Lectures
Lords of the Samurai Symposium
The Hosokawa Collection: Cultural Arts and Military Arts
Sunday, June 14
10:30 am–4:30 pm
Samsung Hall
$45 (Museum members), $62 (non members). Includes general museum admission,,entry to the special exhibition, and a box lunch. To register: make a check payable to SOCIETY FOR ASIAN ART and mail it with your contact details to Samurai Symposium, Society for Asian Art, Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. Inquiries: saa@asianart.org; (415) 581-3701
Program subject to change without notice. For detailed schedule please visit www.societyforasianart.org
Invited speakers include Takeuchi Jun’ichi* (Director, Eisei Bunko Museum) on Bun and Bu in the Hosokawa Collection, Joseph Sorensen (UC Berkeley) on Hosokawa Yūsai and Poetic Tradition, Andrew Watsky (Princeton University) on Picturing Yūsai: Portrait of an Embodied Poet, Susan Matisoff (UC Berkeley) on Why Would a Daimyo Care About Noh?, Christy Bartlett (Urasenke Foundation, San Francisco) on Tea Utensils in the Hosokawa Collection, Ellen Conant (Independent scholar) on Preserving the Past, Patronizing the Present: Hosokawa Moritatsu and the Eisei-Bunko, and Bruce Coats (Scripps College) on Castles and Moats. Sessions will be moderated by Gregory Levine (UC Berkeley), Melissa Rinne (Asian Art Museum), Bob Oaks (Society for Asian Art), and Deborah Clearwaters (Asian Art Museum). Closing remarks by Susan McCabe (President, Society for Asian Art). *Remarks by Mr. Takeuchi will be delivered in Japanese with English translation provided by Melissa Rinne.
Cosponsored by the Society for Asian Art, Asian Art Museum, and UC Berkeley’s Center for Japanese Studies.
Lecture: Ceramics and the Japanese People
Saturday, June 20
2:00 pm-3:30 pm
Samsung Hall (Space is limited, and on a first-come, first-served basis)
FREE with general admission
Ceramist, sculptor, painter, and calligrapher Abe Anjin discusses his traditional Bizen-style ceramics (Japan’s oldest-known pottery, originating in the southern city of Bizen) as well as his philosophy on Japanese ceramics in general. Born in 1938 in Osaka, Abe is one of a few ceramists in Japan who has researched kilns, clay, and processes of Bizenware for many years. His works are in the collections of many museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art.
Iaido
Lecture-Demonstration by Master Swordsman Seigen Esaka, Hanshi 10th Dan
Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30
2:00 pm
Samsung Hall (Space is limited and on a first-come-first-served basis)
FREE with general admission.
Iaido (ee-eye-doe) is an authentic martial art that proved its martial values in a time of constant battle and warfare and that was preserved and passed on directly from teacher to student over generations in an unbroken lineage for 450 years. Iaido originated in the katana (long sword) techniques of the samurai of Japan, which were codified beginning around 1390. When the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867) unified the country after a long period of civil conflict, edicts were issued to transform the samurai from warriors to refined individuals, able to serve in the government. Skills included martial arts, reading, writing, administration, and finer arts, like calligraphy and painting. Peace changed the reasons for martial study. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1546-1621) is considered the legendary founder of iaido for not only codifying a system of batto jutsu (sword-drawing techniques), but also for promulgating the idea that practicing sword forms with meditative intent could make one a better person, and thereby benefit society. The iaidoka (a practitioner of iaido) wields a sword not to control the opponent, but to control himself. Iaidoka develops the mind towards an ultimately peaceful, harmonious, and active state ready to react and deal with any life situation.
The museum is honored to present a rare appearance of Seigen Esaka, Hanshi 10th Dan, one of Japan’s finest sword practicioners. Esaka Sensei is an official representative of the All Japan Iaido Federation (Zen Nihon Iaido Renmei – ZNIR), a direct student of both the 20th Soke, Kono Minoru Hyakuren and the 21st Soke, Fukui Torao. An instructor for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan's Self Defense Forces, and Iaido Renmei Defense Academy, Esaka Sensei holds a 10th dan in Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido and regularly instructs iaido practioners of all levels in Japan, North America, and Europe.
Co-sponsored with the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. This presentation is co-sponsored with Nishi Kaigan Iaido Dojo.
Bushido: Samurai Imagery in the Japanese Tattoo
Thursday, September 3
6:00 pm
Samsung Hall (Space is limited, and on a first-come, first-served basis)
FREE with general admission
Tattoo artist and author Takahiro Kitamura (aka Horitaka) explores the cultural and aesthetic influence of the Samurai on traditional Japanese tattooing. A book-signing will follow the program.
