KS Cover no. 98 2008 JUL

JUL 2008 :: 098

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

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1,000,000 Candle Night, Osaka City

Dec 3 & 5

Chayamachi, Nishi-Umeda, Osaka

For the past five years, before each summer and winter solstice, special events have been put on to raise environmental awareness. In the Umeda area sympathetic companies extinguish all electric lighting and the area is illuminated instead by thousands - or what are said to be millions - of candles, which are the primary source of light for two hours. Many of these candles are hand made by art students. This month the event takes place in Umeda's Chayamachi on the 3rd and Nishiumeda on the 5th. Lighting large parts of such a major commercial and entertainment district with candles only should make quite a spectacle and is especially appropriate in the run up to Christmas.

Time: 6pm–10pm (Lights off 8pm–10pm)
Getting there: JR Osaka stn, Hankyu Umeda stn
Admission: free
Tel: 06-6446-1726

Senjyu Kannon by the Chinese Handicapped Art Organization

Dec 4

Festival Hall, Osaka

Twenty-one dancers - who were selected from among sixty million candidates - dance without being able to hear a note of music. The actresses have auditory difficulties, yet perform amazingly - you cannot believe they can't hear. They performed at the closing ceremony of the Athens Paralympics, Expo 2005 Aichi and will perform at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Altogether, these dancers have performed in more than 40 countries.

Time: 3pm, 7pm
Getting there: Subway Yotsubashi line, Higobashi stn, exit 4
Admission: ¥9,500/¥7,500
Tel: 06-6372-7019
www.shopping.jchere.com

Kyoto Local Food Exhibition

Dec 13,14

Miyako Messe, Kyoto

This exhibition took place for the first time in 1887. Prior to the exhibitions inception almost all Kyoto cooking techniques were closely guarded secrets from rival chefs. However, when the capital city moved to Tokyo from Kyoto, many traditional cultures began disappearing. People in the industry began getting together to preserve these old techniques. Now you can see how to make crane and turtle dishes, which are symbols of happiness and long life, and ways to prepare vegetables using only knives. You can also learn how to cook Kyoto vegetables in ways that preserve and enhance the freshest flavours. You can enjoy traditional food culture here.

Time: 10am-4pm
Getting there: Subway Tozai line, Higashiyama stn, JR Kyoto stn, bus 5 to Kyoto
Kaikan, and bus to 206 Higashiyama Nijyo
Admission: Adult ¥800 Student ¥500 (Adult ¥600 Student ¥400 in advance)
Tel: 075-221-5833

Kodo - Japanese drum performance

Dec 15 & 16

Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, Osaka

You will be overpowered by this display of twenty Japan- ese taiko drummers. The rhythm is the foundation of this performance but in addition to the taiko virtuosity, there is dance, song and instrumentalism. Kodo combine tradi- tional and modern forms with other Asian influences to create an exciting and unforgettable experience. The troupe, which has performed three thousand shows around the world, is this year using women performers for the first time, adding new depth and breadth to their art.

Time: 15th, 6pm • 16th, 2:30pm
Getting there: Yotsubashi line, Honmachi stn, exit 23, Yotsubashi stn, northwest exit
Admission: ¥6,000 (¥5,500 in advance)
Tel: 0259-86-2330

Kansai Event Listings December

Christmas tree lighting

Umeda Sky Building, Osaka
Nov 16–Dec 25
The Sky Building's 27-meter tall Christmas tree is decorated with one hundred thousand illuminations and is the centerpiece of the annual German Christmas market. Great seasonal atmosphere and lots of German beer, hot wine, food stalls and craft stalls.

Time: 5pm–10:30m
Getting there: JR Osaka stn
Admission: free • Tel: 06-6440-3899

Ringing the bell on New Year's Eve

Nanzenji Temple, Kyoto
Dec 1-31
According to Buddhist lore you have just 108 desires, so that's the number of times we ding the temple bell on New Year's day. This dinging is very popular and time consuming and it is therefore necessary to make an appointment. At Nanzenji appointments are accepted from Dec 1 and all through the month. Up to two people per dinging session.

