Japan Society

and Japan. Activities at Japan Society are set against a stunning backdrop of indoor gardens, a reflecting pool and a waterfall.
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Founded in 1907, Japan Society in New York City presents sophisticated, topical and accessible experiences of Japanese art and culture, and facilitates the exchange of ideas, knowledge and innovation between the U.S. Today, Japan Society has evolved into a world-class, multidisciplinary hub for global leaders, artists, scholars, educators, and English and Japanese-speaking audiences. At the Societ

y, more than 100 events each year feature sophisticated, topically relevant presentations of Japanese art and culture and open, critical dialogue on issues of vital importance to the U.S., Japan and East Asia. Facilities include a 262-seat theater, art gallery, language center, library and conference rooms. Japan Society's landmark building—located near the United Nations on 47th Street and First Avenue—was designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura and opened in 1971 as the first building in New York City by a leading Japanese architect. The classic elegance and simplicity of Yoshimura's original vision has been preserved even as the building has been enhanced by a substantial renovation. Japan Society was founded on May 19, 1907 by a group of prominent New York business people and philanthropists, many of whom shaped the policies of exchange and collaboration that guided the Society until the outbreak of World War II. After the war, activities slowly resumed, and the stewardship of John D. Rockefeller 3rd from 1952 to 1978 led to a unified vision, a firm financial foundation, and a revitalized mission that continues to inspire and sustain the organization today.

05/28/2026

📀 Album drop is live! Relive Theo Bleckmann's haunting performance: David Lang's note to a friend, premiering at Japan Society in 2023, is now available for purchase and streaming here: https://cantaloupemusic.com/albums/note-to-friend

05/21/2026

Did you know the Ainu language is a "language isolate"? That means it is completely unique and has no known linguistic roots connecting it to any other language on Earth! 🌍🗣️

Come learn more about this incredible indigenous culture from Hokkaido—join us for an exclusive Talk Story with OKI to talk music and Ainu history.

📸: Lorraine Turci

Grab your seats from the link in bio!

05/20/2026

Dust off those dancing shoes for our 119th birthday! 👞✨

Take a look back at the incredible artists who have walked through our doors—like "Shall We Dance?" Director Masayuki Suo and actress Tamiyo Kusakari pictured here for the lecture "Shall We Dance? Goes to America" at Japan Society in 1998! 🥂 Make a toast with us and celebrate the joy of cinema at our members-only birthday screening of the film tomorrow.

Grab your seats: https://japansoc.org/4tOD1cX

05/19/2026

If these walls could talk, they’d tell stories of the world-renowned notable figures who have talked in our halls, the connections that were made in our language classes, and the artistic discoveries that were made in our gallery and theater.

Today, on Japan Society's 119th birthday, our landmark building is as alive as ever—hosting around 300 events each year and welcoming over 47,000 attendees through our doors! 🥳

To keep this incredible momentum going, make a gift to support our Annual Fund this May. As a special thank you, everyone who donates will receive an exclusive postcard featuring Yoshimura’s original 1969 architectural drawing of Japan House! 🇯🇵

Be a part of our history by donating here: https://japansoc.org/4w29NJi ✨

05/13/2026

Art, architecture, and a trip up the Hudson. 🚆🖼️

Japan Society members traveled to Dia:Beacon last month for a private curator-led tour. They explored the material installations of Kishio Suga, curated by Matilde Guidelli-Guidi and Min Sun Jeon, alongside the radical performance works of Tehching Hsieh, co-curated by Humberto Moro and Adrian Heathfield.

Want to join in on the next adventure? Explore our membership perks and unlock behind-the-scenes access!

https://japansoc.org/4mOTyu0

05/12/2026

Japan Society is proud to host around 3,500 school children—the largest young audience in our entire history! 🏫✨

In response to community needs, we significantly expanded our school programs. Today, we are thrilled to share that over 80% of these students come from underserved communities, made possible by our initiative providing free access for Title I schools to learn about Japanese culture and arts. In 2025, we also served over 200 teachers in our Teachers Program providing knowledge and resources to effectively teach about Japan in the classroom.

But we can't do this without you! 💙 Every workshop, gallery tour, and cultural exchange is powered by the generosity of our supporters.

Please consider making a gift to our May Annual Fund so we can continue to keep our doors wide open and inspire the next generation. Donate today: https://japansoc.org/4w29NJi 🎁

05/11/2026

“I learned it from anime” is a great start, but we can help with the rest! 😉🇯🇵

Japan Society's summer teen classes are the perfect way to channel your passion into real-world language and art skills. Our teen language classes cover everything from conversational basics (like asking for directions!) to reading, writing, and even manga drawing!

Check out upcoming classes: https://japansoc.org/4ty0GNQ ✨

05/08/2026

Double the events, double the chills! 🐒📖 Celebrate the release of MONKEY New Writing from Japan, Volume 6 with us on May 17.
Dive into the tensions of film adaptation at "From Page to Screen" (1 pm), and explore the psychological depths of the horror genre at "What’s Japanese in Japanese Horror" (3:30 pm).

We are honored to be joined by literary heavyweights Hideo Furukawa (one of Japan's most inventive modern voices) and Akutagawa Prize-winner Tomoka Shibasaki!

🎟️ Bundle your tickets for both events and save 10%!
https://japansoc.org/anxietyadaptation
https://japansoc.org/japanesehorror

05/07/2026

Take a trip back to Treasure Town in this stunning 4K premiere of Tekkonkinkreet on May 28 at 6 pm!

Based on the legendary manga by Taiyo Matsumoto, orphaned street kids Black and White battle yakuza, alien assassins, and even their own demons. Featuring stunning visuals from STUDIO4°C, and a soundtrack by electronic music pioneers Plaid, Tekkonkinkreet is a modern cult classic—a story of brotherhood in a decaying world.

Plus, listen in on a Q&A with Screenwriter Anthony Weintraub! Did you know that this adaptation of Matsumoto’s graphic novel was the first anime to be written by a Westerner?

Grab your seats for this 20th anniversary screening: https://japansoc.org/4ufRIpT

📷: Michael Arias/Studio 4°C

Address

333 E 47th Street
New York, NY
10017

Telephone

(212) 832-1155

Website

http://japansociety.org/

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