Society for Japanese Art

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Society for Japanese Art

An inspiring platform for sharing knowledge and experience regarding every aspect of the visual and applied arts of Japan!

06/08/2026

WINNER OF THE JAPANESE PRINTS WORKSHOP | Marjolein de Raat won the funded spot!

Marjolein is taking part in the woodblock printing workshop at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden this week. She holds an MA in East Asian Studies from Leiden University, where she focused on the exchange between Japanese and European art and material culture in the early modern period. She has since worked for various museums in the Netherlands and the UK, including the National Museum of Scotland, the Zuiderzeemuseum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum, working mainly with textiles and clothing, ceramics, and works on paper. Inspired by the objects she encountered in these collections, she went on to pursue further training in conservation and restoration, which she is currently studying at the University of Antwerp.
In her personal art practice, she explores the styles and techniques of different periods in art history. Shecreates both replicas for educational purposes and original illustrations. She’s especially drawn to the strong lines and rich colours shared by medieval European illuminations and Japanese woodblock prints.

After the workshop: an interview with the artist, and a post revealing the result!

01/08/2026

YOUTH MEMBER EVENT | Traditional Tea Ceremony and Ceramic Studio Visit

On September 26th, our youth members are invited to join us for a visit to Haruka’s ceramic studio, where she will share the fascinating history and techniques behind Kigata Banko ceramics. Afterwards, we’ll head to her tea hut, where she will introduce us to the Ōbaku Baisa Ryū school of Sencha and perform a traditional tea ceremony. Throughout the day, you will enjoy two infusions of Gyokuro green tea, Japanese sweets, and a curated selection of other teas. We will wrap up the day with a presentation on her Tea Tree, Tea Treaty tea hut project, followed by a Q&A session.

Matsuo Haruka, a Japanese artist/designer, ceramist and tea master, holds degrees from Kyoto City University of Arts and the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, and currently lives and works in the Netherlands. She is the ninth-generation successor to be working in Kigata Banko, a rare traditional technique in which a thin layer of clay is wrapped around a special wooden mold. The result is a thin and light ceramic piece, perfect for drinking green tea. In May of this year, she opened her self-designed tea house “Tea Tree, Tea Treaty”, made of recycled and reused materials, through which she explores how the traditional Japanese tea house can be reinterpreted in modern society.

The visit to Haruka’s ceramic studio and tea hut will take place on 26 September 2026, 13:00-16:00 @ Mierenmeent 122, Hilversum. Costs are €24,50 (30+) / €7,50 (until age 29). Sign-up can be done through the link in bio.

All images courtesy of Matsuo Haruka.

24/07/2026

NEWSLETTER ARTICLE | “Globalisation Fascination: The 1929 Commemorative Zeppelin Kimono” by Luca van Leeuwen

Every month, a short article will be published on the SJA website that covers a different topic, such as objects in museums or members’ collections, as well as interviews with artists, curators, collectors and authors.

This month’s contribution, “Globalisation Fascination” explores the story behind the fascinating kimonos that were designed in commemoration of the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin that landed in Tokyo in 1929. The airship was piloted by Dr. Eckener, who made a flawless flight around the world in just 21 days, making only 3 stops along the way, including one in Tokyo. The arrival of the Zeppelin attracted immense attention in Japan, and its crew and passengers were even personally welcomed by the mayor of Tokyo. Many businesses sought to take advantage of this historic occurrence to sell memorabilia, resulting in multiple kimono designs featuring the airship.

The article is available to SJA members on our website. Link in bio.

We also welcome our members to share more about their own collection, research and interests for our monthly article; ideas can be submitted to [email protected].

Image 1. Image 4: Under-kimono for men in honour of the circumnavigation of the Graf Zeppelin. ca. 1929, printed cotton, 130 x 109 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Image 2. Haori in honour of the circumnavigation of the Graf Zeppelin. ca. 1929, printed silk, 129 x 107 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Image 3. Haori in honour of the circumnavigation of the Graf Zeppelin, lining detail picture. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

13/07/2026

REMINDER FUNDED POSITION FOR STUDENT ARTIST | Two-day workshop on Japanese prints at Wereldmuseum Leiden, 5-6 August 2026

This is a reminder that the Society for Japanese Art is funding one position for student artists, giving them the opportunity to learn Japanese woodblock printing from master printmaker Shōichi Kitamura.

