The Japanese American Association will hold its 19th Sakura Matsuri at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturday, April 20. The program begins at 11:00 a.m. rain or shine and features performances by taiko drumming group Soh Daiko, the Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York, the JAA Chorus with Japan Choral Harmony “TOMO,” and the New York Okinawa Club & Jimpu-Kai New York. In addition, there will be a tea ceremony on the lawn by the Urasenke Tea Ceremony Society. Yours truly is honored to serve as emcee.

Bring a blanket and a bento and enjoy the cherry blossoms!

For more information, please visit JAA’s website.

Cherry trees planted by the Parks Department for JAA in Flushing Meadows Corona Park

JAA’s Honorees

This year a cherry tree will be planted in honor of the late Dr. George and Mrs. Kazuko Nagamatsu for their years of generous support of JAA. Dr. Nagamatsu was a pioneering urologist and engineer who was the first Nisei (second-generation Japanese American) to be named Chairman of Urology at a major U.S. medical school when he took the position at New York Medical College in 1957. As a recipient of JAA’s Project Bento initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Nagamatsu felt a closeness with the organization and named JAA one of the beneficiaries in her will when she passed away in 2021.

The History of JAA’s Sakura Trees

Symbolizing the friendship between Japan and the U.S., in 1912 Japan gave a gift of sakura trees the Washington, D.C., as well as 2,000 sakura trees to New York City, thirteen of which were planted in Claremont Park, now Sakura Park. JAA’s “21st Century New York Cherry Blossom Project” began on Arbor Day, April 24, 1992, at City Hall Park. Sakura seeds donated by The Cherry Association of Japan were presented by then JAA President Shigeru Inagaki to Betsy Gotbaum, then Commissioner of New York Parks. The seeds were nursed in the greenhouses of Van Cortlandt Park, and JAA volunteers planted 168 trees in a design created by the noted landscape artist Kan Domoto with George Yuzawa in 2001. Working in close cooperation with the Flushing Meadows Corona Park staff, JAA has donated and planted hundreds of sakura trees.

Disclosure: The author is a Vice President of The Japanese American Association of New York, Inc. and the chair of JAA’s Sakura Matsuri committee.

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Susan McCormac 4/13/24 Susan McCormac 4/13/24

George Takei: My Lost Freedom

An Evening with George Takei

Tuesday, April 16 at 8:00 p.m.

Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space – 2537 Broadway at 95th Street

Admission: $32-$48

Embark on an extraordinary evening with esteemed actor, activist, and New York Times bestselling author George Takei! In this captivating Q&A session moderated by BD Wong (Awkwafina is Nora from Queens), Takei delves into his illustrious career, spanning from Star Trek to Broadway, and culminating with the unveiling of his debut picture book, My Lost Freedom.

Purchasing a ticket will ensure admission and an exclusive, autographed copy of My Lost Freedom, which is scheduled for release on the same day as this event, April 16, 2024.

There are a limited number of companion tickets that do not include a book. To purchase a companion ticket, add both a standard ticket and a companion ticket to your cart. The companion ticket will be discounted at checkout. Companion tickets are only available to purchase with a full-price ticket and do not include a copy of the book. All other in-person tickets come with a signed copy of My Lost Freedom. To purchase tickets, please visit Symphony Space’s website.

Please note: There will not be a book signing at this event.

Susan McCormac 4/2/24 Susan McCormac 4/2/24

Japanese German Pianist to Make NY Phil Debut

Alice Sara Ott Performs Ravel

Thursday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 6 at 8:00 p.m.

Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall – 10 Lincoln Center Plaza

Admission: $115 to $263 (plus fees)

In her New York Philharmonic debut, Japanese German pianist Alice Sara Ott performs Ravel’s lush, jazz-influenced G-major Piano Concerto. The program, led by Karina Canellakis, who is also making her NY Phil debut, begins with Webern’s remarkably spare, yet haunting Six Pieces. The concert’s two-tone poems look past earthly life: Richard Strauss’s meditation on the death of an artist and Scriabin’s mystical and rhapsodic Poem of Ecstasy.

Program

Webern – Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 (1928 version)
R. Strauss – Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration)
Ravel – Piano Concerto in G major
Scriabin – Le Poème de l’extase (The Poem of Ecstasy)

To purchase tickets, please visit NY Phil’s website.

Star Pianists

This concert is part of NY Phil’s Star Pianists series. Experience breathtaking virtuosity, timeless melodies, and exciting premieres with this season’s star pianists. The series features captivating performances of classical and contemporary works all season long.

About Alice Sara Ott

Thirty-five-year-old Alice Sara Ott was born in Munich. Her father is a German engineer, and her mother is a Japanese pianist. In a 2022 article in music website Interlude, Ott says of her Japanese heritage, “My whole life was spent questioning: Am I German? Am I Japanese? What am I? I found my answer when I became a musician because in music, nationality doesn’t matter at all.” Learn more about Ott through her website and Instagram.

Susan McCormac 3/21/24 Susan McCormac 3/21/24

Asian Restaurant in NoMad Hortus NYC Introduces Jazz Nights

Under the direction of Executive Chef Geo Park, Hortus NYC in NoMad offers an Asian culinary journey with a European twist. Chef Park and Managing Partner Suhum Jang (Per Se, Daniel, Jungsik) have created a menu that seamlessly blends the flavors of China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Hortus NYC’s Japanese offerings include Hamachi in yuzu kosho sauce with cucumber, pickled peppers, and blood orange; and Sea Urchin Donabe, which consists of ikura and cured egg yolk over a bed of nori rice served in a clay pot topped with uni. Chef Park uses Japanese seasonal ingredients such as miso, daikon, edamame in many of his dishes. Beverages include Japanese craft beer such as Stout Echigo and Pale Ale Kanazawa, Junmai ginjo and Junmai sakeby the glass, and unfiltered rice wine. The program menu also features the Hortus Pour, a red wine, white wine, or sake that Jang has personally chosen at an approachable price point.

Hortus NYC Jazz Nights

In addition to delectable food, the stylish restaurant has a vibrant ambiance. This week they introduced Jazz Nights, a blend of delicious cuisine and soulful live jazz music, every Wednesday and Thursday evening which started March 20.

Guests can experience the harmonious performances of Japanese husband-and-wife duo Chika & Tatsuya on Wednesdays and distinguished NYC-based Asian Jazz group Jinjoo Yoo Trio every Thursday. From 7:00 p.m. until 10 p.m., Hortus NYC’s 2nd-floor lounge area will be filled with swanky music, offering guests three hours of entertainment to accompany their meal.

Upgrade your viewing experience by dining on their menu of Asian fare

Wagyu Sotbap — A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, cured egg yolk, and micro greens
King Crab Noodle — fettuccine dressed with mala cream sauce, shallots, and scallion
Truffle Donabe with wild mushrooms and cured egg yolk topped with shaved black truffle

While listening, indulge in Hortus NYC’s low-ABV cocktails

Passion on the Beach — a blend of Jinro, plum sake and rosemary
Oolong High — oolong tea, soju, lemon, and cane sugar
5th Ave — a mix of Jinro 24, Hwayo 23, tonic, mint, and lime

About Hortus NYC

The name Hortus NYC, Latin for “garden,” reflects the emphasis on freshness, and the theme of the garden runs throughout the interior. Divided into four distinct areas, the first floor is dedicated to bar dining with an open kitchen and a Chef’s Table. The second floor contains an adjoining glass-enclosed hidden garden oasis complete with lights hanging above for a warm and intimate glow in the evening as well as the main dining room, which offers exquisite views of the illuminated stained-glass windows at the Marble Collegiate Church across the street.

Plan Your Visit

Hortus NYC

Address:
271 Fifth Avenue (between 29th and 30th Streets)

Phone:
646-858-3784

Hours:
Sunday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Website:
hortusnyc.com

Instagram:
@hortusnyc

Susan McCormac 3/15/24 Susan McCormac 3/15/24

CELEBRATE ANIME AT JAPAN VILLAGE

Anime Matsuri

Saturday, March 16 from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

The Loft at Japan Village (2nd Floor) – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn

Admission: Free

A FESTIVAL FOR ANIME LOVERS AND COLLECTORS ALIKE!

