Arts from Japan

Bringing the artistry of Japan to audiences in the Bay Area.

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A year-round cultural platform from the Japan Society of Northern California, spanning centuries of Japanese tradition to the boldest contemporary expression.  Arts from Japan brings distinctive voices in music, visual art and more to Bay Area audiences. 

Several concerts in our inaugural Arts from Japan season are co-promotional events, presented by valued partners such as the San Francisco Symphony, Cal Performances, and Stanford Live. For each of these co-promotional performances, Arts from Japan has secured a limited block of premium tickets reserved for our members and friends, so we can experience these concerts together. These tickets are offered for sale first to our Arts from Japan Founding Donors, then to our Leadership Circle, and then to our broader membership as availability allows. Once our allotment is purchased, we're happy to connect our members directly to our partner's box office, where a member discount rate is often available.

Inaugural Season | 2026 – 2027

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Yano et Agatsuma AFJ

Yano et Agatsuma: Opening Night Flagship Concert

September 14 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
$55 – $125

Akiko Yano and Hiromitsu Agatsuma reimagine traditional Japanese folk songs through jazz, pop, and improvisation, drawn from their acclaimed album Asteroid and Butterfly.

SFS Joe Hisaishi AFJ

Joe Hisaishi Conducts the San Francisco Symphony

October 22 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
$250 – $285

Hisaishi conducts the West Coast premiere of his Concerto for Orchestra alongside music from his beloved Studio Ghibli scores.

Kotaru Fukuma AFJ

Kotaro Fukuma, Piano: Flagship Series

October 27 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
$30 – $45

A water-themed recital spanning Mendelssohn, Debussy, and Takemitsu, with Fukuma’s own transcriptions of Wagner and Smetana.

Arts from Japan Patron Experience

Arts from Japan is built to connect audiences in the Bay Area with distinctive artistic voices from Japan. We curate a season of performances and experiences — some presented directly by JSNC, others in partnership with the Bay Area's leading arts organizations — selected for their power to illuminate Japanese creativity in all its range. 

For members of the JSNC Leadership Circle, Arts from Japan offers something beyond the performance itself. Leadership Circle members enjoy early access to tickets for events we expect to be in high demand, and are invited to exclusive gatherings — curator-led conversations, artist receptions, and VIP dinners — that bring our audience closer to the artists and the work. 

These benefits are a core part of what we are building: a community of people for whom Japanese arts and culture is a lifelong passion. 

Learn About the Leadership Circle →

 

Be part of Arts from Japan - from the beginning!

The 2026–2027 inaugural season is an opportunity to support Arts from Japan at its inception — as a founding donor, a presenting partner, or an institutional collaborator. We would welcome a conversation about what a relationship might look like.

Donor Acknowledgement for Founding Donors:

Glen S. Fukushima
Emiko Higashi
Kazuma and Julia Makihara
Makioka Foundation
Albert Webson

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