Japan Society (New York)

Japan Society

Type	Educational
Founded	May 19, 1907
Headquarters	333 East 47th Street, New York, NY
Key people	Motoatsu Sakurai, President Ruri Kawashima, Tokyo Representative
Area served	New York, NY
Focus	Education
Mission	"To bring the people of the United States and Japan closer together in appreciation and understanding of each other"
Method	Film screenings, Lectures, Symposia, Cultural lectures, Workshops
Revenue	$93,822,088
Endowment	National Endowment for the Arts
Website	http://www.japansociety.org/

Founded in 1907, Japan Society is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that aims to brings the people of Japan and the United States closer together through understanding, appreciation and cooperation. Society programs offer opportunities to experience Japanese culture; to foster sustained and open dialogue on issues important to the U.S., Japan and East Asia; and to improve access to information on Japan. The major producer of high-quality content on Japan for the United States, Japan Society presents over 100 events annually in the performing and visual arts, business and policy sectors, and education fields.

With performances, exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, conferences, courses, seminars, symposia and workshops, year-round programming occurs at Japan Society's landmark building located in Manhattan near the United Nations. Designed by Junzō Yoshimura as the first building in New York of modern Japanese architecture and opened in 1971, the elegant structure with its distinctive facade features a three-story indoor bamboo water garden, a 262-seat theater, art gallery, library, conference and administration facilities, and the world renowned Toyota Language Center.

Mission

"The Japan Society’s long range objective is to help bring the people of the United States and of Japan closer together in their appreciation and understanding of each other and each other’s way of life. It is our hope that a vigorous Japan Society can be of real benefit by functioning as a private, non-political organization interested in serving as a medium through which both our peoples can learn from the experiences and the accomplishments of the other."

History

Since being founded in the spring of 1907, Japan Society's growth has paralleled the development of both Japan and the United States into global powers. One of the pioneers of cultural exchange in the early 20th century, Japan Society was created in a time when few Americans knew anything about Japan. The Society cooperated with other internationalist organizations including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and conducted an annual gala dinner.

Due to war, the Society was out of business from 1941 to 1952.

With a major contribution from John D. Rockefeller 3rd the Society built Japan House and during the 1970s and 1980s expanded to include exhibitions, performances of traditional and classical Japanese dance and music, film series, a language program, and a lecture series.

Programs and activities

The Society operates many programs and projects.

External links

• Japan Society
• Japan Society: Celebrating a Century, 1907-2007
• About Japan, A Teacher's Resource
• U.S.-Japan Innovators Project
• Japan Society Film Program