Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt Hall
89 East 42 St.
March 6-8, free
www.japanweek.us
Just as Grand Central Terminal recently celebrated its centennial, Japan will commemorate the last one hundred years of its cultural heritage at the 2014 edition of Japan Week, held in GCT’s historic Vanderbilt Hall. Videos will take visitors to Kumamoto City, Emperor Nintoku’s Tomb in Sakai City, and the resort prefectures of Nagano and Niigata in addition to honoring the one hundredth anniversary of the Tokyo Philharmonic, which will be making its U.S. debut March 11 at Alice Tully Hall, conducted by Eiji Oue. There will also be a focus on Jewish refugees in Japan with the short documentaries Transit to Freedom, The Chiune Sugihara Story, and They Called It Heaven. A photo slideshow looks back one hundred years through the lens of T. Enami and others, and on Thursday at 2:25 and Friday at 2:15 you can try on traditional Japanese armor. Sake from fifteen regions will be available at a one-hundred-year-old Taisho-themed bar, an amezaiku artist will create folk sculptures out of candy, and exhibitors will be displaying the latest in Japanese watches, television, food, and tourism. Tribute will also be paid to Grand Central’s sister station, Tokyo Station, which turns one hundred this year. In conjunction with the festivities, Japanese Restaurant Week continues through March 16, with more than two dozen restaurants featuring special regional dishes, including Koi Soho (squid sashimi), Hakubai (Miyazaki beef), Megu New York (Kobe beef), Sakamai (black rice vinegar), Torishin (kishu bincho charcoal), Wasan (mizutaki), Sushiden (Edomae sushi), Restaurant Nippon (fugu), and Sushi Azabu (sea urchin).