its North American premiere at Japan Society on Oct. 6—followed by a special on-stage conversation with world-famous pianist and jazz icon Hiromi Uehara.

Adapted from Shinichi Ishizuka's renowned manga of the same name, director Yuzuru Tachikawa's (MOB PSYCHO 100) latest film is a stirring ode to the power of music, featuring a stunning new soundtrack from Hiromi. Tickets on sale NOW! 🎟️

This screening is in collaboration with GKIDS in celebration of their nationwide release of on Oct. 8 and 9. Learn more here: japansoc.org/BlueGiant

🍱 Learn to make a classic Japanese lunch just in time for back-to-school season! Next up in the family-friendly series...
09/07/2023

🍱 Learn to make a classic Japanese lunch just in time for back-to-school season! Next up in the family-friendly series is sanshoku gohan (tricolor rice bowls), with a side of miso soup and apple bunnies.

You can still sign up here: http://japansoc.org/Ouchigohan

Did someone say encore? 🤭✨ Following the instant sell-out of our 9/10 ANGEL'S EGG screening with special guest Yosh*taka...
09/05/2023

Did someone say encore? 🤭✨

Following the instant sell-out of our 9/10 ANGEL'S EGG screening with special guest Yosh*taka Amano—we're thrilled to announce an ADDITIONAL SCREENING of the stunning anime cult classic this Sunday at 3:30 pm!

This additional screening will feature post-screening remarks from Amano live on stage. (Please Note: This event does not include a Q&A or reception.)

Tickets NOW available: japansoc.org/AngelsEgg2

🎨 We're especially excited to co-present both ANGEL'S EGG screenings with LOMEX Gallery, whose exhibition "Yosh*taka Amano – The Birth of Myth" opens Sept. 9. Be sure to check it out!

🎨🧑‍🎓 Tomorrow is the last day of Japan Society's School Partnership Student Exhibition! Over the past few weeks, we've e...
08/31/2023

🎨🧑‍🎓 Tomorrow is the last day of Japan Society's School Partnership Student Exhibition!

Over the past few weeks, we've enjoyed sharing these vibrant student artworks—ranging from sumi-e (ink paintings) to manga-inspired portraits—with visitors and staff in our A-level lobby.

Launched last fall, Japan Society's School Partnership (JSSP) program aims to make quality arts and culture programming and learning opportunities more accessible to underserved schools in NYC through free gallery tours, family festivities, hands-on workshops and afterschool activities.

This free, public exhibition showcases the experiences, creativity and growth of students from our four partner schools during the 2022-23 school year. We hope you have a chance to drop by before it closes this Friday!

Learn more about School Partnerships here: japansoc.org/JSSP

📰 Thrilled to be featured in ウェブ版美術手帖 (Bijutsu Techo), one of the longest-standing arts publications in Japan! We can't ...
08/30/2023

📰 Thrilled to be featured in ウェブ版美術手帖 (Bijutsu Techo), one of the longest-standing arts publications in Japan! We can't wait to share our fall exhibition with you.

Featuring the works of four pioneering Japanese artists—Shigeko Kubota, Yoko Ono, Takako Saito and Mieko Shiomi—"Out of Bounds: Japanese Women Artists in Fluxus" opens Oct. 13!

久保田成子、オノ・ヨーコ、斉藤陽子、塩見允枝子といった、フルクサスにおける日本人女性アーティストの重要な役割に焦点を当てる展覧会「アウト・オブ・バウンズ　フルクサスと日本人女性芸…

🍂 Fall Japanese courses are here! 🍂 Learn to speak, read and write Japanese with confidence at one of the Best Language ...
08/29/2023

🍂 Fall Japanese courses are here! 🍂

Learn to speak, read and write Japanese with confidence at one of the Best Language Classes in New York, according to New York Magazine 🗽✨

Register by Sept. 6 to catch your early pricing discount on 60+ online and in-person Japanese courses spanning 13 levels (beginner to advanced), plus special topic courses like "Casual Japanese with Anime" and "Keigo & Business."

