Past Events
The Japan Society runs more than 80 events per year providing opportunities for members and others interested in Japan to meet, learn and exchange ideas and experiences. Our archive of Past Events below shows events we have offered in previous years starting from 2020.
A list of Past Events from 2009 can be downloaded in pdf:
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009
26/04/2025ARCHIVED Shakyo Calligraphy Workshop for Beginners
The Japan Society is delighted to present a beginner’s Shakyo workshop led by London-based calligrapher Yoko Takenami. Shakyo, literally meaning "copying sutra," refers to the Buddhist practice of transcribing sacred texts. In contemporary Japan, this Buddhist tradition is embraced as a form of personal reflection and stress relief, accessible to anyone, regardless of religious faith.
22/04/2025ARCHIVED Fashion and the Floating World in Japanese Ukiyo-e Prints
In this lecture Victoria and Albert Museum's curators Anna Jackson and Masami Yamada will explore how these ukiyo-e, "pictures of the floating world", served as compelling advertisements for kimono merchants, textile workshops, cosmetics brands, theatre promoters, and brothel operators.
12/03/2025ARCHIVED Where the Wild Things Are: Why You Should Leave Tokyo and Cycle the Length of Japan
Featuring clips from his popular documentary, travel journalist Oscar Boyd will join us to talk about his experiences cycling the length of Japan, from the southern shore of Kyushu to the northernmost point of Hokkaido over 27 days.
12/03/2025ARCHIVED ONLINE LECTURE - Jomon Repotted: The Potential Impact of Jomon World Heritage
The Japan Society is delighted to partner with Circle of Japanese Art London to host a zoom lecture by Professor Simon Kaner, Director of the Centre for Japanese Studies at the University of East Anglia and Head of the Centre for Archaeology and Heritage at the Sainsbury Institute.
05/03/2025ARCHIVED ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Film Club: Sansho the Bailiff directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
This month, our film club explores Sansho the Bailiff (1954), Kenji Mizoguchi’s story of a governor’s exile and the separation and suffering of his family. Join us to discuss this powerful tale of perseverance and justice.
17/02/2025ARCHIVED Defining Japanese Fashion: From Meisen Kimono to Issey Miyake
In this talk, Professor Hiroshi Narumi will explore the evolution of fashion in Japan during its modernisation in the 20th century through key trends such as the Taisho-era Meisen kimono and post-war youth fashion.