Pokémon power couple Tenshi & Zilla teams up with Japan Village to present Anime Matsuri! Experience a full day with vendors selling anime merch; delicious food such as onigiri, ramen, and katsu; a cosplay event; a Pokémon Unite meetup group; networking; and much more!

Doors open at The Loft on the second floor of Japan Village. The cosplay contest runs from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The event is free, but RSVP for exclusive giveaways. To register, please visit Anime Matsuri’s website.

Special Guest: Emily Cramer, voice actor/singer

Based in New York City, Emily Cramer is a voice actor and singer with an established performance background as a Broadway character actor. Her voiceover work can be heard internationally in commercials, animated television shows and movies, dark rides, audio dramas, and video games.

Her most notable animation credits come from across the Pokémon franchise in Sun & Moon, Journeys, Paldean Winds, and Cat's Kitchen, the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise in Arc-V, VRAINS, Sevens, Duel Links, and Rush Duel, as well as other titles such as Genshin Impact, Battle Game In 5 Seconds, EDF World Brothers, Bread Barbershop, Snack World, Back to Back, and Dinocore Evolution, and Bloom on season 8 of The Winx Club. To learn more about Emily, please visit her website.

Anime Matsuri is sponsored by Japan Village, Book•Off, and Tenshi & Zilla.

Susan McCormac 2/13/24 Susan McCormac 2/13/24

Explore the Family Dynamic at Japan Society

Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux

Thursday, February 15 through Saturday, February 24

Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Admission: $16 General | $14 Seniors, Students, and Persons with Disabilities | $12 Japan Society Members (unless otherwise noted)

Presented by Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan and Japan Society, Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux examines the shifting dynamics and struggles of the Japanese household in contemporary cinema. Showcasing ten features, including premieres and revivals, Family Portrait confronts the complexities of familial bonds in the face of adversity—from intergenerational gaps to changing mores and traditions—bringing to question what truly defines a family and its values in a modern world.

Series highlights include the U.S. Premiere of Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s Yoko, starring Academy Award-nominated actress Rinko Kikuchi in a bravura performance as a woman hitchhiking more than 400 miles to her father’s funeral; the U.S. Premiere of Keiko Tsuruoka’s Tsugaru Lacquer Girl, the heart-tugging story of a family lacquerware business on the brink of collapse run by Kaoru Kobayashi of Midnight Diner fame and the daughter who strives to carry on its legacy despite deeply held traditional gender beliefs; and a Classics slate featuring a rare 35mm presentation of Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Twilight.

A special spotlight will shine on director Ryota Nakano, who has spent his career keenly capturing the complex feelings of families when faced with adversity. His latest film, The Asadas, centers on the power of family in the aftermath of the Fukushima tragedy and will be presented along with his two previous works, A Long Goodbye and Her Love Boils Bathwater. Nakano will appear in person at Family Portrait: Japanese Family in Flux to speak during select screenings and take part in a reception.

To purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website, and visit IFC Center’s website to purchase tickets to the screening of Yoko on February 22.

© 2008 “Still Walking” Production Committee

Lineup and Schedule

Still Walking
Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda | 2008 | 114 min. | Japanese with English subtitles. |. With Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa, Kirin Kiki, Yoshio Harada

The Yokoyama family gathers for an annual commemoration of the eldest son, Junpei, who drowned 15 years ago while saving someone’s life. Over the course of the day, suppressed tensions and resentments are gradually revealed amidst forced pleasantries and shared meals as second son Ryo (Hiroshi Abe) endures feelings of inferiority in front of his curmudgeon father (Yoshio Harada) and passively judgmental mother (Kirin Kiki), both of whom disapprove of his recent marriage to a widow (Yui Natsukawa) with a ten-year-old son. Dedicated to his late mother, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s 2008 drama is among his most personal films—a masterfully directed, emotionally nuanced expression of the love, heartbreak, and comfort within family relationships—and a modern classic of Japanese cinema.

Tsugaru Lacquer Girl
Friday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Dir. Keiko Tsuruoka | 2023 | 118 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Mayu Hotta, Kaoru Kobayashi
U.S. Premiere

Traditional tsugaru-nuri lacquerwork is the Aoki family’s legacy, but their business is in decline and father Seishiro (Kaoru Kobayashi) doesn’t know if it will continue to the next generation. The family’s only hope is daughter Miyako (Mayu Hotta), but her desire to lead the family business upsets generations of customs, established gender roles, and Seishiro himself. Tsugaru Lacquer Girl vividly celebrates one of Japan’s most traditional arts and asks poignant questions about history, family, and if the past has a place in the future.

Muddy River
Saturday, February 17 at 4:00 p.m.
Dir. Kohei Oguri | 1981 | 105 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Takahiro Tamura, Yumiko Fujita, Mariko Kaga, Nobutaka Asahara

Taking place in working class Osaka eleven years after Japan’s defeat, Kohei Oguri’s naturalistic debut detailing an unforgettable summer friendship between two young boys is tinged with a poetic melancholy. Seen through the eyes of ten-year-old Nobuo, whose world is governed by the riverside traffic of sputtering barges, fishing boats, and a “monstrous carp,” Muddy River dwells on Nobuo’s last days of innocence as he befriends poor river dweller Kiichi, who lives nearby with his sister and mysterious mother (Mariko Kaga) on a ramshackle houseboat. Caught in the lives of its worn-down and impoverished residents—some still living the war, others dreaming of a new life—Oguri’s stunning black-and-white feature remains a heart-wrenching portrait of postwar Japan and its afflictions, the effects of which reverberate deep within the wordless exchanges and crestfallen faces of its downtrodden subjects.

Tokyo Twilight
Saturday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Dir. Yasujiro Ozu | 1957 | 140 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Setsuko Hara, Ineko Arima, Chishu Ryu

In the thick of the industrial hums and billowing smokestacks of postwar Tokyo, Yasujiro Ozu’s crepuscular drama concerns the lives of elderly Shukichi’s (Chishu Ryu) two grown-up daughters, each taking lodgings at their father’s Tokyo home. Hemmed in by setbacks and personal troubles, Takako (Setsuko Hara) seeks refuge from her abusive husband while “delinquent” younger sister Akiko (Ineko Arima) faces the shock of an unplanned pregnancy. In delicate strokes, Ozu orchestrates Tokyo Twilight across waystations of contemporary Tokyo—from seedy mahjong parlors and Western-themed bars with Latin beats to desolate shipyards and train crossings. With quiet devastation and lingering regret, Ozu’s final black-and-white feature is one of his unequivocal masterpieces, a woeful melodrama illuminated against the fading light of day.

Hoyaman
Sunday, February 18 at 4:00 p.m.
Dir. Teruaki Shoji | 2023 | 106 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Afro, Kumi Kureshiro, Kodai Kurosaki
U.S. Premiere

A tearful comedy set on a beautiful island, Hoyaman follows the strange adventures of two fisherman brothers and a mysterious artist who drifts onto the island and into their lives. The three are at a crossroads in a deeply human story featuring ramen, superheroes, and tsunamis. Hoyaman tells the story of an unorthodox but modern family and the bonds that challenge us to grow. It’s director Teruaki Shoji’s feature film debut and filmed entirely on Ajishima, an island off the coast of his hometown of Ishinomaki. It features a cast of rising talent lead by Afro from the band MOROHA in his own movie debut.

Tokyo Sonata
Sunday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa | 2008 | 119 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Teruyuki Kagawa, Kyoko Koizumi, Kai Inowaki., Yu Koyanagi

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s appropriately terrifying take on the domestic drama looks beyond the platitudes of familial values and empty promises of a happy life into the recesses of the human condition. Laid off in a wave of company downsizing, salaryman Ryuhei hides his misfortune, opting instead to deceive his family into thinking he still remains employed. Equally adrift are wife, Megumi (Kyoko Koizumi), yearning for someone to pull her out of her banal routines; teen Takashi, who sees no future living in Japan; and younger son Kenji, who simply desires to play the piano. Searching for catharsis, the family members begin to live out clandestine lives rather than confront their creeping divide. Winner of the Jury Prize of the Un Certain Regard section at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, Kurosawa’s cynical look at the subsurface decay and inadequacies of the traditional family points to its inherent breakdown.

Yoko
Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Offsite Screening: IFC Center – 323 6th Avenue
Admission: $18 General | $15 Seniors and Children
To purchase tickets, please visit IFC Center’s website.
Dir. Kazuyoshi Kumakiri | 2023 | 113 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Rinko Kikuchi, Pistol Takehara, Asuka Kurosawa
U.S. Premiere

International star Rinko Kikuchi plays the titular Yoko in an unorthodox road movie that follows an isolated woman’s journey to hitchhike more than 400 miles to her estranged father’s funeral. As she encounters a sweeping range of travelers across her trek, what will Yoko learn from each of them, and what will they learn from her? And in crossing this physical distance, can Yoko mend the emotional distance between her father and herself?

Her Love Boils Bathwater
Friday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $18 General | $16 Seniors, Students, and Persons with Disabilities | $14 Japan
New York Premiere with Director Q&A and Reception
Dir. Ryota Nakano | 2016 | 125 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Rie Miyazawa, Hana Sugisaki, Joe Odagiri

Rie Miyazawa stars as Futaba, a single mother diagnosed with terminal cancer. With little time left, she sets out on a mission to reconnect her family, reuniting with her husband, reassuring her daughter, and bringing both together to save the family business. A popular and critical hit, Her Love Boils Bathwater won Miyazawa Best Actress and Hana Sugisaki Best Supporting Actress at the Japan Academy Awards, and the film was Japan’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.

A Long Goodbye
Saturday, February 24 at 4:00 p.m.
Dir. Ryota Nakano | 2019 | 127 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Yu Aoi, Yuko Takeuchi, Tsutomu Yamazaki
New York Premiere

Based on the book by Naoki Prize-winning writer Kyoko Nakajima, A Long Goodbye traces the gradual memory loss of the aging Shohei (Tsutomu Yamazaki) due to Alzheimer’s and the painful challenges and unexpected joys his two daughters experience as they return home to care for him. While Alzheimer’s robs Shohei of his past, his long goodbye brings new memories and a new closeness to his loved ones.

The Asadas
Saturday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Introduction by director Ryota Nakano and Followed by a Talk Session
Dir. Ryota Nakano | 2020 | 127 min. | Japanese with English subtitles | With Kazunari Ninomiya, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Masaki Suda

Inspired by real-life photographer Masashi Asada, director Ryota Nakano’s latest film balances humor and heart in an unexpectedly true story. As an energetic dreamer in a traditional family, Masashi (Kazunari Ninomiya)’s initial artistic endeavors are met with skepticism and little support, but in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Masashi’s photographic skills are given new purpose, and he embarks on a mission that brings his family—and families across Japan—together.

About the ACA Cinema Project

The ACA Cinema Project is a new initiative organized as part of the “Japan Film Overseas Expansion Enhancement Project,” an ongoing project founded by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan (ACA) to create opportunities for the increased exposure, development, and appreciation of Japanese cinema overseas through screenings, symposiums, and other events held throughout the year. The ACA Cinema Project introduces a wide range of Japanese films in the United States, a major center of international film culture, together with local partners, such as Japan Society, IFC Center, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Linwood Dunn Theater.

Susan McCormac 2/9/24 Susan McCormac 2/9/24

Find Handmade Crafts at Katagiri This Weekend

Valentine’s Day Craft Fair

Saturday, February 10 from Noon until 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 11 from Noon until 4:00 p.m.

Katagiri – 224 E. 59th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

Admission: Free

Niji Japanese Artist Pop Up Shop is having its first craft fair at Japanese grocery store Katagiri. At this two-day event, artists will be offering dried flowers, handmade accessories, and kimono bags. Find the perfect gift for your Valentine while shopping for Japanese groceries!

Participating Artists

fancy pop
Cute handmade jewelry and accessories made of resin and air-dry clay including earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hair pins, and more!

Bead Factory Ever Green/ビーズ工房 Ever Green
Origami accessories (earrings and hair ornaments) that can be used for both casual and formal occasions.

水引装飾Twilight
Mizuhiki accessories made from a traditional Japanese paper string used for celebrations and as a decoration to wish for happiness.

ryuroru
ryuroru creates accessories with 925 silver for all ages and all genders. The main concepts behind the brand are sea, space, and simple.

MEINFINITY
Handbags made from Japanese fabrics that let you carry a piece of Japanese culture with you.

Heartfish
Heartfish Press is a creative studio located in Brooklyn, specializing in letterpress printing and floral design. The studio offers a variety of letterpress prints, cards, and custom design services that involve creating floral designs using dried flowers.

About Niji

NYK Marketing, based in New York, is a marketplace that serves as a bridge connecting Japanese artists with people from around the world. It was born from the desire to expand the reach of Japanese artists globally.

Their main platform is the e-commerce site niji, where you can purchase artworks by various artists from around the world. They also organize the Japanese Artist Pop Up Shop events, where customers can meet the artists in person.

About Katagiri

The oldest Asian grocery store in New York, Katagiri has been selling Japanese fish, meats, produce, and snacks since 1907. They have two Manhattan locations: the original store on E. 59th Street and one near Grand Central.

Katagiri 59th Street
224 E. 59th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
Phone: 212-755-3566
Hours: Every day from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Katagiri Grand Central
370 Lexington Avenue, Suite #107
Phone: 917-472-7025
Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Susan McCormac 2/8/24 Susan McCormac 2/8/24

Fundraiser for Ishikawa Sake Breweries

New Hope: Sake Tasting Fundraiser for Ishikawa Sake Breweries

Monday, February 12 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Kura – 34 34th Street, Industry City, Brooklyn

Admission: $108.55

The American Sake Association and Brooklyn Kura have teamed up to host New Hope: Sake Tasting Fundraiser for Ishikawa Sake Breweries.

On New Year's Day 2024, Japan was hit with a major earthquake. While several prefectures were affected, the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture was the epicenter. In total, eleven sake breweries were completely destroyed, and several others have lost their entire stock of sake.

To support the Ishikawa sake industry, ASA and Brooklyn Kura are organizing a sake tasting fundraiser to send donations to the Ishikawa Sake Brewer's Association. Assistance from these funds will go directly to the impacted sake brewers.

Event Highlights

Premium Sake Tasting:
Taste sake from dozens of breweries from all over Japan. The sake will be flowing, and the featured brands and varieties being poured will change every hour.

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: JOTO SAKE | SAKEMAN | SKURNIK | NIIGATA SAKE SELECTIONS | WISMETTEC
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: DASSAI BLUE | MUTUAL TRADING CO | JFC | HEAVEN SAKE | KATO SAKE WORKS
8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: WINE OF JAPAN | KOME COLLECTIVE | WORLD SAKE IMPORTS | SOTO | HAKKAISAN

Culinary Delights:
Delicious flavors from a variety of well-known chefs and restaurants will be available. Enjoy a range of tastes with dishes changing throughout the night. (Subject to change)

Chef Abe Hiroki – Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Shabu Shabu
Taka Sakeda and Jihan Lee of Nami Nori – Hand Rolls
Chef Foo Kanegae of Karazishi Botan – Chicken Wings
Chef Masaru Kajihara of Ootoya – Sesame Tofu
Sen Japanese Restaurant – Onigiri Bar
Chef Chika Hanyu of C by C Pastry – Chocolates and Dessert
Assorted Japanese savory snacks for sake sipping

Behind the Bar:
Guest bartender Kenta Goto will provide cocktails throughout the evening.

Music: DJ Aki, Executive Chef of Tokyo Record Bar, will be spinning tunes.

Raffle:
The price of admission grants you one ticket for an exciting sake goods and experiences raffle. Win sake sets, sake cups, carafes, sake classes, tastings, restaurant dinners, artwork, and more! You can purchase additional tickets at the event for only $10 each.