Not ready to commit to a course? Try our online workshops for specialized lessons in kanji, onomatopoeia, traveler basics + more! Also offered this fall:

✏️ Shodo Courses (Japanese Calligraphy)
✏️ Japanese for Youth Courses (Ages 12 to 15)
✏️ 英会話 (English Courses)

Register today: japansoc.org/LanguageCenter

08/24/2023

Japan Society hosts screening of Mamoru Oshii, Amano's anime at LOMEX Gallery

JUST ANNOUNCED 🎥✨ We’re very excited to share that internationally renowned artist Yosh*taka Amano will make a rare in-p...
08/24/2023

JUST ANNOUNCED 🎥✨ We’re very excited to share that internationally renowned artist Yosh*taka Amano will make a rare in-person appearance at a special screening of ANGEL’S EGG on Sept. 10—followed by a reception!

If you missed our screening of this hard-to-find anime cult classic last October, now’s your chance to catch it on the big screen + meet the creative force behind the film’s stunning art style: japansoc.org/AngelsEgg

Also screening this September: A kaidan (ghost story) classic like no other, director Nagisa Oshima’s morbid tale of passion and guilt at the turn of the 20th century—EMPIRE OF PASSION—screens on Sept. 8: japansoc.org/EmpireofPassion

In celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21, Portland Japanese Garden's Japan Institute and Japan S...
08/23/2023

In celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21, Portland Japanese Garden's Japan Institute and Japan Society are excited to co-present “Peace Symposium New York 2023: Peacemaking at the Intersection of Culture, Art, and Nature.”

Join us for an afternoon of insightful conversations, poetry readings, networking, and more as we explore the evolving role of art, cultural institutions, and public spaces as a platform for peace-building and community engagement.

Registration is required for this free, public symposium (followed by a catered reception). View program details and register today: japansoc.org/peace2023

💭 What role did women’s education play in Meiji-era Japan?Hear from the experts in Asia Society Japan’s virtual program ...
08/22/2023

💭 What role did women’s education play in Meiji-era Japan?

Hear from the experts in Asia Society Japan’s virtual program this Sunday, August 27 at 7 pm ET—presented as part of Asia Society’s global series.

A panel of experts will discuss the significance of education, in particular, women’s education and modernization.

John Cage, one of the most important avant-garde composers of the 20th century, with Yoko Ono on the set of an NHK progr...
08/17/2023

John Cage, one of the most important avant-garde composers of the 20th century, with Yoko Ono on the set of an NHK program in 1962.

Six decades after Cage’s first trip to Japan, we’re thrilled to present a never-before-attempted series of innovative performances examining Japan’s influence on the iconic American artist.

🎟 Tickets are NOW on sale for “John Cage’s Japan” (launching Sept. 28 with Paul Lazar’s “Cage Shuffle”) and our spring 2024 Performing Arts Season—featuring Hamlet reimagined, kabuki dance, hip-hop and more!

View the full season lineup here: japansoc.org/Performances

📸 © Photo by Yasuhiro Yoshioka, Courtesy of Sogetsu Foundation.

08/16/2023
🍵 Founded over 450 years ago, the Omotesenke school of tea is among Kyoto's famed "sansenke"—the three main schools of ...
08/16/2023

🍵 Founded over 450 years ago, the Omotesenke school of tea is among Kyoto's famed "sansenke"—the three main schools of established by revered tea master Sen Rikyu.

Last week, we had the opportunity to experience this centuries-old tradition firsthand at Japan Society, where we held a public tea ceremony led by tea masters from Kyoto's headquarters.

Here's a glimpse of the memorable evening, which ended with a tasting of freshly whisked matcha and seasonal sweets!

📸 Daphne Youree

08/15/2023

We’re thrilled to announce Takehiko Inoue’s THE FIRST SLAM DUNK as the winner of this year's JAPAN CUTS Audience Award!

