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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T180000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194220
CREATED:20240921T224737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250927T201141Z
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SUMMARY:Rakugo (Japanese Comedy): Performance and Lecture
DESCRIPTION:GEB 233 • CRAIG AUDITORIUM • 5:00 PM\nRakugo (Japanese Comedy): Performance and Lecture\nPerformance and Lecture by John Marvin\nRakugo 落語 is a traditional form of Japanese verbal comedy commonly staged in theaters. \nThe performance features a lone storyteller who sits on a raised platform known as a kōza. Utilizing only a paper fan and a small cloth as props\, the rakugo artist adeptly portrays a lengthy and intricate comical narrative while remaining seated in the seiza sitting position. John Marvin will share interesting history and background about Rakugo and then perform an excerpt from a Rakugo play in Japanese with English subtitles provided.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/rakugo-japanese-comedy/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations,Performances
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/rakugo-comedy-storytelling.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T175000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194220
CREATED:20240921T223710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250925T223813Z
UID:10000199-1759597200-1759600200@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Kaibyou - Supernatural Cats of Japan
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor • 5:00 PM\nKaibyou – Supernatural Cats of Japan\n(back by popular demand!)\nZack Davisson\, New York University\nAll cats are magical but the cats of Japan have their own secrets. \n\nIf they live long enough\, their tails split\, they stand on their hind legs\, and they start to dance. Bakeneko\, nekomata\, kasha\, and even the ubiquitous “lucky cat” called the Maneki Neko—come learn some of the secrets of these magic cats from Zack Davisson\, yokai scholar and author of Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan. \n  \n\n\n\nAbout Zack Davisson\nZack Davisson is an award-winning writer\, translator\, and lecturer. He is on faculty at NYU in the Translation and Interpretations department and active in his fields.  He has won multiple Eisner awards and the Bram Stoker award. Respected in both academic and popular culture circles\, Davisson played a significant role in making Japanese folklore\, entertainment\, and literature accessible to English-speaking audiences. \n\n\nHe is a regular lecturer at universities\, museums\, and cultural institutes\, as well as appearing on podcasts\, on documentaries\, and as a guest at comic and anime conventions. \n\n\nCurrent projects include ULTIMATE X-MEN for Marvel Comics\, CAT + CRAZY for Dark Horse\, and THE ART OF SHIGERU MIZUKI for Drawn and Quarterly.  \n\n\nDavisson has worked with National Geographic and the Smithsonian\, and has been featured on NPR\, the BBC\, and The New York Times. His original works have been translated into multiple languages.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/kaibyou-supernatural-cats-of-japan/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:All Things Yōkai,Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/supernatural-cats.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T165000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194220
CREATED:20250925T225006Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T221420Z
UID:10000243-1759593600-1759596600@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Good Luck in Japan
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor • 4:00 PM\nGood Luck in Japan\nTalk by Dr. Alisa Freedman\, University of Oregon\nCome learn more about Japanese lucky myths\, gods\, creatures\, charms\, holidays\, and rituals and how they inspire us in the US.\n  \n\nAbout Dr. Alisa Freedman\n \nAlisa Freedman is an Associate Professor of Japanese Literature and Film at the University of Oregon. She has published articles and edited special journal issues on Japanese modernism\, Tokyo studies\, youth culture\, gender\, television\, humor as social critique\, teaching pedagogies\, and intersections of literature and digital media\, along with translations of Japanese literature. She is Editor-in-Chief of the U.S.-Japan Women’s Journal. \n  \n 
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/good-luck-in-japan/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T163000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194220
CREATED:20240921T224303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250928T203551Z
UID:10000200-1759593600-1759595400@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Kamishibai – Paper Theater Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:MTC 124 • 1st Floor\nKamishibai – Paper Theater Storytelling\nDanial Roy\nKamishibai “paper theater” is a traditional form of storytelling from Japan. \nTypically\, stories are presented using around a dozen large and beautifully illustrated cards with English translations on the back. The dramatic dialogue format is engaging for beginner\, intermediate\, and fluent readers. The size of Kamishibai storytelling cards makes it suitable for all size audiences\, and appeals to everyone. Join Danial Roy as he engages children and adults alike in these fascinating stories of old Japan!
