This weekend’s highlights include a new pub destination in LA, Japanese festivities in London and the latest album by New York-based duo School Of Seven Bells

1. EXHIBITION: TOKYO

—Akira Yamaguchi: TOKIORE(I)MIX

The Japanese artist has made a name for himself with paintings that pay homage to classical Japanese masters like Hokusai while evoking the complexity of Hieronymus Bosch. This exhibition of mainly new pieces features Yamaguchi’s signature bird’s-eye view perspectives and intricate cityscapes along with expansive reimagining’s of Tokyo landscapes now transformed.

Maison Hermès, 8th Floor, Le Forum, Tokyo. Open Monday to Saturday 11.00-20.00, Sunday 11.00-19.00 daily, 11.00-19.00. Until 13 May
[hermes.com]

2. FOOD: LOS ANGELES

—Little Bear pub

One of our favourite new spots in Los Angeles is Little Bear, a Belgian-inspired pub in the Arts District. The extensive menu features a number of Flemish specialties including Waterzooi, the traditional chicken stew from Ghent served in cream with mushroom quenelles. Little Bear’s lofty, industrial dining room is the perfect setting for delving into the pub’s impressive list of Belgian and American brews.

1855 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021. Open daily for lunch and dinner
[littlebearla.com]

3. CULTURE FESTIVAL: LONDON

—Hyper Japan 2012

This weekend, London enjoys all the best of contemporary Japanese culture. The annual Hyper Japan festival includes classical Japanese dance performances, a sushi roll championship plus the opportunity to test the latest Nintendo games. The festivities are expected to attract up to 10,000 visitors and this year for the first time the event is held at Earls Court.

Bromptom Hall, Earls Court, London. Open Saturday 09.30-20.00 and Sunday 09.30-17.00
hyperjapan.co.uk

4. MUSIC: GLOBAL

—School Of Seven Bells: Ghostory

School of Seven Bells are something of veterans in the current crop of synth-drenched, ethereal pop dreamers. Having started five years ago as a trio made of Benjamin Curtis and twin sisters Claudia and Alejandra Deheza, their latest effort Ghostory is released on Monday, and is the first since Claudia left the lineup. But even minus a member the New York duo make things look as easy as ever, with 10 tracks of pulsing disco-tinged melancholy that probably took a lot of hard work to make sound so effortless.

Ghostory is released on 27 February. The single ‘Lafaye’ is available now
sviib.com

5. EXHIBITION: LONDON

—Sarah Dwyer: Falling into Positions

Irish artist Sarah Dwyer’s Falling into Positions exhibition promises to be a delight, with the new works using a natural process of improvisation influenced by Irish poets such as James Joyce. Her abstract paintings evoke the turbulent drama of Goya, while remaining experimental and in the present. The exhibition at the Josh Lilley Gallery and is hot off the back of her solo exhibition last year at Dublin’s Kevin Kavanagh Gallery.

44-46 Riding House Street, London. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11.00 to 18.00. Until 30 March
joshlilleygallery.com