Featured Events in Japan in March 2025 (July Updated)

Since ancient times, Japan has developed by imitating continental culture and adopting Buddhism and legal laws. Even after the end of the missions to China, Japan continued to exchange with the continent while embarking on the path of Japanese style, giving birth to hiragana, which expresses a uniquely Japanese sentiment, and the imperial culture that can be said to be synonymous with Japanese aesthetics. This culture was overshadowed by the rise of the samurai class, but it was passed down without interruption, and was transformed into something to be admired again with the arrival of a time of peace. This exhibition will be the first time that the MIHO MUSEUM's collection of "Higurashi-cho" is on display at the museum. "Higurashi-cho" was originally created as a notebook by the modern connoisseur Yoshida Tanzaemon. The book was later treasured by Yasuda Zenjiro and passed to Sugawara Michitsugu (1894-1981), who served as president of Railway Industries Co., Ltd., who reorganized it along with his own utakiri scrolls and mounted them on scrolls to create "Higurashi-cho" on the thirteenth anniversary of his wife's death. Thirty-one scrolls of famous calligraphy, such as "Koyagiri," said to be the pinnacle of ancient calligraphy, "Toganokiri," which features floral and bird designs and flower motifs painted in gold and silver on paper, and "Ishiyamakiri," which seems to embody the elegance of the Heian period, are included in the collection, which is based on the miso hitomoji style of 5-7-5-7-7. This exhibition will interweave "Higurashicho" with works from the MIHO MUSEUM's collection, including crafts, Buddhist art, the Rinpa Tale of Genji folding screen, and paintings of immortal poets, all of which express the desire for imperial culture that arose from the birth of aristocratic culture in the Heian period to the early Momoyama period. We hope that visitors will be able to reflect on the refined beauty and "elegance" of the people of the capital that still remains in the present day.

Higashiyama ware began operations in 1822 at the eastern foot of Mount Kozenji in Higashiyama Village, Shikahigashi County, Harima Province (now Higashiyama, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture), located southeast of Himeji Castle. At the time, Kawai Michiomi (1767-1841), a senior retainer of the Himeji Domain, sold specialty products such as Himeji cotton and leather products nationwide in order to restore the domain's finances, which were suffering from deficits. He also focused on Higashiyama ware, placing it under the domain's control from the beginning and taking care to prevent specie money from flowing out of the domain. Incorporating the latest designs of Kyo ware, which was a luxury brand at the time, and ceramic technology from Arita, Hizen, a major production area, they fired a wide range of wares, from porcelain to pottery, with a focus on celadon and blue-and-white porcelain. The Kozenjiyama kiln mainly fired celadon and blue-and-white porcelain, while the Otokoyama kiln mainly fired blue-and-white porcelain, with many excellent blue-and-white porcelain items, particularly old blue-and-white porcelain copies and auspicious copies. At the end of the Edo period, the business was taken over by six wealthy merchants from the castle town of Himeji, and although the scale of production was reduced after the abolition of the feudal domains and establishment of prefectures in 1871, production continued into the Meiji period. Eiseisha was established in 1877 in Okuramae-cho (present-day Shio-cho and Jusansho-mae-cho) for the purpose of providing employment to samurai. Under the guidance of Shibata Zenpei (year of birth unknown-1902), a potter from Hizen Okawachi, potters and artists from Higashiyama ware, as well as former Himeji samurai, were involved in the production of pottery. They mainly produced colored ware for export, and continued to operate until around 1888. In 1881, Eiseisha potter Nakagawa Yujiro (1849-1922) began producing Sagiashi ware, mainly pottery characterized by intricate bamboo spatula work, at his home in Page-cho. This exhibition will introduce Himeji pottery such as Higashiyama ware, Eiseisha, and Sagiashi ware, which flourished from the late early modern period to the modern era.

Ukiyo-e was born in response to the trend of the times to transform the pain and suffering of this world into pleasure and to enjoy this world with joy. The form of the artwork is divided into hand-painted paintings and woodblock prints. This exhibition will feature hand-painted ukiyo-e such as Leisure under the Blossoms Screen, Kanbun Beauties, and Leisure Scroll (by Hishikawa Moronobu).The ceramics exhibit will feature celadon porcelain made in China.In addition, Asian Buddhist sculptures and works by Mokichi Okada will also be on display.We look forward to seeing you there.

