News
 Prime Minister Noda at Japan Society. Photo courtesy of Special Events.  Opening night of Fiber Futures. Photo by Alan Klein.  Micari as Medea. Photo by Julie Lemberger.  Japanese star Sora Aoi appeared at the 2011 JAPAN CUTS. Photo by Ayumi Sakamoto.  NYT's David Sanger, Reimagining Japan. Photo by Ken Levin.  Craft Beer Tasting. Photo by Ayumi Sakamoto.  Food is delivered to the Tohoku region with support from JERF. Photo courtesy of the Tokyo Volunteer Network for Disaster Relief. |
President's October 2011 Newsletter
Dear Japan Society Patron:
On September 22, His Excellency Yoshihiko Noda, the new Prime Minister of Japan, and Mrs. Noda hosted a special reception at Japan Society, organized by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. We were honored to be the venue for this event, which was held during the UN's General Assembly, and allowed Prime Minister Noda and Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba to express Japan's appreciation to the heads of state of many nations for their support after the March 11 disasters.
Japan Society’s 2011-12 season marks the 40th birthday of Japan Society's building, which was landmarked earlier this year. As noted in The New York Times, New York magazine, WNYC and many architecture and real estate publications, Japan Society’s building is now the city's youngest landmark. You can find then-and-now images here, as well as ways to support the Society.
Our fall exhibition, Fiber Futures: Japan's Textile Pioneers (through December 18), opened following two nights of celebrations attended by 21 out of the 30 participating artists. The fruit of a four-year curatorial collaboration among Japan Society, International Textile Network Japan, and Tama University Art Museum (where a larger version was shown in June this year), Fiber Futures introduces works made out of materials ranging from recycled cocoons to stainless steel, which are poised on the cutting edge of fashion, design, and technology. A miniature exhibition of post-earthquake art from the Tohoku region, Postcards from Japan, opened on the building's A Level on October 7.
Our performing arts season opened with three sold-out performances of Shizuoka Performing Arts Center's Medea. Re-interpreted by legendary Japanese director Satoshi Miyagi, this production was hailed as "a true sensory feast and a privilege to experience." Upcoming performances include two one-night-only concerts: enduring NYC-based pop band Cibo Matto joined by Tokyo sensation Yu Sakai and special guests on October 20, and iconoclastic turntablists Otomo Yoshihide and Christian Marclay on November 19.
In its fifth consecutive year, this summer's JAPAN CUTS, rebranded as "The New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema," featured 32 new titles--the biggest line-up in the festival's history, with 31 premieres, nine guest filmmakers, and drawing close to 6,000 visitors. In September, Films For Hope, a daylong festival curated by animator Justin Leach, who is part of our U.S.-Japan Innovators Network, showcased shorts from around the world that take inspiration from Japanese culture. Selections included the East Coast premiere of Pixar's new short La Luna and Oscar winner La Maison en Petits Cubes.
On September 8 our Corporate Program featured the international launch of Reimagining Japan [full video], an ambitious collection of essays from 80 experts on Japan. Authors David Sanger of The New York Times, Gerald Curtis of Columbia University, and Christopher Graves of Ogilvy PR Worldwide discussed how Japan can find a brighter future after the March 11 earthquake.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Japan Society Chairman Wilbur Ross spoke here on September 28 about the recent market tumults.
The Society's first-ever Japanese craft beer tasting garnered a New York magazine preview and picks by The New York Times, Time Out New York, and Village Voice. Featuring the CEOs of two innovative breweries—Baird Brewing Company of Numazu, Japan and Brooklyn Brewery of NYC—as well as 25 premium craft beers from Japan or inspired by Japanese ingredients, the event sold out in advance and drew a new and enthusiastic crowd to Japan Society.
Our fall language program, including shodo and teacher training classes, started smoothly. Enrollment in the beginning and intermediate Japanese classes, which bring new faces to Japan Society, has remained high in spite of the continued economic uncertainty.
Our members appreciation event, iSake & Salsa!, sold out three weeks in advance. If you are unable attend, you can enjoy this preview video about the rise of salsa dance in Japan.
Earlier this month we launched our redesigned website www.japansociety.org. The new design gives us greater flexibility, integrates our social media efforts, makes secondary pages more readily available, and offers more than 100 videos including language lessons, website exclusives, and business and policy events.
Using digital media to extend the Society's impact to youth throughout the U.S. and in Japan and elsewhere, we launched Going Global, a social network connecting American, Japanese, and Pakistani children. Far exceeding original expectations of the 23 teachers from the U.S. and Japan who worked with us to plan the project, over 1,500 children will participate this fall semester. Topics in the exchange include Japanese students' plans to share their videos of recovery efforts in Tohoku and a discussion of how youth in all three countries can reduce energy use.
Last but not least, Japan Society to date has raised over $11 million for the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund from more than 22,000 individuals, corporations and foundations. We are in the process of vetting the next round of potential grantees and hope to make an announcement about the next wave of earmarks and dispersals before Thanksgiving.
On behalf of myself and the staff, I want to thank you for contributing to the success of Japan Society and our many endeavors. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.
Sincerely,
Motoatsu Sakurai, President
