「Memento Mori in NYC」全プログラムを発表 日本香堂、獺祭 Blueなど追加協賛も決定

YOMI International株式会社（本社：東京都江東区、代表取締役：村田ますみ）は、2026年11月5日（木）・6日（金）にニューヨーク・イーストビレッジのRESOBOXで開催する文化イベント「Memento Mori in NYC: The Art of Japanese Life and Death」の全プログラムを発表します。あわせて、米国日本香堂、獺祭 Blue、株式会社大栄などの追加協賛が決まりました。一般社団法人デスフェス、株式会社IVORYとの共同主催です。

開催まで２週間あまり。ハロウィンや死者の日の直後のニューヨークで、日本の死生観をアートと対話と体験で届けます。

11月5日（木）

11月6日（金）

両日開催

"Memento Mori in NYC" Announces Full Program and New Sponsors Including Nippon Kodo and DASSAI BLUE

Two days of Japanese end-of-life culture in the East Village on Nov. 5–6: a live encoffining ritual, a coffin experience, zazen, a Death Cafe and more

TOKYO — October 16, 2026 — YOMI International today announced the full program for Memento Mori in NYC: The Art of Japanese Life and Death, a two-day festival on Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6, 2026, at RESOBOX East Village (91 E 3rd St, New York). Nippon Kodo USA, DASSAI BLUE and Daiei Co., Ltd. have joined as new sponsors. YOMI International, Death Fes, and IVORY co-host the festival, which expects about 300 visitors.

With three weeks to go, and just days after Halloween and Día de los Muertos, the festival shares Japanese views of life and death through art, dialogue, and hands-on experiences.

New sponsors

Nippon Kodo USA: 300 incense samples for visitors.

DASSAI BLUE (Asahi Shuzo): DASSAI BLUE sake, brewed in Hyde Park, New York, served at the bar and the after party.

Daiei Co., Ltd.: traditional white burial garments (kyokatabira) used in Japanese encoffining.

Thursday, November 5

Time	Program
10:00–10:30 a.m.	Opening, "The Art of Living with Death": a live nokan encoffining ritual by encoffiner Koki Kimura and a calligraphy performance by Taisan Tanaka
10:30–10:40 a.m.	Opening speech, "Why talk about death?": Masumi Murata
11:00–11:30 a.m.	Death Fes presentation, "Building a better future, starting from death": Nozomi Ichikawa, co-founder of Death Fes, and others
12:00–12:45 p.m.	Kamishibai picture-card storytelling: benben
1:00–2:00 p.m.	Panel, "How Death Shapes Life: A Cross-Cultural Conversation": Natsuyo Lipschutz (moderator), anthropologist Marcela Tovar-Restrepo, Evan J. Blumenthal, Krishna Desai
2:30–3:30 p.m.	"Why Human Composting? From Personal Choice to Social Change": Melissa Kuzoian, CFO of Recompost, and others
4:00–5:00 p.m.	Exhibitor presentations: Masamune Kurihara, CEO of KYOEI Co., Ltd., and others
5:00–6:30 p.m.	Workshop, "Mizuhiki Jewelry Making": Satoi Adams (reservation, $50, up to 12 people)
6:30–7:00 p.m.	Talk, "Ma: Finitude and Creation": Marcela Tovar-Restrepo

Friday, November 6

Time	Program
10:00–11:00 a.m.	Zazen session, "A Moment to Return to What Truly Matters": Giun, NY Zen Center
12:00–12:45 p.m.	Kamishibai picture-card storytelling: benben
1:00–2:00 p.m.	Death Cafe, "Conversation for More Alive Tomorrow": Cassandra Biron
2:30–3:30 p.m.	414 Cards Dialogue, "Discovering What Matters Most to You": Kiera Smith
4:00–5:00 p.m.	"My Living Funeral and the Burning of the Temple": Kinoko and others
5:30–6:30 p.m.	"Was Today a Good Day to Die? A Darkness Lab Experience": death doula Viji Boloico
6:30–6:45 p.m.	Closing
7:00–9:00 p.m.	After party, "A Night to Celebrate Life" ($60, food and drinks included), with a coffin ceremony by Koki Kimura at 8:00 p.m.

Both days

Coffin Experience: lie in KYOEI's "THE GREAT WAVE" coffin, dressed in denim inspired by Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," and reflect on the life you want to live. Members of New York-based HIFUMI Coach help visitors find the words that matter most in their lives.

Iei: A Portrait of the Life You Are Living: a memorial portrait session that celebrates who you are today (time slots by reservation, $180).

Art on Life & Death: works by more than 20 artists on death, memory and remembrance, plus a marketplace.

Bar Memento Mori: a New York edition of Tokyo's end-of-life "snack bar," where guests talk about life and death over drink.

"With just over two weeks to go, our full program is in place," said Masumi Murata, founder of YOMI International. "I feel both excitement and anxiety. Bringing this event to life in New York has been a challenging journey, but I believe deeply in its purpose.

Through my work in Japan, I have learned that talking about death helps us think about how we want to live. I hope to share this message across cultures and borders.

Join us on November 5–6 for Memento Mori in NYC: The Art of Japanese Life and Death. Experience Japanese culture, art, and workshops, and join a conversation that celebrates life through exploring death.

I look forward to welcoming you in New York!"

Event details

• Dates: Thu., Nov. 5 and Fri., Nov. 6, 2026. Doors 9:30 a.m., closes 7:00 p.m.

• Venue: RESOBOX East Village, 91 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10003

• Tickets: Early Bird $20 (first 100), General Admission $30, valid both days, plus NY sales tax. General Admission also sold at the door. https://resobox.com/event/memento-mori-in-nyc/

• Included with admission: art exhibition, talks, Coffin Experience, zazen, Death Cafe, darkness workshop, marketplace and bar. 

• Separate fees: memorial portraits $180, mizuhiki workshop $50, after party $60.

• Website: www.mementomori-nyc.com / Instagram: @mementomori_nyc

About YOMI International. YOMI International is a Tokyo-based company that develops, sells, imports and exports funeral-related products. It also plans and produces cultural events on views of life and death and end-of-life planning. https://yomi.co.jp