Explore The March Tournament Day 9 sporting information for 17th March, as well as links for Sumo Wrestling tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The March Tournament, also known as Haru Basho, is one of the six annual professional sumo wrestling tournaments held in Japan. This highly-anticipated sporting event sees the top-ranked sumo wrestlers from the Japan Sumo Association competing against each other for the title of Yokozuna, the highest rank in the sport. The tournament takes place over 15 days in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, a 13,000-seat stadium that has been the home of sumo wrestling since 1985. The March Tournament attracts a global audience, with fans eager to see top players such as Yokozuna Hakuho and Sekiwake Asanoyama showcase their strength and technique in the dohyo (ring). The tournament is a must-see for any sumo wrestling enthusiast and is a valuable opportunity to witness the traditional Japanese sport at its finest. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

The world is full of all kinds of poop - dog and cat poop, bird poop, insect poop. This science exhibition focuses on animal excrement, or "poop." Approximately 150 pieces of mostly "real" poop from many different animals are gathered together in one place and displayed to introduce the various roles that poop plays in nature and the rich diversity of living things. Welcome to the world of poop, which is not just "smelly and dirty!" You'll surely find yourself humming the words "No UNCHI, No LIFE!"

Explore The March Tournament Day 12 sporting information for 20th March, as well as links for Sumo Wrestling tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The March Tournament, also known as Haru Basho, is one of the six annual professional sumo wrestling tournaments held in Japan. This highly-anticipated sporting event sees the top-ranked sumo wrestlers from the Japan Sumo Association competing against each other for the title of Yokozuna, the highest rank in the sport. The tournament takes place over 15 days in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, a 13,000-seat stadium that has been the home of sumo wrestling since 1985. The March Tournament attracts a global audience, with fans eager to see top players such as Yokozuna Hakuho and Sekiwake Asanoyama showcase their strength and technique in the dohyo (ring). The tournament is a must-see for any sumo wrestling enthusiast and is a valuable opportunity to witness the traditional Japanese sport at its finest. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

The exhibition brings together about 240 selected works, introducing the origin of Japanese prints, the changes of Ukiyo-e, the influence of Western art on prints, and the internationalization process of Japanese prints after the war. Exhibits include the "Immaculate Pure Light Great Dharani Sutra" from the Nara period, Utagawa Hiroshige's "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido: Lake Hakone", Kawase Hasui's "Morning in the Mist (Yotsuya Mitsuko)", and Tokata Shiko's "Two Bodhisattvas and the Ten Great Disciples of Sakyamuni: The Fence of Purna", etc., leading the audience to explore the artistic charm of Japanese prints for thousands of years.

Dinner served from 6 PM Music from 7:30-10:30 PM FREE Parking NO Cover MUST CALL FOR RESERVATIONS: 561-912-0000 $25 PP/ minimum food and/or beverage purchase required.South Florida Recording Artist Leiza Michaels plays a variety of dance music and standards from the 60s to now.www.facebook.com/events/1375780430081684 Information Source: Luis Garcia | eventbrite

What: Futenma Open Tennis Tournament Where: MCAS Futenma Tennis Courts When: Saturday 22 March /0900 Who: Open to all participants age 16+ Registration Deadline: Monday 17 March at 1300 Cost: $20 per player, $40 per player Type of Competition: Men's Singles Competition, (Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced), Women's Singles Competition (Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced). Doubles (All Male, All Female, Mixed) Players will be required to choose their divisions before tournament play starts. If there is any question of which division you will select, please refer to our bylaws on the Adult Sports website at https://www.okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/recreation-fitness/sports/adult-sports. Awards will be given to the top three Male and Female competitors in each division. Any questions, please contact Adult Sports at 645-4866 or via e-mail at adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. Information Source: MCCS Okinawa | eventbrite

A show of hilarity and culture in equal doses! Katsura Sunshine completed his grueling traditional apprenticeship in Rakugo comic storytelling under the great Rakugo Master Katsura Bunshi VI in 2011. His performances have delighted audiences throughout the world as well as all over Japan. Sunshine has graced the Broadway stage with a different delightful Japanese story each month since 2019, at the famous New World Stages in Manhattan. Join Sunshine in his home theatre of Asakusa Mokubatei in the most historic and lively area of Tokyo, a minutes walk from Sensoji temple. Come for an hour of laughter and leave with a piece of Japan in you heart! “A Master Storyteller!” -The New York Times “There is only one Sunshine!” -The New Yorker “The King of Kimono Comedy!” -Reuters, New York Information Source: eventbrite