The position is open to artists currently enrolled at an accredited art academy or fine arts program. Artists can apply by sending a short motivation (max. 150 words) from their institutional email address, detailing how this workshop will benefit their artistic practice, together with three images of their work to [email protected] with the subject line ‘student artist workshop application’. The deadline for applications is 20 July. Funding covers only the workshop fee and does not include travel expenses or accommodation.

The SJA looks forward to receiving your applications!

More information on the workshop is available in the link in bio.

Image: Shōichi Kitamura, published by Unsōdō. Kyoto Folding Fan – Ōnish*tsune Shōten, 2021. Woodblock print on paper, 25 x 34.5 cm. Unsōdō, Kyoto.

04/07/2026

TWO-DAY WORKSHOP & FUNDING | Two-day workshop on Japanese prints at Wereldmuseum Leiden 5/6 August 2026& a funded position for a student artist.

The Wereldmuseum in Leiden offers a unique opportunity to discover the centuries-old Japanese art of woodblock carving and printing. For the first time, master printmaker Shōichi Kitamura is bringing his expertise to the Netherlands to share his craftsmanship.

Mr Kitamura is a highly sought-after woodblock carver from Kyoto who not only carves new printing blocks for reissues of historical prints, but also creates complex woodcuts for international contemporary artists. He has previously led workshops outside Japan, but this is his first visit to the Netherlands.

On the first day, participants will carve a small-format print from wooden printing blocks, which they will then use to create a multi-colour print the following morning. During the workshop, participants will receive a set of tools, including seven Japanese gouges/chisels and various Japanese brushes, allowing them to practice their new craft afterwards.
Tickets, priced at €250, will be available from 12:00 on 13 July on this page: https://leiden.wereldmuseum.nl/nl/zien-en-doen/activiteiten/workshop-japanse-prentkunst-met-shoichi-kitamura (link in bio).

The Society for Japanese Art is funding one position for student artists, providing them with the chance to engage with the medium of Japanese woodblock printing. The position is open to artists currently enrolled at an accredited art academy or fine arts program. Artists can apply by sending a short motivation (max. 150 words) from their institutional email address, detailing how this workshop will benefit their artistic practice together with three images of their work to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘student artist workshop application’.
The deadline for applications is 20 July. Funding only covers the workshop fee and does not include travelexpenses and accommodation.

The SJA is looking forward to receiving your applications!

15/01/2026

SJA SYMPOSIUM | Shaping the Image of Japan: Nation Branding in the early 20th Century
Date: 6/7 🫣February, 2026
Location: Leiden, the Netherlands
Costs: members: €45,00; non-members: €75,00; Students: €12,50 (Students must contact the secretary to sign up).

This winter, the Japan Museum SieboldHuis in Leiden hosts a solo exhibition dedicated to Kawase Hasui, master of the 20th-century landscape print — marking the first exhibition of its kind in Europe. Following an exclusive SJA viewing of the exhibition on Friday, the symposium will continue on Saturday with four lectures in the Wereldmuseum. The event concludes with a cocktail party and optional dinner.
We are delighted to announce an exciting list of speakers: Gennifer Weisenfeld, Alicia Volk, Kendall Brown and Monika Hinkel. Their lectures will explore how Japanese artists such as Hasui navigated the turbulent first half of the twentieth century.

To sign up, please use the form at our website:
Go to www.societyforjapaneseart.org
-activities.

Hope to see you there!

06/01/2026

HAPPY 2026✨HAPPY YEAR OF THE HORSE 🐴✨

The SJA board looks forward to an exciting year, which we will kick off with a fascinating symposium and visit to the exposition about Kawase Hasui in Leiden in February! Further posts about the symposium will follow this week.

In the meantime reading my latest ANDON with snow y branches in the background. Almost like a Japanese print!

Have a beautiful, healthy and artsy 2026!

Img: Sonan Noda mid 20th century

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