Join Japan Society for a one-night-only screening of Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna featuring a special in-person introduction by Hiromi Seki, Toei Animation producer and the film’s supervisor.

The original Digimon Adventure TV series premiered in 1999 and introduced the world to a group of young, hopeful heroes who were brought together to save both the real and digital worlds. The series earned acclaim for its blending of deep narrative arcs and human drama against a backdrop of warring fantastical monsters. Twenty-five years later, the Digimon franchise is more popular than ever. Toei Animation and Japan Society are presenting this special anniversary event with original producer Hiromi Seki. Produced as a special 20th anniversary feature film, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna was originally slated for U.S. release in March 2020, but due to the pandemic, the movie never made it to North American theaters. Until now.

Ticket Giveaway!

Japan Society is generously giving away three pairs of tickets to the screening of Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna to JapanCulture•NYC followers! To enter for your chance to win, please follow @JapanCultureNYC on Instagram, like the post about the giveaway, and tag your +1! Three lucky winners will be drawn at random from the entries and notified on the morning of Tuesday, October 15. Good luck!

If you aren’t one of the lucky winners, you can still purchase tickets at Japan Society’s website. Tickets are limited, so don’t wait.

The Digimon 25th Anniversary Celebration

Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna Screening with honored guest Hiromi Seki
Special Giveaways:
Digimon Comic Volume #1 copy for all attendees
Digimon Card Game card for all attendees
Interactive Experiences:
Digimon Photo Op
Digimon Display from Bandai Tamashii Nations

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for the Digimon Photo Op, Digimon Display, and Giveaways. Screening begins at 7:00 p.m.

About Hiromi Seki

Known as the “Mother of Sunday Morning Anime,” Hiromi Seki has been associated with Digimon since its very beginning, when she served in the planning and production of the original Digimon Adventure series. Over the last 25 years, Seki has been involved in 13 different Digimon films and series, including supervision of the franchise’s most recent movie, Digimon Adventure 02 The Beginning. In addition to Digimon, as a Toei Animation producer, Seki was the series producer who created Magical DoReMi and has worked on such productions as Marmalade Boy, Boys over Flowers, and Zatch Bell.

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

Susan McCormac 10/3/24 Susan McCormac 10/3/24

JAPANESE MANGA ARTIST & ILLUSTRATOR ACKY BRIGHT FEATURED AT JAPAN SOCIETY

Acky Bright: Studio Infinity

Friday, October 4 through Sunday, January 19, 2025

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

Admission: $12 nonmembers | $10 students and seniors | Free First Fridays from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Japan Society presents Acky Bright: Studio Infinity, a showcase of the rising star’s unique kawakakkoii (cute and cool) style of illustration and product design. A distinguished Japanese manga artist and illustrator, Acky Bright is known for his unique worldbuilding.

Conceived as Acky Bright’s design studio, the exhibition offers visitors an exceptional opportunity to meet the artist, witness his freestyle “live drawing,” and participate in making a series of manga-style murals. Performative and interactive, the exhibition, which previewed during the weekend of Anime NYC in August, will evolve as Acky Bright makes intermittent appearances in the gallery.

The exhibition will feature two new painting series by Acky Bright, KBK-18, and Ah-Un, that each draw inspiration from traditional Japanese art and theater. Underscoring the impressive range of his contemporary art practice, the show will also highlight Acky Bright’s promotional campaigns designed for major companies, including his multimedia designs for the nationwide “WcDonald’s” campaign, YOASOBI x Vaundy’s FRIES BEAT 2024 music video, and Squid Game coloring book illustrated for Netflix.

Gallery Information

Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Closed on major holidays

Tickets include entry to both of Japan Society’s fall exhibitions, Acky Bright: Studio Infinity and Bunraku Backstage. To purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website.

Susan McCormac 10/3/24 Susan McCormac 10/3/24

ALL-DAY JAPANESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL

FUN FEST JAPAN

Sunday, October 6 from noon until 4:00 p.m.

Corlears Hook Park – 479 Cherry Street

Admission: Free

Presented by The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York (JFDINY), FUN FEST JAPAN celebrates Japan and New York with an all-day Japanese cultural festival, featuring traditional performing arts and cultural activities for the entire family. Head to Corlears Hook Park in the Lower East Side to enjoy performances by JFDINY’s own Minbuza (Japanese Folk Dance), Samurai Sword Soul (Traditional Sword Fighting), and Taiko Masala (Taiko Drumming). In the activities area, experienced teachers will lead children in a variety of engaging Japanese arts and crafts such as origami, calligraphy, kendama, and kimono dressing. The finale of the day will be the Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese summer event where everyone joins in and dances together!

For more information about FUN FEST JAPAN and The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York, please visit their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

FUN FEST JAPAN is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Private support is provided by City Parks Foundation and Partnerships for Parks through the NYC Green Fund.

Susan McCormac 10/3/24 Susan McCormac 10/3/24

CELEBRATE SAKE DAY AT KATO SAKE WORKS

World Sake Day Party

Saturday, October 5 from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Kato Sake Works – 379 Troutman Street, Brooklyn

Kato Sake Works, Brooklyn’s second sake brewery, is celebrating World Sake Day with an exclusive tasting, snacks, live music, and a limited-edition World Sake Day Junmai.

Schedule of Festivities

1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Enjoy a free sake tasting on the taproom floor

2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Build-A Bottle: Design your own custom Kato Sake Works label and take home an exclusive bottle of Jikagumi filled straight from the tank

2:00 p.m.
Food Pop-Up w/ Kemushi featuring onigiri all afternoon while supplies last

6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Live music with Uncle Brother

For more information, please visit KSW’s website.

Susan McCormac 10/3/24 Susan McCormac 10/3/24

OMNY TAIKO TO CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY

RISE: OMNY Taiko 10th Annual Concert

Saturday, October 5 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Music School – 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn

Admission: $25 | $20 seniors and students

Be a part of OMNY Taiko’s RISE to new heights as they reach more communities and contribute to the cultural diversity of New York City.

Their annual concert this Saturday, October 5 promises to be an unforgettable evening of drumming that blends traditional Japanese rhythms with their New York roots. This in-person event will start at 5:30 p.m.; doors open at 5:00 p.m. To purchase tickets, please visit OMNY Taiko’s Eventbrite page. Tickets may be available at the door, depending on availability.

About OMNY Taiko

OMNY Taiko is a vibrant, tight-knit community drumming group striving to share the art of taiko drumming with people and communities across the New York City area through inclusive, accessible performances, classes, and workshops.

As a form of rhythmic and artistic expression, taiko allows individuals to convey emotion and energy and to connect with others through music. OMNY Taiko emphasizes the communal aspect of ensemble drumming:

bringing people together to create music as a group
fostering a sense of community and belonging
providing opportunities for collaboration and teamwork

One of OMNY Taiko’s primary goals is to become emblematic of the energy of New York City, reflecting the story of a seed born on the concrete streets and blossoming into a vibrant community with the strength and tenacity of a city that never sleeps.

For more information about the organization, please visit their website.

Susan McCormac 10/3/24 Susan McCormac 10/3/24

SAKE DAY CELEBRATION CONTINUES

World Sake Day 2024

Friday, October 4 from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

The W Loft Rooftop – 240 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn

Admission: $65 to $80

Sake Lovers, Rejoice!

Get ready to raise your glasses and celebrate the rich traditions of Japanese sake! Upstairs NYC is teaming up with MIKA and Niji as World Sake Day by MIKA returns for its third year, offering an unforgettable sake-tasting experience. Taking place at the W Loft, this event will feature more than 50 premium sake selections from 25+ renowned brands. Immerse yourself in the intricate flavors of Japan’s finest craft sake and discover why this iconic beverage is beloved worldwide.

In addition to the tasting, enjoy a vibrant pop-up market showcasing the unique creations of talented Asian artists. This is more than just a tasting—it’s a sensory journey into the world of sake and Asian craftsmanship.

What Your Admission Includes

Tasting of 15 kinds of sake and sake cocktails
Original sake glass
Free sake and food sampling while supplies last
Explore Asian shop and food marketplace

Event Highlights

Ultimate sake selections: more than 70 premium sakes by 35 breweries, including many award-winners
Matcha sake cocktails by WESAKE X SENBIRD
Special sake cocktails designed by L'Americana and Midnight Blue owner and bartender Takuma Watanabe (from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.)
Offerings from Kochi and Ishikawa Prefectures
Mouthwatering sushi and Japanese cuisine delights
Asian Artisan Marketplace
Complimentary portrait drawing by UTGP2020 + MoMA contest award-winning artist Hiroshi Masuda
A premier rooftop space with elegant waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline
A dedicated photo booth where you and your crew can snap unforgettable memories

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Upstairs NYC’s website.

Susan McCormac 10/1/24 Susan McCormac 10/1/24

SAKE WEEK 2024 AT BROOKLYN KURA

Happy Nihonshu no Hi! The first day of October is celebrated as Nihonshu no Hi, or World Sake Day, officially designated by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association in 1978. Why October 1? October marks the beginning of the sake brewing season in Japan, perfectly sandwiched between the rice harvest in September and the beginning of winter, which is the ideal time for fermentation, the essential process in brewing the beverage.

To celebrate, Brooklyn Kura, New York’s first sake brewery, is hosting events not just today but the entire week! Visit the taproom at 34 34th Street near the Japan Village complex in Industry City, Brooklyn, to enjoy tastings and educational sessions.

Sake Week 2024 at Brooklyn Kura

Sake Revolution Podcast LIVE!

Today, October 1

6:00 p.m. – Taproom opens
7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. – LIVE Sake Revolution recording
9:00 p.m. – Taproom closes

Admission: $15 (includes admission for one, plus two tasting pours of sake)
Snacks and additional sake will be available for purchase.

John Puma (left) and Timothy Sullivan, hosts of the Sake Revolution podcast

Sake Revolution, America's first sake podcast will do a studio audience recording to mark the occasion of Sake Day. Your hosts, John Puma and Timothy Sullivan, invite you to join in the studio audience to laugh and sip along with them and experience Sake Revolution LIVE! On this very special Sake Day episode, they’ll be interviewing the master sake brewers of New York City: Brandon Doughan of Brooklyn Kura and Shinobu Kato of Kato Sake Works. They’ll explore their trailblazing journeys to producing premium sake in NYC. Both Doughan and Kato will each bring a sake for the audience to taste as they are recording, which is included in the ticket price.

