Coriolanus: A Talk by Globe to Globe Festival Director Tom Bird

5 April 2012

4:30 – 5:30pm, followed by a drinks reception to 6:30pm

Daiwa Foundation Japan House

Chiten theatre company brings the first ever Japanese production to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, a unique event in the history of Japanese art in the UK.

This celebrated company from Kyoto works under the direction of one of Japan’s most imaginative artists, Motoi Miura. Known for its minimalist and avant-garde vision, the company produces an expressive theatre rooted in the exploration of words, sound and the human body. Originally formed in Tokyo, Chiten moved to Kyoto in 2005. Under the directorship of Motoi Miura, the company is particularly celebrated for its highly contemporary stagings of the works of Chekhov.

Coriolanus is Shakespeare’s greatest political play. The competing claims of democracy and aristocracy are conveyed in harsh and stony language and with relentless speed and single-mindedness. At its heart, however, there unfolds a personal tragedy of one man’s emotional blindness.

Coriolanus is one of the productions within Globe to Globe – all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 37 different languages in a kaleidoscopic, six-week festival at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The Globe to Globe Festival starts on 21 April 2012, with Coriolanus being performed by the Chiten theatre company on 21 and 22 May. For more information, visit: http://globetoglobe.shakespearesglobe.com.

Tom Bird, Director of the Globe to Globe Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe, will discuss his job over the last one and a half years of putting together the world’s largest and most ambitious Shakespeare festival – including the challenges, adventures and characters he’s encountered on the way. In particular he will discuss his travels in Japan and the Globe’s relationship with Chiten in a special event held at Daiwa Foundation Japan House.

Tom Bird

Tom Bird is Director of the Globe to Globe Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe. In producing the festival, he has travelled the world from Armenia to Zanzibar in search of Shakespeare. He has worked for the Globe since 2007. Previous employment includes work for the ground-breaking physical theatre festival Aurora Nova at Edinburgh and for a number of music groups, most notably the Northern Sinfonia. Tom’s roots are in the north-east, and as a playwright he is a regular contributor to Live Theatre’s Short Cutsevents in Newcastle. His short play Kaz and the Cootswas recorded for the BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking Festival in 2009. He was educated at the universities of Edinburgh and Copenhagen.

BOOKING FORM

Picture through a window N1: Bus with Hat

The Appeal of Mino Washi

2 April 2012

6:00 – 7:30pm, followed by a drinks reception to 8:00pm

Daiwa Foundation Japan House

Mino washi (traditional Japanese paper from Mino City) has a proud tradition of more than 1,300 years and has a fine fibre texture that is highly regarded as beautiful and robust. Mino washi is made from the raw materialkozo (a native Japanese mulberry tree), and carefully processed without the use of chemicals with skilled craftsmen using traditional and time honoured processes, such as drying out in the sun.

Satoshi Hasegawa is an artisan manufacturing paper in Mino City in Gifu Prefecture. The technique he uses to make washi, is a traditional process native to the Mino region using domestic materials. His main product is the high quality ‘Usu Mino Thin Paper’ which is widely used to repair ancient cultural treasures such as manuscripts and texts in art galleries and museums at home and abroad.

Upon receiving a commission from the Ruthin Craft Centre where his skills are highly valued, Mr Hasegawa has supplied the centre with 600 sheets of Mino washi for the creation of a sculptural space at the exhibition,Japanese Style: Sustaining Design. The exhibition will take place at the Ruthin Craft Centre in Wales from 1 April to 24 June 2012 (www.japanseasonwales.com).

Mr Hasegawa believes “Paper in itself may just be a material, but it is my ongoing mission to continue and develop this work, and to connect the tradition with the next generation”.

This special event at Daiwa Foundation Japan House will begin with opening remarks from Mr Kazuyoshi Kano, Vice Mayor of Mino City and Mr Akira Watanabe, Executive Director, Department of Industry Promotion, Mino City.

Satoshi Hasegawa

Satoshi Hasegawa was born in 1964. In 1991, he studied under the late foremost craftsman of Minowashi, Kozo Furuta, who was dedicated to making traditional papermaking for more than fifty years. Hasegawa established his own studio in 1993. In 2003 he was designated by the Japanese national body The Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries as a “traditional craftsman”.

