All AAPI Cast to Perform “Allegiance”

54 Sings Allegiance

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

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

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

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

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

Performers

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

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

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

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

About 54 Below

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

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

Safety Information

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

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Film at Lincoln Center to Spotlight Japan’s Cinematic Rebel

The Radical Cinema of Kijū Yoshida

Friday, December 1 through Friday, December 8

Walter Reade Theater – 165 W. 65th Street (unless otherwise noted)

Admission: $17 General Public |  $14 Students, Seniors, individuals with disabilities |  $12 Members

Film at Lincoln Center presents “The Radical Cinema of Kijū Yoshida,” a retrospective spotlighting the films of one of Japan’s greatest cinematic rebels. Running from December 1 through 8, all 16 films will be presented on 35mm or 16mm at Film at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater, the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, and Japan Society.

The retrospective presents the most comprehensive collection of Yoshida’s work ever screened in the United States. Most notably, the series will feature Yoshida’s famed political trilogy, which captures significant moments in 20th century Japanese history: Eros + Massacre (1968), regarded as his masterpiece; Heroic Purgatory (1970), a kaleidoscopic, mazelike memory piece about an atomic engineer whose past as a college-age revolutionary militant erupts into the present; and Coup d’état (1973), a spellbinding portrait of notorious militarist Ikki Kita.

To purchase tickets, please visit Film at Lincoln Center’s website. Use promo code OKADA to enjoy $5 off all ticket purchases.

Lineup

Good-for-Nothing
Friday, December 1 at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 5 at 8:45 p.m.

Yoshida’s debut feature vividly depicts the ennui and intellectual and spiritual restlessness of a generation of bourgeois youth in Tokyo at the dawn of the 1960s.

Blood Is Dry
Friday, December 1 at 4:15 p.m.
Saturday, December 2 at 8:30 p.m.

Yoshida’s satirical second feature again ferociously critiques Japanese society following its postwar reinvention as a capitalist giant. 

Eros + Massacre
Friday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Among the greatest of all political films and perhaps the work that best embodies the spirit of Yoshida’s artistic project, Eros + Massacre is an epic, historiographic examination of the points of intersection between the domains of desire and politics.

Affair in the Snow
Saturday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m.

A love triangle plays out in the snow in Yoshida’s eleventh feature, a striking deconstruction of the melodrama.

Heroic Purgatory
Saturday, December 2 at 3:15 p.m.

The second film in a trilogy (inaugurated by Eros + Massacre) concerning 20th century Japanese history, Heroic Purgatory is a kaleidoscopic, mazelike memory piece that is perhaps Yoshida’s most recognizably avant-garde work.

The Affair
Saturday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 6 at 1:00 p.m.

Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center – 144 W. 65th Street

Again using the melodrama genre as an instrument of oblique social critique, Yoshida’s ninth feature stars Mariko Okada as a woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a philandering businessman who finds herself mysteriously drawn toward an old lover of her deceased mother’s. 

Akitsu Springs
Sunday, December 3 at 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 7 at 1:00 p.m.

The first great commercial success of his young career, Akitsu Springs is a tear-jerking romance that finds Yoshida working in color and in collaboration with his frequent star and lifelong filmmaking partner Mariko Okada (in her 100th on-screen appearance). 

Wuthering Heights
Sunday, December 3 at 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 7 at 3:30 p.m.

Emily Brontë’s Gothic romance is transposed to feudal Japan for Yoshida’s powerfully stark, elemental take on the story. 

18 Who Cause a Storm
Sunday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 6 at 3:15 p.m.

Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center – 144 W. 65th Street

A group of migrant workers fed up with their being ruthlessly exploited by the society around them lash out in Yoshida’s rugged widescreen chronicle of proletarian unrest.

Women in the Mirror
Sunday, December 3 at 9:00 p.m.

In his final fiction feature, Yoshida returned to an old subject in his work: the unfathomable trauma known by Japan due to the United States’s dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Flame and Women
Tuesday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Yoshida returned to the melodrama—this time synthesizing elements of the horror film in the process—with this chronicle of a woman’s suddenly swelling desire for her child’s biological father.

Coup d’état
Wednesday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center – 144 W. 65th Street

The culminating film in the trilogy formed by Eros + Massacre and Heroic Purgatory, Yoshida’s 16th feature is a spellbinding portrait of notorious militarist Ikki Kita, whose 1936 attempt at staging a coup against the Japanese government would later serve as inspiration to the similarly controversial nationalist writer Yukio Mishima some years later. 

A Promise
Wednesday, December 6 at 8:45 p.m. – Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center
Friday, December 8 at 9:00 p.m. – Japan Society

Yoshida came out of his feature filmmaking retirement with this typically idiosyncratic meditation on what was, at the time, a taboo topic: euthanasia. 

Farewell to the Summer Light
Thursday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m.

A fascinating transitional film for Yoshida, Farewell to the Summer Light finds the restless iconoclast heading to Europe to tell the tale of an on-again-off-again romance between Naoko, a married expat who specializes in import-export (Mariko Okada), and Makoto (Tadashi Yokouchi), a Japanese scholar who is searching for a cathedral that served as the architectural inspiration for a church built in Nagasaki by Portuguese missionaries. 

Confessions Among Actresses
Thursday, December 7 at 8:45 p.m.

Something like Yoshida’s response to Ingmar Bergman’s Persona, Confessions Among Actresses finds Yoshida teaming up with three prominent Japanese actresses—Mariko Okada, Ruriko Asaoka, and Ineko Arima, each renowned for playing eminently modern women who have been wronged by the men around them—to craft a fragmentary, perpetually shapeshifting work on the relationship between performance and trauma.

A Story Written with Water
Friday, December 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street

Bearing a title inspired by John Keats’s epitaph and taken from the Yōjirō Ishizaka novel it adapts, Yoshida’s first independent film is a startling affair, depicting the unbreakable love of mother and child.

For full descriptions of the films and to learn more about Kijū Yoshida, please visit Film at Lincoln Center’s website.

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!

Tokyo to New York at Bargemusic

Bargemusic: Here and Now Series presents THOMAS PIERCY - TOKYO TO NEW YORK 東京とNY

Friday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m.

Bargemusic – 1 Water Street, Brooklyn (GPS address)

Admission: $35

Bargemusic’s Here and Now Series presents music with Thomas Piercy, clarinet and ohichiriki; Aaron Wolff, cello; and Marina Iwao, piano. Three of the works are world premieres composed for Thomas Piercy by composers Miho Sasaki, Michael Schelle, and Emilio Teubal, and a composition by Dai Fujikura will have its New York premiere. Rounding out the program will be a masterpiece from 1992 from Pulitzer Prize-winner Tania Leon.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Tonada Productions or Bargemusic.

