Events at the Wang Center
Spring 2026
Film
From Up on Poppy Hill
Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Theatre
(2011 | 91 minutes | Rated PG - Family/Romance | Directed by Goro Miyazaki)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
Set in Yokohama in 1963, From Up on Poppy Hill follows Umi and Shun, two high school students whose growing friendship is shaken by a hidden connection from their past. With a screenplay written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa, adapted from the 1980 manga of the same name by Tetsuro Sayama and Chizuru Takahashi, the story unfolds against Japan’s postwar renewal and features an acclaimed voice cast bringing this tender coming-of-age tale to life.
From Up on Poppy Hill © 2011 Chizuru Takahashi, Tetsuro Sayama/Keiko Niwa/Studio Ghibli, NDHDMT
Performance
Galloping Wonders: Magic Q’s Lunar New Year Spectacular
Saturday, February 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM & 3:00 PM
Theatre
Admission:
$20 (General)
$15 (Students/Seniors 65+/Children ages 6–12)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
Step into the Year of the Horse with Magic Q, who bends reality faster than a galloping stallion. This special Lunar New Year performance blends illusion, humor, and a dash of mischief to welcome fresh beginnings and bold energy. Families of all ages are invited to celebrate the season with dazzling tricks and that signature Magic Q flair that transforms tradition into pure enchantment. It’s one day, one stage, and a whole lot of wonder to kick off 2026.
Film
Summer Ghost
Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Theatre
(2021 | 40 minutes | PG-13 - Fantasy/Drama | Directed by Loundraw)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
A mysterious urban legend draws three teenagers to an abandoned airfield, where the “summer ghost” Ayane appears only to those close to death. As Tomoya becomes captivated by Ayane’s story, he uncovers painful truths about life, choice, and mortality. The illustrator Loundraw’s debut film blends haunting beauty with a moving meditation on growing up.
Summer Ghost © 2021
Lecture
Paper and Things Otherwise Unseen: A Journey Through Korean Shaman Rituals
By Dr. Laurel Kendall
Monday, March 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Theatre
Free Admission
In conjunction with Sacred Paper: Korean Ritual Arts, this talk discusses how paper operates as a medium that enables engagements with gods and souls in Korean shamanism. The making of portraits on laminated handmade paper manifests the presence of gods in shrines, conveying inspiration so that the shaman can divine, exorcise, and usher in good fortune. In several Korean traditions, paper shaped into a prop or puppet can become a medium or vessel for an active soul. Join Dr. Laurel Kendall to deepen your understanding of the regional and Korean traditions represented in the exhibition.
This program is sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies.
About the presenter
Dr. Laurel Kendall is a leading anthropologist of Korea and a curator of Asian ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History. Renowned for her groundbreaking research on Korean shamanism and material culture, she has published extensively on ritual practice, sacred objects, and the dynamic relationships between human and spirit worlds.
Demonstration
Folding the Sacred: Paper Ritual Art Workshop
With Dr. Heera Shin
Monday, March 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Skylight Gallery
Free Admission
Join the scholar and artist Dr. Heera Shin for an interactive workshop exploring Korea’s ancient paper-folding traditions. Participants will learn how ritual forms are constructed, what they symbolize, and how these ephemeral objects connect the human and spiritual realms. Dr. Shin will guide attendees through hands-on techniques that illuminate the profound beauty of this centuries-old practice.
Co-organized by the Charles B. Wang Center and the Academic Center for K-Religions at Sogang University in Seoul. Sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies.
Demonstration
From Ritual to Craft: Hanji Paper
With Jongseung Park
Monday, March 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Skylight Gallery
Free Admission
Discover the artistry and symbolism of hanji, Korea’s traditional handmade paper, with the master artisan Jongseung Park. This demonstration explores how ritual practices inform contemporary craft, revealing the layers of meaning embedded in each fold, tear, and shape of paper. Participants will observe Park’s process up close and gain insight into the cultural and spiritual foundations of Korean paper arts.
Co-organized by the Charles B. Wang Center and the Academic Center for K-Religions at Sogang University in Seoul. Sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies.
Film
Perfect Blue
Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Theatre
(1997 | 81 minutes | Rated R - Horror/Mystery | Directed by Satoshi Kon)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
Mima Kirigoe, a former pop idol turned actress, is pushed into darker roles that unsettle her fans and herself. As a stalker emerges and people around her are murdered, she begins to question her own identity. Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue is a groundbreaking psychological thriller that blurs the boundaries between performance, reality, and delusion.