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/kamishibai-paper-theater-storytelling/
LOCATION:MTC: 1st Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T154500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T154500
DTSTAMP:20260603T194220
CREATED:20221001T150621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T141742Z
UID:10000214-1759592700-1759592700@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Japanese Garden Design
DESCRIPTION:MTC 224 • 2nd Floor\nJapanese Garden Design\nTalk by Koji Morimoto\nCome and hear Japanese garden master Koji Morimoto talk about the principles of Japanese Garden Design and Maintenance.\nHe will show how to balance all aspects of the garden and explain the techniques and principles of making an outdoor living space. \nMr. Morimoto is the owner of Japanese Landscaping Company in Kansas City. Koji Morimoto has designed\, built\, and maintained traditional Japanese gardens in New York\, Kansas\, and Missouri for over 20 years.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/japanese-garden-design/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/KojiLecture-1200.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T162000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194220
CREATED:20250926T223633Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T221326Z
UID:10000250-1759591800-1759594800@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Zuihitsu\, Haibun\, and New Possibilities of Genre
DESCRIPTION:GEB 233 • Craig Auditorium • 3:30 PM\nZuihitsu\, Haibun\, and New Possibilities of Genre\nTalk by Dr. Andrea Stover\nZuihitsu is a form of writing in which the writer “follows the brush” and writes associatively\, and Haibun\, a form of travel writing that includes a short prose piece describes an object scene or special moment coupled with a haiku poem\, allows students to explore alternative genres to record the precision of their observations and thinking. \n  \n\nAbout Dr. Andrea Stover\n \nDr. Andrea Stover is a Professor of English\, Belmont University and Director of Writing at Belmont University and the Japan Studies Association Conference Co-Chair. \n\n  \n\n 
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/zuihitsu-haibun-and-new-possibilities-of-genre/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/writing-with-brush.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T160000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194220
CREATED:20240922T154749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T223515Z
UID:10000205-1759590000-1759593600@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Ikebana: Japanese Flower Arranging
DESCRIPTION:NMOCA 212 • Nerman • Second Floor\nIkebana: Japanese Flower Arranging\nAnalise Todd-Colum and Sue Looney\nLean about Ikebana\, the art of Japanese flower arrangement.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/ikebana-japanese-flower-arranging/
LOCATION:Nerman: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
GEO:38.924880809544;-94.726821038974
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T155000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250925T223254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T221224Z
UID:10000242-1759590000-1759593000@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:The Human Mask: Yokai and Yurei Wearing Human Faces in Japanese Folklore
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor • 3:00 PM\nThe Human Mask: Yokai and Yurei Wearing Human Faces in Japanese Folklore\nZack Davisson\, New York University\nIn a flip of perspective\, Zack will explain how Yokai are both the mask and the wearer of them.\nMany early tales from Noh theater and Buddhist literature featured supernatural creatures disguised as humans\, with the dénouement coming from when the human mask was dropped and the spirit revealed. This was continued through the Edo period and extends into today’s modern entertainment\, as yokai seek to infiltrate human culture for reasons entirely of their own. \n  \n\n\nAbout Zack Davisson\nZack Davisson is an award-winning writer\, translator\, and lecturer. He is on faculty at NYU in the Translation and Interpretations department and active in his fields.  He has won multiple Eisner awards and the Bram Stoker award. Respected in both academic and popular culture circles\, Davisson played a significant role in making Japanese folklore\, entertainment\, and literature accessible to English-speaking audiences. \n\n\nHe is a regular lecturer at universities\, museums\, and cultural institutes\, as well as appearing on podcasts\, on documentaries\, and as a guest at comic and anime conventions. \n\n\nCurrent projects include ULTIMATE X-MEN for Marvel Comics\, CAT + CRAZY for Dark Horse\, and THE ART OF SHIGERU MIZUKI for Drawn and Quarterly.  \n\n\nDavisson has worked with National Geographic and the Smithsonian\, and has been featured on NPR\, the BBC\, and The New York Times. His original works have been translated into multiple languages.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/the-human-mask-yokai-and-yurei-wearing-human-faces-in-japanese-folklore/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations,Masks & Myths Theme
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/zack-davisson-duke-university-manga-translator.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T152000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250926T154029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T221154Z
UID:10000248-1759588200-1759591200@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Their Land is Still a Forest: Ainu in Contemporary Japan
