The Activities of the Japan Foundation

Culture: Arts and Cultural Exchange
Presenting Japan's Diverse Arts and Culture Overseas

We carry out numerous projects to introduce to people around the world the diverse charms of Japanese culture, from traditional performing arts to contemporary arts, including performances, exhibitions, translation and publication, film screenings and television broadcasts. We also engage in activities such as dispatching and inviting experts as well as holding workshops for human resources development and networking in arts and culture.

PHOTO : Kike

Japan-Cuba Collaboration Programs in the Visual and Performing Arts

In commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to Cuba, the Japan Foundation presented a contemporary art exhibition and dance performances by Japanese and Cuban artists. For the contemporary art exhibition, we held Going Away Closer: Japan-Cuba Contemporary Art Exhibition with the participation of Japanese and Cuban curators and artists. The dance performances featured One thousand years after, a new work choreographed and directed by Saburo Teshigawara/KARAS and performed by dancers from the Cuban dance company Acosta Danza.

One thousand years after
PHOTO: Yuris Nórido

Winning School in "Shodo Performance Koshien" Sent to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in the United States

We dispatched three groups of artists from Japan (Akiko Yano, T.M.Revolution and the Fukuoka Prefectural Yahata Chuo High School Japanese Calligraphy Club) to perform at the opening ceremony of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the largest cherry blossom festival in the United States held annually in Washington, D.C. These artists captivated the audience during their performances. The Fukuoka Prefectural Yahata Chuo High School Japanese Calligraphy Club was the winning school at the 10th "Shodo Performance Koshien," a dynamic calligraphy performance competition, and earned favorable acclaim as they interacted with the citizens of Washington, D.C. through exchanges with local high school students. Their display booth provided hands on experience with calligraphy at an art museum event.

(c) 2018 Embassy of Japan in the United States of America

Introducing Japanese Culture in Malaysia

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Japan-Malaysia diplomatic relations, the Japan Foundation held events in Malaysia that included the Noh play Funa-Benkei by Noh actors led by Soichiro Hayashi, a Kanze-school Noh actor; a calligraphy demonstration by Sisyu; and Rakugo performances by Diane Kichijitsu. Prior to the Noh performance, the actors gave an explanation of the performance, Funa-Benkei, which assisted the audience in enhancing their understanding of Noh. Following the performance, the audience gave the actors a rousing cheer during the curtain call.

PHOTO: Ch'ng Shi P'ng

57th International Art Exhibition –
La Biennale di Venezia

The Japan Foundation organized the Japan Pavilion at the 57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition at the Japan Pavilion featured a solo exhibition of Takahiro Iwasaki titled Turned Upside Down, It's a Forest held under the curation of Meruro Washida. Iwasaki displayed seven three-dimensional works that included Reflection Model (Ship of Theseus) and Out of Disorder (Mountains and Sea). These works, which made use of everyday items such as towels, books and plastic refuse as materials, earned favorable acclaim and over 440,000 people visited the Japan Pavilion during the exhibition period.

Photography by Keizo Kioku

Japanorama—New Vision on Art Since 1970

The Japan Foundation in collaboration with Centre Pompidou-Metz presented the art exhibition Japanorama—New vision on art since 1970 that introduced Japanese contemporary art and visual culture since 1970. The exhibition presented over 350 works by some 100 artists and groups and was held in conjunction with an architecture exhibition, Japan-ness, as preludes for the "Japonismes 2018." Serving as a core program for Japanese Season held at Metz, Japanorama spurred interest in Japanese society and culture and attracted more than 100,000 people during the exhibition period.

Commemorating the 45th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and China
Japan-China Film Exchange Program

In commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, the Japan Foundation carried out Japan-China exchanges through films. Starting with the first-ever Guangzhou Japanese Film Screening Week in May, the Japan Foundation held Japanese Film Festival in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Kunming in December and the Chinese Film Festival 2018 in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya in March 2018. We invited film directors and actors from both Japan and China, which attracted an audience totaling more than 20,000 people and helped to deepen exchanges between the two countries.

Japanese Film Screenings

We held 94 Japanese film festivals and film screenings in 67 countries and regions, and supported 11 Japanese film festivals in 8 countries and regions.

Screenwriter Kosuke Mukai gave a talk at the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2018 (U.K.), a program that introduces Japanese films.
(c) Nicola Tree

Introducing Japanese Television Programs

We implement projects for introducing Japanese television programs that promote an understanding of Japan in countries and regions where there is difficulty in broadcasting Japanese content. In FY2017, 908 Japanese television programs, including dramas, anime, variety shows, films and documentaries, were broadcast in 101 countries and regions.