Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; September 22, 2025)—This November, Carnegie Hall presents Spotlight on Japan, a vibrant celebration of Japanese music and culture with more than fifteen events across New York City spanning different art forms and musical genres.

A major highlight among events presented in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage will be An Evening of Traditional Japanese Arts on Friday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m. At this one-night only performance, audience members will discover the heritage and evolution of Noh and kabuki theater, taiko drumming, the three-stringed shamisen, and more. It will be led by today’s leading actors, musicians, and representatives of art forms that have been handed down and passionately studied for centuries, most of whom will travel from Japan for this performance.

Events at Carnegie Hall also include a solo recital by internationally acclaimed pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii who returns to great demand on Wednesday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m., and the highly anticipated Carnegie Hall recital debut of international piano phenomenon Hayato Sumino on Tuesday, November 18 at 8:00 p.m.

Kicking of the festivities at the Hall are two concert performances presented by The Wild Faery Company on Saturday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. inspired by the best-selling manga series Attack on Titan–Beyond the Walls World Tour: The Official Concert, captivating audiences with anime’s dramatic musical storytelling.

Carnegie Hall Citywide joins the celebration with a free performance by Soh Daiko at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center on Saturday November 22 at 3:00 p.m. The Japanese taiko drumming ensemble gives a high energy performance that blends powerful drums with bamboo flutes, conch shells, gongs, and more. (LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, 31-10 Thomson Avenue | Queens)

Partnering with leading cultural and academic institutions—including The Digital Museum of the History of Japanese in New York, JAPAN Fes, The Japan Foundation, Japan Society, Japan Village, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Onishi Gallery—the Spotlight on Japan celebration will extend citywide throughout November with dance, panels, hands-on activities, street-food and exhibitions, offering immersive glimpses into Japan’s culture.

Spotlight on Japan partner events throughout New York City this November include:

• An online exhibition presenting historic photographs and rare recordings of composer-conductor Kōsaku Yamada, the first Japanese conductor to perform at Carnegie Hall. It introduces his pioneering performances of 1918–1919 at the Hall and explores his complex legacy, shaped by both cultural diplomacy and the shifting political landscapes of the 20th century. (Nov. 1 ongoing, The Digital Museum of the History of Japanese in New York)
   
• The world’s largest Japanese food festival, JAPAN Fes, with more than one million projected annual attendees and 2,000 vendors. Every Fes is set in a different neighborhood of NYC, introducing it to a slice of Japanese culture and cuisine. Festival dates include three Saturdays this fall: November 1, 8, and 15
   
• Onishi Gallery, specializing in KOGEI (contemporary craft art from Japan), presents two exhibits as part of Spotlight on Japan beginning with Clay, Iron, and Fire celebrating Bizen ceramics and Osafune swords from Okayama Prefecture. Discover centuries of artistry, technical mastery, and natural beauty in works that continue to inspire global design and elevate modern living (Nov. 5 to Nov. 21) at the Onishi Gallery. The gallery also presents an exhibit titled The Intersection of Japanese Sensibility and Western Taste (Nov. 7 to Nov. 10), part of the Salon Art + Design fair at the Park Avenue Armory. The presentation showcases the achievements of a number of artists honored as Living National Treasures by the Japanese government and other leading Japanese artists in lacquer, metalwork, and ceramics. (Onishi Gallery, 16 East 79th Street, Ground Floor & Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue | Manhattan)
   
• Part of the Japan Society’s series on the centennial of eminent post-war novelist Yukio Mishima, the organization partners with Carnegie Hall to present two events in the Spotlight on Japan series. On November 6, acclaimed writer Keiichiro Hirano and Mishima scholar Dr. Susan J. Napier host a wide-ranging conversation on his life, work, and legacy. From literature and theater to politics and pop culture, the two explore Mishima’s enduring influence, controversial persona, and the impact of his dramatic death on Japanese society. On November 15 and 16, Tokyo-based CHAiroiPLIN brings Yukio Mishima’s The Seven Bridges (Hashi-zukushi) to life in its North American debut. Fusing dance, theater, and slapstick humor, four women silently journey under a full moon, hoping to fulfill a wish by crossing seven bridges. Directed by Takuro Suzuki, this vivid, movement-driven performance transforms Mishima’s story into a whimsical, satirical exploration of ritual and desire. The performance on November 16 at 2:30 PM will be followed by a Q&A with the artists. (Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street | Manhattan)
   
• An afternoon event that invites everyone to experience the charm of traditional Japanese culture through classic games, hands-on workshops, and festive activities for all ages. The Japan Village Nippon Game Matsuri features cultural demonstrations, friendly competitions, and themed booths that bring the spirit of a Japanese festival to life. Attendees can enjoy playing, crafting, and watching performances celebrating timeless Japanese traditions. (Nov. 8 at Japan Village Courtyard, 934 Third Avenue | Brooklyn)
   
• Acclaimed hayashikata (“kabuki musicians”) Denzaemon Tanaka and Denjiro Tanaka will give students and the public a very rare opportunity to immerse themselves in traditional Japanese music. This demonstration and workshop on the history and background of kabuki performance will include a hands-on experience where selected audience members can play a taiko drum. (Nov. 13 at Victor Berge Hall, Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue | Manhattan)
   
• Met Museum expert and Research Associate Tim T. Zhang giving a talk on paintings that reflect the musical dimensions of the Edo Period’s visual culture. A time of political stability, the Edo Period (1615–1868) saw artists from diverse backgrounds contribute to a flourishing urban culture of the arts. At Edo-Period Visual Culture and Music, attendees will hear new insights and untold stories from a Met insider and take a closer look at the works of art. Advance registration is recommended. (Nov. 25 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Avenue | Manhattan)

For complete Spotlight on Japan events listings and partner information, please visit carnegiehall.org/Japan.

