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Members and friends will be interested in the forthcoming auction at Sotheby’s London of Books and Manuscripts from the Japan Society Library. As you know, the board took the decision several years ago to dispose of this historic and valuable collection, which the Society was unable to use or maintain properly and which was gradually deteriorating. 

Watch the recording and read the report of our conversation with Yasuhiro Matsuda, professor at the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia and Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

We were so pleased to see so many people enjoying the activities on what was a beautiful sunny day in Hammersmith Park’s Japanese Garden this Sunday 7 August.

Ian Nish had been involved with the Japan Society for over 70 years, since studying for his PhD at SOAS, and was known to many members. He was the last of the wartime Japanologists, and spent the majority of his career in the International History Department at LSE. After retiring, he continued to research and publish on the subject of international relations and diplomacy.

On Tuesday 12 July 2022, we were delighted to welcome members and guests to the first in-person Annual Dinner event since 2019, held in the surroundings of the historic Chelsea Physic Garden.

Congratulations to Nick Packer for his victory in the annual Japan Society Golf Tournament for the Asprey and Garrard Plate. This year's tournament was held on 28 June at Essendon Country Club.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida really spoke for all of us when he said he was "at a loss for words" about the assassination today of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. I imagine all of us felt just like that when we woke up to read the news of the shooting at the campaign event in beautiful Nara and then a short while later learned that he had died.

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 17th World Children's Haiku Contest 2022. The Japan Society would like to thank everyone for their support of this year’s contest and for their patience in waiting for the results.

We are looking for a Communications & Events Officer and a Membership & Development Intern to work with us developing Japan-related events and activities for members and audiences in the UK.

Given how demanding was the application process for my visa to visit Japan last month – sponsors’ certificates, financial guarantees, itinerary – as were the rather more relevant health protocols on arrival in Tokyo, my biggest worry was of testing positive for covid just before departure from London or, even worse, on arrival, and then losing the whole trip after all that effort.