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Tokyo Weekender
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
The Best Things To Do in Tokyo This Month: June 2025
Here is what's happening across Tokyo for the month of June. Check out exhibitions, festivals, events and more! List of Contents: Exhibitions and Art Shows Festivals and Outdoor Events Live Music and Night Life Events Anime and Manga Events Food and Drink Events Film and Game Events Related Posts Tokyo Exhibitions and Art Shows in June Aokabi Saya: Mille Crepe 2 Exhibition Illustrator Aokabi Saya returns with Mille Crepe 2, a solo exhibition of new works showing at Parco Museum Tokyo. Known for blending analog and digital techniques, Aokabi draws inspiration from the stylized character designs of 1990s Japanese animation, reinterpreting them with a delicate balance of precision and spontaneity. Date & Time Jun 13-30・11:00-21:00 Price Free Location Parco Museum Tokyo More Details Ando Teru Exhibition: The Sculptor of The Hachiko Statue This exhibition revisits the sculptor behind Shibuya's beloved Hachiko statue, marking 80 years since his death. Date & Time Jun 21-Aug 17・10:00-20:00 Price ¥1000 Location The Shoto Museum of Art More Info Closed on Mondays (except for July 21, and August 11, 2025), July 22(Tue.), and August 12(Tue.), 2025 More Details Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp Exhibition Celebrating the visionary duo Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp, this exhibition explores their radical art and design fusion in the Dadaist movement. Together their work redefined 20th century modernism — offering a vibrant dialogue between form, freedom, and creative synergy. Date & Time Mar 01-Jun 01・10:00-18:00・Open until 20:00 on Fridays. Closed Mondays. Price ¥2000 Location Artizon Museum More Info (¥1800 if purchased online) More Details Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo Immersive Exhibit Hokusai's masterpiece ukiyo-e come to life in a way never experienced before. This immersive experience presents the beauty of Hokusai's art with modern technology for an interactive exhibit. Date & Time Feb 01-Jun 01・11:00-20:00・Last admission at 19:10 Price ¥4200 Location Tokyu Plaza Shibuya More Details Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art "Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art" at the Mori Art Museum spotlights contemporary artists that utilize game engines, generative AI and virtual reality technologies as tools for their visualization. Date & Time Feb 13-Jun 08・10:00-22:00・10:00-17:00 on Tuesdays, Admission until 30 minutes before closing Price ¥2000 for adults, ¥1700 for seniors, ¥1400 for university/high school students, free for children Location Mori Art Museum More Details Hilma af Klint: The Beyond Go and see the new exhibition of pineoreeing abstract artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1994) coming to the National Museum of Modern Art in March. Date & Time Mar 04-Jun 15・10:00-17:00・Closed on Mondays/Fridays and Saturdays open until 8 pm Price ¥2300 Location National Museum of Modern Art More Info ¥1,200 for University Students/¥700 for Highschool Students More Details Ukiyo-e In Play Exhibition Explore the evolution of traditional Japanese woodcut printing at the Contemporary Ukiyo-e Exhibition, featuring 85 artists reimagining the timeless art of ukiyo-e. Date & Time Apr 22-Jun 15・09:30-17:00 Price ¥1000 Location Tokyo National Museum More Details Love Fashion: In Search of Myself Exhibition A fashion exhibition from the archives of the Kyoto Costume, exploring clothing through our dreams and desires. From luxurious historical garments to iconic contemporary pieces from Alexander McQueen to Yohji Yamamoto, the show covers centuries of style to examine the deep connection that clothing has with human nature and the self. Date & Time Apr 16-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・Closed on Mondays Price ¥1600 Location Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery More Details "Japanese Gentian - Twin Lines," Daiya Yamamoto, 61 x 73 cm Daiya Yamamoto Solo Exhibition Daiya Yamamoto is an artist who skilfully merges traditional Western painting techniques with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic sensitivity to capture the essence of contemporary time. On view from May 24 to June 22, this exhibition marks Yamamoto's highly anticipated first solo show at Galerie Taménaga's Tokyo location since his acclaimed 2023 presentation at the gallery's Paris space, which captivated art enthusiasts in Europe. Featuring approximately forty new works, the exhibition spotlights Yamamoto's refined take on trompe-l'œil, a Western technique that creates the illusion of real-life presence. Date & Time May 24-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・11:00-17:00 on Sundays & Holidays Price Free Location Galerie Taménaga More Details Godzilla the Art 70th Anniversary Exhibition Godzilla is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Godzilla the Art Exhibition at Mori Arts Center Gallery showcases 29 artists and their interpretation of the giant monster. Date & Time Apr 26-Jun 29・10:00-19:00・Until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing Price General and university students: ¥2500, high school students: ¥1600, elementary school and under: ¥600 Location Mori Arts Center Gallery More Info Weekday tickets are discounted More Details Living Modernity: 1920s–1970s Architecture Exhibition "Living Modernity" explores the home as an innovative space of beauty, and the 20th century ideals that shaped how we live today. Showcasing projects from Japan, Europe, America and Brazil, the exhibition includes an impressive name-call of iconic architects, and shares how Japan responded to modernism with a focus on natural materials. With display objects spanning graphic art, models and immersive experiences, this exhibition is sure to delight fans of interior and architectural design, alongside anyone who has ever taken pleasure in a Zillow scrolling session. Date & Time Mar 19-Jun 30・10:00-18:00・Closed on Tuesdays Price ¥1800 Location The National Art Center, Roppongi More Details Joan Miró Exhibition From March 1 to July 6, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum will host a retrospective dedicated to Joan Miró, one of the 20th century's most celebrated artists. Date & Time Mar 01-Jul 06・09:30-17:30・Fridays open until 8:00 p.m. / Last entry 30 minutes before closing / Closed: Mondays (except April 28 and May 5) and May 7 Price ¥2,300 / ¥1,300 for University Students / ¥1,600 for people over 65 years old Location Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum More Details Kenjiro Okazaki Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Kenjiro Okazaki's first major Tokyo retrospective highlights groundbreaking works, exploring the transformative power of form across media. Date & Time Apr 29-Jul 21・10:00-18:00 Price Location Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 1F/3F More Details Exhibition: World Fair in Japan 1970-2005 Architecture fans will delight in this deep dive into Japan's Expo designs, from Osaka in the '70's to Aichi 2005's eco-conscious pavilions. Date & Time Mar 08-Aug 31・10:00-16:30 Price Free Location National Archives of Modern Architecture More Info Closed on Mondays, except public holidays (closed the following day instead) More Details Tokyo Festivals and Outdoor Events in June The 44th Yokohama Open Port Festival This year marks the 44th Yokohama Port Opening Festival, a popular event for Yokohamaites to celebrate the opening of the port of Yokohama in 1859 and honor the history of their hometown. Approximately 2,500 fireworks will be shot off at Rinko Park in the grand finale of the three-day festival. The fireworks and drone shows will illuminate the night sky of the Minato Mirai area. Date & Time May 31-Jun 02・19:20~ Price Free Location Rinko Park More Details Keisei Rose Garden 'The Queen of Heart's Tree Castle' Experience the Keisei Rose Garden's spring festival, "The Queen of Heart's Tree Castle," where the garden turns into a rose-filled theme park. Throughout the festival period, guests can enjoy tea in the small castle inside the garden, and ride a merry-go-round or the self-driving car to explore the garden premises. Date & Time Apr 19-Jun 15・09:00-18:00 Price ¥1,800 Location Keisei Rose Garden More Details My Melody & Kuromi Anniversary Party at Sanrio Puroland and Harmonyland To celebrate My Melody's 50th anniversary and Kuromi's 20th anniversary, Sanrio Puroland and Harmonyland theme parks will have new attractions, entertainment, photo spots, merchandise and food. Date & Time Jan 17-Dec 31・・Specific event and attraction dates may vary Price Location Sanrio Puroland More Details Tokyo Live Music and Night Life Events in June Bruno Pernadas Duo and The Hatch Live Show Double Bill Lisbon-based musician Bruno Pernadas returns to Japan in a rare duo performance with saxophonist José Soares, supported by The Hatch. Date & Time Jun 18, 2025・19:00-21:30・Doors open at 18:30 Price ADV ¥4,800＋1D, SAME-DAY ¥5,300＋1D, UNDER 29 ¥3,800 Location WALL & WALL More Details Candlelight : A Tribute to Joe Hisaishi at Christ Shinagawa Church Enjoy the enchanting music of Joe Hisaishi at Christ Shinagawa Church, with a candlelit performance of iconic