AIAC AT THE JAPAN SOCIETY DINNER IN HONOR OF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, YOKO SHIOYA
For Immediate Release
November 14, 2024 – New York, NY Yoko Shioya's twenty year tenure as the celebrated Artistic Director at the Japan Society was commemorated by a private reception, dinner and performance at the Japan Society on November 14, 2024. AIAC and its Chairman, L. M. Levie, Member of the Patron’s Circle of the Japan Society, was represented by Shirley Hon, AIAC Senior Advisor for Philanthropic Initiatives.
The dinner celebration included two captivating performances. An intimate puppetry demonstration was provided by genius puppeteer Basil Twist, whose award-winning and innovative work, entitled Dogugaeshi, returned for Japan Society's 2024-25 season as one of the most successful commissioning projects undertaken by Japan Society. In addition, Multi GRAMMY® nominated vocalist, composer and ECM recording artist Theo Bleckmann performed an aria from Pulitzer prize-winning composer David Lang's Japan Society-commissioned monodrama note to a friend, originally written for Theo and premiering as part of Japan Society's 2022-23 season.
For over 70 years, Japan Society's Performing Arts Program has enriched the arts in New York City, the U.S. and beyond through the presentation of artists whose works are formed or inspired by the arts and culture of Japan. Taking the mantle as head of Japan Society's Performing Arts Program in 2004, Yoko Shioya has carried this mission through the 21st century, programming over 200 events of the finest Japanese theater, dance, and music from the very traditional to the most cutting edge.
In addition to her exponential increase of Japan Society commissions and North American tours, Yoko has been responsible for the launch of the Annual Play Reading for English- translated contemporary Japanese plays, the expansion of the Contemporary Dance Festival to encompass the newest works from across East Asia, pioneering the inclusion of new operas in Japan Society's programming, and setting the careers of many Japanese artists in motion on the international stage.
This year, the Japan Society continued Ms. Shioya's groundbreaking and award-winning curation over 20 years with a full year of programming. This has showcased a broad range of vision —including the momentous arrival of National Theatre's legendary bunraku artists for a rare North American five-city tour, including the first performance of traditional bunraku puppetry from Japan in New York City in 32 years; the long-awaited return of legendary Korean-Japanese avant-garde theater director Kim Sujin in Shuji Terayama's Duke Bluebeard's Castle; the 20th iteration of the Contemporary Dance Festival: Japan + East Asia; and several premieres and U.S. debut performances, including Sachiyo Takahashi | Nekaa Lab's Shinnai Meets Puppetry, a concert by traditional instrument supergroup The Shakuhachi 5, and a two-event feature for rising percussion wizard Shun Ishiwaka.
At the commemorative dinner, AIAC Senior Advisor Shirley Hon presented Ms. Shioya with a framed poetic accolade, entitled “A Tribute to Yoko Shioya,” composed by AIAC Chairman L. M. Levie:
Mr. Levie commented, “AIAC has long fostered close ties to Japan, proudly serving Astellas, Casio, Hitachi, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Yazaki. We are therefore thrilled to join in celebration of Yoko Shioya's 20 extraordinary years as Artistic Director of the Japan Society. AIAC honors her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to cultural exchange.”
Shirley Hon added, “Yoko’s dedication has illuminated the beauty of tradition while championing the voices of contemporary creators. AIAC sincerely thanks Yoko, for two decades of grace, passion, and artistry. Her legacy is a masterpiece in itself, a rare international treasure.”
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Society_(Manhattan)
About Yoko Shioya
Yoko Shioya became Artistic Director of Japan Society in 2006. The Society’s 2024-2025 Performing Arts season marks the 20th anniversary since Yoko took the helm of the Performing Arts program. During her tenure, she has enlarged the scale and number of commissions to Americans and non-Japanese artists to create new works related to Japanese culture and increased the number of Society-produced/organized tours to distribute performing arts and music productions throughout North America. She also launched new projects such as Artists-in-Residency for Japanese artists and Annual Play Reading for English-translated contemporary Japanese plays.
For Japan Society’s centennial celebration in 2007, Shioya conceived and materialized the first JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Cinema, which is the largest festival of its kind and has become one of the signature annual summer events in New York City.
Known in Japan as a writer/researcher on the public and private arts support systems, Shioya has been invited to speak at numerous symposia, lectures, and TV programs presented by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese government, Keidanren, the Academy of Cultural Economics and the Japan Council of Performers’ Organizations, among others.
She has been a regular contributor to the Asahi Newspaper, writing columns on performing arts and exhibitions, and has served as a committee member and selection panelist for numerous programs, including The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts, The Bessie Awards, Rolex Mentor and Protege International Program, The MAP Fund, New England Arts Foundation, and the Toyota Choreography Awards. In 2019, Bessie Award awarded Shioya the “Bessies Presenter Award for Outstanding Curating.” In 2023, the Ministry of Culture of the Taiwan Government awarded her the “Cultural Collaboration Medal.” Shioya holds BAs in musicology and dance history from Tokyo University of the Arts.
