Beauty and the Eats: The Rosanjin Kitaoji Exhibition
Christopher Stephens
Based on a reverence for nature and a fondness for fresh seasonal materials, washoku refers to a complex system of preparing, consuming, and presenting food. It is surprising to learn, however, that many aspects of what seems to be an age-old tradition date to the 20th century and the efforts of one man. more...
La Dolce Vita in Nikko: The Former Italian Embassy Villa
Alice Gordenker
Ah, the charmed life of a Western diplomat at the turn of the 19th century. The glamour. The parties. The long summers passed leisurely in highland resorts. While that lifestyle may be long gone, it is still possible to enjoy a small taste of it -- and learn about modern Japanese architecture -- through a visit to the former Italian Embassy villa on Lake Chuzenji. more...
After the Fall: Kosai Hori's Lyrical "Noise"
Alan Gleason
Kosai Hori has been a noted presence on the contemporary Japanese art scene since the early 1970s, when, as a member of the Artists Joint-Struggle Council (Bikyoto), he was associated with the Anti-Art movement and the creative sturm und drang unleashed by student protests and other social upheavals of the day. more...