In addition, audience members will be able to submit written questions to the tojis. This will be an engaging, interactive, and delicious podcast experience! The Brooklyn Kura taproom will be open before and after the recording to hang out, enjoy, and purchase additional sake and snacks to make your Sake Day complete!

Chizuko Niikawa Helton (center) of Sake Discoveries

Sake Caliente Warm Sake Night

Wednesday, October 2 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Admission: $70.77

Join this special evening of exploring all aspects of warm sake with Sake Samurai Chizuko Niikawa Helton! Niikawa Helton is a leading expert in preparing "okan" (warm sake), and you'll be amazed with the flavors, textures, and aromas that premium warm sake can produce.

All together you'll taste five premium expressions of warm sake, prepared with a delicious twist by Niikawa Helton. Each sake tasting is paired with a delicious small bite prepared by the Brooklyn Kura chefs as they launch our new fall menu. Go at your own pace and enjoy each course to the fullest.

The event starts at 6:00 p.m., but guests can arrive at any time before 8:00 p.m.

Exclusive Event for Kura Kin Members

Thursday, October 3

Brooklyn Kura will have a special evening of brewery tours and tastings offered for free, exclusively to their active Kura Kin members! Kura Kin is Brooklyn Kura’s subscription program for limited-release bottles.

At the special brewery tour, Kura Kin members can sip and taste steamed sake rice, Koji rice, Moromi fermentation mash, and even sake kasu along the way as the brewers dive deep into their brewing process. Members will also learn about “shizuku drip,” a special way to drip-press super premium sake.

Current Kura Kin Sake subscription members received invitations. Not a Kura Kin member? Join here!

The Birth of Sake Documentary Screening

Friday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m.

Admission: $16.33

Join Brooklyn Kura's first movie night as they screen the acclaimed 2015 sake documentary The Birth of Sake, directed by Erik Shirai and staring the staff and family of the Yoshida family, makers of Tedorigawa sake.

Your ticket includes entrance to the screening and a glass of Tedorigawa sake that is featured in the film! Special gourmet popcorn and additional sake will be available for purchase from the bar throughout the film.

Winner of Best Documentary Director Special Jury Mention at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival and Best Documentary Film at the 2016 Palm Springs International Film Festival, The Birth of Sake is a cinematic documentary that reveals the story of passionate sake-makers and what it takes to make world-class sake at Yoshida Brewery, a 144-year-old family-owned small brewery in Ishikawa Prefecture. In a world where most mass-produced goods are heavily automated, a small group of artisans must brave unusual working conditions to preserve a 2000-year-old tradition. The workers at Yoshida Brewery are an eclectic cast of characters, ranging from 20 to 70 years old. As a vital part of this cast that must live and work for a six-month period through the brutal winter, charismatic veteran brewmaster Yamamoto (65) and the brewery’s sixth-generation heir, Yasuyuki Yoshida (27), are keepers of this tradition and are the main characters who bring the narrative forward. Currently, stiff competition and the eventual retirement of experienced workers intensify the pressure of preserving quality of taste, tradition, and brand reputation for Yoshida Brewery. As craftsmen who must dedicate their whole lives to the making of this world-class sake, their private sacrifices are often sizable and unseen.

To purchase tickets to any of the above Sake Week events, please visit Brooklyn Kura’s website.

American Sake Association’s Sake Day USA Sake Tasting Event

Saturday, October 5 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Admission: $75

The American Sake Association, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is hosting a sake tasting event at Brooklyn Kura to support their ongoing sake education efforts throughout the U.S.

Premium Sake Tasting
Taste sake from dozens of breweries from all over Japan. The sake will be flowing, and featured brands and varieties being poured will change every hour. Confirmed importers and brands include Mutual Trading, Niigata Sake Selections, Joto Sake, Hakkaisan, Kubota, HEAVENSAKE, Kato Sake Works, Brooklyn Kura, World Sake Imports, Kome Collective and MORE!

Culinary Delights
The tasting will also feature a great selection of food to pair with the sake along with the ever popular onigiri bar from SEN restaurant.

To purchase tickets for Saturday’s event, please visit the American Sake Association’s website.

Susan McCormac 9/23/24 Susan McCormac 9/23/24

BOOK TALK AT DONALD KEENE CENTER

Navigating Narratives: Tsurayuki's Tosa Diary as History and Fiction

Friday, September 27 at 6:00 p.m.

Columbia University – Kent Hall, Room 403

Admission: Free

The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University kicks off the 2024–2025 academic year with a book talk by Gustav Heldt, professor of Japanese literature at the University of Virginia.

This talk will outline several unique insights into Heian Japan provided by Ki no Tsurayuki's Tosa nikki (Tosa Diary), which is ostensibly the record of an ex-governor's voyage back to the capital kept by an anonymous woman in his entourage. The resulting split between fictional female narrator and historical male author has usually led Tosa nikki to be viewed as either the first Heian woman's memoir or the last aesthetic manifesto of one of the Japanese poetic tradition's foremost figures. In lieu of these narratives, it will be argued that the diary merits attention for the discursive practices, representational conventions, and non-elite social contexts it illuminates.