Studio Ghibli scores by the Fleurs Quartet. Date & Time Jun 27-Jul 04・16:45-17:50 Price ¥3,800 - ¥7,200 Location Christ Shinagawa Church More Details Candlelight: Piano Classics Experience the magic of Piano Classics by candlelight at Christ Shinagawa Church, featuring timeless works by Chopin, Debussy, Mozart and more. Date & Time Jun 27, 2025・19:00-20:05 Price ¥5,050 - ¥7,550 Location Christ Shinagawa Church More Details chanmina Chanmina Area of Diamond 3 Tour Tokyo 2025 This June, Chamina, the body-positive rapper and singer, will perform at two dates in Tokyo. She'll be drawing from a bag of hits. Date & Time Jun 28-29・18:00~・OPEN 17:00 | June 29 OPEN 16:00 / START 17:00 Price ¥9,500 Location Yoyogi 1st National Gymnasium More Details Hibiya Music Festival 2025 A 'free and borderless' music event, the Hibiya Music Festival returns this May, bringing live performances by top artists to Hibiya Park. Date & Time May 31-Jun 01・10:30-20:30 Price Free Location Hibiya Park More Info Some venues may require entry fee. See website for details More Details Candlelight : A Tribute to Joe Hisaishi Experience the music of Joe Hisaishi like never before at a candlelit tribute concert in Tokyo's Kanze Noh Theater, featuring iconic Studio Ghibli scores performed live by Ensemble Themis. Date & Time May 24-Jul 21・ Price ¥4000 - ¥8200 Location Kanze Noh Theatre Ginza More Details Tokyo Community and Family Events in June Nerd Nite Tokyo #69: Trains of Future Past Science, history and craft beer come together at the latest edition of Nerd Nite Tokyo, where experts and enthusiasts gather for an evening of lively talks and good conversation. Held monthly, this laid-back lecture series combines curious minds with a casual setting, offering a fun and approachable take on big ideas. This month's theme explores transportation across time, from the industrial age to the quantum future. Date & Time Jun 20, 2025・20:00~・Doors open at 19:00 Price ¥1,000 Location Ryozan Park Lounge More Details Tokyo Anime and Manga Events in June Bleach: The Locus of the Brave II From June 11 to July 13, dive into the world of Bleach with this special Tokyo exhibition! Explore exclusive production materials, behind-the-scenes footage, immersive experiences, and stylish photo spots. Also, don't miss the mysterious "Kurosaki" corner and tons of exclusive Bleach goods. Date & Time Jun 13-Jul 13・11:00-20:00 Price TBA Location Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou-Park More Details Leiji Matsumoto Manga Exhibition The "Leiji Matsumoto Exhibition: A Journey of Creation" exhibit at Tokyo City View showcases more than 300 original drawings, including Matsumoto's early works and never-before-seen content from "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Pirate Captain Harlock." Date & Time Jun 20-Sep 07・10:00-20:00 Price Location Tokyo City View More Details My Hero Academia Original Art Exhibition The globally acclaimed manga series My Hero Academia is being honored with a special exhibition in Tokyo, celebrating creator Kohei Horikoshi's artistic journey and the series' conclusion after a remarkable 10-year run. This exhibition offers fans a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of one of Japan's most successful modern manga series up close. Date & Time Jun 21-Aug 31・10:00-20:00 Price ¥2200 Location CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO More Info Discounts for students More Details © Sotsu, Sunrise Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- Exhibition A special exhibition of the latest work in the Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuuX (Siege Ax) -Beginning-, is currently being held. Date & Time May 24-Aug 11・11:00-19:00 Price Free Location Anime Tokyo Station More Details Ghibli 3D Sculpture Exhibition In 2003, Tokyo was blessed with the Ghilbli 3D sculpture exhibition. Now, 22 years later, it is back and bigger than ever. Dive into the worlds of My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Pom Poko with full-scale sculptures from the films. You can even see the Savoia S-21 flying boat from Porco Rosso. Date & Time May 27-Sep 23・09:30-20:00・Last Entry at 19:00 Price ¥1,900 Location Warehouse TERRADA B&C HALL More Details Tokyo Food and Drink Events in June Pierre Hermé Paris Afternoon Tea at Nineteen Eighty Lounge & Bar Nineteen Eighty Lounge & Bar is providing a "classic" afternoon tea service in collaboration with Pierre Hermé from June 1, 2025. Date & Time Jun 01-Jul 31・ Price ¥7,500 Location Nineteen Eighty Lounge & Bar More Info ¥11,000 includes a macaron gift More Details Il Lupino Prime Tokyo's Fresh Green Afternoon Tea Il Lupino Prime Tokyo, a German-owned