Performing Arts
Performing Arts
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Program introduces performers from Japan’s contemporary and traditional music, dance and theater scenes, and commissions non-Japanese performing artists to create works on themes relating to Japan. Many distinguished artists have performed in the Society’s 260-seat theater and on Society-produced North American tours. Since 1953, Japan Society’s Performing Arts Program has inspired audiences in New York and beyond with over 1,000 productions ranging from traditional Japanese arts to contemporary theater, dance, music and more.
Announcing our 2025 – 2026 Season
General tickets go on sale at 11 am on July 31;
Members pre-sale begins at 11 am on July 17!
This fall, we honor Yukio Mishima (1925–1970), the brilliant, controversial and five-time Nobel prize-nominated author, marking the 100th year after his birth with a centennial series of four programs based around his works. Because of his untimely death, more than half a century has already passed since his last published work and yet, Mishima continues to serve as a fount of inspiration for artists in the 21st century. In the words of Artistic Director Yoko Shioya, this series “revitalizes Mishima’s contributions to the world of the arts” through a slate of brand new commissions and premieres adapting Mishima’s writings and a historic 21st century U.S. company premiere for a revered noh school, presenting a set of the original classic plays that Mishima would later adapt.
Our Spring programming ranges across genres and contemporary voices—a classic kabuki drama funneled through pop-inflected contemporary theater, the latest cyberart-driven, beat crackling dance from choreographic mastermind Hiroaki Umeda and the return by popular demand of Ainu musician OKI in a long-awaited debut concert for his full OKI DUB AINU BAND.
2025-2026 Program Lineup
Yukio Mishima’s KINKAKUJI
September 11-20, 2025
Part of Yukio Mishima Centennial Series
Le Tambour de Soie (The Silk Drum)
October 24 & 25, 2025
Part of Yukio Mishima Centennial Series
MISHIMA: LEGACY – Keiichiro Hirano and Susan Napier in Conversation
November 6, 2025
Part of Yukio Mishima Centennial Series
The Seven Bridges (Hashi-zukushi)
November 15 & 16, 2025
Part of Yukio Mishima Centennial Series
Mishima’s Muse – Noh Theater
December 4-6, 2025
Part of Yukio Mishima Centennial Series
Noh Workshop with Hosho Noh School
December 6, 2025
Part of Yukio Mishima Centennial Series
Kinoshita Kabuki’s Kanjincho
January 8-11, 2026
ENCORE! Build Your Own Shakuhachi: Crafting Workshop
March 1, 2026
Hiroaki Umeda: assimilating & Moving State 1
March 20 & 21, 2026
Earthly Bones
May 4, 2026
OKI DUB AINU BAND
June 4, 2026
Talk Story: Sharing Ainu Culture with OKI
June 5, 2026
Become a Japan Society member and enjoy 20% or more off on Japan Society Performing Arts programs and access to other members-only exclusives.
Top Image: © Julie Lemberger.
2025-26 Japan Society Season Support
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).
2025-26 Performing Arts Season Support
Japan Society 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.
The season is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Additional, major support is generously provided by Doug and Teresa Peterson, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund, John and Miyoko Davey Foundation, and a leadership gift from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Program support is provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; Hisamitsu America, Inc.; Cheryl Henson; Merit E. Janow; Paula S. Lawrence; Akiko Mikumo; Hiroko Onoyama; Richard and Momona Royce; Dr. Jeanette C. Takamura; Nancy and Joe Walker; Estate of Alan M. Suhonen, and other Performing Arts supporters.
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is the official airline of the Japan Society Performing Arts Program. Yamaha is the official piano provider of Japan Society.
Program Support & Partners
The Yukio Mishima Centennial Series: Emergences is supported by Doug and Teresa Peterson.
Yukio Mishima’s KINKAKUJI is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature, Japan Foundation New York, and the Goethe-lnstitut with support from the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. Air travel between Berlin and New York is generously provided by Delta Air Lines. KINKAKUJI is produced through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals Corporation.
Le Tambour de Soie (The Silk Drum) is produced with support from Villa Albertine, Albertine Foundation, and The Harkness Foundation for Dance. International travel for Kaori Ito and Makoto Yabuki is provided by L’Alliance New York. Production: Maison de la Culture d’Amiens – France; International art production and distribution center.
The Seven Bridges (Hashi-zukushi) is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan through the Japan Arts Council, and The Harkness Foundation for Dance.
Mishima’s Muse – Noh Theater is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan through the Japan Arts Council. The program is also supported, in part, by the John and Miyoko Davey Foundation.
Kinoshita Kabuki’s Kanjincho is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan through the Japan Arts Council.
Hiroaki Umeda: assimilating & Moving State 1 is supported by a grant from The Harkness Foundation for Dance.