Events by year: 2019

3 October 2019

Private View: The Post-Anthropocene by Naoya Inose

The Private View was a chance to have a first look at the exhibition The Post-Anthropocene by the London-based Japanese artist Naoya Inose. The main work in this exhibition, Ave Maria, depicts a Ferris wheel quietly enshrined in a huge cave. This Ferris wheel left by humans is a metaphor of humanity itself and it slowly rotates, climbing up and plunging down from top to bottom. Indeed, the Ferris wheel embodies the time constraints by which humanity is bound. If life and death are the motif of the Ferris wheel, the Ferris wheel in the work Ave Maria has stopped, and time restrictions no longer exist.

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24 September 2019

Space Exploration – the Future of Human Progress?

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. 50 years on, the possibilities of space have multiplied, with governments and private companies attempting to take advantage of various opportunities. This seminar looked at developments in space technology and their effects on society. Lynn Zoenen talked about the Japanese company ispace’s attempts to create a world where the earth and moon are part of the same ecosystem, beginning with their efforts to find water on the moon using the Hakuto space rover. Ian Crawford discussed the potential long-term scientific benefits of space resources.

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12 September 2019

Noh 120919

Noh X Contemporary Music

In this seminar, Ryoko Aoki talked about Noh and her collaborations with contemporary classical musicians. Ryoko studied Shite-kata (lead role performance) with the Kanze school of Noh, and she is currently working with contemporary composers to create and perform new works that use “Utai” (recitation) – the vocal music of Noh. 

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11 September 2019

Plea Bargains – Japan’s approach to corporate crime, similar to DPAs?

Following the introduction of the Japanese “plea bargaining” system last year, Japanese prosecutors began to pursue white-collar crimes. This system, at first glance, seems similar to Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA). However, a closer analysis reveals significant differences between the systems, especially in terms of the incentive structures they create. In this seminar, we reviewed these differences, taking into account the cultural differences between Japan and England and Wales, and explored the legal tools available in the fight against global corporate criminality.

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26 July 2019

Japan's Economic Diplomacy

Faced with wide-ranging challenges in the global economy, including trade tensions and increasing calls to reform the WTO, the world needs strong leadership to uphold the multilateral trading system. Mr. Shingo Yamagami, Director General of the Economic Affairs Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a seasoned expert in international law and intelligence, shed light on Japan’s economic diplomacy. He discussed Japan’s recent chairmanship of the G20, the conclusion of TPP11 and the Japan-EU EPA, and how Japan and the UK can play a greater role in supporting a strong rules-based trading system.

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20 July 2019

The myriad worlds of manga - GOLDEN KAMUY

Manga is a visual form of narrative storytelling, which can extend people’s understanding of the world. The manga Golden Kamuy reveals a dramatic and inspiring storyline replete with cultural diversity, violence, adventures of survival, and love. It reveals the complex history and lifestyles of mainland Japanese settlers and indigenous Ainu people in Hokkaido during the Meiji era. In this talk Ōkuma Hakko, editor of Golden Kamuy, spoke about the story behind the creation of this manga; Kaizawa Tôru, an Ainu artist, shared his view on Golden Kamuy; and Nicole Rousmaniere, curator of the British Museum’s current Citi Exhibition Manga, spoke about the exhibition.

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4 July 2019

Kentaro Yamada in conversation with Mark Rappolt (Art Review)

The artist Kentaro Yamada discussed his work and exhibition Everything Comes in Waves with Mark Rappolt, the Editor-in-Chief of ArtReview and ArtReview Asia. Yamada creates poetic installations and structures that allow viewers to experience encounters of human life and material history. In this exhibition, Yamada presents a combination of new and old works, which will include light installations, dyeline prints and a series of sculptural objects as a poetic installation, creating a space to experience encounters of human creativity and materials, and the two coming together as one, as part of a larger Life in cosmic space and time.

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1 July 2019

The role of design in a new digital era

Over the past 35 years, information has become increasingly digitalised, and this has also transformed the realm of design. In the digital era, design plays a crucial role in creating a more resilient, resourceful and sustainable society. Businesses across all industries rely on design and branding to improve their operations and respond to changes in culture, society and markets, while institutions frequently use design to express their cultural and historical values. This seminar explored the role of design and innovation and its impact on society.

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25 June 2019

The spread of hate speech

Hate speech is a phenomena occurring globally to which neither the UK nor Japan are immune. In the UK, there has been a recent rise in hate crimes, whilst in Japan anti-Korean hate speech comes from both right-wing movements and prominent public figures. Adding to the issue is that ease with which messages of hate can be posted online. Combatting hate speech is therefore a pressing but complex challenge. This seminar will look at patterns of hate speech in the UK and Japan, exploring the forms that hate speech takes, the challenges in eradicating it and the limitations of current measures.

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21 June 2019

Digital technology as a bridge between art and society

The rapid evolution of digital technology is re-shaping traditional ways of practising both science and art. Technology provides an interception point that brings together these fields, generating beneficial interactions that support innovation and transformation. In this seminar chaired by Ghislaine Boddington, we explored the symbiotic relationship between digital technologies, art and science, and look at the implications for society.

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21 June 2019

Depicting the future of AI through Art

Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into society, blurring traditional boundaries between humans and technology. Using the ‘AI: More than Human’ exhibition at the Barbican Centre as a reference point, this seminar explored the relationship between AI and the arts. Dr Yoichi Ochiai, a Japanese media artist and scientist, talked about his art works and projects that use AI; Dr Suzanne Livingston, curator of the Barbican exhibition, discussed the exhibition; and Dr Drew Hemment talked about the role of AI in the arts based on findings from his research. The seminar was chaired by Dr Maria Chatzichristodoulou.

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11 June 2019

The 5G Global Race: Where do Japan and the UK stand?

The global race towards the next generation of computer and phone networks, known as 5G, has already begun. 5G is expected to support a future of robots, autonomous vehicles, AI and many other technologies; however there are also concerns of espionage and data vulnerability and governments are currently deciding the best strategy for deploying the technology. This seminar looked at 5G, discussing the potential applications of the technology and the implications for society, the current 5G global competition and the UK government’s attitude towards it.

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