In Next Issue November 2025

November sees the publication of our annual issue with a mainly Japanese and Korean theme.The story of chirimen-bon, the carefully crafted and hand-illustrated crêpe-paper books intended to introduce Japanese fairy tales and folklore—as well as Japanese culture more broadly—to the Western world in the 19th and early 20th centuries. And from Korea, we discover the history of the ancient Silla kingdom and their celebrated gold works of art. From ancient Japan, we explore the world of dogu and Shintoism and the myriad gods of Japan.

There’s also an interview with Kato Mami (b 1963), a contemporary Japanese ceramic, ash-glazed ceramics from Korea and Japan, and the work of the  artist Isao Takahata in contemporary animé.

In Japanese art, we look at the abstracts worlds of the husband and wife team  Yoshida Hodaka and Chizuko. And discover experimental Japanese prints and photographs at the Smithsonian, as well as Edo and shin-hanga prints in the exhibition Rising Sun, Falling Rain, as well as the prints of Onchi Koshiro in Honoluly.

Elsewhere in the issue there’s a special view at Tokyo National Museum of the seated Mioku Nyorai by Unkei from Kohfukuji Temple to celebrate the temple’s restoration and sculpted celadon from the Goryeo dynsty.

Plus our usual round-up of auctions, museum exhibitions, and gallery shows.