To purchase tickets to the fundraiser, please visit ASA and Brooklyn Kura’s Eventbrite page.

The Impact of Your Donation

Ticket sales will be collected by the American Sake Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All profits from this event will be donated to the Ishikawa Sake Brewers Association, and these funds will directly benefit the impacted sake brewers of Ishikawa.

Ishikawa Breweries Affected by the New Year’s Day Earthquake

Matsuba Shuzo
Sakurada Shuzo
Tsuruno Shuzo
Hiyoshi Shuzo
Sogen Shuzo
Kazuma Shuzo
Shimizu Shuzo
Hakuto Shuzoten
Nakajima Shuzo
Nakano Shuzo

Susan McCormac 1/25/24 Susan McCormac 1/25/24

Duo YUMENO to Pay Tribute to Late Japanese Composer

Music of Changes: Tribute to Toshi Ichiyanagi

Saturday, January 27 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Tenri Cultural Institute – 43A W. 13th Street (between5th and 6th Avenues)

Admission: $30

Duo YUMENO—Yoko Reikano Kimura on koto and shamisen and Hikaru Tamaki on cello—and special guest pianist Vicky Chow will pay homage to the legendary composer Toshi Ichiyanagi. Ichiyanagi, who passed away in 2022, was a protégé of John Cage during the 1960s and had a profound influence on the post-war Japanese music landscape.

Presented by Duo YUMENO, the program will explore Ichiyanagi’s music, written for both traditional Japanese and Western instruments, and will celebrate his six-decade-long career. Highlights include Paraphrase for shamisen and cello (2019), which was commissioned by the duo; Time Sequence (1976), a dazzling piano solo in the minimalist style; and Linked Poems of Autumn (1990), Ichiyanagi’s tribute to the Japanese koto-song tradition that features texts by the haiku poet Matsuo Bashō. It’s sure to be an evening of provocative and brilliant contemporary music at Tenri Cultural Institute.

To purchase tickets, please visit Eventbrite.com.

Susan McCormac 1/25/24 Susan McCormac 1/25/24

Kurosawa Oscar-Winner at Film at Lincoln Center

Dersu Uzala at Film at Lincoln Center

Sunday, January 28 at 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Walter Reade Theater – 165 W. 65th Street

Admission: $17 General Public | $14 Students | $12 JapanCulture•NYC Members (with Discount Code)

In Akira Kurosawa’s storied career, the Japanese director won two Oscars and a 1990 Lifetime Achievement Award. His first Oscar came in 1951 for Rashomon, and his second was for the 1975 Soviet film Dersu Uzala.

Film at Lincoln Center is featuring the film that garnered Kurosawa his second Academy Award as part of its series Never Look Away: Serge Daney’s Radical 1970s, a tribute to the French film critic Serge Daney and the films he championed in his book La Rampe, a collection of essays about cinema. From this lineup, Dersu Uzala captures an endangered way of being in the world, in which the encounter between a Russian military geographer and a Nanai hunter leads to an unexpected friendship. The series runs from Friday, January 26 through Sunday, February 4 with Dersu Uzala screening on both Sunday, January 28 and Tuesday, January 30. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see the film on the big screen! To purchase tickets, please visit Film at Lincoln Center’s website.

Film at Lincoln Center is giving an exclusive opportunity for members of JapanCulture•NYC! Members will receive the discount code to use for $5 off tickets to a screening of Akira Kurosawa’s Dersu Uzala. Not a member? Please click here to register. Your membership fee of $5 a month helps defray the costs of running JapanCulture•NYC and keeps everyone informed about All Things Japanese in New York City.

Dersu Uzala

In Akira Kurosawa’s Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, an unexpected friendship arises between a Russian military geographer and the Nanai hunter he has hired to guide his expedition across the Siberian taiga. After the baffling fiasco of his previous film, Dodes’ka-den, and his subsequent suicide attempt, Kurosawa experienced an artistic rebirth with this Soviet-produced ode to wilderness, replacing the dynamic montage of his earlier films with stately widescreen compositions that capture the Russian Far East in all its forbidding beauty. In celebrated scenes like the expedition’s encounter with an Amur tiger (no CGI here) and the blizzard in which famed geographer Vladimir Arsenyev is saved by the titular hunter, Kurosawa pays tribute to once-indomitable nature on the verge of being encroached upon by the Trans-Siberian Railroad, capturing an endangered way of being that resonates ever more strongly in our era of climate disaster and rampant capitalism.

Susan McCormac 1/19/24 Susan McCormac 1/19/24

Meet the sake Brewers at Union Square Wines & Spirits

Free Sake Tasting – Meet the Fukushima Sake Brewers

Tuesday, January 23 · 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Union Square Wines & Spirits – 140 4th Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)

Admission: Free

Fukushima Prefecture has won the most Gold Prizes at the century-old Japan Sake Awards for nine years in a row. Sake from Fukushima is created with unmatched craftsmanship and the finest taste. While famous in Japan, Fukushima sake is still not well known to the outside world.

To introduce New Yorkers to the delights of Fukushima sake, the Fukushima Trade Promotion Council is hosting two free sake tastings at Union Square Wines & Spirits on January 23 and 24. Nobuhiro Hosoi, Sake Master and President of Kokken Brewery, and Nobuo Shoji, Sake Master and President of Yumegokoro Brewery, are traveling from Fukushima to pour sake for New Yorkers. There will be seven different brands from three different breweries on January 23 and eight brands on January 24 to enjoy.

Featured Sake on January 23

Junmai Kokken from Kokken Brewery
Yamahai Junmai Kokken from Kokken Brewery
Junmai Daiginjo NARAMAN from Yumegokoro Sake Brewery
NARAMAN Junmai-shu Muroka Binhiire from Yumegokoro Sake Brewery
Aizu Chujo – Junmai Ginjo Yumenokaori from Tsurunoe Shuzo
Aizu Chujo – Junmai from Tsurunoe Shuzo
Aizu Chujo – Junmai Ginjo Yuri from Tsurunoe Shuzo

Featured Sake on January 24

Daiginjo Kokken from Kokken Brewery
Tokubetsu Junmai Kokken Yume no Kaori from Kokken Brewery
Uka Black Label Organic Junmai Daiginjo from Ninki Brewery
Uka Dry Organic Junmai Daiginjo from Ninki Brewery
Uka Sparkling Sake Organic Junmai Daiginjo from Ninki Brewery
Masakura Kimoto Junmai Ginjo from Daishichi Sake Brewery
Kimoto Umeshu from Daishichi Sake Brewery
Tenmei Junmai Hi-ire Orange Label from Akebono Sake Brewery

Enjoy a 15% discount on the featured sake that will be poured and 10% discount on all Fukushima sake on the days the tastings.

Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVPs are appreciated. Please visit the Fukushima Trade Promotion Council’s Eventbrite page to RSVP to the January 23 tasting and/or the January 24 tasting.

Susan McCormac 1/9/24 Susan McCormac 1/9/24

DIY Matcha Workshop at a-un Brooklyn

Nina Tea Salon “Matcha Tea DIY Workshop”

Sunday, January 21 at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 11 at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 25 at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

a-un Brooklyn — 156 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn

Admission: $35 plus tax

Welcome to Nina Tea Salon 2024

Nina Tea Salon presents a “Matcha Tea DIY Workshop” at a-un Brooklyn, a Japanese restaurant by the owner/chefs of Wasan Brooklyn. Using the finest premium matcha imported directly from Japan, Nina Tea Salon invites you to enjoy the beauty of authentic Japanese culture. Be enchanted by the harmonious pairing of this exquisite tea with handmade, seasonally inspired traditional desserts.

In these 30-minute sessions, Nina will guide participants on how to make a bowl of light matcha tea at home for yourself and your loved ones!

Three Levels of Learning

Level 1 — Preparation and tea-whisking technique
Level 2 — Purifying utensils
Level 3 — Combined techniques of Levels 1 and 2

The serene ambiance, the lingering aroma of freshly whisked matcha, the symphony of flavors, and the atmosphere both tradition and innovation will surely captivate your senses.