将来、日本語教師を目指している方 📢 JS語学センターでは、8/16（水）午前10 時半（ET）より、日本語教師養成講座についての無料説明会をオンラインで開催いたします！お申込みをされていない方、まだ間に合います 📝
08/14/2023

将来、日本語教師を目指している方 📢

JS語学センターでは、8/16（水）午前10 時半（ET）より、日本語教師養成講座についての無料説明会をオンラインで開催いたします！

お申込みをされていない方、まだ間に合います 📝

Teacher Training Open House

08/14/2023

"Shinji Somai's films have the power to change and sustain your life," said Ryusuke Hamaguchi. One of the great retrospectives this year thus far was that of the Japanese director, presented by NYC's Japan Society. His eclectic work is well-deserving of discovery and now Cinema Guild is bringing two...

Inspired by the true story of 12-year-old Sadako Sasaki, who died from leukemia a decade after the devastating atomic bo...
08/09/2023

Inspired by the true story of 12-year-old Sadako Sasaki, who died from leukemia a decade after the devastating atomic bombing of Hiroshima, origami cranes have blossomed into an internationally recognized symbol of peace.

Believing in a Japanese legend that claimed anyone who folded 1,000 paper cranes (senbazuru) would be granted a lifetime of happiness, Sadako began folding crane after crane from her hospital bed until her untimely death in 1955.

In 2015, Sadako's brother, Masahiro Sasaki, visited Japan Society to share his personal memories of Sadako and speak about his family's unwavering efforts to keep her legacy and their wish for peace alive. Today, our library is home to this beautiful senbazuru, which greets hundreds of students and visitors each year.

On the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we join voices around the world in honoring the victims and supporting a safer, more hopeful future 🕊️

Our hearts are full as we wrap up yet another remarkable celebration of contemporary Japanese cinema at the 16th annual ...
08/07/2023

Our hearts are full as we wrap up yet another remarkable celebration of contemporary Japanese cinema at the 16th annual film festival ❤️🎥

This year's festival was particularly special, marking the first fully in-person JAPAN CUTS since 2019! We're so thankful for the hundreds of fans who showed up over the past two weeks, and we're incredibly honored to have shared the experience with esteemed guests and directors, many of whom traversed the globe to be with us.

🎗️ Stay tuned for exciting announcements over the next few days—including the winner of this year's JAPAN CUTS Audience Award!

📸 Daphne Youree & Ayumi Sakamoto

One of IndieWire’s 5 must-see films at , THE THREE SISTERS OF TENMASOU INN “isn’t afraid to yank on your heartstrings” ...
08/04/2023

One of IndieWire’s 5 must-see films at , THE THREE SISTERS OF TENMASOU INN “isn’t afraid to yank on your heartstrings” with its supernatural tale of life, death and the greatest gift of all—family.

🍿 Dir. Ryuhei Kitamura’s manga-based tearjerker will close out the festival this Sunday at 2:30 pm! Tickets still available at here: japansoc.org/ThreeSisters

#天間荘の三姉妹

🚨✨ Final weekend roundup for before the festival ends this Sunday! Our Centerpiece Presentation of UNDER THE TURQUOISE...
08/03/2023

🚨✨ Final weekend roundup for before the festival ends this Sunday!

Our Centerpiece Presentation of UNDER THE TURQUOISE SKY is sold out, but we still have plenty in store for you this weekend:

🎞 THE FISH TALE
Saturday, 8/5 @ 12 pm

🎞 PEOPLE WHO TALK TO PLUSHIES ARE KIND
Saturday, 8/5 @ 6:30 pm

🎞 FROM THE END OF THE WORLD
Saturday, 8/5 @ 9:30 pm

🎞 MONDAYS: SEE YOU "THIS" WEEK!
Sunday, 8/6 @ 12 pm

🎞 THE THREE SISTERS OF TENMASOU INN
Sunday, 8/6 @ 2:30 pm

Don't miss the last days of North America's largest contemporary Japanese film festival—learn more about each film here: japansoc.org/japancuts

08/02/2023

Director Keishi Otomo on the irreplaceable magic of analog filmmaking in his sweeping Sengoku-era romance, THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY (2023) 🦋

The film, which had its NA Theatrical Premiere at last Sunday, was shot across various historical sites in Kyoto during a time when the city’s tourism was at an all-time low due to the pandemic.

