Special Program at the Tokyo Tarot Museum Talk Event : Babel Polyphony – On Tarot, Language, and Forgotten Iconography Laetitia Barbier × Ryuji Kagami

In February 2025, the Tokyo Tarot Museum welcomed French-born tarot reader, scholar, and author Laetitia Barbier for a special talk event. The session was conducted in conversation with Ryuji Kagami, who served as both interpreter and moderator. Kagami also translated the Japanese edition of Barbier’s book Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archive, recently published in Japan.

Barbier, who studied art history at the Sorbonne and has been deeply involved in cultural projects in New York City, guided the audience through the visual and symbolic evolution of tarot using stunning historical imagery and analysis. Her graceful narration, paired with Kagami’s expert interpretation and insights, captivated the audience from beginning to end.

Throughout the lecture, Barbier emphasized that tarot is not a system with fixed meanings, but rather a “living language” – one that is constantly reinterpreted through the lens of time, culture, and individual perspective. In the contemporary world, she suggested, tarot continues to evolve as a tool that gives voice to those who have been historically unheard. And this evolution, she reminded us, is driven by us – the readers, artists, and seekers.

During the Q&A session, Barbier answered questions ranging from art history to her personal relationship with tarot, always with clarity and warmth. The post-event book signing revealed another side of her charm, as she asked each attendee their name and offered personalized messages with heartfelt attention.

This event was a powerful reminder that tarot is a dynamic cultural form – not a fixed truth, but a mirror that reflects its times and readers. Its true value lies in this ability to change, adapt, and resonate across generations. The evening left attendees with a renewed appreciation for tarot as a deeply human, artistic, and expressive tradition, and for Barbier’s sincere passion for both tarot and visual culture.

Special Program at the Tokyo Tarot Museum
Talk Event: Babel Polyphony – On Tarot, Language, and Forgotten Iconography
Laetitia Barbier × Ryuji Kagami
2025.2 21 Fri.