What: Foster Open Tennis Tournament Where: Foster Tennis Courts When: Saturday 22 March /0900 Who: Open to all participants age 16+ Registration Deadline: Monday 17 March at 1300 Cost: $20 per player, $40 per player Type of Competition: Men's Singles Competition, (Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced), Women's Singles Competition (Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced). Doubles (All Male, All Female, Mixed) Players will be required to choose their divisions before tournament play starts. If there is any question of which division you will select, please refer to our bylaws on the Adult Sports website at https://www.okinawa.usmc-mccs.org/recreation-fitness/sports/adult-sports. Awards will be given to the top three Male and Female competitors in each division. Any questions, please contact Adult Sports at 645-4866 or via e-mail at adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. Information Source: MCCS Okinawa | eventbrite

Explore The March Tournament Day 14 sporting information for 22nd March, as well as links for Sumo Wrestling tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The March Tournament, also known as Haru Basho, is one of the six annual professional sumo wrestling tournaments held in Japan. This highly-anticipated sporting event sees the top-ranked sumo wrestlers from the Japan Sumo Association competing against each other for the title of Yokozuna, the highest rank in the sport. The tournament takes place over 15 days in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, a 13,000-seat stadium that has been the home of sumo wrestling since 1985. The March Tournament attracts a global audience, with fans eager to see top players such as Yokozuna Hakuho and Sekiwake Asanoyama showcase their strength and technique in the dohyo (ring). The tournament is a must-see for any sumo wrestling enthusiast and is a valuable opportunity to witness the traditional Japanese sport at its finest. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Visit the annual Freesia Festival on Hachijo Island, about 300km south of Tokyo. Just looking at the colorful freesias will soothe your soul with their fragrance. Relax and recharge at the Freesia Café, and try some local desserts. There is also a free picking area. There will also be a market where you can buy freesias and other specialty products from Hachijo Island.

Hamura Cherry Blossom Festival (Hamura Flower Water Festival: early period, late March to early April) Hamura Tulip Festival (Hamura Flower Water Festival: late period, early April to mid-April)

Studying at the Royal College of Art places you at the heart of London: a city internationally renowned for its creativity, culture and diversity - the perfect place to develop your creative career in. What do prospective students need to know about living and studying in the UK? You’re invited to meet Benjamin Reynolds and Stephanie Limuaco who will walk you through an introduction to the RCA, portfolio advice, the application process and scholarships. A limited number of in-person one-to-one meetings / portfolio reviews are available prior to the event. A time slot must be booked for a one-to-one meeting. What to expectMonday, 24 March 2025 1-5pm - Bookable one-to-one meetings with Benjamin Reynolds (Make sure to bring your portfolio on your fully charged device)5-6pm - Break6-8pm - About the RCA panel presentation and Q&AWe'd love you to join for all parts of the event but if you can only join for part of it, that's fine too. SpeakersBenjamin Reynolds (Associate Lecturer, Studio Tutor, MA Architecture)Stephanie Limuaco (Head of Student Recruitment & Marketing)Who is this event forProspective students interested in postgraduate study at the Royal College of ArtCurrent RCA applicants and offer-holdersParents, guardians and family members are also welcome to join, though please ensure they have a ticketYou don't have to specialise in any discipline to attend this event: we welcome guests planning to apply to all subject areas. VenueThe International House of Japan / 国際文化会館 5 Chome-11-16 Roppongi Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032 JapanOther events at the RCAWe are continually adding to our diverse programme of events: conversations on key topics such as funding advice and portfolio development, symposia, exhibitions, open days and more. Many are free and open to the public. About the Royal College of ArtThe RCA is postgraduate art, design and architecture university in London, England offering a Graduate Diploma conversion programme and Master’s, MPhil, MRes and PhD degrees. The four Schools of Architecture, Communication, Design and Arts & Humanities offer a broad range of disciplines, built on a strong foundation of practice-based research and integrates STEAM subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics - providing a unique and transformative experience. In March 2024, the Royal College of Art was announced as the World's number one ranked art & design university for the ninth consecutive year in the QS World University Subject Rankings. Information Source: Royal College of Art | eventbrite

The former Merchandise Exhibition Hall, the predecessor of the Merchandise Department, focused on collecting traditional crafts in the latter half of the 1990s, aiming to systematically enrich the collection of traditional crafts by region and type. This article looks back on the special exhibitions held between 1996 and 2000 that reflected the results of these efforts.