“That’s what allowed us to film in these amazing locations,” Otomo added. “I wanted to take that opportunity to really confirm the difference between filming in real life and on location, versus doing things virtually.”


#レジェンドアンドバタフライ

On the set of director Satoshi Miki’s latest offbeat fantasy, CONVENIENCE STORY (2022) 🎬Based on an original story by Ja...
08/01/2023

On the set of director Satoshi Miki’s latest offbeat fantasy, CONVENIENCE STORY (2022) 🎬

Based on an original story by Japanese cinema expert Mark Schilling, the film (dubbed “an uncanny episode of the Twilight Zone” by Screen Anarchy) follows a deadbeat screenwriter who stumbles into an alternate dimension at his local konbini.

Catch its New York Premiere at this Thursday, August 3 at 9 pm: japansoc.org/ConvenienceStory

📸 © 2022 Convenience Story Production Committee



#コンビニエンスストーリー

Exciting news! 👏👏 VERY limited seats have been added to our previously sold-out screenings of UNDER THE TURQUOISE SKY on...
07/31/2023

Exciting news! 👏👏 VERY limited seats have been added to our previously sold-out screenings of UNDER THE TURQUOISE SKY on 8/4 (with Centerpiece Party) and 8/5 (Encore Screening).

💭 Both screenings will be followed by a Q&A with director KENTARO and actor Yuya Yagira. Hurry—get tickets now: japansoc.org/japancuts

This past weekend at , we were honored to welcome director Elizabeth Lennard for a Q&A following the highly anticipated...
07/31/2023

This past weekend at , we were honored to welcome director Elizabeth Lennard for a Q&A following the highly anticipated big-screen return of her 1985 cult documentary, TOKYO MELODY: A FILM ABOUT RYUICHI SAKAMOTO.

The film’s print hadn’t seen the light of day since the mid-80s, when it was last shown at a São Paulo film festival. Japanese singer/musician Akiko Yano (who appears alongside Sakamoto in the 62-minute film) was also present and provided opening remarks.

🎞 For more information on , check out Hyperallergic’s interview with Lennard here: https://hyperallergic.com/835372/revisiting-the-magic-of-tokyo-melody-ryuichi-sakamoto/

📸 Ayumi Sakamoto

Make it a weekend with IndieWire’s must-see films from North America’s largest Japanese film fest! I AM WHAT I AM is s...
07/28/2023

Make it a weekend with IndieWire’s must-see films from North America’s largest Japanese film fest!

I AM WHAT I AM is sold out, but tickets are still available for WANDERING (8/1), WHEN MORNING COMES, I FEEL EMPTY (8/3) and THE THREE SISTERS OF TENMASOU INN (8/6).

Be the first in the U.S. to see these contemporary gems—only screening at 🍿✨

Full reviews here: https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-japan-cuts-movies-2023/

07/27/2023

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Videos

9000 Paper Balloons | Teaser
9000 Paper Balloons | Teaser

Deadly floating balloons in America? 👀 Artist Maiko Kikuchi and puppeteer Spencer Lott were just as perplexed when they learned about the Fu-Go Project—an incendiary balloon weapon deployed by Imperial Japan against the United States during World War II. This stranger-than-fiction tale became the inspiration behind their poetic and eerie performance, 9000 PAPER BALLOONS, opening October 28 at Japan Society. Watch the full teaser and secure your seats today! 🎈✨ 🎟 japansoc.org/PaperBalloons

英語で人をForeignerと呼ぶのは失礼ですか？
英語で人をForeignerと呼ぶのは失礼ですか？

英語で人をForeignerと呼ぶのは失礼ですか？🤷‍♂️ If you’re a native English speaker, you’re probably aware that calling someone a “foreigner” isn’t the best way to make friends. The word “foreigner” embodies a deeper, darker nuance—which some native Japanese speakers learning English may not be aware of. Here’s Ben Milam, Japan Society’s bilingual ESL instructor, with some helpful tips! 📝🚨お申込み受付中📝🚨 日英バイリンガルの大人気アメリカ人講師・ベン先生による日本語話者対象の英会話です。JS語学センターでは、９/２０から様々なレベルのクラスを開講します。NYのジャパン・ソサエティーでしか受けられないオンラインの対話式授業に、世界中からご参加いただけます。 Registration is now open for our online Fall English courses, kicking off September 20! Learn more at the 🔗 below. 詳細・お申込 👉 japansoc.org/English #オンライン英会話 #英語の勉強 #英会話

Greetings from OKI: Music of the Ainu
Greetings from OKI: Music of the Ainu

Greetings from Ainu musician OKI and the members of the OKI DUB AINU BAND, who will be performing live at Japan Society on Friday, May 6 as part of their All-America tour 🥁👏 As we head into #AAPIHeritageMonth, we invite you to explore the diversity of Japanese culture through this in-person program spotlighting #AinuMusic — the music of Japan’s northernmost indigenous people. 🎟️ Learn more & secure your tickets at japansoc.org/OKI

OKI: Music of the Ainu
OKI: Music of the Ainu

We're proud to celebrate #AAPIHeritageMonth in May with OKI, one of the best-known musicians of Japan's northernmost indigenous people, the Ainu. For one night only on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 pm, OKI and his band will perform an in-person concert of traditional pieces alongside contemporary works from his just-released 2022 album, Tonkori in the Moonlight. 🎟 japansoc.org/OKI

Waves Across Time: Traditional Dance and Music of Okinawa
Waves Across Time: Traditional Dance and Music of Okinawa

Experience the traditional dance and music of Okinawa this spring! Featuring kumiodori, popular folk dances and live ensemble music, this vibrant in-person program invites audiences to relish in the rich history and heritage of Japan's southernmost prefecture. 🗓️ Friday, March 18 at 7:30 pm—followed by a MetLife Meet-the-Artists Reception 🗓️ Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 pm—followed by an artist Q&A 🎟️ http://ow.ly/jkof50IciMW

Shikō Munakata’s Heart Sutra
Shikō Munakata’s Heart Sutra

One of the most well-known and recited of all Buddhist holy texts is the Heart Sutra, also known as Heart of the Prajna-Paramita Sutra. Artist Shikō Munakata was a devout follower of Buddhism, and the sutra was an inspiration for several works on display in “Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing.” Learn more about the Buddhist philosophies, motifs and figures at the heart of Munakata’s oeuvre with D. Max Moerman, professor and chair of Asian & Middle Eastern Cultures at Barnard College, in a special YouTube premiere event on Tuesday, March 8 at 6 pm. #SeeingMunakata ✨👉 Register in advance to tune in: http://ow.ly/pe2l50IahKb 🚨 Don't miss the final days of the exhibition before it closes on March 20. The gallery will be open Monday-Sunday during closing week—learn more about extended hours here: http://ow.ly/g5ch50IahVK

Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing - The Sōsaku-hanga Movement
Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing - The Sōsaku-hanga Movement

A self-taught artist who revolutionized the woodblock print, Shikō Munakata was closely associated with two major Japanese art movements—the Mingei (folk art) movement, founded by Yanagi Soetsu in the 1920s, and the Sōsaku-hanga (creative print) movement, which marked a departure from traditional ukiyo-e production and aesthetics. Here, curator Tiffany Lambert dives into the shifting ideologies of Munakata’s era. #SeeingMunakata 👋 ✨We’re in the final weeks of “Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing,” on view through March 20. Learn more & plan your visit today: japansociety.org/arts-and-culture/exhibitions/shiko-munakata-way-of-seeing

Shomyo: Buddhist Ritual Chant—Spiral Mandala Ceremony
Shomyo: Buddhist Ritual Chant—Spiral Mandala Ceremony

