Past Events

Gallery Tour: 'SECOND LAW' led by Reijiro Wada

Join us for a gallery tour of Reijiro Wada’s first solo exhibition in the UK, SECOND LAW.

Reijiro Wada will be in the gallery to lead the tour, offering a special opportunity to hear directly from the artist about his work and the exhibition.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics holds that the universe is always tending towards disorder. Ultimately all structures disintegrate and no system can withstand the flow of time. This is the fundamental direction of nature. How then is it possible that life, as we know it, can give rise to things that are beautiful, sublime and have profound meaning for us?

How far does the glinting light of life reach in a chaotic cosmos?

The International Legal Order: The ICC’s Current Challenges and Future

Amid ongoing international conflicts and growing geopolitical tensions, the international legal order is facing increasing pressure. Most recently, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, and a senior ICC lawyer, further raising concerns about the independence of international judicial institutions. This webinar explored the challenges facing the international legal order, their implications for the ICC and judicial independence, and Japan’s government response. The speakers also discussed what this situation means for the international rule of law and how international institutions can respond to growing geopolitical pressure.

Rare Earths: China’s Dominance and Japan’s Response

China holds a virtual monopoly over the global rare earths market, accounting for nearly 70% of global rare earths output in 2025 and processing almost 90% of them. In this seminar, Takahiro Kamisuna explored the history of China’s weaponisation of their dominance vis-à-vis Japan, Japan’s efforts to secure rare earths, including the recent extraction of rare-earth-rich mud from Minami-Torishima Island, and how it is working with other countries to create alternative rare earths supply chains. He also discussed potential future developments in the area.

Archaeology of the Future II

In this talk, Paris-based Tsuyoshi Tane, one of Japan’s most prominent architects, shared insights into his major architectural works, including the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Estonian National Museum, as well as ongoing projects such as 388 FARM and the new main building of the Imperial Hotel, scheduled for completion in 2036. He also shared his perspective on what architecture can be, drawing on his architectural philosophy and approach to design.

US–Japan Relations and the Asia-Pacific

For more than seven decades since 1952, the relationship between the United States and Japan has been one of the world’s strongest alliances. In recent years, the alliance has entered a dynamic new phase. In October 2025, the two countries agreed to take further steps toward realising a new ‘Golden Age’ for the US-Japan alliance, reaffirming their shared commitment to addressing evolving regional and global security challenges. In this seminar, moderated by Dr Bill Hayton, Professor Ken Jimbo examined the future trajectory of the US-Japan relationship and its implications for security in the Asia-Pacific region. The discussion also explored how the alliance is likely to evolve and how it will deal with future conflicts.

Gallery Tour: SECOND LAW

Join us for a free lunchtime tour of Reijiro Wada’s first solo exhibition in the UK, SECOND LAW, led by Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation staff.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics holds that the universe is always tending towards disorder. Ultimately all structures disintegrate and no system can withstand the flow of time. This is the fundamental direction of nature. How then is it possible that life, as we know it, can give rise to things that are beautiful, sublime and have profound meaning for us?

How far does the glinting light of life reach in a chaotic cosmos?

Isn't London a catalyst for storytelling?

In this talk, moderated by Jonathan Watkins, Taihei Soejima presented artworks that explore histories in which multiple truths coexist, employing the contrasting media of generative AI and analogue film, alongside portraiture capturing individuals in multicultural communities undergoing gentrification. He reflected on how his ‘unresolved experiences’ have been transformed into his current artistic practice, with London acting as a catalyst.

The Japanese Fiction Boom: From the publisher’s desk

Over the last few years Japanese titles have taken up half of the slots on translated literature bestseller lists. What caused this sudden wave of Western interest in Japanese fiction across all genres? This talk went behind the perfect storm of reasons that has made Japanese literature the biggest publishing trend of recent years. It also tried to answer the question of what aspect of reading experience the Western public was missing and why Japanese writers are uniquely positioned to fill that gap. What are the remaining Japanese titles that are still being overlooked? It tried to share future predictions as well.

Gallery Tour: SECOND LAW

Join us for a free lunchtime tour of Reijiro Wada’s first solo exhibition in the UK, SECOND LAW, led by Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation staff.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics holds that the universe is always tending towards disorder. Ultimately all structures disintegrate and no system can withstand the flow of time. This is the fundamental direction of nature. How then is it possible that life, as we know it, can give rise to things that are beautiful, sublime and have profound meaning for us?

How far does the glinting light of life reach in a chaotic cosmos?

Ishiuchi Miyako: Traces

Through subjects as diverse as old apartment blocks, human scars, kimono fabrics, personal belongings of the deceased and even her own water-damaged prints, Ishiuchi Miyako (b. 1947) captures time, atmosphere and memory in photographic form. Ishiuchi Miyako: Traces charts the course of her practice over fifty years and identifies themes that resurface throughout her work, including her relationship with place, the passage of time and the bodies and possessions of people, always with an emphasis on ephemerality. In this book launch, co-editor Lena Fritsch introduced the book and discussed Ishiuchi’s work with the artist.

バイリンガル研究：第二言語習得とAI

日本や英国で増加するバイリンガルは、未来を創る重要な存在です。しかし、その習得プロセスには、今も多くの謎が残されています。本ウェビナーでは、最新のバイリンガル研究の知見を解き明かします。環境要因や個人の能力の影響や、ロンドン大学(UCL)の最新研究を通して、なぜ言語習得に差が生まれるのか、そして何がその大きな要因となるのかを紐解きます。

そしてこれらの知見をもとに、AI時代の今、家庭内外でどのように積極的な多言語環境を築けるのかについて考えます。未来の教育と研究の可能性について、皆さんと共に議論します。

Japanese Politics under the Takaichi Administration

Prime Minister Takaichi has marked six months in office after becoming Japan’s first female Prime Minister last October. While her approval rating among the population remains high, it is uncertain whether she can sustain this level of support in months to come. Factors such as inflation and economic and energy security may play a key role in determining this. In this webinar, moderated by Professor John Nilsson-Wright, Professor Izuru Makihara analysed the first six months of her administration, including her leadership and policy initiatives, as well as the major challenges she faces.