Changes

The Society shared space briefly with [[Asia Society]] in the latter's headquarters, from 1959 to 1966; it was determined in 1965 that the space was too small to continue to be shared by the two rapidly growing institutions, and Japan Society moved temporarily to a new space. In 1969, the Society helped bring the first full-scale Grand Kabuki performances to the United States.

The Society shared space briefly with [[Asia Society]] in the latter's headquarters, from 1959 to 1966; it was determined in 1965 that the space was too small to continue to be shared by the two rapidly growing institutions, and Japan Society moved temporarily to a new space. In 1969, the Society helped bring the first full-scale Grand Kabuki performances to the United States.

John D. Rockefeller III became Chairman of the Society in 1970, and donated land on East 47th Street (across the street from the United Nations) to be used for a new headquarters for the Society. It had been decided three years earlier that Yoshimura Junzô would be the architect; Rockefeller offered to contribute one-third of the funding for the new building if other sources in Japan and the United States contributed the remaining two-thirds. The new headquarters, known for many years as Japan House, opened on September 13, 1971 after sixteen months of construction, with Prince and Princess Hitachi in attendance at the opening ceremonies. Among other features, the new building housed a permanent gallery; an exhibition of [[Rinpa]] artworks was the first in the new building.

John D. Rockefeller III remained President of the Society until 1969, when he became Chairman, remaining in that position until 1978. Rockefeller donated land on East 47th Street (across the street from the United Nations) to be used for a new headquarters for the Society. It had been decided three years earlier that Yoshimura Junzô would be the architect; Rockefeller offered to contribute one-third of the funding for the new building if other sources in Japan and the United States contributed the remaining two-thirds. The new headquarters, known for many years as Japan House, opened on September 13, 1971 after sixteen months of construction, with Prince and Princess Hitachi in attendance at the opening ceremonies. Among other features, the new building housed a permanent gallery; an exhibition of [[Rinpa]] artworks was the first in the new building.

The Society began offering Japanese language classes the following year (in 1972). Today, it offers ESL classes, and courses in Japanese [[calligraphy]] as well.

The Society began offering Japanese language classes the following year (in 1972). Today, it offers ESL classes, and courses in Japanese [[calligraphy]] as well.

The Society continues today to play a prominent role in corporate and diplomatic relations between the US and Japan, and to offer an extensive range of public programs, from gallery exhibits, lectures and talks, to films and performances (incl. many US or world premieres), and educational events. Though having perhaps had a reputation in the past of being more strongly associated with traditional Japanese arts, and an older audience, efforts in the first decade of the 21st century to include programming dedicated to contemporary Japanese pop culture, including gallery exhibits centered on anime & manga, cosplay parties, and an annual contemporary film festival, have brought Japan Society visibility and popularity with a younger audience.

The Society continues today to play a prominent role in corporate and diplomatic relations between the US and Japan, and to offer an extensive range of public programs, from gallery exhibits, lectures and talks, to films and performances (incl. many US or world premieres), and educational events. Though having perhaps had a reputation in the past of being more strongly associated with traditional Japanese arts, and an older audience, efforts in the first decade of the 21st century to include programming dedicated to contemporary Japanese pop culture, including gallery exhibits centered on anime & manga, cosplay parties, and an annual contemporary film festival, have brought Japan Society visibility and popularity with a younger audience.

In the aftermath of the 2011 3/11 disasters, the Society established a Japan Earthquake Relief Fund which has raised a huge sum for relief and reconstruction efforts. The current President of the Society since 2009 is Sakurai Motoatsu, former Ambassador of Japan to the US, and the first Japanese-born president of the Society; similarly, the current Director of Japan Society's Gallery Tezuka Miwako, since 2012, is the first native Japanese to serve in that position.

In the aftermath of the 3/11 disasters in 2011, the Society established a Japan Earthquake Relief Fund which has raised a huge sum for relief and reconstruction efforts. The current President of the Society since 2009 is Sakurai Motoatsu, former Ambassador of Japan to the US, and the first Japanese-born president of the Society; similarly, the current Director of Japan Society's Gallery Tezuka Miwako, since 2012, is the first native Japanese to serve in that position.

==Location==

==Location==