Join the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) for a screening of the PBS documentary Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories from World War II. Following the film, ASPI will host a moderated conversation with the director, Beatrice Becette, and producers Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly. The conversation will be moderated by Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, and ASPI Managing Director Rorry Daniels will give opening remarks.

Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories from World War II

Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:15 p.m.

Asia Society – 725 Park Avenue (between E. 70th and E. 71st Streets)

Admission: $15 | $8 Asia Society Members

Schedule

5:30 p.m. Documentary Screening
6:30 p.m. Panel Discussion and Q&A

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Asia Society’s website. A limited number of complimentary tickets will be available to NYC college students with ID at the box office on the day of the screening.

About the Film

Two friends, connected by family histories on opposite sides of World War II, set out to explore the lasting trauma of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. While Japanese hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) endure lifelong health complications and psychological scars, American atomic veterans who witnessed the bombings’ aftermath also struggle with radiation-related illnesses and PTSD.

About Beatrice Becette – Director

Beatrice Becette is a New York City-based filmmaker who tells stories that spark connection and illuminate the threads that link us across time, place, and experience. She has worked across genres—from investigative and historical documentaries to lifestyle and educational series—and across sectors, partnering with respected news organizations and mission-driven brands.

Her portfolio includes collaborations with clients such as National Geographic, Disney+, Discovery, MAX, NBC, The Washington Post, Lowe’s, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Regardless of format or client, her work remains rooted in a deep belief in the power of storytelling to reveal the human stories behind complex systems and events.

Becette holds a degree in Film from American University with minors in Marketing and Creative Writing.

About Victoria Kelly – Producer

Victoria Kelly’s grandfather, a Navy medic, was one of the first American troops to enter Nagasaki after the dropping of the atomic bomb.

Kelly is the author of four books of fiction and poetry: Homefront, Mrs. Houdini, When the Men Go Off to War, and Prayers of an American Wife. She is also a consultant for corporate and nonprofit thought leadership.

She graduated from Harvard University and received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Virginia with her three daughters.

About Karin Tanabe – Producer

A Japanese American nisei, Karin Tanabe’s grandmother’s uncle, Tatsuo Morito, was Japan’s post-war Minister of Education. In 1950, Morito became the first president of Hiroshima University, helping build an institution dedicated to peace.

A novelist and journalist, Tanabe is the author of seven novels published by St. Martin’s Press and Simon & Schuster. A former Politico reporter, she remains a frequent contributor to The Washington Post. Several of her books have been optioned for film and television, most recently A Woman of Intelligence to NBC Universal.

She is a graduate of Vassar College and lives in Washington, D.C.

About Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki – Moderator

Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, D. Min. is a Buddhist priest, ordained in the 750-year-old Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism in 1980. A President and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York, he is a President Emeritus of the Buddhist Council of New York, a Hiroshima Peace Ambassador, a Nagasaki Peace Correspondent, an Honorary Board Member of the Interfaith Center of New York, an Honorary President of Sanghakaya Foundation (India), and New York City Police Department Clergy Liaison.

Since 1994, Rev. Nakagaki has organized an interfaith peace event to commemorate the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. He organized the annual 9/11 WTC Memorial Floating Lanterns Ceremony from 2002 until 2011.

Rev. Nakagaki was ordained in 1980 at the Nishi Honganji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. In 1985, he was sent to the U.S. as an overseas minister, serving first with at the Seattle Buddhist Church, (1985-1989), the Parlier Buddhist Church (1989-1994), and the New York Buddhist Church (1994-2010).

He is an author of the book The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate, and the Kindle version of No Worry, No Hurry, Eat Curry: Tracing the Path of the Buddha in India is available in English.

About Rorry Daniels – Opening Remarks

Rorry Daniels is the Managing Director of Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), where she leads and oversees strategy and operations for ASPI's projects on security, climate change, and trade throughout Asia. She is also a Senior Fellow with ASPI's Center for China Analysis. Previously she was with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, where she managed the organization's Track II and research portfolio on Asia security issues, with a particular focus on cross-Taiwan Strait relations, U.S.-China relations, and the North Korean nuclear program. Her most recent research project audited the U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue to evaluate its process and outcomes.

Daniels regularly writes and provides analysis for major media outlets and newsletters on security issues in the U.S. and the Asia Pacific. She is a 2022 Mansfield-Luce scholar, a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the National Committee on North Korea, a Pacific Forum Young Leader, as well as a Korea Society Kim Koo Foundation Fellow (2015 cohort). She earned her M.S. in International Relations at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, where she focused her studies on East and South Asia. She is proficient in Mandarin and holds a B.A. in Media Studies from Emerson College.

Enjoy JapanCulture•NYC? This site is supported by our community, and a $5/month membership helps offset the costs of keeping it running— so we can continue spotlighting the people and events that make our community shine. Please click here to join.

Susan McCormac 1/26/26 Susan McCormac 1/26/26

Honoring the Life of Fred Korematsu in NJ

The Borough of Fort Lee and New Jersey community activist Tak Furumoto celebrate Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution with an event that honors the legacy of a U.S. civil rights hero who had the courage to stand up for what is right during World War II.

Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution

Friday, January 30, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Fort Lee Municipal Building – 309 Main Street, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Admission: Free

The Borough of Fort Lee and area community activist Tak Furumoto celebrate Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution with an event that honors the legacy of a U.S. civil rights hero who had the courage to stand up for what is right during World War II.

About Fred Korematsu

In 1942, 23-year-old California native Fred Korematsu refused to enter the concentration camps established for the mass incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals living on the West Coast, citing the directive as unconstitutional. After his arrest for defying government orders, he took his case all the way to the Supreme Court – and lost. In 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Korematsu, claiming that the incarceration was justified by “military necessity.” However, nearly forty years later, researchers uncovered evidence revealing there were no acts of treason by Japanese Americans to justify their internment. This discovery of government misconduct led to the reopening of Korematsu’s case. On November 10, 1983, a federal court in San Francisco overturned Korematsu’s conviction, marking a significant moment in the fight for civil rights.

Korematsu dedicated his life to activism, becoming a symbol of resilience and justice. In 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, recognizing his tireless efforts to defend the civil liberties of all Americans.

Establishing Fred T. Korematsu Day

In 2010, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the legislative bill recognizing January 30, Korematsu’s birthday, as the Fred T. Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, making it the first statewide day in U.S. history named after an Asian American. Following California’s lead, seven other states officially recognize the observance in perpetuity: Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. Other states, including Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Utah recognize Fred T. Korematsu Day by proclamation.

About Tak Furumoto

Born in 1944 at the Tule Lake War Relocation Center, one of the ten Japanese American incarceration camps, Takeshi “Tak” Furumoto was instrumental in New Jersey’s adoption of Fred T. Korematsu Day in 2023. Raised in his parents' native Hiroshima after the atomic bombing, Furumoto returned to the U.S. to attend college and eventually served our country in the Vietnam War. Furumoto and his wife, Carol, have run Furumoto Realty for more than 50 years and have dedicated their lives to the betterment of the Japanese American community in both New Jersey and New York. In 2025, Furumoto was the subject of the NHK documentary Raised in Hiroshima, Fought in Vietnam.

Fred T. Korematsu Day in New York City

New York State, under the guidance of State Senator Shelley Mayer, passed a bill recognizing Fred T. Korematsu Day in 2024, but New York City first observed this day in 2018 after City Council unanimously passing Resolution 792, proposed by then Councilmember Daniel Dromm, on December 19, 2017. The day serves not only to honor Korematsu’s brave act to fight injustice, but also to educate the public in the hopes that the history of mass incarceration, prompted by wartime hysteria, will never be repeated.

