World Olympians
OSAKA Oct. 10
This is an annual event organized by the World
Olympians Association, in cooperation with Osaka City. According
to the organizers, it is a festival that celebrates sports through
music and entertainment. There will be archery, fencing, pentathlon
games, football, swimming, synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics,
and horseback riding.
The gold and silver swimming medalist from Australia,
Kieren Perkins and other Olympians will be on hand to demonstrate
their sporting abilities and adventurous sporting amateurs can show
off their abilities. There will be a special outdoor stage in the
centre of the park where there will be non-sporting performances,
including Hungarian folk dance, sport aerobics, hip-hop, street
dancing and ballet. There will also be performances of traditional
and modern music.
Ogimachi Park
Time: 11am-5pm • Entry: Free
Getting there: JR Tenma station
Tel: 06-4393-6830
De-Ai Weekend
NARA Oct. 22&23
De-ai means to go out and meet and this event
is all about people getting together. Various events are planned
for each day. There will be fun and games for children, dance, music
performances, food and drinks from different parts of the world,
shops and workshops. This event has an international flavour with
many of the foreign residents in Nara taking an active part in the
preparation and organization.
The theme again this year is a chance for people
to get to know the various NPO and NGO volunteer groups in the prefecture.
Many will participate to bring awareness to what they are doing
locally or on the world stage. Each group champions a different
cause, from the environment to global education, from slow food
to the sale of ethnic handicrafts. The event is sponsored by the
Forum of Global Citizens, Nara.
In the grounds of the old Todai-ji School
(minutes from Todai-ji the world heritage site)
Time: 22nd from 10am-4pm • 23rd from 10am-3pm
Getting there: Bus to Todai-ji from JR/Kintetsu station •
Entry: Free (small charge for workshops).
Tel: 0742-21-8122
Riverdance
OSAKA Oct. 25-30
A spectacular dance show that weaves ancient Celtic
mythology and Irish history. Riverdance is mainly a performance
of Irish step dancing. That this show celebrates its tenth anniversary
is down to lively choreography, breathtaking theatricality, deft
staging and lots of Irish music.
Over the years it has introduced Spanish flamenco,
American tap dance and gospel music, which is said to have historical
links to Ireland. Enjoy the thrilling tap dances, soprano singing
and beautiful Celtic music and melodies as principal dancers, Zara
Curtis and Micheal Patrick Gallagher lead 14 other dancers in a
highly entertaining and artistic show.
Festival Hall
Time: 25th, 26th, 27th & 28th at 7pm; 29th at 1pm & 6pm;
30th at 12pm & 5pm
Getting there: Subway Yotsubashi line, Higobashi station •
Entry: ¥8,000-¥13,000
Tel: 06-6362-7301
Jose Carreras
HYOGO Oct. 26
 Together
with the Fujiwara Opera Chorus Group and the instrumentals of Los
Calchakis, the famous Spanish tenor, Carreras will sing Misa Criolla.
Written by Argentinian composer, Ariel Ramirez, this is a unique
piece that combines the rhythms and traditions of Hispanic America
with the traditional religious mass.
In Part I of the program, Carreras will perform Sole e amore and
Terra e mare to the piano accompaniment of Lorenzo Bavaj. In 1987,
at the height of his success, as his fans will know, Carreras was
diagnosed with acute leukemia and was given a 1 in 10 chance of
survival. Misa Criolla was the last song he sang before this diagnosis.
It is therefore fitting that a portion of the sponsorship will go
to the benefit of Japan Marrow Donor Foundation
and Jose Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation. Tickets are
selling like hotcakes.
Hyogo Performing Arts Center
Time: 7pm
Getting there: Nishinomiya Kitaguchi station on the Hankyu Line.
2mins walk from the South-west exit.
Entry: ¥8,000-¥28,000. (Cheaper seats already sold out)
Tel: 0798-68-0255
Events compiled by Mylene Oishi
Kansai Event Listings October
| October
5
Oktoberfest
An evening of drink, food and song. The Hilton Hotel's own
version of the high-spirited German celebration of beer with
the jovial atmosphere of a festival.
Hilton Osaka 5F
Time: 7pm-9:30pm
Getting there: Umeda station
Entry: ¥7,000 all-you-can-eat-and-drink
Tel: 06-6347-7572
October 7-9
Grand Prix of Japan
The Formula One World Championship is one of the best races
in motor sports, and features fierce competition between the
world's fastest machines and best drivers. (Dates may be subject
to change).
Suzuka Circuit, Mie
Getting there: From Shiroko station on Kintetsu Nagoya line,
bus to Suzuka circuit
Entry: 3 days admission ¥9,000; 3 day's seating from ¥29,000
includes admission. Discount for children.
Tel: 0593-78-1111
October 7-9
Grand Antique Fair
The biggest antiques sale in Japan. More than 350 shops will
exhibit their wares, from art nouveau to koimari.
Pulse Plaza, Kyoto Sogo
Time: 10am-5pm
Getting there: Subway or Kintetsu line to Takeda station.
