Japan Society (New York City)

The Japan Society and Japan House showcases the fine, decorative and performing arts of Japan while also offering informative talks on the political, social and economic issues confronting the island nation. Exhibitions offer works ranging from the traditional to the contemporary, including painting, sculpture, calligraphy, ceramics, woodblock prints, textiles, lacquerware and present-day mediums such as video. Many works, if not entire shows, come from Japanese museums and otherwise inaccessible private collections. Although New York has several public collections of Japanese art permanently on view, those who love it expect rare and memorable shows at the Japan House Gallery.

Likewise, the society offers performing artists in both traditional and contemporary roles such as Grand Kabuki Actor Tamasaburo Bando V and comedian Issey Ogata. American audiences have had the rare opportunity to attend dance performances here by Eiko & Koma and Butoh artist Kazuo Ohno, as well as the musicians Sadao Watanabe and Terumasa Hino. The society's library houses an extensive collection of English-language books on Japan. The language center offers 12 levels of Japanese-language instruction. The film center has an international reputation for premiering the work of Japan's most provocative new filmmakers as well as reintroducing the work of masters like Yasujiro Ozu and Kenji Mizoguchi. The society's headquarters, designed by Tokyo architects Junzo Yoshimura and George Shimamoto, is a blend of American materials and Japanese forms and as such reflects the unique aesthetic sensibilities of this fascinating culture.