Japan WOW! provides audiences of all ages a wonderful opportunity to not only experience the rich history, traditions, and cultural heritage of Japan, but also to become more familiar with the modern face of Japan, including her influence on culture through fashion and music and her breakthrough achievements in science and technology.
JAPAN
WOW!
Opening Concert and Reception
Sat., March 31, 7 p.m.
Join us for a spectacular evening featuring musical trends and traditions
of Japan. A festive reception follows in the National Museum of Natural
History’s Rotunda. This inaugural evening is sponsored by the Japan
Commerce Association of Washington, D.C.
KUROKAWA
NOH
Wed., Apr. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Noh is the classical, older symbolic
drama. The stories are based in history or classical literature, structured
around song and dance, and presented on a very simple stage.
PICTURES
OF THE FLOATING WORLD
Sun., Apr. 15, 2
p.m.
The creation of Ukiyo-e,
a genre of Japanese paintings and woodblock prints first produced in
the 1600s, is a tradition that has been embraced by such masters as
Hiroshige, Hokusai, and Yoshitoshi.
TOKYO,
NOW AND THEN
Mon., Apr. 16,
6:30 p.m.
Tokyo is a flashy hyper-modern
city that signifies up-to-theminute chic. But at the same time, it’s
a historic castle town with a complexly layered fabric of intimate old
neighborhoods.
RELIGIOUS
TRADITIONS OF JAPAN
Sat., Apr. 21, 10 a.m.
It is difficult to imagine
what Japan would have been like without the religious traditions of
Shinto and Buddhism, which have been a part of its cultural fabric
since earliest times.
MANGA
TO ANIME: FROM ASTRO BOY TO SPIRITED AWAY
Sat., Apr. 21, 10 a.m.
From the humble beginnings of
a newspaper comic strip in 1946 to the highest-grossing film in Japanese
history in 2001 (Spirited Away), manga (comics and print cartoons)
and anime (animation) are now two of Japan’s biggest cultural emissaries.
THE
JAPANESE ART OF BONSAI
At the U.S. National Arboretum
Sun., Apr. 22, 10 a.m.
The art of growing miniature trees,
called penjing, originated in China and was adapted in Japan as bonsai.
The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum has
developed one of the largest collections in North America.
THE
JAPANESE ART OF BONSAI
At the U.S. National Arboretum
Sun., Apr. 22, 1 p.m.
The art of growing miniature trees,
called penjing, originated in China and was adapted in Japan as bonsai.
The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum has
developed one of the largest collections in North America.
SUMI-E
AND SHODO: TRADITIONAL JAPANESE INK PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY
Sun., Apr. 22, 10 a.m.
In this course combining the Japanese
art forms of sumi-e and shodo, explore the basic principles of classical
Oriental painting and brushwork.
JAPANESE
KIMONO
Tues., Apr. 24,
6:30 p.m.
Kimono patterned with golden threads
will surround you in the Gallery of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at this
talk and private viewing of the 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival kimono
exhibition.
BUNRAKU:
THE AMAZING PUPPETS OF JAPAN
Discovery Theater performance: ages 5 to 10
Fri., Apr. 27,
10:15 a.m.
In a very special show for Japan
WOW! at The Smithsonian Associates, Japanese puppetry artists introduce
this ancient puppet technique to young audiences.
BUNRAKU:
THE AMAZING PUPPETS OF JAPAN
Discovery Theater performance: ages 5 to 10
Fri., Apr. 27, 11:30 a.m.
In a very special show for
Japan WOW! at The Smithsonian Associates, Japanese puppetry artists
introduce this ancient puppet technique to young audiences.
BUNRAKU
Family Program: All ages
Fri., Apr. 27, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
The term bunraku refers
to the puppet tradition of Osaka developed before 1600. The Bunraku
Bay Puppet Troupe presents four traditional pieces, using puppets
one-half to full life-size.
JAPANESE
CINEMA AND THE CHANGING FAMILY
Tues., May 1,
7 p.m.
Japanese cinema’s evolution mirrors the nation’s rapidly changing
culture in the 20th century. In the ’30s and ’40s, the genre
shomin-geki emerged, chronicling the lives of ordinary lower- and middle-class
people.
KODOMO-NO-HI:
ITS' CHILDREN'S DAY!!!
Fri., May 4, 10:15
a.m.
Learn about Japanese Children's
Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.
KODOMO-NO-HI:
ITS' CHILDREN'S DAY!!!
Fri., May 4, 11:00 a.m.
Learn about Japanese Children's
Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.
KODOMO-NO-HI:
ITS' CHILDREN'S DAY!!!
Fri., May 4, 11:45 a.m.
Learn about Japanese Children's
Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.
KODOMO-NO-HI:
ITS' CHILDREN'S DAY!!!