Italian restaurant established in Hawaii, is offering a Green Afternoon Tea course. Date & Time May 16-Jun 30・11:30-23:30 Price ¥7,800-¥8,800 Location Il Lupino Prime Tokyo More Info For the Cocktail Set: ¥8,800-¥9,800 More Details Tokyo DisneySea Food & Wine Festival The Food & Wine Festival returns for a second year at Tokyo DisneySea. Guests can sample a variety of dishes and exclusive seasonal beverages. Date & Time Apr 08-Jun 30・・Specific menu and merchandise sale dates may vary Price Location Tokyo DisneySea More Details Le Petit Chef ANA InterContinental Tokyo recently announced the opening of Le Petit Chef, a cinema dining restaurant with projection mapping. Date & Time Feb 07-Jul 31・12:00-22:00・Three Seatings Price ¥14,000-¥21,000 Location ANA InerContinental Tokyo More Details Sapporo Beer The Perfect Black Label Wagon Event Sapporo's Perfect Black Label Wagon is touring at 13 stops celebrating their flagship draft beer around the country. Guests can enjoy Sapporo beer and other exclusive goods at the event. Date & Time Apr 09-Aug 24・・Please check event details for each venue Price Experience passes: ¥1200 (Tokyo), ¥1000 (other locations) Location Roppongi Hills Arena More Details Asian Spice Afternoon Tea – A Fragrant Feast of Spices and Dim Sum ANA InterContinental Tokyo is offering Asian Spice Afternoon Tea – A Fragrant Feast of Spices and Dim Sum at Karin Chinese Restaurant. Date & Time May 01-Aug 31・11:30~・Three Sittings, 2-hour limit: 11:30 - 14:-00 - 17:30 Price ¥8,855 Location Karin Chinese Restaurant More Info Enjoy an optional free-flow drink plan for an extra ¥3,000 per person More Details Mori no Beer Garden's 40th Edition Mori no Beer Garden is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue and an all-you-can-eat drinks menu. Date & Time Apr 15-Sep 23・16:30-22:00・Weekends and Holidays: 12:00-22:00. From July 19 to August 31: 14:00-22:30, Weekends and Holidays: 12:00-22:30 Price ¥6,000-¥7,000 for adults Location Niko Niko Park, Meiji Jingu Gaien More Details (c)Kristin Perers Bills Spring-Summer 2025 Menu The all-day dining restaurant Bills (stylized as bills) starts its spring-summer 2025 menu at all eight locations in Japan from April 22. Date & Time Apr 22-Oct 15・ Price Breakfast-Brunch ¥3,000-¥3,999 Location bills Ginza More Info Dinner ¥5,000-¥5,999 More Details Tokyo Film and Game Events in June Kaminari Japan Film Festival 2025 On June 9, 2025, the Kaminari Japan Film Festival returns to Theatre Guild Daikanyama in Tokyo, celebrating outstanding independent films from around the world. Starting at 3:30 PM, the festival will screen a diverse selection of films across multiple categories, including Music Video, Horror, Documentary, and Narrative. Date & Time Jun 9, 2025・15:30-21:00 Price ¥2,200 Location Theatre Guild Daikanyama More Details Rainbow Reel Tokyo 2025: Rainbow Reel Tokyo 2025: Japan's LGBTQ+ Film Festival Returns This Summer Date & Time Jun 21-22・・Event on July 12 and 13 take place at Tokyo Women's Plaza Price Free Location Euro Live 1F KINOHAUS More Details Related Posts Unmissable Fireworks Festivals in Japan for Summer 2025 Everything You Need To Know About Tokyo Pride 2025 The Ultimate Guide to Nakameguro: Tokyo's Stylish Canal-Side Gem
Japan Forward
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Forward
'MACHINE LOVE': Where AI Meets Art on the 53rd Floor
The Mori Art Museum at Roppongi Hills is holding an exhibition titled MACHINE LOVE: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art , until June 8, 2025. The exhibition showcases artwork that utilizes artificial intelligence, generative AI, virtual reality, and game engine technology that is reshaping the commercial and social world. The artists employ this cutting-edge technology to create new forms of aesthetics while dealing with such issues as gender, diversity, the environmental crisis, and historical interpretation. MACHINE LOVE is a curious title. The most common assumed interpretation is likely a "love for gaming." The more technically minded might see "love" in terms of the reward (love) and punishment (tough love) dynamic of reinforcement learning theory that drives generative AI. According to the curators, however, "machine" is simply meant as a general term for computing and hardware technology, while "love" represents the full range of emotions directed towards games and machines, from affection to jealousy, fear to exhilaration. "Love" further questions whether future generations of sophisticated AI, robots, androids, and cyborgs could possess their own consciences and emotions. MACHINE LOVE comprises the work of 11 individual artists and one artistic team. Many of the exhibits