Japanese composer Yu Kuwabara discusses the ancient art of shomyo, a ritual form of Buddhist chant that traveled along the Silk Road to China, eventually reaching Japan in the sixth century. "Shomyo: Buddhist Ritual Chant—Spiral Mandala Ceremony" kicks off tomorrow at 6 pm with performances through Sunday, February 27! For this one-of-a-kind immersive audio program, Brooklyn-based media designer Tei Blow will transform Japan Society’s stage into a dreamlike soundscape featuring the ethereal voices of Shomyo no Kai—Voices of a Thousand Years, as well as the lyrics and graphic score of Kuwabara’s shomyo piece Spiral Mandala Ceremony. 🎟️✨Learn more & secure your seats today: japansociety.org/arts-and-culture/performances/shomyo-buddhist-mandala-ceremony

Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing - Hara: A Line at the Foot of Mt. Fuji
Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing - Hara: A Line at the Foot of Mt. Fuji

Curator Tiffany Lambert discusses Shikō Munakata's "Tōkaidō Series," highlighted by a stop at Hara (Mt. Fuji). Evidence of Japan's rapid modernization can be seen in the streak of white at the foot of the mountain, commemorating the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, completed in 1964—the year of the Tokyo Olympics and also the year that Munakata completed the series. #SeeingMunakata ✨ Stay tuned for more deep dives into "Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing," on view through March 20 at Japan Society ✨ 🎨 Learn more & plan your visit: japansociety.org/arts-and-culture/exhibitions/shiko-munakata-way-of-seeing

Cooking Up (Trailer)
Cooking Up (Trailer)

Husband's mistress or a missing house cat? The real and the surreal come together at a small French restaurant in #CookingUp, written by emerging playwright Shoko Matsumura and directed by Jordana De La Cruz. Showing Monday, Dec. 6 at Japan Society. 🎟Tickets on sale now: http://ow.ly/vTw050GVVze Watch the trailer for a sneak preview of the play👇

Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors
Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors

Kicking off on Dec. 3, #FlashForward presents an intimate look at six of Japan’s best-known directors, from Naomi Kawase to Masayuki Suo. Stream the entire online slate with the All-Access Pass—on sale now through Dec. 2 only. Available at film.japansociety.org 🎟 Miss the big screen? In collaboration with the National Film Archive of Japan, we’re also presenting two exclusive in-person screenings of works by master filmmaker Sadao Yamanaka in our auditorium. 🍿Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo (1935) 🗓 Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7 pm 🍿Priest of Darkness (1936) 🗓 Friday, Dec. 17 at 7pm Secure your seats today: http://ow.ly/A7hn50GP8nK

Learn Shodō (Japanese Calligraphy)
Learn Shodō (Japanese Calligraphy)

50 seconds of shodō, or Japanese calligraphy🖌✨The current era of Japan's official calendar, "Reiwa" comprises two kanji characters: rei (令), meaning "fortunate," and wa (和), meaning "peace" or "harmony." Registration is now open for Winter Shodō! Learn key skills and create beautiful pieces at home with our 5-week online course, taught by master calligraphers. Learn more & register here: http://ow.ly/M6Bq50GJRWT

Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing
Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing

With his bold, spontaneous, and sketch-like lines, Shikō Munakata (1903-1975) developed an innovative style that revolutionized the woodblock print, liberating it from the conventions of Japanese ukiyo-e masters before him. Lesser known, perhaps, is the true breadth of the artist’s oeuvre. Spanning from prints to calligraphy, sumi ink paintings, ceramics, and beyond — Munakata’s powerfully expressive works make him one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. Opening December 10, “Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing” is a presentation of over 100 path-breaking works organized from Japan Society's rare collection. Learn more & plan your visit: http://ow.ly/r0Y250GGjNU #SeeingMunakata

Adjusting to the New Normal: COVID-19 & Mental Health
Adjusting to the New Normal: COVID-19 & Mental Health

How can organizations acknowledge the mental impact of adjusting to the #NewNormal? Mental health expert Jeremy Hunter provided his insights last week during "Adjusting to the New Normal: COVID-19 & Mental Health"— a live webinar co-organized by the OIST Foundation. We were joined by Okinawa-based counselor Kaori Itokazu and cognitive scientist Mark M. James, whose work focuses on the role of technology in enabling social connection throughout the pandemic. Watch the full program here: http://ow.ly/aLNZ50GzOCE

