Japan Society (Manhattan) facts for kids
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| Founded | May 19, 1907 |
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| Type | Educational/Non-Profit |
| Focus | Education |
| Location |
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Area served
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New York City, NY |
| Method | Film screenings, Lectures, Symposia, Cultural lectures, Workshops, Art Exhibitions |
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Key people
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Joshua Walker, President and CEO Ruri Kawashima, Tokyo Representative |
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Revenue
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$13,786,026 (2023) |
| Endowment | $67,157,963 (2023) |
| Website | https://www.japansociety.org |
Japan Society is a non-profit group started in 1907. Its main goal is to build strong friendships between the United States and Japan. The society's main building, designed by Junzo Yoshimura, opened in 1971. It is located at 333 East 47th Street in New York City, close to the United Nations.
Japan Society focuses on sharing Japanese arts, culture, and language. It also helps with business and education between the two countries. Since it opened, the organization has hosted many events in its library, art gallery, and theater. These events include film showings, talks, workshops, and art exhibits. The society stopped its activities during World War II but grew much bigger later, thanks to John D. Rockefeller III.
The Story of Japan Society
How It Started
In 1907, two Japanese leaders, Tamemoto Kuroki and Goro Ijuin, visited New York City. They were there for the Jamestown Exposition. At a dinner, they talked about creating a group to improve relations between the U.S. and Japan. Just two days later, Japan Society was officially formed.
Shuzo Aoki, who was Japan's ambassador to the U.S., became an honorary president. John Huston Finley also helped lead the new group. For the next 40 years, Japan Society hosted events for Japanese royalty. It also gave talks on many topics and held art shows that thousands of New Yorkers enjoyed. In 1911, Lindsay Russell, one of the founders, met with Emperor Meiji in Japan. He encouraged more groups like Japan Society to form in both countries.
Japan Society soon became a legal organization in New York. It moved its offices several times before settling into its current home in 1971. Around this time, the society became interested in improving how Japan was taught in U.S. schools. It started sponsoring trips to Japan and publishing books. It even sent a report to the U.S. Department of Education about how Japan was shown in American textbooks.
Early Activities
In 1915, Dr. Takamine Jōkichi, a founding member of Japan Society, hosted a special dinner. This event honored Baron Eiichi Shibusawa's visit to New York City. Important guests like Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft attended. Many Japan Society members were also there, including John Huston Finley, who became the society's first president. They discussed how the U.S. and Japan could work together as friends, especially during World War I.
Japan Society stayed active during World War I. However, it started to get involved in political discussions. It published articles defending Japan's actions at the time. The society later realized that taking sides could be risky. By 1924, it stopped publishing any political opinions.
On February 27, 1934, Japan Society held its Annual Dinner. This event honored Prince Iyesato Tokugawa of Japan. About 250 guests attended at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Important people like Reverend James DeWolf Perry and former Ambassador to Japan Roland S. Morris were there. Henry Waters Taft, who was president of Japan Society at the time, led the event. He was the brother of former President William Howard Taft.
By the 1930s, fewer people were joining the society. This was due to money problems and the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Henry Waters Taft resigned as president. All of Japan Society's activities stopped. They did not start again until the Treaty of San Francisco was signed in 1951.
Starting Up Again
John D. Rockefeller III became president of Japan Society in 1952. He later served as chairman until he passed away in 1978. He believed that groups like Japan Society were important for good relations between the U.S. and Japan after the war.
Under Rockefeller's leadership, Japan Society grew a lot. People started talking about finding a permanent home for it. The society shared offices with another group, Asia Society, but both were growing fast. It became clear that Japan Society needed its own building. After getting donations from Rockefeller and others, construction began in 1967.
The new building, called "Japan House," was designed by Junzo Yoshimura. It was the first building in New York to show modern Japanese architecture. On September 13, 1971, it officially opened to the public. Prince Hitachi attended the opening ceremony. He spoke about the need for "closer people-to-people" connections between the two countries. In 1970, Isaac Shapiro took over from Rockefeller as president.
In March 2021, Japan Society celebrated two important anniversaries. It marked 50 years since its current headquarters was finished. It also marked 10 years since the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. To celebrate, the society held an exhibit of traditional Japanese carpentry.
See also
- Japanese in New York City
- Nippon Club (Manhattan)