Program

• Dai Fujikura “Hop” for clarinet, cello, and piano (2019) (US Premiere)

• Tania Leon “Arenas d’un tiempo” for clarinet, cello, and piano (1992)

• Miho Sasaki “黎明-reimei-Dawn” for ohichiriki, cello, and piano (2023) (World Premiere)

• Michael Schelle “Kingfish Levinsky” for clarinet, cello, and piano (2023) (World Premiere)

• Emilio Teubal “The Offspring of MMXX” for clarinet, cello, and piano (2023) (World Premiere)

Asia Society to Co-Host NYJCF

New York Japan CineFest 2023

Friday, November 3 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. (Opening reception)

Saturday, November 4 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. (Shodo performance)

Asia Society – 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street

Admission: $15 Adults | $8 Members

New York Japan CineFest, a film festival that introduces Japanese-themed short films, is celebrating its twelfth anniversary this weekend. The two-day event will present a total of16 short films and is co-hosted by Asia Society and Mar Creation in partnership with JICC-Japan Information and Culture Center (Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.), Short Shorts Film Festival, Boston Japan Film Festival, Aichi International Women’s Film Festival, and Tokyo Independent Movie Festival.

Day One features seven short films selected by JICC and NYJCF; Day Two includes two programs: “Japanese Film Festivals” at 1:00 p.m. and “Long Story Short” at 3:30 p.m. “Japanese Film Festivals” consist of six short films in association with five Japanese film festivals such as Short Shorts Film Festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. “Long Story to Short” features four shorts that are relatively long, more than 20 minutes.

The 2023 program includes director Daichi Amano’s Don’t Go, in which fragments of the memories of a deceased father can be accessed using a special device; TOKYO ANIMAL by Toshiki Yashiro, a collection of five vignettes about life in Tokyo; Seen, a love story directed by Shinji Hamasaki and based on Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’s short story "The Nose”; and Oshirasama, Takako Saga’s look at a mysterious folk belief in Japan's Tohoku region. This year’s highlight is Shuhari, a documentary that was produced by NYJCF co-founders Kosuke Furukawa and Hiroshi Kono.

For full details and to purchase tickets, please visit Asia Society’s website. Students and Seniors should contact Asia Society’s box office at 212-517-ASIA (2742) for a discounted price. NYJCF is offering a special discount for JapanCulture•NYC members! Not a member? Join today at https://www.japanculture-nyc.com/membership!

Third Wheel, Directed by Kevin Haefelin

Day One – Friday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Films selected by NYJCF and the Japan Information & Culture Center organized by Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.

Third Wheel

Dir. Kevin Haefelin | 2023 | 4:50 | comedy, drama, period, fantastic | Switzerland
Edo Period. Following his abrupt death, Gohei, a master carpenter, returns as a ghost to make peace with his wife, Sachi, but finds out he is invisible. He must rely on Sakichi, his once-neglected apprentice, who is gifted with psychic abilities.

What To Do To Be Like You

Dir. Chris Rudz | 2022 | 5:01 | comedy | Japan
Young Natsumi returns to the island of her ancestor to become an Ama-san, a traditional female diver of Japan. She follows her mentor, Reiko, who's the best Ama-san in the area, to discover her secrets.
In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia [SSFF & ASIA]

Aufguss, Directed by Daigo Matsui

Aufguss

Dir. Daigo Matsui | 2022 | 24:52 | drama | Japan
A sauna spa that has been in business for 50 years is about to reach the very last day but without letting any of its regular customers know. Toji, an aufgussmeister, is preparing for the last aufguss session, and the regular customers are puzzled about why he is so fired up. This is a story about the special night of a small sauna business.
In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia [SSFF & ASIA]

The Floating World, Directed by Hiroshi Yokota

The Floating World

Dir. Hiroshi Yokota | 2023 | 15:17 | documentary | Japan
When a university student struggling with an environmental studies assignment searches for inspiration at an art gallery, she is magically transported into a painting and lands in 19th-century Japan. In Edo, today’s Tokyo, she witnesses a range of everyday sustainable practices––using ashes in the dyeing process, fertilizing fields with night soil, repurposing used kimonos into towels and rags––that helped the country overcome environmental collapse.

Shuhari (World Premiere)

Dir. Tatsuya Ino | 2023 | 12:36 | documentary | Japan, USA
Born and raised in Kyoto, Japanese calligrapher Chifumi Niimi teaches students not only how to write characters beautifully but also break through tradition to develop self-esteem and find a new you through shodo (Japanese calligraphy).

The Swamp

Dir. Sorao Sakimura | 2023 | 4:55 | animation | Japan
He, in the painful days of living deep in a shell, picks up a stone. It gains an identity in a moment and becomes a different individual from him. It pulls him up and takes him somewhere he would never imagine. This is written as a record of the writer himself, who has kept creating while feeling the hardness of life.
In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia [SSFF & ASIA]

Seen

Dir. Shinji Hamasaki | 2022 | 23:37 | drama | Japan
A love story based on Ryunosuke Akutagawa's short story "The Nose." Tatsuya, a man afflicted with a nose complex, meets Fumi, a reclusive woman with an eye patch. Both burdened with their emotional scars, the two find themselves drawn to each other.
In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia [SSFF & ASIA]

Tokyo Animals, Directed by Toshiki Yashiro

Day Two – Saturday, November 4 at 1:00 p.m.

“Japanese Film Festivals”

Tokyo Animals

Dir. Toshiki Yashiro | 2022 | 7:58 | drama | Japan
Directed by Toshiki Yashiro, Tokyo Animals is a collection of five scenarios, five vignettes about life in Tokyo. A life where things in the fore fall toward the back, until they circle back again into focus. A circular movement that is often palpable in our crammed little town. Whether it be the rigid rituals of a salaryman, empty gestures by empty people, or the sexualization of all things living or not. Bizarre little things populate the city.
In association with Boston Japan Film Festival (BJFF)

COUNT 100

Dir. Hiroshi Tamaki | 2023 | 20:00 | SciFi | Japan
Professional boxer Mitsuki was once the champion. One day, he was handed a mysterious leaflet on the street.
In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia [SSFF & ASIA]

Oshirasama, Directed by Takako Saga

Oshirasama

Dir. Takako Saga | 2023 | 11:47 | animation | Japan
In this folktale of Japan's Tohoku region related to a mysterious folk belief called "Oshirasama,” a girl gets a horse from her father and takes care of it affectionately, then eventually, they fall in (carnal) love with each other. Maddened by the fact, the father kills the horse, but the horse's corpse takes the girl away with it to the other world up in the sky. To her weeping parents in despair, the girl appears in their dream and tells them about silkworms. With threads and cloth from the silkworms they keep, the girl's parents become able to earn their living, and they later make a pair of wooden figures after their daughter and the horse to worship as their gods.
In association With Aichi International Women’s Film Festival (AIWFF)

Minwoo and Rie

Dir. Jinrung Chun | 2022 | 26:19 | drama | Japan
Rie, from Japan, visits Gunsan, Korea, to deliver her grandfather’s unsent letter. With a help of a local boy, Minwoo, she gets closer to the addressee yet acknowledges what her grandpa did during the period of Japanese colonialism.
In association with Tokyo Independent Movie Festival (TIMF)

The Old Young Crow

Dir. Liam LoPinto | 2022 | 12:00 | mystery, thriller, animation | Japan
An Iranian boy befriends an old Japanese woman at a graveyard in Tokyo.
In association with New York Japan CineFest: FilmFreeway

Shuhari  

Dir. Tatsuya Ino | 2023 | 12:36 | documentary | Japan, USA
Second screening

Nisei, Directed Darren Haruo Rae

Day Two – Saturday, November 4 at 3:30 p.m.

