Past Events

Japan-UK Collaboration in the Asia-Pacific Region: The Defence Capacity Building Assistance Programme

This January, Japan and United Kingdom Defence Ministers agreed to collaborate to support capacity building assistance in Southeast Asia. The Capacity Building Assistance Programme is the newest pillar of collaboration between our two countries. Director Mitsuko Hayashi and Captain Charles Ashcroft will provide an overview of the Programme and explore current activities and collaboration with partner countries.

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Daiwa Ichiban Lecture: Lionel Barber on “Britain after Brexit”

On 29 September 2016, in collaboration with the British Embassy in Tokyo, Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, spoke on the subject of “Britain after Brexit” at Ambassador Tim Hitchens’s Residence. This was the second lecture in the ongoing Daiwa Ichiban Lecture Series. In his speech, Barber recounted the historical significance of Europe for

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Social Inequality in Post-Growth Japan

In recent decades Japan has changed from a strongly growing, economically successful country regarded as prime example of social equality and inclusion to a country with a stagnating economy, a shrinking population and a very high proportion of elderly people. In this book launch, David Chiavacci, Takehiro Kariya and Peter Matanle will provide a comprehensive overview of inequality in contemporary Japan.

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Artist Talk: Blue Passages by Shino Yanai

Blue Passages documents Shino Yanai’s recent performance featuring video, photography, and salvaged objects. She followed the perilous mountain route between France and Spain that was made by the German Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin in his doomed attempt to escape the Nazis in 1940.

The artist will be joined by Dr Jonathan Whitehall to discuss ideas of migration, ethics and personal and public history in relation to her new exhibition, Blue Passages.

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Private View and Artist Talk: HIKARI by Aki Kondo

On 11 March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake hit the north-east coast of Japan. To those who experienced the earthquake, the world has irrevocably changed after the catastrophe. The exhibition title HIKARI, meaning “light,” represents the hope we need in order to live on after the disaster, and suggests that the victims are still with us in this world in the form of light. For the opening of the exhibition, Aki Kondo was joined in conversation by Jenny White, Head of Visual Arts Programme at the British Council.

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Enjoying Japanese Tea

Both the British and the Japanese love of tea is a ritualised part of daily life. Green tea is synonymous with Japan; however has been steadily growing in popularity right across Europe. In this event, we would like to introduce you to the world of Japanese tea and offer you the chance to try many different types of tea and matcha sweets!

This event is supported by UCC.

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High School and University Articulation Reforms: Revolutionising Education in Japan

In March 2016, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) published further education reforms. The purpose of these reforms, the most revolutionary and comprehensive since the Second World War, is to restructure Japan’s education system, equipping students with 21st century competencies such as independent thought, creativity and initiative. Professor Takashi Otani will examine the reaction to and impact of these reforms, and consider the issues Japanese education will face in the future.

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Private View: Beauty of Synthesis, Meditation and Traces (Ma) by Toshihiro Hamano

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Japan Festival, this exhibition of Toshihiro Hamano’s works will be held at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House Gallery. The exhibition, dedicated to the late Sir Peter and Lady Jill Parker and held in association with Brunswick Group LLP, will premiere Hamano’s latest artworks in London.

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Artist Talk: The Future of Public Art

In today’s ever-changing world, how exactly has our view of publicness, commons and common spaces evolved?

Artist Kenji Yamada and curator Jason Waite are interested in exploring the intricate details of spaces closed off from society and historical places that have evolved from cultural forces. In this talk, they will discuss possible approaches to publicness as well as potential futures in our socio-cultural world.

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Cook Japanese at Home

The title of Kimiko Barber’s new book ‘Cook Japanese At Home’ says it all. As a Japanese-born food writer and cookery teacher, Kimiko has been encouraging people to cook for many years. Although Japanese food has gained worldwide popularity, it is still considered somewhat ‘difficult’ to cook at home. In this talk, Kimiko aims to dispel this fear and to reveal the diversity of Japanese home cooking.

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Midori Komachi Solo Violin Recital: A Journey through Japanese and Western Roots

Midori Komachi will perform works for Solo Violin, exploring Japanese and Western connections. She will perform works by Bach, Ysaÿe and leading composers of today such as Toshio Hosokawa, Joji Yuasa, Toshi Ichiyanagi and Paul Patterson.

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After Basho: Sketches from the Poem Road

In this seminar, the artist Isao Miura will discuss ‘Sketches from the Poem Road’, the upcoming exhibition at Oxford Brookes University. The exhibition is the result of a creative collaboration between Isao Miura and poet Chris Beckett. The poet and artist undertake an interpretative journey in the footsteps of Matsuo Bashō and his 1689 trip which resulted in The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

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