are digital, but non-digital artworks such as paintings and sculptures are included. An additional feature is interactive games that include German-American artist, Diemut's, El Turco/Living Theater (2024) , in which visitors are invited to debate with AI characters. Three Approaches to Synthetic Entities, 2025. AI installation. Dimensions variable. Technical collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, and University of Utah. Production support: Anthropic The artwork within the exhibition is preceded by a wall display of relevant terms and expressions with which visitors may not be familiar, including the following. Metaverse: A virtual space on the internet where people can interact with others and enjoy various services. Avatar: A digital character that represents a user's "alter ego." Afrofuturism: A cultural and artistic movement that explores African diaspora culture at the interaction of technology, science, cosmology, and futuristic themes. The initial exhibit is Beeple's HUMAN ONE (2021) , which is a representation of the first human born in the metaverse. In this hypnotic work, a figure in a cuboid space walks endlessly through an ever-changing digital landscape. The shape of the exhibit creates a three-dimensional sense that is uncommon in digital artwork. Beeple. HUMAN ONE, 2021. Four video screens (16k resolution), polished aluminum metal, mahogany wood frame, media server, and endless video with corresponding dynamic nonfungible token 220 x 114.8 x 114.8 cm. Installation view: Beeple: HUMAN ONE, M+, Hong Kong, 2022-2023. Photo: Lok Cheng Beeple is the moniker of Mike Winkelman, an American digital artist, graphic designer, and animator. He became famous in 2021 when his long-term digital project, EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS (2021) was sold at auction for an extraordinary $69 million USD. This triggered broad awareness of the concept of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). An NFT is a unique digital identifier that is recorded on a blockchain and is used to certify ownership and authenticity of digital content. An artwork inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic is Delivery Dancers Sphere , by South Korean artist Kim Aoyong. The pandemic was a time when an increased volume of deliveries was carried out by an army of delivery workers who moved through less crowded streets. As the reception of the packages was largely impersonal, the delivery workers were invisible presences within cities. In Kim's 25-minute video, female delivery workers strive to complete their deliveries in the shortest times through the streets of urban Seoul. It is a love story that has the feel of a video game. The siting of Delivery Dancers Sphere within the 53rd-floor Mori Art Museum adds much to its impact. It is located in an exhibition room that includes a large window that looks out over the central Tokyo skyline and its labyrinth of streets and lanes. The view out the window adds much to the feel of the exhibit, especially at night. Kim Ayoung, Delivery Dancer's Sphere, 2022. Video, 25 min. Kim Ayoung, Delivery Dancer's Sphere, 2022. Video, 25 min. Perhaps the most striking of the works are Shanghai-born Lu Yang's dual video presentations, DOKU the self and DOKU the flow . Yang, a practicing Buddhist, examines how Buddhist wisdom and themes can be explored through new technologies and pop cultural tropes. DOKU refers to the Buddhist phrase " dokusho dokushi " which means "We are born alone, and we die alone." Within Yang's exhibited work, an avatar named DOKU, who is a digital carnation of Yang, journeys through varying dimensions of the Buddhist spiritual world. Lu Yang. Installation view: MACHINE LOVE: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2025. Photo: Takehisa Naoki. Photo courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo On May 11, 1997, the world was shocked when a computer, Deep Blue, defeated the world chess champion Garry Kasparov. We are presently moving towards an even more significant point in time. It is "singularity," the date when AI surpasses human intelligence. This is predicted to occur around 2045. There is much to both look forward to and fear about singularity. Which jobs will survive? Which will die? Will even the creativity of the human artist be supplanted by the machine? As an exhibition that showcases generative AI during its formative years, MACHINE LOVE generates a host of questions whose answers will arrive in time. But for now, it is perhaps pertinent to remember that the game of chess, in its analog form, continues to thrive. Around three hours would be required to view all of the videos in their entirety, assuming that the visitor managed to arrive at each presentation as it commenced. Sato Ryotaro, Inorganic Friends, 2023. 4K video, 7 min. 37 sec. MACHINE LOVE: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art , therefore, is difficult to fully enjoy during a single visit. A certain degree of time planning is advised, while visitors might also take advantage of a half-price discount for a repeat visit that is available when tickets are bought online. Author: Paul de Vries
