The Harvard Club of Japan cordially invites you to a lecture by Professor Jonathan K. Nelson, Assistant Director at Villa I Tatti – The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies (Florence), on Monday, May 20, 2013 from 19:00 – 21:00 at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan.

Professor Nelson will give a presentation entitled “An Economic Approach to Renaissance Art: Raphael and his Patrons”.

We usually talk about art from the point of the view of artists or viewers, but this lecture takes the perspective of individuals who ordered works by Raphael, including Pope Leo X. Leo, the son of another famous patron —Lorenzo de’Medici ‘the Magnificent’—grew up in 15th century Florence, where one patron clearly explained the motivations for his art patronage. The commissions brought him “the greatest pleasure because they serve the glory of God, the honor of the city, and the commemoration of myself.”

Focusing on Raphael’s patrons, the talk considers three main elements for analyzing commissions: benefits, costs, and limiting factors. The patron’s goal was to commission a work that would bring the maximum benefits for the lowest costs, working within the applicable constraints.

Raphael is currently the subject of the subject of a major exhibition at the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo; for more information, see <http://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/exhibitions/raffaello2013.html>

**NOTE THAT NO SHOWS AND CANCELLATIONS AFTER MAY 16 WILL BE CHARGED THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE ADMISSION TO THIS EVENT. YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION WITH THIS POLICY IS APPRECIATED.

About Villa I Tatti:  Professor Nelson will also give a brief introduction to Villa I Tatti, the foremost research institution in the world for Italian Renaissance art, history, literature, and music. Harvard University inherited Villa I Tatti and its estate outside Florence from the distinguished art historian Bernard Berenson, together with his vast collection of books, photographs, and works of Italian Renaissance and Asian art. Today, the Center offers fifteen full-year post-doctoral Fellowships annually, as well as several Visiting Fellowships for shorter periods. A new fellowship is designed to support and promote Italian Renaissance studies in areas that have been under-represented at I Tatti, including Asia. In its first year, in 2012, this fellowship was given to a Japanese scholar. For more information about I Tatti, see their website: http://itatti.harvard.edu/, or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/villaitatti.

The Harvard Club of Japan is pleased invite members of your alumni association to a two-part series of talks presenting a look at daily life in Japan from the distinctive perspectives of expert non-Japanese observers.

Part I: The Making of “Made In Japan:” A talk by Naomi Pollock – Tuesday, April 16, 19:00 – 21:00

Part II: How the Heck Do You Write about Japan? A talk by journalist and commentator Alice Gordenker – Wednesday, May 15, 19:00 – 21:00

Location: Roppongi Hills Club

Map: http://www.roppongihillsclub.com/visitor/dfw/en/common/pdf/map.pdf

Doors open at 18:30, with each talk to start at 19:00.

Interested parties may register for either event, or both, by clicking on the appropriate links below.

Admission for each talk is 5,000 yen, payable at the door. Admission includes a standing buffet dinner following each talk, with cash bar available.

Part I: The Making of “Made In Japan:” A talk by Naomi Pollock – Tuesday, April 16, 19:00 – 21:00

‘Made in Japan’ is a simple phrase, but one full of meaning.  From chairs to cutlery, Japan creates some of the most innovative, elegant, whimsical and well-made objects in the world.  Combining high aesthetic standards with cutting-edge technology, many of these designs turn everyday items into functional works of art that would look as good in a museum as on a kitchen counter. Created specifically for the Japanese consumer, these products reflect the way people live, work and play in a country that prizes highly both exceptional craftsmanship and industrial perfection.

Please register for PART I online by April 12 by clicking HERE: http://www.harvardclubjapan.org/article.html?aid=137

(No login is required. For registration please simply type in your name and organization. This link will register you only for Part I.)

If you have any questions or need to cancel your registration, please email Harvard Club of Japan Events Director Jonathan Harlow at: jonathan@jonathanharlow.com.

