Features
Kinetic Artist Susumu Shingu’s Gentle Message for the World
A new exhibition at the Japan Society in NYC will center the sculptor’s animated artworks, maquettes, and inspiring sense of gratitude for the miracle of being alive.
Japan Society
Film
Shunga Might Just Convince You That Pornography Is Art
Director Junko Hirata delves deep into the history and influence of the pornographic art form without cheap tittering at its illicit imagery.
Film
There’s Something for Everyone at This Year’s Japan Cuts
One of the most underrated film festivals in New York, each year it presents an accessible and engaging collection of recent Japanese cinema.
Film
A New Film Series in New York Looks Back at Japan's Taisho Period
The Japan Society will screen six iconic films that explore the years 1912–1926, “a new modern era” marked by progressive reforms and a blossoming of the arts.
Interview
Revisiting the Magic of Ryuichi Sakamoto
Elizabeth Lennard, director of the 1985 documentary Tokyo Melody about the famed experimental musician, discusses the film and her memories of Sakamoto.
Film
The Elegant Surrealism of an Animated Cult Classic
Mamoru Oshii's Angel's Egg is a haunting, elegiac phantasmagoria rich with allusive imagery and singular in its artistry.
Film
Films to Watch on the 50th Anniversary of Okinawa’s Return to Japanese Rule
From 1968 to 1973, the Nihon Documentarist Union did radical documentary work in Japan. They made two films in Okinawa before, during, and after its reversion.
Sponsored
Announcement
Shikō Munakata: A Way of Seeing
For their 125th exhibition, Japan Society in NYC presents a rarely-seen collection of works by Shikō Munakata, including 61 prints on view for the first time since 1965.
Sponsored
Announcement
Flash Forward: Debut Works and Recent Films by Notable Japanese Directors
Presented by Japan Society and the Agency for Cultural Affairs in association with the Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), this hybrid film series continues through December 23.
Sponsored
Announcement
JAPAN CUTS, a Festival of New Japanese Film, Opens August 20
North America’s largest festival of contemporary Japanese cinema streams online throughout the US with screenings in-person at Japan Society from August 20–September 2
Film
The Japanese Town That's Been Fighting Industrial Pollution for Decades
MINAMATA Mandala, the latest documentary by veteran filmmaker Kazuo Hara, captures the resilience of people left behind by their government.
Film
50 Years of Films About Japan's Downtrodden
Japan Society's online retrospective Cinema of Struggle features eight movies from director Kazuo Hara and producer Sachiko Kobayashi.