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Special Events

OKINAWA IN FOCUS SERIES open_in_new

Live Webinar

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 7 pm ET | Calculate your local time

Brutalist architecture on Japan's Okinawa Prefecture was born of necessity, as seasonal typhoons are commonplace and concrete buildings can better withstand severe weather than those made of wood and other natural materials. Today, 90 percent of new buildings on Okinawa are made of concrete, reflecting in architecture the post-Occupation Americanization of Japan. This live webinar explores the little-known Brutalist architecture on Okinawa as part of special programming commemorating the 50th anniversary year of Okinawa's return to Japanese sovereignty from the U.S. in 1972. Speakers also address the problems of concrete as a building material, considering sustainable strategies such as re-use and longevity while questioning its continued prevalence in building and associated environmental costs.

Speakers
Paul Tulett, Okinawa-based photographer

Paul Tulett is a photographer focused on brutalist architecture in Japan. His interest in brutalism grew during postgraduate studies in Urban Planning and Environment. Through his Instagram account (@brutal_zen), he aims to promote interest in this previously maligned and misunderstood style. By presenting the finessed Japanese expression of what originated in the UK, Paul hopes that preservation and heritage efforts can be bolstered internationally. His current interests include the origins and ongoing development of concrete use in Okinawa and sustainability issues surrounding this material.

Michael Kubo, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for Architectural History and Theory, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston

Michael Kubo’s recent co-authored publications on the history of 20th-century architecture and urbanism include Imagining the Modern: Architecture and Urbanism of the Pittsburgh Renaissance (2019), Heroic: Concrete Architecture and the New Boston (2015), OfficeUS Atlas (2015) and the forthcoming Futures of the Architectural Exhibition (2022).

Moderator
Tiffany Lambert, Curator, Japan Society

Tiffany Lambert has held prior curatorial positions at Columbia University’s Arthur Ross Gallery, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York as well as teaching positions at the Rhode Island School of Design and Pratt Institute. Her writing has been published internationally, including in The Architectural Review, Artsy, Cultured, Domus, Metropolis, PIN–UP, Surface, TANK and The New York Times. Her forthcoming book from Phaidon Press examines the artistic philosophy of Japanese designer Sori Yanagi.

Program Details This is a free event, with advance registration required. Pay What You Wish options are also available to support our innovative programs. The program will be live-streamed through YouTube, and registrants will receive the viewing link by email on the day before the event. Participants can submit questions through YouTube during the live stream.

Click here for the event handout (PDF)

Viewing Link

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. See more upcoming events from the Okinawa in Focus series &rarr;

Click here for the event handout (PDF)

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Concrete Paradise: Okinawan Brutalist Architecture

Live Webinar
Part of the Living Traditions Series
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 7-8 pm EST (4-5 pm PST) | Calculate your local time

Japanese pop culture, symbolized by manga and anime, has become an increasingly significant part of the cultural conversation across the globe. Julia Mechler, manga creator and Content Production Group Manager at mixi, inc., and Roland Kelts, author of Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S., provide their insights into the current state of the industry, from pen to paper to screen, unpacking some of the latest trends and emerging technologies in Japanese pop culture. This webinar covers the historical development of manga and anime, the global influence of otaku culture, and what the future may bring inside and outside of Japan. Moderated by Bill Tsutsui, author of Japanese Popular Culture and Globalization, the fifth and final event in our five-part Living Traditions webinar series invites you on a journey into the sprawling Japanese pop culture grounded in a unique cultural DNA.

Speakers
Julia Mechler, manga creator and Content Production Group Manager at mixi, inc.
Roland Kelts, author of Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.



Moderator
Bill Tsutsui, President and CEO of Ottawa University; author of Japanese Popular Culture and Globalization

Agenda
7-8 pm EST	(4-5 pm PST) &emsp;&emsp;	Discussion and Q&A

Program Details This is a free event, with advance registration required. The program will be live-streamed through YouTube, and registrants will receive the viewing link by email on the day before the event. Participants can submit questions through YouTube during the live stream.