Zoë Howard

Zoë Howard graduated from the University of Brighton in 2011 with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Printmaking. She developed a deep interest in Japanese art and culture, in particular washi, after a study exchange to Nagoya University of Arts, Japan in 2010. Since then, she has completed an artist in residence at the Mino Paper Art Village Project, exploring ideas of light and space, movement and stillness through the manipulation of handmade Mino washi. She is currently based in London and is continuing to develop work using Japanese paper.

Chiang Mai Fest 2012

March 23 to April 7, 2012
At the Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai

Earth Wind and Fire and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are joining hands to reintroduce the Chiang Mai Fest to the cultural surroundings of the Three Kings Monument from March 23 to April 7, 2012.

Yut Wanichanond, Consultant of Earth Wind and Fire, said following a much-hyped inaugural year in 2011 as a three-day event, the Chiang Mai Fest would return this year with 16 days of packed programmes. “The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will be even bigger, starting with the First International Street Painting Festival in Thailand,” he said.

The inaugural Street Painting Festival will bring in world-famous chalk painters such as Melanie Van Latum and Lysa Ashley from the USA and Tony Cuboliquido from Italy to turn streets, pavements and temporary walls at the Three Kings Monument into an outdoor art exhibition and workshop from March 23 to April 7.

The “Art on Street” exhibition will start with a curtain raiser at the Old District Court on Friday, 23 March from 17.00 to 18.00 hrs. The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will also reintroduce the city’s first and only International Music Festival from April 6- 7.

In its second year, the two-day event will feature world-class performances by international artists such as German contemporary singer Thomas Kiessling, South African opera – classic pop crossover male vocal group Il Quinto, American Blues and Soul revivalist band Blues Brothers and Thai musical maestro Neung Jakkawal.

Last year, the three-day Chiang Mai Fest attracted nearly 10,000 visitors and generated 150 million Baht revenue to Chiang Mai, as well as boosted tourists’ length of stay in the city from 2 to 15 days during the Songkran Festival.

“This year, we expect the 16-day Chiang Mai Fest to attract over 35,000 local and international visitors and help to generate some 200-300 million Baht in tourism-related revenue,” Yut Wanichanond added.

Mr Wiwatchai Boonyapak, Events Department Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the Chiang Mai Fest 2012 would attract more tourists to Chiang Mai between late-March and early-April in addition to the expected high turnouts during the Songkran Festival.

“The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will boost tourism revenue and raise the image of Chiang Mai as the centre of international music, art and culture,” Mr Wiwatchai said.

For more information, please contact
Tel: +66 (0) 53 292 224
E-mail: info@wind-and-fire.com
Web site: www.chiangmaifest.com

Japanese from Scratch: Let’s Eat Japanese Food!

28 March 2012 from 6.00pm

The Japan Foundation London (later moving on to a local Japanese restaurant)

Get a flavour of the Japanese language while enjoying authentic Japanese food!

Japanese from Scratch is a new Japanese language and culture workshop from the Japan Foundation London, suitable for those who are interested in learning Japanese but haven’t started yet, or those who have just started learning.

This month’s workshop theme is “Let’s Eat Japanese Food!”

The course will teach you to:

:: Identify different kinds of Japanese food, by their correct Japanese name

:: Exchange simple greetings in Japanese and say basic phrases with appropriate manners

:: Use chopsticks correctly and elegantly

:: Eat Japanese food like a connoisseur

In this workshop, you can learn how to:

• Identify different kinds of Japanese food, by their correct Japanese name
• Exchange simple greetings in Japanese and say basic phrases with appropriate manners
• Use chopsticks correctly and elegantly
• Eat Japanese food like a connoisseur

The course will be led by Seiji Fukushima, Chief Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation London. Instructions and explanations will be in English. Please click here for more information, including the timetable.

The course fee is £20.00, which includes an authentic Japanese meal at a London restaurant. This must be paid in cash on the day of the event. Please note that the dishes served at this event are representative of typical Japanese cuisine, and vegetarian options are limited.

Advance booking is essential. This workshop is limited to 25 people – first come, first served.

The deadline to apply is March 21st.

For more information click here.

