Pacific Overtures: Japan-Themed Events This Summer in NYC

By Troy Segal

Japanophiles, take note: The land of the rising sun is celebrated in a number of upcoming activities, exhibits, and lectures in the next few weeks.

Photo © Ayumi Sakamoto; japansociety.org

High Spirits: Lift your glass and cry Kanpai! in a toast to sake, the Japanese rice wine. On June 12, the Japan Society holds its annual sake tasting: 30 varieties will be sampled, as expert John Gauntner speaks on pairing sake with food (not just Japanese, either). In a more intimate, informal event, Gauntner speaks about his new book, Sake Confidential, over some bottles of Tensei Junmai Ginjo, at Sakaya on June 11.

Suzuki Kiitsu – Cranes (ca. 1828–early 1830s). Lent by Feinberg Collection. metmuseum.org

Artistic Efforts: Gaze on gorgeous examples of artwork (paintings, screens and scrolls) from the 1600s-1700s in a guided tour and gallery talk of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s The Flowering of Edo Period Painting: Japanese Masterworks from the Feinberg Collection exhibit on June 16 & 28. Or marvel at the art of paper-folding in a special origami exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology June 28-29.

Song & Dance: Saxophonist Sadao Watanabe (above), one of Japan’s finest jazz artists, leads a swinging ensemble at an Asia Society salute to syncopated sound on June 25. And a type of theatre dating back centuries is explained in the lecture Kabuki: What’s It All About?, hosted by The Nippon Club on July 2.

Master Builder: Self-taught architect Tadao Ando (pictured) self-analyzes the motivations, concepts and dreams that lie behind his structures in a Japan Society talk on June 26.