Doors Open Toronto 2022

The Japan Foundation, Toronto is pleased to be part of the 2022 Doors Open Toronto! More than 100 buildings across Toronto will open their doors over the May 28–29 weekend. The Japan Foundation, Toronto will be open from 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM on both days.

This year’s theme is “RENEWAL”, celebrating the return of Doors Open after a two-year absence.

This meaningful theme of renewal, restarting, second chances, and the spirit of springtime, are embedded in all of our activities on May 28 & 29.

Join us for a special weekend of Japanese art, library games, animated films, an exclusive interview, prizes, and fun for the whole family!

More announcements to come! Stay updated with us by subscribing to our weekly newsletter and follow us social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).


Registration

Due to COVID-19 precautions, we ask for visitors to register online prior to arrival. Six hourly timeslots are available for booking on Saturday and Sunday. Drop-ins are welcome if our capacity limit permits. Visitors can also register for the next available timeslot on-site.

To book a visit, please take a look at our guidelines and acknowledgement page:

Book Your Visit Here


Both Days: Saturday, May 28 & Sunday, May 29, 2022

 

EXTENDED LIBRARY HOURS

The JFT Library will be open with extended hours on both days. Visitors are welcome to browse our collection of over 20,000 Japan-related print and audio-visual materials. If you’re new to our library, we can help you sign up for a library card!

 

 

EXTENDED GALLERY HOURS

Our new touring exhibition will be also be open with extended hours for both days:

Superlative Artistry of Japan

This exhibition captures Japan’s creative culture and Monozukuri spirit – the passion and devotion in producing things – through the theme of Chōzetsu-Gikō, superlative artistry, which refers to the exceptional methods and techniques used. The Superlative Artistry of Japan exhibition presents a cohesive collection of works and materials from various genres that place great emphasis on highly skilled techniques which incorporate ingenious expressions and concepts. An extremely high level of technical perfection takes viewers by surprise. Gallery Tours are available upon request!

 

LIBRARY STAMP RALLY GAME

Find the kanji (Japanese character) stamps with the correct answers in the Library. Look for the correct answers in books at each station.

Collect all three stamps to get a special prize and a cool kanji bookmark!

 

 

 

ANIMATED SHORT FILMS by GEIDAI STUDENTS

An impressive compilation of animated short films that exude vibes of rebirth, new beginnings, and renewed lives, will be playing continuously in our Event Hall. Curated by the independent animation master YAMAMURA Koji, these wonderful stories were created by students of the Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation. More details here.

 

INTERVIEW WITH NAKAMURA FUMINORI

In partnership with the Toronto International Festival of Authors: MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival, we are excited to screen a video interview with acclaimed Japanese crime novelist, NAKAMURA Fuminori

NAKAMURA Fuminori was born in 1977 and graduated from Fukushima University in 2000. He has won numerous prizes for his writing, including Japan’s prestigious Ōe Prize; the David L. Goodis Award for Noir Fiction; and the Akutagawa Prize. The Thief, his first novel to be translated into English, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His other novels include Cult XThe GunThe Kingdom, Evil and the MaskThe Boy in the Earth and Last Winter, We Parted.


ABOUT THE BUILDING

Architecture

Year: 1973
Style: Commercial/Industrial
Original Architect: Crang & Boake

Building Description

Located in the heart of the city, Japan Foundation Toronto (JFT) is on the third floor of the 35-storey Hudson Bay Centre, which comprises a 535,000 square feet office tower, the Bay department store, Marriott Hotel, condominiums and an extensive retail concourse with a variety of shops and services. The tower stands at 135 metres in height and is at the northeast corner of Yonge and Bloor Streets. The International Style office skyscraper was designed by architects Crang & Boake in 1973. The Japan Foundation, Toronto established its office and cultural centre in the Colonnade in 1995 and was designed by international and Canadian design icon Yabu Pushelberg. In 2015, the office moved to the current location and was designed by the global firm Interior Architects. The inspiration of the modern interior can be traced to design elements of traditional Japanese interiors.


To book a visit, please take a look at our guidelines and acknowledgement page:

Book Your Visit Here