UK arts events in Japan
Please note that, due to the rapidly changing COVID-19 coronavirus situation, all events are subject to cancellation or postponement. Please check event/organiser websites for the latest information.
Tomoo Hamada: Imaginings on St Ives, England
The Japanese artist shares his hopes for a bright future through 150 works, including sculptures specially made for this exhibition.
3-5-13 Fukasawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0081
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Love Sarah
In this romantic comedy by British director Eliza Schroeder, a young woman seeks to fulfil her mother’s dream of opening a bakery on Notting Hill in London.
2-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006
Prince Hotels British Fair 2020: Timeless UK
Dip into a world of famous spy novels, experience a recreation of the delights from Downton Abbey, and enjoy original recipes from the executive head chef of the five-star Prince Akatoki London.
KING & QUEEN from the National Portrait Gallery, London
Explore some 90 portrait paintings and photographs of the five British dynasties—from the House of Tudor to the current House of Windsor.
Image: Queen Elizabeth I ('The Armada Portrait') ©National Portrait Gallery, London
1-2 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007
The Keeper
This British–German biographical film tells the true story of a former member of the Hitler Youth who becomes a soccer star in England.
©2018 Lieblingsfilm & Zephyr Films Trautmann
3-15-15 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022
Official Secrets
Directed by Gavin Hood and starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, this is the true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Photo: Nick Wall © Official Secrets Holdings, LLC
1-2-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006
Billy Elliot—Little Dancer
Based on the film about a working-class boy in Northern England who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer, this hit musical features songs by the legendary Elton John.
Akasaka Sacas, 5-3-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8006
Imperial Hotel Tokyo: British Week
This year, the annual event will feature a special afternoon tea to mark the 130th birthday of both the hotel and English author Agatha Christie.
AGATHA CHRISTIE is a registered trademark of Agatha Christie Limited in the UK and elsewhere. All rights reserved.
1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8558
Cerith Wyn Evans Exhibition
The work of Welsh conceptual artist, sculptor and filmmaker Cerith Wyn Evans, renowned for using abstract materials such as light and sound to appeal to the senses, is on display at the Pola Museum of Art. It is Evans’ first solo exhibition in Japan. Photo: Ken Kato
Violet
A multi-award-winning musical based on Doris Betts' short story “The Ugliest Pilgrim”. This joint production by the Charing Cross Theatre and the Umeda Arts Theater received good reviews for the performances held at the Charing Cross Theatre, London, between January and April 2019. Performances by a Japanese cast will be held in Tokyo in April.
1-8-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0021
Small Island
Helen Edmunson’s stage adaptation of British author Andrea Levy’s book Small Island—featuring a company of 40 actors—is coming to Japan. Exploring the history of Jamaica and the UK during World War II, three stories intertwine in this critically praised play. Hortense yearns for a new life away from rural Jamaica, Gilbert dreams of becoming a lawyer and Queenie longs to escape her Lincolnshire roots.
Photo: Brinkhoff Moegenburg
2-3-1 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022
Cine Libre, Ikebukuro
1-11-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0021
007 Skyfall in Concert
Enjoy Thomas Newman’s Academy Award-winning soundtrack from the 2012 instalment of the James Bond franchise, Skyfall. Immerse yourself in the film as the soundtrack is performed live by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra while the action unfolds on the big screen.
Photo: SKYFALL LICENSED BY MGM. SKYFALL © 2012 DANJAQ & MGM. SKYFALL, 007 AND RELATED JAMES BOND
3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0005
Peter Doig
This is the first solo exhibition in Japan by contemporary Scottish painter Peter Doig, who has been called one of the most important artists in the world today. Inviting viewers on a journey of the imagination through painting, this exhibition covers the artist’s career from his early work to the latest masterpieces.
Photo: ©Peter Doig. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Anna Marie and Robert F. Shapiro in honor of Kynaston McShine, 2004. All rights reserved, DACS & JASPAR 2020 C3120, 2004 Oil on canvas 200 x 250.5 cm
3-1 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8322
Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London
For the first time in 200 years, the National Gallery, London, is allowing some of the works in its collection to be exhibited abroad. This collection of masterpieces represents an extremely rare opportunity to see 61 important works, such as Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Johannes Vermeer’s A Young Woman Seated at the Virginals and Rembrandt’s Self Portrait at the Age of 34.
Photo: ©The National Gallery, London. Bought, 1927
7-7 Ueno-koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007
St David’s Day Buffet and Performance
Enjoy a traditional Welsh buffet in Tokyo to celebrate St David’s Day (1 March). Lunch will be followed by a special performance of My Body Welsh, a bilingual one-man play featuring Welsh actor Steffan Donnelly, who also wrote the play with Tara Robinson. Nominated for two Wales Theatre Awards in 2018, the play explores mysterious skeletons found at the bottom of a well. Photo: The Invertigo Theatre
Note: The venue and time have been updated.
(Entrance at 1:00pm)
Performance at 4:00pm
2-6-14 Akasaka, Tokyo 107-0052