“Long Story to Short”

Blue and White

Dir. Hiroyuki Nishiyama | 2022 | 27:22 | documentary | Japan, USA
Ryusuke, mourning his wife, ceaselessly crafts salt, even during her funeral. Witnessing this, granddaughter Midori probes his motives. Safeguarding the region's unique salt-making legacy is Ryusuke's mission. In conversing with salt, he strives to pass down its ancient flavor. Could Ryusuke's bond with salt link him to his departed wife?

Scabiosa

Dir. Tsuyoshi Takamura | 2022 | 19:47 | drama | Japan
Haruka is unexpectedly asked to attend the memorial service for Instagrammer Hina. At the service, Hina's relatives share their memories of her. Unable to bear the situation any longer, Haruka runs from the scene.
In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia [SSFF & ASIA]

Nisei

Dir. Darren Haruo Rae | 2023 | 21:18 | drama, action | USA
Based on stories from Rae’s grandfather, Nisei follows the journey of two Japanese American brothers during World War II, Minoru and John Miyasaki. Stripped of their citizenship and placed in internment camps, they volunteer for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all-Japanese American unit that sacrificed everything to prove their loyalty to a country that didn’t want them. Torn between country and family, they must face the enemy overseas along with adversity back home.

Don’t Go

Dir. Daichi Amano | 2023 | 24:46 | drama | Japan
Enter a world where fragments of memory of the dead can be accessed using a special device. A father, who lied about his whereabouts, dies in a car accident in a seaside town. His bereaved family dives into his memory to uncover his secret.

About New York Japan CineFest

NYJCF was founded in 2012 by three Japanese producers based in New York: Yasu Suzuki, an actor, dancer, and filmmaker; film director Kosuke Furukawa; and Hiroshi Kono, CEO of Mar Creation, Inc. The festival highlights independent filmmakers who are committed to expressing their voice and vision to the world. Their mission is to explore and find unique talent, supporting filmmakers' work, vision, and causes while providing a playground for creativity in New York City. Since 2015, the film festival has been invited to screen its programs in multiple cities, including Boston; Washington, D.C.; Houston; Los Angeles; and San Francisco. Follow them on Instagram.

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!

Celebrate Fall at The New York Buddhist Church

Aki Matsuri: Japanese Fall Festival

Saturday, October 21 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

New York Buddhist Church – 331-332 Riverside Drive (between 105th and 106th Streets)

Admission: Free

The New York Buddhist Church is hosting Aki Matsuri: Japanese Fall Festival to commemorate their 85th Anniversary and the arrival of their new resident minister, Rev. Kurt Rye.

The festivities begin at 11:00 a.m. with a performance by the taiko drumming group Soh Daiko. Visitors can watch Japanese silent films and immerse themselves in the artistry of the Ikebana flower arranging demonstration. Children will be entertained by Japanese-style storytelling, known as Kamishibai. Attendees can engage in a moment of tranquility with "Present Moment," an interactive mandala and walking meditation experience. Japanese crafts, ceramics, textiles, and snacks will be available for purchase.

Celebrate the season as well as the 85th anniversary of this important community institution!

For more information, please visit the New York Buddhist Church’s website.

Exterior of the New York Buddhist Church with the statue of Shinran Shonin, founder of the Jodo-Shinshu Sect

Join the Kaede Scavenger Hunt and Search for the One Piece

Kaede Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, November 4 at 9:00 a.m.

Venue given upon registration

Admission: Free

Kaede Kimonos is hosting a special and exciting scavenger hunt throughout the city. They’re calling on all pirates to join, so read their message below and register today!

Message from Kaede Kimonos

Ahoy, New York City! On November 4th, gather your courage and join us for an epic adventure of a lifetime. This ain't your ordinary scavenger hunt – it's a treasure hunt fit for a true pirate!

Whether you're a solo pirate, a captain in search of a loyal crew, or a ready-made crew of three, this is your chance to experience the thrill of the Grand Line right here in the Big Apple.

As a solo pirate, conquer the challenges ahead, unravel mysteries, and claim your victory on your own terms. Embrace the spirit of freedom and cut through the waves of excitement!

Want to be a captain and build your very own crew along the way? Well, fear not, fellow explorer! Gather your “nakama” (that means “friends” in pirate-speak) and choose the captain option. Build your crew as you navigate uncharted territories, bond through teamwork, and unleash your pirate awesomeness!

And for those who are already a powerhouse team of three, set sail together and let your synergy shine! The dynamics of trust, camaraderie, and synchronized attacks will be your key to triumph on this unforgettable treasure hunt.

Expect mind-bending puzzles, cunning riddles, and challenges that will test your mettle. Immerse yourself in the world of One Piece as you uncover clues hidden across the city. This is your chance to step into the shoes of a real pirate and make memories that will last a lifetime!

So, mateys, don your pirate hats, grab your maps, and sign up for the pirate themed scavenger hunt on November 4th. Swords will clash, bounties will be claimed, and legends shall be written!

Head over to our website to secure your spot and choose your pirate path—solo, captain looking for his crew, or three-member crew. Get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime!

Remember, it's not just about the treasure, it's about the journey itself. Mark your calendars, assemble your crew, and prepare for the One Piece scavenger hunt in the heart of New York City. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience!

But just as a tease the One Piece treasure includes and XBOX S Series bundle and more.

So, are you ready to conquer The Grand Line? Join us on November 4th and let's set sail, New York!

P.S. – Don't let the Marines catch you.

Special Thanks to Senpai Project and Anubis House Productions.

NOTE: We are not affiliated with Toei Animations or Netflix, and this is not an official event put on by them.

Official Rules

• All teams (Except Individual Captains), must have a minimum of 2 team members and a maximum of 3 members.

• All teams/individuals must complete a waiver form to participate in the Scavenger Hunt.

• If you are a minor, a parent or legal guardian must provide consent for you to participate.

• Team members must remain together throughout the race and must check in at every checkpoint before and/or after each challenge (unless specified otherwise). You may not split up to “divide” Scavenger Hunt tasks or enlist others to help complete your tasks.

• Individuals can add/recruit a team member along the way. Max team is 3. All recruiting must be done before the 5th Challenge.

• All teams/individuals must be courteous and respectful to all participants and volunteers.

• Each team/individual will be provided with a "Passport." The goal of the scavenger hunt is to complete all challenges and find the final location.

• Scavenger Hunt clues are NOT required to be completed in order. However, teams or individuals must have all challenges completed before going to the final location

• All teams have 8 hours to complete the race.

• All teams must stop and get to the finish area by 6:00 p.m. and turn in team’s passport (full) to a volunteer at the Scavenger Hunt end.

• There will be Marines searching for you. If you or a team member is caught. That person or crew will be "locked up" for 30 minutes. You will be able to continue after your release. The Marines will also get all the info you gathered to use to beat you to the end.

To register, please fill out this Google Form or visit Virtual Nippon’s Eventbrite page.

This listing is a paid advertisement on JapanCulture-NYC.com by Kaede Kimonos. If you’re interested in sponsorship and advertising opportunities, please send an email to info@japanculture-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!

