Image: © M2 Photography / Alamy Stock Photo.
From July 23 to August 8, 2021, the spotlight will shine on Tokyo, host to the world’s Summer Games. In celebration of this monumental event, New York's Japan Society proudly presents Passing the Torch, a spirited program reflecting on sports in Japan.
As the Olympic flame began its journey across Japan, the series kicked off this spring with talks on judo, martial arts classes for kids, and sports-themed film screenings.
Newly added programs highlight resiliency and strength in overcoming adversity by honing in on the mindset of superstar athletes, past and present. All roads will lead to a mid-summer celebration, with more announcements to come!
Learn more and register for each event below:
KUDO KIDS Book Event with Olympic Medalists MAIA & ALEX SHIBUTANI
Saturday, June 19, 11:00 AM CDT
Join Japan Society for this fun and interactive online book event for young people and figure skating fans, featuring two-time Olympic bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani (aka the ShibSibs).
At the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, they became the first ice dancers of Asian descent to medal at the Olympics and are only the second sibling duo in the history of the sport to share an ice dancing medal. The Shibutanis are also the authors of the Kudo Kids book series, geared for ages 8-12—including The Mystery of the Masked Medalist and their latest release, The Mystery in Manhattan.
Along with a chat about their Olympic experiences, they will discuss how their travels to Tokyo inspired their first book about the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and how their time in NYC helped to craft their new book. Viewers can submit questions in advance as well as purchase autographed copies of their books during the registration process
This is a free event, with advance registration required. Suggested donations are also available to support our innovative programs. This program will be conducted online via Zoom. Registrants will receive the viewing link by email in advance of the event.
The Inside Edge: Skating Champions from Japan & the U.S.
Image: © M2 Photography / Alamy Stock Photo.
Tuesday, June 19, 7:00 PM CDT
Champion figure skaters from Japan and the U.S. speak out about training and competing, the athletic mindset and resiliency in overcoming challenges, superfans and the extreme popularity of the sport in Japan, and life after competitive skating. Participants include two-time Olympian, 2018 Olympic bronze medalist and 2008 U.S. National Champion Mirai Nagasu; 2007 and 2011 World Champion, 2011 Four Continents Champion, 2004 World Junior Champion and three-time Japanese National Champion Miki Ando; and two-time Olympian, 1994 World Champion, 1990 Junior World Champion and two-time Japanese National Champion Yuka Sato. Moderated by two-time Olympic and World medalist and 1993 U.S. National Champion Nancy Kerrigan. Viewers will be able to ask direct questions during this interactive online program.
This is a free event, with advance registration required. Suggested donations are also available to support our innovative programs. This program will be conducted online via Zoom. Registrants will receive the viewing link by email in advance of the event.
Let's Play Two: Baseball in Japan & the U.S.
Image: Smartneddy, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Wednesday, July 14, 7:00 PM CDT
Thursday, July 15, 9:00 AM JST
Baseball—the national pastime of both Japan and the U.S.—will be featured at the Tokyo Summer Games for the first time since 2008. In a lead-up to the 150th anniversary of baseball in Japan, join us for a discussion of the differences in the game in both countries, the popularity of the sport, experiences playing through the pandemic, and prospects for baseball at the Tokyo Summer Games. Participants include Warren Cromartie, outfielder and first baseman from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) (Tokyo Yomiuri Giants), Major League Baseball (Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals), and 1989 NPB MVP and Matt Murton, popular MLB outfielder (Chicago Cubs, Oakland A’s, Colorado Rockies) and 2010 NPB single-season hit record breaker (Hanshin Tigers). Moderated by director Yuriko Gamo Romer, whose upcoming film, Diamond Diplomacy, explores the relationship between the U.S. and Japan through a shared love of baseball.
This is a free event, with advance registration required. Suggested donations are also available to support our innovative programs. This program will be conducted online via Zoom. Registrants will receive the viewing link by email in advance of the event.