Los Angeles, Aug. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles today revealed details of what visitors will experience at its highly anticipated, newly completed cultural destination in the heart of Hollywood. Officially opening its full facilities to the public on Saturday, August 25, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed at 7 p.m. on Sundays), with most attractions free of charge. It offers a beautiful oasis steps away from the Walk of Fame where visitors can enjoy both contemporary and traditional Japanese exhibits, dine, shop, and relax with a well-curated selection of books.
Hosted by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles showcases the best of Japanese art, design, gastronomy, innovation, technology, and more, offering a rich experience that intrigues the five senses. Designed by some of Japan’s most influential modern designers and artists, it provides a forum for creative and intellectual exchange to deepen mutual understanding and foster an appreciation of Japanese culture.
With other locations in London and Sao Paulo, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is located at the landmark Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world. Convenient underground parking (off Orange drive) is plentiful and discounted with validation. Details of the cultural destination include:
1. Gallery – 2nd Floor: Accessible through the retail store and primarily free, this inspirational gallery features a collection of exhibits, including the now-open traveling exhibition, Prototyping in Tokyo, A Visual Story of Design-Led Innovation. Making its U.S. debut in Los Angeles, the Prototyping exhibit is a must-see for anyone who loves design and technology and wants a glimpse into our future where “walking,” insect-like robots and clocks that virtually “embrace” you are the norm. The exhibit runs from August 17 until October 10. Details on this, as well as related free weekend origami and piperoid paper workshops, are available at the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles website.
2. Gift Shop & Café – 2nd Floor: The shop offers authentic, beautifully curated products celebrating Japanese design and craftmanship. These uniquely Japanese lifestyle items and gifts fall under five lifestyle concepts: dine, home, décor, apparel, and giving. The shop features everything from Japanese stationary, to rare, high-end porcelain gifts sure to impress even the most discerning shopper.
A new small café on the 2nd floor also will debut on Aug. 25. Featuring matcha and hojicha teas from a Kyoto tea shop, visitors can purchase a variety of hot and cold beverages to enjoy while strolling through the Shop.
3. NEW – INN ANN Restaurant – 5th Floor:
The restaurant name, INN ANN, embodies the concept of a hidden place to be discovered, as it is perched above Hollywood with breathtaking views of the city. An intimate 1,187 sq. ft venue, INN ANN will serve innovative lunch and dinner menu offering dishes prepared by skilled chefs using the highest quality ingredients, for diners to enjoy Japanese umami, a savory flavor. The restaurant, scheduled to open in September, also will offer a full bar featuring the best of Japanese sake and shochu.
4. NEW – Event space and Library – 5th Floor: As part of the grand opening celebrations, the new event space will feature traditional Japanese tea ceremonies in the afternoon from Aug. 25 – 26, and Sept. 1 – 2. Additionally, the complementary library lounge, where visitors can relax while learning more about Japan through the available tablets and more than 600 curated books, will feature living ikebana floral arrangements during the opening weekend celebrations Aug. 25 -26. Masters of these art forms will be on hand to guide visitors through these experiences.
On Sept. 1, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles will host a screening of “Kusama-Infinity,” including an exclusive Director’s Talk with Heather Lenz and co-writer and lead editor, Keita Ideno, following the screening. Details and ticket reservations can be found on the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles website. Other recent events include artist and designer talks and “air vase” paper workshops. Events will be hosted year-round at both the 2nd and 5th floor venues, as well as in collaboration with various partners at locations throughout Los Angeles.
George Takei, esteemed American actor, director, author and activist, and vocal JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles supporter, reflected on the new venue by saying, “JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles has created a world-class destination that is opening the door to how Americans and visitors to Hollywood view Japanese culture. It’s a portal to discovery, shining a light on the many qualities of Japanese culture and innovation that I’ve long admired. I’m thrilled to be supporting JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles and am honored to help share the news of the official grand opening.”
WORLD-CLASS JAPANESE DESIGN IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD Covering more than 14,000 sq. ft., Kenya Hara’s touch as Chief Creative Director is everywhere, making for an experience that is an artistic delight. Hara recently worked as art director for MUJI and Daikanyama Tsutaya Books. His books have been translated into several languages and attracted large numbers of dedicated followers.
Visitors to the 2nd floor shop and gallery will be inspired by the striking white, contemporary design by Kohei Nawa, one of the most renowned artists in Japan, with productions spanning from sculptures and architectural interventions, to installations. Nawa is the founder and director of SANDWICH, a creative platform for contemporary art, design, and architecture projects. His signature sculpture works
transform taxidermied deer and other motifs, collected via the Internet, through encapsulation in a myriad of glass spheres, or PixCells; a term he established combining the idea of a pixel, the smallest unit of a digital image, with that of a cell, the smallest structure of living matter. Nawa's "PixCell-Deer#24" is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent collection. His works around the globe also include the Musée du Louvre (Paris, France), Mori Art Museum (Tokyo, Japan), the Franks-Suss Collection (London, UK), and the Daimler Chrysler Contemporary (Berlin, Germany). The new 5th floor, designed by international award-winning Japanese designer Ryu Kosaka, features soothing Earth tones and natural woods throughout the library, event space and restaurant. His work includes the Main Dining room of Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, the JAL Sakura Lounge at Haneda International Airport, and the internationally acclaimed W Guangzhou FEI Ultra Lounge in China for which he became the first Japanese national to be awarded Best Bar at the prestigious Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.
GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES
JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is grateful to its grand opening year sponsors for their support, including:
* Diamond Sponsor: Lawrence J. Ellison
* Gold Level Sponsor: SoftBank Corp.
* Silver Level Sponsors: JAPAN AIRLINES, All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
* Bronze Level Sponsors: Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
* Partner Sponsor: Daicel America Holdings, Inc.
Honorary advisor Lawrence (Larry) J. Ellison recently said, “JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles offers a bridge-building cultural experience that will be exciting to anyone who is curious about Japan. By bringing Japan to America, the project will give those of us living in North America an exceptional opportunity.”
ABOUT JAPAN HOUSE JAPAN HOUSE is an innovative, worldwide project with three hubs – London, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo - conceived by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kenya Hara is Chief Creative Director for the project. It seeks to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japan in the international community. JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles occupies two floors at Hollywood & Highland. The second floor features a gallery space and shop. The fifth floor hosts a Japanese restaurant, relaxing library, and event space, along with spectacular views of Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles. The 2nd floor has been opened since December 2017, and, with the completion of the 5th floor, it officially opens its doors to the public as a place of new discovery that transcends the physical and conceptual boundaries creating experiences that reflect the best of Japan.
-ends-