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February 6 Through June 6

Public Opening Celebration: Monday February 8, 7-9 p.m.

The McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College

140 Commonwealth Avenue

Devlin Hall 108
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Asian Journeys explores the sociopolitical context for American collecting of Asian art in the post- World War II period with focus on the collecting practice of John D. Rockefeller 3rd (1906–1978) and his wife Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller (1909–1992). Founder of Asia Society and son of collectors John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller 3rd played an instrumental role in fostering cultural understanding and cooperation between Asia and America. From 1963 to 1978, art historian and director of the Cleveland Museum, Sherman E. Lee (1918–2008), served as an advisor to the Rockefellers’ collection. The relationship among them, explored in this exhibition, is an extraordinary example of the connections between art collecting and U.S.-Asia relations

Public Opening Celebration: Monday February 8, 7-9 p.m.
On Feb. 8, the public is invited to join BC community members at a free opening celebration at the Museum from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring music from the 1950s and ’60s performed by University jazz ensemble BC bOp! Location: Devlin Hall 108. For information please call 617.552.8587.

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Now through May 31 2010

Boston Museum of Fine Arts

465 Huntington Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Patterns of Long Ago: Reflections

of China in Japanese No Costume

Just as the stories of many No plays—peopled with historic and legendary figures, gods, spirits, and ghosts—are drawn from the classical literature of the Heian (794–1185) or Kamakura (1185–1336) periods, the robes worn by the actors recall court costumes of the Nara (710–794) and Heian periods, which were made of sumptuous woven silks imported from China. Many Chinese symbols, motifs, and repeat patterns, along with Chinese weaving technology, were adopted by Japanese craftsmen during these same periods. Although heavy woven silks and formal patterns borrowed from China—such as the "seven jewels" design and karahana (Chinese flower) motif—gradually fell out of fashion for everyday wear, they continued to be used for No costumes, as a means of evoking the spirit of the distant past and the refinement of early court culture. The silks used for some robes continued to be imported from China, or closely modeled on Chinese examples, while Japanese weavers developed other imported weave structures, such as the weft-patterned silk called karaori ("Chinese weave"), into a sophisticated and distinctly Japanese artistic expression.

This exhibition highlights No robes from the 18th to early 20th centuries from the MFA's collection, some of which have never before been exhibited. It explores how "Chinese" designs and weaves have been employed, adapted, and combined with "native" Japanese motifs in No costume over the centuries, along with the dramatic and symbolically meaningful role such robes would play in the context of a No performance.

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Wednesday, March 17 - 7:00 p.m.

Jewett Auditorium, Wellesley College

106 Central St Wellesley, MA

The Japan Society of Boston and Wellesley College Present

An Evening of Kyogen:

Classic Japanese Comedies

The Yamamoto Kyogen Company, one of Japan’s top kyogen troupes, will perform two traditional comedies: Tsukimizato (blind moon-gazing), unique to the Yamamoto School, and Shidohogaku (a horse and a magic spell).

March 17, 2010

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Jewett Auditorium, Wellesley College

Admission $25

$15 for JSB Members

Students Free (with valid student ID)

Purchase tickets now

Save the Date!

The Japan Society of Boston’s

Annual Dinner

Friday May 14, 6:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker

James Bradley

James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, Fly Boys, and Imperial Cruise, and founder of the James Bradley Peace Foundation, will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2010 Annual Dinner.   The Annual Dinner is the Society’s most important fund raising event of the year.  Please reserve the date and mark it on your calendars. 

Invitations and Online Registration coming soon

Thursday, March 18 - 7:30 p.m.

Berklee Performance Center

136 Massachusetts Ave, Boston

Special 20% OFF ticket price for Japan Society Members

Tao: The Martial Art of Drumming

With explosive taiko drumming and innovative, acrobatic choreography, TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming offers a breathtaking, vibrantly modern twist on a traditional art form-and a visual and sonic tour de force!

 Tickets are $42, $37, $ 30. For tickets and information call World Music (617) 876-4275

Purchase Tickets Online (Full Price)

Special 20% OFF offer to Japan Society Members*

$36 ~$24 with member discount

OFFER EXPIRES Wednesday, March 17 @ 4pm

DISCOUNTED TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE by Phone:

JSB Member discount details and tickets.

*Discount is not valid for previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offer.  Handling fees apply. Subject to availability.

March 19 though April 22

Coolidge Corner Theatre & Brattle Theater

The Warrior's Camera: Akira Kurosawa Centennial

This year marks the 100th birthday of Akira Kurosawa.

The Coolidge Corner and Brattle Theaters are celebrating this amazing filmaker with a month long series featuring 18 of his movies including: RAN, RASHOMAN, STRAY DOG, KAGEMUSHA, and the rarely screened DODES'KA-DEN.

Special discounts for Japan Society members

$3 off ticket price at the Coolidge Corner Theatre

$2 off ticket price at the Brattle Theater

March 19 though the 25th.

Coolidge Corner Theatre

290 Harvard St, Brookline

Special $3 OFF ticket price for Japan Society Members

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of RAN with this new 35mm print!

RAN

乱

"Almost a religious experience-an epiphany...A masterpiece." - The New York Times

Ran, literally, Chaos... Resting after a wild boar hunt among spectacular green mountainscapes, 16th century daimyo (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides to divide his domain among his three sons, instructing them with a parable: individually, three arrows can easily be broken; together, they are strong. Kurosawa's adaptation of Shakespeare's "King Lear" proved the master's flair for epic sweep and stylistic innovation undimmed at the age of 75. The culmination of his career - clarified Kurosawa, "I said culmination, not conclusion." Four Oscar nominations, including Best Director, Cinematography, and Art Direction, with Emi Wada winning for her dazzling, three-years-in-the-making costumes.

(1985) Dir. Akira Kurosawa, w/ Tatsuya Nakadai, Mieko Harada 2h42m

Please check www.coolidge.org for film times and dates

March 19 though the 25th.

Brattle Theater

40 Brattle St, Cambridge

Special $2 OFF ticket price for Japan Society Members

STRAY DOG

野良犬

(New 35mm Print!)

Despite his deserved acclaim as a samurai filmmaker, Kurosawa was a master of all genres, especially neo-noir, which he evokes beautifully in STRAY DOG. The master's great alter-ego actor, Toshiro Mifune, stars as a rookie police detective whose gun is stolen by a pickpocket. Racked with guilt, he teams with a senior officer to hunt the sweltering streets of Tokyo for the person using his pilfered weapon. Kurosawa's searing depiction of the physical and moral ruins of postwar Tokyo is unforgettable

(1949) Dir Akira Kurosawa, w/Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura [122 min]

1. JSB Members $2 off Ticket price

For a complete listing of film times and dates please visit:

www.coolidge.org

www.brattlefilm.org

Sunday March 28, 3:00 P.M.

MIT - Kresge Auditorium

48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge

Tamagawa Taiko Drumming and Dance

Thundering taiko drumming meets high-energy Japanese dance as nearly fortyperformers from Tamagawa University bring their unique talents to Boston and MIT for a second performance. Coming out of one of Japan's best performing arts schools, Tamagawa Taiko is ranked among the top 15 taiko groups in the world. Colorful costumes and unique choreography characterize Tamagawa Taiko's performances of traditional and original works. A spell-binding performance for adults and children alike.

Presented By MIT-Japan Program and MIT Foreign Languages & Literatures

$10 Adults - $5 Students/Children

Contact  Michelle Kern @ mkern@mit.edu | 617-258-8208

web.mit.edu/misti/mit-japan/