Fri., May 4, 12:30 p.m.
Learn about Japanese Children's
Day with Shizumi Shigeto Manale.
THE
ART OF ORIGAMI
Sat., May 5, 10 a.m.
Come celebrate spring by folding
origami flowers, with a butterfly, swan, and jumping frog thrown in for
fun.
THE
ART OF ORIGAMI
Sun., May 6, 10 a.m.
Come celebrate spring by folding
origami flowers, with a butterfly, swan, and jumping frog thrown in for
fun.
SOGETSU
IKEBANA: MODERN JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGING
Mon., May 7, 6:30
p.m.
The elegance and aesthetic harmony
of ikebana—Japanese flower arranging— have inspired poets and
artists since its creation more than 500 years ago.
ROOTED
IN HISTORY: TRADITIONAL JAPANESE VILLAGES
Tues., May 8, 6:30 p.m.
Japanese villages from tropical
southern Okinawa to remote northern Hokkaido trace their history back—at
least in legend— for more than a millennium.
THE
TASTE OF TEA
Tues., May 8,
7 p.m.
Katsuhito Ishii’s poignant and wonderfully absurd film presents a
summer in the life of the oddball Haruno family.
SOFT
POWER, GLOBAL COOL
Wed., May 9, 6:30 p.m.
Japan is one of the most
influential of the world’s soft powers - indirectly influencing
the world through cultural icons and ideas. With the spread of its
goods and images, Japan has a new international face as the "king
of cool" and is finding a new place in the world.
MOKU-HANGA:
THE JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINT
Thurs., May 10,
6:30 p.m.
Students in this class learn the
history of the medium and the traditional Japanese method for making both
black-and-white and multicolor woodblock prints.
BEYOND
SUSHI: CULINARY JAPAN FROM CLASSICAL TO MODERN
Sat., May 12,
9 a.m.
Japanese cuisine has been
wowing the rest of the world for centuries, while Japanese chefs
at home have modified their traditional methods to incorporate new
ingredients and new food-preparation techniques.
JAPANESE
KIMONO
Tues., May 15, 6:30 p.m.
Kimono patterned with golden threads
will surround you in the Gallery of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at this
talk and private viewing of the 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival kimono
exhibition.
NOBODY
KNOWS
Tues., May 15,
7 p.m.
When their single mother suddenly abandons them, four siblings, ranging
in age from 4 to 12, have no choice but to make a life for themselves in
the confines of their cramped apartment.
THE
HISTORY OF JAPANESE THEATER: KABUKI
Wed., May 16,
6:30 p.m.
Nohgaku, bunraku, and kabuki
are the best-known theater arts of Japan. Their origins are traceable to
shrine rituals and early dengaku (field-dances and songs), which
evolved into major theatrical forms.
JAPANESE
FASHION
Sat., May 19,
7 a.m.
Study leader Nobue
Isono, a highly respected Japanese fashion expert, takes you
on a full-day trip to New York City - the fashion capital of the world
- to explore the characteristics and current trends in Japanese fashion.
ROBOTS,
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY: JAPAN CREATES THE FUTURE
Sat., May 19, 10 a.m.
Get a glimpse of Japan’s
latest creations, hear from some of its leading innovators, and discover
why Japan loves its robots in this intriguing program.
AN
INSPIRING EVENING WITH MICHIO KUSHI
Tues., May 22, 7 p.m.
In this special evening, teacher
and author Michio Kushi, founder of the world-renowned
Kushi Institute in Massachusetts, is interviewed about his life and career.
THE
HANGING GARDEN
Tues., May 22,
7 p.m.
Suburban housewife and mother Eriko Kyobashi rigorously enforces one rule
for her family: Everyone must tell the truth at all times. But this family
code hardly prevents them from harboring secrets.
JAPAN
AND AMERICA-PARTNERS FACING A CHANGING WORLD
Thurs., June 7,
6:30 p.m.
Few nations have enjoyed
such mutually beneficial relations as have Japan and the United States
during the past 60 years. While the partnership between these two economic
giants remains strong, both face important new challenges, as well
as opportunities, in the days ahead.
KYOTO,
ANCIENT IMPERIAL CAPITAL
Sat., June 9,
10 a.m.
Take an enchanting armchair stroll
through one of Japan’s oldest and most beautiful cities, which served
as the nation’s capital for more than a thousand years.
SHIBORI:
THE ANCIENT ART OF DYEING FABRIC
Sat. and Sun.,
June 23 and 24, 10 a.m.
Shibori, the Japanese art of fabric dyeing that dates back to the 8th century,
involves the twisting or wrapping of fabric that is then tied or stitched
to create strikingly beautiful designs that can be used in clothing, quilts,
or collage.