Contributors

Kyoko Sato is the executive editor in chief and publisher of Japan Contemporaries. She has written for NY Standard on Gallery Tagboat, Onbeat and Shukan NY Seikatsu. She was producer at NHK Enterprises, and associate producer for the Asahi Shimbun.

Dr. Les Joynes (project advisor) is an artist and curator based in New York. He is recipient of the Japan Monbusho Award, Fulbright-Nehru Professional and Academic Excellence Award and in 2022 was Senior Scholar at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi.


Aaron Lee Fineman was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News and was part of a team that contributed to The New York Times winning a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the coverage following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He has also contributed to publications including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post Magazine, TIME, and Newsweek, among others.


Yusuke Wakata (JAPAN CONTEMPORARIES title design) is a Tokyo-based designer and artist. He earned his master’s degree from Tokyo University of Arts before joining Hakuhodo ad agency. In 2021, he launched the Creative Lab CORNER. He’s had solo show at WhiteBox NY and received the Grand Prizes from TOKYO MIDTOWN, Good Design Award and ACC.

Shuto Isobe was the first intern for Japan Contemporaries. After returning to Japan he resumed his studies at Tokyo University of Science and is currently studying mechanical engineering, focusing on nanotechnology. Upon his return, he visited the Noto Peninsula for this update and also volunteered to assist those affected by the disasters.


Joseph Ralph Fraia contributes to Livein Magazine and LMF Press, and his book ‘Life is a Treasure Hunt’ carries his unique insights. He finds artistic inspiration as a resident artist at Salmagundi Club NYC.