Enjoy JapanCulture•NYC? This site is supported by our community, and a $5/month membership helps offset the costs of keeping it running—so we can continue spotlighting the people and events that make our community shine. Please click here to join.

Susan McCormac 1/19/26 Susan McCormac 1/19/26

See Special Screening of KOKUHO in NYC

Limited tickets are still available for a special screening of KOKUHO this Wednesday, January 21.

Special Preview of KOKUHO in NYC on January 21

Academy Award®–winning producer and distributor GKIDS announced its film Kokuho will have exclusive, special preview screenings at IMAX theaters on Wednesday, January 21. Limited tickets are still available for this one-night-only event.

Japan’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards and its highest grossing live-action film ever, Kokuho will be released in theaters in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto on February 6, with major North American expansion beginning February 20.

Where to Watch in NYC on January 21

AMC 34th Street 14 & IMAX
312 W. 34th Street, New York, NY 10001
6:00 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets
AMC Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX
1998 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
6:00 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets

©Shuichi Yoshida/ASP ©2025 “KOKUHO” Film Partners

Kokuho Synopsis

Nagasaki, 1964. After the death of his father, the leader of a yakuza gang, 14-year-old Kikuo is taken under the wing of a famous Kabuki actor. Alongside Shunsuke, the actor’s only son, Kikuo decides to dedicate himself to this traditional form of theatre. Across decades, the two young men grow and evolve together – from acting school to the grandest stages – amid scandals and glory, brotherhood and betrayals, as each pushes to become the greatest living Kabuki master.

Directed by Sang-il Lee, the film stars Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, and Academy Award® nominee Ken Watanabe.

Kokuho (meaning “national treasure”) is a film of awe-inspiring scope and sumptuous beauty, and a monument to the artists who would sacrifice everything in the pursuit of the ultimate performance.

Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!

Susan McCormac 1/13/26 Susan McCormac 1/13/26

Dassai to Host Wagashi x Art Event

Dassai Blue Sake Brewery hosts a collaboration workshop that blends contemporary art with Japanese wagashi, the delicate tradition of handcrafted sweets.

Wagashi Workshop and Modern Art Demonstration

Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Dassai Blue Sake Brewery – 5 Saint Andrews Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538

Admission: $90

Dassai Blue Sake Brewery hosts a collaboration workshop that blends contemporary art with Japanese wagashi, the delicate tradition of handcrafted sweets. Discover how artist Moyuru Shiroma’s signature designs come alive through wagashi expert Sara Suzuki’s Chokotto Wagashi.

Event Structure

Guided instruction from Sara Suzuki
All of the materials to make three wagashi
A glass of Dassai Blue Nigori or Nigori Sparkling

Suzuki will guide participants in creating three different designs of nerikiri wagashi inspired by Shiroma’s signature designs: flowers, butterflies, and fish. At the end of the event, each participant will receive a box designed by Shiroma, allowing participants to take home their favorite wagashi in this special keepsake. In addition, while Suzuki leads the class, Shiroma will create a live painting.

To purchase tickets, please visit Tock.

What is Wagashi?

Wagashi is a traditional Japanese confection made from simple plant-based ingredients such as rice flour, sweet bean paste, and sugar. Their intricate designs reflect nature and seasonality, and they are typically paired with matcha at tea ceremonies.

About Sara Pekofsky Suzuki

While studying in Japan during college, Sara Pekofsky Suzuki discovered the quiet beauty and variety of wagashi. Inspired by those experiences, she continues to deepen her craft through ongoing courses and training. Through PEKOS CHOKOTTO WAGASHI, she creates seasonal, handcrafted sweets made entirely from scratch, using only all-natural ingredients and colors, celebrating care, tradition, and the fleeting nature of each moment. To learn more, follow Suzuki on Instagram.

About Moyuru Shiroma

Moyuru “Moy” Shiroma grew up on the small tropical island of Okinawa, Japan. This is where he developed his love of using bright colors to express mood. More recently, he has illustrated the duality of human emotions by combining the vivid colors of acrylic paints and sprays with the darker colors of stencil. He earned a bachelor's degree from Tohoku University of Art and Design, followed by attending college in Rockland County, New York. Both schools presented him with awards in the field of visual arts. He continues to hold exhibitions and collaborate with companies to share his vision. For more information, please visit Moy’s website.

Susan McCormac 1/10/26 Susan McCormac 1/10/26

Valentine’s Day Sake Labels

Looking for a romantic, meaningful, and unforgettable Valentine’s gift? Join Japanese calligraphy artist Taisan Tanaka for his popular monthly workshop at Kato Sake Works in Brooklyn.

Create a Personalized Japanese Calligraphy Sake Label — Valentine’s Edition

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 from 7:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Kato Sake Works – 379 Troutman Street, Brooklyn

Admission: $28.52

Looking for a romantic, meaningful, and unforgettable Valentine’s gift?

Join Japanese calligraphy artist Taisan Tanaka for his popular monthly workshop at Kato Sake Works in Brooklyn. Held on the second Wednesday of the month, the class teaches attendees how to create a sake label featuring your favorite word or a message in Japanese.

This month’s class is focused on creating Valentine’s Day-inspired calligraphy designs—perfect for gifting someone you love or for celebrating self-love with something special.

🎨 No Experience Needed

All attendees, regardless of level, will learn how to write meaningful Japanese characters such as names, wishes, or loving messages, and turn them into your very own custom sake label

💝 Why Join?

Because it’s a heartfelt, cultural, and beautifully personal gift, something handcrafted and full of meaning

🍶 Perks

Sake bottles are available for purchase on site
You can even enjoy sake while creating — a perfect pairing of art and romance!

Whether you’re celebrating with a partner, a friend, or yourself, this class offers a memorable and creative way to mark Valentine’s Day. To purchase tickets, please visit Taisan Tanaka’s Eventbrite page.

Susan McCormac 1/9/26 Susan McCormac 1/9/26

DASSAI Moon Talk at Japan Society

Peek behind the curtain of the DASSAI MOON Project at this special Japan Society event. Photo ©DASSAI

Crafting DASSAI Sake on the Moon: Conversation & Sake Tasting

Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

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

Admission: $45 | $35 Japan Society Members

Peek behind the curtain of the DASSAI MOON Project at this special Japan Society event.

Japan Society looks to the future with sake brewery DASSAI for a conversation on the DASSAI MOON Project, an initiative aimed at constructing the first-ever sake brewery on the moon. The project’s focus is to produce sake on the moon by 2050, and to achieve the historic feat, DASSAI recently carried out the world’s first sake fermentation in orbit inside the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibou” (Hope) aboard the International Space Station. This experiment was conducted in simulated lunar gravity (1/6 Earth’s gravity) using an artificial gravity generator installed in Kibou. The experiment investigated how fermentation behaves in lunar gravity and laid the foundation for brewing sake beyond Earth, bringing traditional Japanese craftsmanship into the era of space exploration. The moromi (fermentation mash) produced inside Kibou will be brought back to Earth and pressed to make sake bottled under the name DASSAI MOON, and DASSAI will donate all proceeds from its sale to the future development of Japanese space exploration. This project is a first test in anticipation of human lunar settlement and the dream of making sake in lunar colonies!

DASSAI Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai and DASSAI MOON Project Manager Soya Uetsuki will be in conversation about their collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to conduct brewing experiments in orbit. They will discuss the technology behind the project and how DASSAI transformed this idea into reality to achieve a historic milestone for humanity. This talk will be followed by a reception and sake tasting.

To purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website.

About the Reception

Attendees are invited to join in a sake tasting featuring sake from DASSAI BLUE. All are freshly brewed in Hyde Park, New York, with Yamada Nishiki rice from Japan and Arkansas and water from New York’s Hudson Valley.

Dassai Blue Type 23 – Tasting Notes: Complex aromatics of anise, pear and marshmallow develop into bright lemon chiffon, honeysuckle and stone fruit with a touch of minerality.
Dassai Blue Type 35 – Tasting Notes: White peaches and ripe papayas with a soft, sweet fragrance. The taste is characterized by a subtle sweetness and refreshing acidity.
Dassai Blue Type 50 – Tasting Notes: Licorice and cantaloupe give way to pineapple candy, lemon curd and vanilla with a hint of brine on the finish.
Dassai Blue Nigori Sparkling 50 – Tasting Notes: A fruity aroma reminiscent of green apples and Japanese wagashi treats. Some sweetness, moderate fizziness and a refreshing crisp finish.

All attendees must be 21 or older.

Susan McCormac 1/9/26 Susan McCormac 1/9/26

Kakizome Contest at Japan Village

Japan Village is hosting a kakizome contest with Japanese calligraphy artist SEICHO at The LOFT.

Kakizome Japanese Calligraphy Contest

Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn (2nd floor "The LOFT")

Admission: Free

Start the New Year with traditional Japanese calligraphy! Kakizome is the writing of the first calligraphy of the New Year, using a brush and ink to express one’s aspirations or intentions for the New Year.

Japan Village is hosting a kakizome contest with Japanese calligraphy artist SEICHO at The LOFT. SEICHO will begin the afternoon with a live calligraphy performance, then the contest will begin, with everyone writing their first word or wish of 2026. The theme is year’s zodiac sign, the Horse (午), and contestants are encouraged to interpret it their own way. Write in English, Japanese, kanji, or simply draw.

Of the entries, five winners will be announced on Instagram on Wednesday, January 14. All works will be displayed on The LOFT’s New Year’s Calligraphy Wall throughout January.

Schedule

2:10 p.m. – Live performance
2:30 p.m. – Contest begins
7:00 p.m. – Contest ends

All ages are welcome. Join the contest, express your intentions for Year of the Horse through calligraphy, and win a prize!

To register, please visit Japan Village’s Eventbrite page.

Susan McCormac 12/30/25 Susan McCormac 12/30/25

Order Osechi from Wasan Brooklyn

As we welcome the New Year, Wasan Brooklyn is sharing two essential Japanese traditions that mark the end the year and the beginning of the new one: Toshikoshi Soba and Osechi.

Wasan Brooklyn Provides Two Essential Japanese New Year Foods: Osechi and Toshikoshi Soba

As we welcome the New Year, Wasan Brooklyn is sharing two essential Japanese traditions that mark the end the year and the beginning of the new one: Toshikoshi Soba and Osechi. Osechi is filled with symbolic dishes that are associated with health, longevity, prosperity, and fertility, while Toshikoshi Soba is the long-established meal consumed on New Year’s Eve.

🎍 2026 Osechi Box

For more than ten years, Wasan’s handcrafted, three-tier Osechi Box has been a New Year staple in New York. Prepared in-house with great care, Wasan’s Osechi focuses on traditional flavors, seasonal ingredients, and well-balanced dishes, meant to be enjoyed slowly with family and loved ones.

The cost is $295 plus tax.

Many of their returning customers often say, “It doesn’t feel like New Year without Wasan’s Osechi.”

The deadline to order is 5:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, December 30. For more information and to place your order, please visit Wasan’s website: https://www.wasan-ny.com/event.

Pickup and Delivery Options

Wasan Brooklyn – 440 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tominaga Shoten for Long Island residents (advance purchase required) – 169 Main Street, Port Washington, NY 11050
Delivery available in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn for a service fee of $30

🍜 Toshikoshi Soba

On December 31, Wasan will also prepare Toshikoshi Soba, a traditional soba noodle dish eaten on New Year’s Eve to symbolize letting go of the past year and wishing for longevity and good health.

Toshikoshi Soba will be available for takeout and delivery and can be enjoyed on its own or together with Osechi as the final meal of the year.

What are your favorite Japanese New Year foods?

Susan McCormac 12/4/25 Susan McCormac 12/4/25

Samurai Sword Soul’s 20th Anniversary

New York–based samurai theater company Samurai Sword Soul is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a theater play, Don't Cry, My Friend.

Don't Cry, My Friend – Samurai Sword Soul 20th Anniversary Theater Play

Wednesday, December 3 through Sunday, December 7

Gibney 280 Broadway – 53A Chambers Street

Admission: $106.07 VIP Tickets | $43.04 General Tickets

New York–based samurai theater company Samurai Sword Soul is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a theater play, Don't Cry, My Friend. Founded in 2003 by FX SHOGUN actor Yoshi Amao, Samurai Sword Soul has been entertaining audiences in New York and beyond with an engaging mix of comedy routines, humanistic-theme drama, and thrilling sword fights.

About Don't Cry, My Friend

The show is an original story inspired by two beloved Japanese folktales: “Urashima Taro” and “The Red Oni Who Cried” (“Naita Aka Oni”). This samurai fantasy is brought to life with exhilarating sword fights, laugh-out-loud comedy, and moving drama. At its heart, the play explores timeless questions: What is justice and evil? What does true friendship mean? And how do we find our own path in life? Blending the beauty of samurai tradition with a fresh theatrical edge, this unforgettable journey celebrates courage, compassion, and the human spirit.

It’s a must-see show for everyone! Families and children ages 4 and up are welcome. To purchase tickets, please visit ticketstripe.com.

An open bar is included with your ticket

Show sponsors include

Izakaya Juraku
Sato Shiki (Whisky)
Dassai (Sake)
Kenbishi (Sake)
Sapporo (Beer)

Snacks and soft drinks are also available.

VIP Tickets

The best seats are reserved for those who purchase VIP tickets, while general seating is on a first come, first served basis. A VIP ticket includes a program signed by the entire cast, along with a complimentary gift from Samurai Sword Soul.

Remaining Performances

Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m.

Run time: Approximately 70 minutes

Susan McCormac 12/4/25 Susan McCormac 12/4/25

Ramen NYC’s Holiday Ramen Social

Celebrate the holiday season with Ramen NYC at Jin Ramen Hamilton Heights!

Ramen NYC Holiday Ramen Social at Jin Ramen

Sunday, December 7 from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Jin Ramen Hamilton Heights – 3599 Broadway (at 148th Street)

Admission: $57.33 (includes fees)

Celebrate the holiday season with Ramen NYC at Jin Ramen Hamilton Heights!

Join the group of ramen fans for a cozy afternoon filled with great ramen, good company, and festive vibes as they enjoy a special tasting-style prix-fixe created just for this group.

Space is limited, so grab your tickets now! RSVP at Ramen NYC’s Eventbrite page.

🍜 What Your Ticket Includes

A curated tasting menu designed to let you experience two different ramen styles in one sitting:

One appetizer
One Classic Ramen
One New York–Style Ramen
One drink (soft drink included; alcohol upgrade available at the restaurant)
One complimentary gift from the Jin Ramen shop owners

Each ramen is served in a tasting-friendly portion, so you can comfortably enjoy both the traditional and innovative flavors Jin Ramen is known for.

