The Japan Society Review

Directed by Neo Sora A dystopian drama that touches on issues we’re facing today all seen through the eyes of a group of high school friends in Tokyo. Review by Mayumi Donovan

By various contributors The Bodleian Library’s Japanese rare books and manuscripts, among Europe’s oldest institutional collections, are explored by leading scholars in a celebration of five centuries of collecting. Review by Sanae Inagaki

By Matsuoka Shinpei In this book renowned Noh scholar Matsuoka Shinpei reimagines the origins of Japan’s iconic theater tradition, not as an elite pastime, but as a vibrant fusion of popular culture, religious ritual, and bodily expression. Review by Laurence Green

By Shinjo Ko This contemporary Japanese crime thriller weaves a complex tale of deception and greed, drawing inspiration from recent land-fraud scandals. Review by Shaun English

By Geoff Goolnik A detailed biography of Richard Henry Brunton (1841-1901) that traces his professional achievements and the transnational scope of his engineering career in Great Britain, Japan and Ireland. Review by Graham J. Ironside

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