SHEEP #1 Trailer
SHEEP #1 Trailer

Inspired by the writings of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Sachiyo Takahashi's (Nekaa Lab) inventive performance follows the adventures of a sheep in search for the meaning of life. Watch the trailer for a sneak preview of SHEEP #1 — opening November 4 at Japan Society👇🐑 Reserve your tickets today: http://ow.ly/mo1S50GxHEu

Sneak peak of Japanese artist Sachiyo Takahashi’s (Nekaa Lab) microscopic theater performance about a sheep in search for the meaning of life. In this dreamlike fable, Takahashi manipulates tiny figurines, which are magnified in real time and projected onto a screen with live music accompaniment ☁️🐑 Showing November 4–7 at Japan Society in NYC. More info + tickets here: http://ow.ly/hNyD50GrDZc

60 seconds of koi swimming about and enjoying the water as elegant Japanese irises fondly watch over them | Repost Portland Japanese Garden 🍃 Japanese people have long praised koi (carp) as "the king of river fish." Rice farmers in Japan's Niigata Prefecture began selectively breeding koi for ornamental purposes as early as the 1820s. Koi ponds would go on to become one of the most common features of the #JapaneseGarden. Learn more about one of the world's oldest land art forms in "The Japanese Garden: Living Classroom of Nature, Architecture & Culture"— a free webinar on September 28 at 7PM EDT. Co-presented with the Portland Japanese Garden. 🌾👉 Register here: http://ow.ly/YqSz50G8xyx

An aspiring actor returns home to a wife harboring a monumental secret in Anshul Chauhan’s atmospheric drama — LEO'S RETURN (2021) — now streaming in the U.S. and Canada as part of #JAPANCUTS 🎬 ✨TONIGHT at 8PM EDT ✨Don't miss our Instagram Live Q&A with Anshul Chauhan + directors Mayu Nakamura (AMONG FOUR OF US) and Masami Kawai (ZONA). For this discussion, we wanted to bring together filmmakers from the festival's Shorts Showcase whose work in some way responds to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated crises in Japan + beyond. Tune in at 👉instagram.com/japansociety Stream the films before at film.japansociety.org.

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Greetings from Ainu musician OKI and the members of the OKI DUB AINU BAND, who will be performing live at Japan Society on Friday, May 6 as part of their All-America tour 🥁👏

As we head into , we invite you to explore the diversity of Japanese culture through this in-person program spotlighting — the music of Japan’s northernmost indigenous people.

🎟️ Learn more & secure your tickets at japansoc.org/OKI
Documenting the historical, political and cultural spaces of Okinawa around the time of its 1972 reversion from American sovereignty back to Japan, our upcoming Globus Film Series—Visions of Okinawa: Cinematic Reflections—launches on May 13!

Explore the full lineup and secure your tickets today at the link below🎟👇

In commemoration of the 50-year anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, Japan Society is engaging in a dynamic year-long exploration of the archipelago’s people, culture, history and geopolitical significance. Learn more about the series at japansoc.org/Okinawa.
Join us on Monday, May 9 at 7 pm ET for a timely discussion on U.S.-Japan relations in the context of the conflict and China's growing influence worldwide.

In this webinar, Nobukatsu Kanehara, former Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Joseph Nye, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, examine the current uncertainty affecting U.S.-Japan relations, as well as the impact of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue ( ).

Moderated by Takako Hikotani, professor at Gakushuin University International Centre.

Register for free today: japansoc.org/GeopoliticsAsia
Learn to read and write hiragana, enrich your vocabulary with Japanese onomatopoeia and more in our one-day, online workshops—all led by native Japanese instructors with extensive teaching experience.

