U.S. – Japan Bridging Foundation April Webinars

Kintsugi Cultural Event

Friday, April, 16, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. ET

Join the Bridging Foundation and Cultural Exchange LLC for an exciting observational class on the art of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with a mix of gold powder and Japanese lacquer.

Kintsugi artist Tomomi Kamoshita will share with Zoom viewers the art of pottery repair while Maki Aizawa will discuss issues of perception and creativity, exploring ideas such as the choices an artist experiences in recreating a whole piece from brokenness.

This collaboration is made possible by the generosity of longtime supporters of the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation Andrew and Mitsuyo McDermott, and Maki Aizawa, co-founder of Cultural Exchange.

Zen Monastic Life in Contemporary Japan

Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Bridging Foundation Executive Director Tom Mason is joined by Cornell University Visiting Scholar and Butsumo-ji Temple Head Abbot Rev. Dr. Masaki Matsubara for an inside look into monastic life in contemporary Japan. Through his collection of personal photos, Matsubara will share first-hand experiences from his five years of rigorous temple training.

Rev. Dr. Masaki Matsubara earned a Ph.D. in Asian Religions from Cornell University. He taught at the Department of Religious Studies at UC Berkeley (2009-2013) and was the BDK Fellow at the Ho Center for Buddhist Studies at Stanford University (2013-14). He is now a Visiting Scholar in the East Asia Program at Cornell and also a Visiting Lecturer at the Contemplative Studies at Brown University. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies at the University of Tokyo.