Preregistration is required by noon on Thursday, September 26. Click here for the Google Form.

About Gustav Heldt

Gustav Heldt specializes in the language, literature, and cultural history of Japan prior to contact with the West, with related interests in gender, poetics, narratology, ritual practices, comparative historiography, and myth. At the University of Virginia, he regularly teaches courses such as Survey of Japanese Literature and Introduction to Literary Japanese, as well as seminars on more specialized topics such as Japanese myth, the Tale of Genji, Japanese court women's literature, and medieval warrior tales.

Susan McCormac 9/20/24 Susan McCormac 9/20/24

JAA & JACL-NY TO SCREEN “BASEBALL BEHIND BARBED WIRE”

Baseball Behind Barbed Wire

Sunday, September 22 from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

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

The Japanese American Association of New York (JAA) and the Japanese American Citizens League – New York (JACL-NY) present a screening of Baseball Behind Barbed Wire, a short film by Yuriko Gamo Romer. The documentary tells the story of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans through the uncommon lens of baseball, America’s national pastime. Following the screening, author and historian Robert K. Fitts and yours truly, Susan Miyagi McCormac of JapanCulture•NYC, will lead a discussion about the film and the importance of baseball throughout Japanese American history and within the JA community. There will also be a book signing by Fitts.

Registration is required. To RSVP, please click here and fill out this Google doc.

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. https://www.robfitts.com/

About Susan Miyagi McCormac

Susan Miyagi McCormac is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of JapanCulture•NYC, an English-language website that introduces Japanese culture to New Yorkers and connects members of the Japanese and Japanese American community while promoting Japanese-related events. A 1990 graduate of North Carolina with a degree in communications, she has also had a long career in sports television, which has taken her to Tokyo to work Yankees games as well as the World Baseball Classic. Her career in baseball merged with her community involvement when the Japanese Consulate tapped her to moderate a panel discussion celebrating the 150th anniversary of baseball’s introduction to Japan, which featured Yomiuri Giants and New York Yankees legend Hideki Matsui. Susan is a Vice President of The Japanese American Association of New York, serves on the Board of Directors of the JET Alumni Association of New York, and is the co-chair of the Communications Committee of the U.S.-Japan Council’s New York Region. https://www.japanculture-nyc.com/

About Yuriko Gamo Romer

Yuriko Gamo Romer is an award-winning director based in San Francisco. She holds a master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from Stanford University and is a Student Academy Award winner, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Scholar, and American Association of Japanese University Women Scholar. Her current documentary project, DIAMOND DIPLOMACY, explores the relationship between the United States and Japan through a shared love of baseball.

She directed and produced MRS JUDO: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be BeautifulI, the only biographical documentary about Keiko Fukuda (1913-2013), the first woman to attain the 10th degree black belt in judo. MRS JUDO has traveled to more than 25 film festivals internationally and was awarded the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at the 2013 International Festival of Sport Films in Moscow and broadcast on PBS nationally as part of CAAM’s Japanese American Lives in 2014. Additionally, her film Occidental Encounters won numerous awards, among them a Student Academy Award Gold Medal, Heartland FF’s Jimmy Stewart Memorial Crystal Heart Award, and National Media Network’s Silver Apple. Romer’s short films include Reflection; Kids will be Kids; Sunnyside of the Slope; Fusion; and Friend Ships, a short historical animation about John Manjiro, the inadvertent Japanese immigrant rescued by an American whaling captain. https://www.flyingcarp.net/

Baseball Behind Barbed Wire is available through GOOD DOCS.

Susan McCormac 9/20/24 Susan McCormac 9/20/24

SACHIYO ITO & COMPANY OFFERING FREE LESSON IN JAPANESE DANCE

Free Trial Japanese Dance Lesson with Sachiyo Ito and Company

Saturday, September 28 from Noon until 1:00 p.m.

Sachiyo Ito and Company Studio – 405 W. 23rd Street at 9th Avenue

Admission: Free

Sachiyo Ito and Company at the 2024 Japan Parade. Photo by Jon Jung.

Japanese traditional dancer, instructor, and choreographer Sachiyo Ito is opening her Chelsea studio for a free trial lesson on Saturday, September 28!

What You’ll Learn

Basic movements and gestures of Japanese dance
How to use the dance fan (fan will be provided)
Kabuki dance repertory

What To Bring

Cotton socks
Yukata and obi (if you have them)

To register, please send an email to sachiyoitoandcompany@gmail.com. The deadline to register is Thursday, September 26.

Come dressed in your yukata or allow yourself enough time to get dressed at the studio before the lesson is scheduled to begin. If you need a yukata and/or an obi, please inform Sachiyo Ito and Company when you register.

To those experienced in stage performances, you will have an opportunity to join Sachiyo Ito and Company for 2025 spring performances such as cherry blossom festivals. Learn more about Sachiyo Ito and Company at dancejapan.com.

Enjoy the beauty and grace of Japanese dance!

Sachiyo Ito is blogging her memoir on JapanCulture•NYC! Please click here to read each chapter.

Susan McCormac 9/13/24 Susan McCormac 9/13/24

JAPANESE JAZZ TRUMPETER TO PERFORM AT JOE’S PUB

Shunzo Ohno: EVOLUTION

Friday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

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

Admission: $36

Celebrating 50 years in New York and his groundbreaking First Prize International Songwriting Competition Award for the iconic composition "Musashi," Shunzo Ohno brings Metamorphosis, the energetic ensemble and always riveting performance to Joe's Pub.

