The Japan Society Review
The Japan Society Review is published on a quartely basis, both online and printed (members are entitled to receive a copy by post). Since the starting of the publication in 2006, each issue covers a selection of Japan-related books and films, as well as theatre and stage productions, tv series and exhibitions. Its purpose is to inform, entertain and encourage readers to explore the works for themselves.
The Japan Society Review is possible thanks to the work of volunteers who dedicated their time and expertise to help us to promote the learning and understanding of Japanese culture and society.
Books
Washi MemoriesBy Eleanor Burkett This unique book offers an important record of a bygone era of Japanese papermaking in the Fukushima province of Japan, in particular the work of families in the village of Kamikawasaki. Review by Philip Meredith
Books
The Shortest History of JapanBy Lesley Downer In The Shortest History of Japan, Lesley Downer brings an expert storyteller’s eye to the sweep of Japanese history. Here are the emperors and warlords, the samurai and women warriors, the merchants and geisha who shaped this extraordinary modern society. Review by Laurence Green
Books
Mild VertigoBy Kanai Mieko Mild Vertigo is a short, slim novel containing both multitudes, and a whole lot of nothing. The paradoxical fascination of the everyday mundane - the busy-body clutter and utter banal domesticity of a very particular kind of middle-class hum-drum existence. Review by Laurence Green
Books
I Would Meet You Anywhere: A MemoirBy Susan Kiyo Ito An account of love and one writer’s quest for the missing pieces that might make her feel whole, I Would Meet You Anywhere is the stirring culmination of Ito’s decision to embrace her right to know and tell her own story. Review by Shehrazade Zafar-Arif
Books
The Japanese Art of Living SeasonallyBy Natalie Leon This treasure trove of folktales, recipes and activities is an invitation to celebrate each day, for increased creativity, harmony and happiness. Review by Renae Lucas-Hall
Books
Takaoka’s TravelsBy Shibusawa Tatsuhiko A fantasy set in the ninth century, Takaoka's Travels recounts the adventures of a Japanese prince-turned-monk on a pilgrimage to India passing through faraway lands and finding curiosities and miracles wherever he goes. Review by Chris Corker
Events
Exhibition - Michael Kenna: Japan, A Love StoryThis exhibition celebrates half a century of work by renowned British-American photographer Michael Kenna. His in-depth explorations and imagery of Japan since 1987 stand out as perhaps his most distinguished and well-known works.
Issues (PDF)
Issue 105 (June 2024, Volume 19, Number 2)The second quarter of 2024 has continued to enrich the UK's cultural landscape with an impressive variety of books, exhibitions, and events that delve into different facets of Japan.
Theatre & Stage
Spirited Away (Play)Adapted by John Caird Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away is imagined for the stage by Olivier and Tony award-winning director of Les Misérables, John Caird. Review by Michael Tsang
Events
Exhibition - Yoshida: Three Generations of Japanese PrintmakingFeaturing over 75 exquisite prints, this exhibition journeys from the rich, nostalgic landscapes of the prolific artist and patriarch of the family, Hiroshi to the abstract work of the family’s later and current generations. Review by David Tonge