On April 28, 2020, Artist Kota Takeuchi screened and spoke about his short film “Blind Bombing, Filmed by a Bat” (32 min., 2019), which explores how balloon bombs were created, propagandized, and used in Japan during World War II. The film addresses the uses of remote technology for military purposes and proposes contrasts and continuities between

Dr. Shuny Yoshimi is Professor of Sociology, Cultural Studies, and Media Studies at the University of Tokyo. He is the author of many books on cultural theory, urban culture, international expositions, media culture, information technology, the emperor system, and Americanization in modern Japan and East Asia. He spoke at the University of Washington campus in

Tomoya Kato of Tendo Mokko Furniture Manufacturers (Tendo, Japan) spoke at the University of Washington campus in Seattle on March 29, 2017. He discussed the work of Tendo Mokko in his lecture, Crafting Wood for the 21st Century. This talk was part of the Department of Architecture Spring 2017 lecture series and was sponsored by

Yumi Kori is a Japanese-born artist and architect based in New York and Tokyo. She established Studio MYU Architects in Tokyo in 1986; she is Professor at Osaka Institute of Technology, Design and Architecture. She spoke at the University of Washington campus in Seattle on February 28, 2018. Her lecture was titled “Between Art and

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, PhD student Ross Henderson presented “A Fistful of Incense: Basara 婆娑羅 and the Medieval Origins of Japanese Maximalism” as part of the Washin Kai Lecture Series. In the talk, Ross examined the roots of maximalist Japanese visual culture through the concept of basara 婆娑羅, a medieval expression stemming back to a distinctive aesthetic and

What impact is the Trump administration having on Japan’s role in the world? How is Japan shaping international relations economically and politically as a result? Takako Hikotani (Columbia University) gave her talk “Stepping Up (Is hard to do?)” on April 19, 2018, as part of the Griffith and Patricia Way lecture series. Hikotani’s recent article

As part of the 2015-2016 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series, esteemed architect and professor Kengo Kuma delivered a series of lectures focused on creating a more sustainable Japan. Over the course of two days, his lectures focused on the architectural aspects and actions that could be taken to help contribute to this vision. His first lecture—entitled

The Japan Studies Program was pleased to welcome Hitoshi Abe as he delivered a two-part lecture and panel discussion for the 2015-2016 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series. On January 13th, he shared his insight and work related to the rebuilding efforts of post 3.11. Abe is professor and chair of the UCLA Department of Architecture &

Yoshihiko Miyauchi continued the 2014-2015 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series with a talk that looked at the changing Japanese corporation and entrepreneurship from WWII to the present day. As a Japanese business icon and ORIX corporation senior chairman, Miyauchi demonstrated the changes in entrepreneurship through a close examination of ORIX’s experience from the post-war high economic

As part of the 2014-2015 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series, Taro Kono gave a talk about Japan’s changing energy dynamics in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Taro Kono is a member of the Japan National Diet House of Representatives. A graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Rep. Kono is currently serving his 6th term in