What's On & Upcoming Events in Japan
Check out the most up-to-date listings of what's going on in Japan right now or in the near future, including fun activities, art exhibitions, festivals, parties, food markets, flea markets, sporting events, fairs, concerts, and more.
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Banksy Artworks from Masatoshi Kumagai Collection
Only at GMO Digital Museum can visitors enjoy three of Banksy's most famous works at the same time. https://banksy.tokyo/ (JP) Tickets: https://www.e-tix.jp/gmo-art/en/
FUJIKO F Fujio's Sukoshi Fushigi World
Fujiko F. Fujio, who had made dream-filled children's manga his life's work, published The Minotaur's Plate for adults in 1969, the year before the serialisation of Doraemon began, with little change to the touch of his children's manga. This work shocked many readers, and subsequently, Fujiko F. Fujio's SF manga began to be published in various magazines. This exhibition of original manga drawings presents the original manga drawings of that SF short story series on an unprecedented scale. The exhibition will be divided into three sessions, with the original drawings on display scheduled to be replaced approximately every four months. https://fujiko-museum.com/exhibition/
Painting Love in the Louvre Collections
Love, the most fundamental of human emotions, has perhaps been one of the most fundamental themes in Western art since ancient times. In paintings depicting the Greco-Roman myths and genre paintings depicting daily life, love took various forms in scenes representing gods and people longing for that someone special, illustrated by passion, desire, and sensual pleasure, and even anguish and sorrow. In contrast, Christian religious art gave believers images of the Holy Family, depictions of the Crucifixion of Jesus, and scenes capturing the martyrdom of saints, thereby embodying themes revolving around God’s unconditional love for humanity or the love for God reciprocated by the faithful.This exhibition will show how Western artists have portrayed love in its many forms through 73 paintings carefully selected from the vast collections of the Musée du Louvre. We invite you on a tour of passionate expressions of love gathered from masterpieces by the leading Western artists, from the 16th century to mid-19th century. https://www.ntv.co.jp/love_louvre/english/
Life in the Past - the Lives of People during the Showa and War Period
The Showa era was the longest-used era in Japan. During those 62 years, there were times when food, clothing and daily necessities were in short supply. This exhibition shows the origins, people's wisdom and ingenuity behind each of these daily necessities, together with documents. https://www.peace-osaka.or.jp/sys/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/pdf_mukashi.pdf
100 Years of Japanese Tiles: A History of Beauty and Functionality
A special exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the unification of the name 'tile' in Japan. Tiles, which originated in ancient Egypt, spread throughout the world due to their durability and ease of cleaning, and were introduced to Japan via various regions; in 1922, it was decided to unify the term 'tile', and since then, tile culture in Japan has blossomed in line with changes in lifestyle and urban life. This exhibition explores the origins and history of tiles in Japan and the first steps towards the future through the exhibition structure of 'Chapter 1: Tracing the origins of tiles in Japan', 'Chapter 2: The spread of tiles and the unification of tile names' and 'Chapter 3: 100 years of beauty and use'. https://www.tatemonoen.jp/special/2023/20230311.php
Poison Exhibition (Mokudoku Exhibition) ReMix
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sunshine Aquarium Special Exhibition of Poisonous Creatures “Modokuten”,which had attracted 400,000 total visitors throughout the series, has come back! Why not learn about the diversity of creatures that coexist with humans on this earth from the theme of “poison”?This invites you to the world of poison. https://sunshinecity.jp/file/aquarium/moudoku_remix/
Brittany, Land of Inspiration—as seen by French and Japanese artists
From the late 19th to the early 20th century, many painters, including Monet and Gauguin, visited Brittany in the north-west corner of France and painted there. This exhibition features approximately 160 works from over 30 domestic and two overseas collections, including the Matsukata Collection of the National Museum of Western Art, which depict the landscapes, customs and history of this region. The exhibition explores what they sought and found in this 'foreign land'. https://bretagne2023.jp/english/
Taisho Romanticism x Hyakudan Kaidan