For further information, please see:
https://japansociety.org/performing-arts/yoko-shioya-20-20-celebrating-20-years-of-artistic-vision/
https://www.instagram.com/japansociety/reel/C_tHd4DPkP1/
About the Japan Society
Founded in 1907, The Japan Society of New York, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening ties between Japan and the United States through cultural, educational, and business exchanges. Its mission is to foster mutual understanding and collaboration by offering a wide range of programs that celebrate Japanese culture, art, and innovation.
Supported early on by John D. Rockefeller and later championed by David Rockefeller, the Society has grown into a prominent institution. Its arts programming includes exhibitions that highlight both traditional and contemporary Japanese art and an acclaimed film series, including the annual Japan Cuts Film Festival. In education, the Society provides Japanese language classes, cultural workshops, and resources for schools, helping learners of all ages connect with Japan.
The Society also facilitates business and policy discussions, hosting conferences and networking events that bring together leaders to address global challenges and opportunities. Located in its architecturally distinctive Manhattan headquarters, the Japan Society serves as a vibrant hub where diverse communities can explore and celebrate Japanese culture, building lasting connections between the two nations.
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Society_(Manhattan)
About American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) is a diversified industrial group with manufacturing and distribution sites in 24 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. AIAC has acquired and grown non-core subsidiaries and divisions of Boeing, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Johnson Controls, Merck, Pfizer, Astellas, Visteon, Carlyle, Ahlstrom, Tolko, Groupe Suez, Groupe Rexel, and many other leading multinational corporations.
AIAC companies serve companies and governmental entities worldwide in all major sectors, including aviation, space, defense, automotive, truck, rail, marine, petrochemical, solar, nuclear, food, confectionary, beverage, civil engineering and infrastructure, commercial construction, mining, dredging, disaster relief, education, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. AIAC companies manufacture materials, components, assemblies, packaging, equipment, and finished products. In addition, AIAC companies are exclusive, authorized distributors of leading branded industrial and consumer products throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. AIAC is a leading manufacturer of building, street, and highway signage in Europe, signage and illumination structures in North America, and a distributor of electrical products throughout France.
Of note, AIAC purchased Boeing Canada in 2005 and has produced over 10,000 unique components for every Boeing jet plane ever since, reliably serving Boeing from manufacturing facilities in North America. A leader in ultra-high precision jet engine component manufacturing, AIAC companies produce 2,200 fan blades and blisks for each jet engine produced by GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Honeywell. AIAC companies produce the critical automotive wire and cable for Tesla, GM, Ford, Chrysler- Fiat, Toyota, and Nissan. In connection with its kraft paper manufacturing interests in Canada and the US, AIAC controls and sustainably manages 22 million acres of Manitoba, Canada forestland, an area equivalent in size to the nation of Hungary.
AIAC companies actively support exploration into outer space, manufacturing critical components for launching and propelling spacecraft and satellites. AIAC customers in this sector include NASA, the European Space Agency, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing. AIAC companies also lead in the design and manufacture of undersea umbilical cables for worldwide oceanographic research.
Another AIAC affiliate, located in Germany, designs, manufactures and distributes high performance emergency portable power generators required during natural disasters, including extreme climate events worldwide. Clients include government agencies and the International Red Cross.
For further information, please see:
About AIAC Philanthropy
AIAC and the AIAC Foundation and their affiliates support a wide range of nonprofit, nonsectarian, bipartisan organizations which promote international conflict resolution, disaster relief, economic development, environmental sustainability, exploration, and the visual and performing arts.
AIAC supports the following arts and cultural institutions: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, La Societe des Amis de Versailles, the Louvre Museum, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Morgan Library & Museum, the the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, the Frick Collection, the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., the National Gallery of Ireland, the Fred Jones Jr. Art Museum of the University of Oklahoma, Societa Venezia Per Sempre of Save Venice, the Venice International Foundation the World Monuments Fund, the Baryshnikov Arts Center, the D’Oyly Carte Foundation, the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, the W. S. Gilbert Society, the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Hall, the Encore Society the Metropolitan Opera of New York, and l’Opera National de Paris, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Royal Academy of Music.
AIAC’s beneficiaries which promote international exchange, dispute resolution, and fair trade include the Appeal of the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation Inc., the Asia Society, the Atlantic Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Gates Philanthropy Partners, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carter Center, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of New York, the Foreign Policy Association, the Institut Française des Relations Internationales, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Crisis Group, the International Rescue Committee, the Japan Society, the JFK School of Government of Harvard University, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), the Sierra Club, and the Trilateral Commission.
For further information, see:
https://www.aiac.com/our-values
Media Contact:
Isabel Carro-Toro, Vice President
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
+34 689 295 827 (Spain)
+ 1 787 244 3175 (USA)
icarro-toro@aiac.com