Seating is limited, so register by using this Google Form.

About A-un

The phrase "a-un no kokyuu," literally translating to the "breath of a-un," originates from an ancient Japanese idiom. This expression signifies a silent communication between two individuals who understand each other without the need for words.

Sake sommelier Toshi Koizumi and chef Kakusaburo Sakurai opened Wasan East Village in 2010 and Wasan Brooklyn in Park Slope, Brooklyn, five years later. Together they opened a-un Brooklyn last year. Over the years, as restaurant owners, they have found their a-un, strongly reaffirming the sheer joy and importance of serving the local community through their cuisine.

Susan McCormac 1/9/24 Susan McCormac 1/9/24

Japanese Reimagining of HAMLET at Japan Society

HAMLET | TOILET

Wednesday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m. [SOLD OUT]
Friday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m. (followed by artist Q&A)
Saturday, January 13 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Admission: $35 | $28 Japan Society Members and Persons with Disabilities

Number two or not number two? That is the question in HAMLET | TOILET, a hilariously nonsensical reimagining of William Shakespeare’s classic from Yu Murai, one of Japan’s “most innovative contemporary playwright-directors” (Asian Theatre Journal), and performed by his Kaimaku Pennant Race theater company cast, fearlessly clad in their signature full-body white unisuits.

Kaimaku Pennant Race (KPR) has become known for its antic movement style mixed with profound interpretations of Western masterpieces, weaving scenes from Elizabethan-era tragedy with bursts of Japanese pop culture references in sensational and surprising ways. Following the company’s groundbreaking Romeo and Toilet and 2019’s unpredictable manga-meets-Macbeth Ashita no Ma-Joe, which turned Japan Society’s stage into a boxing ring, this production marks the New York premiere of Murai’s latest madcap Shakespearean innovation. Hamlet | Toilet is performed by KPR members Masayuki Gouke (professionally known as G.K. Masayuki), Yuki Matsuo, and Takuro Takasaki. Performed in Japanese with English supertitles.

The troupe will give four total performances, but please note that the first performance, on Wednesday, January 10, is sold out. There are still tickets available for the remaining three, with an artist Q&A following the performance on Friday, January 12. To purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website.

*HAMLET* | *TOILET* ©photo by Takashi Ikemura

About Kaimaku Pennant Race

Founded by Yu Murai in 2006, Kaimaku Pennant Race (KPR) is a Tokyo-based theater company known for off-the-wall theater work presenting a uniquely contemporary Japanese view, often inspired by Western masterpieces. They have achieved worldwide recognition through their in-demand repertoire pieces such as 1969: A Space Odyssey? Oddity!; Romeo and Toilet, and Ashita no Ma-Joe: Rocky Macbeth, performed in France, Romania, Thailand, South Korea, the US, and Japan. In 2009, the company performed Romeo and Toilet in the New York International Fringe Festival, earning Four Stars from Time Out New York for its “fantastic combination of ingenious movement; surreal story lines; and dynamic, startlingly disciplined performers."

The company’s remarkable sets have also caused quite a stir, with one of their most notable set designs being a large toilet created from 10,000 toilet paper rolls for Romeo and Toilet. 1969: A Space Odyssey? Oddity! had its successful world tour, visiting popular international theater festivals and venues such as Festival d’Avignon (France), BABAL F.A.S.T. (Romania), Carthage Theatre Festival (Tunisia), ST-BOMB festival (South Korea) and Thong Lor Art Space (Thailand) from 2015 through 2018. Audiences around the world have embraced the company’s original approach to physical comedy and Western adaptations, describing their work as “a real artistic experience” (La Provence, France).

Ashita no Ma-Joe: Rocky Macbeth premiered at the Theater Rakuen in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, in February 2017 and was presented by Japan Society in New York in May 2019, garnering rave reviews. Their most recent work, HAMLET | TOILET premiered at Komaba Agora Theater in Tokyo in September 2023.

About Yu Murai

Founder and Director Yu Murai reinterprets a wide variety of classical plays using extreme physicality and over-the-top humor. Known for his bold stage designs and sharp, witty dramas, he is able to convey his original and singular point of view through his meticulous and highly choreographed directing style. Most recently, he has started conducting workshops, lectures, and readings to expose young actors to his quirky and rich methodologies. Of his plays, Theatrorama (France) wrote, “If you see [his] shocking work, you cannot return to earth ever again.” His company’s performances invite audiences to enter surreal, high-octane worlds, through aesthetics and tropes borrowed from Japanese pop culture. Today, the troupe is one of the most promising theater companies in Japan, blending high-art and entertainment.

Susan McCormac 1/4/24 Susan McCormac 1/4/24

Sachiyo Ito's Memoir to Appear on JapanCulture•NYC

JapanCulture•NYC is pleased to announce that renowned dancer, dance educator, and choreographer Sachiyo Ito will serialize her memoir on this website. Beginning Thursday, January 11, we will present one chapter each month, revealing a different aspect of her early life in Tokyo and career in New York City in each installment.

Ito Sensei offers of a profound exploration of her experience of dedicating herself to traditional Japanese dance at an early age, arriving in New York City during the tumultuous ‘70s, and making a successful career in the arts. Each chapter offers a glimpse into the complexities that shaped her journey.

The memoir is an invitation to delve into the layers of a creative life and career that has spanned more than 50 years. As a work in progress, it is also an invitation for you to offer your feedback. Your insights will contribute to the evolution of this extraordinary work.

Join us on Thursday, January 11, as we begin this literary examination of not only Ito Sensei’s life, but of how New York City’s culture evolved over the decades and what sacrifices one must make to achieve a thriving career in the arts.

Susan McCormac 12/12/23 Susan McCormac 12/12/23

JapanCulture•NYC x Japan Society Ticket Giveaway!

🚨🎟️GIVEAWAY ALERT ‼️

We're teaming up with our friends at Japan Society Film for a ticket giveaway to the screening of Dogra Magra on Friday, December 15 at 9:00 p.m.!

Japan Society Film is generously giving five pairs of tickets to this Japanese mystery fiction fantasy extravaganza by Toshio Matsumoto! That means five winners will each take a +1 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Matsumoto's final feature!

DETAILS

🎥 Dogra Magra

📅 Friday, December 15

⏰ 9:00pm

📍 Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

HOW TO ENTER

🎯Follow @japanculturenyc, @jsfilmnyc, and @japansociety on Instagram

🏷️ Tag @japanculturenyc in an Instagram post related to Japanese Culture in New York City (food, drink, film, art, music, books, crafts)

☠️ Deadline: Thursday, December 14 at 12:00pm

🏆 Winners announced Thursday, December 14 by 6:00pm

ABOUT DOGRA MAGRA

Based on one of the Sandaikisho (Three Great Occult Books) of Japanese mystery fiction, Toshio Matsumoto’s fourth and final feature adapts the unadaptable: a filmed version of surrealist 1935 avant-garde classic Dogra Magra written by Kyusaku Yumeno—the famous detective novelist whose pen name fittingly translates to “person who always dreams.”

In Taisho 15, the period’s final year, an amnesiac awakens in a sanatorium without recollection of his name or face. Forced to reconstruct his memory, the patient is accosted by two doctors (including one purported to be deceased) who relate his condition in differing fashions, complicating whether physicians are telling the truth or playing a Fowlesian godgame.

Working with frequent cinematographer Tatsuo Suzuki (Himiko, Pastoral: To Die in the Country), Matsumoto constructs a disorienting Jungian work, overwrought with conspiracies and intermingling tales. Delivering intra-womb fetuses, red herrings, and false revelations, Dogra Magra unfurls a complex tapestry of alternating histories—resulting in a whirlwind tragedy brought on by fantasies of eternal recurrence.

Dir. Toshio Matsumoto, 1988, 109 min., 35mm, color, in Japanese with live English subtitles. With Yoji Matsuda, Shijaku Katsura, Hideo Murota, Eri Misawa.

