We Are Tomodachi Summer 2018

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19Louvre’s pyramid, and over-hundredJapanese fi lms. The recently openedteamLab art exhibition is drawingrecord numbers –– over 14,000people every day.“The exhibition FUKAMI–uneplongée dans l’esthétique japonaise–sums up the entire event concept,which at its core, introduces diversecontemporary and ancient workdrawing on similarities. Examplesinclude displaying Japan’s prehistoricJomon pottery alongside a youngartist’s dress, as well as is introducingJapanese aesthetic sensibilitiesreferring to Gauguin and Picasso.”Now, Enjoy Japan’s Unique Charm“We wanted to go beyond thehackneyed stereotypes such as Geishaand Fujiyama to communicatecontemporary Japan.”—MichaelHoulihan, Director General of JapanHouse London.The three-story building on thecorner of Kensington High Streetand Derry Street offers visitors asense of Japan through a gallery,event space, and a library, as wellas a shop and restaurant. It boastsopen spaces and content that introduceguests to the many facets of Japan’sunique charm.“Interestingly, the defi nition ofculture is very broad in Japan,” saysHoulihan. In the West, the termculture normally means just art,music, literature, opera and such.Though in Japan, the rituals ofdrinking tea or even some shoppingpractices can be regarded as arts orcultural experiences. For Japanesepeople, beauty and art exist ineveryday life.“Right now, we are preparingan exhibition for products fromTsubame -Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture.Even nail clippers are art-level worksof mastery from sophistication tosharpness. Orders come from allover the world for some handmaderazors and the waiting lists can beas long as three months.”Creative director and one ofJapan’s top designers, Kenya Hara,produces promising work on thephilosophy of Japanese craftsmanshipmonozukuri.Go to it. See it. Touch it. Buy it.It’s tradition and revolution in yono-bi, the art of everyday life.Michael Houlihan is the DirectorGeneral of Japan House London.As a cultural leader and advocatehe has held roles such as Directorof the Horniman Museum, in SouthLondon, Chief Executiveof the National Museumsand Galleries of Northern Ireland,Director General of AmgueddfaCymru – National Museum Wales,and Chief Executive of the Museumof New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.He has published and lecturedinternationally on museology,cultural diplomacy,and the memorialization of confl ict.Londonhttps://www.japanhouselondon.ukLeft: Overall design by Masamichi Katayama.Top right: Authentic seating at the Japaneserestaurant. Lower right: Located onLondon’s Kensington High Street.Japan House London