Foggy Bottom 

NIPPON, "THE FLOATING ISLAND," has undergone innumerable changes over the course of the last 150 years. Overtures with the West and tremendous strides, both artistic and technological, are represented in "Japan! Culture + Hyperculture" at the Kennedy Center through Sunday in a series of theater, dance, music, fashion and film works.

"[The festival] presents Japanese artisans and culture, from the quirky to the traditional," said Alicia Adams, curator of this festival showcasing more than 450 artists' work, from bamboo art to postmodern origami to ballet, anime, photography, installation, butoh dance and performance art. The Millennium Stage offers free performances related to the festival every day through Sunday.

"The mix of events is reflective of Japan's variety, from Maywa Denki's 'nonsense machines' to Akira Kasai's Butoh-style 'Pollen Revolution,' a solo performance that embraces contemporary dance," she said.

Be sure to attend some of the Genius Party premieres, which demonstrate the cinematic art forms that have recently inspired Western filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino ("Kill Bill") and Brad Bird ("Ratatouille"). "You can't begin talking about Japanese culture without talking about manga and mnime," said Adams. "So we have a manga café and reading lounge, and we also have a marathon of anime films."

"Japan!" marks a series of firsts, including the first time the New National Theatre Ballet, Tokyo, has performed on a Western stage. Steeped in the traditional choreographic vocabulary of George Balanchine, the company is also known for its Butoh-like expressiveness. "The New National Theatre Ballet is classically Western, but brings a Japanese aesthetic to ballet. They are very exciting, full of emotionality. It's interesting company to see their interpretation of these works."

Also on display are examples of the latest merger between mobility and technology. "We have the most advanced robots in the world on display here," said Adams. "There's the Toyota robot, the Honda robot and the Mitsubishi robot together in the same room; people are surprised and excited by what they're seeing."

This weekend, the festival will culminate with a "Harajuku Evening," which is a tribute to the Tokyo neighborhood renowned for its global impact on fashion and music. "Japan! Culture + Hyperculture" views the art, technology and culture of Japan through the Kennedy Center's reverent lens.

"I traveled to Japan and got this experience firsthand. I wanted to bring it back with me," said Adams.

"I want people to get a context for the culture. Japan is leading the world in the arts and pushing the envelope in lots of ways. We're giving people an opportunity to really experiment and see some things that are not necessarily the norm. They can get full exposure to it."

» Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW; through Sun.; 202-467-4600, kennedy-center.org.

Written by Express contributor Christopher Correa
Photos courtesy Kennedy Center

Posted by Express at 1:03 AM on February 14, 2008
Tagged in Entertainment , Events , Film , Music , Stage , Top Stories