CELEBRATION OF JAPANESE TEA

Chanoyu Week NYC 2023

Friday, October 20 through Sunday, November 19

Various Locations and Admission Prices (See schedule below)

Chanoyu is a traditional Japanese art form in which the tea master and guests gather in a tearoom for a ceremony centered around drinking powdered tea. Developed and intertwined with Zen philosophy, chanoyu aims to purify the human mind, promote a deep spiritual exchange with one another, and unite nature, people, and things.

Headed by New York-based Japanese tea master Yoshitsugu Nagano, Chanoyu Week aims to provide spiritual healing and enrichment through the spirit of Wa Kei Sei Jaku (和敬清寂): harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility, the philosophy of Chanoyu, and to contribute to the building of a stronger community in New York City by integrating various genres, cultures, and ideologies around the tea ceremony. Chanoyu Week NYC is the largest chanoyu festival in the United States.

Kenjutsu × Chanoyu – The Resonance of Stillness and Movement Created by the Samurai

Friday, October 20 from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

LINES NY – 302 Bowery (between Bleecker and Houston Streets)

Admission: $18.07 (includes fees)

A demonstration and dialogue between a sword master and a tea master, the opening of Chanoyu Week NYC 2023 will immerse attendees in the samurai’s search for a world where movement and stillness coexist in harmony. To reflect the essence of movement, Masami Shioda, master of Shinkage-ryu, one of Japan’s most famous sword arts, will demonstrate special sword kata forms. These flawless, physical techniques, passed down for more than 500 years, are not usually displayed in public.

After the captivating performance, the audience will experience the serenity of chanoyu with Yoshitsugu Nagano, a master of the samurai tea style Ueda Soko Ryu. Preparing matcha using ritualistic gestures and meticulous attention to detail, he reveals the world of “stillness” hidden within the warrior.

Together they will discuss the theme of “form” and related abstract sensibilities of spirituality and aesthetics. They will consider the mechanisms of transmitting a tradition from one individual to another and from one generation to another. They will also address why the samurai’s approach to human development through kata is still so important in contemporary Japanese society.

To register, please visit Chanoyu Week NYC’s Eventbrite page.

Chanoyu Week NYC 2023 Opening Reception

Friday, October 20 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

LINES NY – 302 Bowery (between Bleecker and Houston Streets)

Admission: $23.41 (includes fees)

Chanoyu Week’s opening reception will feature demonstrations by Masami Shioda, master of Shinkageryu U.S. Marobashikai, Japan's most famous swordsmanship school, and tea master Yoshitsugu Nagano, followed by a discussion.

There will be a matcha stand, alcoholic beverages, and h’orderves. Bags containing commemorative goods will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.

To register, please visit Chanoyu Week NYC’s Eventbrite page.

Please note: The opening reception requires a separate registration from the 5:30 p.m. event, Kenjutsu and Chanoyu – The Resonance of Stillness and Movement Created by the Samurai.

Chashaku Carving Workshop: Make Your Own Tea Scoop

Tuesday, October 24 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

RESOBOX East Village – 91 E. 3rd Street (at 1st Avenue)

Admission: $100 (Includes chashaku materials, use of carving tools, and matcha served after the workshop)

The chashaku, or tea scoop, is also referred to as “the sword of the tea master.” Beginning with Sen-no-Rikyu and Furuta Oribe, many tea masters have carved their own chashaku to express their personal aesthetic sense. These chashaku are known through historical record, and some survive to this day.

Just as a Zen monk puts their whole spirit into their brush when creating their work of calligraphy, and just as a warrior puts all their power into a single cut of the sword, the chashaku is the ultimate utensil that embodies the tea master’s soul.

You don’t need to be a tea master to make your own chashaku. Chanoyu Week NYC 2023 presents this lecture, workshop, and matcha-making session to offer you first-hand experience. Once you finish carving and are ready to enjoy tea, the final touch is naming your chashaku with a simple word that symbolizes your thoughts in this special moment.

Because of the use of knives and sharp tools for carving, this workshop is not recommended for young children. The organizers are not responsible for any injuries sustained during this workshop. Participants should wear comfortable clothing that may get messy during the carving process.

To register, please visit RESOBOX’s website.

Samurai Tea Ceremony "The Ritual of Kuchikiri 2023"

Saturday, October 28 from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. or from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Globus Washitsu – 889 Broadway, PHC (at E. 19th Street)

Admission: $129.89 (includes fees)

Enjoy the most prestigious tea ceremony!

While each month has its special characteristics, November is regarded as most important month of the chanoyu calendar. The “New Year” of the Japanese way of matcha tea is celebrated with the Kuchikiri ritual.

In Japan, tea leaves are harvested every May, dried, packed into the chatsubo (tea jar), and stored in a cool, dark place to mature for six months. The umami of the tea leaves deepens, just like aging wine or whiskey. During Kuchikiri, the tea master cuts the seal of the chatsubo with a sword in front of the guests and removes the tea leaves. The leaves are ground into matcha and served as koicha (thick matcha/formal matcha), so everyone tastes the new tea of the year together.

Kuchikiri has been handed down since ancient times as a very important ritual, though nowadays it is rarely performed.

To register, please visit Yoshitsugu Nagano’s Eventbrite page.

Reunion Between the Tunes of the Guqin and the Ritual of Matcha

Sunday, November 12 from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. or from 3:00 p.m. until 3:45 p.m.

Fu Qiumeng Fine Art – 65 E. 80th Street, Ground Floor (between Park and Madison Avenues)

Admission: $34.12 (includes fees)

This event at Fu Qiumeng Fine Art offers a special opportunity to savor the sounds of ancient Guqin (Chinese lyre) music from the Northern Song Dynasty in China and witness a demonstration of the traditional matcha tea ceremony by tea master Yoshitsugu Nagano. The Guqin performance will be conducted by Liu Li, a renowned Guqin virtuoso and president of the New York Guqin Association.

The culture of matcha dates to the Northern Song Dynasty, approximately one thousand years ago. Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, known for his contributions to matcha culture, wrote the "Da Guan Tea Classic." He was also celebrated as a master of calligraphy, painting, and the Guqin. As you listen to the graceful melodies of the Guqin and savor the aroma of matcha, allow yourself to be transported back to the ancient Chinese capital a millennium ago.

To purchase tickets, please visit Chanoyu Week NYC’s Eventbrite page.

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Japan Society Spotlights Women Artists

Out of Bounds: Japanese Women Artists in Fluxus

Friday, October 13 through Sunday, January 21

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

Admission: $12 | $10 Seniors and Students | Free Japan Society Members

Japan Society’s latest exhibition, Out of Bounds: Japanese Women Artists in Fluxus, explores the essential role of Japanese women in Fluxus, a movement instigated in the 1960s that helped contemporary artists define new modes of artistic expression. Near the 60th anniversary of the movement’s founding, this exhibition highlights the contributions of four pioneering Japanese artists: Shigeko Kubota, Yoko Ono, Takako Saito, and Mieko Shiomi. Displays of their works and the ephemera surrounding it contextualize their place within Fluxus and the broader artistic movements of the 1960s and beyond.

Out of Bounds: Japanese Women Artists in Fluxus is organized by guest curator Midori Yoshimoto and Tiffany Lambert, Curator and Interim Director, Japan Society, with Ayaka Iida, Assistant Curator, Japan Society.

For full details and to book your tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website. 

