Japanese Artist KAZUMA at Arlene’s Grocery in LES
Japanese artist KAZUMA will present a free live concert, Invisible Full Moon, this Thursday, February 12 at the iconic New York venue Arlene’s Grocery.
KAZUMA New York Free Live Concert―Invisible Full Moon
Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. (Doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Arlene’s Grocery – 95 Stanton Street
Admission: Free
Japanese artist KAZUMA will present a free live concert, Invisible Full Moon, this Thursday, February 12 at the iconic New York venue Arlene’s Grocery. The event will feature collaborations with local artists and a special program centered on Japan–U.S. cultural exchange. KAZUMA is hosting this free concert as his way of giving back to the city for helping him after he suddenly developed a severe voice disorder that forced him to step away from the stage.
At his lowest point in New York, he encountered an artist community that encouraged him even on days when his voice was not in good condition. Thanks to their support, he was able to rediscover his passion for music.
KAZUMA
“When I lost my voice, I was overwhelmed with fear and lost sight of my future. At that time, New York reached out its hand to me. Even when my voice was not perfect, people valued my music itself. I want to give something back to this city that saved me. I hope this concert can become a trigger for someone else’s ‘rebirth.’”
Performers
Toshi Cappuccino (MC / Performer)
The concert is free, but RSVP is recommended. To reserve your spot, please visit KAZUMA’s Eventbrite page.
About KAZUMA
Raised by a musician father, KAZUMA began singing at an early age. At 18, he joined an artist development agency where he trained extensively in vocal performance and live shows. He launched his professional music career in his mid-20s, but he faced uncertainty due to his serious voice disorder. Through rehabilitation, training, and transformative experiences in New York, he overcame the condition and developed a deeper, more expressive vocal style.
Returning to the stage, he successfully performed a microphone-free concert in a chapel in 2021. Two years later, he appeared at a Japan–U.S. cultural exchange event at Carnegie Hall, followed by performances at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, expanding his international presence.
In 2024, he released his debut album, KOKUU. Known for his clear high notes and delicate falsetto, KAZUMA’s music—centered on themes of rebirth and hope—has received acclaim both in Japan and abroad.
Watch the video for the title song on his YouTube channel.
Toward Becoming a New Cultural Bridge
KAZUMA has also begun cultural exchange activities connecting his hometown, Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture, with New York. He will continue to share messages of rebirth through music.
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Miniature Ramen Workshop at Japan Village! 🍜
Oishii Miniatures hosts this miniature food-making workshop, a hands-on event where participants will create a realistic miniature bowl of ramen.
Let’s Make a Bowl of Miniature Ramen!
Saturday, February 7, 2026 from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn (2nd Floor)
Admission: $80
Join this miniature food-making workshop, a hands-on event where participants will create a realistic, miniature bowl of ramen. You’ll learn how to make everything from noodles to toppings and take home your adorable handmade clay creation.
It’s beginner-friendly and perfect for anyone who loves crafting or Japanese food.
Hosted by Oishii Miniatures, the workshop will take place at The LOFT on the second floor of Japan Village in Brooklyn.
Tickets are required to participate. To reserve your spot, please click here.
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Japan Village to Host Setsubun Party
Japan Village hosts event to celebrate Japanese tradition of welcoming good luck
Setsubun
Sunday, February 1 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn | 2nd Floor LOFT
Admission: Free
Head to Japan Village for an afternoon of cultural performances and hands-on traditions celebrating Setsubun, the Japanese tradition of celebrating the birth of spring. Guests can enjoy music, stories, and hands-on traditions.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Japanese folk story
Live shamisen performance
Eho-maki demo
Mamemaki bean-throwing to ward off evil Japanese oni (monsters)
Photo ops
Tasty treats
To reserve your spot for this family-friendly cultural event, please visit Japan Village’s Eventbrite page.
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Setsubun Tradition at Wasan Brooklyn
Wasan Brooklyn’s Eho-Maki Week
Wasan Brooklyn’s Eho-Maki Week
Now through Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Wasan Brooklyn – 440 Bergen Street, Brooklyn
Cost: $18-$59
For one day each winter, silence at the dinner table is encouraged and while facing in a specific direction. Setsubun, a seasonal turning point observed on February 3, is closely tied to food rituals meant to invite good health and prosperity for the year ahead. In New York, those traditions now extend well beyond the home.
Wasan Brooklyn is celebrating this tradition by offering two kinds of eho-maki now through February 3, the day Setsubun is observed. The restaurant is located at 440 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 and is open daily from 11:30 a.m. until 9:15 p.m.