Click here for the event handout (PDF)

Viewing Link


Japanese Pop Culture: Connecting the World through Manga and Anime

Live Webinar
Part of the Get to Know Japan: Kanagawa Series
Thursday, January 27 at 6:30 pm EST | Calculate your local time

Considered the “king of the ocean,” maguro is the star of any sushi meal. At the historic Misaki Port in Kanagawa, Japan, fishermen have been using their specialized knowledge to judge the quality of maguro by eye for generations. At this program, Masamitsu Ishibashi, president and CEO of Misaki Megumi Suisan, and Yuji Haraguchi, owner of OSAKANA fish market in NYC, present a primer on this high-quality tuna. Discover what makes maguro so exceptional, get an inside look at Misaki Fish Market in Japan, and hear firsthand about recent developments in the Japanese and U.S. maguro markets. The program also includes a maguro cooking demonstration. Moderated by journalist Akiko Katayama.

Program Details
This is a free event with advance registration required. Pay What You Wish options are also available to support our innovative programs. The program will be live-streamed through YouTube, and registrants will receive the viewing link by email on the day before the event.

Learn about Miura Peninsula, home to Misaki Port!

Click here for the event handout (PDF)

Viewing Link


Maguro 101: Gourmet Tuna from Misaki Port

Live Webinar
Part of the Living Traditions Series
Wednesday, December 15, 7-8:15 pm EST (4-5:15 pm PST) | Calculate your local time

Explore the contemporary relationships between the built and natural environments with Kengo Kuma, one of the most astute architects of our time, and critically acclaimed scholar and practitioner Toshiko Mori. The Japanese architectural scene is known globally as one of the most robust, dynamic and expressive platforms in the world for practitioners and enthusiasts alike, offering vast diversity and ingenuity grounded in centuries-old craftsmanship and a unique symbiosis with nature. This webinar addresses seismic shifts in our sense of community and relationship to nature as the Japanese architectural landscape transforms to embrace the synergy created through a trans-disciplinary approach to environment. The fourth event in our five-part Living Traditions webinar series.

Speakers
Kengo Kuma, Architect; University Professor and Professor Emeritus, the University of Tokyo
Toshiko Mori, Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University GSD


Interviewer
Botond Bognar, Edgar A. Tafel Endowed Chair in Architecture, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Moderator
Ken Tadashi Oshima, Professor of Architecture, the University of Washington

Agenda
7-8:15 pm EST	(4-5:15 pm PST) &emsp;&emsp;	Discussion and Q&A

Click here for the event handout.

Program Details This is a free event, with advance registration required. The program will be live-streamed through YouTube, and registrants will receive the viewing link by email on the day before the event. Participants can submit questions through YouTube during the live stream.

Viewing Link:




Architecture as Environment: A Conversation with Kengo Kuma and Toshiko Mori 

Live Webinar
Part of the Living Traditions Series
Thursday, November 11 at 7–8 pm EST (4–5 pm PST) | Calculate your local time

Eiichi Shibusawa—widely known as the father of Japanese capitalism following the Meiji Restoration in the mid-19th century—died 90 years ago on November 11, but his influence continues today. An influential entrepreneur and business leader, Shibusawa (1840-1931) was involved in the founding of approximately 500 modern economic institutions in sectors such as banking, insurance, textiles, paper and railroads, as well as 600 social enterprises. Shibusawa embraced the millennia-old teachings of Confucianism, cultivating virtue in economic endeavors, and his firm belief in those principles led him to publish his renowned book, Rongo and Soroban (Analects of Confucius and the Abacus). Today’s speakers discuss how Shibusawa’s philosophy is very relevant to ESG and SDGs in today’s social and business environment. This is the third of the five-part Living Traditions webinar series.

Speakers:
Christina Ahmadjian, Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Hitotsubashi University
Ken Shibusawa, Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc.; Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group


Moderator:
Joshua W. Walker, Ph.D., President & CEO, Japan Society

Agenda
7-8 pm EST (4-5 pm PST) &emsp;&emsp;	Discussion and Q&A

Program Details: This is a free event, with advance registration required. The program will be live-streamed through YouTube, and registrants will receive the viewing link by email the day before the event. Participants can submit questions through YouTube during the live stream.

Eiichi Shibusawa: The Spirit of Japanese Ethical Capitalism & Sustainability 

Online Workshop
Tuesday, November 2 at 6:30 pm EDT | Calculate your local time

Give your Thanksgiving feast a Japanese spin this year with shiokoji butter brined turkey, blistered green beans and shishito peppers, and Japanese sweet potatoes. At this online workshop, Maiko Kyogoku, owner of New York-based Japanese restaurant Bessou, will teach a variety of festive recipes that bridge cultural traditions, using ingredients perfect for the season. This year, dazzle guests at your holiday feast with a menu bursting with the flavors of Japan.

