What is Memento Mori in NYC?

Memento Mori in NYC is a two-day cultural event exploring Japanese perspectives on life and death through art, talks, workshops, and immersive experiences.Rather than focusing on death itself, the event invites visitors to reflect on how an awareness of mortality can inspire a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Is this event religious?

No.Memento Mori in NYC is not a religious event. It is a cultural and educational experience that introduces Japanese philosophies, traditions, and contemporary perspectives surrounding life and death.People of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

No.The event is designed for an international audience. Most talks and programs will be presented in English or include English interpretation where applicable.

Yes.Everyone is welcome—whether you're interested in Japanese culture, contemporary art, philosophy, end-of-life conversations, or simply looking for a unique cultural experience.Some workshops may require advance registration due to limited capacity.

How can I purchase tickets?

Tickets are available through the official RESOBOX ticketing page.Click the "Get Tickets" button anywhere on this website to reserve your spot.

Memento Mori in NYC - The Art of Japanese Life and Death | New York Event

Nov 5–6, 2026 │ RESOBOX, 91 E 3rd St, New York

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EXPLORE

Death is not merely an end.
In Japan, it is a reminder to live.

Memento Mori in NYC brings together artists, thinkers, and creators to explore life through Japanese culture.

WHY NYC

New York is one of the world's great cultural crossroads.

We believe it is the perfect place to begin a global conversation about life and death.

The experience

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FEATURED SPEAKERS

Masumi Murata

Masumi Murata is a pioneer of sea burial in Japan and the founder of Memento Mori in NYC. An entrepreneur, author, and end-of-life advocate, she bridges Japanese funeral culture with contemporary art and dialogue, inspiring people around the world to embrace life through conversations about death.

Lina Ono

Lina Ono has been an entrepreneur and content producer since 2006, with a background in geophysics and science outreach. Inspired by natural organic reduction (NOR) in the U.S. in 2020, she co-founded Death Fes, creating spaces for open conversations around death. In 2026, she founded nanowa Inc. to make NOR a new option in Japan.

Nozomi Ichikawa

Nozomi Ichikawa – a cultural entrepreneur and social designer with over 20 years of experience in community and well-being. She co-founded Death Fes in Japan, a citizen-led festival and platform fostering public dialogue and innovative approaches to life, death, and the future of society.

Natsuyo Lipschutz

Natsuyo Lipschutz is a Japanese–English bilingual keynote speaker, cross-cultural communication strategist, and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®). Through her signature philosophy, The Culture of One®, she helps leaders build trust across cultures by embracing individuality, transforming differences into meaningful connection and high-performing collaboration.

Marcela Tovar-Restrepo

Marcela Tovar-Restrepo, PhD, is a social anthropologist, author, and international consultant specializing in death literacy, human rights, and social change. Drawing on her research into Agentic Dying, she explores how individuals and communities can approach mortality with dignity, dialogue, agency, and compassion.

Evan J. Blumenthal

Evan J. Blumenthal, MBA, MS, is a professional speaker, entrepreneur, and growth advisor who inspires leaders to "Be a Grower, Not a Knower." Drawing on 25+ years of experience across Fortune 500, family business, and entrepreneurship, he helps leadership teams gain clarity, drive growth, and unlock their full potential through practical insights and engaging storytelling.

Krishna Desai

Krishna Desai is a multidisciplinary creator, speaker, and teacher whose work spans writing, poetry, painting, drawing, sculpture, speech, and music. Krishna’s work explores death as a centerpiece of living intentionally in the human experience. Their essays have appeared in Elephants & Tea Magazine; Their paintings and artwork have been exhibited in The Penn Review and galleries globally.

Tetsuo Yamazaki

Tetsuo Yamazaki is a Japanese entrepreneur dedicated to redefining memorial culture. Building on Ishihei‘s 279-year heritage, he develops services that extend beyond traditional stonework and support people throughout life’s final chapters. He believes memorial care means wishing for the happiness of those we cherish and creating lasting connections across generations.

