KS Cover no. 98 2008 JUL

JUL 2008 :: 098

Full color offset printing, delivery across Japan - mojoprint.jp

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Cutting deer antlers

Oct 6, 7, 8

Rokuen Tsunokiri Jyo, Nara Park

This event has been held since 1671. In those days the deer that were abundant in the region would hurt each other and people with their magnificent antlers. The Kou- fukuji temple manager decided to tackle the problem with the government's permission. Initially, the antler cutting occurred wherever deer were found around Nara but in 1928 a dedicated location was established. People called seko catch the deer with using tools called jyuji or danbi made of bamboo. They catch deer by throwing the jyuji or danbi like cowboys - so perhaps you could say that the Nara seko should be called deerboys.

Time: 12am–3pm
Getting there: JR Nara line/Kintetsu line, Nara stn, 2 loop bus,
Daibutsu-den Kasugataisya-mae
Admission: Adult ¥1,000, child (over four years old) ¥300
0742-22-2388

Kobe-Biennale

Oct 6 - Nov 25

Kobe Merican Park

The Kobe Biennale 2007 is a fresh and ambitious public art event that combines pieces and performances from many disciplines and categories. This year the various fields include the Art in a Container competition, modern ceramic art, and photography, all collected from the general public. The goal is the discovery and promotion of new and excellent artists. The Art in a Container competition is the main event of the Kobe Biennale, in which original work is presented inside a dry freight container - an exhibition space 12 meters in length, 2.4 meters in width and 2.5 meters in height. These freight containers are transported to and from the port of Kobe, and are therefore integrally connected with the city. There are many other interesting competitions: Robot Media Art, Universal Design (UD) Poster, Street Performance and so on.

Time: 10am–8pm
Getting there: JR Hanshin line, Motomachi stn
Admission: Adult ¥1,200/University student, Over 65 years old ¥500/Passport ¥2,500 (¥1,000/ ¥400/¥2,000 in advance)
078-322-6490
www.kobe-biennale.jp

Saigu procession

Oct 10

Nonomiya Jinjya Shrine, Kyoto

In the old days, the Imperial Family sent their princesses to Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture to be a shrine maiden for five nights and six days. The procession from the Imperial home to Mie consisted of hundreds of people and called at a number of other shrines on the route. Based on this old custom, these days a gorgeous Heian period procession goes through the Saga Arashiyama area. The procession departs from Nonomiya Shrine at noon and goes via JR Saga Arashiyama Station Tenryu-ji Temple, Togetsu-kyo Bridge (Nakanoshima Park) Arashiyama Port (at 1:30pm). After the procession, ancient rituals are performed (from 2pm).

Time: 12pm–3pm • Getting there: JR Kyoto stn, 28 bus to Nonomiya, Hankyu Arashiyama st
Admission: Free
075-871-1972

The Festival of India

Oct 12

Kyoto Bunka Geijutsu Kaikan, Kyoto

To commemorate of India-Japan Friendship Year 2007, The Embassy of India in Japan, and the Indian Council for the Cultural Relations presents the Sitar Maestro - Shri Nilandri Kumar. He shows a brilliance that comes from years of learning and his lineage of five generation of Sitarists, that has led to a profound understanding of diverse musical styles and a mastery of technical skills. He has over ten international music albums to his credit, which have got rave reviews from all over the world. This event is organized by Izumi Network YK, in order to promote India and Indian products in Japan. The concert will be performed in Tokyo on 10/9, and Nagoya on 10/11 before arriving to Kyoto for the first time.

Time: 7pm (door opens 6:30pm)
Getting there: From JR Kyoto Stn, take city bus 4/17/205 (departing from A2 bus-stop) to Furitsu Idai Byoin-mae. It's about 25-minutes ride
Admission: ¥3,500 (Adv: ¥3,000)
Ticket available at: www.energy-body.jp/concert • http://t.pia.co.jp
052-770-5982/090-9825-3105 (Sriram)

World CM Festival 2007

Oct 27

Festival hall, Osaka

You enjoy the best 500 TV commercials selected from all over the world in this all- night show. This world CM Festival tour started in 1981 in Paris as La Nuit des Publivores (the Night of the Ad-Eaters). You can see in this collection the winner of the Cannes CM award, famous cosmetics CMs, tobacco or anti-tobacco CMs - the entire range is represented here, the serious, the comedic and the socially conscious - plenty to enter- tain you for an entire night.

Time: 10pm–5:30am
Getting there: Subway Yotsubashi line, Higobashi stn, exit 4; Midosuji or Keihan line, Yodoyabashi stn, exit 7
Admission: ¥4,000 (¥3,500 in advance) reserved seat ¥4,300
092-843-7370

Kansai Event Listings October

Takao Maple Street Light Up

Takao Maple Street, Kyoto
Oct 1–21
The maple-lined path to Shingoji Shrine is illuminated. It is little early for the red leaves but the atmosphere is beautiful. The shrine itself does not open for the night but you can enjoy concerts during the light up.

