The Japan Society

Upcoming Events

09/08/2026Japan Fest Sheffield

09/08/2026

Japan Fest Sheffield returns to STEAMWORKS on Sunday 9 August for a day of Japanese culture, live entertainment, food and activities. Enjoy traditional performances, J-pop, Japanese rock, cosplay, cultural workshops, authentic food and unique traders in a family-friendly celebration of Japan.

10/08/2026 - 21/08/2026Noh Training Project UK: Performance Workshop

10/08/2026 - 21/08/2026

Noh Training Project UK offers a unique and exciting opportunity to experience Noh theatre through performance training - either as a weekend, one-week, or two-week intensive residency. We are especially pleased to announce that the Noh master Akira Matsui, designated Intangible Cultural Asset by the Japanese government in 1998, will return to teach in the final week. The Project is open to anyone with an interest in Noh: actors, directors, dancers, musicians, students and academics interested in extending their performance skills are encouraged to apply.

06/08/2026 - 23/08/2026The Paper Path, 紙の道 - Journeys in Japanese Washi

06/08/2026 - 23/08/2026

The Paper Path, Journeys in Japanese Washi is an international exhibition at APT Gallery, London exploring the artistic, cultural and environmental significance of traditional Japanese Washi paper. Featuring artists from Japan, the UK and the USA, the exhibition highlights Washi’s UNESCO-recognised heritage and its potential to inspire sustainable creative practices for the future.

23/08/2026Japan FEST Cromford Market

23/08/2026

Japan Fest Cromford Market returns this August to historic Cromford Mills at Cromford, Derbyshire, offering a Japanese-themed market experience. Browse unique traders, enjoy food, and discover some activities and performances in a relaxed setting designed for casual shopping and exploration.

27/02/2026 - 30/08/2026Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print

27/02/2026 - 30/08/2026

Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print, held at York Art Gallery, surveys 300 years of printmaking from the 17th to 21st centuries. Featuring over 100 works by Hokusai, Hiroshige, Utamaro and others, it includes rare prints, books, kimonos, armour and major UK loans. The exhibition extends into a karesansui garden, inviting reflection on harmony and nature.

06/08/2026 - 31/08/2026The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA

06/08/2026 - 31/08/2026

Step into the world of Japan’s legendary national sport as former pro wrestlers collide in powerful, high action matches right before your eyes! Presented entirely in English, get ready to learn the rules, rituals and techniques behind this incredible sport. This isn’t just a show. It’s sumo unleashed.

04/07/2026 - 31/08/2026Bonsai Treehouses exhibition and workshops

04/07/2026 - 31/08/2026

More than 25 leading architects have designed miniature treehouses for living bonsai trees - each one a serious piece of thinking made small enough to hold in your gaze. Free to explore, surprising at every turn. At the Museum of Architecture in Oxford Square, Connaught Village, in London.

30/07/2026 - 12/09/2026Death Note: The Musical

30/07/2026 - 12/09/2026

This summer, the hotly anticipated world premiere of Death Note: The Musical comes to the Barbican theatre! With over 30 million copies sold worldwide, the legendary manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata is reimagined for London in collaboration with original producers HoriPro.

01/09/2026 - 13/09/2026Making Tokyo’s Craftswomen Visible: Traditional Techniques in Motion

01/09/2026 - 13/09/2026

This event, held at The Old Piano Shop Gallery in Norwich, showcases Dr Clara Momoko Geber‑Mérida’s photography documenting Tokyo’s craftswomen in Arakawa, capturing traditional techniques such as metal carving, cloisonné enamel, Edo lettering and woodblock printing, and making visible the skill and dedication of women who have long worked behind the scenes of Japan’s craft industry.

16/09/2026MAN WOMAN: A Butoh Fairy Tale by Vangeline

16/09/2026

New York-based choreographer and performer Vangeline will present her new Butoh performance, MAN WOMAN, at the Schwarzman Centre, Oxford. Inspired by Eikoh Hosoe's iconic Man and Woman photographic series featuring Butoh pioneers Tatsumi Hijikata and Motofuji, the work reimagines these celebrated images through a contemporary feminist perspective.