Introducing the glamorous world of Taisho Romanticism in a cultural property This special exhibition allows visitors to experience the culture and fashions of the Taisho and early Showa periods using the Hyakudan Staircase, a tangible cultural property designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a stage. This year's exhibition features stories spun by literary giants such as Junichiro Tanizaki and Osamu Dazai, and in collaboration with Otome no Bonshelf, a spatial exhibition reproducing their illustrated works and scenes related to the stories. Visitors can experience the world depicted by the great writers as if they were turning the pages of a book every time they step into the room. The music played at the venue is all original music created by musician Takeshi Yoda for this special exhibition, and the music, full of emotion and storytelling, creates a more profound impression of the world of the great writers. https://www.hotelgajoen-tokyo.com/100event/roman2023
Ekin - the genius painter from Tosa
The Tosa painter Kanakura, also known as the enigmatic genius painter, left behind numerous theatrical screens and other works from the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period, and was known locally in Kochi for many years by the nickname 'E-Kin-san'. The screen paintings, painted in a style different from that of any other painter of the period, are still displayed at shrines and other places in Kochi for several days during summer festivals, and the horrifying theatrical scenes that emerge from the darkness by candlelight leave a vivid impression on the viewer. https://www.ktv.jp/event/ekin/
Pokémon Pikachu Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea featuring 'Pikachu' from the world's favourite Pokémon . The menu includes mini burgers inspired by Pikachu's bright yellow colour, as well as Pikachu-silhouette muffins, macaroons with Pikachu's back pattern designed on them, and many other playful menu items will be happily lined up. Optional items include a café latte with Pikachu printed on it and a special plate of melted chocolate to go with it. http://www.strings-hotel.jp/omotesando/restaurant/zelkova/info/zelkova-aft.html#next
Henri Matisse: The Path to Color
French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954)—one of the 20th-century’s great masters. A key figure in Fauvism, a movement whose emphasis on pure, vivid color strongly influenced 20th-century art, Matisse thereafter devoted himself to experimenting with bright colors and shapes that appeal directly to the senses, and remained an art revolutionary until his death at 84. Unfading in brilliance, Matisse’s artworks continue to fascinate us and inspire generations of young artists. This exhibition, the first large-scale Matisse retrospective in Japan in twenty years, will be held with the full cooperation of the Centre Pompidou, home to one of the world’s largest Matisse collections. Through major works from every phase of the artist’s career—not only paintings but sculptures, drawings, prints, cut-outs, and even materials related to his final masterpiece, the Chapel of the Rosary of Vence—it will trace the creative journey, filled with rich color and light, of a great master. https://www.tobikan.jp/en/exhibition/2023_matisse.html
Special Exhibition "Wandering in Another World - Mystery, Prayer, Life, and Death"
This special exhibition introduces all genres of materials related to the "other world" that people have been aware of since ancient times. The exhibition features approximately 200 items, mainly from the collection of the Osaka Museum of History, including folk materials such as vessels and prayer objects related to folk beliefs, archaeological materials such as ritual implements and burial accessories, and paintings and historical materials depicting views of other worlds, gods, Buddha and ghosts. The exhibition provides an opportunity to think about the different worlds that emerge in various situations, from a variety of perspectives. https://ikai-houkou.com/
Ayako Ishiguro Exhibition: Bakemono Zorozoro; Bakeneko Zorozoro
Ayako Ishiguro depicts creatures beyond the imagination such as yokai, spirits from Japanese folklore, and bakeneko, yokai taking the form of cats, with elegant brushwork reminiscent of Japanese nihonga painting. Ishiguro creates colorful creatures that are beautiful, charming and humorous—sometimes with slightly eerie expressions that instantly invite us into a different world.Over 500 works, including approximately 20 new pieces, are on display in Ishiguro’s first large-scale exhibition—with original illustrations of yokai from picture books created during her early years as an artist, including Imoto Kaigi and Etoeto Gassen, as well as the more recent Nekomata Goyomi, among others. The works from her new collaboration with stuffed toy maker Masayo Imai and Masataro Toys STORE also deserve special attention. Please enjoy Ishiguro’s spirit world with evil spirits of mountains and rivers running rampant. https://www.setabun.or.jp/language/20230429_ayakoishiguro_en.pdf
World of Miniature Photography Exhibition - Nagoya
A joint photo exhibition and sales exhibition of miniature art so elaborately made that it could be mistaken for the real thing. This year's exhibition will feature a large number of new miniature art works and three-dimensional works that cannot be seen at other venues, and will be attended by a record 68 groups, including creators who show their works on social networking services. There will also be workshops at the venue, where anyone can try their hand at making miniatures. https://tgs.jp.net/event/miniature/
Painting Love in the Louvre Collections in Kyoto
Love, the most fundamental of human emotions, has perhaps been one of the most fundamental themes in Western art since ancient times. In paintings depicting the Greco-Roman myths and genre paintings depicting daily life, love took various forms in scenes representing gods and people longing for that someone special, illustrated by passion, desire, and sensual pleasure, and even anguish and sorrow. In contrast, Christian religious art gave believers images of the Holy Family, depictions of the Crucifixion of Jesus, and scenes capturing the martyrdom of saints, thereby embodying themes revolving around God’s unconditional love for humanity or the love for God reciprocated by the faithful.This exhibition will show how Western artists have portrayed love in its many forms through 73 paintings carefully selected from the vast collections of the Musée du Louvre. We invite you on a tour of passionate expressions of love gathered from masterpieces by the leading Western artists, from the 16th century to mid-19th century. https://kyotocity-kyocera.museum/en/
World of Miniature Photography Exhibition - Fukuoka
A joint photo exhibition and sales exhibition of miniature art so elaborately made that it could be mistaken for the real thing. This year's exhibition will feature a large number of new miniature art works and three-dimensional works that cannot be seen at other venues, and will be attended by a record 68 groups, including creators who show their works on social networking services. There will also be workshops at the venue, where anyone can try their hand at making miniatures. https://tgs.jp.net/event/miniature/
4th of July BBQ Event -Independence Day
To celebrate Independence Day, SMOKEHOUSE will be holding a special BBQ event on Saturday, July 1st! Look forward to enjoying our SMOKEHOUSE BBQ that we pride ourselves on in an all-you-can-eat setting. On top of that, there are prizes to be won in a raffle! Attendance to this event is by reservation only and reservations can be made starting on Friday, May 19th through our official homepage. Kick back and relax with a craft beer and great smokey BBQ! https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/smokehouse-pickup/reserve Restaurant's website: https://www.tysons.jp/smokehouse/en/
Special Exhibition: Tōfuku-ji in Kyoto
Famed for its spring verdure and rich autumn colors, Tōfuku-ji is one of Kyoto’s representative Zen temples. It was established during the early Kamakura period on the orders of the imperial regent and advisor Kujō Michiie. He entrusted the founding to Enni (Shōichi Kokushi), a priest who had previously travelled to China to study Zen (Ch.Chan) Buddhism. The name "Tōfuku-ji" was taken from the first character of Tō-ji and the second character of Kōfuku-ji, two temples in Nara. Also known as the "Tōfuku no Garanzura", the temple complex creates a striking impression with its vast array of huge medieval-style buildings. This exhibition marks the first chance to view the temple’s many treasures in one place. The legendary Buddhist painter Minchō’s Five Hundred Arhats will be displayed in its entirety for the first time since the completion of restoration work, for example. It will be joined by a number of precious cultural properties that somehow survived destruction during Ōnin War of 1467-77. The exhibition also showcases several masterpieces of painting and calligraphy as well as Buddhist sculptures whose monumental size chimes well with the temple’s vastness. While tracing the temple’s history since its founding, the exhibition presents a board overview of the Zen culture that bloomed through exchanges with the rest of Asia. It also explores Tōfuku-ji’s enduring appeal and its significance to Japanese culture. https://tofukuji2023.jp/english.html
