The 10th Osaka European
Film Festival

Nov.14-Dec.13

During its 10 year history, the Osaka European Film Festival has established itself as the premier showcase for European films in Japan and as a unique window on European culture. With a focus on European movie production, the Festival is a manifestation of diversity in the film industry, attesting to the value of being different displayed in their work by many European director and producers today.

Besides being an important cultural event in its own right which has enriched the life of the Kansai region (representing about 25 million people), the Osaka European Film Festival has become an effective tool to launch and promote European films in Japan, often resulting in their general release. Screenings of films followed by discussions with the public constitute the main part of the Festival.

All the films are subtitled in Japanese, some of them specifically for the Festival. The films are chosen for their high quality of acting, direction and production to represent the diversity of genre, style, duration and staging technique of European Cinema and often provoke debate in the discussions following the screenings.

Dates
• Main events: November 15-24, 2003.
• Exhibitions: November 14-24, 2003.
• Night of the Ad Eaters: December 12 & 13, 2003.
Contents
• Japan & Kansai Premiere Screenings of recent
European long features.
• Japan Premiere Screenings of recent short films.
• Encore special of highlights from the past 9 Festivals.
• Special program of selected Japanese features.
Exhibition
• The adventure of filming The Winged Migration.
• Recent works by Eiji Okuda.

For location, time and screenings, check the official website
http://www.oeff.jp/ (in English and Japanese)

The 3rd Osaka Motor Show

Dec .5-8

One of the largest automobile events held in Western Japan that brings together a wide variety of exhibitors, ranging from domestic car manufacturers to car importers

This exhibition has become a trade show featuring a comprehensive range of exhibits, which include both domestic and imported automobiles and products.

Held every other year since 1999, The first and second Show each drew more than 300,000 visitors in over four days, which helped revitalize the auto-mobile market in the Kansai area. Enthusiastic car lovers and families will form long lines in front of the site before the exhibition opens. At the same time, the exhibitors value this show as an important venue to publicize their new products.

Intex Osaka.
9:30am-6:00pm. Admission: ¥1500/¥700
Tel: 06-6456-2777

Komichi-no Mise open-air cafe presents:
Koto concert and sing-along

Nov.16 (Sun)

This picturesque open-air cafe located on the edge of Nara Park offers a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of traffic and the hoards of tourists that descend on the Park all year round.

Under the grand old trees of Nara Park, you can sit down to a refreshing bowl of green tea or eat hot konnyaku — a gelatin-like food made from the starch of konnyaku-yam — while birds sing above in the trees and the sacred deer amble idly by.

At the invitation of Atsuko Hiro, the owner of Komichi-no Mise, Masako Tanaka will perform a mini koto concert amid the striking colors of the autumn leaves. The koto is a half tube shaped, 13-stringed musical instrument measuring 2meters (6ft.) in length.

Traditionally, performances are listened to in strict silence. Breaking away from tradition, Ms Tanaka will encourage audience participation by inviting everyone to sing along to the music of the koto.

You cannot fail but stumble upon this cafe by following the narrow winding lane 20 meters east from the residence of the late Shiga Naoya (1883-1971), the novelist who is said to have perfected the I-novel (watakushi sosetsu). Opposite the cafe is Komichi-no Mise arts & crafts shop, selling handmade goods by local artisans.

13:00-15:00. (In case of rain it will be postponed to 23rd November)
Admission: Free (Coffee set ¥300)
Getting there: from Kintetsu or JR Nara station, take the loopline bus to Wariishi-Cho, and follow the signs of 'Shiga Noaya Residence'.
Tel: 0742-24-3838

Kansai Event Listings