Time: 8:30am–4:30pm
Getting there: Subway Tozai line, Keage stn • Admission: depends
Tel: 075-771-0365

Ceremony of Used Needles

Horinji temple, Kyoto
Dec 8
People bring used needles from all over Japan to stick into the Devil's tongue which is set up in front of the temple specially for this purpose, and then pray for better sewing skills and family happiness. There are also traditional dance performance and free sweet sake to drink.

Time: 1pm
Getting there: JR Kyoto stn, 73 bus to Nakanoshima koen
Admission: free • Tel: 075-861-0069

FCI International Dog Show

Intex Osaka
Dec 9
130 kinds of dogs - or about 1,500 individual pooches - from all over Japan are brought together in this show. They compete to demonstrate which is the best looking and which is the best disciplined.

Time: 9am–5pm
Getting there: New Tram Nanko Porttown Line, Nakafuto stn
Admission: ¥500 • Tel: 06-6693-7911

NY Gospel Singers Christmas Concert

Chuokoukaido, Osaka
Dec 11
The exciting New York Gospel Singers are coming to Osaka from the US. You can enjoy standard Christmas songs and also new tunes. Chuokoukaido, the venue, is reported to be worth a visit on its own.

Time: 6:30pm
Getting there: Keihan Midosuji line, Yodoyabashi stn, exit 1
Admission: ¥4,000/¥1,500
Tel: 06-6208-2002

Four Stories

Portugalia Portuguese Bar and Grill, Osaka
Dec 16
Literary readings from invited writers. Buffet and wine. This is the Osaka incarnation of an event that runs in Boston and Tokyo. See website for December's readers.

Time: 6pm
Getting there: Ten minutes walk from either Osaka or Midosuji Yodoyashi; just north of US consulate
Admission: free • www.fourstories.org

Pirates of the Dotombori Improv Comedy

Sam & Dave, Umeda
Dec 16
A short-form improv comedy group (think Who's Line Is It Anyway?) with members from the USA, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Australia, and China. No script, no plot, but with random suggestions from the audience, the Pirates conjure plenty of laughs. This show features segments in both English and Japanese.

Time: 8pm (doors open at 7:30pm)
Getting there: See KS Umeda map
Admission: ¥1,500 (includes 1 drink)
Tel: 06-6365-1688
www.piratesofthedotombori.com

Belly & Salsa Dance Shows, Darbuka & Flea Market

Studio Esuc in Julia Bldg 6F, Osaka
Dec 16
Winter Festival 2007 produced by Lisa School. Performers are Sahara Queens, Angel Harem, Love Tribe for Earthy, and Flavio. You can bring your own drink! www.lisa-school.com

Time: 2:30pm–5:30pm
Getting there: Subway Midosuji line, Nakatsu stn
Admission: ¥2,000 (Adv ¥1,500)
Tel: 06-6377-0628

Annual Temple Cleaning

Higashi & Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto
Dec 20
The annual event called Osusuharai started in the late Muromachi period. Monks and devout lay-people come give it a thorough clean up to.

Time: Nishi Hongan-ji Temple: 7am, Higashi Hongan-ji Temple: 9am
Getting there: Higashi Honganji Temple JR Kyoto stn, Nishi Honganji Temple, 9 bus • Admission: free
Tel: 075-371-9181 (Higashi Honganji)
Tel: 075-371-5181 (Nishi Honganji)

Arima hot spring New Year ceremony

Arima Elementary School, Kobe
Jan 2
Arima is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan. This New Year ceremony has been held since Edo times to bring prosperity. There are traditional performances all day in the school.

Time: 9:50am
Getting there: Kobe line, Arima Onsen stn • Tel: 078-904-0708

EVENT section compiled by Kanako Tsuji

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