Carnegie Hall Program Information

The following Spotlight on Japan events take place at Carnegie Hall:

Saturday, November 1 at 1:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

ATTACK ON TITAN—BEYOND THE WALLS WORLD TOUR: THE OFFICIAL CONCERT

Featuring the internationally acclaimed soundtrack composed by Hiroyuki Sawano (Seasons 1, 2, 3 and The Final Season) and Kohta Yamamoto (The Final Season), this program showcases the iconic tracks that have come to define the Attack on Titan manga series, including "at'aek ON taitn," "counter・attack-mankind," "Apple Seed," and "Footsteps of Doom." As in Japan and true to the original soundtrack, the music is performed by rock musicians joined by a symphony orchestra.

This event is presented by The Wild Faery Company in association with Carnegie Hall.
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Wednesday, November 5 at 8:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

NOBUYUKI TSUJII, Piano

LISZT "An die ferne Geliebte" from Liederkreis von Beethoven
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata"
TCHAIKOVSKY The Nutcracker Suite (arr. Mikhail Pletnev)
PROKOFIEV Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, Op. 83

Known for his critically acclaimed recitals in prestigious concert halls around the world, pianist Nobuyuki Tsuijii returns to Carnegie Hall with music by Liszt, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev.

Sponsored by KPMG LLP
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Friday, November 14 at 8:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

AN EVENING OF TRADITIONAL JAPANESE ARTS

Hirotada Kamei, Noh Musician
Denzaemon Tanaka, Kabuki Musician
Denjiro Tanaka, Kabuki Musician
Yoshimasa Kanze, Noh Actor
Takanobu Sakaguchi, Noh Actor
Saburota Kanze, Noh Actor
Hayato Nakamura, Kabuki Actor
Hiromitsu Agatsuma, Shamisen
Kouki Agatsuma, Shamisen
Masaru Tsuji, Wadaiko
Suguha Otani, Japanese Dance
Yumi Kurosawa, Koto
Takuya Iwata, Shakuhachi
Yuichi Otsuki, Noh Actor
Manabu Takeichi, Noh Musician
Wakichi Kineya, Nagauta Singer
Chotatsuro Imafuji, Nagauta Shamisen
Kineya Gotaro, Nagauta Musician
Kineya Katsueiji, Nagauta Musician
Kineya Katsukuniharu, Nagauta Musician
Imafuji Tatsujuro, Nagauta Musician
Kan Fukuhara, Shinobue

In an evening celebrating traditional Japanese arts, audience members are invited to explore the heritage and evolution of Noh and kabuki theater, taiko drumming, and the three-stringed shamisen, in a performance musicians, and representatives of art forms that have been handed down and passionately studied for centuries.

The artists gratefully recognize:
Diamond Sponsor: Goldwin
Special thanks to Columbia University Mental Health + Work Design Lab; Consulate-General of Japan in New York; Japan Society; One Mind; and The Japan Foundation, New York.
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Tuesday, November 18 at 8:00 PM
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

HAYATO SUMINO, Piano

J. S. BACH Prelude and Fugue in C Major from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, BWV 870
J. S. BACH Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826
CHOPIN Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1
CHOPIN Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor
GULDA Prelude and Fugue
HAYATO SUMINO New Birth (after Chopin)
HAYATO SUMINO Recollection (after Chopin)
KAPUSTIN Selections from Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40
HAYATO SUMINO Nocturne No. 1, "Pre Rain"
HAYATO SUMINO Nocturne No. 2, "After Dawn"
HAYATO SUMINO Nocturne No. 3, "Once in a Blue Moon"
RAVEL Boléro (arr. Hayato Sumino)

International piano phenomenon Hayato Sumino—OPUS KLASSIK’s first-ever double winner—makes his Carnegie Hall debut performing wide-ranging selections by Chopin, J.S. Bach, Gulda, and Kapustin; original works, including lush Chopin variations; and his own arrangement of Ravel’s Boléro.

Support for this program is provided by the Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund.

 

 

 

 

Ticket Information

Tickets for events at Carnegie Hall are available on the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org, by calling Carnegie Hall at 212-247-7800, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at West 57th Street and Seventh Avenue.

For tickets to Spotlight on Japan partner events, please contact the specific venue. Visit carnegiehall.org/Japan for complete event listings and more details.

 

Photo: An Evening of Traditional Japanese Arts by Kosuke Yoshino