"2021 Japan Lecture Series – Shofuso: Philadelphia's Japanese Gem," February 18.

Taken by me at Shofuso, April 2013.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia will present "2021 Japan Lecture Series – Shofuso: Philadelphia's Japanese Gem" on February 18.

Did you know that Philadelphia has one of the best Japanese gardens in North America? Shofuso Japanese House and Garden sits in Philadelphia's West Fairmount Park, which has had a continuous Japanese presence since the 1876 Centennial Exposition, when the first Japanese garden in North America was installed behind a small Japanese bazaar. Designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura, Shofuso was built in Japan in 1953 using traditional techniques and materials. It was shipped to New York and exhibited in the courtyard of the Museum of Modern Art in New York before moving to its current location in 1958. The traditional and modern features of Shofuso and its collection were recently featured in the documentary Shofuso and Modernism: Mid-Century Collaboration between Japan and Philadelphia and an article in Nikkei Asia magazine.

Join the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia for a special lecture on this Pennsylvania gem by JASGP Executive Director Kim Andrews. Shofuso re-opens to visitors on March 20, and Ohanami events begin April 10. Philadelphia’s cherry trees generally bloom at the end of March through the end of April.

The online lecture runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required.

"Craft Beer Connection: Pennsylvania, Japan and the Business of Beer," November 19.

via @bairdbrewing

The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh-based Japan America Society of Pennsylvania will present "Craft Beer Connection: Pennsylvania, Japan and the Business of Beer" online on November 19.

Over the past decade, craft brewers in the US have exploded onto the beer market. Japan’s craft boom is just starting, but both have become big business. This event will explore the impact and opportunities created by this exciting industry all while sampling their products. Grab a drink and network virtually with us after the panel discussion! The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia in partnership with the Japan America Society of Pennsylvania will present this program in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with support from Pennsylvania Commerce Department and media partner Philadelphia Business Journal.

Tickets are $15 and available online.

"Craft Beer Connection: Pennsylvania, Japan and the Business of Beer," November 19.

via @bairdbrewing

The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh-based Japan America Society of Pennsylvania will present "Craft Beer Connection: Pennsylvania, Japan and the Business of Beer" online on November 19.

Over the past decade, craft brewers in the US have exploded onto the beer market. Japan’s craft boom is just starting, but both have become big business. This event will explore the impact and opportunities created by this exciting industry all while sampling their products. Grab a drink and network virtually with us after the panel discussion! The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia in partnership with the Japan America Society of Pennsylvania will present this program in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with support from Pennsylvania Commerce Department and media partner Philadelphia Business Journal.

Tickets are $15 and available online.

Superdry to open its first Pennsylvania location on August 20.

Superdry, a UK-based Japan-inspired clothing company, will open its first Pennsylvania location on August 20 in the King of Prussia Mall. One of its features is nonsensical Japanese, inspired by the Gibberlish seen throughout Japan and East Asia. It currently has stores in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Chicago, and Las Vegas. The King of Prussia Mall was the site of the first Uniqlo in Pennsylvania, and is located roughy 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Profile of Pennsylvania-based Korean paper artist Sun Young Kang.

Photo by Yong Ho Bae, courtesy of artist's website.

Main Line Today profiles Sun Young Kang, a Korean paper artist formerly of Pittsburgh and currently based in eastern Pennsylvania. Kang's work has appeared in several prominent Pittsburgh exhibitions, including the Pittsburgh Biennial in 2008. Filtered Memories, pictured above, appeared at the Pittsburgh Biennial:

“Eight years after my father’s death, my mother sent me his diaries which he began to write when he was my age. I have reproduced selections from those diaries. He has come back as a memory.”

The Korean mall.

Visited More Shopping Center last weekend, a Korean mall in North Philadelphia (map). The anchor is a Korean grocery, H Mart, and there are branches of Korean franchises like Paris Baguette, Hana Tour, Woori Bank, and The Face Shop. There are also doctor offices, dentists, salons, a pharmacy, a Korean food court, and a few dozen other local businesses. Walking through there, if you didn't know you were above ground you might think you've stepped into one of the underground arcades (지하상가) ubiquitous in Korean cities.

