Featured Events in Japan in June, 2025 (June Updated)

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of architect Kazuo Shinohara, TOTO Gallery Ma will be holding the exhibition "Kazuo Shinohara: Carving Eternity into Space - 100 Questions on the 100th Anniversary of His Birth." Kazuo Shinohara (1925-2006) studied under Kiyoshi Seike (1918-2005) at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Tokyo University of Science), and after graduating he taught at the university as a professor architect. After retiring he set up the Shinohara Atelier in his own home and studio, House in Yokohama (1985), where he continued to present designs and discourses. Many architects who were influenced by or mentored by Shinohara are currently active at the forefront of the architectural world, including a group of architects known as the "Shinohara School," including Kazunari Sakamoto, Toyo Ito, and Itsuko Hasegawa.

The Setouchi Triennale is a festival of art, architecture and, more generally, culture. The festival takes place in 17 locations scattered around the eastern part of Japan's Seto Inland Sea, in spring, summer and autumn. It is a must-attend event for art lovers and countryside enthusiasts. Over the past decade, it has become the most important art festival in Japan and one of the most important in Asia. The Setouchi Triennale exhibits artwork and architecture from many artists from around the world. A recurring theme is "Restoring the Ocean".

This special exhibition aims to present the historical treasures of Japanese art in the cultural exploration and exchange between China and foreign countries on the occasion of the 2025 Osaka World Expo. Over the years, more than 200 rare regional artifacts, including paintings, sculptures, sketches and crafts, have been exhibited, spanning more than 1,000 years from pre-Japanese history to the Meiji era, and are a mockery of cross-cultural exchanges in Japanese art.

Ryukoku Museum (about a 12-minute walk from Kyoto Station, in front of Nishi Honganji Temple) will be holding a spring special exhibition, "Otani Expedition: Yoshikawa Koichiro - Search and Perseverance, Exploring the Man" from Saturday, April 19th to Sunday, June 22nd.

The Tokyo National Museum Hyokeikan in Ueno will be hosting an exhibition called "Ukiyo-e Contemporary," focusing on ukiyo-e prints by contemporary artists. The exhibition will run from April 22 to June 15. Japanese woodblock printmaking techniques developed uniquely during the Edo period, producing ukiyo-e prints as a flamboyant art that reflected the society and customs of the time. The works of artists such as Toshusai Sharaku, Kitagawa Utamaro, and Katsushika Hokusai are characterized by their intricate carvings and vivid colors, and their outstanding techniques have been passed down to the present day and continue to fascinate many people. In this exhibition, a total of 85 artists influenced by the expression of traditional woodblock prints will work as contemporary artists with the carvers and printers of the Adachi Institute of Woodblock Prints to create new "contemporary ukiyo-e." Participating artists include Mizuki Shigeru, Umezu Kazuo, Anno Moyoco, Ishinomori Shotaro, Awazu Kiyoshi, Asaba Katsumi, Sato Koichi, Matsunaga Makoto, Tanaka Ikko, Kurokawa Kisho, Ay-O, Wada Makoto, Hundertwasser, Kusama Yayoi, Yokoo Tadanori, Tanaami Keiichi, Kato Izumi, Shiota Chiharu, Nawa Kohei, Rokkaku Ayako, Hanai Yusuke, Lee Ufan, Antony Gormley, Kiki Smith, N.S. Harsha, Nick Walker, James Jean, Alex Dodge, and KYNE.

Over the past two decades, Kohei Nawa’s mixed-media practice has explored the reciprocal interplay between materiality, perception, and codification in an era of accelerated technological and ecological transformation. Series such as “PixCell” have emerged through his sustained engagement with materials that alter the surface of found objects, highlighting recursive exchanges between engineered substances and encoded signifiers, as well as between digital data and sculptural form. “Sentient”—Nawa’s sixth solo exhibition with the gallery and his first in three years—extends this inquiry, challenging conventional ontologies of objecthood through a diverse array of artistic interventions.

Approximately 100 pieces will be on display, ranging from Kin Shiotani's early works to new works created specifically for this exhibition, to thoroughly introduce his artistic career spanning 30 years. The paintings are difficult to interpret just by looking at them, and the long titles are hard to imagine just by reading them. Please enjoy looking at both the paintings and the titles and letting your imagination run wild, asking yourself questions like "Is this what it means?", "I see!", and "That's so true!"