DESCRIPTION:GEB 233 • Craig Auditorium • 2:30 PM\nTheir Land is Still a Forest: Ainu in Contemporary Japan\nTalk by Dr. Stacia Bensyl\, Missouri Western State University\nThis presentation is a reflection of the famous works of “Our Land Was a Forest: An Ainu Memoir” by Kayano Shigeru\, a noted Ainu folklore expert\, activist and politician as a lens to explore the persisting myths and lifestyles of the indigenous Ainu of northern Japan in contemporary times.\n  \n\nAbout Dr. Stacia Bensyl\n \nDr. Bensyl is a Professor of English at Missouri Western State University\, who also teaches postcolonial and world literatures\, she is a guest lecturer with the Japan Studies Association. \n\n  \n  \n\nImage: Hokkaido\, Japan – Shiraoi Ainu Museum is one of the country’s best museums about the Ainu\, the indigenous people of northern Japan.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/ainu-in-contemporary-japan/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations,Masks & Myths Theme
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Shiraoi-Ainu-Museum.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T145000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250925T215918Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T221132Z
UID:10000241-1759586400-1759589400@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:The Inner Life of Monsters: Noh\, Godzilla and Japanese Culture
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor • 2:00 PM\nThe Inner Life of Monsters: Noh\, Godzilla and Japanese Culture\nBill Tsutsui\, Japanese History Scholar\nNoh theater and Godzilla may seem like an unlikely combination\, even though monsters\, demons\, and spirits appear frequently on the Noh stage.\nBy diving deeply into Zeami’s fifteenth century play Nue\, the heroic warrior tale of Minamoto no Yoritomo slaying a monster\, and the 1954 classic Gojira\, this talk will explore the surprising cultural continuities between a rich and ancient theatrical tradition and a popular cinematic form seldom associated with great artistry or sophistication. \n\nAbout Bill Tsutsui\nBill Tsutsui has served as Chancellor and Professor of History at Ottawa University since 2021\, after more than 30 years teaching modern Japanese history and holding a variety of administrative positions at the University of Kansas\, Southern Methodist University\, Hendrix College\, and Harvard University.  Among the eight books he has written or edited are Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters (called a “cult classic” by the New York Times) and Japanese Popular Culture and Globalization.  He continues to speak\, write\, and teach on the Godzilla movies\, monster culture in Japan\, and the environmental history of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/noh-godzilla-and-japanese-culture/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations,Masks & Myths Theme
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/bill-tsutsui.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T143000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250929T144733Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T142634Z
UID:10000265-1759584600-1759588200@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Influence of Western Fantasy Gaming on Japanese Anime\, Novels & Manga
DESCRIPTION:NMOA 212 • Nerman • Second Floor\nInfluence of Western Fantasy Gaming on Japanese Anime\, Novels & Manga\nTalk by Ai Namima-Davison & Shawn Davison\nJoin Ai Namima-Davison & Shawn Davison from Level One Game shop as they cover the introduction of Dungeons and Dragons into Japan\, leading to the creation of the Record of Lodoss War novelization\, Anime\, and then Sword World and how these early influences have affected modern anime world-building\, writing\, and style.\n  \n\nImage: Main characters for the novel Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch. Illustrated by Yutaka Izubuchi.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/influence-of-western-fantasy-gaming/
LOCATION:Nerman: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Record-of-Lodoss-War-Characters.jpg
GEO:38.924880809544;-94.726821038974
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T142000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250926T152213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T221102Z
UID:10000247-1759584600-1759587600@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:From Art to Anime: Myths and Perceptions of the Ainu in Japan and the West
DESCRIPTION:GEB 233 • Craig Auditorium • 1:30 PM\nFrom Art to Anime: Myths and Perceptions of the Ainu in Japan and the West\nTalk by Dr. Jennifer Welsh\nSince the earliest records of the Ainu\, Hokkaido’s indigenous people\, have often been viewed through myths rather than reality.\nEarly Japanese accounts depict the “Ezo” as dangerous\, uncivilized\, and easily tricked. In the late 19th century\, Isabella Bird’s writings depicted them sympathetically but still framed their culture through Western ideas of noble savages. Today\, increased awareness and revival efforts\, including cultural centers and portrayals in manga like “Golden Kamuy\,” aim to present the Ainu more accurately. This presentation examines how the Ainu have been portrayed across myths and historical sources. \n  \n\nAbout Dr. Jennifer Welsh\n \nDr. Welsh is a professor at both University of Alaska Southeast  and also assistant professor of history at Eastern New Mexico University. \n\n  \n\n  \nImage: Shiraoi-cho\, Hokkaido\, Japan: Ainu woman making traditional clothes at the open-air Shiraoi Ainu Museum. \n 
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/myths-and-perceptions-of-the-ainu/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations,Masks & Myths Theme
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ainu-woman.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T143000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20221001T150911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T140514Z
