06/07/2026Preservation as Continuity: Protecting Japanese Built Cultural Heritage
In this talk, Andrea Carlson of Kominka Collective will explore Japan’s built cultural heritage and the growing challenges facing kominka, kura (storehouses), temples, shrines, and other historic wooden structures.
24/07/2026RESCHEDULED - Japanese Tattooing: From Edo‑Period Traditions to Working-class Pride
In this richly illustrated talk, author and journalist Manami Okazaki will explore the world of Japanese tattooing—one of the most striking, symbolically layered, and misunderstood art traditions.
10/08/2026IN-PERSON EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka
Grave of the Fireflies is a stark and devastating account of two siblings struggling to survive in Japan during the final months of the Second World War.
12/10/2026IN-PERSON EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: The Traitor by Kobo Abe
The Traitor offers a bleak meditation on betrayal, power, and moral uncertainty, revealing how individuals are compromised by political control and pervasive fear.
14/12/2026IN-PERSON EVENT - The Japan Society Book Club: Troubled Waters by Ichiyo Higuchi
Troubled Waters is a collection of five stories depicting everyday lives on the margins of Meiji‑era Tokyo with lyrical restraint.