Botanical Art Exhibit at the National Arboretum

Yoshitsugu Koyanagi is a celebrated botanical artist from Japan. His works have been featured in various showings in Japan and are displayed at a number of prefectural museums throughout the country. The National Arboretum is honored to have the privilege of hosting Mr. Koyanagi’s first exhibition outside of Japan. The exhibition continues until May 31.

An author as well as an artist, Mr Koyanagi has written five textbooks, and his work and articles have been published in botanical art books and magazines. He has received numerous awards for his works.

For directions and further information please call 202-245-4523, or visit http://www.usna.usda.gov/

Senator Inouye Honored at Annual Dinner

Over 260 members of the Society and their guests gathered at the JW Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue on January 22, as the Japan-America Society honored Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii at its 19th Annual Public Affairs Dinner.

Senator Inouye is the third most senior member of the United States Senate. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, he is known for his distinguished record as a legislative leader and as a World War II combat veteran who earned the nation's highest award for military valor, the Medal of Honor.

The Honorary Chairman for this year's dinner, which launched the Society's 50th anniversary year celebrations, was Senator Bob Dole. The Dinner Co-Chairs were Mr. Tetsuo Kadoya of Toshiba America, Inc. and Nao Matsukata of Alston + Bird, LLP.

The dinner was preceeded by the Society's Silent Auction.

The Society expresses its great appreciation to the Dinner's Patrons: Alston + Bird LLP; AMGEN; Boeing; Canon; Lockheed Martin; Mitsubishi International Corporation; Mitsui USA; Toshiba; and Toyota.

It also thanks the Dinner's table sponsors: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd; Bill and Peggy Breer; The Embassy of Japan; The Federation of Electric Power; Hitachi, Ltd.; ITOCHU International Inc.; Keidanren USA; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; and Tokyo Electric Power Company.

The Annual Public Affairs Dinner is a major source of support for the many educational, cultural, and public affairs programs that the Society presents throughout the year.

Celebrate Japan WOW with the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Associates, the educational learning arm of the Smithsonian Institution, will be hosting a series of 25 programs on Japan beginning March 31 and ending June 9. The program list is below. You can click on any program title to learn more and register.

Celebrate Japan WOW with the Music of Rin
Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 6 p.m.
Interested in making Japanese music accessible to the American ear, the members of Rin combine the exotic and subtle sounds of traditional Japanese instruments with a contrasting framework of contemporary Western popular music.

Kurokawa Noh
Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Noh is the classical, older symbolic drama. The stories are based in history or classical literature, structured around song and dance, and presented on a very simple stage.

Pictures of the Floating World
Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 2 p.m.The creation of Ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese paintings and woodblock prints first produced in the 1600s, is a tradition that has been embraced by such masters as Hiroshige, Hokusai, and Yoshitoshi.

Tokyo, Now and Then
Monday, April 16, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Tokyo is a flashy hyper-modern city that signifies up-to-theminute chic. But at the same time, it’s a historic castle town with a complexly layered fabric of intimate old neighborhoods.

Religious Traditions of Japan
Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 10 a.m.It is difficult to imagine what Japan would have been like without the religious traditions of Shinto and Buddhism, which have been a part of its cultural fabric since earliest times.

Manga to Anime: From Astro Boy to Spirited Away
Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 10 a.m.From the humble beginnings of a newspaper comic strip in 1946 to the highest-grossing film in Japanese history in 2001 (Spirited Away), manga (comics and print cartoons) and anime (animation) are now two of Japan’s biggest cultural emissaries.

Bonsai at Nat'l Arboretum
Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 10 a.m.The art of growing miniature trees, called penjing, originated in China and was adapted in Japan as bonsai. The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum has developed one of the largest collections in North America.

The Japanese Art of Bonsai
Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 1 p.m.The art of growing miniature trees, called penjing, originated in China and was adapted in Japan as bonsai. The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum has developed one of the largest collections in North America.

Sumi-e and Shodo: Traditional Japanese Ink Painting and Calligraphy
Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 10 p.m.In this course combining the Japanese art forms of sumi-e and shodo, explore the basic principles of classical Oriental painting and brushwork.

Japanese Kimono
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Kimono patterned with golden threads will surround you in the Gallery of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at this talk and private viewing of the 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival kimono exhibition.

Bunraku: The Amazing Puppets Of Japan
Friday, April 27, 2007 at 10:15 a.m.In a very special show for Japan WOW! at The Smithsonian Associates, Japanese puppetry artists introduce this ancient puppet technique to young audiences.

Bunraku: The Amazing Puppets Of Japan
Friday, April 27, 2007 at 11:30 a.m.In a very special show for Japan WOW! at The Smithsonian Associates, Japanese puppetry artists introduce this ancient puppet technique to young audiences.

Bunraku
Friday, April 27, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.The term bunraku refers to the puppet tradition of Osaka developed before 1600. The Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe presents four traditional pieces, using puppets one-half to full life-size.

Kodomo-No-Hi: Its' Children's Day!!!
Friday, May 4, 2007 at 10:15 a.m.Learn about Japanese Children's Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.

Kodomo-No-Hi: It's Children's Day!!!
Friday, May 4, 2007 at 11 a.m.Ages 6 to 10: Learn about Japanese Children's Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.

Kodomo-No-Hi: It's Children's Day
Friday, May 4, 2007 at 11:45 a.m.
Ages 6 to 10: Learn about Japanese Children's Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.

Kodomo-No-Hi: It's Children's Day
Friday, May 4, 2007 at 12:30 p.m.
Ages 6 to 10: Learn about Japanese Children's Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.

The Art of Origami
Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 10 a.m.Come celebrate spring by folding origami flowers, with a butterfly, swan, and jumping frog thrown in for fun.

Sogetsu Ikebana: Modern Japanese Flower Arranging
Monday, May 7, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.The elegance and aesthetic harmony of ikebana—Japanese flower arranging— have inspired poets and artists since its creation more than 500 years ago.

Moku-Hanga: The Japanese Woodblock Print
Monday, May 7, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Students in this class learn the history of the medium and the traditional Japanese method for making both black-and-white and multicolor woodblock prints.

Rooted in History: Traditional Japanese Villages
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Japanese villages from tropical southern Okinawa to remote northern Hokkaido trace their history back—at least in legend— for more than a millennium.

Soft Power, Global Cool
Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Japan is one of the most influential of the world’s soft powers - indirectly influencing the world through cultural icons and ideas. With the spread of its goods and images, Japan has a new international face as the "king of cool" and is finding a new place in the world.

Beyond Sushi: Culinary Japan From Classical to Modern
Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 9 a.m.Japanese cuisine has been wowing the rest of the world for centuries, while Japanese chefs at home have modified their traditional methods to incorporate new ingredients and new food-preparation techniques.

Japanese Kimono
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Kimono patterned with golden threads will surround you in the Gallery of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at this talk and private viewing of the 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival kimono exhibition.

The History of Japanese Theater: Kabuki
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Nohgaku, bunraku, and kabuki are the best-known theater arts of Japan. Their origins are traceable to shrine rituals and early dengaku (field-dances and songs), which evolved into major theatrical forms.

Japanese Fashion
Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 7 a.m.Study leader Nobue Isono, a highly respected Japanese fashion expert, takes you on a full-day trip to New York City - the fashion capital of the world - to explore the characteristics and current trends in Japanese fashion.

Robots, Science, Technology: Japan Creates the Future
Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 10 a.m.Get a glimpse of Japan’s latest creations, hear from some of its leading innovators, and discover why Japan loves its robots in this intriguing program.

An Inspiring Evening with Michio Kushi
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 7 p.m.In this special evening, teacher and author Michio Kushi, founder of the world-renowned Kushi Institute in Massachusetts, is interviewed about his life and career.

Japan and America—Partners Facing a Changing World
Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.Few nations have enjoyed such mutually beneficial relations as have Japan and the United States during the past 60 years. While the partnership between these two economic giants remains strong, both face important new challenges, as well as opportunities, in the days ahead.

Kyoto, Ancient Imperial Capital
Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 10 a.m.
Take an enchanting armchair stroll through one of Japan’s oldest and most beautiful cities, which served as the nation’s capital for more than a thousand years.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Announces Calendar

In addition to the many activities taking place during the Smithsonian Associates "Japan WOW," the National Cherry Blossom Festival also will offer an array of Japanese cultural treats.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held this year between March 31 and April 15. In recent years the Festival, which celebrates Japan's gift of the cherry trees to Washington, also has become a celebration of Japanese culture.

