Snowball Competition

Feb 3

Kouzuhara, Shiga

Did you know there are official rules for snowball fighting? Well there are, and the competitors in this snowball competition will know them by heart because they take chucking the pow- dered stuff very seriously indeed. Forty-two teams will be competing in this tournament. Each team consists of seven members and victory is achieved by grabbing the opposition's flag. Each bout goes for two three- minute sets and will get through 180 snowballs. There are lots of snowmen and Kamakura snow houses. You can enjoy food from stands between the matches.

Time: 9am
Getting there: Maibara, Nagahama, Sekigahara
IC 50mins by car • Admission: free
Tel: 0749-58-2227

Shunsetsusai

Feb 7 - 11

Nankinmachi, Kobe

In China the seasonal festivals are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, and this year the lunar calendar has the Chinese New Year starting on Feb 7 and festivi- ties will be going on for four whole days. In China, the essential dragons and lions will dance and there will be plenty of fireworks. And of course China's great expatriate communities have their own celebrations. The big one in the Kansai is in Nankin-machi in Kobe. Except for the years of the Hanshin Great Earthquake and the death of Showa Emperor, these New Parties have been held every year. In 1997, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property. The celebrations will rival those on those in China. There will be the obligatory dancing dragons and lions, live Chinese music, monkey shows, tai chi demonstrations, Chinese acrobats and more in Nankin-machi square, Motomachi shopping arcade in front of the Daimaru department store.

Time: 10am
Getting there: JR Kobe line/Hanshin main line, Motomachi stn
Admission: free
Tel: 078-332-2896

Osaka Auto Messe 2008

Feb 9 - 11

Intex Osaka, Osaka

This is a popular exhibition of the latest name-brand motor parts and accessories and has been taking place every year since 1997. Domestic and import car agents and manufacturers gather to show off their latest technologies and audio goods. There is also a great variety of booths carrying every kind of car-related stuff you can imagine and live shows on the stage. This is a great event to bring the family to - there will be car toys, such as miniatures and radio controlled cars and video games. Over 200,000 people visited Osaka Auto Messe last year.

Time: 9am–6pm (closed 5pm on 11th)
Getting there: New tram Nanko Porttown line, Nakafuto stn
Admission: ¥2,500 (¥2,000 in advance) / under Junior high school student free
Tel: 06-6458-0300

15th Senshu International Marathon

Feb 17

Hamadera Park, Osaka

This annual marathon starts from Hamadera Park in Sakai city, it passes Sennan city and Izumisano city with its views of the sea. The finish is in Rinku park car park. Most of the course is along the coast, and there are beautiful landscapes and many historical landmarks you can visit while cheering on the athletes. There are vistas of pine trees which have been designated the most beautiful trees in Japan. Another spot to visit is Hamadera Koen station building which was built in 1907 and which is the oldest station in Japan. When you are tired, you can take a hot spring bath at Shioyu in the park.

Time: 11am
Getting there: Nankai Honsen line, Hamadera koen stn
Admission: free
Tel: 072-436-0849

Global Art Project 2008: Artists Join Worldwide to Promote Peace

The Eighth Biennial Global Art Project for Peace will take place in March and April 2008. GAP, nominated for a UNESCO Peace Prize for Tolerance and Non-violence, matches artists (professional or amateur, performing or visual, individual or groups) with likeminded people from other countries. In March, each participant makes an artwork to be exchanged by mail with an overseas match. The inspiring result is thousands of messages of peace and goodwill simultaneously encircling the Earth during the week of April 23-30th. In addition, the artworks are then displayed locally with the purposes of promoting tolerance and friendship across cultural divides. Persons or groups involved with the arts, languages, peace studies, or volunteer work may be interested in participating in the Global Art Project.

Additional information and on-line registration can be found at www.globalartproject.org.
The application deadline for the project is Feb 28, 2008.
Anyone wishing toregister in Japan should send their name, address, and telephone number to lollopop@mail.interq.or.jp to receive an application.

Kansai Event Listings February