Fortune Roll Eho-Maki with Seven Ingredients
Eel, shrimp, snow crab, egg omelet, kanpyo squash, cucumber, avocado
Regular size: $18
Double size: $34
Kaiun Eho-Maki (Premium) with Eleven Ingredients
Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, eel, shrimp, snow crab, egg omelet, kanpyo squash, tobiko, cucumber, avocado
Regular size: $31
Double size: $59
Rules for Eating Eho-Maki
Eho-maki literally means “lucky direction rolls,” and of course, there are rules to maximize the luck you’re sure to receive once you’ve consumed them.
Eat the entire roll without cutting it
Face the lucky direction of the year (south-southeast for 2026)
Eat in silence
For more information or to place an order, please visit Wasan Brooklyn’s website.
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Celebrating Setsubun in NYC
Setsubun and where to find it in NYC
Winter may still have a firm grip on New York, but in Japan the calendar is already shifting. Setsubun marks the quiet threshold between seasons: a moment to reset, brush off lingering misfortune, and prepare for the year ahead. Observed on February 3, the tradition blends ritual, food, and community in ways that feel especially resonant during the coldest stretch of the year.
What is Setsubun?
Literally meaning “season division,” Setsubun falls on the day before spring, at least according to the Lunar calendar. The change is marked with rituals that drive out evil spirits, known as oni, by throwing roasted soybeans (fukumame) and yelling “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Demons out! Fortune in!”)
After dispersing the soybeans, it’s customary to count out the number of beans that corresponds to your age—called toshinokazu—and eat them for good luck and good health. Food plays an equally symbolic role in the celebration, particularly ehomaki, thick sushi rolls with fillings that represent good health, prosperity, and happiness.
In New York, these traditions now extend beyond the home, with restaurants and community spaces offering their own ways to observe Setsubun.
Now through Tuesday, February 3
Wasan Brooklyn
440 Bergen Street, Brooklyn
Japanese restaurant Wasan Brooklyn is observing Setsubun with two types of eho-maki. Place your order at the restaurant’s website or visit in person.
Sunday, February 1
Japan Village
934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn | 2nd Floor LOFT
1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Head to Japan Village for an afternoon of cultural performances and hands-on traditions celebrating Setsubun. Guests can enjoy music, stories, and hands-on traditions. Learn more at Japan Village’s website.
You can also purchase eho-maki at Obentoyasan in the Japan Village food court on February 1 and February 3.
Tuesday, February 3
Izakaya Mew
53 W. 35th Street, Basement
Only on Setsubun, Izakaya Mew will offer their substantial eho-maki in person or delivery. Check out their Instagram post with the details.
Lunch: Noon until 2:15 p.m.
Dinner: 5:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.Sunrise Mart
SoHo: 494 Broome Street | 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Midtown: 12 E. 41st Street | 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
The Manhattan locations of this popular Japanese grocery store will sell eho-maki on February 3 only.
In whatever way it’s observed, Setsubun is a reminder that the new season has already begun—even if winter hasn’t quite gotten the message yet.
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Asia Society to Screen WWII Documentary
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
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.
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.
Blue Chalk Media
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.
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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 comply with the orders that led to the mass incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals living on the West Coast during WWII, citing the orders as unconstitutional. After his arrest for defying the 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, based on the government’s claim that its conduct was justified by “military necessity.” However, nearly forty years later, researchers uncovered proof that the government lied to the Court. 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 the City Council unanimously passed 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 injustices done to American citizens and resident aliens of Japanese ancestry during WWII will never be repeated.
The original posting of this article contained inaccuracies in the descriptions of Fred Korematsu’s U.S. Supreme Court and coram nobis cases. Kathryn Bannai, the lead counsel in the coram nobis case of Gordon Hirabayashi, another Japanese American whose civil disobedience during World War II led to his arrest, pointed out the inaccuracies and kindly offered revisions. JapanCulture•NYC regrets the errors and appreciates Ms. Bannai’s clarifications and insight.
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See Special Screening of KOKUHO in NYC
Limited tickets are still available for a special screening of KOKUHO this Wednesday, January 21.
Photo credit: ©Shuichi Yoshida / ASP ©2025 “KOKUHO” Film Partners
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 ticketsAMC 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.
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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.
Sara Suzuki and Moyuru Shiroma
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.
Wagashi expert Sara Suzuki
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.
Artist Moyuru Shiroma
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.
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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.
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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.
©DASSAI
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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!
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
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!
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.
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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
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. © Photo by HARU
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.
The Seven Bridges. © Photo by HARU
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.
Takuro Suzuki © Courtesy of CHAiroiPLIN
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.
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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.
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New Book About Japanese Baseball
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.
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.
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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.
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