Japan — 日本

JAPAN — 日本

Presso COMBINES XL  GALLERY,

via Montevideo, 9

Mostra fotografica e presentazione del libro – progetto realizzato lungo un viaggio durato 12 mesi in Giappone  .

Vernissage: 8 marzo 2012 ore 18.30 /22.30 – Cocktail by Midori

Sound Curated by Kisk (Apparel Music)

‎Combines XL Gallery , l’associazione atelier spazio Xpo’  e Spazi Possibili sono lieti di comunicare l’evento charity che inaugurerà l’8 marzo-2012.

Si tratta della mostra fotografica e presentazione del libro intitolato:

JAPAN — 日本

Autori e fotografi: Tina Bagué (Barcelona, 1974), Toru Morimoto (Akashi, Japan, 1972)

Testi di: Carlos Rubio, Tina Bagué,Toru Morimoto

Un momento importante di analisi e riflessione per immagini sul Giappone contemporaneo, a quasi un anno di distanza dalla prima catastrofe seguita in diretta con i canali web 2.0 da tutto il mondo tecnologicamente sviluppato.

Si tratta dell’ opening di una mostra fotografica di scatti realizzati durante un progetto itinerante che raccontano un Giappone inconsueto dai clichè. Scatti a colori e bianco e nero realizzati lungo un viaggio  affrontato dai due fotografi, durato 42.000 KM, per 12 mesi.

La mostra sarà introdotta da Christian Gancitano, esperto di culture “asian pop”, arte, costume  e società giapponesi che parlerà di questo interessante progetto di qualità ma anche dell’attuale situazione del Giappone, del movimento antinuclearista che sta crescendo in modo significativo, della percezione dei problemi che questa grande nazione ha considerato primari subito dopo il grande terremoto e la “grande onda” TSUNAMI, già prevista peraltro dalle stampe “Ukiyo-e” con il famoso soggetto de “la grande onda” di Hokusai. Una nazione che si pone il problema dell’approvvigionamento  energetico e di mantenimento dello sviluppo economico, che dopo le bombe atomiche subite durante la seconda guerra mondiale ha saputo divenire la seconda potenza economica mondiale, superata di recente solo dalla Cina.

Un fotografo giapponese e una fotografa di Barcelona, una relazione ideale tra lo sguardo orientale e occidentale che spesso si fondono e si confrontano, per raccontare con le immagini il Giappone attuale nella sua realtà ancora “fluttuante” e per molti aspetti tutta da scoprire.

Mostra fotografica e catalogo tradotto in 4 lingue (inglese, spagnolo, giapponese e francese)

Il 10% del ricavato della vendita delle fotografie andrà alla prefettura di Fukushima in beneficienza ai bambini rimasti orfani dopo la tragedia dello TSUNSAMI dell’11-marzo-2011.

Il libro-catalogo è stato presentato per la prima volta il 31 ottobre 2011
presso l’importante galleria di Konica Minolta Plaza a Tokyo, insieme alla mostra.

La seconda release è stata presso la Galleria “The Private Space” di Barcellona nel novembre 2011. Finalmente il progetto arriva in italia.

Presso COMBINES XL  GALLERY

Via Montevideo, 9 – Milano

opening: 8 marzo 2012 ore 18.30 /22.30

interverranno gli autori

esposizione dall’8 marzo al 14 aprile 2012

INFO: 02 8323229

Per maggiori informazioni sul progetto cliccare qui.

Lessons from Japan’s Disaster

22 March 2012, 6:00 – 7:00pm

Chatham House, 10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE

The Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011 inflicted unprecedented damage on Japan. The social and economic turmoil continues to this day. The disaster exceeded all assumptions that the nation had made to date, unleashing catastrophic damage of unimaginable magnitude. The release of radioactive substances into the environment from the troubled Fukushima nuclear power plant has spread fear about the contamination of agricultural products and about other ramifications. Power shortages caused by reduced electricity generating capacity have extended economic disruption far beyond the areas immediately affected to the country as a whole. Japan’s experience is under scrutiny around the world from the perspective of crisis management. Meanwhile, in the wake of the disaster, people from all over the world extended warm support and encouragement to Japan. This resulted in Japan becoming the world’s largest recipient of aid for the year 2011. (Lessons from the Disaster: Risk management and the compound crisis presented by the Great East Japan Earthquake, edited by Yoichi Funabashi and Heizo Takenaka, The Japan Times, 2011)

