The Japan Society

Upcoming Events

11/05/2026ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: Point Zero by Seicho Matsumoto

11/05/2026

Point Zero centres on a woman searching for her husband after his sudden disappearance. As she uncovers hidden pasts and shifting identities, the novel exposes deception, social pressure, and the precarious position of women in postwar Japan.

16/05/2026Writing the Seasons: Japanese Calligraphy on an Uchiwa Fan

16/05/2026

As the days grow longer and the warmer months approach, join our hands‑on workshop to create your own Japanese fan (uchiwa – 扇) adorned with calligraphy, led by London‑based calligrapher Yoko Takenami.

18/05/2026Bronwen Maddox: The Rivalry between the US and China and How Other Countries Should Respond

18/05/2026

The guest of honour at The Japan Society and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the UK’s next joint lunch will be Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive of Chatham House.

18/05/2026Lost Mothers: Pregnancy and Motherhood in Prison - Comparative Insights from the UK and Japan

18/05/2026

In this lecture, Laura Abbott will compare the lived realities of pregnancy, birth and maternal-newborn separation in UK and Japanese prisons.

29/05/2026Japanese Treasures at the Bodleian: A Private View

29/05/2026

The Japan Society is delighted to invite members and friends to an exclusive private tour of the Japanese collection at the Bodleian Libraries, followed by a guided visit to the historic Old Bodleian.

02/06/2026Japanese Conversation Group

02/06/2026

The Japanese Conversation Group provides a friendly and informal atmosphere for Japanese speakers of all nationalities to come together and speak Japanese. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month.

03/06/2026ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Film Club: Tokyo Drifter directed by Seijun Suzuki

03/06/2026

For our Film Club in June, we invite you to explore Seijun Suzuki’s stylish and subversive yakuza film, Tokyo Drifter (1966), a vibrant tale of loyalty, identity, and life on the run during post-war Japan.

08/06/2026IN-PERSON EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami

08/06/2026

In Sisters in Yellow, Hana, now in her forties, reflects on her youth in Tokyo’s “Yellow House” during the 1990s.

24/06/2026Addressing the Challenges for the Japanese Economy: Hiromi Yamaji in conversation with Greg Clark

24/06/2026

We are delighted to welcome Mr Hiromi Yamaji, Group CEO of Japan Exchange Group, to share with members of The Japan Society his assessment of the state of the Japanese economy and the challenges it faces.

07/07/2026Japanese Conversation Group

07/07/2026

The Japanese Conversation Group provides a friendly and informal atmosphere for Japanese speakers of all nationalities to come together and speak Japanese. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month.