Making history as the first jazz composer to win this prestigious award and the first Japanese-born musician to achieve such recognition, Ohno’s celebration at Joe's Pub will be a multicultural experience, with his unique jazz and classical instrumentation. Hailing from Japan, Ohno made his mark in NYC over the last 50 years, touring with legendary masters Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Gil Evans, and more. His life story of overcoming challenges and his thrilling live performances have attracted fans of all ages.

Don't miss Grammy Award-winning artist Shunzo Ohno's fearless performance, inspiring compositions, and the Lotus Chamber Music Collective, part of his dynamic Metamorphosis Ensemble, as they return to Joe's Pub with a sonic experience evoking hope and resilience. There is a two-drink or one-food minimum per person. To purchase tickets, please visit Joe’s Pub’s website.

Featuring

Shunzo Ohno — Trumpet
Jerome Jennings — Drums
Quintin Zoto — Guitar
Noah Rott — Piano / Keys
Jeremiah Edwards — Bass
Sasha Ono — Cello
Emily Garrison — Violin
Katherine Kyu Hyeon Lim — Violin
Molly Goldman — Viola

With cinematic rhythms and inspiring melodies, Ohno captivates audiences worldwide. In his pursuit of global harmony through music, Ohno declares, "We are all Dreamers, and together, we triumph."

Susan McCormac 9/8/24 Susan McCormac 9/8/24

OKINAWA GOVERNOR DENNY TAMAKI TO SPEAK AT COLUMBIA

Interactive Talk with Governor Denny Tamaki of Okinawa

Thursday, September 12 from 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Faculty House, Columbia University – 64 Morningside Drive, Garden Room 2

Admission: Free

Engaging with contemporary Okinawa requires an understanding of fundamental themes such as human rights, democracy, diplomacy, and peace—issues that hold significance worldwide.

Governor Denny Tamaki of Okinawa will speak on regional security in East Asia amid a shifting international landscape. He will address critical issues such as rising tensions over the Taiwan Strait, Japan's pursuit of enhanced defense capabilities through its alliance with the United States, and ongoing debates over Japan's pacifist constitution. Governor Tamaki will share his perspective on what security means for the people of Okinawa, a region hosting the majority of the U.S. military presence in Japan, and he will discuss his efforts in sub-national diplomacy. He will also outline the role Okinawa is prepared to play in promoting peace and stability regionally and globally. Kenneth McElwain, Visiting Professor of Political Science, will moderate the discussion.

Registration is required, so to attend, please visit the Weatherhead East Asian Institute’s website.

This event is hosted by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and by the Okinawa Prefectural Government Washington D.C. Office and co-sponsored by the Columbia-Harvard China and the World program.

Susan McCormac 9/7/24 Susan McCormac 9/7/24

BBG TO HOST GARDENS FOR PEACE

Gardens for Peace

Sunday, September 8 from noon until 1:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden – 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn

Admission: $22 Adults | $16 Seniors & Students | Free to members & children under 12

As part of the North American Japanese Garden Association’s annual Gardens for Peace project, which brings communities together in Japanese gardens to promote peace, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is presenting free public programming in and around its iconic Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden.

Stop by for free tours of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and a drop-in Japanese woodblock printing workshop with Sato Yamamoto.

The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo by Michael Stewart.

Japanese Garden Mini Tours

Tours run every five minutes between noon and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 8.

Meet at Duck Landing, next to Viewing Pavilion.

Enjoy a peaceful stroll through one of BBG’s best-known specialty gardens. These 20-minute tours highlight the Japanese garden elements in this historic garden designed by Takeo Shiota in 1914.

Drop-in Japanese Woodblock Printing

Stop by from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Japanese Garden Viewing Pavilion

Try your hand at woodblock printing with Sato Yamamoto, a Japanese artist inspired by culture and diversity. Choose the Gardens for Peace pattern or other patterns by Sato and create your own print.

Gardens for Peace is free with admission to Brooklyn Botanic Garden. No registration is necessary to join the tour. To purchase tickets, please visit BBG’s website. Tours can be canceled due to inclement weather, so check BBG’s website for updates.

Susan McCormac 9/7/24 Susan McCormac 9/7/24

ENCORE SCREENINGS OF “PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE”

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story

Saturday September 7 at 1:00 p.m. with Jennifer Takaki, George Hirose, and Cindy Hsu
Sunday September 8 at 2:00 p.m. with Jennifer Takaki, George Hirose, and Linda Lew Woo
Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime

DCTV Firehouse Cinema – 87 Lafayette Street

Admission: $16 | $8 Members and Group Sales (10 or more)

In celebration of what would have been Chinese American photographer Corky Lee’s 77th birthday on September 5, DCTV is hosting encore screenings this weekend. The screening on Saturday, September 7 will have a special Q&A moderated by CBS News Anchor/Reporter Cindy Hsu with panelists Director Jennifer Takaki and Executive Producer George Hirose.

Click here to read JapanCulture•NYC’s interview with filmmaker Takaki.

