Exhibition Opening Talk | Chasing Kaguya w/ Astronaut Daniel Tani

Presented by the Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.

Join us as we kick off our new exhibition, Chasing Kaguya: Moon Myths to Missions, with a special opening talk by Japanese American astronaut Daniel Tani.

Drawing on his experiences as a NASA astronaut and spaceflight engineer, Tani will reflect on what it meant to train, work, and live in space from 2001 to 2008—offering a firsthand perspective on daily life aboard the International Space Station, the demands of human spaceflight, and the meaning of exploration beyond Earth.

Tani will also speak about his upbringing and identity as a Japanese-American, the challenges he encountered throughout his career, and how his cultural values intersected with his path to becoming an astronaut. Along the way, he will highlight the critical role of international cooperation in space exploration, emphasizing the shared efforts that unite engineers, scientists, and astronauts across borders.

Part personal reflection, part exploration of global collaboration, this talk connects lived experience with the broader themes of Chasing Kaguya: Moon Myths to Missions, illuminating how cultural imagination, perseverance, and collective endeavor continue to shape humanity’s relationship with the Moon and beyond.

Mr. Daniel (Dan) Tani is Chief Development Officer at Iris.Aero in Falls Church, Virginia, bringing a unique combination of executive leadership, government service, and human spaceflight experience. From 1996 to 2012, he served as a NASA astronaut, flying two space missions as a Space Shuttle Mission Specialist and an International Space Station Flight Engineer, totaling 132 days in orbit, including six spacewalks.

Following his time as an astronaut, Dan held senior roles across the government, nonprofit, education, and private sectors, including leadership positions at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the US-Japan Foundation, The American School in Japan, Orbital Sciences Corporation, and Northrop Grumman Space Systems. A graduate of MIT with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Dan is originally from the Chicago area and now lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and three children.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required for security purposes. Program begins at 6:30PM. Doors open 30 minutes prior. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat

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Host or Publisher Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan