KS Cover no. 124 2010 SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 2010 :: 124

The Osaka Fire Brigade's New Year Ceremony

Jan 6

ATC O's Park, Osaka

This is your opportunity to see the work and understand the organisation of a wonderful dedicated service. The team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond to an accident or disaster. Osaka Fire Brigade's vision is to make the city a safer place. There will be a brilliant parade of fire engines, fireboats and helicopters, a remarkable hosing show and a thrilling rescue drill in a tower block. Also, you can experience an earthquake in a simulator. And there will be chances for children to have their pictures taken with a fire engine.

Time: 10am–12pm
Getting there: Subway Nanko Port Town line, Trade Centre-mae stn
Admission: free • Tel: 06-4393-6057

Nanakusagayu (Rice Porridge with Seven Spring Herbs)

Jan 7

Nishijin Tondaya, Kyoto

Mineko Tanaka is the president of Tondaya; a Kimono whole- saler in the Nishijin district of central Kyoto will offer you a talk and demonstration about nanakusagayu at the old Japanese house. Nanakusagayu is rice porridge with seven spring herbs. The Japanese traditionally eat it on the 7th of January wishing for good health throughout the year. At this event a special healthy box lunch that includes the Nanakusagayu is provided. Also, there will be a machiya tour before the lecture. Machiya are traditional merchant townhouses found mainly in the heart of Kyoto city. Please come to the Tondaya. It will be memorable experience for you. Booking is essential.

Time: 11am–1pm
Getting there: JR Kyoto stn, 9 city bus to Ichijomodoribashi 3-min walk
Admission: ¥8,400
www.tondaya.co.jp/English/indexE.htm
Tel: 075-432-6701

Nagahama Bonbai (Container–Grown Plum) Exhibition

Jan 10 - Mar 10

Keiun-kan, Shiga

The large plum tree is very beautiful and majestic standing at the centre of the venue. The plum tree with crimson blossoms is named 'Immortality' and has seen many winters. In this bonbai exhibition, over 90 pots of plum trees, including one which is three metres tall and another one which is 400 years old, are on show. These bonbai are so impressive and elegant when they are illuminated (from the 7th to 22nd of February). This exhibition started in 1951 and has acquired a reputation as the best display in Japan. In addition, the venue is a magnificent Japanese house, which used to be a guest place for VIPs from abroad. You will enjoy the beautiful combination of a Japanese garden, the architecture and the plum trees.

Time: 9am–5pm (9am–8:30pm, between Feb 7 to 22)
Getting there: JR Biwako line, Nagahama stn, 5-min walk
Admission: adults ¥500 • junior high school/elementary school students ¥200
Tel: 0749-62-4111

Kansai Queer Film Festival

Jan 23 - 27

Hep Hall in Hep Five, Osaka

The Kansai Queer Film Festival shows films for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. This year it will have its fourth run in Osaka and screen fifteen works that deal with diverse aspects of gender, sex and sexuality. People have had many opportunities to discuss this subject over the last a few years, and it is certainly getting more familiar. And yet do they have plenty of knowledge about the controversial subject? The festival will tell us about the lives of many types of people. It is a very good opportunity to learn about the issues. For further information please see the website, or email to info-en@kansai-qff.org (English available). You need to get to the venue early then you will be given a number to guarantee you a seat. Schedule: 23rd, 6pm (opening reception & giving number for a seat) • 24th, 11am • 25th, 11am • 26th, 1pm • 27th, 1pm.

Getting there: JR Osaka stn 4min–walk, Hankyu Railway Umeda stn, 3-min walk
Admission: ¥1,400 (¥1,600 at the door) • ¥3,800 for three tickets in advance. ¥10,000 to attend the whole programme (¥12,000 at the door).
http://kansai-qff.org/2009/English_info.html
Tel: 080-3820-2731

Kansai Event Listings January

Okina Hajime Shiki (Noh Play Dedication)

Taga-taisha, Shiga
Jan 3
Noh is a traditional Japanese masked drama with dance and song, evolved from Shinto rites. Noh plays are offered to the gods at this shrine in the New Year. As the highlight of the programme Okina (a vener- able old man) is performed. Okina is a popular play for the New Year celebration.

Time: 11am
Getting there: Ohmi Railway Tagataisha-mae stn 10-min walk
Admission: free
Tel: 0749-48-1101

Shogatsu Hatsu Warai (Laughter in the New Year)

Nyu-jinja, Wakayama
Jan 3–8
Laughter is a global language and extremely therapeutic. A clown called Mr. Ringabell encourages you to laugh. Let's join them and share the happy atmosphere!

Time: 10am–3pm
Getting there: JR Kise line, Wasa stn 40-min walk
Admission: free
Tel: 0738-22-2041

New Year Bunraku Performance

The National Bunraku Theatre, Osaka
Jan 3–25
Osaka boasts UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage, Bunraku (traditional puppet theatre of Japan). The theatre offers festive atmosphere with seasonal programmes on these days. And the fantastic puppets movements will captivate you. For further information, see the web site.

