KS Cover no. 70 2006 March

MAR 2006 :: 070

Buenos Tangos

KANSAI Mar 2-5 & 7

The phrase Buenos Aires tango conjures up an image of a dimly lit dance floor, the smoke of a cigarette curling up into the air, a beau-tiful woman in the arms of a man, surrend-ering to a rhythm that is sensual and passionate.

Bandoneon player Fabio Hager together with Tango Del Sur will provide the music and Vanesa Quiroz will sing the songs. The bandoneon is a free-reed instrument that is essential in any tango orchestra. It is similar to an accordion but has buttons instead of a keyboard.

The lineup of dancers is, Gisela and Gaspar, Maria and German, and Lucila and Roberto. The ladies in their slinky dresses and high heels and the men in sharp suits will bring the tango to life.

03/2: Wakayama Kenmin Bunka Kaikan. Nankai densha, Wakayama shi stn
03/3: Nara Kenmin Bunka Kaikan. Kintetsu line, Nara stn
03/4: Kyoto Kaikan. Keihan line, San-jo stn
03/5: Kobe Bunka Hall. JR line, Kobe stn
03/7: Festival Hall, Osaka. 2pm and 6:30pm. Yotsubashi line, Higobashi stn
Time: 6:30pm.
Admission: ¥5,200 and ¥5,700
Tel: 06-6762-6130

Hozu River Boat Trip

KYOTO From Mar 10

This is the 400th year this boat trip has been taking place and to celebrate there will be a special ceremony on 12th. On that special day a Shinto ritual will start at 9am followed by various lively events to include music from a brass band and taiko drums. This 16km boat trip that lasts one hour forty minutes is a thrilling ride through one of the most beautiful scenic spots of Japan. As the boat dodg-es huge rocks and swirls through rapids, no roads can be seen and no sign of town life, only the breathtaking beauty of nature in pristine condition. It starts at Kameoka making its way down to Arashiyama.

Kameoka
Time: Boat leaves every hour from 9am to 3:30pm
Getting there: JR Sagano line, Kameoka stn
Admission: Adult ¥3,900 Child ¥2,500
Tel: 0771-22-5846

Swedish Music

ITAMI Mar 11

This is a rare chance to experience Swedish folk culture. All the way from Dalarna, a province of central Sweden, the Darlana Ensemble will perform traditional folk music, known as Dalalat, as well as other songs and dances unique to this region.

Swedish folk music was mainly sung by women and is dominated by ballads and kulning, originally a cow-herding call.
The fiddle is the signature instrument of Swedish folk music. Other instruments are nyckelharpa, which is both fiddle and hurdy-gurdy and naverlur, an over-long birch skin horn that still plays an important role in animal herding today. There is also the sackpipa, a kind of bagpipe as well as the vevlira, the ancestor of the modern violin.

The Dala Horse, a decoratively painted wooden horse is the symbol of Dalarna and can be seen with other objects unique to this region. This is not just a performance, it is a cultural experience.

Itami Aiphonics Hall
Time: 3pm
Getting there: JR/Hankyu line, Itami stn
Admission: Adult ¥3,000. Child ¥2,000. An extra ¥500 for tickets bought at the door.
Tel: 072-780-2110

Jekyll and Hyde Musical

OSAKA Mar 22-24

A Korean cast will perform in Korean with simultaneous Japanese translation appearing on large screens in the concert hall. This musical conceived for the stage by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn is based on RL Stevenson's classic depiction of a split personality gone completely out of control. Jo Seung Woo and Ryu Jung Han take turns to play the part of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Kim Sun Young and Lee Young Mi take turns as Lucy and Emma is played by Lee Hye Kyoung. Musical numbers will include, Once upon a Dream, This is the Moment and Someone Like You.

NHK Osaka Hall
03/22: 6:30pm. Jo Seung Woo
03/23: 2:30pm. Jo Seung Woo. 6.30pm Ryu Jung Han
03/24: 2:30pm. Ryu Jung Han. 6:30pm Jo Seung Woo
Getting there: Subway Tanimachi line, Tanimachi 4-chome stn
Admission: ¥8,400 and ¥12,600
Tel: 06-6362-7301

Events compiled by Mylene Oishi

Kansai Event Listings February

From Mar 1

Romantic Train
Sagano Torocco Ressha or romantic train opens from March until December first. A beautiful scenic 7.3km trip from Arashi-yama to Kameoka along the Hozu River.

Torocco Saga Station
Time: Every hour from 9:28am to 4:28am
Closed on certain Wednesdays. Times change after Mar 18th.
Getting there: JR line, Saga Arashiyama stn.
Admission: Adult ¥600. Child ¥300
Tel: 075-861-7444

Mar 1-14

Omizutori Sacred Water Drawing
A ceremony symbolizing the arrival of Spring. Huge torches are lit, the sparks that scatter on to the spectators below are believed to be purifying. Priests draw water from a nearby holy well to offer to the Bodhisattva Kannon. This forms part of the temple's monk training program, known as shunie.

Todaiji Temple
Time: 7pm.
12th at 7:30pm and 14th at 6:30pm
Getting there: Kintetsu line, Nara stn
Tel: 0742-22-5511

Mar 2

Berliner Barock Solisten
This string ensemble from Berlin, Germany featuring Albrecht Mayer on the oboe will perform various pieces by composers JS Bach and GPh Telemann.

Izumi Hall, Osaka
Time: 7:00pm
Getting there: JR line, Osaka-Jo Koen stn
Admission: ¥3,500-¥7,000
Tel: 06-6944-1188

Mar 4 until May

Sake Breweries of Nada Stamp Rally
Visitors to the brewery museums, art galleries, zoo and other facilities in the brewery quarter can collect stamps and apply for a lottery. Wonderful prizes are given to the winners.

Breweries quarter in Nada, Higashinada-ku and Nada-ku, Kobe
Time: From 10am till late afternoon
Getting there: Hanshin line, any station between Uozaki and Oishi Stn
Tel: 078-322-5339

Mar 5

Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon
This marathon serves as part of the screening event to select delegations for the 15th Asian Games. Watch heated competitions among national and international runners. Starts at Mikoyama stadium and finishes in Kusatsu city
in the Nihama area.

Ojiyama track and field stadium, Shiga
Time: 12:30pm
Getting there: Keihan line, Bessho stn
Tel: 06-6346-8249
www.rikuren.or.jp

Mar 10-12

Osaka Motorcycle Show
A trade fair featuring motorcycles and all items related to this two-wheel vehicle. Organized by the Osaka Motorcycle Show Organizing Committee.

Intex Osaka
Time: 10am-5pm
Getting there: Subway Chuo line, Cosmos Square stn
Admission: Adult ¥1,500. Child ¥1,000. Pair ticket ¥2,500. Free for the handicapped and those under junior
high school age.
Tel: 06-6344-5621

Mar 12

Piazzolla and Vivaldi
This concert is titled, Eight Seasons. Orchestra Capella Istropolitana from Slovakia will play the Buenos Aires Four Seasons by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), credited as the creator of modern tango and a virtuoso on the bandoneon and Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

The Symphony Hall, Osaka
Time: 2pm
Getting there: JR line, Fukushima stn
Admission: ¥1,000-¥4,000
Tel: 06-6453-6000

Mar 18

Turkish Roads
A showcase for Turkish music, including oriental dances by Tania Luiz. Renowned tabla virtuoso, Badal Roy who has recorded with Miles Davis will be there, as well as the celebrated shakuhachi master, Yoshio Kurahashi. Both will show how their own traditions have links with the Middle East.

Ikenobo College Hall, Kyoto
Time: 6:30pm
Getting there: Hankyu line, Karasuma stn
Admission: ¥5,000
Tickets: TANIALUIZ@t.vodaphone.ne.jp
Tel: 075-351-8581
http://tanialuiz.sytes.net/

Mar 19

The 7th Takatsuki Cross Country
A yearly sports event where all are welcome to take part. There are three cross-country courses. 3km, 5km and 8km.

Hagitani Sogo Koen
Time: 5km at 10:50am. 3km at 11:35am and 8km at 12:20pm
Getting there: Hankyu line, Tonda stn
or JR line, Setsu-tonda stn
Admission: 3km ¥1,000. 5km ¥2,000. 8km. ¥2,500
Tel: 072-673-0155

Mar 25 until April

Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh
For Pooh's 80th anniversary, Disney is giving the tubby yellow bear a makeover. Pooh will appear in brighter colours and Disney will emphasize the active side of Pooh's adventures to appeal to activity-loving preschoolers. This musical of Winnie and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood is pure family entertainment.

Osaka Kosei-nenkin Kaikan
Time: 10:30am. 1:30pm. 4:30pm and 7pm, but not everyday.
Mar 27 closed
Getting there: Yotsubashi stn, exit 2
Admission: ¥4,400 and ¥4,800
Tel: 06-6233-8880

Mar 26

Ingrid Fuzjko Hemming
Pianist Hemming was born in Berlin to a Russian-Swedish father and a Japanese mother. She has performed solo and with orchestras from around the world. She will play the piano together with Orquestra de Cadaques.

Biwako Hall, Shiga
Time: 2pm
Getting there: JR line, Otsu stn
Admission: ¥6,000-¥12,000
Tel: 06-6223-8771

Mar 31-Apr 2

Cleopatra
An all Japanese cast will give their own rendition of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile who loved two great men, Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. The cast will give four performances, two will be Caesar's version of the story and two of Anthony's.

Theater Dramatic
Time: 7pm on 31st Caesar's version
Getting there: JR line, Osaka stn/Hankyu line, Umeda stn
Admission: ¥4,000. ¥4,300 at the door
Tel: 06-6352-4135

Late Mar-early Apr

Camellia Show
One of the biggest camellia gardens in the country, exhibiting 30,000 camellia trees of 1,500 different types from all over the world. The garden opens from March 1. In the past flowers have bloomed near the end of the month.

Maizuru Shizen Bunka-en garden, Maizuru City
Time: 9am-4:30pm
Getting there: JR Maizuru line, Higashi-Maizuru stn
Tel: 0773-68-1187

:: Online Articles

	:: FEATURE The rebirth of the hot spring All about onsen
	:: TRAVEL The gem of South Africa Cape Town
	:: GETAWAY Winter warmth in Okayama Takebe International Villa
	:: SPORT Was the snow a sign? Seasonal sumo update
	:: UPDATE Girls just wanna have fun White Day datings
	:: PROFILE Hostel Takeover Hidenori Yamada

:: Listings

	:: CINEMA LISTINGS Up to date cinema listings guide so you always know what's on, where and when!
	:: ART Best exhibitions + listings
	:: EVENTS Best events + listings
	:: LIVE Best gigs + listings
	:: CLUB Parties not to miss + listings

:: Also in this month's mag

:: FOOD Honmachi's heart and soul Korean kitchen Shotchu
:: DRINK Telling it how it is Irish pubs round-up for St. Patricks Day
:: FESTIVAL Best festivals + listings
:: READ New releases and top ten paperback books
:: FILM Reel reviews of the silver screen
:: NEWS Domestic and international news