For fifty years, Chinese American photographer Corky Lee documented the celebrations, struggles, and daily lives of Asian American Pacific Islanders with epic focus. Determined to push mainstream media to include AAPI culture in the visual record of American history, Lee produced an astonishing archive of nearly a million compelling photographs. His work takes on new urgency with the alarming rise in anti-Asian attacks during the COVID pandemic. Jennifer Takaki’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens.

To purchase tickets, please visit DCTV’s website. Fees apply.

Susan McCormac 8/29/24 Susan McCormac 8/29/24

TOMODACHI NIGHT AT CITI FIELD

Tomodachi Night – Boston Red Sox vs New York Mets

Tuesday, September 3
Pregame Events: 6:40 p.m. — Game: 7:10 p.m.

Citi Field — Flushing, Queens

Admission: $28 to $91.25

Enjoy a special Tomodachi Night as the New York Mets host Masataka Yoshida and the Boston Red Sox in an Interleague matchup. Extend your Labor Day Weekend with baseball!

Special pregame events include

Ceremonial First Pitch by Koji Sato, President of JAANY
Amazin’ Awards to be presented to leaders of Japanese American community organizations
Unforgettable opportunity for 500 members of our community to stand on the warning track at Citi Field to watch the national anthem.* Be sure to wear red and white!

Please purchase tickets through this link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/tomodachi

A portion of ticket sales will be donated to The Japanese American Association of New York, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Nippon Club, Japan Society, U.S.-Japan Council, and the Japanese American National Museum.

*Please note that you MUST purchase tickets using the special online link that the Mets have created specifically for this game in order to be invited onto the field for the pregame festivities. Approximately one week before the game, you will receive an email with instructions about where and at what time to assemble. This privilege is first come, first served and limited to 500 fans, so please arrive early!

Warning Track Salute Timeline*

Meet up time: 6:00 p.m.
Meet up location: Left Field Ramp (right inside Left Field Gate)
Begin lining up at the ramp: 6:15 p.m.
Line closed: around 6:30 p.m. depending on the size
Arrive at the Warning Track: between approximately 6:45 to 7:00 p.m.
Exit by the staircase to Section 135 after the anthem

*weather permitting

Amazin’ Awards

JAA — Julie Azuma
JCCI — Maasaki Maeda
USJC — Susan McCormac (I’m honored to represent the New York region of the U.S.-Japan Council!)
JANM — Kathryn Bannai

Susan McCormac 8/14/24 Susan McCormac 8/14/24

10th Anniversary of Music from FINAL FANTASY at Town Hall

A New World: Intimate Music from Final Fantasy

Saturday, August 24 at 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)

The Town Hall – 123 W. 43rd Street

Admission: $57-$90

A New World: Intimate Music from FINAL FANTASY celebrates its 10th anniversary in NYC! Join legendary composer Masashi Hamauzu, music director Eric Roth, and members of the Harlem Chamber Players for a program of exclusive and official arrangements, premieres, and favorites from throughout the FINAL FANTASY series! The video game concert anthology is marking ten years of spectacular concerts, recordings, and fellowship since its 2014 premiere and launching the next ten years of incredible live music experience.

Beloved musical selections from composers Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yoko Shimomura, and Masayoshi Soken are performed in a transparent and engaging format, achieving an astounding variety of musical textures and moods. The experience is fresh every time, drawing audiences deeper into the musical worlds of FINAL FANTASY.

To purchase tickets, please visit the Town Hall’s website. The Town Hall is generously providing a 15% discount off tickets to members of New York’s Japanese and Japanese American community, including followers of JapanCulture•NYC. To take advantage of this offer, click the “Unlock” button on the right side of the screen when selecting seats and enter code ANWFF.

Susan McCormac 8/14/24 Susan McCormac 8/14/24

Akira Tana TO PERFORM AT DIZZY’S CLUB

Akira Tana’s Osaka Quartet with Atsuko Hashimoto

Thursday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Friday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 17 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Dizzy’s Club at Frederick P. Rose Hall – Broadway at 60th Street

Admission: $25-$50

Jazz at Lincoln Center Japanese jazz drummer Akira Tana for six performances.

One of the most versatile drummers on the scene, West Coast legend Akira Tana has performed with Sonny Rollins, Hubert Laws, Lena Horne, Rufus Reid, The Manhattan Transfer, and countless other iconic artists and acts. His of-the-moment ability to summon what the music requires in any context drives his evolving expression.

For this performance, Tana brings his Osaka Quartet featuring Hammond B3 master Atsuko Hashimoto from Osaka, Japan. The quartet’s performance will include music from the classic jazz organ repertoire, originals, and adaptations of material from the Great American Songbook and Japanese pop and folk traditions.

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Akira Tana — drums
Atsuko Hashimoto — Hammond B3
Hideki Kawamura — tenor saxophone
Yutaka Hashimoto — guitar

To purchase tickets, please visit Jazz at Lincoln Center’s website. Dizzy's Club requires a minimum food and/or beverage purchase of $21 per person. Can’t make it to the venue? Watch both sets on August 15 live at JazzLive.com.