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POKÉFEST NYC

POKÉFEST NYC: Pokémon Event in the Lower East Side @ Sour Mouse

Saturday, October 14 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (Early admission at 9:00 a.m.)

Sour Mouse – 110 Delancey Street (between Essex and Ludlow Streets)

Early Admission (9:00 a.m.): $12.71 (includes fees)
General Admission (10:00 a.m.): $7.37 (includes fees)

Japanese Pokémon vendor Tenshi & Zilla and Lower East Side pool hall Sour Mouse present POKÉFEST NYC! Get ready for the ultimate Pokémon event in the heart of the Lower East Side.

Pokéfest at Sour Mouse on Labor Day

This all-ages event will have a wide variety of vendors with goods ranging from cards, funko pops, plushies, and more. Food and drink will be available for purchase. In addition, voice actor Emily Cramer will join as a special guest.

To purchase tickets, please visit Sour Mouse’s Eventbrite page.

About Emily Cramer

Emily Cramer is a voice actor and singer whose work can be heard internationally in commercials, animated television shows, movies, video games, dark rides, and audio dramas. Her most notable titles are currently Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, The Winx Club, Bread Barbershop, Battle Game In 5 Seconds, EDF World Brothers, many Yu-Gi-Oh! video games, and Genshin Impact.

Before falling in love with voiceover, Cramer performed for many years in Broadway and national touring productions of Shrek the Musical, Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, and School of Rock. For more information about Cramer, please visit her website.

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AKIKO YANO AT JOE’S PUB

Akiko Yano Trio feat. Will Lee and Chris Parker

Sunday, October 22 at 6:00 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Joe’s Pub – 425 Lafayette Street (at Astor Place)

Admission: $35

A resident of New York City, Japan's beloved pianist/composer/singer-songwriter Akiko Yano will perform at Joe’s Pub for the first time in four years. Joining her onstage will be Will Lee (The Fab Faux, The Brecker Brothers, The World’s Most Dangerous Band) and Chris Parker (Stuff, The Brecker Brothers).

To purchase tickets, please visit Joe’s Pub’s website. There is a two-drink or one-food minimum per person.

Akiko Yano | ©Sony Music Artists

About Akiko Yano

Since her debut album, Japanese Girl (1976), which was recorded in LA with Little Feat, Akiko Yano has collaborated with numerous renowned musicians, including Yellow Magic Orchestra, Pat Metheny, Thomas Dolby, The Chieftains, Toninho Horta, Marc Ribot, and many more. She spent years recording and touring as a trio with Anthony Jackson on bass and Cliff Almond on drums. Her duets with the late electronica artist Rei Harakami and pianist Hiromi showcased her genre-free, creative, and pleasantly adventurous musical artistry. Yano’s latest duo project is with Tsugaru Shamisen virtuoso Hiromitsu Agatsuma.

She has released 27 original albums, three on Nonesuch Records: AKIKO YANO, LOVE LIFE, and PIANO NIGHTLY. T Bone Burnett produced her 27th original album, akiko, in 2008. In March of this year, Yano released I Want to See You So Badly, a collaboration with Soichi Noguchi, the sixth Japanese astronaut to journey into space.

Yano has also composed music for and lent her voice to several films created by Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli.

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KAMMERRAKU PROMISE

Arts at TCI and Kyo-Shin-An Arts Present Kammerraku Promise

Sunday, October 8 from 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Tenri Cultural Institute – 43A W. 13th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Admission: $25 in Advance ($30 at the Door)

Celebrate the 15th anniversary season of Kyo-Shin-Ann Arts!

Kyo-Shin-An Arts and the Cassatt String Quartet are together again, performing a special program of contemporary chamber music by three extraordinary Japanese composers, including a second commission to American Prize winner, Masatora Goya.

Program

• “Tree of Life” (2023) by Masatora Goya for shakuhachi and string quartet (World premiere)

• “Ai for Shakuhachi and Strings” (1978) by Minoru Miki

• “Between the Leaves” (2017) by Yoko Sato for shakuhachi, koto, and string quartet

Performers

• Yoko Reikano Kimura – Koto

• James Nyoraku Schlefer – Shakuhachi

• Cassatt String Quartet – Muneko Otani and Jennifer Leshnower, violins; Rosemary Nelis, viola; Gwen Krosnick, cello

To purchase tickets, please visit Kyo-Shin-An’s Eventbrite page.

About Kyo-Shin-An Arts

Kyo-Shin-An Arts brings Japanese instruments—specifically koto, shakuhachi, and shamisen—to Western classical music by working with established chamber ensembles, orchestras, and great individual performers to bridge two musical cultures. It introduces composers, performers, and audiences to the beauty and versatility of Japanese instruments and the virtuosity of the musicians who play them. Concerts feature a blend of KSA commissions; other World, US, and New York premieres; and traditional and contemporary music for Japanese instruments and Western repertoire.

About Cassatt String Quartet

Hailed for its “mighty rapport and relentless commitment,” the Cassatt String Quartet has performed to critical acclaim around the world since its founding in 1985, with appearances at Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Tanglewood Music Center, the Kennedy Center, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Centro National de las Artes, Maeda Hall, and Beijing’s Central Conservatory. The group’s discography includes more than forty recordings, spanning the Koch, Naxos, New World, Point, CRI, Tzadik, and Albany labels—including three discs that have been named by Alex Ross to his “10 Best Classical Recordings” feature in The New Yorker.

Arts at TCI and Kyo-Shin-An Arts Present

The excellent acoustics and intimate gallery setting of the Tenri Cultural Institute create a superb setting for listening to chamber music and offer audiences the rare opportunity to hear both traditional and contemporary music from two cultures in a setting similar to the music rooms of the courts and castles of both Europe and Japan. More than 300 years of chamber music tradition are presented throughout this series. Performances feature piano trios and string quartets from the great composers of Europe; music from Japan’s Edo period written for shamisen, koto, and shakuhachi; and contemporary music combining Western and Japanese instruments.

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NIJI-JAPANESE ARTIST POP UP SHOP TO HOLD MARKET AT RESOBOX

Autumn Japanese Maker’s Market

Sunday, October 22 from 12:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

RESOBOX – 91 3rd Street (at 1st Avenue)

Admission: Free

Discover Japanese-inspired accessories and art at niji-Japanese Artist Pop Up Shop’s craft show at RESOBOX in the East Village.

Accessories such as earrings, necklaces, and more Japanese-inspired products will be on sale, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet the artists in person, hear their stories, and learn about the intricate details behind each item. Discover truly unique and creative works for yourself, or find the perfect gift for your loved ones.

To learn more about the vendors and reserve your spot, please visit niji-Japanese Artist Pop Up Shop’s Eventbrite page.