UID:10000037-1759582800-1759588200@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Miniature Trees: An Introduction to the Ancient Art of Bonsai
DESCRIPTION:SC 101 (Student Center) • 1st Floor\nMiniature Trees: An Introduction to the Ancient Art of Bonsai\nKathy Schlesinger\nThe translation of Bonsai simply means “planted in a shallow tray”. However\, Bonsai is one of the oldest forms of ‘living’ art as trees and plants are grown in containers\, artistically designed\, in the Japanese style.\nThis presentation will provide a general overview of the many aspects in practicing this art form including Chinese and Japanese origins\, philosophy\, and description of design styles\, tools\, general horticulture procedures\, pot selection and the design process. We will also “look at” some of the trees gifted to the US\, by Japan during our 200th birthday celebration\, in the National Arboretum. \nTo wrap up we will review the various styles discussed using slides featuring examples of the many different plants used in this unique art\, here and around the world. There will be time for questions and answers. \nKathy Schlesinger is a biologist and research scientist who was first introduced to Bonsai in 1976 before moving to the KC area from the East coast. She has been practicing and studying this art with teachers from across the globe\, for over 30 years. Bonsai has become a lifelong passion of study and she enjoys sharing the beauty and joy of this Japanese art. She is also a current Board member and officer of the Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/miniature-trees-an-introduction-to-the-ancient-art-of-bonsai/
LOCATION:SC: 1st Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bonsai.jpg
GEO:38.924637406872;-94.730239304009
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T135000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250925T155728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T221022Z
UID:10000239-1759582800-1759585800@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Japanese Religion and the Supernatural
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor • 1:00 PM\nJapanese Religion and the Supernatural\nTalk by Dr. Sarah Aptilon\nIn this presentation we will delve into supernatural beliefs in Japanese culture and their connection to Shinto and Buddhism.\nIn Japan\, religion and the supernatural are deeply intertwined and omnipresent in daily life\, even as mainstream Japanese culture is ever more avowedly secular and non-religious. Awe-inspiring deities called kami are venerated as a living presence in the Japanese islands\, as are buddhas and other powerful beings that belong to the Buddhist tradition that arrived in Japan in the sixth century C.E. What are the connections among kami\, buddhas\, ghosts\, and the fanciful\, fearsome\, venerable beings called yōkai? In this worldview the here and now is a place of mystery and power\, and otherworldly phenomena always lurk just beneath the surface. \n\nAbout Dr. Sarah Aptilon\nA Kansas City area native\, Sarah lived and practiced at a Buddhist monastery in Kyoto for seven years\, where she studied and taught meditation and led workshops and retreats. She offers meditation classes at Turning Point\, a subsidiary of the University of Kansas Health System\, and teaches a weekly meditation class for the JCCC Student Wellness Program. She also serves as a senior consultant for Japan Intercultural Consulting\, leading multicultural team-building and cross-cultural communication seminars throughout the U.S.\, Canada\, and Mexico. Sarah is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Johnson County Community College\, where she teaches courses on world religions\, Asian religions\, and Japanese culture. She earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Stanford University and a B.A. in East Asian Studies from Yale University.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/japanese-religion-and-the-supernatural/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T132000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250925T230442Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T220834Z
UID:10000244-1759581000-1759584000@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Street Nihonga: The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani
DESCRIPTION:GEB 233 • Craig Auditorium • 12:30 PM\nStreet Nihonga: The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani\nDr. Maki Kaneko\, Kansas University Spencer Museum of Art\nAssociate Professor of Japanese Art\nStreet Nihonga presents the remarkable art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani (1920–2012)\, a Japanese American artist who adapted his training in traditional Japanese painting to his life on the streets of New York City when he was unhoused later in life.\nHis work conveys a profound narrative of resilience and creativity\, set against the complex history of Japan and the United States in the twentieth century. With more than 120 works on view\, this exhibition offers the first major opportunity for the public to encounter a substantial body of Mirikitani’s art. It highlights both his artistic achievements and his innovative approaches to storytelling through drawing\, painting\, and collage. The exhibition is co-curated with Kris Ercums\, Curator of Global Contemporary and Asian Art at the Spencer Museum of Art and will open in February 2026 \n\nAbout Dr. Maki Kaneko\nMaki Kaneko teaches courses on the history of Japanese modern/contemporary art\, print\, manga\, and architecture from the seventeenth-century to the present and the arts of Asia Americans and Asian diasporas. Her research concerns the politics of memory\, race\, and gender in twentieth-century Japanese visual culture and the Asia-Pacific region. Her book Mirroring the Japanese Empire published in 2014 examines the representation and signification of the male figure in Japanese oil painting and cinema between 1930 and 1950\, the decades when Japan engaged with a series of imperialist wars. Kaneko’s current research includes Japanese American diaspora artists\, the history of “outsider art” in Japan\, and gender and sexuality in contemporary visual culture. \n\nAbout Kris Imants Ercums\nKris Imants Ercums is Curator of Global Contemporary and Asian Art at the Spencer Museum of Art\, where he has curated over 30 exhibitions and 12 artist residencies since 2007. His curatorial practice focuses on Japanese art and visual culture\, with recent projects engaging contemporary ceramics\, postwar painting\, and performance. Upcoming exhibitions include Form and Flux: Contemporary Ceramics from Asia and Brush\, Block\, and Blood: Three Generations of Yoshida Women Printmakers. He earned his PhD in Chinese art history from the University of Chicago in 2014 and is currently co-curating Street Nihonga: The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani with Maki Kaneko\, opening February 2026. \n\n\nImage Credit: Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani\, Cat Looking at Fish\, circa 2001 \n 
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/street-nihonga-the-art-of-jimmy-tsutomu-mirikitani/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Art-Nihonga.png
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T121500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T124500
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250905T210348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T220743Z
UID:10000228-1759580100-1759581900@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Lecture: The Masks of Kagura Musume
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211: Second Floor • 12:15 PM\nLecture: The Masks of Kagura Musume\nLecture by Asuka Iijima\nDiscover the hidden stories behind the masks.\n\nIn this fascinating lecture\, dancer Asuka Iijima unveils the history\, artistry\, and cultural significance of the masks featured in her performance of Kagura Musume. These authentic masks—sourced from a professional Kabuki prop house in Japan—represent a maiden princess\, a fearsome serpent\, a storm god\, and comical festival figures. \nThrough images\, demonstrations\, and storytelling\, Asuka will guide you into the world of Japanese festival traditions\, explaining how masks shape the characters\, movements\, and spirit of Kagura dance. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the symbolism and craftsmanship that bring this legendary tale to life. \n\nABOUT THE PERFORMER\nAsuka Iijima (Wakayagi Kiku Asuka) began her study of Japanese Dancing at age seven\, studying under Master Wakayagi Kichikomae. She has over twenty years of dance training. Her stage performances include: Hane no Kamuro\, Fuji Musume\, Kioi Jishi\, and Shigure Saigyo. She studied abroad for advanced academic degrees from 2000 to 2005 completing both master’s and PhD degrees. Since 2007\, she has been performing to popular Japanese ballads and local folk songs such as Yagibushi rather than traditional kabuki style music. \nIn 2021\, she was certified as Shihan (Master of Japanese Dancing ) and is preparing to open a school of dance. She received a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and English Education from Keio University; a master’s degree in composition and TESOL (a certificate for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; and a PhD Degree in Composition and TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Currently\, she is an English instructor at Keio University in Tokyo and serves as an English instructor and tutor for various academic institutions. \n 
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/lecture-the-masks-of-kagura-musume/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/masks-of-Kagura-Musume.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T123000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20231002T220739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T140344Z
UID:10000130-1759577400-1759581000@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Takeshi’s Castle Episode 81 Screening
DESCRIPTION:GEB 258 • Second Floor\nTakeshi’s Castle Episode 81 Screening\nJoshua Murphy\nJoin is for a screening of the Japanese Game Show that\, for most\, defines the genre: Takeshi’s Castle.\nThe Japanese game show that went from being a television footnote\, to airing in over 100 different countries was remade in over a dozen places. The recent Takeshi’s Castle Amazon revival will also be touched upon. This lecture will explain the history of one of the most successful Japanese game show franchises–the history of how a segment on a sports competition show became the worldwide phenomenon of Ninja Warrior.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/the-history-of-takeshis-castle/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Takeshis-Castle-image.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T122000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250926T143147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T144237Z
UID:10000246-1759577400-1759580400@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Masked Superheroes in Japan