BonChon coming to Philadelphia.

Bonchon, a chain of Korean fried chicken places, is coming to Philadelphia, writes Philly.com.

[I]t's being built on the ground floor of a new apartment building at 1020 Cherry St. That is across the street from Simply Shabu, the hot-pot specialist.

BonChon will have a liquor license and is pegged for a September opening.

BonChon will open in the middle of Philadelphia's Chinatown; here's a map.

Uniqlo coming to Philadelphia, maybe.

Curbed.com writes that the huge Japanese clothing design and retail chain Uniqlo will open in Philadelphia, joining locations in New York City and San Francisco and becoming the first in Pennsylvania. Uniqlo plans to eventually have 200 U.S. stores by 2020.

Cherry blossoms in Philadelphia.

We had a great time at the 2013 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia over the weekend. We were lucky enough to wander around the day before Sakura Sunday and see the sakura in fuller bloom. Highlights included dancers and taiko drummers from Tamagawa University, tours of Shofuso Japanese House & Garden nearby, and perfect weather. It's definitely worth a drive next year.

Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia, April 1 - 26.

The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia will take place this year from April 1st through 26th. There is a massive amount of events planned around the festival, so browse the website and consider making the drive (or the Megabus) for the weekend. Consider visiting, too, Shufuso, a Japanese garden in Fairmont Park, a short distance from where many of the cherry blossoms are located.

名所フィラデルフィア百景: 100 Famous Views of Philadelphia.

Artist Matthew Meyer is now selling prints from his Japan-inspired "100 Famous Views of Philadelphia". They're amazing, they're in time for Philadelphia's sakura festival next month, and they're for sale on his Etsy page.

The series draws its name from "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo", a famous series of prints from the 19th century that is both vintage postcards and art.

Philadelphia cherry blossom festival postcard.

The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia recently released a couple of postcards to promote its 2013 event, held from April 1 through 26 this year. Here's the best of the bunch:



And since we're looking at that side of the state, here are a few pictures of a frozen Shofuso Japanese House and Garden.

Korean Christmas cakes at Paris Baguette.

Christmas in Korea is . . . different, and one of the biggest traditions there is buying a Christmas cake from one of the big bakery chains like Paris Baguette or Tous Les Jours, ubiquitous ice cream shop Baskin Robbins, or giant leading donut chain Dunkin Donuts. Both bakery franchises have locations in the US, and Paris Baguette has one in suburban Philadelphia (map), where you'll find a few Christmas cakes on sale from the 19th through the 25th.


Yogurt Cake.


Green Tea Freshcream Cake.

"Unknown Japan" film festival in Philadelphia this August, September.

1967's Love for a Fool (Chijin no Ai) runs on August 15.

Unknown Japan IV opens August 8th in Philadelphia and runs each Wednesday evening through September 12th at The Bellefield and PhilaMOCA. Unknown Japan is

a free biannual series (winter + summer) of rare Japanese films presented at various venues throughout the city of Philadelphia. All selected films have never received a VHS/DVD/VOD release outside of their country of origin (with the occasional exception of a film that may have been released in some form in a country other than the U.S., odds are you'll never have heard of it regardless).

All screenings include free popcorn courtesy of the JASGP as well as brief pre-screening introductions by curator Eric Bresler.

Check the website for details. There's a movie from almost every decade from the fifties through the aughts, including Japan's first color film, a nearly unwatchable movie from J-pop group Morning Masume, and

an oddball and often uncomfortable comedy featuring a straight-laced factoryman who is thrust into the swinging '60s courtesy of a young lover with a penchant for dancing and romancing.

Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, November 2 – 8.

The 2011 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival will run from November 2nd through November 8th, with screenings at three venues:

the Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut Street), the Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street) and the Prince Music Theater (1412 Chestnut Street).

The official site has a schedule.