This screening is part of Japan Society’s current series Taisho Roman: Fever Dreams of the Great Rectitude, running through December 16. To see the remaining films and to purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website.

Huge thanks to Japan Society, Japan Society Film, and Peter Tatara for making this giveaway possible.

Susan McCormac 12/7/23 Susan McCormac 12/7/23

The 2023 JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide

We are back with our annual Japan Culture NYC’s holiday gift guide and this year we are focusing on some of our favorite women-owned businesses!

Nico Neco Zakkaya

263 E. 10th Street, New York 10009
Monday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.; Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

First established as an Etsy shop in 2015, Nico Neco Zakkaya New York’s brick-and-mortar store opened in 2019. Siming, the owner, had previously lived in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kagoshima before moving to New York. She missed aspects of Japanese life, specifically its stationery and zakka, a Japanese word that means “encompassing all things that enhance your home, lifestyle, and appearance.” The word zakkaya in the shop’s name is derived from that because Siming believes that “these small, yet meaningful details can truly elevate your life, create memories, and even spark inspiration.”

This shop carries a range of options for the perfect gifts that are carefully curated and sourced from Japan. They offer everything from stationery to crafting tools to household items such as incense burners and other ceramics. Their selection of stamps, seals, stickers, and washi tape make great stocking stuffers. Nico Neco Zakkaya sells planners and planner supplies, but please act fast as they are quickly selling out for 2024! While there, you can also pick up your gift-wrapping supplies and thank you cards to send after the holiday season.

If you are unable to get to the shop, you can also order online. Be sure to get those orders in as soon as possible to ensure delivery for the holidays.

M.M. LaFleur

Bryant Park Showroom – 130 W 42nd Street, Floor 13, New York, NY 10036
Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Closed Monday.
Upper West Side location – 182A Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023
Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Closed Monday.
Upper East Side location – 1225 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10128
Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Closed Monday.

M.M. LaFleur’s founder and CEO Sarah LaFleur teamed up with Miyako Nakamura, former head designer at Zac Posen, to launch the brand in 2013. Their clothing is created around three design principles: functional details, comfort, and style with today’s woman in mind. Known for their high-quality basics, they create polished pieces made for real life by offering features like machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant fabrics.

M.M. Lafleur sells everything from clothing, outerwear, footwear and accessories like jewelry, belts, and cold weather knitwear. Please check out their 2024 gift guide for ideas. Also, check out their calendar of events because there are some upcoming holiday events in stores for the month of December. There’s nothing like breakfast with Mrs. Claus, complimentary hot cocoa, and live music to enhance your shopping experience.

If placing online orders, please see their holiday shipping cut-off dates here.

Seicho

Online only:

Website
Etsy shop

Seicho is a New York-based Japanese calligraphy artist whose name translates to “Quiet Butterfly.” She first picked up a calligraphy brush around the age of six, but her talent grew in college. Studying under Seifu Makino, a well-known master calligrapher in Kyoto, enhanced her skill even further, which led to winning many prizes and having her work exhibited all over Japan. In 1996, she became a master calligrapher herself, and two years later she moved to New York and has shared her talents here ever since.

You can purchase beautiful calligraphy and unique gifts through Seicho’s online shop. She offers five different custom-order calligraphy gifts with names written in both kanji and katakana, including our personal favorite: a custom kanji sake masu! All items come wrapped in beautiful Japanese paper (except decorative envelopes and stickers).

Like all online shopping, we recommend placing your order at your earliest convenience.

MaKaRi Japanese Antiques and Fine Art

97 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Since 2009 MaKaRi Japanese Antiques and Fine Art has had a shop on Third Avenue that specializes in quality antiques, contemporary art, and housewares from Japan. Owner Yuko Nose, who is originally from Tokyo, has lived and had other businesses in New York for decades. With MaKaRi, she loves mixing contemporary pieces with antiques in her inventory.

The shop offers pottery from various Japanese artists to other housewares such as tea pots, glassware, tenugui, and antique furniture. The website also offers a gift guide as well as digital gift cards, which are always a great gift for the person who is hard to shop for or someone you need to send a gift to outside the NYC area.

Atlantic Grace

115 W. 29th Street, Suite 902, New York, NY 10001
Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

One of JapanCulture•NYC’s sponsors is Atlantic Grace, a Japanese esthetic salon, which they call a Japanese relaxation and beauty house. This woman-owned business specializes in Japanese beauty treatments such as painless hair removal, facials, teeth whitening, and face tightening, using state-of-the-art technology from Japan. Their experienced Japanese technicians and estheticians provide safe, gentle, and effective treatments for both women and men.

Book a service or gift a bundled package to your loved one. You deserve a gift this busy holiday season, too, so consider treating yourself to a treatment to help relieve the holiday stress. Check out their holiday special, which offers a bundle of two facial-treatment sessions and one teeth-whitening session.

Photo and graphic courtesy Atlantic Grace

Riverside Wrapping Co.

Online shop

December pop-up schedule:

Saturday 12/9 - Sunday 12/10 at the Brooklyn Museum from 11:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 12/16 - Sunday 12/17 at the Museum of the City of New York from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 12/16 - Sunday 12/24 at Japan Village for the Niji Holiday Makers Market (Times listed in link)

What started as gift wrapping business in 2022, certified gift wrap coordinator Emi Tachibana’s business has evolved to include handmade jewelry using mizuhiki, the ancient Japanese artform of decorative knots. Born in China and raised in Tokyo, Emi has lived in New York since 2016, perfecting her skills at traditional Japanese crafts. She’s a familiar face who can always be found at various artist pop-up markets in the city throughout the year. Be sure to find her at one of the holiday markets listed above.

Riverside Wrapping Co. is best known for her intricate mizuhiki earrings hand-crafted with modern touches like pearls and delicate chains. From simple knots to cat-shaped mizuhiki and mini flowers hanging from gold chains, check out her selection of earrings that work for many occasions. Emi will be featuring new styles for this holiday season.

During the Riverside Wrapping Co.’s pop-up at the Niji Holiday Makers Market, Emi will have New Year Shimenawa Kazari for sale in collaboration with Heartfish Press. Another local woman-owned business, Heartfish Press is run by artist/graphic designer Hijiri K. Shepherd. Her letterpress studio offers prints and cards along with her recent dried floral designs. These one-of-a-kind Shimenawa Kazari are limited quantity; be sure to pick yours up before they sell out.

If placing orders online from Riverside Wrapping Co., please do so by December 17 for shipping or December 22 for pick up at Japan Village.

MEINFINITY Kimono Bags

Also available at the Niji Holiday Makers Market, MEINFINITY kimono bags by founder/creator Akiko. What started as a hobby in 2021 developed to an official business this past January. Akiko was first inspired by the way non-Japanese people worldwide wore haori or kimono as jackets styled in a fashionable way instead of the traditional, proper way kimono is worn in Japan. All the bags are made from upcycling vintage kimono and silk obi with straps made from vintage obijime that Akiko carefully sources in Japan. Sourcing vintage kimono fabrics and repurposing them into bags gives the kimono a second life. Often selling at pop-ups in Japan, MEINFINITY made its NYC debut last summer at a previous Nijii Makers Market and is thrilled to return with new designs and silhouettes this holiday season.

At this pop-up, MEINFINITY will be featuring their classic styles like the original silhouette, Square Bag, the Crossbody style, and Phone Bag while debuting the newest silhouette, The Baguette! Each bag is from a different cut from vintage kimono or obi, which means no two bags are exactly alike, making this an exclusive, one-of-a-kind gift. The bags come in a variety of looks from pastels, metallics, and bold large graphics. These bags are the ultimate accessory that combine traditional Japanese kimono with modern fashion, the perfect gift for that accessories lover in your life.

Angel’s Share

45 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Tuesday through Sunday from 5:00 p.m. until Midnight

The legacy of Angel’s Share continues in a new location and under new ownership. Erina Yoshida, the daughter of Tony Yoshida, who opened the original Angel’s Share in 1993, is at the helm. In 2012 Erina started working with her father and served as COO of Japan Village when it opened in 2018. After the iconic Stuyvesant Street location of Angel’s Share closed in March 2022 due to a rent hike, it had an eight-month pop-up at Midtown’s Hotel Eventi. It was Erina’s idea to reopen Angel’s Share in a new location and to keep the same staff. Determined to do this on her own, she pulled from her own savings and received loans from friends. Searching for the perfect location, she finally found it in a landmark building on Grove Street in Greenwich Village and created this new 65-seat location with some familiar elements. The iconic cherub mural and antique chandeliers recreate Angel Share’s recognizable look.

Well known for its craft cocktails, this incarnation of the acclaimed bar features three of the old favorites from the East Village location along with 24 new cocktails as well as a food menu with small plates. A visit here would make a perfect holiday date. Just in time for the holidays, Angel’s Share is also launching new merchandise such as totes, baseball caps and t-shirts. This merchandise will be available for purchase at the new location, and it’s possible to buy it in the waiting room area without visiting the actual bar. If you have someone in your life who was devastated when Angel’s Share closed in 2022, something from this new merchandise line would be a memorable gift.

Bessou

Market 57, Kiosk 9 at 25 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Monday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The loose translation of “Bessou” means “home away from home.” Founder Maiko Kyogoku created a menu that allows her to share her family’s Japanese comfort food traditions in reimagined ways. Having grown up in New York in a restaurant-owning family, Maiko has always been familiar with food and hospitality. After spending 15 years running operations for Daniel Boulud, the Bromberg Brothers, and the Thompson Hotel group, she opened Bessou in 2016. Currently Bessou is part of Market 57, a food hall and market curated under the guidance and mentorship of The James Beard Foundation.

Along with the kiosk at Market 57, Bessou has an online shop with a selection of great gift ideas. There’s a Holiday Feast at Home for four people which not only makes an amazing gift, but if you are hosting friends or family over the holidays but don’t want to cook, this would be perfect! There is a Holiday Popcorn Gift Box just launched for this holiday season. It features innovative flavors such as nori crunch, miso caramel corn, shiso sour cream, and soy butter. Other pantry items including furikake, miso marinade, chili oil, and black garlic are sold individually or bundled. For the home chef in your life, the bundled set would be useful. They also sell baseball caps, t-shirts, and totes.

Different Roads to Learning

Online resource

Our final business is not Japanese-related, but it is run by one of the most important women leaders in New York’s Japanese American community. Different Roads to Learning is a company that provides educational resources for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is one of JapanCulture•NYC’s sponsors. Its founder and President, Julie Azuma, is a tour de force who brings people in the Japanese and Japanese American community together.

Julie grew up in Chicago to Issei parents who were incarcerated during World War II. After moving to New York City, Julie worked with Yuri Kochiyama, Michi Weglyn, among others in the Redress Movement in the 1980s. She serves on the boards of multiple nonprofits and organizes many fundraising and networking events, in addition to running her business.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 36 children in the US has autism. Chances are you may know someone who will benefit from the products that Julie’s company provides.

One of Different Roads to Learning’s newest educational products is the Photorealistic Visual Schedule. With its full-color, photorealistic communication cards, the visual schedule makes tasks and expectations easier to process and is a great tool to help children with autism plan for the New Year. Another educational game is Mighty Mind, which develops creativity and helps children understand visual and spatial relationships. With the purchase of one of these products, Different Roads to Learning will offer free shipping in the Tri-State area.

We hope our 2023 Holiday Gift Guide has not only given you great ideas for everyone on your holiday gift list but introduced you to a few amazing women-owned local businesses as well. Happy Holidays!

The 2023 JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide was researched and compiled by JCNYC Fashion Editor Jen Green with an assist from Susan McCormac. Follow Jen on Instagram to get year-round inspo.

Susan McCormac 11/30/23 Susan McCormac 11/30/23

Holiday Sake from Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Sake for the Holidays

Friday, December 1 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Minoru’s Sake Shop at Landmark Wine and Spirits – 208 W. 23rd Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Admission: Free

To introduce New Yorkers to the delights of Fukushima sake, the Fukushima Trade Promotion Council is hosting a free holiday sake tasting at Minoru’s Sake Shop at Landmark Wine and Spirits in Chelsea

Tasting session participants will receive a 10% discount for purchases of Fukushima sake.

Enjoy Six Different Brands from Six Different Breweries

Minowamon Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo from Daishichi Sake Brewery
KEN Daiginjo from Suehiro Brewery
Odayaka Junmai Ginjo from Niida-Honke
NARAMAN Junmai-shu Muroka Binhiire from Yumegokoro Sake Brewery
Kokken Yamahai Junmai from Kokken Brewery
Lychee Nigori from Homare Brewery

Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVPs are appreciated. To register, please visit the Fukushima Trade Promotion Council’s Eventbrite page.

Susan McCormac 11/21/23 Susan McCormac 11/21/23

Japan Society Reruns Holiday Cooking Online Workshop

Thanksgiving, Japan Style

Available through November 30

Online Cooking Workshop

Free

Give your Thanksgiving feast a Japanese spin this year with shio koji butter-brined turkey, blistered green beans and shishito peppers, and Japanese sweet potatoes. In this online workshop presented by Japan Society, Maiko Kyogoku, owner of Bessou, a modern Japanese comfort food kiosk at Market 57, will teach a variety of festive recipes that bridge cultural traditions, using ingredients perfect for the season.

This year, dazzle guests at your holiday feast with a menu bursting with the flavors of Japan. Please note: This workshop was recorded on November 2, 2021. Some information may have changed since the time of recording.

To register for YouTube access and the recipe card, please visit Japan Society’s website.

Susan McCormac 11/21/23 Susan McCormac 11/21/23

All AAPI Cast to Perform “Allegiance”

54 Sings Allegiance

Monday, November 27 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

54 Below – 254 W. 54th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)

Admission: $100.50 Premium Seating | $51-$62 Main Dining and Bar Seating

54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, presents an entirely AAPI cast in 54 Sings Allegiance on November 27 at 7:00 p.m. This celebration is in honor of the London premiere of Allegiance, a musical inspired by the real story of Star Trek icon George Takei’s life with music and lyrics by Jay Kuo and book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione. 54 Below invites the audience to enjoy the story of Allegiance through the performances of these incredible AAPI talents.

The show will feature highlights of the score, including “Higher,” “Wishes on the Wind,” “Stronger Than Before,” and more.

Performers

Carol Angeli (Here Lies Love, Miss Saigon)
Sondrine Bontemps (Disney Cruise Line’s Aladdin)
Delphi Borich (Camelot, Into the Woods)
Flynn Jungbin Byun (White Plains Performing Arts Center’s Miss Saigon)
Victoria Chen
Jen Chia (Magic School Bus national tour)
Brayden Co
Bryan Chan
Bryan Freedman
Rose Van Dyne (1776)
Joomin Huang (The Prom, & Juliet)
Yoosep (Joseph) Im (White Plains Performing Arts Center’s Miss Saigon)
Brian Jose (Miss Saigon national tour)
Dongwoo Kong (The King and I national tour)
Joseph Lee
Rina Maejima (National Anthem singer at Citi Field on Japanese Heritage Night)
Clark Mantilla (Musicalized!, TikTok Takes Broadway)
Joowon Shin (Squid Game on Netflix)
Patima Watcharintrawut

The concert is produced and directed by Flynn Jungbin Byun and associate produced by Gyurin Kim, with music direction by Rose Van Dyne.

Representation in the arts is so crucial and becoming more and more important, so please support this unique production.

To purchase tickets, please visit 54 Below’s website. Please note that ticket prices include a 10% ticketing fee and a $1.50 facility fee. There is a $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets on the day of performance after 4:00 p.m. are available only by calling 646-476-3551.

About 54 Below

54 Below, a recipient of the 2022 TONY AWARDS® Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve the music of Broadway and expand the art of the cabaret while growing opportunities for diverse communities of emerging and established artists and providing unparalleled audience experiences.

It was founded as a place for the Broadway community to celebrate Broadway performers, both established and new, who sing not only the music of Broadway and the Great American Songbook, but also new material intended for Broadway and off-Broadway stages.

