ARCHIVED Invitees Only: The Japan Society Annual Dinner 2024
Date
Monday 11 November 2024
Time
7.00 for 7.30pm
Venue
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Crown Office Row, Temple
London EC4Y 7HL
Booking Details
Booking essential
This booking page is to be used by invitees only. Please register by Friday 25 October 2024.
Please make a date to join us at The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple for The Japan Society Annual Dinner 2024. We are pleased to be able to get together once more and look forward to catching up with members and their guests.
Nestling between Fleet Street and the Thames, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple comprises a large number of properties dating back over several centuries, and a beautiful garden. The land and buildings are owned by the Inner Temple, an unincorporated membership association which has existed since the 14th Century. The Inner Temple is one of the four Inns of Court with the unique right to Call students to practise law at the Bar of England and Wales.
The dinner is traditionally a black tie event and many guests will wear formal dress, but for those who prefer lounge suits, this is perfectly acceptable. Most people will be sitting at round tables of 10. If you have any seating preferences, please specify with whom you wish to be seated. Please also inform us of any special dietary requirements.
The theme of this year's Annual Dinner is exploring the multifaceted experiences of Japanese individuals living in the UK. This theme is particularly relevant in light of this year’s State Visit by The Emperor of Japan, who lived and studied in Oxford.
We are honoured to have as our special guest to Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko of Mikasa, who will talk about her life and study in Oxford and the UK in conversation with The Japan Society chair Bill Emmott. We will also be joined by UK-based Japanese comedian Yuriko Kotani who will make all laugh combining British and Japanese humour.
Biographies
Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko of Mikasa is a member of the Imperial House of Japan, the elder daughter of the late Prince and Princess Tomohito of Mikasa. Princess Akiko is an art historian, whose research interests lie in the perception and influence of Japanese culture and tradition in the West. She studied at the University of Oxford for the 2001-02 academic year as part of her BA course in History from Gakushuin University, Tokyo, returning to Oxford a few years later to become the first female member of the Japanese Imperial Family to obtain a PhD in 2010. Her book Aka to Ao no Gaun (Red and Blue Gown – Experience in Oxford, 2015) about her life and study in Oxford was re-printed in a paperback format this year and became a best seller in Japan, selling more than 300,000 copies.
Princess Akiko is a Professor of the Institute of Japanese Culture at Kyoto Sangyo University, Patron of ‘Shinyusha’, which aims to inherit Japanese traditional culture to children through workshops and events, Special Guest Professor of Kokugakuin University, Guest Professor of Kyoto City University of Arts and holds various other official positions such as the Honorary Patron of the Japan-British Society, President of the Japan-Turkey Society and the Honorary Patron of the Japan Rugby Football Union.
Yuriko Kotani is a UK-based Japanese comedian. She was named as ‘one to watch’ by Time Out and won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2015. She appeared on ‘Mandy’ (BBC2), ‘Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central’, ‘Pointless Celebrities’ (BBC1), ‘Pls Like’ (BBC3), ‘Paul Hollywood Eats Japan’ (C4), ‘Sorry, I Didn’t Know’ (ITV) and 'Comedy Central Live'.
On radio she has guested on 'The Comedy Club' (BBC Radio 4 Extra), 'BBC World Service’s The Arts Hour International New Year Comedy Celebration', 'The Verb' (BBC Radio 3), 'Loose Ends' (BBC Radio 4), 'Tudur Owen: United Nations of Anglesey' (BBC Radio 4), 'Damned Andrew' (BBC Radio 4) and 'No-Platformed' (BBC Radio 4). Penguin invited her to be a part of the ‘Audio Comedy Festival Edinburgh Unlocked’.
Yuriko worked with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to make videos for Rugby World Cup 2019, detailing her top tips for rugby fans travelling to Japan.
We are very grateful to JTI for their support for our Annual Dinner. This enables us to offer subsidised tickets to members, ensuring that the event can be enjoyed by all.
If you have any questions, please call the Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email us at events@japansociety.org.uk.
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