DESCRIPTION:GEB 233 • CRAIG AUDITORIUM • 11:30 AM\nMasked Superheroes in Japan\nTalk by Dr. Alisa Freedman\, University of Oregon\nFrom Moonlight Mask (Gekko Kamen) to Super Sentai bands of fighters in Ultraman\, masked Superheroes have been a staple of Japanese television. What lies behind their masks?\n  \n\nAbout Dr. Alisa Freedman\n \nAlisa Freedman is an Associate Professor of Japanese Literature and Film at the University of Oregon. She has published articles and edited special journal issues on Japanese modernism\, Tokyo studies\, youth culture\, gender\, television\, humor as social critique\, teaching pedagogies\, and intersections of literature and digital media\, along with translations of Japanese literature. She is Editor-in-Chief of the U.S.-Japan Women’s Journal. \n  \n  \n\n  \nImage Credit: Choudenshi Bioman (1984)
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/masked-superheroes-in-japan/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations,Masks & Myths Theme
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/choudenshi-bioman.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T121500
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250928T202039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T220329Z
UID:10000251-1759577400-1759580100@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Samurai Armor Lecture
DESCRIPTION:MTC 124 • First Floor • 11:30 am\nSamurai Armor Lecture\nLecture by Jimmy Forred\nJimmy Forred’s lecture will focus on the history of Japanese armor leading up to the modern era.\nMr. Forred is a member of Tosa No Shugyo Dojo\, studying Kenjutsu\, Kendo\, Sojutsu\, and lai.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/samurai-armor-lecture/
LOCATION:MTC: 1st Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T115000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250924T190044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T220039Z
UID:10000238-1759575600-1759578600@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:The Noh Mask Reimagined: From Tradition to the Mona Lisa
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor • 11:00 AM\nThe Noh Mask Reimagined: From Tradition to the Mona Lisa\nTalk by Dr. Kris Imants Ercums\nKansas University Spencer Museum of Art\, Curator of Global Contemporary and Asian Art \nThis talk explores the transformation of tradition in the art of Noh mask carving\, focusing on masks from the Spencer Museum of Art’s collection and the contemporary work of master carver Bidou Yamaguchi.\nRooted in centuries-old techniques and the austere beauty of classical Noh theater\, traditional masks embody the Japanese aesthetic of yūgen—a subtle\, mysterious depth that hints at the unseen. Yamaguchi\, a formally trained Noh mask maker\, honors this tradition while expanding its expressive potential. Over the past decade\, he has turned his gaze toward iconic figures of Western art\, such as the Mona Lisa and Girl with a Pearl Earring\, reimagining them as Noh masks infused with yūgen. Most recently\, he has introduced a bold new category: “persona” masks\, which draw on contemporary and historical Western portraiture to explore questions of identity and cultural hybridity. Through a close examination of historic and contemporary masks\, this talk reflects on how inherited forms are reactivated through cross-cultural engagement and artistic innovation. Yamaguchi’s work not only bridges East and West but also deepens our understanding of how tradition can be a dynamic and living force in global contemporary art. \n\nAbout Kris Imants Ercums\nKris Imants Ercums is Curator of Global Contemporary and Asian Art at the Spencer Museum of Art\, where he has curated over 30 exhibitions and 12 artist residencies since 2007. His curatorial practice focuses on Japanese art and visual culture\, with recent projects engaging contemporary ceramics\, postwar painting\, and performance. Upcoming exhibitions include Form and Flux: Contemporary Ceramics from Asia and Brush\, Block\, and Blood: Three Generations of Yoshida Women Printmakers. He earned his PhD in Chinese art history from the University of Chicago in 2014 and is currently co-curating Street Nihonga: The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani with Maki Kaneko\, opening February 2026. \n  \n\n\nMask Image Credit: Bidou Yamaguchi | Artist
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/the-noh-mask-reimagined/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations,Masks & Myths Theme
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/noh-masks-reimagined.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T113000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20221001T152841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250929T135400Z
UID:10000043-1759573800-1759577400@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:A Look at Japanese Game Shows on American Television
DESCRIPTION:GEB 258 • Second Floor\nA Look at Japanese Game Shows on American Television\nJoshua Murphy\nIn this presentation\, Joshua Murphy will look at Japanese Game and Variety Shows and their effect on the American television landscape.\nTakeshi’s Castle\, Ninja Warrior\, Ultra Quiz\, Shark Tank and America’s Funniest Home videos are some of the shows that will be discussed and seen in this panel. \nJoshua Murphy is a Historian who has interviewed over 100 television personalities\, producers\, and distributors. He has been a Japanese Gameshow fan for over a decade and has been studying Japanese Gameshows for over ten years.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/a-look-at-japanese-game-shows-on-american-television/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251004T112000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20250926T142154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250930T215839Z
UID:10000245-1759573800-1759576800@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Godzilla in America: Japan's Monster in Western Cinema
