Disney Classic - A Magical Night 2006

Hyogo, Osaka
Oct 4, 5, 19
Outstanding vocalists from Broadway and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra collectively called the Neverland Orchestra present the dreamy and magical Disney world through music.

Time: 5pm (All the halls)
Oct 4: Kobe International House
JR/Hankyu/Hanshin, Sannomiya stn
Oct 5: Yao Prism Hall
Kintetsu Osaka line, Yao stn
Oct 19: Umeda Arts Theater
Hankyu Umeda stn, Chayamachi exit
Admission: ¥5,000/¥6,500/¥8,000
Tel: 06-6233-8888

Antique Grand Fair in Kyoto

Pulse Plaza, Kyoto
Oct 6–8
About 1.5 million antiques, selected by 330 antique dealers from all over Japan, are on sale. Clothes made from old clothing and accessories on sale too.
www.gomoku-do.com/kyotofair/fair.html

Time: 10am–5pm
Getting there: Kyoto city Subway Karasuma line/Kintetsu Railway, Takeda stn, Shuttle bus, Pulse Plaza
Admission: free
Tel: 077-522-2307

Candle Illumination 2006

Shirahama Beach, Wakayama
Oct 7, 14, 21, 28
Shirahama beach is illuminated with 2006 candles for this event. Visitors can write whatever message they want on paper wrapped around a candle. The autumn beach waits for you.

Time: 7:30pm–9pm
Getting there: JR Kinokuni line, Shiramana stn, Bus bound for Sandanpeki, Shirahama
Admission: free
Tel: 0739-43-5511

Cutting deer antlers

Rokuen, Kasugano-taisya, Nara
Oct 8, 9, 14, 15
Cutting deer antlers started in the early Edo era to prevent the deer of Nara from hurting humans. In the Showa era, a brand-new rokuen, deer shed, was completed and included a place to cut off the antlers. In case of rain, there will be an event on the 22nd.

Time: 11am–2:30pm
Getting there: JR Nara line, Nara stn, City bus, Kasuga-Taisha Sando
Admission: Adults ¥700/Children ¥300
Tel: 0742-22-2388

Full Moon Party

Osakajo Park (next to the heliport on top of the walls)
Oct 8
Free outdoor party that includes  8 DJs from African acid jazzy break beats to house and progressive house, plus international food, drinks, VJs, and a chill-out tent with sofa and sheeshas. A video projections on one 8of the wall will be emphasising not only on music but also visuals as much as atmosphere.

Time: 3pm till late. (cancel incase of rain)
Getting there: JR loop line Osakajo-koen stn or subway Morinomiya stn
Admission: free
Contact: la-french-connection@hotmail.com

Sports Festival

Nagai Park, Center Gym, Sports Center etc; Osaka
Oct 9
On physical education day, sports events that anyone can join take place at various locations in Osaka. There are events such as new sports, recreation and physical fitness tests.

Time: 10am
Getting there: JR/Subway Midosuji line, Nagai stn
Admission: free
Tel: 06-6615-0907

Ryukyu Festival 2006

Osaka Dome
Oct 9
Singers from all over Okinawa are gathering for the 12th Ryukyu Festival. This is a once-a-year chance to expe-rience Okinawan music, dance, food, and crafts. This six-hour festival feat-ures 200 members, instills great pass-ion in the audience.

Time: 3pm (Open at 2pm)
Getting there: Subway Nagahori-tsurumiryokuchi line, Osaka Dome-mae Chiyozaki stn・JR loop line, Taisho stn
Admission: ¥5,500
Tel: 06-6362-7301

Senhime

Nishinomaru Garden, Osaka Castle
Oct 14
Senhime returns! This unusual outdoor opera was performed for the first time last summer. Many voices demanded its return and so here is this autumn performance in more comfortable weather. You are seated on the ground rather than on chairs - and in the shadow of Osaka's history.

Time: 6:30pm
Getting there: Subway Tanimachi/Tyuou line, Tanimachi-4chome stn
Admission: ¥2,000 (plus ¥500 at doors)
Tel: 06-6341-8116

Punjab Night

Club Karma, Osaka
Oct 15
A celebration of Indian New Year and Diwali with a dance party - musical Bollywood dance, Bhangra dance, Belly dance, Nepali dance, Live painting and capoeira. Organized by Amrita Boutique, Umeda.

Time: 6:45pm~11:00pm
Getting there: 1 min from exit 11-21 JR Tozai-line Kita-sinchi stn, or 3 min from subway Nishi-Umeda stn.
Admission: ¥2,000 (adv: ¥1,800) including Indian snacks
Tel: 06-6341-5531 (for reservation),
Tel: 06-6344-6181 (Club Karma)

Giuseppe Sabbatini, Gala Napolitana

The Symphony Hall, Osaka
Oct 20
Giuseppe Sabbatini is one of the big three tenor superstars. In 1987, this native of Rome won the Spoleto championship and soon after that, he appeared as the main character of Faust in the Teatro dell'Opera - only one year after he started singing lessons. Then his fame increased with a performance at the Teatro alla Scala. In April 2003, the Vienna State Opera conferred the title of court singer on him.