Shigaraki ware (Shiga Prefecture) is known for its tea ware and raccoon dog ornaments from the Momoyama period, but it also has a tradition of constantly evolving to meet the needs of the times as a production center for practical items. We will analyze the characteristics and trends of the wide variety of modern Shigaraki ware products that reflect this history.

Welcome to Tina Bullen's Pop Up Shop at The Minories! Join her on Thursday 27 March 2025 to Saturday 29 March 2025, 10 - 4 for 3 beautiful days with a local fine artist. She will be showing over 100 original artworks and prints from 2018 to now, so there's likely to be something for everyone at this special event. Keep your eyes peeled also for opportunities for workshops and demonstrations - details of these to be provided closer to the time and spaces will be limited. Don't miss out on this opportunity to meet and support a local artist, and find one-of-a-kind treasures. See you there! Information Source: Tina Bullen | eventbrite

What: Northern Camp Commander’s Cup Softball Tournament Who: Open to eligible units from Camp Courtney, Hansen, and Schwab When: Sat-Sun 29 -30 March // 0900 (time subject to change) Where: Camp Hansen Softball Fields Registration: Free, register by 1300 on 24 March on Eventbrite . Teams must submit a registration packet in addition to the Eventbrite registration. The packet can be found in our recreation centers or request one from adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. Roster Size: Roster size is 16 people plus a coach. A coach who plays in the tournament counts against the 16-player roster. Details: • Registration is free. Register by 1300 on 24 March via Eventbrite • Double elimination tournament, awards for 1st and 2nd place teams For more information, a copy of the by-laws and registration packet, or questions, please contact adult sports at adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or call us at 623-5558 Eligible Units: BN/SQDRN/CO/SEC Camp Hansen III Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion (MSB) 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group / Headquarters & Support Company (MHG) 7th Communications Battalion (7th Comm) Special Operations & Training Group (SOTG) 9th Engineer Support BN (9th ESB) 3rd Intelligence BN (3rd Intel) 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (5th ANGLICO) 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines (3/12) Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB 31) Current Unit Deployment Unit (UDP) Headquarters and Service Battalion (Brig/PMO-Hansen Only) Ordinance Maintenance CO (OMC) UDP BN (Infantry MEU) Headquarters 12th Marines Regiment (12th Marines/Battery) III Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG) Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division (Trk Co.) Camp Schwab 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (3rd Recon) Combat Logistics Battalion 4 (CLB-4) 4th Marine Regiment (UDP East Coast/UDP West Coast) 4th Marines Headquarters Battalion (4th Marines) Ammunitions Company, 3rd Supply Battalion (Ammo Co.) Camp Courtney 3rd Marine Division (3rd Mar Div) Headquarters Battalion (HQ Bn 3rd Mar Div) III Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3rd MEB) III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) Information Source: MCCS Okinawa | eventbrite

The Matsudo City Cherry Blossom Festival is held in early April every year. The cherry blossoms are mainly pink, but there are also some white ones.

Manga artist Matsumoto Eiko to hold first original art exhibition! Matsumoto Eiko's popular manga "Kakeyu-kun" is currently being serialized in the magazine "Tabi no Techo" and has recently been published by Kawade Bunko in the two chapters "Do you like hot spring trips?" and "I'm going leisurely." To celebrate the opening of the bookstore Agasa Fumouritsushi, an original art exhibition will be held. This will be Matsumoto's first original art exhibition in her career. On display will be original drawings with beautiful lines and colors, as well as tools used by Matsumoto. Be sure to take a look at the cat Kakeyu-kun, hot springs, public baths, landscapes, local specialties, and more, all of which are full of travel and poetic emotion.

Ying Ying takes as her subject matters events and systems in society that are invisible or ungraspable, such as slaughterhouses, oil extraction, the steam cycle, and the wool industry, and attempts to "approach" them through performances using life-size installations. The performances consist of installations made of everyday objects such as wood, cloth, and plastic, and the inadvertent actions of moving these installations, which are interpreted and reconstructed by the artist and presented in the form of a series of abstract mechanisms. The "Approach" series can be said to be a practice in which the artist herself turns her gaze and approaches the "unknowable". This is not only a repetitive act for understanding, but also a reflection of the way we look at the work. The exhibition will show works presented in various ways, including immediate or conceptual understanding, misreading, and misunderstanding.

