JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles

As Summer Game Fest 2026 approaches this June, take a journey with us and take a look back at the history of gaming in Japan, a country that did more than any other to build video games as both an industry and an art form! 🇯🇵🎮

Japan helped shape video game culture as we know it, from Nintendo and Pac-Man to today’s breakout hits like Exit 8 and Death Stranding. Explore how Japanese creativity, storytelling, and design continue to influence gaming worldwide.

Read more in our latest article about the evolution of Japanese gaming culture 👉 https://bit.ly/4wCSzT3

Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, washoku is more than a meal—it’s a reflection of Japan’s respect for nature, seasonality, and community 🌿🌏💚

On this World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, we reflect on how culinary traditions like washoku preserve cultural identity while fostering connection across generations and borders ✨🥢

“WASHOKU | Nature and Cuisine in Japanese Culture,” opens TOMORROW, May 22 at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles. Discover how the philosophies behind Japan’s profound food culture continue to honor the nation’s history, landscapes, and enduring traditions.

🏷️: UNESCO, Ovation Hollywood

📷: NDL Image Bank, National Diet Library, Japan

Japan’s ceramic traditions stretch back centuries, blending artistry, craftsmanship, and everyday life.🏺✨ From the vivid, painterly designs of Kyo-yaki to the practical beauty of Oribe-yaki and the quietly evolving character of Imari-yaki, each style tells a story shaped by region, culture, and generations of skilled artisans.

📰 The latest issue of Highlighting Japan explores these remarkable pottery traditions and the techniques that continue to shape Japanese design today.

💡 Take a closer look at the history, craftsmanship, and enduring appeal of Japan’s iconic ceramics in the full article. 👉 https://bit.ly/4trtok3

From ancient roots to modern tables. 🍱✨

How did washoku come to be, and what continues to define it today? 🥢

Washoku began thousands of years ago, shaped by Japan’s natural environment, rice cultivation, and a deep respect for seasonality. 🌾

🍢 By the Kamakura period, Zen-influenced practices helped refine culinary techniques introducing umami-rich dashi and a thoughtful approach to plant-based cooking. Later during the Edo period, a flourishing urban food culture gave rise to refined dining styles, setting the stage for today’s multi-course meals.

After WWII, global influences entered Japanese kitchens, bringing new ingredients and techniques, yet the essence of washoku remained constant: a quiet harmony of balance, simplicity, and connection to nature 🌿

Our upcoming exhibition, “WASHOKU | Nature and Culture in Japanese Cuisine,” opens in one week, on Friday, May 22 at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles. Join us in exploring the rich and evolving history of Japanese cuisine. ✨

📷: Credit: NDL Image Bank, National Diet Library, Japan

What is your favorite color? 🌈 Try thinking beyond simple names—beyond green or blue. Do you love “blue,” or the shade of a cloudless spring sky? Or “green,” like fresh grass after a warm summer rain? ☀️ 🌧️
🫧 Color may seem simple, but the words we use to describe it can carry much deeper meaning. It can evoke memory, sensation, season, and emotion all at once.

In Japanese, words that describe color often go beyond the visual, capturing the feeling of a moment. From the soft pinks of sakura (cherry blossoms) in spring to the vibrant greens of early summer, these hues reflect what we see and how we experience the world around us. 🌸🌿

✨ Discover more about the nuances of Japanese color in this article from Metropolis Japan: https://bit.ly/3QuWb8R

✨ You can also explore additional insights in our archive on kumihimo (silk braided cord) and color at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles: https://bit.ly/4g7rbUM

Japanese Color Theory: How Japan Sees Color Differently | Metropolis Japan Sanzo Wada's book on Japanese color theory is making a comeback. Find out why color encompasses much more than what meets the eye.

Matcha continues to grow in popularity around the world–whether enjoyed as a simple green tea or a decadent matcha latte. But have you ever considered the craftsmanship behind the perfect cup? This spring, we invite you to Matcha Tea Whisk | 20th Generation Chasen Master Tango Tanimura, a special opportunity to hear directly from a master dedicated to the art of making bamboo tea whisks, or chasen—essential tools in the preparation of matcha! 🍵

The chasen is arguably the most recognizable component of the Japanese tea ceremony. Hand-carved from a single piece of bamboo that features approximately 70 to 100 fine prongs, the bamboo’s natural flexibility creates a unique balance, resilient enough for vigorous whisking, yet gentle enough to glide across the bowl. With each motion, the chasen transforms matcha powder and water into a smooth, velvety foam, enhancing both texture and aroma. 😋

The art of chasen-making began over 500 years ago, passed down through generations, with techniques carefully preserved within family lineages. Today, Takayama remains the primary producer of the world’s chasen, each one meticulously handcrafted using locally grown bamboo. As the heir to this centuries-old tradition, Tango Tanimura carries forward a legacy shaped by precision, intuition, and deep cultural knowledge. Working entirely by hand, his practice resists mechanization and embodies the enduring spirit of Takayama craftsmanship.

For this special talk & demonstration, Tanimura will travel from his home in Takayama to JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles. To join us for an afternoon exploring a living cultural tradition in its most refined and intimate form, click the link below! 👇

🗓️ (Sun.) May 31
⏰ 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
📍 JAPAN HOUSE Salon | Level 5
🎟️ $20 (incl. taxes, etc.)
🔗 https://bit.ly/42HiStj

Please find an update regarding our weekend operation hours. Both the WAZA Shop and Library will be closing an hour earlier on weekends to accommodate the exhibition installation.

🗓️ (Fri.) May 8 - (Sun.) May 17
Level 2 WAZA Shop | 11 AM - 7 PM
Level 5 Salon & Library | 11 AM - 7 PM