The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University kicks off the 2024–2025 academic year with a book talk by Gustav Heldt, professor of Japanese literature at the University of Virginia.

This talk will outline several unique insights into Heian Japan provided by Ki no Tsurayuki's Tosa nikki (Tosa Diary), which is ostensibly the record of an ex-governor's voyage back to the capital kept by an anonymous woman in his entourage. The resulting split between fictional female narrator and historical male author has usually led Tosa nikki to be viewed as either the first Heian woman's memoir or the last aesthetic manifesto of one of the Japanese poetic tradition's foremost figures. In lieu of these narratives, it will be argued that the diary merits attention for the discursive practices, representational conventions, and non-elite social contexts it illuminates.

Preregistration is required by noon on Thursday, September 26. Click here for the Google Form.

About Gustav Heldt

Gustav Heldt specializes in the language, literature, and cultural history of Japan prior to contact with the West, with related interests in gender, poetics, narratology, ritual practices, comparative historiography, and myth. At the University of Virginia, he regularly teaches courses such as Survey of Japanese Literature and Introduction to Literary Japanese, as well as seminars on more specialized topics such as Japanese myth, the Tale of Genji, Japanese court women's literature, and medieval warrior tales.

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Susan McCormac 1/9/24 Susan McCormac 1/9/24

DIY Matcha Workshop at a-un Brooklyn

Nina Tea Salon “Matcha Tea DIY Workshop”

Sunday, January 21 at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 11 at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 25 at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

a-un Brooklyn — 156 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn

Admission: $35 plus tax

Welcome to Nina Tea Salon 2024

Nina Tea Salon presents a “Matcha Tea DIY Workshop” at a-un Brooklyn, a Japanese restaurant by the owner/chefs of Wasan Brooklyn. Using the finest premium matcha imported directly from Japan, Nina Tea Salon invites you to enjoy the beauty of authentic Japanese culture. Be enchanted by the harmonious pairing of this exquisite tea with handmade, seasonally inspired traditional desserts.

In these 30-minute sessions, Nina will guide participants on how to make a bowl of light matcha tea at home for yourself and your loved ones!

Three Levels of Learning

Level 1 — Preparation and tea-whisking technique
Level 2 — Purifying utensils
Level 3 — Combined techniques of Levels 1 and 2

The serene ambiance, the lingering aroma of freshly whisked matcha, the symphony of flavors, and the atmosphere both tradition and innovation will surely captivate your senses.

Seating is limited, so register by using this Google Form.

About A-un

The phrase "a-un no kokyuu," literally translating to the "breath of a-un," originates from an ancient Japanese idiom. This expression signifies a silent communication between two individuals who understand each other without the need for words.

Sake sommelier Toshi Koizumi and chef Kakusaburo Sakurai opened Wasan East Village in 2010 and Wasan Brooklyn in Park Slope, Brooklyn, five years later. Together they opened a-un Brooklyn last year. Over the years, as restaurant owners, they have found their a-un, strongly reaffirming the sheer joy and importance of serving the local community through their cuisine.

Susan McCormac 6/21/23 Susan McCormac 6/21/23

Experience Incense with Tea Ceremony

Samurai Tea Ceremony: Savoring Matcha and Incense

Saturday, June 24
Morning Session from 10:30 a.m. until noon
Afternoon Session from 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Globus Washitsu – 889 Broadway at E. 19th Street, PHC

Admission: $108.55

The world of tea ceremony is deep and full of various pleasures. In addition to drinking matcha together, people also enjoy flowers and incense together.

June, known as the rainy season, is Japan's wettest month before summer begins in earnest. While the high humidity makes it more comfortable to spend time indoors during this season, it has long been considered the best time to burn incense.

Although it is not practiced much anymore, there is a ritual in the world of the tea ceremony called kōshomō. In this ceremony, incense burned by the first guest is passed around and enjoyed by all participants. After the incense has calmed the mind, a cup of matcha tea becomes even more special. The Samurai Tea Ceremony will offer two types of incense.

In addition, Nagoshi Tofu will be served. It is a traditional Japanese custom to eat Nagoshi Tofu in June, when half of the year is over, to purge the impurities of the previous half year and to pray for good health for the remaining half year.

To register, please visit tea master Yoshitsugu Nagano’s Eventbrite page and select the session you would like to attend.

Yoshitsugu Nagano (far right) performs a tea ceremony at Globus Washitsu

About the Tea Master

Yoshitsugu Nagano is the youngest person to be certified in the highest rank of the Ueda Soukata school of samurai tea ceremony, which has been practiced in Hiroshima for four hundred years. He serves as a professor at the school.

In 2019, Nagano relocated to New York City, where he energetically promotes the spirituality and aesthetics of the Japanese tea ritual, rooted in Zen, through tea rituals and classes. He has also been working on and establishing new styles of modern tea ceremony that incorporate new expressions to create new ways of engaging with the traditional ritual.

Tea ceremony implements by Yoshitsugu Nagano

About the Japanese Tea Ritual

The ritual of Japanese tea has an 800-year history. Samurai warriors developed the tea ceremony as their essential practice to relax and preserve their mental health after battles. In addition to performing a tea ceremony, Nagano will also discuss Japanese history, culture, and most important, the relationship between samurai warriors and tea ceremony.

Globus Washitsu, the setting for the event, is a tatami-mat oasis with traditional Japanese architecture. Says Nagano, “You won’t find better place than this place to experience Japanese culture.”

Dress Code

Western-style clothes are acceptable, but please do not wear sleeveless shirts or short miniskirts. Bring a clean pair of white socks. Organizers will ask you to remove jewelry and watches.

For All Things Japanese in New York City, become a member of JapanCulture-NYC.com
and follow @JapanCultureNYC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Susan McCormac 6/5/23 Susan McCormac 6/5/23

Summer Festival: Japanese Food & Drinks

Night Market in Japan Village

Wednesday, June 14 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn

Admission: $12 Presale | $15 (after presale tickets are sold out)

The first epic Japan Night Market is coming to Japan Village in Industry City, Brooklyn! Night Market Summer Festival will kick off the 2023 season at Japan Village Brooklyn followed by Chelsea in July and Bushwick in August. Celebrate the early summer with mouthwatering Japanese foods and a selected special drink menu.

Upstairs NYC is turning all 20,000 square feet of Japan Village into a night market featuring a variety of food, drink, and crafts.

Food

Wagyu Sushi
Yakitori (Skewers)
Kushiage (Deep-fried Skewers)
Grilled Corn
Ikamaruyaki (Grilled Whole Squid)
Onigiri Rice Ball
Ramen
Curry Rice
Ube and Matcha Cheesecake
Mochi-Filled Cookies
And more!

The price range for food is $10-$15

Special Sake Selection

Sake from Japan by Kubota Sake
Brooklyn Cocktails with a sake spin by Brooklyn Kura and Kato Sake Works
Special Chu-Hi by Takara
Umeshu (plum sake) by Choya

This is a very rare sake experience with many brands in collaboration!

There will also be accessories, candles, outfits, crafts, and more available for purchase.

Japan Village’s large outdoor patio and lanterns offer the perfect backdrop for photos and add to the festive atmosphere! Plus, there will be a display of 100 Hello Kitty balloons! Come dressed in a yukata for the photo booth and make memories.

Night Market is open to the public. Your ticket grants you admission to the event as well as one free drink (sake, chu-hi, or a non-alcoholic beverage) and $5 off one menu item. To purchase tickets, please visit EventCreate.com.

About Upstairs NYC

Formed in 2022, Upstairs NYC is a non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to promoting friendly relations between New York and other countries. The organization focuses on fostering learning and community engagement across four pillars: arts and culture, lifestyle, technology, and food. Upstairs NYC regularly hosts panel discussions, experiential events, cultural celebrations, and socials. For more information, please visit Upstairs NYC’s website.

About Japan Village

The culture at Japan Village is rooted in omotenashi, a Japanese approach to great hospitality and a mutual respect for guests. The Industry City complex strives to create and nurture a strong Japanese community in Brooklyn. Their mission is to communicate Japanese culture and everyday life through the food served at the food hall and the plethora of ingredients and items that are available at Sunrise Mart. For more information, please visit Japan Village’s website.

Susan McCormac 5/24/23 Susan McCormac 5/24/23

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with an After Dark Tea Party

After Dark Tea Party

Thursday, May 25 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Wonderland Dreams by Alexa Meade – 529 5th Avenue

Admission: $40

Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Asian tea, food, and drinks by Asian-owned restaurants and shops at the spectacular Wonderland Dreams, a fun-filled festival bringing together diverse Asian American cultures inside and out!

Your ticket includes admission to Wonderland Dreams, where you can go down a rabbit hole of mad tea parties and secret rose gardens in a living gallery that puts you inside the artwork.

Explore Asian food and shop vendors (Price range: $10-$15)

Taiwanese Vegetable Sticky Rice
Japanese Ramen
Tokyo Fried Chicken
Matcha Cheesecake, Hojicha Cheesecake, Matcha Mochi-Filled Cookies
Tea Cocktails
Bubble Tea
Asian owned brands accessories, candles, crafts, cosmetics, and more!

Early-bird tickets are sold out, but you can receive a 12% discount if you use the promo code UP. To purchase tickets, please visit Event Create.

About Upstairs NY

About Wonderland Dreams

Wonderland Dreams by Alexa Meade brings to life the stories of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in an immersive, hand-painted exhibit. Located just steps from Bryant Park, every inch of this interactive exhibition space is hand-painted from floor to ceiling, allowing visitors to walk inside a multi-dimensional work of art. Learn more at their website.

Susan McCormac 5/9/23 Susan McCormac 5/9/23

Celebrate NYC-Japan Friendship at 2nd Annual Japan Parade

Japan Parade

Saturday, May 13 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Central Park West from 81st Street to 67th Street

Admission: Free

The second annual Japan Parade in New York City will be held on Saturday, May 13, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Starting on Central Park West at West 81st Street and traveling south to West 67th Street, the parade will celebrate, express, and bring awareness of the friendship between New York City and Japan with a thank you from the Japanese community. Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will be the Parade’s Grand Marshal. Former NY1 reporter Sandra Endo, current news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA, will serve as Emcee.

Official Japan Parade poster by art contest winner Gary Bitsicas

This year’s Japan Parade will feature a live performance by the cast of The 2.5-Dimensional show from Japan, “Live Spectacle ‘NARUTO.’” NARUTO is one of the most internationally recognized and popular manga series of all time. The franchise has sold more than 250 million copies worldwide to date. Written and illustrated by creator Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first published in Shueisha’s magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, where it was serialized and ran for 15 years.

ⒸMasashi Kishimoto, Scott/SHUEISHA/Live Spectacle “NARUTO” Production Committee 2022

JAPAN Fes at Japan Parade

Concurrently with the Japan Parade, the Japan Street Fair will be held on W. 72nd Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.

The Japan Street Fair will feature tents offering entertaining and educational cultural activities including calligraphy, water balloon yo-yo fishing, origami, photo opportunities, and a giveaway. In collaboration with JAPAN Fes, one of the largest organizers of Japanese food festivals in the world, hosting more than 20 Japanese food fair events a year in New York City, the Street Fair will also feature about 20 tents serving authentic Japanese food. The latest information on Japan’s many tourist destinations will be made available at other tents, and as with last year, there will also be a tent where visitors can donate to charitable causes that support victims of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The Japan Street Fair is your chance to experience a Japanese festival, or matsuri, unlike any other.

“I am truly honored to act as Grand Marshal for this year’s Japan Parade. My Japanese heritage is something I’m proud of and I’m happy to celebrate the goodwill of our relationship with Japan and the engagement and solidarity with the Japanese American community.”
—Kristi Yamaguchi

Participating groups include Anime NYC, COBU (Drum), Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir, International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan, The Japanese Folk Dance of NY, Katsura Sunshine (Rakugo Comedian), Midori & Friends (Music Education Group), Soh Daiko (Drum), TATE Hatoryu NY (Sword Fighting), Yosakoi Dance Project 10tecomai, Young People's Chorus of NYC, and many more.

The Diamond Sponsors of this year’s Japan Parade (as of April 5) include All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Hisamitsu America, Inc., Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited. The Platinum Sponsors include ITOCHU International Inc., Marubeni America Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc., Nomura America Foundation, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas Foundation, and Tokio Marine America.

"The Japan Parade is a huge 'Arigato!' from the Japanese community to New York City," says Honorary Chairman, Ambassador Mikio Mori, the Consul General of Japan in New York. "It will be the second annual celebration of Japanese culture and the many vibrant connections between Japan and this great city. We plan to outdo the inaugural parade in terms of marchers, contents, and food tents all highlighting the uniqueness of Japan, while also solidifying with Asian communities during AAPI Heritage Month. We hope that these festivities bring the Japanese and all of New York City even closer together, adding to our friendship for generations to come.”

“After the huge success of last year’s inaugural Parade, we are very excited to be back in New York City for our second year, demonstrating the diversity and pride of the Japanese community,” said Japan Parade Executive Producer Kumiko Yoshii. “Last year, we had a crowd of over 20,000 with approximately 2,400 participants, marching down Central Park West. We look forward to building on this success and showcasing more groups from New York and Japan. We especially want to thank our sponsors and supporters, without whom this event would not be possible.”

Japan Parade 2022 Folk Dance Institute.jpg

Japan Parade 2022 Young Peoples Chorus.jpg

Japan Parade 2022 Sailor Moon blowing kisses.jpg

Japan Parade 2022 Sachiyo Ito and Company.jpg

Japan Parade 2022 wedding procession.jpg

“The Japan Parade’s utmost goal is to be a foundation to forge new connections, and to be an inspiration to strengthen existing relations between Japan and the United States, as well as between the Japanese American community and the people of New York City,” said Japan Day Chairman of the Board of Directors, Daisuke Ugaeri, who represents the notable Japanese and Japanese American companies that make up the Japan Day Inc. Board of Directors. “To that end, I am humbled and empowered by the invaluable support of our sponsors, the trust placed in us by our parade participants, and the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers who all truly believe in the good our event is capable of achieving. It is my greatest hope that all who visit, experience, and immerse themselves in Japan Parade 2023 will not only enjoy themselves to the fullest, but also walk away with a newly cultivated or renewed appreciation of the unique wonder and beauty of Japanese culture.”

Go early to enjoy the street fair and grab a spot along the parade route. Enjoy a full day of Japanese culture at Japan Parade! For more information, please visit Japan Parade’s website.

About Kristi Yamaguchi

Kristi Yamaguchi captured the gold medal in figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. She is also a two-time World Champion and US National Champion. Yamaguchi is a member of the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and the US Olympic Hall of Fame. She recently received the USOPC Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award for “serving as a powerful force for good in society.”
Following a long and successful career in professional figure skating, which included ten years of touring with Stars On Ice, Yamaguchi took to the dance floor to win the mirror ball trophy with partner Mark Ballas in season six of the popular TV show *Dancing With The Stars*.
In 1996, she founded Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, whose mission is to give children from low-income families access to high-quality books in the home environment. The organization aims to close the opportunity gap and digital divide with an innovative, family engagement literacy program. For her work with her Always Dream organization, Yamaguchi received the 2019 Heisman Humanitarian Award.
In 2012, Yamaguchi added New York Times Best-Selling author to her list of achievements by introducing her first children’s picture book, *Dream Big, Little Pig!*, and then following up with *It’s a Big World, Little Pig!* and *Cara’s Kindness*. Kristi resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two-time US Olympian and Stanley Cup Champion, Bret Hedican, and their daughters, Keara and Emma.

About Sandra Endo

Sandra Endo is a television news correspondent on KTTV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News. Endo covers breaking news in feature reports for a Good Day LA. Prior to moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles, Endo spent most of her career on the East Coast a political reporter, host, and anchor for NY1. She covered a wide array of campaigns, the transit strike of 2005, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Later, as a Washington, DC-based reporter for CNN, Endo’s stories appeared on primetime shows such as AC 360 with Anderson Cooper. She reported on the devastating tsunami and earthquake that struck Japan in 2011, as well as the international conflicts in Egypt and the US involvement in Libya.

Endo is a second-generation Japanese American whose grandfather was interned during WWII. She believes it is important to teach her two young children their cultural heritage to keep traditions alive and to learn from the past.

About Japan Day

Japan Day Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the primary organizer of the Japan Day @ Central Park festivals since 2007 and of the Japan Parade and the Japan Street Fair since 2022. Japan Day Inc.’s activities are made possible by the support of the local leading Japanese American companies that compose Japan Day Inc.’s Board of Directors; the Consulate General of Japan in New York; and all the individuals, organizations, and companies that sponsor, donate, or volunteer and be a part of this great celebration.

Susan McCormac 4/28/23 Susan McCormac 4/28/23

Announcing the japanculture•NYC membership program!

Since 2011 JapanCulture-NYC.com has been your English-language resource for All Things Japanese in New York City. We have a fresh look, and now we’d like to announce our new membership program! For only $5 a month, you’ll have access to exclusive content and cool benefits.

Don’t worry; everyone will still be able to read articles on the website for free. But your membership to JapanCulture•NYC will help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and support our community. Click here to begin your membership today!

benefits of membership

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

We’ll send in-depth articles about Japanese cultural tidbits and how to find All Things Japanese in New York City that you won’t find on the website.

DISCOUNTS

Members will get access to exclusive promo codes to receive discounts on concerts, film screenings, performances, dinner events, books, and more!

Our first discount is to the Globus Film Series Rites of Passage: The Films of Shinji Somai that begins at Japan Society on Friday, April 28. To receive the code for $2 off any General Audience ticket, become a member of JapanCulture•NYC today! (This code for Rites of Passage cannot be used for additional discounts on Student/Senior/Japan Society member tickets.)

DOWNLOADABLE PDFS

Members will receive occasional lists of Japanese holidays and observances, cultural tidbits, food and drink, and where to find all of the above in NYC.

The most valuable benefit from a membership to JapanCulture•NYC is the connections that we’ll create with each other and the community we’ll continue building together. Learn about your favorite aspects of Japanese culture, eat your favorite Japanese food, and meet the creatives, businesspeople, and community leaders who make New York so special.

sponsorship program

We’ve also launched a Sponsorship Program! We’ll spotlight you on our website and our social media to gain more exposure for your business, event, purpose in the Japanese and Japanese American community in New York. Your support will enable us to continue providing informative and entertaining content about All Things Japanese in New York City. For more information, please click here.

Thanks to Stay Sassy Media for our amazing redesign and to Wasabi Kikaku for their many years of support!

BOOK TALK AT DONALD KEENE CENTER

Navigating Narratives: Tsurayuki's Tosa Diary as History and Fiction