Susan McCormac 8/14/24 Susan McCormac 8/14/24

JETAANY TO HOLD “FOLDRAISER” FOR SEATTLE’S PEACE PARK

JETAANY Craft Night: Origami Crane “Foldraiser”

Thursday, August 15 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Bryant Park

Admission: Free

You may know Sadako Sasaki as the young victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima whose story was immortalized in the children's novel Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Recently, a statue of Sadako was stolen from Seattle's Peace Park. Several groups have launched a campaign to raise funds to replace the statue and are also encouraging others to host "foldraisers" to supply strings of paper cranes to decorate the park until a new statue can be installed.

Fold these beautiful symbols of peace with the JET Alumni Association of New York and reflect on Sadako's moving story.

This event is FREE, and registration is not required. Origami paper will be supplied, but you are welcome to bring your own (approximately 6x6 in).

Follow JETAANY’s Facebook event page for exact location and updates.

To learn more about Sadako’s story, purchase Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes from Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore.

Disclosure: The author serves on the board of the Japanese American Association of New York.

Susan McCormac 5/13/24 Susan McCormac 5/13/24

Filmmaker Discusses the “Corky Factor” Behind “Photographic Justice”

The late photojournalist Corky Lee. Photo Credit: Jennifer Takaki, All Is Well Pictures.

Lee Young Kwok, better known by his childhood nickname, Corky, was a self-taught photojournalist who documented the everyday lives and struggles of members of the Asian American community in New York and beyond. Lee roamed the streets of Chinatown and practically every neighborhood in Manhattan, photographing everything from celebrations and festivals to protests and rallies in equal measure. Those who saw Lee’s work received a lesson in culture, history, and politics. There was Lunar New Year in Chinatown, a Yuri Kochiyama speech at a Japanese American Day of Remembrance program, a protest against police brutality that actually resulted in police brutality.

His photographs graced the pages of various publications, including The Village Voice, Downtown Express, The New York Post, and The New York Times. He had gallery exhibitions at institutions from New York to LA and places in between. Lee did this at a relentless pace for fifty years, until his death from COVID-19 in January 2021.

For almost twenty of those years, filmmaker Jennifer Takaki followed Lee with a camera of her own, documenting the documentarian. The result is the 2022 film Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story, which made the film festival circuit for more than a year and recently had a successful theatrical run at the DCTV Firehouse Cinema in New York as well as at theaters in LA. An edited version of the film premieres on PBS on Monday, May 13, presented by the Center for Asian American Media as part of the network’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Takaki named her documentary after a phrase that Lee often used to describe his work. He would say, “I’m practicing photographic justice,” or declare that taking a certain picture was “an act of photographic justice.”

“It's the whole reason that Corky started his trajectory of his documentation of the AAPI community,” Takaki explains.

Takaki says that Lee coined the phrase in 2002, when he was interviewed by The New York Times after he recreated the historic 1869 Transcontinental Railroad photograph taken to commemorate the railroad’s completion in Utah. The original photographer excluded the Chinese laborers who helped build the railroad. In Lee’s recreation, he photographed the descendants of those Chinese men.

“I knew that that was a very pivotal moment. I knew it was a very pivotal photograph that, at that time, would have been the defining photograph,” Takaki says. “For me, [the phrase “photographic justice”] is a really important message because it's everything [about] why Corky does what he does. Which is why I started filming him anyway—to figure out why Corky does what he does.”

A chance encounter with Lee at an event led to Takaki’s curiosity about why the photographer spent all his free time photographing the community.

“He just showed me where the bathroom was and talked about the history of the building. I was like, ‘Who are you?’ And then he started to talk about everything he did,” Takaki says. “I started to follow him. I was going to do five-minute vignettes on people who had a singular focus. That's kind of what started me on my trajectory.”

With a background in television production, Takaki is no stranger to the camera and storytelling. She worked in news in Denver, Hong Kong, and New York, adding entertainment and corporate videos to her portfolio along the way. Lee introduced Takaki, a Japanese American, to fellow filmmaker and Japanese American Stann Nakazono. Together, the two formed an important community group known as ZAJA, where Japanese Americans network and support each other at monthly meetings held in the home of JA leader Julie Azuma. Lee was an honorary member from day one.

Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki. Photo Credit: All Is Well Pictures

During the nineteen years that Takaki followed Lee, she refined and distilled how she would present his story. Originally, the film’s ending was going to be one of the recreations of the Transcontinental Railroad photographs in Utah that Lee organized. Sadly, his death forced Takaki to add his funeral scene to the end instead.

But that is not the end of Corky Lee’s story. To Takaki, nearly two decades after starting the film, her work is just beginning. Photographic Justice has given her the opportunity to introduce Lee to audiences across the country, giving him a well-deserved moment in the spotlight, even in places where she believed Lee should have been popular already.

“What I was surprised about the most was that a lot of the AAPI communities did not know who Corky was,” Takaki says of the screenings she’s attended for the film. “We were just in Oregon, and . . . it was a sold-out show. I asked, ‘Who knew Corky?’ Only two people raised their hand. One of them happened to be from New York and literally knew Corky. I think that that's what surprises me. And that was an Asian American community; that was an Asian American event. I think that just shows that we have so much work to do. But I think it's also great that people are getting out to these events and seeing the film.”

Despite Lee’s relative anonymity outside of New York, Takaki has been pleased with the reaction to her film.

