Art Apr 1, 2022

The Smithsonian unveils Buddhist paragons who put 'Mind Over Matter'

The National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. displays the breadth of its Zen artifacts, from both Japan and China, for the first time in a new exhibition.

Books / Reviews Mar 6, 2022

‘Eleven Winters of Discontent’: The nightmare that began after World War II

Sherzod Muminov's well-researched academic study identifies explanations for Joseph Stalin’s decision to intern half a million Japanese prisoners of war in Soviet work camps.

Art Feb 19, 2022

Tsukioka Kogyo: The man who dedicated his art to saving noh

The ukiyo-e artist's extensive body of work devoted to Japan's oldest living form of theater has gone largely overlooked — until now.

Books / Reviews Dec 5, 2021

‘Sesson Shukei’: An artist’s portrait emerges from the shadows

Art historians Frank Feltens and Yukio Lippit shed light on Sesson Shukei, a prominent figure in medieval art whose history has been mostly lost to time.

Books / Reviews | RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN Nov 7, 2021

‘Ogata Korin’: The libertine artist who made beauty his business

Curator Frank Feltens’ informative monograph illustrates how the inability of a youthful Ogata Korin to manage his affairs had a profound impact on Japanese art.

Books / Reviews Oct 24, 2021

‘North Korea in a Nutshell’: An effective introduction to an enigmatic nation

Ralph Hassig and Kongdan Oh’s survey of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea covers the history of the country skillfully, albeit with some gaps in documenting sources.

Art Sep 11, 2021

Utagawa Kuniyoshi: When censorship strikes, art gets playful

Ota Memorial Museum of Art's two-part exhibition of the woodblock print artist's works reveals his impish sense of humor.

Books Aug 21, 2021

Philip Jodidio: ‘A willingness to transgress and a desire to be extremely innovative’

‘Contemporary Japanese Architecture’ author Philip Jodidio discusses the past and future significance of Japanese architecture and his career as an art/architecture critic and editor.

Books Aug 21, 2021

‘Contemporary Japanese Architecture’: Embracing nature and the need for sustainability

Architecture critic Philip Jodidio's new book examines the ingenuity of Japan's architects, particularly in their response to climate change.

Books / Reviews | Books Jun 6, 2021

'Prelude to Pearl Harbor': With diplomatic lines drawn and soft power spent, a standoff emerges

Author John Gripentrog looks at the events and attitudes that paved the way to the Second World War in “Prelude to Pearl Harbor: Ideology and Culture in US-Japan Relations 1914-1941.”