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
Japan's Top Events in Summer 2025
Climbing Mount Fuji, enjoying a new theme park in Okinawa, visiting the World Expo, or taking in a festival or exhibition are among the ways of spending summer 2025 in Japan. While visitors come to Japan all year round, it is worth knowing that temperatures can be very hot in the summer, and especially in July and August. Enjoy the events below that are indoors or take place at night, but while outside in the daytime, it is important to stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade, and keep off the sun by wearing a hat or using a parasol. Hachimantai Dragon Eye: Late May to Early June When melting snow enters Kagami Pond on Mount Hachimantai during the late spring thaw, it fills up from the edges, so a circle of water surrounds an island of ice. This ice then begins to melt from the center, and the whole thing appears like the eye of a giant creature, earning it the name Hachimantai Dragon Eye. This mysterious natural phenomenon can only be seen for a brief period from late May to early June, through a combination of weather and other conditions, near the peak of Mount Hachimantai, which is on the border of Iwate and Akita Prefectures. It is a 20-minute walk from the summit parking lot. Observation videos and photographs (explanatory text in Japanese only) The Hachimantai Dragon Eye is revealed. (© Pixta) Celebrated Swords Across the Ages at The Tokugawa Art Museum: June 14–September 7 Great swords were valuable treasures to samurai, not only for their excellence as weapons but also for their associations with famous warriors. This exhibition at The Tokugawa Art Museum showcases the world of celebrated swords and their luxurious mountings, highlighting their aesthetic qualities. Tachi long sword, known as Tsuda Tōtoumi Nagamitsu. Inscription: Nagamitsu. (© The Tokugawa Art Museum) Official poster for Celebrated Swords Across the Ages. (© The Tokugawa Art Museum) The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto: Primordial Future Forest at Mori Art Museum: July 2–November 9 The architect Fujimoto Sōsuke (Sou) has offices in Tokyo, Paris, and Shenzhen, and has overseen projects including residences, universities, commercial facilities, hotels, and multipurpose complexes, as well as the design for this year's Osaka Expo. A new exhibition at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo is the first major survey of his work, covering the past 25 years of his career and thinking. Official website Photograph of Fujimoto Sōsuke (© David Vintiner; courtesy Sou Fujimoto Architects); model of the Grand Ring, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, Japan (rendering of an installation displaying the Grand Ring design). (© Sou Fujimoto Architects) Mount Fuji Climbing Season: July 1 to Early September The Yoshida Trail giving access to Japan's highest peak from the Yamanashi Prefecture side opens on July 1, while trails from Shizuoka Prefecture open on July 10. As a symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji is highly popular, so to counter major crowding on the mountain this year, there will be an entrance fee of ¥4,000 for all climbers during the season, following an introduction of a ¥2,000 fee in Yamanashi in 2024. Gates installed at the fifth station of all four trails will be closed from two in the afternoon until three in the morning as a safety measure to prevent attempts at 'bullet climbing' through the night. There will also be a limit of 4,000 climbers from the Yamanashi side, although there is no limit for the Shizuoka side. Entrance fees can be paid in advance online or at the gates. Shizuoka continues its program of asking climbers to complete an e-learning course on climbing rules and etiquette. Official website Approaching the summit of Mount Fuji. (© Pixta) Hokuryū Sunflower Festival: July 20–August 18 While there are sunflower events across Japan in summer, the festival in Hokuryū, Hokkaidō, is on a different level, with 2 million blooms across 23 hectares presenting a brilliant contrast of yellow petals and blue skies. A field of sunflowers in Hokuryū, Hokkaidō. (© Hokuryū