Perfect Blue © 1997 Madhouse
Lecture
AAPI Celebration: On Confluences and Connections
By Sangamithra Iyer
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lecture Hall 1
Free Admission
Sangamithra Iyer will read from and discuss her debut book, Governing Bodies: A Memoir, a Confluence, a Watershed. Governing Bodies connects family history, ecological grief, the lives of animals, and the memory of water in a lyrical meditation on lineages of nonviolence. In it, Iyer also wrestles with how we live with the legacy of historical harms and how we address the current moment of multiple worldwide crises. The book sits at the confluence of prose and poetry, science and art, and personal and planetary sorrow, and draws from Iyer’s work at the intersections of engineering, writing, and activism.
Presented in partnership with the AAPI Heritages Committee.
Co-sponsored by the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, University Libraries, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Intercultural Initiatives, the Office of Global Affairs, and Office of Diversity, Intercultural, and Community Engagement.
About the presenter
Sangamithra Iyer is a civil engineer, animal rights advocate, and writer whose work bridges environmental resilience, compassion for all species, and the hidden histories of migration. Her memoir, Governing Bodies, intertwines family lineage, ethical inquiry, and personal reflection to examine harm, healing, and the possibilities of individual and systemic transformation.
Workshop
Harmony in a Cup: Japanese Tea Workshop
With Yoshitsugu Nagano
Sunday, April 12, 2026
East Hall
Admission:
$20 (General) per workshop
$15 (Students/Seniors 65+) per workshop
Fee includes all materials.
Limited to 30 people per session. Advance reservation is required.
Experience the refined artistry of Japanese tea with the master tea instructor Yoshitsugu Nagano. This workshop introduces participants to the principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility at the heart of tea culture. Through guided demonstrations and hands-on practice, attendees will learn essential techniques for preparing and appreciating high-quality Japanese tea. Whether you are new to Japanese tea traditions or seeking a deeper understanding, this session offers a serene and thoughtful immersion into a timeless cultural practice.
Festival
Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Rain or Shine)
Charles B. Wang Center
Admission:
$30 (General)
$20 (Students/Seniors)
$10 (Children ages 6–12)
Free for children aged 5 and under
Admission includes all film viewings, workshops, and theater presentations.
Welcome spring to Long Island with the blooming of sakura (cherry blossoms), the sounds of taiko drums, and a wondrous array of Japanese cultural exhibits at the Wang Center! The Wang Center will provide many exciting activities, including koto plays, Japanese traditional dances, martial arts demonstrations, sumo wrestling, bonsai workshops, calligraphy workshops, ikebana flower arrangement, tea workshops, manga drawing, origami paper folding, kimono dress-ups, and cosplay (costumed role-play of a Japanese manga character) for all ages. Please join us in your favorite manga character costume!
This festival is co-produced by the Japan Center at Stony Brook University and the Ryu Shu Kan Japanese Arts Center and supported by AARP Long Island.
Film
Shin Godzilla
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Theatre
(2016 | 120 minutes | Rated PG-13 - Horror/Action | Directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji
Higuchi)
Admission: $5 (General/Students/Seniors 65+)
FREE for children ages 5 and under
A colossal creature emerges from Tokyo Bay, evolving rapidly as it devastates the city. With government leaders scrambling and foreign powers intervening, a desperate task force races to uncover the monster’s origins. Shin Godzilla reinvents the iconic kaiju with striking special effects and sharp political satire, delivering a fierce, unforgettable reboot of the classic saga.
Shin Godzilla © 2016 Toho Co., Ltd.
Workshop
Woven Forms: Wearable Art with Zip Ties
With Sui Park
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
East Hall
Admission for each session:
$20 (General)
$15 (Students/Seniors)
Fee includes all materials.
Limited to 30 people per session. Advance reservation is required.
Join the artist Sui Park for a hands-on workshop exploring the creative potential of everyday materials. Known for her intricate organic sculptures made from industrial zip ties, Park will guide participants in crafting jewelry that blends structure, texture, and imagination.
Participants will learn basic techniques for connecting, weaving, and shaping zip ties into expressive forms, transforming humble plastic into elegant contemporary adornments. No prior experience is required, and all materials will be provided. Discover how simple elements can become extraordinary through thoughtful design and playful experimentation!
About the presenter
Sui Park is a New York–based artist who is known for crafting intricate biomorphic sculptures from industrial materials such as zip ties. Her recent solo exhibitions include Microcosm at the Herning Museum of Contemporary Art and City Ecology at Bella Abzug Park. Park’s work appears widely in public collections and major global art festivals.