JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles presents NEO-JAPONISM: NHK’s Legacy in Cultural Preservation on June 7, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at JAPAN HOUSE Salon, 5 Level in Ovation Hollywood.
This is free event. Registration Required.
Step into the world of NEO-JAPONISM | SAMURAI AND BEYOND: Exploring Tradition Through Technology with a compelling talk by Taku Kato, Deputy Head of Content Strategy at NHK, acclaimed drama director, and the visionary producer behind the exhibition.
In celebration of 100th anniversary of broadcasting in Japan, this program highlights the NHK’s pioneering role in cultural storytelling—most notably through its acclaimed Taiga dramas, the broadcaster’s long-running historical TV series that bring pivotal moments and figures from Japanese history to life.
Beloved titles like Yae’s Sakura and Kurara: The Dazzling Life of Hokusai’s Daughter exemplify NHK’s ability to blend deep cultural insight with cinematic storytelling.
Kato will offer exclusive insights into how NHK fuses tradition and technology to share Japanese heritage with audiences in Japan and around the world.
The talk also explores the global reach of Japanese aesthetics—from the enduring influence of Japonism to the worldwide popularity of manga and other cultural exports. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how centuries-old traditions continue to shape contemporary creativity and captivate the world.
About the Speaker: Taku Kato | Deputy Head of Content Strategy
Began directing and producing drama programs in 1991. In 2011, served as chief director and screenwriter for the third series of ‘Cloud above the Slope.’
Standout work as chief director continued with the 2013 Taiga drama series ‘Yae’s Sakura,’ which earned an International Emmy nomination in 2014.
Other award-winning work includes ‘Kurara: The Dazzling Life of Hokusai’s Daughter’ (2017), which won the grand prize at the ACA National Arts Festival and received an International Emmy nomination.
Additionally, ‘A Stranger in Shanghai’ (2019) won the Best of Festival award at the US International Film and Video Festival and was a finalist at the Shanghai TV Festival. In 2023, spearheaded the full-scale introduction of virtual production in the Taiga drama series. Currently responsible for NHK’s content expansion strategy.