The Art Aquarium Museum GINZA (located at Ginza Mitsukoshi) will be holding an early summer exhibition "Wisteria and Hydrangea Early Summer Goldfish 2025" from Friday, April 25th (until Sunday, June 22nd). \The purple Art Aquarium is a gorgeous art space where you can enjoy early summer with all your senses! / The wisteria and hydrangeas that beautifully color Japan's early summer are in full bloom, and the museum is filled with purple and ultramarine colors that give a noble impression and a sense of modesty. Please come and experience the fantastic and glamorous early summer installation art that combines the beauty of the goldfish swimming gracefully inside the aquarium artworks surrounded by light, fragrance and sound. This project allows you to enjoy the seasonal scenery along with goldfish art without having to worry about the weather, even during rainy periods, making it perfect for outings during the upcoming rainy season♪ Immerse yourself in this limited-time production, be soothed by the goldfish, take gorgeous photos, and spend some time forgetting the hustle and bustle of the city.

In the spring of 2025, 65 years after its opening in Shishigatani, Higashiyama, Kyoto, the museum will reopen with a new look after a year of renovation work. The first commemorative event will feature a carefully selected collection of masterpieces of art and crafts from Japan, China, and Korea from ancient times to the early modern period, focusing on the art pieces handed down by the Sumitomo family, which have always been the core of the museum's activities. These include masterpieces that have been famous since ancient times, excellent pieces that have been discovered to have new value over time, and rare pieces that have the potential to attract attention in the future. Each piece shows a different expression each time you encounter them, sometimes noble, sometimes gentle. This is a rare opportunity to rediscover the depth of the timeless Sumitomo Collection, which touches the hearts of all who see it.

Tsurumai Park is the first park established in Nagoya in 1909. Cherry blossoms, roses, irises and other flowers are planted in the park, making it a famous flower viewing spot. The iris pond, where you can see the iris, the district flower of Showa Ward, will be lit up at night. Please enjoy the dreamy view of the iris pond at night.

This exhibition will be held to coincide with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, as the first of the Expo commemorative exhibitions, with the theme of "Getting to Know Osaka." The aim is to widely disseminate Osaka's urban residential culture, and it will be held to coincide with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, as the first of the Expo commemorative exhibitions, with the theme of "Getting to Know Osaka." Osaka has a long history as a major city, spanning approximately 400 years from the Edo period to the present. During the Edo period, Osaka flourished as a commercial city of water transport and the "Kitchen of the Nation." During the Meiji period, the city was modernized and industrialized as it entered the modern era, earning it the nickname "Manchester of the East." During the "Great Osaka" period, Osaka became the largest city in Japan in terms of both population and area, and during the prewar Showa period, suburban residential areas and villa areas were developed, establishing a new form of urban residence. Over its long history, Osaka has developed its own unique urban residential culture, which is the foundation of Osaka today. The theme of the Osaka-Kansai Expo is "Bringing together efforts for a future society where life shines and showing hope for the future to the world," and the city's gaze is directed toward the future. This exhibition looks back on the 400-year evolution of the urban residential culture that is the foundation of Osaka's current prosperity. We hope that this will provide an opportunity for you to experience the charms of urban living and lifestyle culture in Osaka, while also thinking about urban living from the present to the future.

The Izumi Museum has a collection of more than 3,500 pieces, with a core collection of about 500 Chinese bronzes and bronze mirrors. Both in terms of quantity and quality, it is the leader in overseas bronze collections. Therefore, the "Age of Chinese Bronze" held at the Izumi Museum this spring is also worth paying attention to. If you go to visit the Izumi Museum's reopening exhibition, we also recommend that you pay special attention to this bronze exhibition, including the museum's treasure Tiger You, the early Warring States period chime bells, the Qiang bell, the Kui God drum, the owl zun, the taotie pattern square lei, the taotie pattern square yi, the ge you and other important bronze objects in the collection are all on display.

From the late Heian period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period (approximately 12th to 16th century), the Iwami region in the western part of today's Shimane Prefecture also gave birth to a unique medieval cultural landscape. Buddhism and Shinto beliefs intertwined, and the samurai class and local nobles rose, leaving behind a rich and colorful art and craft works on this land. This exhibition, titled "Prayer and Beauty", brings together about 60 medieval art and craft works related to the Iwami region, including 16 important cultural properties. The exhibition is divided into four chapters, narrating why these works were created, what social and religious significance they carry, and how they have been protected from generation to generation. The exhibits include Buddhist paintings, shrine treasures, crafts, and documentary materials, which not only show the artistic level of the medieval Iwami region, but also reflect the way people at that time understood "beauty" and "faith".

A large-scale exhibition of Anpanman's creator, Yanase Takashi (1919-2013). Yanase, who was a manga artist, poet, picture book author, illustrator, designer, editor, and other diverse artists, was also an entertainer of the highest order. His greatest joy in life was "making people happy." Yanase, who endured harsh wartime experiences, parting ways with his family, and meeting various people, continued to ask himself "Why was I born and what do I live for?" He arrived at the image of a hero who, even if it was uncool, could give a piece of bread, or "anpan," to someone who was truly in need. This exhibition commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Yanase Takashi Memorial Museum Anpanman Museum in 2026, and will unravel his works on the themes of "Takashi Yanase Anatomy," "Manga," "Poetry," "Picture Books/Yanase Fairy Tales," and "Anpanman," focusing on approximately 200 original drawings.