Town Portal) Opening of Junglia Okinawa Theme Park: July 25 The major new theme park Junglia Okinawa spreads across 60 hectares in the north of Okinawa Island. Its 22 attractions include Dinosaur Safari, for encounters with re-creations of the fearsome prehistoric creatures, and the Horizon Balloon ride, where visitors can enjoy stunning scenery from hot-air balloons 200 meters up. The team behind Junglia is led by Morioka Tsuyoshi, who is known for his revamping of Universal Studios Japan. A one-day ticket costs ¥8,800 for international visitors (¥5,940 for children) or ¥6,930 for Japan residents (¥4,950 for children). Official website Artist's rendering of Junglia Okinawa. (Courtesy Japan Entertainment; © Jiji) Sumida River Fireworks Festival: July 26 Some 20,000 fireworks light up the sky at Tokyo's famous festival, which is held on the last Saturday of July each year. It has a history dating back to 1733, and was held with occasional interruptions until 1961. After another hiatus, it was revived in 1978, and it is once again a fixture on the Tokyo calendar. Tokyo Skytree and fireworks from the Sumida festival. (© Pixta) Aomori Nebuta Matsuri: August 2–7 This major annual festival in the northern region of Tōhoku is thought to combine local customs with elements of the Tanabata star festival, introduced from China in the eighth century. Nebuta floats, representing historical and legendary figures, are surrounded by lively, chanting haneto dancers dressed in colorful costumes. Official website A float at the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri in August 2024. (© Jiji) Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai: Until October 13 The Osaka Expo kicked off in April and will continue throughout the summer of 2025. There are 84 pavilions including areas introducing countries from around the world, set around the massive wooden Grand Ring, which is some 2 kilometers in circumference. Official website A spot for taking pictures with Myaku-Myaku, the official character for Osaka Expo 2025. (© (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: Sunflowers bloom in Hokuryū, Hokkaidō. © Hokuryū Town Portal.)
Japan Times
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Online art scene eager to go offline, at least for the moment
Artists who have found internet fame through their digital work are increasingly bringing their art into the physical world, and galleries and museums are opening their doors to them. Digital-first artists began entering the mainstream art scene several years ago. In 2021, Beeple (whose real name is Mike Winkelmann) made history when his creation became the first purely digital piece of art to be sold at auction house Christie's. The appetite for digital art remains strong, as demonstrated by Beeple's participation in the Mori Art Museum's 'Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art' exhibition, which opened Feb. 13 and runs through to June 8. His 'Human One' is simultaneously an NFT (non-fungible token) artwork and a physical piece consisting of four screens encased in a 2.2-meter-tall rectangle box, playing an endless video loop of a life-size figure walking inside the enclosed space. It's the most striking work in an exhibition that otherwise leaves much to be desired, both in its tech and content, and avoids any difficult conversations about the role of AI in creating art.
South China Morning Post
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Spider sculptor Louise Bourgeois' inner world revealed in Hong Kong exhibition
Louise Bourgeois is having a moment in Asia thanks to a major touring museum exhibition named after one of her embroideries: 'I Have Been to Hell and Back. And Let Me Tell You, It Was Wonderful'. Advertisement The much-talked-about survey started at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo in September 2024, travelled to Taipei's Fubon Art Museum, where it is now, and will move on to Seoul in autumn. Hong Kong may not be part of the tour but it, too, has a new exhibition that sheds light on the late French artist's inner world. Called 'Soft Landscape', the collection of 19 pieces at Hauser & Wirth's gallery space in Central is a deep dive into how her fascination with the human body inspired her artmaking and psychoanalytic writing. Untitled (2004), by Louise Bourgeois. Photo: Christopher Burke Lips (verso: Sphincter) (1993), by Louise Bourgeois. Photo: Sarah Muehlbauer Eight of the works have never been shown in Asia before, from the small sculpture Spider (2000) to the three-metre-long (10-foot) bronze Mamelles (fountain) (1991), which spews water from the nipples of its row of female breasts.