Here’s what we’re offering this spring:

🌸 Fundamentals of Kanji Workshops
🗓 Friday, April 22, 6:30-8:30 pm EDT (Part 1)
🗓 Friday, April 29, 6:30-8:30 pm EDT (Part 2)

🌸 Learn to Read Hiragana & Katakana Workshops
🗓 Friday, May 6, 6:30-8:30 PM EDT (Hiragana)
🗓 Thursday, May 12, 6:30-8:30 PM EDT (Katakana)

🌸 Nihongo Chat (Virtual Language Exchange)
🗓Monday, May 9, 7-8 pm EDT

🌸 Japanese Onomatopoeia Workshop
🗓 Wednesday, May 11, 6:30-8:30 PM EDT

Learn more & register: japansoc.org/JapaneseWorkshops

Update: 🚨🍿GHOST IN THE SHELL is sold out 🚨🍿 We're beyond thrilled to launch our series tonight with Mamoru Oshii’s seminal classic—if you purchased a ticket, be sure to join us at 6 pm for a pre-screening party and snap a photo in costume with our supporter banner for a chance to win an exciting prize✨

In case you can't make it to tonight's screening, explore our full lineup below👇 Up next is a rare 35mm presentation of THE ANIMATRIX (2003), screening Friday, May 27 at 7 pm.
Opening on April 29—We’re pleased to present the solo exhibition “Kazuko Miyamoto: To perform a line,” the first institutional survey of the Tokyo-born artist’s pioneering career.

A connector, curator, gallerist and champion for underrepresented artists, Miyamoto has lived and worked in the Lower East Side of Manhattan since 1964, when she was in her early twenties. This exhibition reclaims the artist’s contributions to (and subversions of) the movement, challenging its general understanding as male dominated, and explores what it means to be a woman and an immigrant making art in New York City.

Learn more & plan your visit: japansoc.org/KazukoMiyamoto



🎨 "Plant Kimono," 1991, Photo transfer on silk (52 in x 46 in), Courtesy of the artist and Zürcher Gallery, New York/Paris.
This Friday’s in-person screening of GHOST IN THE SHELL is almost sold out! Secure your seats today to experience Mamoru Oshii’s groundbreaking cyberpunk classic on the big screen, screening April 15 at 7 pm 📽️👏

Plus: To celebrate of the launch of our series, audiences are invited to a pre-screening party at 6 pm with Japanese food & snacks. Arrive in your cyberpunk best and take a photo in costume with our supporter banner (make sure to tag 👆) for a chance to receive a dual membership to Japan Society!

🍿 japansoc.org/MonthlyAnime
A vintage telephone card featuring artwork from Masamune Shirow’s groundbreaking 1989 manga series, “Ghost in the Shell” ☎️✨

Originally published in Tokyo’s Weekly Young Magazine, the series follows the episodic adventures of cyborg officer Major Motoko Kusanagi—the last two chapters of which served as the basis for Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 feature film adaptation, screening in person next Friday, April 15 at 7 pm as part of our series.

Join us at 6 pm for a pre-screening party with Japanese food and snacks provided by Kikkoman. The first 10 people to take photos in costume with our supporter banner and tag Japan Society on social media will receive a dual membership to Japan Society!

🎟 japansoc.org/MonthlyAnime
We're proud to celebrate in May with OKI, one of the best-known musicians of Japan's northernmost indigenous people, the Ainu.

For one night only on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 pm, OKI and his band will perform an in-person concert of traditional pieces alongside contemporary works from his just-released 2022 album, Tonkori in the Moonlight.

🎟 japansoc.org/OKI
Calling all anime lovers in NYC! We’re excited to announce a new year-round film series exploring the legacy of Japanese animation. Kicking off on April 15 with a Mamoru Oshii’s seminal cyberpunk classic GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995)— offers an eclectic range of classic, underseen and contemporary visions from Japanese anime, presented in-person in our auditorium.

🎟 Tickets now available at japansoc.org/MonthlyAnime 🎟

🍿GHOST IN THE SHELL
🗓Friday, April 15 at 7 pm
✨Join us before the film for a 6 pm pre-screening party with Japanese food and snacks.

🍿 THE ANIMATRIX
🗓Friday, May 27 at 7 pm

🍿 THE NIGHT IS SHORT, WALK ON GIRL
🗓Friday, June 17 at 7 pm

🍿 PRINCESS MONONOKE
🗓Friday, July 22 at 7 pm
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