The tale of how the Heian-period warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu quelled the demon Shutendōji took shape before the fourteenth century. It then spread widely through paintings, Noh performances, and other genres. The Muromachi period Shutendōji picture scrolls by Kanō Motonobu (the “Suntory Scrolls”) are a famous ancient example copied hundreds of times during the Edo period. This exhibition will display all three of the recently restored Suntory Scrolls and will also introduce the richly varied Shutendōji picture scrolls that developed broadly from them.

To commemorate this, we will introduce the development of transportation, centered on railroads, in the Keihanshin area around 1970, along with scenes from the Expo held 55 years ago.

This is a historic festival that began in 1952. About 1 million irises of 500 varieties, purple, white, and yellow, bloom beautifully from morning to night. In addition, a "wedding boat" parade is held every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, full of the atmosphere of the water town, and the venue is filled with a festive atmosphere. During the period, you can also enjoy a rowing boat tour every day.

About 100,000 Edo irises of 100 varieties will decorate the shrine's grounds and approach roads with their elegant purple and white flowers. During this period, the shrine will be lit up until 9 p.m., and you can enjoy the dreamlike world of the shrine and irises. On May 31 (Saturday), the first Edo iris picking ceremony will be held.

This exhibition will introduce representative items from the Maeba Collection, known as one of the best privately collected roof tile collections in Japan. In addition to a tile from the abandoned Chiyo-ji Temple in Kanagawa Prefecture (Nara period) bearing the inscription "Otomo Isobe," known as a rare example of a roof tile with characters, the exhibition will trace the history of Japan through a variety of roof tile materials, including the gold leaf tiles from Osaka Castle, built by Hideyoshi. Materials other than roof tile materials will also be on display, such as Hattori Hidetatsu's "Saigō Takamori Nanshū Okina Usagi Karizu" (1885).

The Wakamatsu Hydrangea Festival aims to promote the charm of Takatoyama City, which has the largest number of hydrangeas in the prefecture (approximately 74,700 plants), to both the city and beyond, and to inject vitality into Wakamatsu City. (The event began in 1999, and this year marks the 27th anniversary.) Takatoyama’s mountain hydrangeas bloom from late May to early June each year, and its western hydrangeas bloom in mid-June. This year’s Hydrangea Festival will have a branch venue event on June 1 (Sunday) when the mountain hydrangeas are in bloom, and a main venue event on June 8 (Sunday) and June 15 (Sunday) when the western hydrangeas are in bloom.

Yosakoi Soran Festival is a folk dance festival held in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The festival brings together 1,000 strong teams of performers dressed in brightly coloured costumes and exaggerated make-up, who perform along the streets of Odori Park during the day and move to the park's main stage at night for further performances. The dance combines traditional elements such as naruko clapping and original "fishermen's harvest dance" folk songs, but with a modern twist and a more rhythmic feel that draws crowds to the show.

*ベースパス（基地内入域許可書）をお持ちでないお客様は、５月2 8日２３時３０分までに大会申し込みをお済下さい。万が一、５月2 8日までに登録をお済でないお客様は、返金手続きが自動的に行われますのでご注意を！ This event is open to all participants age 15+. **REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 2230 ON 4 JUNE 2025 at 2230** Stage 2 of our 3 stage MCCS Okinawa Bike Race Series Event: Camp Kinser Bike Race 37 km Date: Sunday 8 JUNE 2025 Start Time: 0805 Location: Building 831 Price: $50 Eligibility: The 2025 Kinser Bike Race is open to all participants ages 15+. Age Categories: Male and Female age 15-19, age 20-29, age 30-39, age 40-49, age 50+ Bib assignments and pre-race brief will be emailed to participants by 1630 on Thursday, 5 June. Registration: will close on Wednesday, 4 June at 2230. Check-in and Packet Pick Up: Check-in will be from 0630 to 0730 at which time competitors will receive race packet which includes bib number, race chip, and event t-shirt. Participant Brief: Participants will be required to read the pre-distributed pre-race brief to understand the rules and expectations of the event. A condensed pre-race brief will be given to competitors at 0745 the morning of the event. Awards Ceremony: Ceremony will take place once all competitors have completed the race. Awards will be given to top 3 competitors in each race division, as well as the Overall Male and Female finsher. MCCS Okinawa Bike Race Series The MCCS Okinawa Bike Race Series will consist of 3 individual bike races throughout the year, one 37 km race at Camp Kinser, one 44 km race at MCAS Futenma, and one 33km race at Camp Hansen. There is no minimum required number of races for participants to complete. Participants will earn points for each race they complete. Points will be used to determine the series grand prize winners after all races have been completed. Date: Races will be held on the following Sundays: 4 May 25 – Hansen Bike Race (33K) 8 June 25 – Kinser Bike Race (37K) 20 July 25 – Futenma Bike Race (44K) Participation Points: Participation points will be earned for each race completed. Participation points will be used to determine winners of the series in each gender and age category after all races are finished. Participation points are earned for the following achievements for each race in the series. Complete race and earn a time - 30 points. 1st place in gender and age category - 50 Points. 2nd place in gender and age category - 40 Points. 3rd place in gender and age category - 30 Points. 4th place in gender and age category - 20 Points. 5th place in gender and age category - 10 Points. 1st place overall male or female - 25 Points. Awards and Giveaways Individual Bike Races: Participants in each individual bike race will receive a race t-shirt and completion medal. Awards will be earned by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finisher in each gender and age category. Additional awards will also be earned by the 1st place overall male and female finishers. Bike Race Series: The male and female participants with the most overall participation points will also cycling jersey and potential Sponsorship items*. Questions? Please contact us at 637-1869/ 645-3521 or email us at adultsports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org Information Source: MCCS Okinawa | eventbrite