The editors of the book believe that they can best repay the world for its interest and concern by reporting on the lessons Japan has learned from the disaster. In the seminar, Professor Takenaka will argue that the current crisis is a “comprehensively linked crisis” and will examine the impact the disaster inflicted on the Japanese economy as a whole, while Dr Funabashi will discuss the “failure” of the governance, calling the nuclear emergency at Fukushima a “man-made crisis”.

Dr Yoichi Funabashi

Dr Yoichi Funabashi is the former Editor-in-Chief and Columnist for the Asahi Shimbun. While at theAsahi Shimbun, Dr Funabashi was selected a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and was appointed Visiting Fellow at the Institute for International Economics and Distinguished Guest Fellow at The Brookings Institution. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Crisis Group and currently serves as Director of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation. Funabashi graduated from the University of Tokyo and acquired his PhD from Keio University, where he is currently Guest Professor.

Professor Heizo Takenaka

Professor Heizo Takenaka is a graduate of Hitotsubashi University, where he earned a BA in Economics. After graduation, he joined the Japan Development Bank and later worked as Senior Economist in the Japanese Ministry of Finance. He was also a Visiting Associate Professor at Harvard University. During the period 2001–2006, Takenaka served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Koizumi as Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy, Minister of State for Financial Services, Minister of State for Privatization of the Postal Services, and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. Takenaka has a PhD in Economics from Osaka University, and is a professor in the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University.

Come Rain, Come Shine

17 March 2012, 2.00pm-Cine Lumiere

Lee Yoon-Ki I South Korea 2011 I 105 mins I Korean + English subtitles

UK Premiere

In this brilliantly crafted drama, a woman nonchalantly announces to her husband that she is leaving him for another man. On the day she is due to move out of their home, they both appear emotionless. All is seemingly normal, from their conversations about pasta recipes to booking a table at their favourite restaurant, until a torrential rain storm strikes.

Book now

Picasso and Modern British Art

15 February  –  15 July 2012

Picasso remains the twentieth century’s single most important artistic figure, a towering genius who changed the face of modern art.

In a major new exhibition at Tate Britain, Picasso and Modern British Art explores his extensive legacy and influence on British art, how this played a role in the acceptance of modern art in Britain, alongside the fascinating story of Picasso’s lifelong connections to and affection for this country.

It brings together over 150 spectacular artworks, with over 60 stunning Picassos including sublime paintings from the most remarkable moments in his career, such asWeeping Woman 1937 and The Three Dancers 1925.

It offers the rare opportunity to see these celebrated artworks alongside seven of Picasso’s most brilliant British admirers, exploring the huge impact he had on their art: Duncan Grant, Wyndham Lewis, Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Graham Sutherland and David Hockney.

Picasso and Modern British Art is the first exhibition to trace Picasso’s rise in Britain as a figure of both controversy and celebrity. From his London visit in 1919, working on the scenery and costumes for Diaghilev’s ballet The Three Cornered Hat; to his post-war reputation and political appearances; leading up to the phenomenally successful 1960 Tate exhibition.

Full of beautiful and inspirational artworks, this exhibition is an unmissable treat and a fascinating insight into how British art became modern.

In Memory of Tsunami Victims

 

In memory of tsunami victims this Blog observes two day silence.

Japan In A Day

Japan In A Day is an extraordinary project to create the definitive self-portrait of Japan today, filmed by you, inspired by Life in a Day. It is dedicated, with our deepest sympathy, to those who lost their lives and those who are suffering as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that struck east Japan last year.

At 00:00 on Sunday 11 March 2012, Ridley Scott and Fuji TV invite you to capture the reality and intimacy of your day.

