Events 2020Annual & Special Events
5 Mar27 Jul

Lecture by Paul Madden CMG, British Ambassador to Japan, at Nomura International
Japan Society Annual General Meeting 2020 Online Event

26-27 Sep Japan Matsuri Present 2020 – with Japan Association, JCCI, Embassy of Japan, & the Nippon Club Online Event
10 DecJapan Society Virtual Annual Dinner – with Yuriko Kotani, supported by JTI Online Event

Arts & Culture
6 Feb

Buddhism and Japan – Private View at British Library

1 Mar

Saori Freestyle Weaving Workshops at Craft Central

12 May4&11 Aug
8 Sep

Japan through a Photographer’s Lens: in Conversation with Frederic Aranda Online EventThe Spirit of Animism and Story Making in Manga: 2-Session Workshop with Fumio Obata Online Event
Katagami Stencils: Historical Influence and Contemporary Practice Online Event

10 OctKatazome (Stencil Dyeing) Workshop Online Event
Zaido: Documenting a 1,300 year old ceremony – with Yukari Chikura Online Event

12 OctFrom Japan with Love – Virtual Tour at Sotheby’s London Online Event

3 OctBusiness
Webinar Series (chaired by Japan Society chairman Bill Emmott except where indicated) Online Events
8 AprGovernments, COVID-19 and the Public Response in the UK and Japan with Koji Tsuruoka and David Warren
16 Apr

COVID-19: Policy, Financial Markets and Business with Yuko Kawai and Leo Lewis

23 Apr

The Political Economy of the Pandemic with Robert Feldman and Robert Ward

30 Apr

The Political Repercussions of the Pandemic with Tsutomu Ishiai and John Peet

7 May

International Responsibilities and the Pandemic with Mark Malloch-Brown and Mami Mizutori

14 MayWhat We Know Now: Medical Science and the Response to COVID-19 with Kiyoshi Kurokawa and Peter Piot

21 MayThe Effect of the Pandemic on Diplomatic and Commercial Relations with China with Kerry Brown & Akio Takahara

28 MayThe Pandemic and the Changing World of Work with Lynda Gratton

4 Jun

The Energy Outlook in the Post-Pandemic World with Jun Arima and Nick Butler

11 JunInternational Financial Capitals: the Future for London & Tokyo with Michael Mainelli and Hiroshi Nakaso

19 JunThe Future of Travel and Tourism in a Post COVID-19 World with David Atkinson, Timothy Jenkins & Martin Barrow

25 JunJapan, UK and the US: Our Relationship with our Closest Allies with Kim Darroch and Kenichiro Sasae

2 Jul

The View from the Korean Peninsula with Chung Min Lee and John Nilsson-Wright

8 Jul

What the UK and Japan Mean to Each Other with Jeremy Hunt MP and Tomohiko Taniguchi

14 JulThe Future for the Arts and their Institutions with Mami Kataoka and Rebecca Salter

22Jul

The Pandemic and its Impact on Gender Equality in Japan and the UK with Yoriko Goto & Heather McGregor

1 Sep

Shinzo Abe and his Legacy: a discussion with Tobias Harris and Keiko Iizuka

16 SepThe State of the Economy in Japan and the UK, with Noriko Hama and Gerard Lyons

23 SepThe Politics of Governmental Reform in Japan and the UK, with Bronwen Maddox and Koji Tsuruoka

29 SepReporting the world in Japan and the UK, with Aiko Doden and John Simpson

8 Oct

Developing Professional Women’s Football in Japan and the UK with Kikko Okajima Murray and Kelly
Simmons, chaired by Yuuichiro Nakajima

14 OctJapan’s Far More Female Future with Kathy Matsui and Bill Emmott

22 OctThe Future of Democracy in the USA with David Runciman and Hitoshi Tanaka

5 Nov

The US Election: Implications for International Trade, with Glen S Fukushima, with Jim O’Neill & Toshihiro Nakayama