✨ Why This Event Is Special

A festive, intimate ramen gathering
Unique two-ramen tasting experience
Limited spots so everyone can relax, hang out, and meet new friends
Perfect for ramen fans who want to explore both classic and modern styles

About Ramen NYC

Ramen NYC is a new website dedicated to sharing knowledge about, well, the best ramen in NYC! Explore featured restaurants, editor’s picks, and various ramen categories from vegetarian options to late-night spots to wallet-friendly offerings. Learn more at ramen-nyc.com.

Susan McCormac 12/1/25 Susan McCormac 12/1/25

2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Curated by JapanCulture•NYC’s Fashion Editor Jen Green

We are back with JapanCulture•NYC’s 2025 holiday gift guide. This year we take you back to storefronts throughout the area as we feature new establishments or Japanese-related businesses that may not be on your radar yet. We’ll cover everything from vintage Japanese clothing to housewares to the finest teas to coveted stationery. Please enjoy this curated list to help secure a special gift while supporting local businesses that carry Japanese product. Happy shopping!

Sōrate

New location: 30 E. 18th Street, New York, NY 10003
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

103 Sullivan Street New York, NY 10012
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

This Brooklyn-based Japanese tea company now has two Manhattan tea house locations that offer superior tea products from Ujitawara, the Uji region of Kyoto. Both locations host tea experiences from tastings to authentic tea ceremonies that would make an unforgettable gift. Reservations are required; please book online here.

Sōrate’s online shop has the finest teas, matcha, and accessories for the tea enthusiast in your life. Celebrate this holiday season with the return of Sōrate’s Matcha Panettone. It’s the perfect fusion of Sōrate’s owner Silvia Mella’s Italian heritage, infused with premium ceremonial grade matcha, creating the ultimate traditional holiday dessert. Enjoy at a holiday gathering or take as a hostess gift. Whether you want to gift an experience, a physical gift like a tea accessory, or even a gift card, please check out Sōrate for gifts for tea lovers.

Iki Kimono NYC

32 Bridge Street, Suite 103, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Saturday & Sunday 12:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., Thursday & Friday 1:00p.m.-6:30 p.m., closed Monday-Wednesday

Located in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, Iki Kimono NYC is a woman-owned business that stemmed from owner Monica Minier’s culmination of a lifetime of collecting and selling antiques and vintage clothing. After she was gifted a kimono, her obsession began, and she now specializes in vintage kimono and accessories in this gorgeous space that feels like a vintage atelier.

Iki Kimono NYC partners with women in Osaka, Kyoto, and Thailand, carefully sourcing vintage kimono, haori and happi jackets, obijime belts, and maekake aprons, some that could date as far back as the 1920s. Iki Kimono has some listings online, but we recommend visiting the shop for the full experience. If you are looking to gift someone a kimono, Iki Kimono NYC offers private shopping by appointment. Imagine the experience one would have when choosing a beautiful vintage kimono as a gift from you.

New York Tile Factory

6 W. 38th Street, New York, NY 10018

Monday-Sunday 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Don’t let the name fool you, everything New York Tile Factory sells are ceramics crafted in Japan, from the mainland to Okinawa. There are Japanese housewares such as dishes, chopstick rests, and coasters to home décor such as oil diffusers and decorative tile candles in this charming store that opened in March 2025.

Their selection boasts many unique gifts from stocking stuffers to main gifts. If you need to shop for someone who strives for sustainability, New York Tile Factory has aroma stones that are made from leftover clay roof tiles. Aside from items with classic Japanese imagery and icons, they also sell many NYC-themed ceramics, still made in Japan. New York Tile Factory does not have a website or sell online, so please visit the store as you shop this holiday season.

Nepenthes

307 W. 38th Street, New York, NY 10018

Monday-Sunday 12:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Japanese brand Nepenthes has a storefront location in the heart of New York’s Garment District. Founded by Keizo Shimizu in 1988 in Tokyo and later joined by designer Daiki Suzuki of Engineered Garments fame, the two brought this international brand to Manhattan. Nepenthes offers both men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and footwear from various in-house brands such as CFDA 2008 Best New Menswear Designer winner Engineered Garments to the worldly Needles brand, as well as Hokkaido-based South2 West8, a brand known for merging function and fashion.

These Nepenthes brands sit alongside curated items from other known brands and stocks footwear from the likes of Vans, Reebok, and Clarks Originals, as well as many others. For high quality fashion that combines both workwear craftmanship and durability with streetwear looks, head to Nepenthes for an amazing independent boutique shopping outing.

Tokio7

83 E. 7th Street, New York, NY 10003

Monday-Sunday 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Established by Makoto Watanabe in 1996, this high-end East Village consignment shop is a regular stop for vintage designer collectors. Taking pride in his Japanese heritage, Tokio7 carries Japanese designer brands such as Yohji Yamamoto, Comme Des Garcons, and Issey Miyake. Alongside the Japanese brands you’ll find other luxury brands such as Rick Owens, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and the like. All handbags are authenticated using a software system that weeds out fake products to ensure the staff is always sourcing the very best items. Tokio7 is a great place to shop for a fabulous gift for the fashionable person in your life, all while being sustainable by purchasing second hand and giving these incredible designer pieces a new life.

Namamica

123 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012

Monday-Saturday 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Nanamica New York is the second location of the brand store to open, and to this day it remains the only location outside of Japan. With the motto ONE OCEAN, ALL LANDS, the brand embodies the key words of “utility” and “sports” by mixing fashion and functionality in creating high quality clothing.

Often collaborating with authentic sports brands, they do limited edition drops with brands such as Japanese shoe brand REGAL Shoe & Co. and Japanese sandals brand SUICOKE. From outerwear to casual styles and sportswear, Nanamica stocks many options of versatile, high-performance clothing for all aspects of life.

Yoseka Stationery

63 West Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Wednesday- Sunday 1:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., closed Monday & Tuesday

Founded in Taiwan in 1981, Yoseka is now in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, thanks to husband-and-wife duo Daisy and Neil Ni. Neil grew up in Taiwan with the original Yoseka, his parents’ shop, as his playground. Yoseka was introduced to the NYC area via pop-ups in 2017 and its first storefront in Queens in 2018. In 2020, the store relocated to Brooklyn and has been stocking various brands of Japanese stationery, along with other Asian brands, since.

Carrying quality items such as notebooks, pens, inks, stickers, stamps and washi tape, Yoseka offers many gift ideas on their online gift guide located here. 2026 planners and calendars from various Japanese brands such as Midori, Travelers Company, Hobonichi and many others are now available—order before they sell out! Smaller items like this Mt. Fuji eraser or Mt. Fuji pencil sharpener make the perfect stocking stuffers for the creatives on your shopping list. Yoseka sells gifts in all prices ranges, ensuring that you’ll be able to get gifts for a few people at this quaint shop with an extensive Japanese stationery collection.

Susan McCormac 11/12/25 Susan McCormac 11/12/25

RAM & Tokyo to New York at Martha Graham Studio

Random Access Music and Tokyo to New York bring movement and sound together in a two-night event at the Martha Graham Studio Theater.

RAM & Tokyo to New York: Music & Dance

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.

Martha Graham Studio Theater – 55 Bethune Street

Tickets: $25 Adults | $10 Students

Random Access Music and Tokyo to New York bring movement and sound together in a two-night event at the Martha Graham Studio Theater.

This program celebrates the exchange between music and dance, featuring acclaimed dancer and choreographer Henning Rübsam in dynamic new collaborations with the composers and performers of RAM. The concert presents three world premieres commissioned by Random Access Music and Thomas Piercy—new works by Beata Moon, Frances White, and Andrea Casarrubios—together with recent compositions by Masatora Goya and Roger Stubblefield.

To purchase tickets, please visit simpletix.com. Cash and credit cards will be accepted at the door.

Featuring

Henning Rübsam – Dancer/choreographer
Hélène Taddei Lawson – Dancer/choreographer
Violetta Klimczewska – Dancer

Musicians

Lish Lindsey – Flutes
Thomas Piercy – Clarinet / hichiriki
Sabina Torosjan – Violin
Molly Aronson – Cello
Marina Iwao – Piano

Music by RAM Composers

Beata Moon
Masatora Goya
Allen Schulz
Frances White

Guest Composers

Andrea Casarrubios
Roger Stubblefield

"Fifteen Minutes of Fame" Composers

As part of the “Fifteen Minutes of Fame” project, audiences will also hear the premieres of 15 one-minute duos for hichiriki and low flutes.

Nantenaina Andriamorasata
Vahan Luder Artinian
David Bohn
Ross James Carey
Monica Chew
Philip Czapłowski
Douglas DaSilva
Paolo Geminiani
Simon Hutchinson
Sakiko Kosaka
Matt A. Mason
Gene Pritsker
Allen Schulz
Jane Wang
Dalen Wuest

Susan McCormac 11/12/25 Susan McCormac 11/12/25

Art Song Suite about the Life of Beloved Japanese Poet

Experience the remarkable yet tragic life of beloved Japanese poet Misuzu Kaneko, who ended her own life at the young age of 26, through readings and music.

Left: Misuzu Kaneko, photo courtesy of Preservation Association of Misuzu Kaneko Works. Right: Illustrations ©︎Toshikado Hajiri

The Life of Misuzu Kaneko | Story, Poetry, and Art Songs

Saturday, November 15 from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Thespis Theatre – 25-02 Newtown Avenue, Long Island City

Admission: Free

The world premiere of New York-based contemporary music composer Satoshi Kanazawa’s art song project based on beloved Japanese poet Misuzu Kaneko will take place at Thespis Theatre in Long Island City this Saturday, November 15.

Experience the remarkable yet tragic life of Kaneko (April 11, 1903 - March 10, 1930), who ended her own life at the young age of 26. This presentation is based on the book Are You an Echo? which introduces Kaneko’s poetry through a narrative by David Jacobson and English translation by Sally Ito and Michiko Tsuboi. Through evocative readings and live performance, Kaneko’s tender words and melodies transcend time, touching the heart with their beauty and depth.

Left: Misuzu Kaneko, photo courtesy of Preservation Association of Misuzu Kaneko Works. Right: Illustrations ©︎Toshikado Hajiri

Part 1: Book Reading Session

The first half of this event will be a book reading, telling Kaneko’s heartbreaking story. Actor Daniel Abse will read from Are You an Echo? while Marisa Karchin and Naoko Nakagawa will recite a selection of Kaneko’s poems.

PERFORMERS

Daniel Abse – Book reading
Marisa Karchin – English poem reading
Naoko Nakagawa – Original poem reading

Part 2: Art Song Performance

Kanazawa, who has been working on this project for more than 20 years, will premiere the art song suite in the second half of the program. The suite features seven selected poems sung in

PERFORMERS

Naoko Kanazawa – Soprano
Marisa Karchin – Soprano
Junko Ichikawa – Piano
Satoshi Kanazawa – Composer

This program is made possible by the Queens Arts Fund New Work Grant and is supported by JULA publishing Bureau and DOUSEIKAI -Tokyo University of the Arts Alumni Association.

For more details and to RSVP, please visit Satoshi Kanazawa’s Eventbrite page.

Susan McCormac 11/11/25 Susan McCormac 11/11/25

Japan Society Presents Dance Production Based on Mishima

Japan Society’s Fall 2025 Yukio Mishima Centennial Series: Emergences continues with the world premiere dance production of The Seven Bridges (Hashi-zukushi). A vibrant new work for all ages from the Tokyo-based dance company CHAiroiPLIN with choreography by company founder Takuro Suzuki is based on a lesser-known short story of the same title by Yukio Mishima.

The Seven Bridges

Saturday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 16 at 2:30 p.m. — Followed by an Artist Q&A

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

Admission: $48 | $36 Japan Society members

About The Seven Bridges

CHAiroiPLIN (a tongue-in-cheek amalgamation of Charlie Chaplin’s name and the Japanese word chairoi, meaning “brown”) is acclaimed for converting great authors’ novels into disarmingly enchanting yet satirical performances, appropriate for all ages, told almost entirely through movement. In this work, founder and choreographer Takuro Suzuki and company take on Yukio Mishima’s suspenseful and humorous short story. Following a fanciful superstition that crossing seven bridges without conversing with anyone on a full moon night will make their wishes come true, four women occupying different positions of wealth and societal status set out on a journey under the watchful gaze of the Moon. As distractions and mishaps befall the women, their race to the end of the seventh bridge becomes increasingly fraught—who, if anyone, will be able to make it to the end, and for what kind of wish? With spirited, arresting and slapstick movement set to an impressive range of high-energy music encompassing Daft Punk, Balkan brass band Fanfare Ciocărlia, eccentric original songs performed live, and more, Suzuki and CHAiroiPLIN infuse unbridled charm into Mishima’s compact reflection on ritual and desire.

Yukio Mishima’s short story “The Seven Bridges” was originally published in Japan in 1956. Two years later, Mishima himself developed this story into a dance drama. While CHAiroiPLIN’s entirely original work reflects their own signature gleefully absurdist style, the company has deliberately adapted a narrative which Mishima himself envisioned as uniquely appropriate for the dance stage.

This program is presented by Japan Society as part of Carnegie Hall’s Spotlight on Japan. Recommended for ages 7+. Performance runs approximately 55 minutes. To purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website. Ticketholders will also receive complimentary, same-day admission for one person to Chiharu Shiota: Two Home Countries, on view at Japan Society Gallery through January 11, 2026. To view the exhibition, please show ticket/receipt to the Welcome Desk for free admission before the performance.

About CHAiroiPLIN

CHAiroiPLIN is a Tokyo-based dance company founded by the dancer/choreographer Takuro Suzuki. Made up of a combination of theater performers and dancers, the company incorporates an expressive variety of forms fusing dance, dialogue, singing, onomatopoeia, and other creative elements. They aim to create highly entertaining and narrative-driven dance performances that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

Since its establishment in 2007, CHAiroiPLIN has received numerous awards for its ongoing “Dancing Literature” series, which adapts modern and classical Japanese literature and plays ranging from novels to manga, rakugo (traditional comedic storytelling) and folktales, utilizing idiosyncratic and stylized body movements and expert choreography. Some notable productions include Fantasy Stone (based on Shigeru Mizuki’s manga), which was awarded the Audience Prize in the 1st Sengawa Drama Contest; Market, a winner of the NEXTREAM21 Dance Festival All Genre Dance Contest; and Friends (based on an absurdist play by the acclaimed Japanese dramatist Kobo Abe), a winner of the Grand Prize at the Young Directors Competition.

About Takuro Suzuki

Takuro Suzuki was born in Niigata Prefecture in 1985. He studied theater, pantomime, and dance at Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music, led by world-renowned Japanese director Yukio Ninagawa. After graduating, he continued to present public performances that spotlight new possibilities of combining dance and theater. He aims to create works incorporating a variety of dance, dialogues, singing, and Japanese onomatopoeia that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Suzuki founded the dance company CHAiroiPLIN in 2007 and has been a primary member of the dance company CONDORS since 2011. He choreographs and has appeared in NHK’s hugely popular weekly children’s program Miitsuketa! (“Found it!”) and created choreography for the television programs Touken Ranbu and Bungo Stray Dogs. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the New Artist Award from the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival, the Yokohama Dance Collection EX Honorable Mention and was a finalist for the Toyota Choreography Award. In 2015, he was selected as the 2015 Ambassador of Cultural Exchange in East Asia, and he received the New Artist Award in the Dance Division from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology in 2024.

About Yukio Mishima

Born Kimitake Hiraoka, Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) was a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor, model, Shintoist, ultra-nationalist, and leader of an attempted coup d'état that culminated in his suicide. Mishima is considered one of the most important postwar stylists of the Japanese language. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature five times in the 1960s. His works include the novels Confessions of a Mask, Life for Sale, and The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea as well as the plays My Friend Hitler, The Lady Aoi, and Madame de Sade.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mishima’s birth, Japan Society has hosted a compelling roster of new productions and U.S. company premieres throughout the fall. More than half a century since Mishima’s last published work, he continues to inspire artists in the 21st century. Japan Society Artistic Director Yoko Shioya remarks, “This series revitalizes Mishima’s contributions to the world of the arts through a slate of brand-new commissions and premieres adapting his writings, as well as a historic U.S. debut for a revered Noh company. This series not only recognizes Mishima’s critical legacy, but the ongoing current influence of this essential post-war author on artists today.”

The Series launched in September with Yukio Mishima’s KINKAKUJI, a Japan Society world premiere commission adapted for the stage by Leon Ingulsrud and Major Curda from Mishima’s novel Kinkakuji (The Temple of the Golden Pavilion) with scenic design by internationally acclaimed visual artist Chiharu Shiota. The series continued in October with Le Tambour de Soie (The Silk Drum), co-created by Yoshi Oida and Kaori Ito, both headlining artists in France’s performing arts’ scene. This work mixes contemporary dance with exquisite movement adapted from Noh into a dark and seductive piece of dance-theater, based on Mishima’s adaptation on the traditional Japanese Noh classic Aya no Tsuzumi.

Following the world premiere of The Seven Bridges (Hashi-zukushi), the Series culminates with Mishima’s Muse – Noh Theater on December 4 through 6, featuring the momentous U.S. debut of the distinguished Hosho Noh School performing a set of plays which Mishima later adapted, including Aya no Tsuzumi, Aoi no Ue, and the original kyogen (comedic) play Busu, adapted by Mishima into a modern English comedy.

Susan McCormac 11/11/25 Susan McCormac 11/11/25

Kabuki, Noh, and More at Carnegie Hall

Discover the heritage and evolution of Noh and Kabuki theater, taiko drumming, the three-stringed shamisen, and more led by today’s foremost actors, musicians, and representatives of art forms that have been handed down and passionately studied for centuries.

An Evening of Traditional Japanese Arts

Friday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Carnegie Hall | Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage – 57th Street and 7th Avenue

Admission: $86.50 - $226

Carnegie Hall will be the site of a very special performance: An Evening of Traditional Japaense Arts. Discover the heritage and evolution of Noh and Kabuki theater, taiko drumming, the three-stringed shamisen, and more led by today’s foremost actors, musicians, and representatives of art forms that have been handed down and passionately studied for centuries.

Performers

Hirotada Kamei – Noh Musician
Denzaemon Tanaka – Kabuki Musician
Denjiro Tanaka – Kabuki Musician
Yoshimasa Kanze – Noh Actor
Takanobu Sakaguchi – Noh Actor
Saburota Kanze – Noh Actor
Hayato Nakamura – Kabuki Actor
Hiromitsu Agatsuma – Shamisen
Kouki Agatsuma – Shamisen
Masaru Tsuji – Wadaiko
Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga – Wadaiko
Suguha Otani – Japanese Dance
Yumi Kurosawa – Koto
Takuya Iwata – Shakuhachi
Yuichi Otsuki – Noh Actor
Manabu Takeichi – Noh Musician
Wakichi Kineya – Nagauta Singer
Chotatsuro Imafuji – Nagauta Shamisen
Gotaro Kineya – Nagauta Musician
Katsueiji Kineya – Nagauta Musician
Katsukuniharu Kineya – Nagauta Musician
Tatsujuro Imafuji – Nagauta Musician
Kan Fukuhara – Shinobue

The performance will last approximately two and a half hours with one 20-minute intermission. To purchase tickets, please visit Carnegie Hall’s website.

An Evening of Traditional Japanese Arts by Kosuke Yoshino

Sankyokai

Sankyokai (“Three Resonances”) is an ensemble dedicated to exploring new artistic possibilities through the sound of hayashi—the traditional musical accompaniment of Noh and Kabuki—by fusing the resonances of Japan’s two foremost traditional performing arts. Since its founding in 1997, the group has carried forward the spirit of classical performance while continuing to create sounds that transcend time.

The members are three brothers: Hirotada Kamei, head of the Kadono School of Noh Otsuzumi (large hand drum); Denzaemon Tanaka XIII, head of the Tanaka School of Kabuki music; and Denjiro Tanaka VII, also a Kabuki musician of the Tanaka School.

Their father, Tadao Kamei, was a Living National Treasure in Japan and head of the Kadono School of Noh drumming who performed at Carnegie Hall in 2016; their mother, Sataro Tanaka IX, was the head of the Tanaka School of Kabuki music. Born to parents who represented these two distinct classical traditions, the brothers literally embody the meeting point of Noh and Kabuki.

From early childhood, they grew up exploring boundaries seamlessly between the two worlds—Noh, with its 600-year-old spiritual rigor; and Kabuki, born 200 years later with its vivid theatricality. As they matured, each pursued his own professional path: the eldest, Hirotada, in Noh; the middle brother, Denzaemon, and the youngest, Denjiro, in Kabuki. Yet through years of training, they began to sense a shared desire: to discover a form of expression that could transition between these traditions without breaking their structure or form.

Out of this belief, Sankyokai was born. Three Resonances reflects both the trio’s instruments—Hirotada’s Otsuzumi, Denzaemon’s Kotsuzumi, and Denjiro’s Taiko—and their wish to create a unified resonance born from their individual spirits. From its inception, Sankyokai has sought to present the timeless allure of classical performance in a contemporary context, finding new vitality in the dialogue and contrast between Noh and Kabuki. Today, the three brothers continue their journey as performers, creators, and stewards of Japan’s classical heritage, carrying it forward into the future.

Glossary of Terms

If you are new to traditional Japanese arts, you may not be familiar with the terms in this post. Please refer to the brief primer below to get you up to speed.

Kabuki: Classical Japanese theater that combines singing, acting, and dramatic poses and is known for elaborate costumes and makeup. Although men have performed all the roles since the mid-17th century, kabuki was established by a woman, Izumo no Okuni, around the year 1603. In 2008, UNESCO inscribed kabuki in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Noh: Japan’s oldest major theatrical art form, which has been performed since the 14th century. Based on literary tales, noh’s themes revolve around regret and spiritual transformation. Actors use masks to emphasize emotion and props such as folding fans to enhance the story.

Shamisen: Three-stringed, banjo-like instrument with a long neck and a distinct twangy sound. As one of the instruments providing accompaniment for kabuki, the shamisen enhances dramatic scenes and sets the mood. Originating in China, the Ryukyu Kingdom (what is now Okinawa Prefecture) introduced the instrument to mainland Japan in the mid-16th century.

Wadaiko: The traditional art of Japanese drumming, encompassing drums of a variety of sizes played by a group. Accompanying both kabuki and noh, wadaiko provides rhythm and sound effects and helps to create dramatic tension.

