Black Musical Traditions

Co-organized with the Japan Foundation, New York, the Imagination Project Inc. and Anime NYC.

In the city that became a global epicenter for jazz and the birthplace of hip-hop, anime legend Shinichiro Watanabe reflects on the influence of Black American musical traditions across his Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Lazarus, and how sound and style shape his most iconic worlds. This cultural conversation between Shinichiro Watanabe and LeSean Thomas (creator of Netflix’s Yasuke) explores the influence of Black American music traditions across Watanabe’s body of work—from the jazz-infused noir of Cowboy Bebop to the hip-hop samurai swagger of Samurai Champloo and now the futuristic pulse of Lazarus. The panel will discuss how Watanabe has consistently woven elements of Black American music traditions into his series, collaborating with leading figures in contemporary jazz, soul and experimental music to define the rhythm, emotional identity and cultural texture of his worlds. Drawing from Thomas’s own cross-cultural work with global music icons (including Yasuke’s Flying Lotus and Thundercat), the discussion will trace how sound becomes a narrative engine, a cultural bridge and a statement of creative intent in anime. The two creators will discuss the role of Black music in shaping anime tone and identity across Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Lazarus, cross-cultural collaboration as an artistic act, the intersection of music, rhythm and pacing in visual storytelling and how Watanabe’s musical choices build emotionally resonant anime for a global audience. This event is a one-of-a-kind discussion to hear about seldom explored but deeply resonate touchstones vital to Shinichiro Watanabe’s works.

Featuring:

Shinichiro Watanabe – Creator, Lazarus & Cowboy Bebop
Shinichiro Watanabe is an anime director, screenwriter and music producer. He made his directorial debut as co-director of Macross Plus and has since directed numerous series titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Kids on the Slope, Space Dandy, Terror in Resonance and Carole & Tuesday  as well as shorts for The Animatrix – Kid’s Story, A Detective Story and Blade Runner – Black Out 2022. His latest series is Adult Swim’s Lazarus.

LeSean Thomas — Creator, Yasuke & Cannon Busters; Founder, Curator & Host, Foreign Exchange
Bronx-born LeSean Thomas is among the distinguished few Black Americans making their mark in the TV anime industry and is currently the only Black American to successfully create, produce and direct original TV anime series in Japan. His journey began with notable projects such as The Boondocks, Black Dynamite: The Animated Series and The Legend of Korra. These foundational experiences paved the way for his move to Japan, where he created and directed works such as Crunchyroll’s Children of Ether and Netflix’s Cannon Busters. LeSean’s most recent triumph is the critically-acclaimed and NAACP Image Award-nominated Netflix series Yasuke. Building on his cross-cultural career, Thomas founded, curates and hosts Foreign Exchange, a platform for dialogue between U.S. and Japanese anime creators.

Part of Foreign Exchange: Anime Inspirations & Visionaries with LeSean Thomas Foreign Exchange explores the cross-cultural dialogue between Japan and the U.S. through the popular arts. Join us for a weekend of talks and screenings with trailblazing anime visionaries Shinichiro Watanabe, Justin Leach and LeSean Thomas.

Foreign Exchange All-Access Ticket
Join us all weekend with an All-Access Ticket. This ticket includes admission to all public talks and screenings. Limited availability.

Co-organized with the Japan Foundation, New York and the Imagination Project Inc. Foreign Exchange promotional support is provided by a grant from the New York City Tourism Foundation.

Japan Society’s Japanese Literature Series is generously supported by a grant from the Toshiba International Foundation, and All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., the official airline partner of the series.

Film programs are generously supported by Anime NYC, ORIX Corporation USA, and Yen Press. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and The John and Miyoko Davey Endowment Fund. Additional season support is provided by Jono Abrams and Elizabeth Linn, Ayumi Arafune, Darin Arita and Kanako Arita, Mike Audet, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Catanzaro, The Globus Family, George P. Hirose, Akiko Koide and Shohei Koide, David Toberisky, Joseph Rajaratnam and Dharshini Iolanthe Sivakumaran, Japan Society Film Council, and other Film supporters.

Transportation assistance is provided by Japan Airlines, the official Japanese airline sponsor of Japan Society Film Program. Housing assistance is provided by the Prince Kitano New York, the official hotel sponsor of Japan Society Film Program.

Support for cultural programs is provided by the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund; Jean Fan Colson and Daniel Colson; and Faith L. Taylor.

Japan Society arts and culture programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).