Among the many Japan-related activities this year are the Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival and the 15th Anniversary Japan Bowl, both sponsored by our Japan-America Society. In addition, the Library of Congress will be hosting an exhibit of modern Japanese woodbock prints, donated by the College Women's Association of Japan (CWAJ). The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Arise again will display a magnificent collection of Japanese kimono. The Festival's opening day on March 31, held at the National Building Museum, will feature a wide display of Japanese arts and crafts exhibits for the entire family.

For a complete calendar of events during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, go to www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.com

Congress Takes Aim at Japan on Yen

The Financial Times of London reports that House Democrats are pressing the Bush administration to persuade Tokyo to strengthen the yen, claiming the currency’s weakness is bolstering Japanese imports at the expense of US manufacturers.

In a letter to Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, the House members alleged that Tokyo was pursuing a cheap currency to subsidise exporters.

The FT says that the pressure from Democrats sets up a confrontation with the US Treasury secretary, who argues the yen’s weakness reflects Japan’s economic fundamentals rather than a deliberate policy of manipulation.

Fly a Honda

Honda Aircraft Co. will enter the world of small executive jets by building a manufacturing plant near Greensboro, North Carolina and investing as much as $100 million. The two-engine HondaJets weigh less than 10,000 pounds and generally seat five to seven passengers. The company plans to begin delivery of the $3.65 million aircraft in three years.

(from the Associated Press)

Tea Bowls "in Bloom"

From February 3 to July 15, the Freer Gallery of Art will be presenting an exhibition of Japanese tea bowls featuring plants and flowers.

During the tea ceremony, painted images of seasonal flowers and auspicious plants link the tea bowl to the moment or meaning of the gathering. Such images first appeared on tea bowls made at Japanese kilns in the late sixteenth century. The decoration, inspired by vessels imported from China, Korea, and Southeast Asia, used iron–brown or cobalt–blue pigment brushed under the glaze. During firing, the colors tended to melt into the glaze, producing an irregular and muted effect. In the mid–seventeenth century, potters introduced a newer Chinese technique, painting rainbow–colored translucent enamels over the glaze. Both modes of decoration have enjoyed enduring popularity. This exhibition of decorated tea bowls and water jars focuses on the older mode, which skillfully uses a limited palette to evoke the full spectrum of nature's hues.

Landscapes in Japanese Art

In addition to its exhibition of Japanese tea cups that feature plants and flowers, the Freer also will be hosting an exhibition of the Japanese art of landscapes. The display is open from February 3 to July 15, 2007.

Landscapes signified more than the beauty of the natural world to the Japanese people, who believed that their native gods had created the islands of Japan and come down to dwell in their mountains, rivers, and trees. Japanese artists developed distinctive styles of full-color painting that they often preferred to create images of the rounded, heavily forested hills that surrounded their ancient capital cities. From the thirteenth century onward, they also mastered Chinese ink painting techniques and adapted them to create landscapes of both China and Japan.

In Japanese ceramics from the sixteenth century onward, as techniques of glazing and application of pigments became more prevalent, landscapes became an important subject of ceramic design and appreciation.

This exhibition of twenty paintings and twelve ceramics explores the landscapes created by Japanese artists from the fifteenth through nineteenth centuries. Click for more info

A Cellphone for Every Japanese

Kyodo News reports that the number of subscribers for cellphone services in Japan exceeded the 100 million mark for the first time in January.

Japan's population is 128 million.

Girls Power - Shojo Manga Exhibit

The Japan Information and Culture Center, with support from the Japan-America Society, is hosting an exhibition of girls’ comics. "Shojo Manga" occupy a very special place in the world of Japanese comics. Not just tales of love, these illustrated stories empower the girls of Japan and aid them in traversing the intricate societal roles and expectations females face in Japan.

Featuring artwork from World War II to the present, the "Girl Power!" exhibit focuses on a period of Japanese history that has seen women’s position in society undergo drastic changes. That path is documented in shojo manga.

Curated by Dr. Masami Toku, Associate Professor of Art and Art History at California State University (Chico), "Girl Power!" has toured throughout North and South America.

The Japan Information and Culture Center is located at Lafayette Center III, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Japanese Films Top Foreign Movies

Kyodo reports that Japanese films logged a record 107.75 billion yen in revenue at Japan's box offices in 2006, outpacing those of imported movies for the first time in 21 years.

The Japanese film boom also boosted the number of films released to a record 821 in the reporting year, up 90 over the year before.

As many as six Japanese films became huge hits making more than 5 billion yen at the box office in 2006, with the animation film "Tales from Earthsea" directed by Goro Miyazaki, the son of award-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki, ranking at the top with 7.65 billion yen in receipts. "Test of Trust Umizaru 2," whose domestic title is "Limit of Love Umizaru" came second with 7.10 billion yen, and "Suite Hotel" was third with 6.08 billion yen.

Japanese Tea, Flowers, and Music at Towson University

Date: Saturday, March 31, 2007
Time: From 2 pm,
Location: Marder Studio Theater, Center for the Arts, Towson University

Audiences will enjoy an afternoon of elegant and tranquil presentations of a Japanese tea ceremony by Masako Miyahara (2 pm), Japanese flower arranging by Emi Furukawa (3 pm) and a performance of classical Japanese music by Yoshio Kurahashi, Ayako Kurahashi and Miyuki Yoshikami devoted to the theme of cherry blossoms and spring.

Admission is free for flower art; $5 for the tea ceremony; and $5 for the music program.

This program is held in association with the exhibition "Fired with Passion: Contemporary Ceramics of Japan in the Asian Arts Gallery, Center for the Arts" at Towson University. The exhibition runs from Saturday, February 10 through Friday, May 11.

For more information, call 410-704-2807 or go to www.towson.edu/asianarts

Prime Minister Abe Calls for Stronger US-Japan Ties

Japan will pursue assertive foreign policies and strengthen its ties with the US and Europe in response to new security threats in the region, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a January speech.

"The security situation surrounding Japan has changed drastically with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles as well as a series of regional conflicts," Prime Minister Abe said. "To protect Japan's peace, independence and democracy and the lives of the Japanese, we need to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance."

(from AFP)

Japan's Oldest Person Turns 114

Japan's oldest person, Yone Minagawa, has turned 114, celebrating her birthday at the nursing home in Fukuoka Prefecture where she now resides.

Born in 1893, she was widowed early and raised her five children by selling flowers and vegetables in a coal mining town.

And speaking of elderly women, the Asahi Shimbun reports that Japanese widows live longer -- elderly women who lived with their retired husbands had almost twice the risk of dying than women who lived by themselves.

Foreign Visitors to Japan at Record High

An estimated 7,334,000 foreign travelers visited Japan in 2006, topping the 7 million threshold for the first time. Kyodo reports that arrivals from Asian countries marked the strongest increases.

Visitors from South Korea grew by 21.2 percent, from China by 24.3 percent, and from Singapore by 23 percent.

The number of travelers from Europe and North America did not grow significantly.

South Koreans accounted for 28.9 percent of all foreign visitors to Japan in 2006, followed by Taiwanese residents at 17.8 percent, Americans and Chinese at 11.1 percent each, and residnets of Hong Kong at 4.8 percent.

The number of Japanese people traveling abroad in 2006 was estimated at 17,535,000, the second highest number following a record marked in 2000, according to the Japan National Tourist Organization.

Music from Japan at the Freer

Date: Saturday, February 24
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Meyer Auditorium, Freer Gallery of Art

(for a pre-concert gallery tour, meet at the Freer information desk at 6:45 pm)


Hear an all-star trio, direct from Japan, perform new and traditional music for the ancient Japanese lute, accompanied by flutes and percussion.

Joining Junko Tahara, a master of the rarely heard biwa, are Kohei Nishikawa on fue (Japanese flute) and percussionist Akikuni Takahashi.

All three are longtime members of the acclaimed Pro Musica Nipponia. Their program ranges from medieval narrative songs to a newly commissioned work by Masataka Matsuo.

Free tickets are required. Up to four tickets per person can be reserved (for a service fee of $2.75 per ticket and $1.25 per order) through Ticketmaster at (202) 397-7328, (410) 547-7328, or (703) 573-7328; at http://www.ticketmaster.com/; or at Ticketmaster walk-up locations.

Two tickets per person are also distributed (for no service fee) at the Meyer Auditorium beginning one hour before showtime, on a first-come, first-served basis.