Participating Vendors

• Chocolateclayyy – Polymer clay and resin jewelry and sculptures

• Kazaria3 – Handmade hats made of used Japanese kimono fabric

• Usagiduck – Stationery, apparel, and art prints of original character Usagiduck and their animal friends

• Pucci Ropa Jewelry – Handmade sterling silver/brass jewelry in organic and abstract shapes

• satokomatsu – “Word picture” jewelry

• Hooks and Luxe – Accessories made from eco-friendly materials

• Unipaca Studio – Handmade stationery items such as vinyl stickers, sticker sheets, and acrylic keychains

• Karepango – Whimsical art that celebrates the satirical side of everyday life

• TeaLoveCrochet – Knit and crocheted accessories inspired by food, Harajuku, and the artist’s Asian American culture

• Poiful Rugs – Handcrafted rugs inspired by Japanese culture and nature

• Fragrant Olive – Handmade soaps with Japanese koi fish and makeup bags using Japanese fabrics

• Riverside Wrapping Co. – Mizuhiki (Japanese paper cords) accessories

• Nappel – “Pop Up Sox” baby socks that are made of organic cotton and have 3D animal ears that “pop up”

Crafting Workshops

Before the event begins, there will be two crafting workshops from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Soap Making Workshop by Tamami

Cost: $30 (includes materials for two soaps)

Accomplished instructor Tamami, the founder of the esteemed handmade brand Fragrant Olive, will guide participants as they craft two unique handmade soaps: a rabbit soap with natural exfoliant and a teddy bear sandwich soap. To register, please visit niji-Japanese Artist Pop Up Shop’s website.

Let’s Make Teru Teru Bozu Ghost Amigurumi with Petrina/TeaLoveCrochet

Cost: $35 (includes yarn, crochet hook, and accessories)

“Amigurumi” is the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small stuffed animals or toys using yarn and a hook or needles, often resulting in cute and charming creatures. A “teru teru bozu” is a Japanese talisman made to stop the rain and bring good weather. Petrina of TeaLoveCrochet will teach participants simple crochet stitches and how to read a pattern to make a cute teru teru bozu ghost, perfect for this spooky season! To register, please visit niji-Japanese Artist Pop Up Shop’s website.

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!

EXPERIENTIAL PERFORMANCE FROM SALON SéANCE

The End of Time

Wednesday, October 4 and Thursday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Blue Gallery – 222 E. 46th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

Admission: $79 VIP  |  $49 General  |  $25 Students (use code STUDENT25 with valid .edu email)

What do you turn to in moments of darkness? For composer Olivier Messiaen, he turned to composing Quartet for The End of Time, which he wrote while in a German prison camp during World War II. Salon Séance invites you to a reflective experience, channeling stories of hope. Immerse yourself in the story through live music and your very own origami crane.

About the Production

Through Messiaen’s music, storytelling, and origami cranes, The End of Time channels the spirits of four prisoners who transformed the end into a new beginning. This production will deliver the prisoners’ messages and guide the audience to them through the music they created together.

Performers

• Nile Assata Harris – Actor

• Yoonah Kim – Clarinet

• Sahun Sam Hong – Piano

• Mari Lee – Violin

• Mihai Marica – Cello

• Created by Mari Lee

• Directed by Jay Stull

• Sound Design by John Gasper

• Lighting Design by Guillermo Laporta

• Research by Simon Angseop Lee

Schedule

• 7:00 p.m. Arrival and origami workshop

• 7:30 p.m. Performance

• 9:00 p.m. Reception

Please click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

VIP Experience

• Exclusive pre-performance talk and Q&A with historian Simon Angseop Lee for further insight into the musical work (Please arrive promptly for the best experience)

• Group origami workshop with Lee

• Complimentary pre-performance drink

• Premium seating

• Admission to post-performance reception

General and Student Admission

• Pre-performance group origami workshop with an instructor

• General admission seating

• Admission to post-performance reception

About Salon Séance

Salon Séance creates experiential concerts based on the idea that performing is an act of channeling. Born in Kyoto, CEO and Artistic Director Mari Lee cultivates a tight community of pre-professionals and professionals to create experiences inspired by Japanese traditional ceremonies and rituals. Through experiential performances combining classical music, live storytelling, and interactive ritual, Salon Séance invites each audience member into a sacred space of reflection and belonging. For more information, please visit their website.

HIROMI AT SONY HALL

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder

Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors at 5:30 p.m.) and 9:30 p.m. (Doors at 9:00 p.m.)

Sony Hall – 235 W. 46th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)

General Admission: $45 Advance | $50 Day of Show
VIP Reserved Seating: $65 | $70 Day of Show

Blue Note presents Japanese jazz composer and pianist Hiromi for her Sonicwonderland album release shows at Sony Hall. The new album, which will be released on October 6, features a new quartet, known as Hiromi’s Sonicwonder. Her twelfth album, Sonicwonderland is heavy on synthesizers, and the music video for the title track is inspired by ‘80s video games such as Super Mario Bros.

Tickets

To purchase tickets, please visit Sony Hall’s website. General Admission seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. VIP reservations include guaranteed seating in a designated section. This all-ages show will have a full dinner menu available.

Hiromi from Blue Note

About Hiromi

Ever since the 2003 release of her debut, Another Mind, Hiromi has electrified audiences with a creative energy that encompasses and eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical, and pop, taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication. On her album Silver Lining Suite, Hiromi exemplifies her virtuosic hybridity and emotional range, finding strength and hope amidst the turmoil of the pandemic.

Born in Hamamatsu, Japan in 1979, Hiromi’s first piano teacher, Noriko Hikida, exposed Hiromi to jazz and introduced her to the great pianists Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson. She enrolled in the Yamaha School of Music and started writing music.

Hiromi moved to the United States in 1999 and studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Among her mentors was jazz bassist/arranger Richard Evans, who took Hiromi’s demo to his friend, the legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal Evans and Jamal co-produced Another Mind. The album was a critical success in North America and Japan, where it shipped gold and received the Recording Industry Association of Japan’s Jazz Album of the Year Award. Hiromi’s astonishing debut was but a forecast of the shape of jazz to come.

In 2009, she recorded with pianist Chick Corea on Duet, a live recording of their concert in Tokyo. She also appeared on bassist Stanley Clarke’s Grammy-winning release, Jazz in the Garden. Hiromi performed at the opening ceremonies of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with famed kabuki star Ebizo Ichikawa.

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NIGHT MARKET & KARAOKE CONTEST AT JAPAN VILLAGE

Japan Village’s [Karaoke] Night Market

Friday, October 20 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue (Courtyard), Brooklyn

Admission: Free

Celebrate the fall season at Japan Village's [Karaoke] Night Market for a night of fun, food, and festivities.

Head to Japan Village in Industry City, Brooklyn! There will be a mouthwatering lineup of food, including yakitori, grilled squid, and yaki unagi onigiri. 🍢🦑🍙

Mutual Trading and Takara will offer an incredible selection of drinks, featuring Suntory Premium Malts and Orion beer, Takara Chu-Hais, and two sparkling sakes: Mio and Smooth Sail. 🍻🍶

For all you shoppers, there will also be vendors selling cards, trinkets, toys, and something special for everyone, young and old. 🛍️🎁 For the gamers, test your skills with games and win awesome prizes! 🎮🎉

Karaoke Contest

The main event will be the karaoke contest, starting at 5:00 p.m.

They have space for only 12 contestants, so register now. Each contestant will have 10 minutes to shine on stage and sing a song of their choice. Participation is free! 🎵

To register, send an email to info@japanvillage.com and submit the YouTube link of the song you want to sing. 🎥✨ Please note: Find a karaoke version or a lyric music video of your chosen song. The best singer of the night will receive a $100 Sunrise Mart gift card!🏆

The music doesn’t stop after karaoke. DJ Weapon from Hiroshima will drop the beats starting from 7:00 p.m.

