13 December 2012
The editor will introduce this book, which is account of the 1582 Japanese Embassy to Europe. This book is an account of the travels of these four Japanese pioneers, their long journeys and their 20 months in Europe being received by popes and kings.The present edition is the first complete version of this rich, complex and impressive work to appear in English
More info6 December 2012
As part of Nao Matsunaga’s exhibition, My Primal Memory at the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, musician Hibiki Ichikawa will join the special event Improvising within Tradition. Both Matsunaga and Hibiki’s practices stem from training in traditional forms, providing a framework within which they improvise and react to their environment. The event brings together the unique qualities of two different forms, with informative conversation on the history of Tsugaru Shamisen.
More info29 November 2012
After becoming President of Olympus, Michael Woodford became aware of some large unexplained payments the company had made in relation to overseas acquisitions. He kicked up a fuss, only to be dismissed by the company’s board. He had stumbled on one of Japan’s largest loss-hiding schemes. This scandal led to the arrest of seven Olympus executives. Woodford introduced his new book, giving us the inside story.
More info22 November 2012
KanZeOn is part documentary, part sensory exploration of sound, revealing a rarely seen view of Japanese culture through ancient rituals and musical spectacle. Largely shot in Kyushu, the film revolves around three figures in whose lives music and religion plays a central part. The co-directors talked about the development of the film and its accompanying projects.
More info16 November 2012
Professor Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere discussed her book ‘Vessels of Influence,’ which examines in depth the role of Chinese ceramics in Japan, also delveing into the meaning, motivation for, and rapid development of Japanese porcelain from many angles, including archaeology, heirloom and documentary evidence.
More info13 November 2012
This talk will be given by the artist of My Primal Memory, Nao Matsunaga, and Abraham Thomas, Curator of Designs and Lead Curator for Architecture at the V&A Museum.In the exhibition My Primal Memory, Nao Matsunaga responds to his ideas and experiences of dual cultural and national identity and although this is a deeply personal investigation, his work references ancient universal themes concerning the human condition.
More info7 November 2012
International peacekeeping for military forces took on a new significance after the end of the Cold War which lead to suppressed regional tensions reappearing. Since 2000, Western nations and their allies have found themselves in a range of operations, from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa. Both the UK and Japan have adapted their use of armed forces to meet these challenges. How have the two countries reacted to these challenges and what lessons can they learn from each other?
More info1 November 2012
Hiroshi Ashikaga’s practice is centred on the notion of time. His images are initially captured with a pinhole camera then developed into film footage. He was awarded a grant by Tokyo Wonder Site to come to the UK on a research trip to study pre-historic monuments such as Stonehenge, and later places of worship such as medieval chapels. His new body of film work was based on his visits to sacred sites, and the idea of prayer and worship.
More info30 October 2012
Cyber-security threats are becoming more and more significant, not only for states, but also for companies and individuals. The UK is now facing cyber-attacks on an unprecedented scale and they continue to increase, ranging in sophistication from low-end criminal activity to highly-sophisticated operations. Terrorists now have no need to use nuclear bombs, since cyber-attacks on nuclear power stations potentially could have devastating effects, as suggested by the Fukushima accident last year.
More info25 October 2012
On the face of it, Japan and Britain have similar parliamentary systems. Both countries are parliamentary democracies under a monarchy, and both have a bicameral system in which the Upper House acts as a check on the Lower House. But in practice, they work very differently. The speakers discussed in what ways the two countries’ parliaments differ, and what the two countries could learn from each other.
More info23 October 2012
Even before the meltdowns at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, the global energy sector was in a period of uncertainty caused by a variety of factors. Professor Catherine Mitchell and Antony Froggatt discussed how governments in Japan and Germany have responded to public concerns and revised engineering and economic assessments to abandon or reduce their nuclear ambitions and why some governments around the world may be continuing or even expanding their nuclear plans.
More info18 October 2012
This private view will celebrate the opening of the exhibition My Primal Memory by Nao Matsunaga, which will run until December 13th at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House. In this exhibition the artist responds to his ideas and experiences of dual cultural and national identity, reflecting on his formative years growing up in Japan, and the latter part of his childhood in England. Although this is a deeply personal investigation, his work references ancient universal themes concerning the human condition.
More info
