Japan Society To Hold Two-Part Tribute to Donald Richie

Beginning next month and continuing through next spring the Japan Society in New York will screen a series of films in tribute to writer and critic Donald Richie, who passed away earlier this year, to honor his contributions to Japanese cinema. Each film will screen in 35mm prints and most will feature introductions by an array of scholars familiar with Richie and his ties to each film. Richie is widely considered the pioneering voice that contributed to the introduction and familiarization of countless Japanese films to the west, promoting the films of directors such as Akira Kurosawa, Yasujiro Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Nagisa Oshima, Masahiro Shinoda, and Shohei Imamura.

The series will be curated by film scholar and former Japan Society Film Curator Kyoko Hirano who explained, “Many people in the world beyond North America and Western Europe, beyond the film world, first became acquainted with Japanese culture through Richie’s wide range of writings. He made experimental films and wrote both fiction and non-fiction, always looking at Japan affectionately. Our first monthly series features directors who have become known abroad thanks to Richie’s introduction, such as Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu. The second series includes films portraying a variety of aspects of Japanese society, such as education, family, and the conflicts between tradition and modernity, analyzed by Mr. Richie’s keen observations.”

Here is the schedule for the first part of the series, titled “Richie’s Fantastic Five”:

High and Low

Friday, October 18^th, 7pm

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

Introduction by Kyoko Hirano, curator of the series and former Director of Japan Society’s Film Program

The Life of Oharu

Saturday, November 16^th, 6pm

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi

Introduction by Joel Neville Anderson, filmmaker/scholar, PhD student, Visual and Cultural Studies, University of Rochester

Equinox Flower

Thursday, December 12^th, 7pm

Directed by Yasujiro Ozu

Introduction by Atsushi Funahashi, director, writer and producer

Himatsuri

Friday, January 24^th, 7pm

Directed by Mitsuo Yanagimachi

Introduction by Ian Buruma, Paul W. Williams Professor of Human Rights and Journalism, Bard College

After Life

Wednesday, February 19^th, 7pm

Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda