Issue 109 (June 2025, Volume 20, Number 2)

The June issue of The Japan Society Review offers a rich selection of reviews spanning art, literature, film, and music. From the refined aesthetics of ukiyo-e to contemporary fiction and jazz, this issue highlights the diversity and depth of Japanese cultural expression.

We begin with Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road, an exhibition that celebrates the iconic landscapes and masterful compositions of Utagawa Hiroshige, inviting viewers to experience the poetic sensibility of travel and nature in Edo-period Japan. A complementary review of Fashion and the Floating World: Japanese Ukiyo-e Prints by Anna Jackson and Yamada Masami delves into the representation of style and fashion in woodblock prints, shedding light on the cultural significance of appearance and identity in the pleasure quarters.

Contemporary fiction is featured through A Hundred Years and a Day, a collection of 34 short stories by Shibasaki Tomoka, which offers a multifaceted portrait of everyday life in modern Japan—quietly surreal, emotionally resonant, and psychologically acute. The Night of Baba Yaga by Otani Akira, meanwhile, draws readers into a darker, genre-defying narrative that blends elements of mystery and myth in an unsettling and compelling read.

In cinema, Kubi, directed by Kitano Takeshi, marks a return the historical epic genre with his signature stylisation and thematic boldness, presenting a violent and visually striking reinterpretation of the events surrounding the Honnō-ji Incident.

We conclude with A Guide to Jazz in Japan by Michael Pronko, a lively and insightful introduction to Japan’s jazz scene. With a blend of personal experience, cultural commentary, and musical analysis, Pronko captures the enduring and evolving relationship between Japanese audiences, musicians, and the global jazz tradition.

We are grateful to our volunteer reviewers for their thoughtful contributions and continued support of this publication.