Time: 1st performance, 11am–2:50pm • 2nd performance, 4pm–8:20pm • Closed on 14th
Getting there: Kintetsu Railway Nara line or Subway Sakai-suji line / Sennichmae line, Nihonbashi stn
Admission: first-class tickets, adults ¥5,800, students ¥4,100 • second–class tickets, ¥2,300
www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/index.html
Tel: 06-6212-2531

Penguin Parade

Kaiyukan (Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan), Osaka
Jan 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 • Feb 1, 7, 8
Emperor penguins will appear and march in the forecourt of the aquarium. Where else can you see dignified plump gentlemen in tails waddle in procession?

Time: 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm
Getting there: Subway Chuo line, Osaka-ko stn, 5-min walk
Admission: free
Tel: 06-6576-5501

Gahuten (Exhibition of Container-Grown Trees)

Kyotoshi Kangyokan (Miyako Messe), Kyoto
Jan 8–11
This is one of the biggest bonsai exhibitions. Bonsai is the art of the aesthetic miniaturization of trees, and requires care with techniques for shaping, watering and re-potting. On these days about 1,200 pots will be on display.

Time: 9:30am–4:30pm (on 11th, 9:30am–3pm)
Getting there: Keihan Railways, Sanjo stn, 5 city bus to Kyotokaikan • Subway Tozai line, Higashiyama stn
Admission: ¥800
Tel: 075-691-5488

The Koto Concert (Japanese zither with thirteen strings)

The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Osaka
Jan 10
This is a golden opportunity for you to listen to elegant koto melody. Please enjoy the sound of real live music in an atmosphere of an old Japanese house.

Time: 2:10pm–2:50pm
Getting there: Subway Tanimachi/Sakaisuji line, Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome stn, exit 3
Admission: (entry to the museum) adults ¥600 • university/high school students ¥300
Tel: 06-6242-1170

Memorial Service for the Victims of the Hanshin Awaji Earthquake

South of Kobe City Hall, Hyogo
Jan 17
This is the annual memorial ceremony for the victims of the Hanshin Awaji earthquake disaster. People pray for the victims and pass the spirit of cooperation to the next generation. At 5:46 in the morning, the letters '1.17' formed by candles will be lit. And many people will come to offer flowers to the monument.

Time: 5am–9pm
Getting there: JR Kobe line, Sannomiya stn• Admission: free
Tel: 078-321-3921

Pirates of the Dotombori Improv Comedy

Pure night club, Osaka
Jan 18
The Pirates of the Dotombori are a short-form improv comedy group with members from the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, Chile and Japan. No script, no plot, with just random suggestions from the audience, the Pirates bring plenty of laughs with a form of comedy you have to see to believe. This show features segments in both English and Japanese - everyone is welcome. Check out the bilingual website for more information.

Time: 8pm (opening venue 7:30pm)
Getting there: Subway Midosuji line, Shinsaibashi stn, exit 6, 7-min walk
Admission: ¥1,500/with 1 drink
www.piratesofthedotombori.com
Tel: 06-6214-6600

Toshiya

Sanjusangendo Temple, Kyoto
Jan 18
Dec 19–20
This is a traditional archery tournament, which began in the Edo period. Young ladies in hakama (traditional Japanese clothing (they were originally worn only by men) shoot arrows in a dignified manner. It is a famed scene in the new year of Kyoto.

Time: 9am–3:30pm
Getting there: JR Kyoto stn, 206/208 city bus to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae • Admission: free
Tel: 075-561-0467

Osaka International Women's Marathon

Nagai Stadium, Osaka
Jan 25
This annual big sport event is much loved by Osaka people. About 500 participants run through the city. The battle of ladies will begin again under the sky in the New Year!

Time: 12:10pm
Getting there: Subway Mido-suji line Nagai stn • Admission: free
www.osaka-marathon.jp/map.html
Tel: 06-6633-9632

Special screening: Enishi ni Egaku

Cine Nouveau X, Osaka
Jan 25, 26, 28
Enishi ni Egaku (Drawing on Fate), directed by Noriaki Saito, shows artist Toshio Kajimaya creating his art on fusuma (paper sliding doors). With English subtitles.

Time: 11:30am
Getting there: Subway Chuo line, Kujo stn • Admission: ¥1,200, adv ¥1,000
Tel: 06-6582-1416
www.saoto.com/movie/enishi/

Chinese New Year

Kobe Chinatown, Hyogo
Jan 26–Feb 1
The year of the ox is celebrated with fantastic lion dance performances, lots of stalls and restaurants and colourful parade around the town.

Time: 10:30am–till about 8pm
Getting there: JR Kobe line/Hanshin
Railway, Motomachi stn, 5-min walk
Admission: free
Tel: 078-332-2896

EVENT section compiled by Yuki Uchibori

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