Past Events

The Japan Society is pleased to invite a small group of members to an exclusive tour of the exhibition Hiroshige: artist of the open road with Lead Curator Dr Alfred Haft. This is the first exhibition on the celebrated Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) to be held at the British Museum, and  in London for more than a quarter of a century.

Join us for our Film Club in July when we will discuss Yasuzo Masumura's tale of feminine revenge, Irezumi (1966).

In this lecture, cultural historian Asao Kozu will explore the evolution of chanoyu (tea ceremony) across three generations - Rikyu, Oribe, and Enshu - linked through a lineage of master and disciple.

This novel follows Yukiko, a woman in her thirties, grappling with societal pressures, personal desires, and the tension between independence and traditional expectations in early 20th-century Japan.

The Japan Society is delighted to invite a small group of members and guests to a private guided tour of Paper Clouds: Materiality in Empty Space, presented as the Japan Pavilion at this year’s London Design Biennale at Somerset House.

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

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

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

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.

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.