Shokoku-ji is an ancient Zen temple founded in 1382 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408), the third Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, and invited Muso Soseki (1275-1351), the founder of the Muso school, the largest school of the Five Mountains of Kyoto, as its founder, and his disciple Shun'ya Myoha (1311-1388) as its actual founder. It is still proud of its large appearance to the north of the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, and is the head temple of the Rinzai Shokoku-ji school, which includes Rokuon-ji, commonly known as Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji, and Jisho-ji. With a history of over 640 years since its founding, Shokoku-ji has nurtured many artists throughout the ages and led to the creation of masterpieces. Josetsu and Shubun, the painter-monks of Shokoku-ji, were considered to be the official painters of the Muromachi Shogunate. Sesshu, known as a master of Muromachi ink painting. Kano Tan'yu, who was deeply involved in Shokokuji culture in the Edo period. And then there are the fantastical painters Ito Jakuchu, Hara Zaichu, Maruyama Okyo... The pursuit of beauty in the Shokokuji cultural sphere, which gained its model in the Middle Ages, has continued through the early modern, modern and contemporary periods, and artworks owned by Shokokuji, Rokuonji and Jishoji have been exhibited at the Jotenkaku Museum located within the Shokokuji temple grounds. This exhibition is being held to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Shokokuji Jotenkaku Museum. The exhibition will focus on masterpieces from the Shokokuji school, including over 40 national treasures and important cultural properties, and will offer a glimpse into the world of beauty at Shokokuji and entrust it to the future.

Shun Art Gallery Tokyo will be holding a solo exhibition by Guo Zheng entitled "Tranquil Scenery" at its Harajuku space from March 29th to May 7th. The exhibition will feature a total of 18 pieces, including works from the ink-wash series "Muted Landscape" and two felt works. Guo Zheng has evolved from his early romantic and beautiful works to works that focus on themes of gender and the living environment of women, posing deep questions to the viewer that go beyond the landscape. In the "Muted Landscape" series, Guo depicts the solid forms of sawtooth rocks and waterfalls in gray tones, while the soft curves of a woman's body hidden in the seemingly desolate landscape emerge. In addition, the vivid colors of the LGBT rainbow flag are deconstructed into the rock formations, and the confrontation of these opposing vivid colors forms a double metaphor. The cold tones suggest the encroachment of industrial civilization on the natural environment, and the exploding rainbow spectrum is depicted as a "light emerging from a chrysalis" symbolizing the self-awakening of minorities, constructing a visual declaration against mainstream narratives through the political code of color. In this way, Guo has challenged herself with tufted felt works in addition to traditional ink painting techniques, visually expressing the struggle for women's social status improvement. She continues to provide sharp insights and innovative expressions into social issues, encouraging deep reflection from the audience and sending out powerful messages as contemporary art. Please come and see for yourself.

Tokyo Barbers (American Pop Chorus) Guest Day in Tokyo! Hello everyone! We are Tokyo Barbers, Acappella Style chorus group in Tokyo. In March 2025, Roger Ross, General Music Director of Tokyo Barbers, will visit Japan. We will hold a guest day (trial session) on March 30th. Please come and join us. We would like to enjoy learning about the features of Barbershop Chorus and how to create the sound together with you. (No participation fee.) If you would like to attend, please register using the form below: Registration Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc95HPKYsrhiitNKm1syPz_4iBq8thfs_pTuCRe16AZd8fPGQ/viewform?usp=sharing Tokyo Barbershop Guest Day: Would you like to open the door to harmony? Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025 Time: 14:00 - 16:30 (Registration starts at 13:30) Place: Showacho Kumin Center, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 2F Hall 1 7 minutes from JR Oku Station, *5 minutes from Arakawa Shako-mae Station on Toden Arakawa Line Roger Ross: Two-time Might Awesome world champion: 1992 (Keepsake) and 2017 (MainStreet)General Music Director of Tokyo BarbersPerformer at Disney World in FloridaMain Street - Pop Songs Medley (International 2015) https://youtu.be/MdTS6-fbNH0?si=ijIOORUu0e9FO0nz Program Contents for the Event (Tentative) Introduction to Tokyo BarbershopWhat is Barbershop Harmony ?Harmony Experience! Information Source: Tokyo Barbers | eventbrite

Why are people so touched by the natural beauty of Mingei, born from nature? Naoto Fukasawa, product designer and museum director, will select everyday items from the museum's collection that have touched and inspired him, shedding light on the appeal of Mingei beauty, such as its "warmth," "intimacy," and "loveliness." The existence of Mingei, the crystallization of the beauty of everyday life, will serve as an important touchstone for ascertaining our "manufacturing" and "direction of life" for the future.