Japanese Dance: Known as Nihon buyo, traditional Japanese dance grew out of kabuki in the 17th century. It is a style of visual storytelling that incorporates refined movements and precise gestures.

Koto: The national instrument of Japan. The koto is a zither made of Paulownia wood and typically has 13 silk strings. Originally associated with gagaku, or court music, the koto is not standard in kabuki or noh.

Shakuhachi: Vertically held Japanese bamboo flute. First introduced from China in the 8th century, the shakuhachi was a staple in gagaku (court) music and later became used in Zen Buddhist meditation.

Nagauta: Genre of traditional Japanese music that literally means “long song.” Developed around the year 1740, nagauta is performed on shamisen to accompany kabuki. It is a lyrical style of music, focused more on expression rather than storytelling.

Shinobue: Japanese transverse bamboo flute with a high-pitched sound. In addition to its important role in kabuki and noh ensembles, the shinobue is integral to Shinto rituals as well as festivals and folk music.

Susan McCormac 11/10/25 Susan McCormac 11/10/25

New Book About Japanese Baseball

In the Japanese Ballpark: Book Talk & Signing with Author Robert K. Fitts

Saturday, November 22 at 2:00 p.m.

The Japanese American Association of New York – 49 W. 45th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), 5th Floor

Admission: Free

The Japanese American Association of New York welcomes back author Robert K. Fitts to discuss his new book, In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball, which takes a deep dive into the people who work in baseball in Japan: ushers, beer girls, mascots, as well as players and executives such as Matt Murton, Bobby V., and former NPB commissioner Ryozo Kato. In total, Fitts edited twenty-six interviews into narratives.

Fitts will give a presentation about the book and then have a Q&A with the audience. Copies of his book will be available for purchase, and he will sign them as well. Experience baseball the Japanese way with Rob Fitts! To RSVP, please send an email to info@jaany.org or call the JAA office at 212-840-6942.

Author Robert K. Fitts and his new book, *In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball*

About the Book

In the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Professional Baseball takes you deep inside the heart of Japan’s national pastime—far beyond the box scores and highlight reels. To discover what truly sets Japanese baseball apart, author Robert Fitts went straight to the source: the players, managers, umpires, team owners, mascots, beer girls, and lifelong fans who live and breathe the sport. Through their personal stories and behind-the-scenes insights, you’ll get an insider’s look at how the game works and what makes Japanese baseball unique—and so much fun.

Get a front-row seat to the traditions, strategies, and spirit that define baseball in Japan. From the passion of the fans to the precision of the game, every page offers eye-opening stories and insights you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just discovering the magic of the Japanese game, In the Japanese Ballpark can help you fully experience every pitch, hit, and cheer.

About Robert K. Fitts

A former archaeologist with a Ph.D. from Brown University, Robert K. Fitts left academics behind to follow his passion — Japanese baseball. An award-winning author and speaker, his articles have appeared numerous journals, magazines, and websites. He is also the author of ten books on Japanese baseball and Japanese baseball cards.

Fitts is the founder of SABR’s Asian Baseball Committee and a recipient of the society’s 2013 Seymour Medal for the Best Baseball Book of 2012 (Banzai Babe Ruth); the 2019 and 2023 McFarland-SABR Baseball Research Awards; the 2012 Doug Pappas Award for the best oral research presentation at the annual convention; and the 2006, 2021, 2023, and 2024 SABR Research Awards. He has twice been a finalist for the Casey Award and has received two silver medals at the Independent Publisher Book Awards. While living in Tokyo in 1993-94, Fitts began collecting Japanese baseball cards and now runs Robs Japanese Cards LLC. To learn more, please visit Fitts’s website.

Susan McCormac 11/7/25 Susan McCormac 11/7/25

Issei Photography Exhibition at JAA

The Japanese American Association of New York presents First Generation of Japanese Americans in New York in 1970s and 1980s, a photo exhibition of works by photographer Hiroyuki Inoue.

First Generation of Japanese Americans in New York in 1970s and 1980s

Now through Saturday, November 15 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) & 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. (November 15)

The Japanese American Association of New York – 49 W. 45th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), 5th Floor

Admission: Free

The Japanese American Association of New York presents First Generation of Japanese Americans in New York in 1970s and 1980s, a photo exhibition of works by photographer Hiroyuki Inoue.

Inoue is known for documenting the lives of Issei in New York with bold black-and-white photography, and the exhibition features photographs of approximately 60 seniors who lived in the 1970s and 1980s. Some of the photos are displayed with interviews of the photographed person. This is a special opportunity to see the pioneers of our community and learn about their lives in New York.

Gallery Hours

JAA – 49 W. 45th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Manhattan

Operating hours: Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Special hours on Saturday, November 15 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit JAA’s website.

Susan McCormac 11/6/25 Susan McCormac 11/6/25

Kim Ima’s One-Woman Show at La MaMa

Ready For Company and Other Family Tales is Kim Ima’s one-woman play about family and legacy, an inheritance of stories and unfinished quests from this Jewish/Japanese/American family tree.

Ready for Company and Other Family Tales

Thursday, November 6 through Sunday, November 23

The Downstairs – 66 E. 4th Street (between Bowery and 2nd Avenue)

Admission: $30 | $25 seniors and students

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club presents Ready for Company and Other Family Tales by writer/performer Kim Ima this November 6 through 23 at The Downstairs.

Ready For Company and Other Family Tales is a one-woman play about family and legacy, an inheritance of stories and unfinished quests from this Jewish/Japanese/American family tree. With a complicated family history, Ima excavates meaning from small remembered moments, inherited souvenirs, the oft-repeated family tales (as well as silent secrets) left for her to unpack. Told with music, movement and “show-and-tell” objects, this journey of nostalgia and discovery portrays with humor the beautiful and enigmatic paths of immigration—and what we choose to carry forward.

Refreshments will be served!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit La MaMa’s website.

Production Credits

Writer/performer: Kim Ima
Director: Megan Paradis Hanley
Dramaturg: Kendall Cornell
Set Design: Mary Olin Geiger
Lighting: Federico Restrepo
Costumes: Gabriel Berry
Sound Design: Leonie Bell

“...I want to tell you something about my mother....and my grandma Rosie...and my pop, and...and, and...Camp. That camp. The one we don’t like to talk about camp.
Camp, camp, camp, camp, camp.
Camp.
And cake. We also need cake.”

— Ready for Company and Other Family Tales by Kim Ima

About Kim Ima

Kim Ima is a performer, writer, and longtime member of La MaMa's Great Jones Rep. Theater credits include playing Cassandra in La MaMa's groundbreaking production of The Trojan Women directed by Andrei Serban and composed by Elizabeth Swados; The Interlude, a play presented by La MaMa about Ima’s American-born Japanese American father and his time in an American concentration camp during WWII; and Sur, a devised theater piece adapted from the short story by beloved science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin, in the Ellen Stewart Theatre in April 2025. Ima performed as a guest artist with Monica Bill Barnes & Company in Lunch Dances at the NYPL.

A founding member of The Trojan Women Project, Ima was the owner of The Treats Truck, a Vendy Award-winning food truck in NYC, and The Treats Truck Stop, a bakery cafe in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. She is the author of the cookbook The Treats Truck Baking Book, published by HarperCollins. To learn more, please visit her website.

About La MaMa

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is dedicated to the artist and all aspects of the theatre. La MaMa's 64th Season, LA MAMA NOW, focuses on creating solidarity and building community, exploring ways to build connections for cross-sector coalition and invite artists, activists, organizers and community members into the creative process.

Susan McCormac 11/4/25 Susan McCormac 11/4/25

Dance-Theater Piece Retells Akutagawa Short Story

Led by dancers Yusuke Mori and Alaisha Sharma, Spider’s Thread is a performance based on Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s well-known short story.

Spider’s Thread

Saturday, November 8 at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m.

CAVE – 58 Grand Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Suggested donation: $15-$30

Led by dancers Yusuke Mori and Alaisha Sharma, Spider’s Thread is a performance based on Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s well-known short story. It is a simple tale based on Buddhist teachings in which a convict is given a slim passageway from eternal damnation. In this dance-theater piece, the story unfolds through an interwoven tapestry of narration and movement, with violin accompaniment by Aimée Niemann.

Spider’s Thread is produced and curated by Yusuke Mori as part of the LEIMAY Constellation Series, co-presented with LEIMAY at CAVE, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, within WEAVE. The runtime of the show is 60 minutes. To RSVP and make a donation, please visit LEIMAY’s website.

Follow the Cast

Yusuke Mori: @yusuky88
Alaisha Sharma: @alaisharma
Aimée Niemann: @Aiméetanzt
LEIMAY Foundation: @LEIMAYfoundation
Illustration by @lindacheng1985

From left: Yusuke Mori, Alaisha Sharma, and Aimée Niemann

About LEIMAY

A nonprofit organization that serves as the collaborative artistic practice of Ximena Garnica and Shige Moriya, LEIMAY presents interdisciplinary performances and exhibitions, educational activities, and community projects.

Susan McCormac 11/3/25 Susan McCormac 11/3/25

Japan’s 47 Prefectures: Wakayama

Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International takes us on a tour of Wakayama Prefecture’s zone at the Kansai Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

As followers of JapanCulture•NYC know, JCNYC Business Editor at Large Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International spent several months in Osaka, visiting Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan almost 40 different times. She shared her Expo experiences through blog posts on her website and during six Expo Talks she and I hosted on Zoom and LinkedIn Live.

She was fortunate to have access to the Wakayama Prefecture Zone of the Kansai Pavilion. Below please see her complete post about that visit, which is the perfect way to kick off JapanCulture•NYC’s long-time goal of introducing all 47 prefectures of Japan. Since Expo took place in Japan’s Kansai region, it’s fitting to start there.

Please enjoy this in-depth look at some of the things Wakayama has to offer through Yvonne’s experiences at Expo:

Incredible craftsmanship
The spiritual heartland of Japan
Culinary products, including umeshu, the traditional Japanese liqueur

The 47 Prefectures series will be an exploration of Japan’s richness and diversity, highlighting areas that tourists might overlook. Let’s dive into places not named Tokyo and Kyoto to discover more of the essence of Japan. Keep reading JapanCulture•NYC to learn more about each prefecture and start planning your trip to Japan. After reading about Yvonne’s experiences, you might want to start with Wakayama!

Osaka Expo Visits 36 & 37: October 10 & 11, 2025 - Wakayama Prefecture @ KANSAI PAVILION

— By Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International

The Kansai Pavilion at Expo showcased the diverse richness of the Kansai region — the prefectures of Shiga, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Tottori, Tokushima, Fukui, and Mie — each presenting its unique blend of history, culture, creativity, charm, and attractions.

Wakayama Prefecture - Part 1

Among them, the Wakayama zone was a deeply moving highlight. I was privileged to experience it firsthand, guided by the warm and generous spirit of Wakayama's representatives. Every element of the zone was thoughtfully curated to convey the finest essence of Wakayama — Japan’s spiritual heartland, where faith, nature, and craftsmanship have harmoniously intertwined for centuries.

I was fortunate to visit twice in two days. On my first visit, I took in the stunning visual exhibit and experienced a sumptuous bespoke confectionery tasting that was truly next level!

The first encounter in the zone began with a mural depicting ancient folklore and led to the focal point of the zone: the 5 “totems” video installation that stood tall and proud.

Each towering totem displayed a dazzling array of scenes of Wakayama culture, arts, nature, and industry from the past, present, and future. Across the elongated digital panels, the story of the prefecture is told on screens embedded in pillars symbolic of ancient Kii trees, encased in the renowned regional Kishu lacquerware.

Centuries-old craftsmanship embracing modern technology, merging nature, artistry, and industry into this unique expression of the Wakayama spirit — timeless yet ever evolving.

The zone itself was designed by a wonderful curator whom I had the pleasure of meeting. Her passion and appreciation of Wakayama were present in every detail. The creative use of the prefecture’s materials and products, both functionally and artistically, produced an integrated space that was beautiful, bathed in serenity, and with an almost reverent quality in the air.

Tasting the Best of Wakayama

At the elegant counter (made from Kishu wood) toward the back of the zone, visitors could experience a refined tasting experience — a blend of sweet and savory delicacies, each using Wakayama's signature ingredients and served in an elegant Kishu wood “chest,” with compartments containing sumptuous and artful treasures.

More than flavors, it offered a taste of Wakayama’s aesthetic, spirit, and grace.

Wakayama Prefecture - Part 2

My second visit was an invitation to experience a collaboration between the monks of Mount Koya (Koyasan) and the sacred Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route.

A procession of seven Koyasan monks performed Shomyo—sacred Buddhist chanting—that enveloped the audience in reverent tones that were calming and restorative.

The sacred aura of these two World Heritage sites radiated an almost otherworldly grace, yet within that divinity was a warm, earthly welcome to everyone from across Japan and beyond. It was more than a tribute to Buddhist faith; it was a celebration of compassion, connection, and our shared humanity.

After the ceremony, I had the privilege of speaking with the monks — a moment that revealed their lightness and humor. They spoke with genuine delight about welcoming visitors to Koyasan, sharing their faith, and enjoying aspects of other faiths, and traditions, such as their annual Christmas parties.

I felt their harmony between devotion and delight, reverence and play. One monk, who had once studied in New York City, embodied this spirit perfectly — a bridge between worlds, his story a testament to deep faith and a commitment to connecting beyond borders.

A couple of days later, on the final day of Expo, I encountered two of these same monks wandering the grounds — wide-eyed and smiling as they explored pavilions and exchanged greetings across languages and cultures. It was a wonderful reminder that the sacred and the contemporary can not only coexist, but enrich one another — proof that faith, when open to the world, becomes a bridge, not a boundary.

My second visit to the Wakayama Zone concluded with what else . . . a tasting of Wakayama's famous umeshu (Japanese traditional liqueur). The flight I selected (set C) revealed umeshu’s versatility—from gentle and fruity to rich and robust, from a pale green plum color to deep amber. I sipped and savored every drop!

Wakayama’s blend of faith, tradition, craftsmanship, and creativity weaves a universe of timeless beauty — where spirituality and artistry coexist, inviting all who visit Wakayama to feel both wonder and connection.

Wakayama and the other prefectures of the Kansai region have so much to offer visitors. The Kansai pavilion was a wonderful showcase of the richness and diversity of each prefecture. Showing us that what is most local can also be universal — and that connection, in all its forms, is what the Kansai spirit is all about.

NOTE: I am writing and giving online talks about my Expo visits to share the wonders, innovations, inspiration, and cultural richness of EXPO Osaka 2025 with those who are interested but unable to attend.

All pictures and videos by Yvonne Burton

A big thank you to Yvonne for allowing JapanCulture•NYC to repost her entire article so that we can get a glimpse of Wakayama Prefecture. Are you craving umeshu? Or do you think a peaceful visit to Koyasan is just what we all need right now?

Please visit Yvonne’s website to read all of her blog posts about Expo.