Benben

Hello, my name is Benben, a kamishibai performer from Japan. Kamishibai is a traditional Japanese storytelling art. Through my original performances, I create meaningful connections, encouraging communication, and offer moments of warmth that comfort people’s hearts. I hope you enjoy my original stories.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Taisan Tanaka Taisan Tanaka is a Japanese calligrapher and sumi-e artist based in New York City. Blending traditional calligraphy with contemporary expression, he shares Japanese culture through live performances, workshops, and ink paintings. His work has been presented at museums, festivals, and cultural events across the United States, Europe, and Japan.	Rucu – Buddha Creator Rucu is a 12-year-old Japanese artist inspired by Buddha statues since the age of two. Through his heartfelt drawings, he expresses the concept of “Buddhas that Bloom in the Heart,” inviting people of all ages to discover compassion, mindfulness, and the quiet beauty within themselves.
Tokio Kuniyoshi Okinawa-born, New York-based photographer. After studying photography in San Francisco, he established his career in New York. Blending analog and digital techniques with Okinawan heritage and global influences, his fine art has been exhibited internationally.	Michael Originally from Miyazaki, Japan, he started his career as a hair and makeup artist in Japan before relocating to New York City. He now specialize in fashion, advertising, bridal, and custom wig design, bringing a versatile and detail-oriented approach to every project.
Satoi Adams Mizuhiki instructor, educator, and author. Has led Mizuhiki workshops in Boston, New York, and Tokyo since 2018, sharing the beauty of traditional Japanese knotting through educational and cultural programs. Dedicated to introducing the cultural significance and artistic value of Mizuhiki to audiences worldwide through creative practice and cross-cultural exchange.	Momo Motegi Momotangle gives shape to a quiet truth: to live long is to stand at the shore of farewell. So that feelings we cannot bear to lose continue to breathe within memory, we transform unguarded emotion into everyday art, embracing the fleeting now through the freedom of improvisation.
Atsushi Yamakawa A master ceramic artist and Certified Traditional Craftsman specializing in Kyoto Kiyomizu ware. Recognized as one of Kyoto's Master Artisans in 2024, he creates tea ceremony ceramics that honor centuries of tradition while exploring new techniques and artistic expression, bringing timeless Japanese craftsmanship into dialogue with the present.	Miki Fujii Since childhood, drawing has always been by my side. I explore the quiet presence of nature — sun, plants, water — through acrylic, pastel, and colored pencil. After years abroad in New York and decades raising my children, I returned to painting. For Memento Mori in NYC, I'm creating my first piece exploring the theme of life and death.
Jiunoameno A mellow artist weaving depth of color and quiet stillness. This work is inspired by osmanthus blossoms discovered only after they had fallen—small, star-like flowers already fading into decay. The memory reflects the desire to witness life in bloom, alongside the realization that each fleeting presence can never return.	Kokorute Kokorute accompanies people through compassionate listening, gently sharing the emotions surrounding the end of life. Viewing death as an extension of life, the project presents fragrance as a quiet presence that creates space to remember, pause, and reflect upon feelings that cannot easily be expressed in words.
Karow studio Karow studio creates hand-carved wooden Jizō figures and animals around the theme of “small prayers.” Viewing death not as separation but as existence transformed, the artist expresses remembrance, guidance, and the hope of gently sending loved ones onward through warm sculptures that quietly stand between life and death.	MIZU-KI MIZU-KI creates refined accessories using mizuhiki, the traditional Japanese art of decorative knotting. Balancing heritage with contemporary design, the artist creates pieces for both life’s celebrations and everyday moments. For this exhibition, she expresses a belief in a beautiful afterlife and the universal wish that departed loved ones may rest peacefully.
Butterfly Inc. An art urn that celebrates the everlasting bond between people and their beloved pets. Designed to blend naturally into your living space, it keeps cherished memories close, transforming remembrance into art. Crafted in Toyama, Japan, with a deep respect for Japanese craftsmanship, beauty, and the enduring connection between loved ones.	Tomoetogyo Co., Ltd. Tomoetogyo Co., Ltd. is a ceramic manufacturer based in Seto, Aichi, one of Japan’s most renowned pottery regions. Drawing on local craftsmanship, we create crematory urns, keepsakes, and religious articles that honor Japanese traditions of remembrance. Through thoughtful design and enduring ceramics, we help keep cherished memories close.
Ribbon Ribbon creates colorful beaded charms inspired by food, seasonal motifs, and familiar symbols that bring a touch of joy to everyday life. For this exhibition, the artist explores rebirth, vitality, longevity, and the soul through wearable representations of lotus flowers, cranes, sea bream, and daruma dolls.	Shop IRIE Shop IRIE creates colorful accessories and lifestyle goods from fabric, leather, and paracord, designed to bring a sense of comfort—“IRIE”—to everyday life. Shaped by personal loss, the artist views death not with fear, but as a reason to embrace the present and add color to the time we are alive.
Kirari Kirameku Kirari Kirameku combines the artist’s sensibility with artwork created by autistic individuals, using color, pattern, and contrasting materials to present difference as strength through fashion. Rejecting the idea that happiness lies in stability, the work embraces imperfection, conflict, pain, and mutual recognition as essential parts of living.	SUZUKI Kobo SUZUKI Kobo creates bags, baskets, and small objects using carefully selected craft bands. The artist views each strand of twisted paper as a reflection of human bonds and passing time. Through weaving, use, fading color, and deepening texture, the work quietly expresses transformation across the boundary between life and death.
caone caone is a borderless accessories brand designed for all ages and genders. Drawing on her fashion-industry experience, the artist creates expressive, versatile jewelry that celebrates individuality. Her work reflects a life lived without regret—embracing difference, overcoming challenges, and finding warmth, gratitude, and connection in a world where death need not be feared.	Re:sea Re:sea creates unconventional fashion pieces using knitwork and natural stones. Trained in fashion design and shaped by experience in the apparel industry, the artist explores the Buddhist idea that form and emptiness are inseparable, transforming memories of what once existed—and what remains beyond visibility—into one-of-a-kind wearable works.