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Part II: How the Heck Do You Write about Japan? – A talk by journalist and commentator Alice Gordenker – Wednesday, May 15, 19:00 – 21:00

Most of us have occasion to write about Japan in our professional and personal lives, whether it’s in corporate memorandums, business proposals, blog posts or just emails to friends and family back home. The challenges are clear: how do you present what’s different without exoticizing? How much should you explain? Is it possible to convey your sense of wonder without making a total fool of yourself?

Join us on May 15 as veteran journalist Alice Gordenker, a lively speaker, shares her tricks and hints on writing about Japan. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how she crafts her popular “So, What the Heck Is That?” column for The Japan Times, now in its eighth year. In this monthly column Gordenker achieves a balance of humor and respect in meticulously researched yet decidedly offbeat reports on everything from traditional talismans to industrial safety. Her aim is to help her readers, whether non-Japanese or Japanese, find deeper meaning and understanding in their lives in Japan.

Please register for PART II online by May 12 by clicking HERE: http://www.harvardclubjapan.org/article.html?aid=138

(No login is required. For registration please simply type in your name and organization. This link will register you only for Part II.)

If you have any questions or need to cancel your registration, please email Harvard Club of Japan Events Director Jonathan Harlow at: jonathan@jonathanharlow.com.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO-SHOWS AND CANCELLATIONS AFTER APRIL 12 FOR PART I AND MAY 12 FOR PART II WILL BE CONTACTED AND INVOICED FOR THE FULL COST OF ADMISSION.

YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION WITH THIS POLICY IS APPRECIATED.

Dear BUCJ,

On April 18, in association with Brown and other alumni organization in Japan, I am helping to organize a book launch event for John Wood’s “Creating Room to Read”. This is John’s second book and is about building Room to Read and applying many of the lessons he learned in the private sector. I thought the book was fantastic; and aside from understanding Room to Read better, I am also applying many of the lessons from the book to my work and life.

The event is on Thursday, April 18 at 7:00pm at the Ark Hills Café. Tickets are 5,000 Yen. The event will include food and drinks and plenty of time for socializing. There will be approximately 100 people from the different alumni programs and other professionals in Tokyo. All attendees will receive an autographed copy of the book. At around 7:45pm, William Pesek will interview John for approximately 20-30 minutes. William Pesek is a columnist on Asia for Bloomberg writing in both Bloomberg magazine and often commenting on Bloomberg’s tv programs. The event is sponsored by Fiat and thus 100% of all ticket sales go directly to Room to Read programs supporting education in developing countries.

John Wood graduated from the University of Colorado, earned his MBA at Northwestern, and is a frequent lecturer at Harvard and NYU. He is also a member of the Clinton Global Initiative’s Advisory Board among other distinctions. As you may know, Room to Read is focused on children’s education in third world countries having built over 15,000 libraries and 1,200 schools as well as other programs including scholarships.

Please see below for more details and tickets can be purchased at:
https://www.roomtoread.org/MeetJohn2013

I hope to see you there and please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Eric

Greetings from the Brown University Club of Japan,

All Ivy+ alumni and friends are invited to join us for our annual Hanami Party on March 24, 2013 at Komaba Koen. It’s a great time to relax with friends under billowing clouds of pink blossoms. This event just keeps getting bigger and better every year, so don’t miss out.

About our magnificent location:

Komaba Koen is the site of the former Toshinari Maeda mansion, built in 1929. The lawn in front of this gorgeous Tudor style mansion is surrounded by about 150 cherry trees. During hanami, you can expect a smaller, less raucous crowd than the more famous hanami spots around town.

Komaba Koen is an 8 minute walk from Komaba Todai Mae Station on the Inokashira line (3 min. from Shibuya).

Place: Komaba Koen, Meguro-ku, Tokyo. See here for detailed directions.
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2013
Time: 11:00-15:00

Cost: Free. BYOB (bring your own bento!, and a plastic sheet to sit on would also be helpful). And please remember to carry your own garbage home.

RSVP’s are appreciated, but not necessary. Participation is unlimited.

Contact: Kevin Sholes
Email: hanami@bucj.org

Day of event contact:
Kevin Sholes
Tel: 090-6305-0952

This event will be canceled in the case of rain.

Sincerely,

Kevin Sholes
Brown University Club of Japan