The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Supporting closer links between the UK and Japan

What's on

Symbols of Esteem: Courtly Gifts in the British Royal Collection

The royal and imperial families of Britain and Japan have enjoyed a dynamic relationship for over four centuries. Exchanging diplomatic gifts has been central to this interaction, and many of the works of art presented are replete with symbolism. From the 16-petalled imperial chrysanthemum, to cranes, phoenixes and the ‘three-friends-of-winter’ motif, emblems have been carefully selected to express political and personal friendship. This lecture will explore how courtly gift-giving drew on ancient symbols to forge new cultural links. It will examine the role of the Japanese landscape, East Asian mythology and European heraldry in giving visual form to courtly goodwill.

More info

Tokyo Story

Ozu Yasujirō’s Tokyo Story is universally acknowledged as one of the most significant Japanese films ever made, and regularly cited as one of the greatest films of all time in polls of leading critics and filmmakers around the world. Professor Alastair Phillips (University of Warwick), author of a new BFI Film Classic on Tokyo Story, will give an extended illustrated talk on the film. The presentation will combine a close analysis of the film’s key locations with discussion of its representation of Japanese society at a time of great cultural change. He will also situate Tokyo Story within various contemporary critical and industrial contexts and examine the multiple international dimensions of the film’s long after-life.

More info

Latest news

29 September 2022

50 years since the Okinawa Reversion - Interview No. 2: Chо̄kei Futenma, Director of the Himeyuri Peace Museum

This year marks 50 years since the reversion of Okinawa to Japan. We look back at the past half-century and use interviews with Okinawan people to consider from various perspectives the current situation in Okinawa, whose history and culture are different from mainland Japan. The second interview is with Chо̄kei Futenma, Director of the Himeyuri Peace Museum. Mr. Futenma started working for the museum when it opened in 1989, and was appointed Director in 2018, becoming the first Director to be born after the War. We asked him about the Battle of Okinawa and his efforts to ensure it is not forgotten, from the opening of the museum up to the present, and continuing into the future.

Read on
Toggle navigation