The Japan Society

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

19/05/2025ARCHIVED Exhibiting Japan: Exploring how Japan is Curated and Presented in the UK

19/05/2025

In this lecture, Professor Yoshi Miki will share his research on Japanese art collections in the UK focusing on collections outside London.

14/05/2025ARCHIVED Drawing on Japan: A Conversation with Rebecca Salter

14/05/2025

Join us for a conversation with Rebecca Salter, artist and President of the Royal Academy of Arts.

12/05/2025ARCHIVED ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: Quicksand by Jun'ichiro Tanizaki

12/05/2025

Quicksand is a psychological novel set in 1920s Osaka, exploring themes of love, obsession, and manipulation.

09/05/2025ARCHIVED ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Film Club: Taboo directed by Nagisa Oshima

09/05/2025

For our film club in May, we will be exploring the captivating and provocative queer cinema classic Taboo, directed by the renowned master Nagisa Oshima.

06/05/2025ARCHIVED Japanese Conversation Group

06/05/2025

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.

30/04/2025ARCHIVED Rakugo Performance: The Art of Japanese Comic Storytelling

30/04/2025

Join master storytellers Kanariya Eiraku and Kanariya Koraku from the English Rakugo Association for an evening of laughter. Rakugo, Japan’s centuries-old art of comedic storytelling, continues to delight audiences with its wit and charm today.

26/04/2025ARCHIVED Shakyo Calligraphy Workshop for Beginners

26/04/2025

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

22/04/2025

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.

14/04/2025ARCHIVED IN-PERSON EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: Butter by Asako Yuzuki

14/04/2025

"Butter" explores gender roles, societal expectations, and power dynamics through Rika, a reporter investigating a woman accused of manipulating men with her culinary skills.

12/04/2025ARCHIVED Woodblock Printing Workshop with Hiroko Imada (12 April)

12/04/2025

The Japan Society is pleased to present a Japanese woodblock printing workshop led by London-based artist, Hiroko Imada.