The resulting film will be a powerful and moving snapshot of Japan today, which will premiere in cinemas, and be screened around the world.

http://www.youtube.com/japaninaday

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Chilsu Wa Mansu

March 08, 2012

Multi Purpose Hall, KCCUK

Chilsu, a talented young artist, makes his living painting theatrical posters. He quits his job to join Mansu painting billboards. Chilsu dreams of joining his sister in the United States, but loses contact with her. Mansu’s father has long been a political prisoner. The two men spend their free time at discos and drinking with their student friend Jin-A. After Mansu’s fathers is denied leave for his hwangab, or 60th birthday celebration, and they discover that Jin-A has entered an arranged marriage, the two climb onto a roof over a billboard they have painted and begin venting their frustrations at the crowd below.

Can the Democratic Party finally raise Japan’s consumption tax?

Lecture details:

8 March 2012

6:00 – 7:00pm, followed by a drinks reception to 7:45pm

Daiwa Foundation Japan House

Organised by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation

Japan has one of the highest levels of government borrowing in the world. Many commentators agree that an increase in the Consumption Tax rate (currently 5%) is inevitable sooner or later. But such an increase would disproportionately hit the poor, so it is highly contentious.

This lecture discusses the politics of raising the Consumption Tax, and in particular the reasons why the discussion has moved forward during the time that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has been in power.

A number of institutional changes resulted from political reforms enacted in the 1990s. These reforms, including changes to the electoral system to introduce single-seat constituencies, resulted in a weakening of habatsu(factions) and zoku-giin (political tribes) within the political parties. At the same time, the reforms strengthened the authority of party executives in the policy-making process. Professor Kamikubo will argue that these institutional changes have given additional momentum to the push to increase the consumption tax increase, and that significant progress has been made under the current DPJ regime.

But it remains unclear whether the Noda government can push through tax increases and improve Japan’s budget position, because of strong opposition in the nejire-kokkai (“twisted Diet”). This lecture will assess the Noda government’s chances of success in reforming the tax system.

Dr Masato Kamikubo

Dr Masato Kamikubo is Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, and has a PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick. His research interests are contemporary Japanese politics, public administration, and international political economy. Kamikubo was a former Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Rikkyo University and the School of International Liberal Studies (SILS), Waseda University. He was also Assistant Professor at Waseda University Global COE Program: Global Institute for Asian Regional Integration (GIARI). Kamikubo publishes various articles about Japanese politics in magazines and on-line journals, such as Chuo Koron (Central Review).

BOOKING FORM

Patterns of Shadows by Pip Dickens

6 Mar 2012 to 17 Apr 2012

Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 5:00pm.

At the Daiwa Foundatin Japan House Gallery

Organised by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation

“…we find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates.” Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows.

Patterns of Shadows is an exhibition of oil paintings by Pip Dickens, derived from her research in Kyoto in 2011 as part of a Leverhulme Trust Award Artist in Residence project within the Music Department of the University of Huddersfield and collaboration with composer Professor Monty Adkins. The paintings (oil on canvas) draw upon colour, pattern, rhythm and vibration, associated with kimono fabrics and katagami stencils, and frequently juxtapose these with quieter, understated greys, shadows and subtle interplays of light. These extractive works observe distinctions within Japanese visual culture – sometimes celebratory, playful and exuberant, at other times subtle, introspective and reflective.  The works are produced using bespoke tools, combs and ‘dysfunctional’ brushes to produce intriguing oscillating effects set against quieter, meditative, colour fields. Dickens draws on references such as Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s essay on aesthetics, In Praise of Shadows, as well as her own private collection of katagami stencils and kimonos.

 

Pip Dickens (MFA Slade) is a painter concerned with visual perception, in particular, examining and challenging theories and methodologies of light and movement within the second dimension.  She has exhibited regularly in London, other areas of the UK, and also San Francisco, USA. She was shortlisted for the NatWest Art Prize (1997) and was the recipient of the Jeremy Cubitt Prize (Slade). She won the Edna Lumb Art Travel Prize (1995), and shortlisted for the Celeste Painting Prize 2009. A book – SHIBUSA-Extracting Beauty – including texts by Monty Adkins, Pip Dickens, arts writer Roy Exley and kimono designer Makoto Mori is to be published early in 2012. She also has a substantial solo exhibition, Toward the Light – Pip Dickens, at The Brindley Arts Centre, Cheshire (31 Mar – 12 May 2012), which is a Bradford Museums and Galleries touring exhibition.  www.pip-dickens.com