Hamitsuki Inari Shrine is famous for praying for protection from disasters, prosperity of business, and safety of buildings. Reclamation of the sea southeast of Edo began long before the founding of Edo (1603), but whenever the embankment was built, it was washed away, which was a big challenge for Tsukiji Market. However, one night, when people held a worship ceremony for the gods who appeared on the sea, the waves stopped and the building was completed in 1659 (Manji 2). The Tsukiji Lion Festival is said to have originated from the lion heads that people carry with them, a dragon that controls the clouds, a tiger that controls the wind, and a lion that can scare all living things with just a roar.

Famous swords were the supreme treasure of samurai families. Not only were they excellent weapons, but over the years, they have been possessed by many rulers during times of war, or given as gifts at happy turning points in life, and as a result, their value has increased even more. In this way, for hundreds of years, many famous swords have been passed down from hand to hand, and have been preserved and passed down to the present day along with their gorgeous sword fittings that are befitting of their status. This exhibition will focus on the swords and sword fittings in the collection of the Tokugawa Art Museum, and will display famous swords associated with famous warlords and daimyo, as well as gorgeous sword fittings, while focusing on the various stories surrounding the works. This large-scale exhibition, befitting the 90th anniversary of the museum's opening, will feature a selection of national treasures, important cultural properties, and famous items. The profound world of swords and sword fittings, which continue to be fascinating even through the ages, will be introduced from both the historical background and the beauty of the works themselves.

The exhibition will feature 11 three-dimensional works and 18 two-dimensional works, including new acquisitions, centered around Inoue Bukichi's "My Sky Hole 94-6 Forest Labyrinth," which can be said to be the signature piece of the museum, in the main gallery, which has remained in the same condition since the museum first opened.

The Mingei movement in Osaka was first started by the founding of the Japan Crafts Museum by Miyake Chuichi (1900-1980), a member of the Mingei movement. Having read Yanagi Muneyoshi's The Way of Crafts, Miyake joined the Mingei movement and in 1950 established the Japan Crafts Museum in Osaka (now closed) to widely introduce the beauty of excellent crafts from all over Japan to the Kansai region. At the same time, he also turned his attention to the situation of various production areas, mainly in Kyushu, and made an effort to produce and support crafts. However, Miyake had doubts about the way the movement was conducted at the time, so in 1959 he left the Japan Folk Crafts Association, where Yanagi was the chairman, and founded the Japan Folk Crafts Association. From then on, he developed his own Mingei movement based on the Japan Crafts Museum and the Japan Folk Crafts Association.

The spring exhibition "How to Find Wonders: Science" will be held at Minato City Science Museum. Many mysteries are hidden in the everyday life that unfolds before our eyes. By changing your perspective, you may discover new things and encounter many "wonders". In this exhibition, you can experience new scientific discoveries and the fun and wonder of things by looking at ordinary things from a scientific point of view. To that end, this exhibition will introduce seven ways to find wonders. In the seven "Seven Ways to See" corners, we interweave videos to help you notice wonders in each corner, providing a place of interest and active learning for everyone, from children to adults. This time, we will introduce various "ways of seeing science" that add original elements of the Minato Science Museum to the NHK Educational TV "How to Find Wonders" exhibition. Furthermore, the program's commentary, accompanied by adorable illustrations by Shinsuke Yoshitake, makes science seem more accessible. Why not take this opportunity to visit the program?