Time: 5pm–8pm
Getting there: JR line, Kyoto stn, JR bus to Yamashiro Takao
Admission: Free
075-872-3636

Dengaku Noh Dancing

Kamikamogawa Sumiyoshi Jimjya Shrine, Hyogo
Oct 4, 5
This annual autumn Dengaku Noh festival has been going for 700 years. Dengaku Noh almost has not changed in style in that time. It is worth seeing this traditional Noh performance.

Time: Oct 4, 6pm; Oct 5, 11am
Getting there: JR Kakogawa line, Yashiro-cho stn
Admission: Free
0795-47-1394

Antique Grand Fair in Kyoto

Pulse Plaza
Oct 5–7
This is the biggest antique market in Kansai area. About 1.5 million antiques, selected by 330 antique dealers from all over the world, are on sale. In past years, clothes made with old fabrics and old-fashioned accessories have been popular.

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

Adachigahara Noh

Ohtsuki Noh Theatre, Osaka
Oct 5, Nov 9
Here you can enjoy a music whose style has not changed since the 14 century and yet never seems out of date. This has many original stories but never feels dated. The costumes are unique and extremely beautiful.

Time: 7pm
Getting there: Tanimachi line, Tanimachi 4 chome stn, exit 10
Admission: Adult ¥4,300, student ¥2,800
(Adult ¥3,800, student ¥2,300 in advance)
06-6761-8055
www.noh-kyogen.com

Art In Nagahama

Nagahama Ekimae Nori, Shiga
Oct 6, 7
This is one of the Nahama Syusse festival events. About 500 artists gather in Nagahama Shopping mall show and sell their work. There are performances by artists and an auction. A must-see event.

Time: Oct 6, 10am–5pm; Oct 7, 10am–4pm
Getting there: JR Biwako line, Nagahama stn
Admission: Free
0749-65-0393

Houkou Matsuri

Fukoku Jinjya Shrine, Shiga
Oct 8
There is a procession of people wearing traditional samurai costumes. The procession starts from Fukoku Jinjya, which enshrines Toyotomi Hideyoshi who is one of the most famous samurai in 16th century Japan.

Time: 12am
Getting there: JR Biwako line,Nagahama stn
Admission: Free
0749-62-4111

FM Cocolo Asia Festival 2007
(Feel Asia, Love the Earth)

Minatomachi River (Namba Hatch)
Oct 12–14
Fun international festival with world music, world dancing, and world food right in the middle of Osaka next to funky Amemura.

Time: 12, 5pm-10pm; 13, 12pm-10pm; 14, 12pm-9pm
Getting there: Subway Midosuji Yotsubashi, Sennichimae lines, Namba stn; JR Yamatoji, JR Namba stn
Admission: Free • www.cocolo.co.jp
06-6615-7650

The Beer Summit 2007

Sky Building, Osaka
Oct 12-14
More than 150 kinds of beer are assembled from 30 countries. You can also enjoy different food from around the globe. There will also be all sorts of folk music and dances - flamenco, Japanese drums etc. Cheers!

Time: Oct 12, 13 (12am–10pm), Oct14 (12am–9pm)
Getting there: JR Osaka stn, Hankyu Umeda stn
Admission: Free
06-6440-3899

Hinawa Gun Performance

Nagahama Castle, Shiga
Oct 14
Nagahama is a sister city of Tanegashima where is the gun first arrived in Japan. Several people wearing tradi- tional costumes will demonstrate these historical weapons.

Time: 11am, 1pm
Getting there: JR Biwako line, Nagahama stn
Admission: Free
0749-62-4111

Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle, Hyogo
Oct 14–Nov 11
It is time to enjoy chrysanthemums blossoming. There are many kinds and sizes of chrysanthemums in Japan and this autumn you can see about two hundred pots of them in the front yard of national treasure Himeji castle.

Time: 9am–5pm
Getting there: JR Kobe line, Sanyo line, Himeji stn
Admission: Free
079-285-1146

Hatsuka Ebisu

Kyoto Ebisu Jinjya Shrine
Oct 19 –21
The origin of the festival dates back to the early Edo period. In those days the merchants of Kyoto who went to trade in the old capital Edo came back to Kyoto on October 20th and thanked the deity of the shrine for their good business. The main festival, called Ikama-style kitchen knife ceremony, is on the 20th from 2pm.

Time: 8pm
Getting there: Hankyu Kyoto line, Kawaramachi stn, Keihan Shijyo stn
Admission: Free
075-525-0005

Machikado Entertaiment

Syoukokuji Temple, Kyoto
Oct 19–21
Professional actors re-create Edo period merchant patter and old-style street performance. There is a chance to play with traditional toys.

Time: 11am–4pm
Getting there: Subway Karasuma line, Imadegawa stn
Admission: Adult ¥2,000, child ¥1,000
075-211-0138

The Okinawa Ryukyu festival 2007

Kyocera Dome, Osaka
Oct 21
This festival is rich in the local color of Okinawa. There will be about 20 folk concerts and Okinawa dance perfor- mances called Eisaa. You can sing, dance and sample Okinawan food.

Time: 2pm (gate open) 3pm (start)
Getting there: Subway Nagahoritsurumiryokuchi line, Osaka
Dome-mae Chiyozaki stn; JR loop line, Taisho stn
Admission: ¥5,500 (Adv.)
06-6362-7301

EVENT section compiled by Toshie Kashihara

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