DESCRIPTION:GEB 233 • Craig Auditorium • 10:30 AM\nGodzilla in America: Japan’s Monster in Western Cinema\nTalk by Dr. Michael Charlton\, Missouri Western State University\nA Fun exploration of how Godzilla and Godzilla films have been adapted for Western audiences over the past 70 years.\n  \n\nAbout Dr. Michael Charlton\nDr. Charlton is the Vice Provost\, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs\, Professor of English at Missouri Western State University. He has published a wide variety of works on topics related to television\, film\, video games\, and comics. \n  \n  \n\n  \nGodzilla 1954 Image Credit: Toho Co.\, Ltd \n 
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/godzilla-in-america/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Godzilla-1954.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T163000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20240921T193227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240926T222248Z
UID:10000194-1728142200-1728145800@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Yokai Panel Discussion
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor\nYōkai Panel Discussion\nPanelists: Dr. Mindy Landeck\, Zack Davisson\, Yayoi Shinoda\, Andrea Thimesch\, Dr. William Tsutsui\nModerator: Dianne Daugherty\nIs there something you’ve always wanted to know about Yokai? This is your chance to ask the experts! \nJoin Assistant Festival Director Dianne Daugherty and the Yokai guest lecturers as they provide insights about those mysterious\, gruesome\, silly\, and mischievous creatures that are born from the unexplainable and given life through art and folklore.Whether this is your first foray into the realm of the supernatural\, you’ve already taken a deep dive into the abyss\, or somewhere in-between\, chatting with these experts will provide new insights and deepen your understanding of yokai\, monsters\, and folklore. \n 
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/yokai-panel-discussion/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:All Things Yōkai,Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/yokai-panel.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T143000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20240921T222827Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240926T222427Z
UID:10000198-1728135000-1728138600@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Kaiju\, Character Goods\, Pokemon in the World of Yōkai
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor\nKaiju\, Character Goods\, Pokemon in the World of Yōkai\nBill Tsutsui\, Japanese History Scholar\nIs Godzilla a Yokai? What about Pikachu? And is Hello Kitty even a monster? \nDr. Bill Tsutsui\, renowned Japanese history scholar and Author of “Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters”\,  will explore how the “commercial monsters” created by Japanese corporations since WWII fit within Japan’s rich heritage of folkloric creatures and spirits. Dr. Tsutsui brings more than 30 years of teaching and education to discuss the lighthearted but important ways monsters–whether yokai or not–have impacted Japanese popular culture and globalization.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/kaiju-character-gods-pokemon-in-the-world-of-yokai/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:All Things Yōkai,Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/bill-tsutsui.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T143000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20220927T225314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240924T020336Z
UID:10000032-1728135000-1728138600@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Evolution of the Samurai
DESCRIPTION:GEB 256 • 2nd Floor\nEvolution of the Samurai\nJ.M. “Tora” Lawson\nMr. Lawson will discuss the evolution of Samurai culture\, how it has survived into the modern era and how the role of samurai changed throughout their centuries-long rule of Japan.\nTora Lawson has had thirty-eight years of experience in Japanese Martial Arts\, including Kenjutsu\, Kendo\, Iai\, and Sojutsu both in the United States and in Kochi\, Japan. He is the founder of the Tosa No Shugyo organization based in Wichita\, Kansas.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/legacy-of-the-samurai/
LOCATION:GEB: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tora-lawson.jpg
GEO:38.924261110731;-94.729228437157
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T133000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20240921T221754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240926T222349Z
UID:10000197-1728131400-1728135000@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:A Brief History of Yōkai
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor\nA Brief History of Yōkai\nZack Davisson\, Yōkai Folklorist\nFrom Godzilla to Pokemon\, Japan is monster country. All of Japan’s monsters have their roots in the bizarre menagerie of the creatures called “Yokai”. \nNoted monster scholar and yokai Folklorist Zack Davisson guides you through the history behind yokai: A journey from the invisible monsters of the Heian Period to the Yokai catalogs of Edo.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/history-of-yokai/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:All Things Yōkai,Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/zack-davisson-duke-university-manga-translator.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T123000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20240921T220204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240924T015323Z
UID:10000196-1728127800-1728131400@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Yokai in Anime & Manga