Japan Village's [Karaoke] Night Market is made possible by Kuraichi in conjunction with Mutual Trading and Suntory Premium Malt’s.

For more information and to reserve your spot, please visit Japan Village’s Eventbrite page.

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!

TEA CEREMONY DEMOS AT THE MET

Tea Ceremony Demonstrations

Tuesday, September 26 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – 1000 Fifth Avenue

Free with Museum Admission

Instructors from the Urasenke Chanoyu Center will demonstrate a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. There will be two sessions, one at 11:30 a.m. and one at 1:30 p.m. Each session will last one hour.

The demonstrations will take place in Gallery 209, The Astor Forecourt. For more information, please visit The Met’s website.

Set of Utensils for the Tea Ceremony, Kubo Shunman 窪俊満 (Japanese, 1757–1820)

Image: Kubo Shunman (1757–1820), Set of Utensils for the Tea Ceremony, Japan, Edo period (1615–1868), 1810s. Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper. H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929 (JP1974)

“Surimono” is a style of woodblock print that were produced in small quantities and particularly for private commissions. In this elegant still-life surimono by writer and artist Kubo Shunman, New Year’s tea ceremony utensils are arrayed with a branch of camellia, a flower associated with the end of winter and beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar.

Translation of the Poem on the Woodblock Print

At a tea gathering
on the day spring arrives:

Sipping auspicious tea
made with New Year’s water,
the tea ceremony begins—
as spring arrives before
the official start of the year.

— Kokin no Nakanari

(translated by John T. Carpenter, Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese Art in the Department of Asian Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

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EXPLORE THE UNIVERSAL CONCEPTS OF CREATIONS & BEGINNINGS WITH “ONOKORO”

ONOKORO – creations/beginnings

Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Martha Graham Studio One – 55 Bethune Street (between Washington and West Streets), 11th Floor

Admission: $30 | $15 Seniors and Students

Tokyo to New York, in collaboration with Random Access Music, presents the upcoming production of ONOKORO – creations/beginnings. The show is a unique fusion of music and dance that explores the universal themes of creation and beginnings.

The one-hour, non-stop show will feature a captivating blend of contemporary compositions combining traditional Japanese instruments with Western classical instruments, performed by a stellar ensemble of musicians and dancers. The show will include modern dance, traditional Japanese Bugaku dance, a clarinet concerto with Gagaku ensemble, a hichiriki concerto with strings, and trios combining Western classical instruments with traditional Japanese instruments.

To purchase tickets, please visit Tonada Productions’s website.

Inspired by universal creation myths, ONOKORO – creations/beginnings immerses audiences in a flow of music, dance, and ritual that evokes timeless traditions through contemporary artistry. From “Ryoanji” (summoning the beginnings of sounds) to “Netori, Netori” (evoking the beginnings of organized sound and music), through to “Onokoro” (combining the Eastern and Western worlds of music and movement), modern dancer Miki Orihara, clarinetist and hichiriki player Thomas Piercy, Bugaku dancer Maki Yamamae, and their fellow performers will awaken the magic and majesty of the creations and beginnings that connect us all.

Under the artistic direction of Thomas Piercy and the choreography of Miki Orihara, ONOKORO – creations/beginnings features an exceptional lineup of composers, instrumentalists, and dancers. The program includes compositions by renowned composers John Cage, Gilbert Galindo, Masatora Goya, Bin Li, and Miho Sasaki. The performances will showcase the dance and choreography of Martha Graham protégé Orihara and Yamamae, as well as multi-instrumentalist Piercy on clarinet, hichiriki, and ohichiriki.  Joining Orihara, Yamamae and Piercy are dancer Ghislaine van den Heuvel, ryuteki player Lish Lindsey, hichiriki player Joseph Jordan, sho player Harrison Hsu, koto player Masayo Ishigure, violinists Sabina Torosjan and Lara Lewison, violist Laura Thompson, cellist Daniel Hass, bassist Pablo Aslan, and pianist Marina Iwao.

ONOKORO – creations/beginnings is not only a celebration of artistic collaboration which combines the traditional with the contemporary, but it also unites diverse musical genres and dance forms to create a truly immersive experience. This event seamlessly blends and celebrates a harmonious convergence of cultures and is a testament to the diversity of musical expressions and cultures, underscoring the richness of human creativity when artistic worlds collide. It is a celebration of our shared human experience through the lens of dance and music.

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DISCUSS IDENTITIES AT THE ASIAN AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE

IDENTITIES: Get Together

Thursday, September 14 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Asian American Arts Alliance – 29 W. 38th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), 9th Floor

Admission: Free

The Asian American Arts Alliance will host IDENTITIES: Get Together, a casual conversation about Hidemi Takagi's photography project with Klaudia Ofwona Draber, Executive Director at KODA, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to mid-career artists from diverse backgrounds, and project participants.

Enjoy snacks and drinks, watch a slideshow of artwork, and listen to a discussion about identity of mixed race/multiracial/multicultural people.

This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required to attend. To register, please visit The Asian American Arts Alliance’s Eventbrite page.

About the Project

IDENTITIES is a photography and interview project started during pandemic with Takagi’s family, a blend of Japanese and Haitian, and it portrays other biracial/multiracial subjects as well. Takagi, who seeks to envision deep roots and explore issues of mixed-race identities, has been working with biracial/multiracial teenagers for this project with their parents’ consent. She takes their portraits and interviews them, asking questions about their experiences, their dreams, how they feel about being mixed-race or multicultural. Takagi chose to work with this age group because teens today are more politically engaged than ever.

So far, she has worked with teens who have lived in New York; New Jersey; Miami, Florida; Saint Paul, Minnesota; Tokyo; and Yokohama. Takagi has been creating complex and whimsically self-consuming images of mixed-race life, its public and private faces, using her art as a tool to explore racial identity, race relations, public presentation of the self, and cultural norms.

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SHUNZO OHNO AT JOE’S PUB

Shunzo Ohno: Incite/Insight

Sunday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater – 425 Lafayette Street (at Astor Place)

Admission: $30 (exclusive of service fees)

Join Shunzo Ohno's Ensemble and the Lotus Chamber Music Collective for an energetic night of soulful music, delicious food, drinks, and great company. The invigorating set list will feature crowd-pleasing hits and new compositions. Enjoy a night of jazz in NYC with Grammy Award winner Shunzo Ohno together with your friends and family!

The Musicians

Shunzo Ohno – Trumpet
Clifford Carter – Piano and Keys
French Jacob – Guitar
Thierry Arpino – Drums
Leo Traversa – Bass
Emily Garrison – Violin
Katherine Kyu Hyeon Lim – Violin
Jay Julio – Viola
Sasha Ono – Cello

There is a two-drink or one-food minimum per person. To purchase tickets, please visit Joe’s Pub’s website.

ABOUT SHUNZO OHO

Shunzo Ohno's live performances are known for their uplifting, joyful energy. His euphoric mastery creates a captivating celebration of the power of music.

He has collaborated with legendary musicians such as Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Machito, and the master arranger/composer Gil Evans, as well as international musicians across South Africa, France, Italy, and Japan.

Throughout the pandemic, Ohno remained committed to his mission of sharing a global perspective. He will present his new works of riveting Jazz and Classical String Chamber instrumentation with his distinguished Metamorphosis Ensemble.

Ohno’s story has been the subject of biographies and documentaries. The documentary short Never Defeated: The Shunzo Ohno Story highlights his remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges of an auto accident, which permanently damaged his mouth, Ohno created a unique approach to his performances and trumpet skills. Diagnosed with life-threatening throat cancer, he fought relentlessly and emerged victorious. This became a turning point for Ohno, leading to the production of award-winning albums and garnering global recognition for his works.

His twelve annual visits to the communities affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in the northeast region of Japan continues in the Fall of 2023, creating transformative healing and bonds of friendship.

Commissioned by Ushio Publishers, Shunzo continues to inspire younger generations with his book and video, You Can Do It, available on YouTube.

Through his music, Shunzo Ohno's legacy extends far beyond the boundaries of the music scene. He serves as an inspiration to people around the world. Learn more at his website.

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TOKYO GEIDAI JAPAN ART WEEK

THE BRICKS NYC: 漸 – zén – TOKYO GEIDAI JAPAN ART WEEK

Friday, September 8 through Saturday, September 16

Opening Reception and Live Performance: Friday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Blue Gallery – 222 E. 46th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

In collaboration with the Tokyo University of the Arts (known as Tokyo GEIDAI), THE BRICKS NYC will be presenting TOKYO GEIDAI JAPAN ART WEEK at the Blue Gallery. The week-long exhibition is the third for THE BRICKS NYC. Each year, organizers choose one kanji that represents the concept of the event. This year, they have selected 漸 (zen), which means “evolutionary” or “progressive.”

Along with New York-based artists, professors and postgraduates will represent the Crafts, Japanese Art, and Design departments from the diverse fields of study at Tokyo GEIDAI. They will showcase their modern Japanese works, which enhance traditional Japanese art techniques. Workshops, Japanese tea ceremony experience events, concerts, and a panel discussion will also be held during the exhibition period.

Related Events

Duo YUMENO ©Robert Essel

Opening Night

Friday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m.

Admission: Free

To kick off the exhibition, participating artists will be on hand at the opening reception. Duo YUMENO will perform live at 7:00 p.m.

Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience

Saturday, September 9

1:00 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. (Limited to 15 guests per session)

Admission:＄30 per person for each session

Tokyo GEIDAI with Morin Soma and Kino Maho from the Urasenke New York School will serve matcha in an elegant, modern setting inspired by the traditional Chakai style. They will use the finest unique utensils from the Japanese traditional culture of matcha drinking. Tea will be served with a small seasonal wagashi (confectionery) from Japan.

To register, please visit THE BRICKS NYC’s Eventbrite page and select your desired session.

Harvest Moon Melodies Art Song Concert

Sunday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m.

Admission: $20 Adults | $50 Families (Two adults and children) | $20 Students

"Otsukimi" is a Japanese tradition in September to appreciate the full moon and to express gratitude for this year’s harvest and hope for the year to come. GEIDAI graduates Soprano Naoko Nakagawa and pianist Junko Ichikawa present art songs and piano music with the themes of the moon and autumn. The program includes Japanese traditional folk songs and art songs as well as selections from famous operas. All ages are welcome.

Designer Nana Yamasaki (YAMMA) will provide costumes, and jewelry artist Keiko Kubota-Miura will provide jewelry and accessories.

To purchase tickets, please visit THE BRICKS NYC’s Eventbrite page.

JAA Maui Relief Fund Panel Q&A

Monday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m.

JAA Hall – 49 W. 45th Street, 5th Floor (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Admission: $30 (Profits will be donated to the JAA Maui Relief Fund)

Special guest Yasunori Tanioka, a professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts, will lead a panel discussion based on the theme “Potential Roles of Japanese Art for Society.” Participating panelists include jewelry artist Keiko Kubota-Miura, Nihonga artist Takashi Harada, and composer Satoshi Kanazawa. The discussion will be in Japanese.

To register, please visit THE BRICKS NYC’s Eventbrite page.

Silver Leaf Workshop

Friday, September 15 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 16 from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Admission: $250 for both days | $150 for September 15 only

Norihiko Saito, a professor in the Tokyo University of the Arts Department of Japanese Painting, will lead a two-day workshop focusing on basic application and advanced techniques using silver leaf. The workshop covers how to apply super-thin Japanese silver leaf on a painting. Saito will lecture about the decorativeness and understanding of "Ma” (space) in Japanese paintings. Participants can attend Day 1 only but must attend both days to complete their own hands-on work. Attending Day 2 only is not offered. Limited to 12 participants.

To register, please visit THE BRICKS NYC’s Eventbrite page.

Closing Event: Live Jazz and Sake Tasting

Saturday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m.

Admission: $30

The Yoshiki Miura Jazz Quartet will perform with special guest Asako Tamura (soprano). A sake tasting will be led by SAKE GENERATION Inc.

To purchase tickets, please visit THE BRICKS NYC’s Eventbrite page.

New York-Based Artists

Ushio Shinohara
Mizue Sawano
Keiko Kubota-Miura
Atsushi Ohashi
Takashi Harada
Rica Takashima
Mayumi Ohashi

Professors and Postgraduates from the Tokyo University of the Arts

Department of Crafts
Hiroki Iwata
Tomomi Maruyama
Hikaru Kamata
Yasunori Tanioka
Norihiko Ogura
Ryo Mikami
Nobuyuki Fujiwara
Nanako Yamada
Miyuki Imai
Mariko Saji
Ayumi Kubo
Heesoo Kim
Kie Imai
Shinnosuke Kameoka
Minako Nakai
Itsuki Hayano
Luwei Shan
Hiromu Noda

Department of Japanese Painting
Norihiko Saito
Killi Okaji
Naho Uno
Tianyi Chin
Kohei Sakamoto
Daisuke Takamori
Akane Yamamoto
Kumpei Yoshikawa
Department of Design
Kazuyuki Hashimoto
Manami Washino
Midori Takai
Yamamoto Hikaru
Shuri Tsuruta

TOKYO GEIDAI JAPAN ART WEEK is hosted by the Tokyo University of the Arts and THE BRICKS NYC with support from Tokyo University of the Arts Alumni Association of New York; Yoshino Gypsum Co., Ltd; Blue Building; WAON NY; het Lab Music & Arts; and SAKE GENERATION, Inc.

About THE BRICKS NYC

THE BRICKS is a nexus for arts and music comprised of Tokyo University of the Arts (GEIDAI) alumni. The alumni have been individually active in and around New York but decided to come together to launch THE BRICKS in the Fall of 2021. GEIDAI is the only national university in Japan that offers solely fine arts and music education, allowing the group to focus on celebrating the interdisciplinary mesh of different art styles.

The name "BRICKS” was inspired by red buildings on the grounds of Tokyo University of the Arts in Ueno, Tokyo. Commonly known as "Aka-renga,” the buildings have stood since the early Meiji era.

Generations of talented artists entered the history-filled bricks of the Blue Building, reminding alumni of a time when their community was filled with diverse musicians and artists.

For more information, please visit the group’s website.

Gallery Hours

Daily from noon until 7:30 p.m.
Except Friday, September 8 (open at 6:00 p.m.) and Monday, September 11 (closes at 5:30 p.m.)

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!