“I do think that it resonates with people and that they will forward it to people,” she says. “I also love the community—generally the filmmaking community—because I think everyone is so supportive of each other's films, and everyone wants to help each other get the word out. I always say it's the Corky Factor. You know there's that Corky Factor that makes people want to help. It's the reason that I have such a great group of people supporting me now. It's the reason that the film got finished. It's the reason the film's getting out. It's that Corky Factor that is undeniable. There is a Corky Factor to everything I do.”

The late-April theatrical release at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema was particularly gratifying to Takaki. Ahead of the week of sold-out screenings with Q&A sessions, Takaki shared her excitement.

“There are so many things about it that are special. First of all, I have so much respect for [DCTV founders] Keiko and John Alpert. I love them. Also, they were comrades of Corky. They were so kind and generous to me during the whole time I worked on this film, showing so much support for it. Keiko watched the film, and she let me go through their archives. That’s just who they are as people, so that makes it special right there. But the fact that it's in Chinatown and that we will be having panelists who are part of Chinatown and part of the community and part of Corky’s story is so special.”

She wanted packed houses at DCTV, and New Yorkers delivered. But Takaki won’t be satisfied until Corky reaches superstar status. She has put pressure on herself and the community at large to “make sure we do Corky justice.”

“I want people to talk about Corky,” she says. “I want Corky to kind of become like Bruce Lee, you know? To be so synonymous, so outside of his own realm, that people know who he is, and he becomes a cultural figure, an icon in his own right. Because of what he means to so many. Because that whole pride, confidence, and sense of belonging that he brings such joy to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Just his photos alone. If you know Corky, then you care about his photos. And then through that, you can learn the history of so many different peoples and communities.”

With Lee gone, the community lost not only a friend, but a large piece of coverage and advocacy is missing as well. Takaki thinks that people are continuing Lee’s legacy of photographic justice “in a diffused way,” but she places the onus on all of us to take up the mantle.

“When Corky was around, all you had to do was tell him that this was something important, and then he would show up,” Takaki says. “I don't know [everything that’s] going on in the AAPI community, but I do know that if you go to events and you don't see anyone taking photographs, then it becomes your responsibility to cover it.”

Takaki explains that the best place to start is to highlight and document community organizers and people who are doing good in the community. While there is no replacement for someone like Corky Lee, learning about his legacy and emulating his dedication can only help.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Takaki, All Is Well Pictures

If Lee were still alive, Takaki believes he would be documenting the meetings about and protests against the building of a new jail in Chinatown, something he had already started to do before his death. Of course, we would still see him at yearly community events, especially during May, AAPI Heritage Month.

Of the thousands of photographs Lee took, Takaki says her favorite is of a Sikh man who had wrapped the American flag around him at a candlelight vigil in Central Park following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

“Obviously, it's just such a beautiful image,” Takaki says. “I like Corky's explanation of people back on 9/11 who used the flag as protection [from discrimination]. It's such a beautiful and yet kind of sad but poignant photo.”

Indeed, the image is just one example of the many acts of photographic justice by Corky Lee.

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story is available to watch for FREE on PBS Passport until Monday, June 10. To learn how to host a screening, please visit the film’s website and follow @corkyleestory and @wherescorkylee on Instagram and Facebook for updates.

Susan McCormac 4/19/24 Susan McCormac 4/19/24

JAA’s Sakura Matsuri in Queens

JAA 19th Sakura Matsuri

Saturday, April 20 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Admission: Free

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

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

For more information, please visit JAA’s website.

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

JAA’s Honorees

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

The History of JAA’s Sakura Trees

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

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

Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna

Ticket Giveaway!

The Digimon 25th Anniversary Celebration

About Hiromi Seki

Acky Bright: Studio Infinity

Gallery Information

FUN FEST JAPAN

World Sake Day Party

Schedule of Festivities

RISE: OMNY Taiko 10th Annual Concert

About OMNY Taiko

World Sake Day 2024

What Your Admission Includes

Event Highlights

Sake Week 2024 at Brooklyn Kura

Sake Revolution Podcast LIVE!

Sake Caliente Warm Sake Night

Exclusive Event for Kura Kin Members

The Birth of Sake Documentary Screening

American Sake Association’s Sake Day USA Sake Tasting Event

Navigating Narratives: Tsurayuki's Tosa Diary as History and Fiction

About Gustav Heldt

Baseball Behind Barbed Wire

About Robert K. Fitts

About Susan Miyagi McCormac

About Yuriko Gamo Romer

Free Trial Japanese Dance Lesson with Sachiyo Ito and Company

What You’ll Learn

What To Bring

Shunzo Ohno: EVOLUTION

Featuring

Interactive Talk with Governor Denny Tamaki of Okinawa

Gardens for Peace

Japanese Garden Mini Tours

Drop-in Japanese Woodblock Printing

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story

Tomodachi Night – Boston Red Sox vs New York Mets

Special pregame events include

Warning Track Salute Timeline*

Amazin’ Awards

A New World: Intimate Music from Final Fantasy

Akira Tana’s Osaka Quartet with Atsuko Hashimoto

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

JETAANY Craft Night: Origami Crane “Foldraiser”

JAA 19th Sakura Matsuri

JAA’s Honorees

The History of JAA’s Sakura Trees

LEARN MORE