Time: 7pm (Open at 6:30pm)
Getting there: JR line, Fukushima stn
Admission: ¥8,000/¥10,000
Tel: 072-226-5522

ZAMPA UFUJISHI DAIK from Okinawa

Hyogo Performing Arts Center
Oct 22
This is a taiko - Japanese drums - group that has created the original Southern mood from Okinawa since March 1986. They perform both inside and outside Japan, and have visited the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong.

Time: 3pm (Open at 2:15pm)
Getting there: Hankyu line, Nishinomiya Kitaguchi stn
Admission: ¥3,500/¥5,000
Tel: 0798-68-0255

Help Make History!

Let's march in Osaka's first Rainbow Parade
Nakanoshima Park south of Osaka City Hall. From the park the parade will walk down Midosuji to Namba, finishing at Motomachi-Naka Park.
Oct 22
The rainbow is a symbol of diversity. A rainbow of six colours is the symbol for lesbians, gay people, bisexuals and transsexuals. By showing the rainbow symbol in Japan, people of non-hetero preferences are displaying their pride. Until now, Osaka has not had that chance. All sexualities and all ages are welcome to participate.

Time: Gathering at 1pm
Getting there: 2 minutes walk from either Keihan Yodoyabashi or Midosuji Yodoyabashi stn.
Admission: Free to walk
Contacts: info@kansaiparade.org

Nodame Cantabile

Hyogo Performing Arts Center
Oct 25, 26
Nodame Cantabile is the title of the comic book which has sold over 10 million copies. This performance is a tragic-comic orchestral interpretation.

Time: 7pm (Open at 6:15pm)
Getting there: Hankyu line, Nishinomiya Kitaguchi stn
Admission: ¥4,500/¥5,500/¥6,500
Tel: 0798-68-0255

Nakanoshima Theatrical Festival 2006

Nakanoshima-4chome Tent
Oct 27–Nov 10
Two tents are pitched in a square in Nakanoshima for half of October. Humorous dramas are played there day and night by eight theatrical companies based in Kansai, for a planned 35 performances. Please refer the following URL for the time schedule.

Getting there: Subway Yodobashi line, Higobashi stn, exit 2
Admission: ¥3,700 (¥4,000 at doors)
Tel: 06-6233-8888
www.asahi.co.jp/event/engekisai/schedule/index.html

The Corsair by Verdi

Biwako Hall, Shiga
Oct 28, 29
This is the 9th in the opera series at Biwako Hall. This opera is shown for the first time in Japan. You will be glued to the pirates' brave chorus, melodious arias, and magnificent spectacle. The opera is in Italian with Japanese subtitles.

Time: 2pm
Getting there: JR Biwako line, Otsu stn, Omi Keihan bus, Biwako hall・Keihan line, Ishiba stn
Admission: ¥7000/¥9000/¥11,000/¥13,000/¥16,000
Tel: 06-6233-8888

Simin Daichakai

Nijio Castle
Oct 29, Nov 1, 3
The Customary Citizen Big Tea Cere-mony takes place in Nijyo castle while you can enjoy seeing the Japanese garden. From the Japanese tearoom, you can see red and yellow autumn leaves. In this event, visitors would appreciate autumn beauty over tea.

Time: 9:30am–3pm
Getting there: 9 bus, Nijojo-mae
Admission: ¥2,500 (including admission fee and tea reception)
Tel: 075-841-0096

Kobe Centennial Film Festival

Hyogo
Oct 31 - Nov 20
Movies were shown for the first time in Kobe. The Kobe Centennial Film Festival is dedicated to films related to world cities and regions. Pifle Hall: Nigorie, and other old Japanese movies. Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Museum Hall: Cool and Crazy, Electric Shadows and more. Kobe Shimbun Matsukata Hall: Hakase no Aishita Sushiki (Numerical Formula Loved by a Doctor). Kobe Art Village Center 2F, KAVC Hall: The Eddy Duchin Story, It Happened One Night, and others.

Oct 31-Nov 1: Pifle Hall, Hyogo
Subway/JR Kobe line, Shin-Nagata stn
Nov 3–5: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Museum Hall
Hanshin Iwaya stn/JR line, Nada stn
Nov 5: Kobe Shimbun Matsukata Hall
JR Kobe stn
Nov 18–20: Kobe Art Village Center 2F, KAVC Hall
Kobe Kousoku Railroad, Shinkaichi stn
Admission: ¥1,000 (¥1,200 at doors, ¥2,500 three movies tickets)
Tel: 078-332-7050

Ceramic Japan 2006

INTEX Osaka
Nov 3–5
Ceramic Japan is a collection of ceramics from all over Japan. The exhibits are also for sale. However, this event is aimed at promoting the appreciation of ceramics. There will be an amateur ceramics competition and a booth where you can experience making pottery.

Time: 10am–5pm
Getting there: Newtram Nanko Port-town line, Nakafuto stn
Admission: ¥900 (High school and older)/free for junior high school students and under
Tel: 06-6633-9493

Sudarshan Kriya Workshop

Kyoto, Shimogyo-ku
Nov 7-9

Getting there: 5min walk from Kyoto stn (JR/Kintetsu/Subway), 10min walk to west from Keihan Shijo stn
Access: www.aromaschool.jp/access/access.html
Admission: ¥30,000/students ¥10,000/free for repeaters
Contact: neela.s@artoflivingjapan.org