All participants will receive a recipe and ingredient list, and may follow along during the workshop or simply observe.

Tickets: $25/$20 members, seniors & students

Click here for the event handout

Please Note: This program will be conducted online via Zoom. Registrants will receive the viewing link by email in advance. Please note that all times listed are New York time (ET).


Buy Tickets

Thanksgiving, Japan Style (Online Workshop)

Live Webinar
Part of the Living Traditions Series
Tuesday, October 19 at 7–8 pm EDT (4–5 pm PDT) | Calculate your local time

What is Zen? It is a term most people are familiar with, but for which few are able to find deeper understanding. This religious tradition has influenced not only Japanese culture and spiritual practices immensely, but has also had a significant impact on Western society. At this talk, we invite scholars and practitioners to share their unique perspectives, examining Zen's role and perception in Japan and the West, differences in practices, and the path forward in a post-COVID world. This is the second of the five-part Living Traditions webinar series.

Speakers:
Daiko Matsuyama, Deputy Head Priest of Taizo-in, Zen Buddhist Temple; Visiting Lecturer at Stanford University
Shoko Mekata, Post-Doc Associate, Department of South Asian Studies, Harvard University
Dave Morin, Co-founder & Managing Director, Offline Ventures; Chairman, Esalen Institute

Moderator:
Paul S. Atkins, Professor in the Department of Asian Languages & Literature, University of Washington

Agenda
7-8 pm EDT (4-5 pm PDT) &emsp;&emsp;	Discussion and Q&A

Click here for the event handout.

Program Details: This is a free event, with advance registration required. The program will be live-streamed through YouTube, and registrants will receive the viewing link by email the day before the event. Participants can submit questions through YouTube during the live stream.

Viewing Link:





Zen and Japanese Spiritual Practices

Live Webinar
Part of the Living Traditions Series
Tuesday, September 28 at 7‑8:15 pm EDT (4‑5:15 pm PDT) | Calculate your local time

The Japanese garden is not simply a place of beauty, serenity and contemplation grounded in a long tradition, but it is also a holistic art form functioning as a place of discovery and innovation that continues to evolve through cross-pollination with other cultural forms. This talk explores the historical journey of one of the world's oldest land art forms and examines its evolving relevance to the world. Inviting experts of critical acclaim from various creative fields, this interactive webinar delves into how Japanese landscape design principles and aesthetics have impacted the ways in which modern society approaches art and architecture while helping mold the human relationship with nature. This is the first of the five-part Living Traditions webinar series.

Speakers:
Kendall Brown, Professor of Asian Art History, California State University, Long Beach
Dana Buntrock, Professor of Architecture, University of California, Berkeley
Dakin Hart, Senior Curator, The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum

Moderator:
Aki Nakanishi, Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Culture, Art, and Education, Portland Japanese Garden

Agenda
7-8:15 pm EDT (4-5:15 pm PDT) &emsp;&emsp;	Discussion and Q&A

Click here for the event handout.

Program Details: This is a free event, with advance registration required. The program will be live-streamed through YouTube, and registrants will receive the viewing link by email on the event day. Participants can submit questions through YouTube during the live stream.

Click here for the viewing link on YouTube. -->

View the full program below:





The Japanese Garden: Living Classroom of Nature, Architecture & Culture

Online Workshop
Wednesday, September 22 at 6:30 pm EDT | Calculate your local time

Delicate and delicious, tofu is a versatile food enjoyed in many Japanese dishes, from silky, chilled hiyayakko to deep-fried agedashidofu. At this online workshop, learn how to make fresh, authentic tofu at home with London-based chef and culinary educator Akemi Yokoyama. In the spirit of sustainability embodied by the Japanese concept of mottainai, participants will also use the tofu by-product to make tasty okara mochi. Discover what this plant-based protein has to offer, from bean to block and everything in between!

All participants will receive a recipe and ingredient list, and may follow along during the workshop or simply observe.

Tickets:&nbsp;$25/$20 Japan Society members, seniors &amp; students

Click here for the event handout

Please Note: This program will be conducted online via Zoom. Registrants will receive the viewing link by email in advance. Please note that all times listed are New York time (ET).


Buy Tickets 

Authentic Japanese Tofu: From Bean to Block (Online Workshop)