11 Nov

Security and Geopolitical Consequences of the US Election, with Nobukatsu Kanehara and John Scarlett

26 NovBusiness, Japan, and the World in Pink: a conversation with Lionel Barber

8 Dec

The Future for Higher Education in Japan and the UK with David Richardson and Yuko Takahashi

10 DecThe Japan-UK Free Trade Agreement - what does it mean? with Hiroshi Matsuura and Minako Morita-Jaeger

In Partnership with Other Organisations
Joint Lunches with the JCCI
14 JanDame Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, at National Liberal Club

Others
4 Feb

Global Sanctions – Meeting the Challenge, in association with Mishcon de Reya LLP

11 FebUK-Japan Cybersecurity Collaboration – Shinichi Yokohama, CISO, NTT, in association with JETRO

24 Feb

FinTech and Beyond – How to Use Financial Technologies in Global Business, in association with Mitsubishi
Corporation International (Europe) Plc
The UK-Japan 21st Century Group’s 37th Annual Conference 2020 Online Event11-12 Sep

Bilingual Public Speaking Club
The first bilingual Japanese-English public speaking club in the UK, open to all people who would like to improve theirskills at speaking in public in Japanese and English. Online Event since April 2020

Lectures20 JanBurakumin and Human Rights – with Ian Neary at the Swedenborg Society

24 JanThe University as a Platform for Social Change – with Makoto Gonokami, President, U. of Tokyo at Nomura

17 FebThe Siberian Captivity of Japanese Soldiers – with Sherzod Muminov at the Swedenborg Society
Being a Young Migrant in Japan: Anthropological Perspectives - with Jamie Coates Online Event

18 May20 Jul
13 Aug18 Oct14 Nov
15 Dec

Artistic Production & Religious Practice at the Kofukuji Nan’endo – with Yen-Yi Chan Online EventJapan Literatures of Remembering. A Panel Discussion on Fiction, Poetry and Anime Online Event
70 years in Japan’s Postwar History: Individual Memories – with Hans Brinckmann Online Event

Sir Harry Parkes, British Minister to Japan, Korea and China, 1865-1885 – with Robert Morton Online Event
No Laughing Matter. The Role of the Comedian in Japan – with Till Weingärtner Online Event

Lifestyle
23 JunHitomezashi Sashiko Workshop Online Event

26 JanWagashi Workshop with an-an at Wa cafeOnline Event
Tsunagu/Connect Launch Event

28 AugBeginners’ Shibori Workshop Online Event

28 MarBoro (fabric repairing) Workshop

Online Event

27 OctKogin Embroidery Workshop Online Event

26 MayYuriko Kotani with Till Weingärtner Online Event

15 DecMoyozashi Sashiko Workshop Online Event

22 JanThe Making of a Japanese Stand-Up in the UK

Book Club (held on the second Monday of each month) Online Events since April 2020
13 JanThe Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

