Hanami is a special tradition in Japan where people gather under sakura trees to enjoy a picnic surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms 🌸 Learn more about the cherry blossom season with our video & be inspired to hold your own #hanami this weekend! 🌸🍡 https://loom.ly/TcdSJsM

Join us for our May 🎥 Film Club 🎥 to explore Akira Kurosawa’s ground-breaking samurai epic, Seven Samurai, a powerful reflection on honour, survival, and community in medieval Japan! Wednesday 6 May 2026. Online and free to attend. Find out more 👉 https://loom.ly/La63FGI

NEXT WEEK! Join us for our April lecture, when Dr Marco Reggiani explores how Japan’s shrinking, ageing rural communities—often seen as symbols of decline—are becoming spaces of innovation and reinvention. Monday 20 April 2026. Find out more and book 👉 https://loom.ly/sLV_pbI

Last November, we were joined by The Rt Hon Michael Portillo at our Annual Dinner and were lucky to hear first-hand about his recent adventures in Japan. The new series documenting those adventures 'Great Japanese Railway Journeys' starts next week on BBC2! 🇯🇵 🚅 https://loom.ly/3_fq0qQ

Just one month until our series of #shogi events! ✨ Friday 8 May - An Evening with Japanese Chess Masters 👉 https://loom.ly/KPy4oig Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 May - Inter City Shogi Cup 2026 👉 https://loom.ly/FASgBdc Sunday 10 May - Workshop for Beginners 👉 https://loom.ly/JLvCSxw

NEXT WEEK! Join us in person for our April 📚 Book Club 📚 when we will be getting together to discuss The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs by Sanki Saitō. Monday 13 April at The Japan Society. Find out more 👉 https://loom.ly/gkhIoqU

Did you know The Japan Society holds 100+ business, academic & cultural events each year? ✨ Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about upcoming events, as well as regular updates, The Japan Society Review, education resources, & more! 🇬🇧🤝🇯🇵 www.japansociety.org.uk/join-mailing-list

Shogi—often called Japanese chess—is a captivating strategy game with a history stretching back over a thousand years ♟️🇯🇵 Curious to learn? Join us on Sunday 10 May for a beginner-friendly #shogi workshop, led by Yasushi Ishikawa ✨ 👉 https://loom.ly/JLvCSxw

Still time to book for our next 🎥 Film Club 🎥 Join us as we explore Kei Ishikawa’s A Pale View of Hills, a haunting reflection on memory and post‑war Japan. Wednesday 1 April - Online & free to attend ✨ Find out more and book 👉 https://loom.ly/PkzxH3U

For the April edition of Japan Macro Salon, Jesper and Bill will be joined by Tatsuya Terazawa, Chairman and CEO of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ). Friday 24 April 2026. Held online and FREE to attend. Find out more and book: https://loom.ly/8kBZMco

In our April lecture, Dr Marco Reggiani explores how Japan’s shrinking, ageing rural communities—often seen as symbols of decline—are becoming spaces of innovation and reinvention. Monday 20 April 2026. Find out more and book 👉 https://loom.ly/sLV_pbI

For our 📚 Book Club 📚 in April, join us as we get together to discuss The Kobe Hotel: Memoirs, which recounts poet Sanki Saitō’s wartime exile in Kobe after he was censored by Japan’s Special Higher Police. Monday 13 April at The Japan Society. Find out more 👉 https://loom.ly/gkhIoqU

📣 Calling all young manga fans in Manchester! 📣 There's still time to book a place at our FREE Manga Workshops, & be introduced to the fascinating world of yokai by manga artist Inko 🎨✨ Saturday 21 March. For those aged 12-18, at Manchester Central Library. Book now 👉 https://loom.ly/Ikku9TU

Join us on 1 April for our next 🎥 Film Club 🎥 when we will explore Kei Ishikawa’s evocative drama A Pale View of Hills, a haunting reflection on memory & post‑war Japan. Remember to watch the film in advance, then join us for this FREE online discussion ✨ Find out more 👉 https://loom.ly/PkzxH3U

📣 Just 1 week left to enter the World Children’s Haiku Contest! 📣 Why not check out the previous winners for inspiration? 🌟 Then send your haiku & artwork before Friday 20 March for the chance to win! 📸 ✨ Previous winners 👉 https://loom.ly/cx6ZSwA ✨ How to enter 👉 https://loom.ly/4JLLynY

Following the success of our Japanese Chess (#shogi) workshops in 2025, we are delighted to co-host the Inter City Shogi Cup 2026, London! ✨ Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 May. Find out more 👉 https://loom.ly/FASgBdc **On Sunday 10 May we are also running a workshop for beginners 👉 https://loom.ly/JLvCSxw

Our March lecture with Rosina Buckland is now fully booked! 🙌 Even if you can't make the lecture, don't miss the British Museum's major Samurai exhibition (which Rosina will be discussing), on now until 4 May 👉 www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/samurai

As we approach #IWD2026 on March 8, we’re proud to highlight our Women in Work series, part of our Business programme. We’ve hosted 4 events with inspiring leaders discussing women’s challenges within the Japanese context. Thank you to all who have shared their stories. Excited for more on 2026!

Are you a young manga fan in Manchester, aged 12-18? Join us at Manchester Central Library on Saturday 21 March for a FREE manga workshop and be introduced to the fascinating world of yokai with Manga artist, Inko 🎨✨ Book your FREE place now 👉 https://loom.ly/Ikku9TU

📣 It's World Book Day! 📣 We're looking forward to next week's 📚 Book Club 📚 when we will discuss Michiko Ishimure's epic story, Spring Castle! ONLINE. Monday 9 March 2026 Find out more 👉 https://loom.ly/nRI99D8 @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social #WBD26 #WorldBookDay

On 16 February, we hosted the second event in our series of Industrial Strategy roundtable discussions. This time we focused on Financial Services, with special guests Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, & Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki. More details: https://loom.ly/4B6BMOE

Still time to book to join our next 🎥 FIlm Club 🎥 when we will be discussing Shinji Somai’s beloved cult film Typhoon Club 🌟 Watch in advance then join us ONLINE on Wednesday 4 March 👉 https://loom.ly/fDcKwgU

📣 Still time to book a place at this Saturday's FREE Japanese Calligraphy (Shodo) workshop with Aya-sensei! 🖌️✨ Saturday 28 February at Hornsey Library, 1.00pm & 2.30pm. Open to ages 8-16. Spaces limited—booking required! 👉 https://haringey.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=316073

Join us in March for our lecture with Rosina Buckland who will explore the British Museum’s major new exhibition (on now until 4 May) which examines the centuries-long trajectory of a Japanese icon, the samurai 🎌 Monday 16 March 2026. Find out more 👉 https://loom.ly/XA6T5dw

For our next 📚 Book Club 📚 we will discuss Michiko Ishimure's Spring Castle, the epic story of Japan's bloody Shimabara Rebellion. ONLINE. Monday 9 March 2026 Find out more and book 👉 https://loom.ly/nRI99D8

We are grateful to British Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom CMG, who joined us last Thursday to address The Japan Society. Marking her final year serving as British Ambassador to Japan, this year's lecture carried special significance. More information & photos here: https://loom.ly/qCe44kY

We’re pleased to have joined Bluesky! Follow us for news, updates, events info, education resources, and more 🇯🇵🤝🇬🇧 To find out about the history of The Japan Society and the work we do to cultivate UK-Japan relations, visit our website: www.japansociety.org.uk