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor\nYokai in Anime & Manga\nAndrea Thimesch\, JCCC Academic Library\nThat was a Yokai this whole time?!? The term “Yokai” gained more popularity and understanding by American audiences through the well-known series “Yokai Watch\,” but beyond that\, what creatures are considered yokai? The magical folklore monsters are prevalent throughout Japanese media. \nAndrea Thimesch\, JCCC academic librarian and KC Japan Festival assistant director\, will help audiences explore the frequency of Yokai appearances in anime and manga that may have gone unnoticed. Andrea will also discuss the KC Japan Festival’s  “Yokai Hunt” stamp passport activity  and how these 12 Yokai and more serve as inspiration for creating characters in your favorite anime and manga series. We will begin by addressing the fundamental question\, “What are Yokai?” and then offer examples\, and maybe even analyze whether your favorite anime monsters and creatures qualify as Yokai or not.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/yokai-in-anime-manga/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:All Things Yōkai,Cultural Presentations
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241005T113000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20240921T214221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240924T015303Z
UID:10000195-1728126000-1728127800@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Visualizing the Invisible: Hokusai\, Yokai\, & Manga
DESCRIPTION:MTC 211 • 2nd Floor\nVisualizing the Invisible: Hokusai\, Yokai\, & Manga\nYayoi Shinoda\, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art\nKatsushika Hokusai\, famed for his iconic print Under the Wave off Kanagawa (often called the Great Wave\, 1830–31)\, was much more than a master of landscapes.He also delved into the mystical realms of yōkai\, the supernatural creatures of Japanese folklore and legends.\nHokusai brought these mysterious beings to life with astonishing detail. The vibrant prints and illustrated books he designed\, including early manga\, enchanted audiences of his time and continue to captivate imaginations today. \nYayoi Shinoda is Assistant Curator of Japanese Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  \n  \n\n\nHokusai: Waves of Inspiration\nSee the exhibit Hokusai: Waves of Inspiration\, at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art through January 2025.  \nLearn more at Nelson-Atkins.org \n  \n\nImage Credits \nLeft: Detail\, Katsushika Hokusai\, Sara yashiki (Plate Mansion)\, 1831. Library of Congress. Public Domain. \nRight: Detail\, Katsushika Hokusai\, Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks)\, vol.3\, 1815. Smithsonian Libraries. Public Domain.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/visualizing-the-invisible-hokusai-yokai-manga/
LOCATION:MTC: 2nd Floor
CATEGORIES:All Things Yōkai,Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hokusai-yokai.jpg
GEO:38.9251032;-94.7281012
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231007T154500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231007T164500
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20231003T150034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231003T150034Z
UID:10000145-1696693500-1696697100@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Gender and Kabuki: Onnagata and Takarazuka
DESCRIPTION:Kyle Granzow \nThis lecture will examine how the history of kabuki theater – particularly the influence of the Tokugawa-era government in its early days – gave rise to the gender-subverting onnagata\, or men who play female roles\, and a comparison of them against the modern-day otokoyaku – women who act the parts of men in the Takarazuka Revue performance group. \nKyle is a graduate student at KU who is pursuing a master’s degree in East Asian Studies. He has spent 2 years living in Japan and has recently returned to the United States to pursue research in kabuki\, gender studies\, and Japanese language.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/gender-and-kabuki-onnagata-and-takarazuka/
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231007T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231007T153000
DTSTAMP:20260603T194221
CREATED:20231003T145516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231003T145516Z
UID:10000144-1696689000-1696692600@www.kcjapanfestival.org
SUMMARY:Promoting Kabuki: Edo-Era Prints from the Nelson-Atkins Collection
DESCRIPTION:Yayoi Shinoda \nFrom portrayals of dramatic moments on stage\, to behind-the-stage scenes\, images of Kabuki actors garnered great public attention in the Edo period (1615–1868). Kabuki fans purchased woodblock prints portraying their favorite actors. Theaters\, publishers\, and artists collaborated to create images of star actors and advertised the latest productions for Kabuki enthusiasts. Showcasing pieces from the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art\, this presentation will introduce Kabuki prints\, featuring some beloved repertoires such as Chūshingura (Treasury of Loyal Retainers) and Musume Dōjōji (The Maiden at Dōjōji)\, in addition to portraits of famous Kabuki actors. \nOriginally from Tokyo\, Yayoi Shinoda is Assistant Curator of Japanese Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City\, MO. She has held curatorial positions at the Nelson-Atkins since 2013 and has contributed to various projects and exhibitions\, including the traveling exhibition Weaving Splendor: Treasures of Asian Textiles\, which she co-curated in 2021. She holds an M.A. in Art History from the University of Kansas\, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in the history of Japanese art.
URL:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/event/kabuki-actor-prints/
CATEGORIES:Cultural Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.kcjapanfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/kabuki-actor-print-pair.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR