What's On & Upcoming Events in Japan
Check out the most up-to-date listings of what's going on in Japan right now or in the near future, including fun activities, art exhibitions, festivals, parties, food markets, flea markets, sporting events, fairs, concerts, and more.
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Takashi Murakami - Mononoke Kyoto
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Kyoto City Museum of Art, a large-scale solo exhibition featuring Takashi Murakami, a leading figure in contemporary art, is being held. Murakami, who has had a deep interest in Edo-period painters since his early career, has created a new monumental piece along with representative series and works being shown for the first time in Japan, totaling approximately 170 pieces, the majority of which are new works. Set against the backdrop of Kyoto, where various forms of entertainment and art have thrived and intersected since the Edo period, this exhibition showcases Murakami's exploration of this cultural dynamic. For Murakami, who has primarily worked internationally, this marks his first large-scale solo exhibition in Japan in nearly eight years and the first outside of Tokyo. https://takashimurakami-kyoto.exhibit.jp/en/
Sunshine Aquarium Special Exhibition of Poisonous Creatures "Modokuten"
Poison is a chemical substance that is harmful to life or health. Some living things have acquired poisons through various survival strategies. Why not learn about the diversity of creatures thatcoexist with humans on this earth from the theme of “poison”? This invites you to the world of poison. https://sunshinecity.jp/file/aquarium/modoku_kiwami/
Giorgio De Chirico: Metaphysical Journey in Tokyo
Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978)—one of the great masters of the 20th century. The "metaphysical paintings" (works expressing a surreal world through enigmatic landscapes and still lifes) that de Chirico began to produce around 1910 exercised a profound influence on the artists and international art movements.Dividing de Chirico’s roughly 70-year painting career in some themes—such as “Piazza d'Italia (Italian Piazza),” “Metaphysical Interior” and “Mannequin”—this exhibition will cover the entire range of his artistic output, from early to late-period works. It will be the first large-scale exhibition to be held in Japan in a decade, in which the world that de Chirico created is fully explored. https://dechirico.exhibit.jp/
HILTON TOKYO’S BEER GARDEN IN THE SKY OPEN-AIR IBIZA SUMMER ISLAND STYLE TERRACE & BAR
Hilton Tokyo’s popular ‘Beer Garden in the Sky’ returns, this time inspired by the summer vibes of Ibiza Island in Spain. Toast the early summer nights enjoying with authentic Spanish cuisine, featuring pintxos and tapas, along with a selection of Spanish beers, wines, and a variety of craft gin cocktails in a soothing open-air atmosphere.Experience the lively atmosphere of an open-air club, evoking Ibiza's sophisticated club culture, with exciting DJ performances every Friday and Saturday night. https://tokyo.hiltonjapan.co.jp/plans/restaurants/dinner/beer-garden-en
Trio: Modern Art Collections from Paris, Tokyo and Osaka
Paris, Tokyo, and Osaka: collections from three museums in these cities, each of which has nurtured its own unique culture, will come together. The Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris on the banks of the Seine River, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo near the Imperial Palace, and the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka in the center of Osaka City, have all built rich collections of modern art as museums in major cities. This exhibition is an unprecedented and unique experiment in which works from the collections of the three museums that have something in common are selected to form a number of trios. The commonalities among the works included in each of the freely conceived trios are various, including subject matters, motifs, colors and shapes, materials, and the context in which the works were created, regardless of the era, school, or Eastern/Western backgrounds. The exhibition consists of 34 trios of more than 150 works, including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, designs, and videos by 110 artists, presented in seven chapters according to themes and concepts to propose a new way of viewing modern art from the early 20th century to the present day and to highlight its appeal. https://www.momat.go.jp/en/exhibitions/558
Takehisa Yumeji: Taisho Romanticism and the New World
Commemorating 140th birthday of Takehisa Yumeji, this exhibition displays his works, including materials that are displayed for the first time. This exhibition is a great opportunity to see the fascinating works of Takehisa Yumeji.Details:https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/exhibition/240601-0825_yumeji/ (English)https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/exhibition/240601-0825_yumeji/ (Japanese)
Haunted House Walking through hell with a baby
Tokyo Dome City Attractions' annual summer haunted house is making its debut at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. "Baby Hell" is a revival of "Advance While Holding a Baby," which was held at Tokyo Dome City Attractions in 1996 and 2016. The story begins with the union of a man from the spirit world and a woman from the human world, resulting in the birth of a child. Participants will take on the mission of delivering a separated baby back to its mother, experiencing a terrifying entertainment that will chill them to the bone, cooling off the summer heat. https://at-raku.com/akanboujigoku/
Manuscripts from the Naito Collection in the National Museum of Western Art
In 2015, the National Museum of Western Art received a donation of a collection primarily consisting of manuscript leaves (individual pages separated from books) from Hiroshi Naito, an emeritus professor at the University of Tsukuba and Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences. This exhibition, centered around the Naito Collection, features approximately 150 items, including pieces from university libraries across Japan. It showcases the roles and decorative features of manuscripts that were widely used during the Middle Ages, such as Bibles, poetry compilations, books of hours, and choir books. https://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/exhibitions/2024manuscript.html
The Impact of Hokusai’s Great Wave : Under the Wave off Kanagawa —Tracing Its Origins and Trajectory-
In July 2024, a new 1,000 yen bill featuring Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" from his series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" was issued. To commemorate this, an exploration of the background of "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," commonly known as the Great Wave overseas, and its various uses and influences throughout history will be presented. The exhibition will delve into the creation of this iconic artwork and its widespread recognition and application globally. https://hokusai-museum.jp/modules/Exhibition/?lang=en
The 2024 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition in Italy
Every year, the Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF), an international trade show, is held in Bologna, Italy, and alongside it, the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition takes place. This exhibition showcases the winning works from the illustration competition organized by the BCBF. In 2024, marking the 58th edition of the event, there were 3,520 submissions from 81 countries and regions, with 78 winners, including four Japanese artists. All the winning works will be displayed together, and as a special exhibition, original illustrations from the new picture book by Andrea Antinori, who won the Bologna SM Publisher Award in 2023, will also be showcased. https://www.city.itabashi.tokyo.jp/artmuseum/4000016/4001836/4001848.html
The Sodeisha Group: An Era Born Out of Avant-garde Ceramics
“The Sodeisha Group: An Era Born Out of Avant-garde Ceramics” re-examines the avant-garde ceramic group called Sodeisha, established in Kyoto prefecture in 1948. The Sodeisha group lasted for 50 years and played an important role in the history of Japanese contemporary ceramics.This exhibition focuses on the first 25 years of the Sodeisha group (from 1948 to 1973), shedding light on all of the members during then－whose works still remain. Out of the 42 members, works by 32 members are presented. Additionally, there are various documents and works by other avant-garde ceramic groups that were formed at that time, in order to look at this period from a wider perspective. https://www.musee-tomo.or.jp/en/current_exhibition.html
DinoScience Dinosaur Science Expo - The Dinosaur Story of Laramidia Continent 2024 in Osaka
The interactive dinosaur exhibition "DinoScience Dinosaur Science Expo," which has attracted over 290,000 visitors, is making its debut in the Kansai region. Set in the lost continent of Laramidia, which existed from about 100 million to 66 million years ago in what is now western North America, the exhibit features a variety of fossil skeletons, including the nearly complete "Rain" fossil. https://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/event/dino_science/
The Hirosaki Neputa Festival
The Hirosaki Neputa Festival, an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, is a renowned summer event held from August 1st to 7th. Featuring approximately 80 floats decorated with heroic warrior paintings on the front and melancholic scenes on the back, the festival draws over 1.6 million spectators annually. The parade includes fan-shaped "fan neputa" and doll-shaped "kumi neputa," with charming "goldfish neputa" carried by children. The festival's name "neputa" in Hirosaki contrasts with "nebuta" in Aomori, reflecting regional differences and the festival's agricultural origins. https://aomori-tourism.com/event/detail_26.html
The Aomori Nebuta Festival
The Aomori Nebuta Festival, one of the three major festivals in Tohoku and a designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, features "doll nebuta" floats followed by dancers called "haneto" chanting "Rassera, Rassera." Held annually from August 2nd to 7th, the festival's highlights include the nightly parades of floats and the grand finale on August 7th. The finale features six award-winning floats parading on boats in Aomori Port, accompanied by over 10,000 fireworks from the Aomori Fireworks Festival. https://www.nebuta.jp/foreign/english.html
Ukiyo-e Haunted House
This exhibition showcases a variety of ukiyo-e prints depicting eerie yokai and vengeful ghosts, featuring works by renowned artists like Utagawa Kuniyoshi and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. The display includes approximately 170 pieces, with all works being rotated between two phases. Additionally, 38 newly acquired pieces by the Ōta Memorial Museum of Art are being exhibited for the first time, offering a unique chance to see freshly added ukiyo-e prints focused on supernatural themes. http://www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp/obakeyashiki/
Giorgio De Chirico: Metaphysical Journey in Kobe
Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978)—one of the great masters of the 20th century. The "metaphysical paintings" (works expressing a surreal world through enigmatic landscapes and still lifes) that de Chirico began to produce around 1910 exercised a profound influence on the artists and international art movements.Dividing de Chirico’s roughly 70-year painting career in some themes—such as “Piazza d'Italia (Italian Piazza),” “Metaphysical Interior” and “Mannequin”—this exhibition will cover the entire range of his artistic output, from early to late-period works. It will be the first large-scale exhibition to be held in Japan in a decade, in which the world that de Chirico created is fully explored. https://dechirico.exhibit.jp/
Special Exhibition WASHOKU: Nature and Culture in Japanese Cuisine in Nagano
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Washoku's inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the National Museum of Nature and Science will present the special exhibition of Washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine). This exhibition aims to introduce Washoku, which is attracting increasing attention around the world, from various perspectives including science and history, through a diverse range of specimens and exhibits. https://washoku2023.exhibit.jp/en.html
Haniwa Tomb Sculptures of Japan - TOKYO
"Haniwa" refers to unglazed clay figurines arranged in ancient tombs known as kofun, which were the graves of kings. Their origins date back approximately 1750 years ago. Over the 350 years of the Kofun period, diverse haniwa were crafted, each reflecting the era and region, offering insights into the people surrounding the kings and the lifestyle of the time. Among them, the national treasure "Haniwa: Armored Warrior" is considered a masterpiece. To commemorate the 50th anniversary since its designation as a national treasure, a special exhibition will showcase around 120 selected treasures from across the country, marking an unprecedented gathering. From simple and "relaxed" figures to charming animals, and from elaborate armor to household items, the exhibition is packed with the allure of haniwa. Please look forward to the haniwa exhibition held at the Tokyo National Museum, the first in about half a century. https://haniwa820.exhibit.jp/
Special Exhibition WASHOKU: Nature and Culture in Japanese Cuisine in Aichi
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Washoku's inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the National Museum of Nature and Science will present the special exhibition of Washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine). This exhibition aims to introduce Washoku, which is attracting increasing attention around the world, from various perspectives including science and history, through a diverse range of specimens and exhibits. https://washoku2023.exhibit.jp/en.html
Haniwa Tomb Sculptures of Japan - FUKUOKA
"Haniwa" refers to unglazed clay figurines arranged in ancient tombs known as kofun, which were the graves of kings. Their origins date back approximately 1750 years ago. Over the 350 years of the Kofun period, diverse haniwa were crafted, each reflecting the era and region, offering insights into the people surrounding the kings and the lifestyle of the time. Among them, the national treasure "Haniwa: Armored Warrior" is considered a masterpiece. To commemorate the 50th anniversary since its designation as a national treasure, a special exhibition will showcase around 120 selected treasures from across the country, marking an unprecedented gathering. From simple and "relaxed" figures to charming animals, and from elaborate armor to household items, the exhibition is packed with the allure of haniwa. https://haniwa820.exhibit.jp/
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