Safety Information

54 Below is committed to the health of its performers, staff, and guests and has created a Safety Plan to ensure safe conditions along with optimum performing conditions. 54 Below has installed improved air circulation and filtering systems. Based on CDC and New York State guidelines at the time of performance, safety protocols and seating capacity may change, and policies may be adjusted as is appropriate. Additional information on their safety protocols can be found at their website.

Susan McCormac 11/17/23 Susan McCormac 11/17/23

Japanese Restaurants in NYC Earn Michelin Stars

Michelin released its 2023 New York guide on November 7, and of the 71 restaurants on the list, 20 are Japanese. Well, technically two of the restaurants are considered French, but they are run by Japanese chefs. (I’m taking liberties in the name of All Things Japanese in New York City.) Sushi Noz and odo earned promotions from one star to two, while Sushi Ginza Onodera, which closed this summer, and East Village sushi outpost Kanoyama failed to make the list.

Famed sushi restaurant Masa continues to sit atop the list with three stars. As usual, most of the Michelin Guide entries are pricey sushi spots, while a few serve kaiseki fare. Tempura Matsui and Torien are the lone tempura and yakitori restaurants, respectively.

If you’re not into spending $600 on sushi, you’ll find the more practical Michelin Bib Gourmands at the bottom of this list.

Here are the 18 Japanese and two French/Japanese restaurants with Michelin stars for 2023:

Three Stars ("Exceptional cuisine")

Masa
Type of Cuisine: Sushi
10 Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center
Website: https://www.masanyc.com/
In February of this year, Marian Bull reported in Food & Wine that not only is Masa the most expensive sushi restaurant in the US, “it is arguably the most expensive restaurant, period.” Despite an omakase price tag of $750 (exclusive of beverage and tax), Masa has consistently earned three stars since 2006, when the Michelin Guide started covering New York City restaurants.

Two Stars (“Excellent cooking”)

odo (up from one star in 2022)
Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
17 W. 20th Street
Website: https://www.odo.nyc/
In addition to crafting high-end seasonal kaiseki for lunch and dinner, Chef Hiroki Odo hosts art exhibitions in THE GALLERY, which is attached to the restaurant.

Sushi Noz (up from one star in 2022)
Type of cuisine: Edomae Sushi
181 E. 78th Street
Website: https://www.sushinoz.com/
Experience omakase at an eight-seat, 200-year-old hinoki counter run by Chef Nozomu Abe, who was inspired by the fish from his grandfather’s Hokkaido seafood company.

One Star ("High-quality cooking”)

Hirohisa
Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
73 Thompson Street
Website: https://www.hirohisa.nyc/
Chef Hirohisa Hayashi uses exceptional ingredients for an incredible seasonal kaiseki experience.

ICCA
Type of cuisine: Sushi
20 Warren Street
Website: https://icca.nyc/
Chef Kazushige Suzuki serves only fish from Japan for his omakase and tasting menu.

Jōji (new)
Type of cuisine: Sushi
1 Vanderbilt Avenue
Website: https://www.jojiny.com/
Chef George Ruan leads an omakase experience that pairs premium sake and fine wines with seasonal ingredients.

Kosaka
Type of cuisine: Sushi
220 W. 13th Street
Website: https://www.kosakanyc.com/
The Michelin Guide says Kosaka “offers a stellar omakase in an elegant setting.”

l’abeille
Type of cuisine: French (with Japanese sensibilities)
412 Greenwich Street
Website: https://www.labeille.nyc/
Executive Chef Mitsunobu Nagae is a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants, including Château Restaurant Joël Robuchon in Tokyo.

Noda
Type of cuisine: Sushi
27 W. 20th Street
Website: https://www.noda.nyc/
Chef Shigeyuki Tsunoda serves a 20-course omakase twice a night.

Noz 17
Type of cuisine: Sushi
458 W. 17th Street
Website: https://www.noz17.com/
At this companion restaurant to Sushi Noz, Chef Junichi Matsuzaki, Chef Nozomu Abe’s protégé, serves a thirty-course, Edomae-style sushi tasting menu in this seven-seat space in Chelsea.

Restaurant Yuu (new)
Type of cuisine: French contemporary, Japanese
55 Nassau Avenue, Brooklyn
Website: https://www.yuunewyork.com/restaurantyuu/
An alumnus of Guy Savoy in Paris and Mifune in Manhattan, Chef Yuu Shimano serves French dishes that highlight Japanese ingredients. A recent addition to the emergence of Japanese business in Greenpoint, Restaurant Yuu is the only new Brooklyn restaurant to receive a star this year.

Shion 69 Leonard Street
Type of cuisine: Edomae Sushi
60 Leonard Street
Website: https://www.69leonardstreet.com/
Formerly of Sushi Saito in Tokyo (three Michelin stars) Executive Chef Shion Uino creates an Edomae-style experience in an intimate setting.

Sushi Amane
Type of cuisine: Sushi
245 E. 44th Street
Website: https://www.sushi-amane.com/
The Michelin Guide reports that daily fish deliveries to Sushi Amane allows “guests to experience the freshest and most seasonally minded product possible.”

Sushi Ichimura (New)
Type of cuisine: Sushi
412 Greenwich Street
Website: https://www.sushiichimura.nyc/
Legendary Executive Chef Eiji Ichimura, formerly of David Bouley’s Brushstroke and earned two Michelin stars at Uchu, helms this omakase experience at l’abeille.

Sushi Nakazawa
Type of cuisine: Sushi
23 Commerce Street
Website: https://www.sushinakazawa.com/new-york
Everyone’s favorite former Jiro Dreams of Sushi apprentice continues to earn accolades of his own.

Sushi Yasuda
Type of cuisine: Sushi
204 E. 43rd Street
Website: https://www.sushiyasuda.com/index.html
The Guide lauds Sushi Yasuda for its “classically assembled sushi,” saying, “Each item is handled with care, highlighting their robust flavor.”

Tempura Matsui
Type of cuisine: Tempura
222 E. 39th Street
Website: https://www.tempuramatsui.com/
Tempura Matsui is the first authentic Japanese restaurant in New York that focuses only on tempura.

Torien
Type of cuisine: Yakitori
292 Elizabeth Street
Website: https://torien-nyc.com/
Chef Yoshiteru Ikegawa presents a 13-course yakitori experience devoted to all parts of the chicken.

Tsukimi
Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
228 E. 10th Street
Website: https://www.tsukimi.nyc/
“Tsukimi” means “moon viewing” in Japanese, and this seasonal Japanese kaiseki restaurant pays homage to the mid-autumn harvest festival.

Yoshino
Type of cuisine: Sushi
342 Bowery
Website: https://www.yoshinonewyork.com/
This LES sushi spot is named after the chef’s father’s hometown in Nara Prefecture.

Bib Gourmands (“good quality, good-value cooking”)

Michelin defines “good value” as spending around $49 or less—excluding tax and gratuity—for two courses and a glass of wine or dessert. The Guide considers these restaurants “places that serve phenomenal meals that don’t break the bank.”

DOMODOMO
Type of Cuisine: Sushi
138 W. Houston Street
Website: https://www.domodomonyc.com/

Nami Nori
Type of Cuisine: Temaki
33 Carmine Street
Website: https://naminori.nyc/

Shalom Japan
Type of Cuisine: “Authentically inauthentic Jewish and Japanese food”
310 S. 4th Street, Brooklyn
Website: https://shalomjapannyc.com/

Soba-ya
Type of Cuisine: Soba Noodles
229 E. 9th Street
Website: https://sobaya.square.site/

Tonchin
Type of Cuisine: Ramen
13 W. 36th Street
Website: https://www.tonchinnewyork.com/

For a complete list of all the New York restaurants that earned stars—not just the Japanese ones—please visit Michelin’s website.

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Three Stars ("Exceptional cuisine")

Two Stars (“Excellent cooking”)

One Star ("High-quality cooking”)

Bib Gourmands (“good quality, good-value cooking”)

Fukushima Sake for the Holidays