The Japan Society Review

A new exhibition at Japan House London invites visitors to explore the ongoing story of pictograms, from the groundbreaking symbols created for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to the dynamic animated icons developed for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

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.

By Michael Pronko The book maps out the complex, pulsing scene of Japanese jazz with detailed entries on clubs, musicians, jam spots, and the culture that surrounds them. Review by Laurence Green

Directed by Amélie Ravalec A great way to understand the background of Japanese underground art after World War II, and how it has influenced generations of artists since then. Review by Mayumi Donovan

This installation quietly but confidently brought traditional Japanese materials and philosophies into dialogue with contemporary spatial design. Review by Sanae Inagaki

By Otani Akira In this no-holds-barred queer thriller, a fierce mixed-race fighter develops a powerful attachment to the yakuza princess she's been forced to kill. Review by Alex Russell

By Shibasaki Tomoka This collection is a finely wrought tapestry of life in Japan and abroad, imbued with universal themes of family, memory, resilience, and change. Review by Renae Lucas-Hall

By Aoyama Michiko This novel a quietly profound work that invites us to listen more closely — to others, to books, and to ourselves. Review by Vittorio Cimino

Directed by Kitano Takeshi A visceral and darkly comic historical epic, Kubi deconstructs samurai-era masculinity and homoerotic power dynamics. Review by Mayumi Donovan

By Enchi Fumiko Written by one of the greats of postwar Japanese literature, Enchi Fumiko, Masks is a masterfully layered dismantling of conventional ideas of female forgiveness and love. Review by Tara Jones