Stories from the War
January–August 2015
Marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, Japan Society presents the Society-wide series Stories from the War. Encompassing theater performances, film screenings, lectures, panels and educational opportunities for young people, programming from January to August explores history and considers challenging issues that the U.S. and Japan faced surrounding WWII through a contemporary lens.
Performing Arts
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Theater
Miwa Yanagi
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Zero Hour: Tokyo Rose's Last Tape
Friday, January 30, 2015
Saturday, January 31, 2015
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Theater/Traditional
New and Traditional Noh:
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Holy Mother in Nagasaki & Kiyotsune
Friday, May 15, 2015
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Sold Out
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Lectures
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Lecture
Meet the Author: An Evening with Julie Otsuka, When the Emperor Was Divine
Thursday, February 19, 2015
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Lecture
Meet the Author: Listening to Stone: The Art and Life of Isamu Noguchi by Hayden Herrera
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
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Lecture
INFAMY: The Shocking Story of the Japanese-American Internment in World War II
Thursday, June 25, 2015
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Corporate Program
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Corporate Program
Changing Memories of World War II, 70 Years after 1945
Thursday, February 26, 2015
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Corporate Program
The Importance of History: Yukio Okamoto on Addressing Japan’s Past
Monday, April 6, 2015
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Globus Film Series
The Most Beautiful: The War Films of Shirley Yamaguchi & Setsuko Hara

The Film Program will present a series focusing on the work of two stars of Japanese cinema: Shirley Yamaguchi (aka Li Xianglang or Ri Koran or Yoshiko Yamaguchi) and Setsuko Hara, both born in 1920. Through a selection of films made before, during and after WWII, the series will illustrate how both of the actresses’ roles on the silver screen transformed over time according to the perspective of a nation undergoing significant changes – from a colonizing Japan allied with Nazi Germany to a defeated nation under the occupation of U.S. forces promoting democracy.
The series is guest curated by Dr. Markus Nornes, Professor of Asian Cinema in the Department of Screen Arts and Cultures and the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan.
Language Center

The Toyota Language Center offers a series of workshops for advanced Japanese language learners surrounding the three Stories from the War theatrical presentations offered this season. Each workshop will consist of two class sessions and the theatrical performance. In the class sessions, students will explore a range of topics relating to the productions through media, the original scripts and plays, and discussions with special guests. Workshops are open to students who are in Japanese levels 12-13 and/or Kanji 3-4 or have the equivalent level of proficiency.
The Story of Tokyo Rose Language Workshop
January 30–Feb 1
The Life of Yokohama Merii Language Workshop
April 24–26
Noh and Nagasaki Language Workshop
May 15–17
Education & Family Programs
70 Years Later: Reflecting on the Atomic Bombings with Survivors & President Truman’s GrandsonApril 28
Survivors from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki recall, reflect, and pass on first-hand stories from these historic events to local area high school students.