13 JulThe Little House by Kyoko Nakajima

10 FebThe Factory by Hiroko Oyamada

10 Aug

No-no Boy by John Okada

9 Mar

Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu

14 Sep

The Frolic of the Beast by Yukio Mishima

6 Apr

Deep River by Shusaku Endo

12 OctThe Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata

11 MayThe Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

9 Nov

The Tale of Heike

8 Jun

A Cat, a Man, and Two Women by Junichiro Tanizaki

14 DecBreasts & Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

NEW Film Club (held on the first Wednesday of each month) Online Events
3 Jun

Good Morning directed by Yasujiro Ozu

7 Oct

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
directed by Mikio Naruse

1 JulAfter Life directed by Hirokazu Koreeda

4 Nov

Departures directed by Yojiro Takita

5 AugKwaidan directed by Masaki Kobayashi

2 Dec

Tokyo Godfathers directed by Kon Satoshi

2 Sep

Family Romance, LLC directed by Werner Herzog

Japanese Conversation Group – held on the first Tuesday of every month at The Brewmaster (temporarily suspended)Schools Education
All YearJapan in Your Classroom School Visits: In 2020, our volunteers visited 12 schools in the winter term before thelockdown in March and school visits being temporarily suspended.
School Links: establishing new partnerships whilst providing targeted support to help strengthen existing links
through bilateral exchange trips, conferences, and curriculum-support projects.
Loan Resources: a variety of materials and authentic cultural artefacts representing both traditional and modern
aspects of Japan on loan to primary and secondary schools throughout the year to support teachers with theirJapan-related topics.
Coventry Young Ambassadors: The education team continues to support the ‘Cities of Peace Noh Theatre Project’with the Coventry Young Ambassadors Programme.
New Resource Development: the education team has collaborated with a number of teachers and specialists todevelop a range of new Japan-related teaching resources which were released throughout the 2020-2021
school year.

January

Visit to University of Reading with soroban teacher, Tomoko Hoult, for a soroban workshop and demonstration
with university students studying for the International Mathematics Module in Primary Mathematics.

February

The team led a noh mask workshop in collaboration with Between the Stones and noh theatre professionals as partof the Coventry Young Ambassadors Programme. Resource highlight: Radio Taiso Exercise video.

April

Launched the Online Resources section in the education part of our website with new digital resources
accompanied by schemes of work, presentations, and worksheets covering various topics designed for teachers.

May

Resource highlights: Children’s Day resources for parents and teachers and new Radio Taiso scheme of work,
lesson plans and movement cards.

June

Launched the Tanzaku Wish Gallery inviting the public to send us a picture of their tanzaku wishes with us for theTanabata Festival in July.

July

Resource highlights: Tanabata resources, including a new original kamishibai, craft video and home activity packand launch of Sports Day and Sports Day at Home resources.

AugustResource highlights: Radio Taiso interview video with Risa Ono from the Japan Radio-Taiso Federation, new Obon
resources and launch of soroban resources with scheme of work and content designed for teachers.

September Resource highlights: Launch of digital kamishibai stories and Haiku resources with scheme of work and othercontent designed for teachers.
October

Resource highlight: New O-Tsukimi Festival activity pack and original O-Tsukimi digital kamishibai.

November Resource highlight: New 7-5-3 Festival resources for teachers and home learning.
December Our Sixth Form Japan Event went online for the first time, offering a mix of live sessions and non-live content
which was available throughout December. Released end of year home activity pack for home learning.
Resource highlight: New Winter Holidays home activity pack.

Small Grants
In 2020, the Japan Society Grants scheme gave £11,656 of funding in support of 15 projects taking place all over the UK. Whathas been a highly unusual year has unfortunately led to many projects being put on hold, however in March students at King
Edward VI Community College in Devon were able to hold a successful exhibition on Contemporary Japanese Art and Culture,
while at the Kaetsu Educational & Cultural Centre the 18th Japan Day in Cambridge took place with cultural activities andperformances.
The Small Grants Scheme focuses its support on education and community projects, and this year was no exception. In Torfaenin Wales, Mamiko Markham began introducing students at local primary and secondary schools to Japanese silk painting,and we look forward to seeing the painted fabric being turned into a special handmade kimono as a result. Work began onbuilding a Japanese Peace Garden in Coventry, the final part of a long-term project involving primary schools in the city as
they learnt about the important links between Coventry and Hiroshima.
While some projects are on hold, other organisers were able to adapt their plans to create online content and virtual events.
Theatre maker and puppeteer, Aya Nakamura, held online workshops and talks based around her recently filmed paper
theatre piece The Spider’s Thread; Bristol Museum and Gallery are hard at work creating online content and educational
resources to enhance learning about their collection of Netsuke; and Edinburgh City Art Centre’s series of workshops andlectures planned to coincide with the exhibition E. A. Hornel: From Camera to Canvas will be moved online, enablingaudiences from far and wide to join.
In the last decade, we are proud to have supported 342 projects with £217,959 of funding and as we all learn to adapt to theeverchanging world around us, we look forward to receiving applications from organisers of new and exciting projects in thenear future.