Free bus from the West exit of Takeda station
Entry: Free
Tel: 077-522-2307
October 7-10
Ceramic Arts Japan 2005
This event is held concurrently with the Kinki Traditional
Arts Fair. Features seve-ral ceramic exhibitions of wares
created by artists and students. Potteries and artists works
will go on sale and an amateur potter's contest is planned.
Intex Osaka
Time: 10am-5pm
Getting there: Cosmos Square station
Entry: ¥900. Children free
Tel: 06-6343-6375
October 8 & 9
Kobe Jazz Street
This is the biggest jazz event in the autumn season. Many
national and international musicians will perform various
jazz concerts at live houses and other venues.
Around Kitano-cho
Getting there: Sannomiya station on the JR, Hankyu or Hanshin
line
Entry: Different charge to different venues
Tel: 078-232-3211
October 9
Midosuji Parade
One of the biggest parades in Japan, in which various groups
from throughout Japan and abroad participate, showing their
folk dances and ethnic performances. The parade starts from
the Osaka city hall at Oebashi bridge and travels 3.3 kms.
along Midosuji Boulevard to Namba.
Midosuji Boulevard
Time: 2pm-6:30pm, even if it rains
Getting there: From Namba stn. or Yodo-yabashi stn. on Midosuji
Subway line.
Tel: 06-6942-2007
October 9, 10, 15 &16
Deer Antler Cutting Ceremony
Five to six stags are brought into a speci-al enclosure where
they are chased and cornered by Seko, men with saws. The antlers
are then sawn off. This ceremony is performed every year in
order to prevent people from being injured by the stags in
Nara park. If one day is cancelled due to rain, a ceremony
will take place on the 23rd to make up.
The Deer Enclosure. The approach
to Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park
Time: 12pm-3pm
Getting there: Bus from JR/Kintetsu stn.
Entry: Adult ¥700 Child ¥300
Tel: 0742-22-2388
October 10
Rohm Opera Theater
As part of Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-Juku Opera Project VI, Ozawa
will conduct the Rohm Opera Theater in Rossini's operatic
repertoire, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville).
Ruxandra Donose sings the part of Rosina, John Osborn sings
the part of Almaviva and Earle Patriarco is Figaro. Director
is David Kneuss.
Biwako Hall, Shiga
Time: 3pm
Getting there: 5mins from JR Otsu station
Entry: ¥8,000-¥25,000
Tel: 077-523-7136
October 14
Osumi Hayato Mai Dance
Dancers in ancient costumes perform the traditional Hayato
Mai dance to the rhythm of drums. The dance was originally
a court dance performed by Osumi Hayato, and is designated
as an intangible cultural treasure of the city.
Tsukiyomi Jinja shrine, Kyotanabe City
Time: 6:30pm (30mins performance)
Getting there: 10mins walk from Osumi station on the JR Gakkentoshi
Line
Tel: 0774-68-2810
October 14, 15 &
16
Dance — A Bowl of Summer
Sennichimae Blue Sky Dance Club, a contemporary dance company
with an accent on the wacky and original, present A Bowl of
Summer, choreographed by Akadama. An expressionist dance that
has not discarded Butoh's movement technique of slow-motion
muscular con-trol, yet these dancers are very versatile.
Art Theater dB, Osaka
Time: 14th at 7:30pm; 15th at 3pm & 7:30pm; 16th at 3pm.
Getting there: Doubutsuen-mae station exit 5. Through the
Festival Gate, 3F
Entry: ¥2,500. ¥2,800 (at the door).
Tel: 06-6646-1120
October 15 &16
Grand Tea Ceremony in Sakai
A large-scale outdoor tea ceremony held in honour of Sen-no-Rikyu
who created wabi-cha, the simple, quiet and serene style of
tea ceremony. Various schools
of the tea ceremony participate.
Daisen Park
Time: 10:00-3:30
Getting there: Sakai stn. on Nankai Line or Sakai-Higashi
stn. on Nankai Koya Line
Entry: ¥500
Tel: 072-233-5258
October 18
Kodo
The One Earth Tour started in September of this year and ends
this month. The objective of this tour is to bring the taiko,
traditional Japanese drum to the people. Listen to the beat
of the drums progress from calm and meditative to the wild
and frenetic.
Kyoto Kaikan Hall
Time: 7pm, Entry: ¥5,000
Getting there: From Kyoto stn city bus 206
Tel: 075-211-0261
October 20 to November
Kobe Chrysanthemum Exhibition
More than 2,500 chrysanthemums will go on show from various
districts in Hyogo. From bonsai-style to large flowerbed style.
Sorakuen garden, Kobe
Time: Garden opens at 9am
Getting there: 5mins walk from Kencho-mae stn on the Kobe
municipal subway.
Tel: 078-351-5155
October 29
Halloween Costume Party
Trick or treat. All-you-can-eat and drink. Costumes will be
judged and great prizes will be given!
Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel, Rokko Island
Time: From 20:00
Getting there: A minute from Island Center Station on the
Rokko Liner, or bus from Sannomiya or Shin Kobe.
Entry: ¥3,500 adv. ticket with costume; ¥4,500 at
door with costume; ¥5,500
at door with no costume
Tel: 078-857-7000
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