998 May 10-23, 2013 - Metropolis Magazine

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Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine www.metropolis.co.jp
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#998 May 10~23, 2013
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INSIDE
#998
MAY 10-23, 2013
JOSEF DIERMAIR
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06 FEATURE
GREAT ESCAPES
By Bryan Baier &
Justin Velgus
FOR MORE INFO
03 THE SMALL PRINT
05 UPFRONT
08 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
12 AGENDA
19 MOVIES
21 DINING OUT
24 CLASSIFIEDS & JOBS
29 HOROSCOPE & MEDIABOX
30 THE LAST WORD
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The Small Print
By Steve Trautlein
EVEN PERFECT
“
PROGRAMS HAVE
SOME BUGS. COMPUTING
IS A FIELD KNOWN ONLY TO
THE GODS, SO ALL PEOPLE
CAN DO IS PRAY”
—Kozen Fujimoto, chief priest at Kanda Myojin
shrine near Akihabara, on brisk sales of amulets
meant “to protect the security of IT information”
HOLY CRAP
PAYBACK TIME
ćć A former inmate of Tokyo Detention House will
receive ¥2.3 million in compensation for being
repeatedly abused by a prison guard.
ćć The family of a Nigerian man who died in a fire at
his home in Osaka in 2009 was awarded ¥92 million by a district court judge, who ruled that the
blaze was started by a defective futon heater.
9
Number of new high school textbooks in
geography, politics and economics that the education
ministry has approved for the 2014 academic year
ćć Residents of Ono, Hyogo Prefecture, are being
asked to snitch on local welfare recipients who
“blow their money on entertainment such as
pachinko, as well as horse racing, bicycle racing
and other forms of gambling.”
ćć In the first survey of its kind since 1999, authorities in Hiroshima have added about 15,000
people to the list of official A-bomb victims.
The new casualty figure stands at 557,478.
ćć Someone stole the bronze medal won by
bantamweight Satoshi Shimizu at last year’s
London Olympics—which really sucks, as it
was the first medal won by a Japanese boxer in
44 years.
ćć Headline of the Week: “Businessman Suspected of Slashing up to 1,000 Tires in Effort to
Meet Women” (via Japan Today)
IT’S ABOUT TIME
ćć Authorities in Yokohama discovered “a stash
of 106 deserted case files” at a local police station. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations
had expired for each one.
ćć A pair of thieves made off with ¥20 million in
a heist at a pachinko parlor in Kitakyushu.
About 400 customers were inside the shop at
the time.
ćć A survey by a group called Central Research
Services has found that 72.5 percent of Japanese people in their 20s use smartphones.
ćć An Osaka-based NPO with the catchy name
Josei Shokuno Shudan WARP-LEENET is
suspected of actually being a KEPCO-backed
“nuclear power propaganda tool.”
ćć Two female graduates of the National Defense
Academy of Japan have become the first women
to serve as commanders aboard Maritime SelfDefense Force ships.
ćć Meanwhile, the all-female musical troupe
Takarazuka Revue embarked on its first-ever
tour of Taiwan.
ćć Officials at the health ministr y say all 397
cancer hospitals around the country will be
staffed with “antismoking counselors” by
next April.
ćć The infrastructure ministry has developed
new guidelines for disaster-relief donations
made by individuals. In the aftermath of 3/11,
authorities in Miyagi were so
besieged by the outpouring
of goods that “it was impossible to look through them all.”
AND FINALLY…
TARA NANGIA
ćć A team of Japanese researchers has used an
MRI to “successfully decode dreams by measuring brain activity during sleep.” It’s the
first time scientists anywhere have been able
to “read dreams.”
ćć A cinema in Nagoya is planning to go “4-D” by
allowing moviegoers to “experience wind,
sprays of water, scents, light, fog and even
soap bubbles.” We’re particularly excited about
the bubbles.
ćć After objections from the municipal labor
union, officials in Nara ditched a plan to keep
tabs on city workers via an ID authentication
system “based on blood vein configuration.”
ćć A letter carrier in Chiba who was arrested for
stealing 2,100 pieces of mail said she did it
because of “stress over her work.”
�
us.fotolia.com/metropolis
Man meets bus at Shibuya scramble crossing, by Joseph Hayward.
THAT SINKING
FEELING
ćć 2012 was the third straight
year that fishermen around
the world caught less than 10
tons of Japanese eels. At one
point in the 1960s, the annual
haul was more than 200 tons.
ćć Officials at the health ministr y say that every single
prefecture in Japan will suffer a population decrease by
the year 2040.
�
8
Number of those textbooks that describe the
Takeshima and Senkaku islands as “Japanese territory”
�
15,000
Number of free recording devices
handed out to elderly Tokyo residents by the MPD in an
effort to fight telephone scams
COMPILED FROM REPORTS BY AP, JAPAN TODAY, THE JAPAN TIMES, JIJI, THE TOKYO REPORTER, JAPAN PROBE, THE MAINICHI, DAILY YOMIURI, AFP, REUTERS AND KYODO
#998 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 03
PEOPLE, TRENDS & MISCELLANY
cuddling concrete
manga manger
Upfront
japanese marvels
COURTESY OF MANI APPAREL
TM & (C)2013 MARVEL & SUBS.
Have an action-packed dinner with these striking Manga Zara (manga plates) from Comicalu.
Thwack! ¥2,980 per plate. Available online at
www.comicalu.com or select stores across
Japan (see website for points of sale).
DESIGN BY MIKA TSUTAI
These stuffed toys are shaped after the four-legged
concrete structures that form breakwaters on Japan’s
coastlines. The Tetogurumi (http://tetogurumi.seesaa.
net) gets its name from a conflation of tetrapod and
nugurumi (soft toy), and is suitable for manly men
because of its neutral non-kawaii form, its usability as a
head rest and because it could look like a woman in an
inviting posture if you squint a little. Made from polyester, felt and cotton, these cuddly toys are a lot safer
than the real thing, which has been lambasted for its
tendency to disrupt natural cycles of erosion. Another
item in the line of cuddly architectural features is the
“Damgurumi,” or cuddly dam. Available from Village
Vanguard (http://vvstore.jp) in mini (12cm; ¥1,575);
middle (25cm; ¥2,940) and deka (38cm; ¥7,350), and
in both light and dark gray.
giveaway
note biting
One of the lesser vaunted benefits of Japan and the
USA’s special alliance is the possibility of combining US
Marvel comic book heroes with traditional Japanese
hand towels. Not content with invading the country
via a series of big-budget Hollywood flicks, Iron Man is
also invading key moments in Japanese cultural history, specifically appearing on top of “The Great Wave
off Kanagawa” in Hokusai’s iconic ukiyo-e. Look out for
Spiderman admiring sakura petals scattering in the
moonlight amid other Marvel Tenugui (¥840). Take
these 100%-cotton items to the onsen and let your
favorite hero protect more than just the earth’s safety.
Available online via Ensky Shop www.enskyshop.
com
firefly festival
© YUSE DESIGN
EAMES COLLECTION, LLC © THE EAMES FOUNDATION.
COURTESY EAMES OFFICE LLC (EAMESOFFICE.COM)
It’s unclear whether these tasty looking Post-It-style
slips will make desk organization easier by diverting
your gluttonous urges. They may just send you running
for the conbini. But whatever the dietary effect, these
Sandwich Tags from Yuse Design (http://yuse-design.
com) will certainly color up your clutter. Available in
lettuce and tomato (¥525), pure bacon (¥840) and the
complete BLT (¥1,260), these innovative sammie slips
won the Audience Choice Award at the 10th Spiral
Independent Creators’ Festival. Just make sure your
dog doesn’t eat your homework. Available online from
Amazon.jp or from Itoya Stationery store in Ginza.
Elephant (1945); Charles Eames and Ray Eames
「天の川プロジェクト（Ｒ）」「（Ｃ）東京ホタル」
Metropolis is giving away tickets to the exhibition
“California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern
Way” at the National Art Center, Tokyo. It features
designs from renowned design and architectural
duo Charles and Ray Eames. To claim one of the
eight pairs of tickets, just answer the question: What
were Charles and Ray Eames famous for, besides
the Eames chair? (Hint: Our estimable movie critic,
Don Morton, may have the answer).
Send your answer with “ E ame s ” in the sub ject line, along with your full name and postal
address, to [email protected] for your
chance to win.
In a modern take on the floating lantern festival, about
100,000 LED “prayer star” lights will be scattered across
the Sumida River in a spectacular display. Tokyo
Hotaru 2013 (www.tokyo-hotaru.jp) takes place a few
months earlier than the flood of traditional lantern festivals that happen during the festival of Obon—so get
the jump on the summertime rush. Prime seating with
a spectacular view of the Tokyo Sky Tree is available
for ¥3,000, while seats on the other side of the river go
for ¥1,000 per person. Buy your ticket now as they’re
bound to go like fireflies.
Sumidagawa Terrace, May 25, 7-9pm. Nearest stn:
Asakusa or Oshiage. http://meturl.com/hotaru
Feature
GREAT ESCAPES
ESCAPES
GREAT
Three inspired excursions not so far from Tokyo
M
ake plans for some unique trips this summer. The sand dunes of Tottori host everything
from adventure sports to camel rides; the Jomon-era archaeological sites of northeastern
Tohoku enlighten you on Japanese pre-recorded history; and the mountains and rivers
of Saitama’s Chichibu region provide fresh air just a couple of hours from Tokyo.
PHOTO: BRYAN BAIER
SANDBLASTING
IN TOTTORI
By Bryan Baier
T
ottori is the least populated and one of
the least visited prefectures in Japan.
North of Okayama on the Sea of Japan
coast, the place is most famous for its
sand dunes, or sakyu. Walk to the dunes from
Tottori City’s main train station in a little over an
hour, or take a bus to the Tottori Sakyu stop—and
save your legs for your desert safari. The best time
to visit the undulating formations is in the morning, before visitors and camels kick up the sand.
Take a break from the dust and sun at the worthwhile Sand Museum.
SANDBOARDING
With the deep blue Sea of Japan in front of you,
the pine forests and mountains at your back, and
yellow-white dunes all around, the setting is ripe
for sandboarding.
There are some small drops on the dune face
for anyone confident enough to take them. A
warning to snowboarders making the transition:
the sand grips the edge of your board tighter than
snow does. Dig in too deep and you’re going down.
Your weight will also need to be on your back foot.
Get used to these two things and you’re good to go.
Those with limited or no experience in board
sports needn’t worry, as the soft sand is unlikely to
cause injury to anything other than your pride—
though it will get it into crevices you didn’t know
existed. Bring sandals and a water bottle, as well
as a pair of socks, and clothes you aren’t worried
about getting dirty.
PHOTO: ALENA ECKELMANN
While there is a ski lift at the dunes, it doesn’t
ser ve the sandboarding area, so be ready to
climb back up. A two-hour course costs ¥2,500,
including board and helmet rental, plus the
guidance of an instructor. The assembly point for
sandboarding (and paragliding) is the Rakudaya
Omiyage store across the street from the lift.
Sandboarding is a seasonal activity, offered
f rom m id-A pr i l to t he end of November.
Reservations are necessary (Tel: 0857-23-1749),
and a little Japanese will be of great help.
PARAGLIDING
The soft sand makes the dunes an ideal place
to try paragliding for the first time. A half-day
course (four hours) w it h Zero Paragliding
School (Tel: 0857-29-9098) is a very reasonable
¥7,000. More exciting still, you won’t be f lying
tandem—it’s all you. Run down the slope from
the top of Uma no Se (the biggest, tallest dune)
toward the Sea of Japan until your feet part company with ground. Your megaphone-wielding
instructor helps everything go smoothly. Touch
down on the beach, re-pack your canopy, and
climb back up for another go.
GETTING THERE FROM TOKYO
There are four ANA flights per day from Haneda
to Tottori Airport; the 75-minute flight is a costly
¥30,000 each way without advanced-booking
or discounts. Shinkansen to Himeji and then
the Super Hakuto Limited Express will get you
from Tokyo to Tottori in five hours at ¥17,250 for
non-reserved seats. Or take the “Camel” night
bus from Shinagawa or Hamamatsucho to Tottori for ¥10,200. The 10-hour trip passes quickly
while you sleep.
06 • DOWNLOAD OUR PODCAST AT • PODCAST.METROPOLIS.CO.JP
ARCHEOLOGY IN
AKITA AND AOMORI
By Justin Velgus
P
ack your Indiana Jones hat and head
to Honshu’s northernmost capital city
for a visit to the past in Aomori. From
there head south past Lake Towada,
into Akita Prefecture near Oyu, where you’ll
find Japan’s answer to Stonehenge. Plunge along
this route into some fantastically rustic onsen
(Tsuta and Aoni are two of the best); spending the
night is highly recommended.
SANNAI-MARUYAMA SITE
Voyage 5,000 years back in time to the Stone Age
Jomon Period (14,000-300BCE), when agriculture was still in its infancy. At this dig the former
inhabitants’ struggle to survive is documented,
as well as the surprising advancement of Jomon
society for the time, shown in dwellings, pottery,
tools, graves, and even remains of roads.
The free-entry Sannai-Maruyama site lies 20
minutes from Aomori station by bus and will take
about two hours to explore. Be prepared for some
walking. Remains can be seen of village foundations within several of the site’s dome buildings.
Make sure you find the active workshop where
archaeologists reassembe pottery fragments.
Before leaving, stop at the fascinating museum.
Stone tools, ancient fishing hooks and reconstructions of ancient scenes are to be explored, and
visitors can even try on period clothing for photo
opportunities. Near the exit a mountain of reassembled pottery towers above other exhibits with
a stunning design woven into it.
OUTSIDERS IN NAGATORO
T
he entire town of Nagatoro in Saitama Prefecture, just two
hours from Tokyo, is a designated prefectural natural park, with
the gorgeous Arakawa River rushing through its heart.
NAGATORO IWADATAMI
At the side of Arakawa River, rocks up to 80m by 500m are splayed out, resembling tatami, hence the name meaning—you guessed it—“rock tatami.”
Japan’s first scenic natural monument was created naturally by changes in
the earth’s crust, combined with river erosion.
LOCOMOTIVE
Nagatoro station is a piece of civic history—it was constructed in 1911 to feature a Western-style structure that was the last word in modernity back then.
The Paleo Express steam locomotive makes regular seasonal stops here.
529- 2 Nagatoro Nagatoromachi. Tel: 0494-66-0002.
www.chichibu-railway.co.jp
BOATING
Board a traditional Japanese boat and be punted by pole along the Arakawa
River. The green and rocky Horaijima, along with the precipitous cliffs of
Chichibu-Sekiheki—aka the “Red Walls of Chichibu”—provide the scenery.
Full course (6km) Adult ¥2,900/ Children ¥1,300. Half course (3km)
Adult ¥1,550/ Children ¥750. Open: 9am-4pm. Nagatoro Line-Kudari.
Tel 0494-66-0950. www.chichibu-railway.co.jp/line
HODOSAN JINJA
At the foot of Mt. Hodo, this shrine was built almost 2,000 years ago, and
has had generations of visitors come to pray for protection against disaster,
theft, and hardships. Multicolored dragon sculptures come alive against the
natural backdrop. 1828 Nagatoro Nagatoro-machi. Tel: 0494-66-0042.
www.hodosan-jinja.or.jp
PHOTO: FOTOLIA.COM
OYU STONE CIRCLES
The Jomon settled primarily in northern Japan in the Tohoku region, leaving behind another unique sight —Akita Prefecture’s Oyu Stone Circles.
By no means as large as Stonehenge, the two formations nonetheless cast
a spell of mystery that has lived on for several millennia.
Different from similar structures elsewhere in Asia and the rest of
the world, the design of these formations is what most impresses. Both
Oyu circles have a central pillar with flat stones radiating out in a sundial
pattern. Despite the circles being over 40m in diameter, their diminutive
height means a winter visit could find them completely covered by snow.
Stones were carried from the nearby Akuya River, a little more than 5km
away. But debate continues among researchers as to what the purpose the
stone circles served. It has been suggested they were for social gatherings,
or burial sites, as human remains have been found by archeologists nearby.
The sundial designs suggest rituals coinciding with astrological events,
and many experts believe the formations were places of religious worship.
Japan’s native religion emphasizes harmonization with nature, and the
ancient builders appropriately selected a picturesque setting with gentle
hills in the distance.
Since daily artifacts—but no evidence of human dwelling—have been
found near the circles, some have argued that the stones were used for ceremonies, perhaps to improve chances of a harvest or a hunting expedition.
In reality, the sites were probably used for multiple purposes by different
tribes over the centuries.
To gain a better perspective on the stone-circle creators’ daily lives,
step inside the museum. Although exhibits are in Japanese, all visitors can
enjoy models of the stone circles and ancient dwellings. Artifacts are also
on display, as well as an interactive exhibit where you can test your pottery
reassembling skills.
SEVEN FLOWER TEMPLES
In case you didn’t know, the seven flowers of autumn are Japanese bush
clover, Japanese pampas grass, arrowroot, fringed pink, golden lace, boneset,
and balloon flower. Tour the town on foot or by bike and visit these seven
temples, each of which displays one of the flowers. Tosho-in; Dokoji; Henjoji; Fudou-ji; Shinshoji Temple; Hozenji; Tahoji.
FUNADAMA MATSURI
This annual summer festival is held every year on August 15 in Nagatoro.
Its origin lies in requesting that the gods of water protect the boatmen.
The event features mantosen, which are boats that carry stacks of lanterns,
and 3,500 fireworks from both banks on Arakawa River.
Seibu-Ikebukuro line from Ikebukuro to Seibu-Chichibu on the (80min, rapid
express), then from Chichibu Railway Ohanabatake to Nagatoro (20min). JR
Takasaki line from Ueno to Kumagaya on the (60min), then to Chichibu Railway Nagatoro (50min).Nagatoro Tourist Information. Tel: 0494-66-3311.
www.nagatoro.gr.jp
ANA and JAL f lights to Ak ita cost about ¥24,000 one-way, and JAL
connects with Aomori for about ¥30,000. Military travelers may be able
to take advantage of the Misawa Air Base—just over an hour from Aomori
station by train. Shinkansen to Akita or Aomori takes around four hours
and runs from ¥16,000 one-way. Night buses are a good economical option
to both destinations.
PHOTO: NAGATOROMACHI
TOURIST ASSOCIATION
Arts & Entertainment ALL THE BEST IN ARTS & CULTURE ACROSS THE METROPOLIS
dance
MARÍA
PAGÉS
Dancing about
architecture
By Dan Grunebaum
of the world, and I felt that he might have some
answers,” begins the veteran choreographer in a
Tokyo press visit.
“With the financial crisis in Spain, it’s a very
bad moment here. I felt the crisis is not only financial, but a crisis of human values,” she continues.
“Then I met someone who told me about Oscar
Niemeyer. I knew about his buildings, but when I
learned more about him as a person and how his
architecture reflects his values, I felt I could learn
from him.”
“W
COURTESY OF BUNKAMURA
riting about music,” the saying
goes, “is like dancing about
architecture.” The implication
is that both are nigh impossible. That hasn’t stopped many from doing the
former—and now someone’s done the latter.
Spanish f lamenco doyenne María Pagés’s
new Utopia takes its inspiration from Brazilian
architect and cultural colossus Oscar Niemeyer.
“I had to do something about the current state
art
ALPHONSE MUCHA
More to Mucha at the Mori
By C. B. Liddell
© MUCHA TRUST 2013
The Arts, 1899 © Mucha Trust 2013
N
o artist reflects the optimistic mood
of spring better than Czech artist
Alphonse Mucha, whose art and life is
the focus of an impressive exhibition at
the Mori Arts Center Gallery.
Mucha provokes the image of flowery maidens,
long hair and loose dresses entwining with flowers and stylized foliage. You might even imagine
a glass of champagne woven into the design. This
exhibition has plenty of that.
The Czech decorative artist epitomizes the
Art Nouveau movement, an artistic style that
Two meetings in Rio de Janeiro with Niemeyer,
who continued to practice until his death last
December at the age of 104, provided the basis for
Utopia. How, then, does one dance about architecture? “Niemeyer’s architecture is full of curves,
and movement is full of curves,” Pagés explains
about the formidable Brazilian, who among others designed his country’s capital city Brasilia.
“Curves are about transformation, and that’s also
at the heart of movement.”
At Niemeyer’s studio in Copacabana, Pagés
danced for Niemeyer, and the two discovered
how much a dancer and architect can have in
common. “W hen he was a child, he liked to
draw,” the prizewinning choreographer recalls.
“But even before Niemeyer would take a pen, he
would move his hand through the air, and his
mother would ask, ‘What are you doing?’ and he
would say, ‘I’m drawing.’ I was thinking, when
my mother asked me the same question, I would
say, ‘I’m dancing.’”
Taking cues from Niemeyer’s cur vilinear
architecture and humanistic ethos, Pagés created
a work that utilizes scenography by Niemeyer’s
right-hand man, architect Jair Varela, live music
by renowned f lamenco composer Rubén Lebaniegos, and poetry by Baudelaire, Neruda and
Niemeyer himself.
The sleek, contemporary Utopia upends the
stereotypical and folkloric Spanish image of flamenco. Pagés, who’s worked with Baryshnikov
among others, says such images are long outdated. “My vision of flamenco is convoluted and
modern,” she insists. “I never thought of flamenco
as a folk art, because it’s our way to express everything. Flamenco is a living art for us.”
“When I first came to Japan I was exposed to
very different kinds of arts,” Pagés continues, “that
sought inspiration in nature, expressed itself
through sinuous, curvy lines; and idealized the
feminine in a way that now seems at odds with
the more androgynous zeitgeist of the present.
Often the female figure is elevated to a symbolic
“goddess,” personifying seasons, qualities, or
even precious stones.
This ability to symbolize and tastefully sexualize also made Art Nouveau, especially in Mucha’s
hands, the perfect medium for advertising. You
couldn’t imagine Cubism or Abstract Expressionism being used to advertise biscuits or bicycles
quite as effectively—and attractively—as the posters doing exactly that at this exhibition.
While some of the more commercial efforts
may look a tad tacky, the posters Mucha created
for the theater transcend mere advertising to
become works of high art. The best of these are
dedicated to the artist’s muse, the actress Sarah
Bernhardt, an international superstar around
the turn of the last century who is shown here in
a variety of her famous thespian roles.
With the full cooperation of the Mucha family, this exhibition is not a mere attempt to cash
in on a much-loved name, but takes a serious,
in-depth look at the artist—backed up by many
of his best works. The show includes drawings,
oil paintings and hand-painted poster designs,
as well as contemporary prints, many of them of
a size and complexity that testifies to the skill of
books
made me realize flamenco can have a dialog
with different cultures and art forms.”
Pagés has been to Japan 16 times and is
lionized by the country’s devoted flamenco
community. It’s intriguing to learn that the
inf luences have worked in both directions.
“If I can bring flamenco to Japan,” she adds,
“then f lamenco can meet other art forms
too—it’s a language with which to express
myself, and when I understand another art
form I can express my personal ideas about it
in flamenco.”
Rather than a brittle folk form, Pagés says,
flamenco has specific qualities that allow it to
evolve. “Flamenco is one of the richest arts we
have in the modern era because it started in a
marginal space among poor people, and then
step by step it became a professional art in the
world’s biggest theaters,” she says. “It’s not academic like ballet—it’s popular and has very
different roots: Jewish, Gypsy and African… so
many cultures made flamenco an art, and the
way they come together is what makes it so rich.”
Two decades since she founded her own
company at age 27 following a career as a child
prodigy in Spain, Pagés increasingly wants to
use flamenco to give something back to the
society that she feels gave so much to her.
“There are many things I can do as a creator—I can provide valuable messages and
share experiences,” she affirms in a rich Seville
accent. “Utopia arrived at a moment when it’s
evident we need other messages aside from
materialism. My life’s work is to understand
how I can contribute to society—I don’t dance
only for myself, but to be useful.”
Bunkamura, May 18-19. See dance listings
for details.
the print art of the period.
One of the reasons Mucha is popular in
Japan is that the linear quality and love of
nature have obvious affinities with ukiyoe woodblock-print ar t. Somet imes t hese
attempts to link late 19th-century European
art to the Japanese tradition can become
tedious—but luckily this exhibition hardly
goes there.
Instead it looks at Mucha’s working methods, including photographs of nude models,
revealing perhaps how he got those femininely
evocative lines so correct. The exhibition also
looks deeply into the artist’s love of Slavic
nationalism and myth. This, with its deification of nature, is a more pertinent source of
inspiration than anything from Japan.
Mucha’s career was a precursor for Czech
independence, an event that came to pass in
his lifetime. This clearly inspired him to go
beyond the effervescent art of his youth to
create works of sweeping emotion for his “Slav
Epic Cycle” (1910-28), represented here by
several large studies. This show reveals that
there is much more to Mucha than f lowery
maidens in diaphanous dresses—although
there’s nothing wrong with that either.
Mori Art Center Gallery, until May 19. See
exhibition listings (Akasaka/Roppongi)
for details.
LITERARY LANDSCAPES
Roll out the plastic blue cloth and throw yourself on the spongy summer turf with a pile of Japan-related English books. Metropolis tips over
the library shelves.
FICTION
Citadel In Spring
A Novel of Youth Spent at War
By Agawa Hiroyuki; translated by Lawrence Rogers
An autobiographical novel published by Hiroyuki Agawa in 1949,
this translation gives you access to
“a surprising historical document
as well as a moving account of the
cost of militarism and defeat” (The
New Yorker). Writer Agawa tells in
this fictionalized memoir of his
induction into the Imperial Navy, his work as a
code-breaker in China, and the effects of Japan’s
final capitulation.
Kurodahan Press, 2013, 241pp, ¥1,500 (bookstores), ¥471 (Amazon Kindle)
Killing Daniel
By Sarah Dobbs
English writer Dobbs’ first novel is
set in England and Tokyo, and follows the separate adult lives of an
English and Japanese woman connected by a childhood friendship
w i t h a m u r d e r e d d e a f b o y.
Described as a “cross-cultural literar y thriller,” Killing Daniel was
launched last autumn at the Unthank Literary
Festival in Norwich.
Unthank Books, 2012, 306pp, ¥1,951 (bookstores), ¥792 (Kindle)
The 89th Temple
By Charlie Canning
Seven juvenile offenders walk the
pilgrim’s route of 88 temples in Shikoku as they consider their future
place in society. Billed as “The Seven
Samurai meets The Fugitive for
young adults,” this is the debut
novel of Canning, who taught English for ten years in Japan before
enrolling in the creative writing PhD program at
the Universit y of Adelaide. Outskirts Press,
2012, 205pp, ¥1,544 ( bookstores), ¥746
(Kindle)
Yamato
By Andrew Clare
Tok yo, 1953. Lieutenant Har vey
Brice of US intelligence is found
with a bullet in his head, and his
discovery promises anything but a
routine case for CIA agent Ralph
Carnaby. This noir thriller takes in
crime and conspiracy during the
US occupation in an alternativeh istor y i mag i n i ng a k i n to Rober t Ha r r is’
Fatherland. Author Clare is a former Royal Marine
and works at an international law firm in Tokyo.
Ku ro d a h a n P re s s , 2013, 314pp, ¥1,400
(bookstores)
NONFICTION
Milligan and the Samurai Rebels
After the Great East Japan Earthquake:
Political and Policy Change in Post-Fukushima
Japan
By Simon Alexander Collier
Edited by Dominic Al-Badri and Gijs Berends
At a time of upheaval when the Japanese market has just been opened
up to foreign commerce, a young
British diplomat named Milligan
plies his trade while battling a
weakness for women and booze.
Collier, a former British diplomat in
Japan, wrote this rambunctious
historical novel from his home in Tokyo where he
continues to reside.
Createspace, 2012, 337pp, ¥1,470 (bookstores), ¥499 (Amazon Kindle)
The co-editors both worked for the
EU Delegation to Japan at the time
of the 3/11 disasters, and brought
together this collection of essays to
explore shifts in Japanese politics
and policy making two years on.
Published by the Nordic Institute of
Asian Studies in Copehagen, the
book’s contributors include policy experts and
Tok yo diplomats. NIAS Press, 2013, 192pp,
¥2,600 (bookstores)
One Hundred Years of Vicissitude
Taiko Boom:
Japanese Drumming in Place and Motion
By Andrez Bergen
By Shawn Bender
The narrator, who “suspects he’s a
dead man,” undertakes a sakesoaked purgatorial tour through
20t h-cent u r y Japa nese h istor y
with a ghostly geisha and a corrupt
millionaire. This is t he second
novel by Melbourne-born Bergen,
who is also a journalist, photographer, musician, and DJ.
Perfect Edge Books, 2012, 254pp, ¥1,857
(bookstores), ¥429 (Kindle)
With Japanese taiko drumming
now popular around the world, cultural anthropologist Bender looks
at the percussive art’s origins in
post-war Japan. He explores the
activity as a new way for Japanese
people to associate communally
and observes how practices cast
light on national conceptions of race, gender and
the body. University of California Press, 2012,
259pp, ¥3,120 (bookstores), ¥1,835 (Kindle)
Health & Fitness Special
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B1 CMA3 Bldg, 3-1-35 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku
03-6434-9667
Open Mon-Sat 6:30am-9:30pm, closed Sun
Nearest stn: Roppongi
www.club360.jp
J
ust a three-minute walk from Roppongi Hills,
Club 360 offers personal training, group
classes, physiotherapy and massage. The modern facility features three private treatment rooms,
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a spacious studio and pristine shower facilities.
The Club 360 team brings together the best physiotherapists and trainers in Tokyo to provide you
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MAPLE ORTHODONTIC CLINIC Ningyocho
Special offer
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CONTACT
S
traightening teeth is a great way to improve your
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Maple’s Dr. George Yamaguchi, a graduate of Hokkaido University School of Dental Medicine, was born
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He welcomes foreign clientele and their families to his
beautifully designed and friendly office.
Maple Clinic specializes in low-cost, high-quality
whitening and esthetic dental services with a free consultation and examination for first-time patients. Those
in need of general treatment can be referred to a reliable
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1F Kobayashi Yoko Bldg, 1-15-7 Kakigara-cho,
Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku
0120-199-053
[email protected]
Open Tue-Fri noon-3pm & 4-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-1pm &
2:30-6:30pm, closed Mon
Nearest stn: Suitengumae
www.maple-ortho.com
SHOP URL
TRUST DENTAL CLINIC Harajuku
Special offer
• 50% off teeth cleaning
• 20% off dental implants
• Offer ends Jul 31
T
rust Dental Clinic (formerly Tokyo Adventist Dental Clinic) provides dental care
of the highest international standards
(including OSHA-compatible sterilization and
infection-control techniques) for the city’s international community—with quality services in
dental implants, oral surgery, preventive and
restorative dentistry.
Dr. Oikawa, a member of the American Dental
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20 years of clinical experience in hospital dentistry
under his belt. The clinic’s hygienists are trained overseas in the US and the UK. They welcome consultation
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Japanese National Health Insurance is accepted,
so remember your insurance ID card. For private
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and sign your claim forms.
CONTACT
1-11-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
03-3402-1501
[email protected]
Open Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30am-5:30pm and
Tue 9:30am-1pm. Also open two
Sundays per month, call for details
Nearest stn: Harajuku
www.adventistdental.jp
SHOP URL
Health & Fitness Special
GOLD'S GYM HARAJUKU TOKYO Various areas
Special offer
• Pay only ¥1,050 when you bring this
copy of Metropolis magazine! (once
per person)
PRICES
Members, ¥9,450 per month (valid ID required)
Visitors, ¥3,000 per day (valid ID required)
CONTACT
W
ith a network of over 700 gyms in 30
countries around the world, Gold’s
Gym has become synonymous with
weight training. And with 45 gyms across Japan,
including Tokyo area locations such as Shibuya,
Omotesando, Ginza and Umeda; there’s no reason
you can’t start or maintain a training regimen here.
Most gyms are open from early in the morning until
late at night and the ones in Harajuku, Oimachi and
4F/3F/B2F Verox Bldg, 6-31-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Omiya are open 24 hours—so you can train stressfree whenever you want. A variety of traditional and
modern equipment is available and the machines are
suitable for both beginners and experienced lifters—
plus Gold’s Gym carries as many free weights as you’d
find in any US gym. With the help of Gold’s Gym, you
can achieve your fitness goals through safe and effective weight training so you can get into the best shape
of your life.
03-5766-3131
Open 24H, closed Sun 8pm-Mon 7am, and every third Mon
Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae
SHOP URL
www.goldsgym.jp
NATURAL PLUS Ginza
Special offer
• 60min men’s body massage,
reg ¥14,700 now ¥10,000 (until Jun 30)
• 75min men’s facial, reg ¥14,700
now ¥10,000 (until Jun 30)
• 20% off all other treatments
PRICES
H
ow do you like to relax on your days off? Are
you one to hit the gym and work up a sweat
or are you more the type to spend a quiet
day indoors? There are two different types of relaxation: active and passive and finding the proper
balance between the two is one of the the keys to
maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle.
With summer just around the corner, now is
the ideal time to engage in some active outdoor
30min Short Course ¥5,250
60min Aromatherapy Facial ¥10,500 (women)
60min Aromatherapy Body Massage ¥11,550 (women)
relaxation. Follow that up with some highly recommended and rejuvenating passive relaxation. Natural
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CONTACT
7F Ginza Kikumasa Bldg, 5-9-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku
SHOP URL
03-6869-2228
[email protected]
Mon-Fri noon-9pm, Sat, Sun and hols
11am-8pm
Nearest stn: Ginza
www.monroe.jp
VEDAPLUS Azabu-Juban
Special offer
• Free trial yoga lesson
• 1 yoga lesson for ¥2,500 or
10 yoga lessons for ¥20,000
• Monthly pass for ¥25,000 or
3-month pass for ¥60,000
CONTACT
201, 3-10-9 Sansui Heim, Motoazabu, Minato-ku
V
edaPlus and its bilingual staff offer three
powerhouses of self-sustenance for busy
Tokyoites: yoga, astrology and massage
t h e r a p y. Yo g a a t Ve d a P l u s c o n n e c t s yo u
with inner peace and tranquility, and helps
you tap into an unlimited source of energy.
Drop-in classes start at just ¥2,500 and yoga
mats, blocks, bolsters and chairs are available
free of charge, along with blankets and sand bags.
03-6434-5448
They also have showers plus private rooms to change,
powder your nose or for the kids to use. Early birds
should try the popular morning yoga classes, Tuesday
and Thursdays from 7-8am. The multitude of massage
therapy options at VedaPlus will allow you to relax
and rejuvenate your mental and physical energy, selfbalance and general positivity.
VedaPlus also provides consultation on the ancient
arts of astrology, Ayurveda, Vaastu and Feng Shui.
[email protected]
Mon-Sun, 7am-10pm
Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban
www.vedaplus-motoazabu.jp
SHOP URL
#998 ● WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP ● 11
Agenda Listings
Concerts
POPULAR
Destroy & Destroy
Hard J-rock from Roach and
Harvest. May 10, 6:30pm,
¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000 (door)
+1d. Shinjuku Marble.
Nearest stn: Shinjuku or
Seibu Shinjuku. Tel: 03-52723558. www.marble-web.jp
Keytalk
Jazz-influenced indie pop.
May 10, 7pm, ¥2,500 (adv)
+1d. Club Quattro. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-34446751. www.keytalkweb.com
Vinyl Soul
Hip-hop buskers go Latin.
May 10, 7pm, ¥1,000. Café
Dolce Vita. Nearest stn:
Okubo. Tel: 03-3364-1530.
May 11, 6:30pm, ¥1,000.
Salon by Marble. Nearest stn:
Shin-Koenji. Tel: 03-59348106.
Tokyo Rocks
Cancelled. For refunds
see website. May 11-12.
Ajinomoto Stadium. http://
tokyorocks.jp
Odorou Matilda
Fuji Rock veteran with
grizzly vocals and a
twinkle in his eye. May 11,
6:30pm, ¥3,800 (adv) +1d.
Club Quattro. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5720-9999.
www.club-quattro.com
Ayumi Hamasaki
J-pop princess. May 11,
6:30pm; May 12, 4pm,
¥8,500. Yokohama Arena.
Nearest stn: Shin-Yokohama.
Tel: 0570-550-799. www.
avexnet.or.jp/ayu/index.
html
Mad Ollie
Punk music festival with
skateboarding, inc. Good 4
Nothing, Hot Squall, Shank,
etc. May 11, 2:30pm, ¥3,300
(adv) +1d. Studio Coast.
Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba.
Tel: 03-3499-6669. www.
creativeman.co.jp/english
Cro-Magnon
Email your event information to [email protected]
See www.metropolis.co.jp for more listings
artist with guests Harp & Soul
and Bitter Haze. May 17, 6pm,
¥2,000. The Juke Joint. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-64272528. www.thejukejoint.jp/
events
Tokyo Ska Paradise
Orchestra
Eclectic mix of ska, jazz and
rock. May 17-18, ¥5,500 +1d.
Shibuya-AX. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. Tel: 03-5720-9999.
www.tokyoska.net
Jackpot Bell
1133. www.billboard-live.com
Teentop
Manly K-pop heart stealers.
May 21-22, 7pm, ¥9,450. Tokyo
International Forum Hall A.
Nearest stn: Yurakucho. Tel:
0570-02-9999. www.teentop.jp
Mice Parade
Experimental NYC post-rock.
May 22, 7:30pm, ¥5,500 +1d.
Liquidroom. Nearest stn: Ebisu.
Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.
smash-jpn.com
Female-fronted Tokyo
pop-punk with Panic in the
Box and more. May 17, 5:30pm,
¥2,000 (adv)/¥2,500 (door)
+1d. Milkyway. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-6416-3227.
www.jackpotbell.net
One Ok Rock
Transit
Ashley Scared the Sky
Alt-rock bands Harvest, Roach,
Another Story, etc. May 17,
7pm, ¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000
(door) +1d. Club Seata. Nearest
stn: Kichijoji. Tel: 04-22290061. www.transit-event.com
Leon Russell
Rock legend. May 17-18,
¥6,500-¥8,500. Billboard Live.
Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel:
03-3405-1133. www.billboardlive.com
Vintage Trouble
Californian soul. May
17, 7:30pm, ¥5,500 (adv)
+1d. Yokohama Bay Hall.
Nearest stn: MotomachiChukagai. Tel: 03-3499-6669.
www.creativeman.co.jp/
artist/2013/05vintagetrouble
Greenroom Festival
Surf vibe fest feat. The Brand
New Heavies, Newton
Faulkner, etc. May 18-19.
¥9,000 (one-day pass)/16,000
(two-day pass). Yokohama
Red Brick Warehouse. Nearest
stn: Minatomirai. www.
greenroom.jp
Megamasso
Visual-kei. May 18, 5:30pm,
¥3,800 (adv) +1d. Liquidroom.
Nearest stn: Ebisu. Tel:
0570-00-3337. www.
megamasso.jp/pc
Metcha Mucha Best
Emo, rock and metal fusion.
May 23-26, various times,
¥5,800 (adv). Yokohama Arena.
Nearest stn: Shin-Yokohama.
Tel: 03-3405-9999. www.
oneokrock.com/english
Post-hardcore metal band
from Tokyo. May 25, 7pm,
¥2,300 (adv)/ ¥2,800 +1d.
Cyclone. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
Tel: 03-3463-0069. www.
ashleyscaredthesky.com
Loud & Metal Attack
Scando metal bands
Nightwish, Mokoma, Crashdiet
and more. May 25, 3pm, ¥6,800
+1d. Studio Coast. Nearest stn:
Shin-Kiba. Tel: 03-3499-6669.
www.creativeman.co.jp/
english
Iro Iro Vol. 19
UK music site Louder Than War
indie night feat. Roku Shiki,
Oh Captain! My Captain! and
more. May 25, 7:30pm, free
+1d. Crawfish. Nearest stn:
Akasaka. Tel: 03-3584-2496.
meturl.com/iroiro19
But By Fall
Tokyo pop punkers in solo
show. May 26, 7pm, ¥2,500
(adv) +1d. Shelter. Nearest stn:
Shimokitazawa. Tel: 03-34667430. www.butbyfall.com
Takako Minekawa and
Dustin Wong
Experimental pop
collaboration. May 26, 7pm,
¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door)
+1d. O-Nest. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3462-4420.
www.shibuya-o.com/nest
+1d. Shibuya-AX. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. Tel: 03-3499-6669.
www.creativeman.co.jp
J-pop duo inspired by
1960s rock. Jun 8, 6pm,
¥5,800 (adv). Shibuya-AX.
Nearest stn: Harajuku. www.
lovepsychedelico.net
Beyond The Blue
Battle of the bands with Five
New Old, Pop Disaster and
more. Jun 8, 1:30pm, ¥6,400
(adv)/ ¥6,900 (door) +1d.
Yokohama Bay Hall. Nearest
stn: Motomachi-Chukagai. Tel:
03-3475-9999. www.bayhall.
jp/sch/event/130608.html
The Dot
Jun 13, 7pm, ¥5,500 (adv) +1d.
Liquidroom. Nearest stn: Ebisu.
Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.
liquidroom.net
No More Fuckin’ Nukes
Hard-rock heavyweights
Ken Yokohama, Brahman,
Slang and more. Jul 14, 3pm,
¥4,000 (adv) +1d. Shibuya-AX.
Nearest stn: Harajuku.
Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.
nomorefuckinnukes.com
Fuji Rock Festival
Mother of all Japanese rock
fests. Jul 26-28. Naeba Ski
Resort. Nearest stn: Echigo
Yuzawa. www.fujirockfestival.
com
Backstreet Boys
Princes of pop. Oct 11-13,
¥9,500 (adv)/ ¥20,000
(premium seat, adv). Saitama
Super Arena. Nearest
stn: Saitama-Shintoshin.
Tel: 03-3499-6669. www.
creativeman.co.jp
JAZZ/WORLD
Jake Shimabukuro
Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso.
May 10, 7pm, ¥6,500.
Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel:
0570-550-799. www.jklub.jp
Tokyo Big Band
19-piece ensemble led by
pianist-arranger Jonathan
Katz feat. Tokyo-based jazz
musicians with vocalist
Andrea Hopkins. May 10,
¥4,000 (adv)/¥4,500 (door).
Akasaka B Flat. Nearest stn:
Akasaka. Tel: 03-5563-2563.
http://bflat.biz
Kamelot
Slash, Slipknot, Black
Sabbath, Deftones and more.
May 11-12, noon, ¥14,000
(one-day, standing) /¥16,500
(one-day, reserved seating)
/¥27,000 (two-day, standing).
Makuhari Messe. Nearest
stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. http://
ozzfestjapan.com
Teachers for Tohoku Vol. 3
West Coast melodic rock
with Where's Andy, Geeks
and more. May 31, 6:30pm,
¥2,000 (adv)/¥2,500 (door)
+1d. Milkyway. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. http://altmedrock.
syncl.jp
Masters of funk and soul
from New Orleans. May 10,
7:30pm, ¥5,000. Thumbs Up.
Nearest stn: Yokohama. www.
stovesyokohama.com. May
20, 7pm, ¥5,000. Club Quattro.
Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.
club-quattro.com
Taico Club
Peter White
Fire Lily and Kaleb
Battle of the bands qualifier,
with Crack Banquet. May
18, 5pm, ¥1,000 (adv),
¥1,500 (door) +1d. Unit.
Nearest stn: Daikanyama.
Tel: 03-3475-9999. www.
redbullliveontheroad.jp
Ozzfest
Acoustic performance feat.
stunning singer-songwriter
Fire Lily. May 13, 7:30 &
9pm, ¥3,500 (adv), ¥3,800
(door). Rakuya. Nearest stn:
Nakameguro. Tel: 03-37142607. http://rakuya.asia/
home
Orianthi
Australian musician and
guitarist. May 13-14. 7 &
9:30pm, ¥7,500-¥9,500.
Billboard Live. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-1133.
www.billboard-live.com
Sigur Ros
Icelandic dream pop
juggernaut. May 14, 7pm,
¥7,800. Nippon Budokan.
Nearest stn: Kudanshita.
http://nipponbudokan.web.
fc2.com
Mika
Lebanese-British singer
with crazy vocal range. May
14, 7pm, ¥7,000 (adv) +1d.
Studio Coast. Nearest stn:
Shin-Kiba. Tel: 03-34446751. www.smash-jpn.com
Steph Hannah
Australia jazz-infused pop
International school faculty
bands raise the roof and some
money. May 18, 4pm, free,
donations welcome. What the
Dickens. Nearest stn: Ebisu. Tel:
03-3780-2099. http://meturl.
com/teacherstohoku13
Redbull Live on the Road
Fujifabric
Electric power pop. May 19,
6pm, ¥5,000 (adv) +1d. NHK
Hall. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel:
050-5533-0888. www.nhk-sc.
or.jp/nhk_hall
The AP Tour
Progressive metal. May 28,
7pm, ¥6,500 +1d. O-East.
Nearest stn: Shibuya.
Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.
smash-jpn.com
Alternative Medicine
All night alt. music event in
Nagano with Machinedrum,
Prefuse 73, Moodman and
more. Jun 1-2. from 3pm,
¥7,500-13,000. Kodama no
Mori. Nearest stn: Yabuhara.
www.taicoclub.com
Envy
Hardcore punk and post-rock
veterans. Jun 1, 7pm, ¥2,500
(adv) +1d. Liquidroom. Nearest
stn: Ebisu. Tel: 03-3444-6751.
www.smash-jpn.com
Noid Festival
The Used, Silverstein and
Crossfaith. May 19, 6pm, ¥5,500
+1d. Shibuya-AX. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. Tel: 03-3499-6669.
www.altpress.jp
Alt. rock festival with Egg
Brain, Man with a Mission and
more. Jun 2, 3pm, ¥3,000 (adv)
+1d. Studio Coast. Nearest stn:
Shin-Kiba. Tel: 03-3496-1785.
www.noid-japan.com
Weekend Lovers
James Blake
J-rock greats The Birthday
and Mannish Boys. May 20,
7pm, ¥5,250 (adv) +1d. Studio
Coast. Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba.
Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.
smash-jpn.com
Tom Tom Club
Talking Heads side-project
back after a 12 year hiatus.
May 20-21, 7 & 9:30pm, ¥6,5008,500. Billboard Live. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-
London-based weaver of
tangled electronic webs. Jun 4,
7pm, ¥6,000 (adv) +1d. Studio
Coast. Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba.
Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.
smash-jpn.com
Helloween
Metal giants with guest
Gammaray. Jun 5, 7pm,
¥8,500-9,500 (adv) +1d. Zepp
Tokyo. Nearest stn: Aomi. Jun
7, 7pm, ¥8,500-9,500 (adv)
COURTESY OF HOSTESS
Love Psychedelico
The Hitch Lowke, i-Rabbits,
Real Reach and more. May
18, 5pm, ¥2,500 (adv)/
¥3,000 (door) +1d. Club
Quattro. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
Tel: 03-3477-8750. www.
club-quattro.com
With Your Song is Good.
May 11, 6:30pm, ¥3,500
(adv)/ ¥4,000 (door) +1d.
Yokohama Bay Hall. Nearest
stn: Motomachi-Chukagai.
Tel: 045-624-3900.
CONCERT
Jon Cleary Trio
British acoustic guitarist.
May 10, ¥7,000-8,000. Cotton
Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo.
Tel: 03-3215-1555. www.
cottonclubjapan.co.jp
Bobby Womack
US soul musician. May 10-12,
¥10,800-¥12,800. Billboard
Live. Nearest stn: Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3405-1133. www.
billboard-live.com
Robben Ford
US blues, jazz and rock
guitarist. May 12-13, ¥8,400¥9,500. Cotton Club. Nearest
stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp
Kazumi Watanabe, Jeff
Berlin & Virgil Donati
Jazz fusion trio. May 12,
¥6,500. Blue Note. Nearest stn:
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. www.bluenote.co.jp
Benny Golson Quartet
US hard-bop jazz tenor
saxophonist. May 13-16. 7 &
9:30pm, ¥8,400. Blue Note.
Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel:
03-5485-0088. www.bluenote.
co.jp
The Dazz Band
US funk music band. May
Hostess Weekender
International record distributor and promoter Hostess’s
Weekender events have become a Tokyo indie rock institution
within just a few years. The thrice-annual event’s June edition
offers a mix of indie veterans and emerging lights. Long-running
Icelandic electro experimentalists Mum are back, as are
Brit-rock warhorses Travis, British Sea Power and Editors.
Norway indie poppers Team Me debuted only in 2011 while
Indians are generating press as the alter ego of Copenhagenite
Søren Løkke Juul, just signed to legendary indie imprint 4AD.
Yebisu Garden Hall, Jun 8-9, ¥7,900 (1 day)/ ¥13,900 (2 days)
+1d. Yebisu Garden Hall. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.ynos.tv/
hostessclub
16-17, 6:30 & 9pm, ¥8,400¥9,500. Cotton Club. Nearest
stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
Sound/Art—Tuning in to
Africa
Famed Malian lutist Ballake
Sissoko. May 18-19, 2pm,
¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door)
+1d. Yokohama Creativecity
Center. Nearest stn: Kannai
or Sakuragicho. Tel: 045-2210325. http://saa.yafjp.prg
Funk Fantabulous
Piano jazz band COC and
vintage instrumentalists
TEFCO team up. May 18, 7pm,
¥1,500. Ruby Room. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-37803022. www.facebook.com/
TEFCO
Sinne Eeg
Bittersweet vocals from
Scandinavia. May 20, from
¥6,000. Cotton Club. Nearest
stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
Ari Hoenig Trio
Jazz drummer from
Philadelphia. May 21-23, 6:30
& 9pm, ¥6,500-¥7,500. Cotton
Tel: 03-3215-1555. www.
Pat Metheny Unity Band
Keiko Lee with Gerald
Alston of The Manhattans
Jazz diva. May 29-30, 7 &
9:30pm, ¥8,400. Blue Note.
Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel:
03-5485-0088. www.bluenote.
co.jp
Irma Thomas
Soul Queen of New Orleans.
May 29-30, 7 & 8:45pm, ¥6,800¥8,800. Billboard Live. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-34051133. www.billboard-live.com
Cassandra Wilson
US jazz musician. May 31-Jun
2. ¥8,400. Blue Note. Nearest
stn: Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. www.bluenote.co.jp
Jef Neve Trio
Belgian keyboardist. Jun 1-2. 5
& 8pm, ¥5,000-¥6,000. Cotton
Tel: 03-3215-1555. www.
Lewis Nash Trio
Prolific jazz drummer with
band. Jun 11-12. 6:30pm and
9pm, ¥6,500-8,500. Cotton
Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo. www.
CLASSICAL
The New Japan
Philharmonic
US jazz guitarist. May 21-26.
various times, ¥12,500.
Blue Note. Nearest stn:
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. www.bluenote.co.jp
Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 and
more. May 10-11, 2pm, ¥2,000¥4,500. Sumida Triphony Hall.
Nearest stn: Kinshicho. Tel:
03-5610-3815. www.triphony.
com
Jazztronik
Classical Holiday
Jazz-and-house DJ. May 22,
¥4,500/6,500. Billboard Live.
Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.
billboard-live.com
Bettye LaVette
US soul singer-songwriter.
May 25, ¥6,500-¥8,500.
Billboard Live. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-1133.
www.billboard-live.com
Fabrizio Bosso Quartet
Trumpet and acoustic jazz
from Italy. May 26. Cotton
Suoni Italiani
“Italian sounds” by Stefano
Bollani. May 26, 7pm, ¥6,000.
Suntory Hall Blue Rose.
Nearest stn: Roppongi Itchome.
www.newageproductions.it
Hod O’Brien Trio
American jazz pianist. May
29-May 31. 6:30 & 9pm,
¥7,000-¥8,000. Cotton
Tel: 03-3215-1555. www.
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
plays Gershwin and more. May
11, 3pm, ¥4,500. Kanagawa
Ongakudo. 9-2, Momijigoka,
Nishi-ku, Yokohama. Tel:
045-662-8866. www.
kanagawa-ongakudo.com
155th Matinée Series
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony
Orchestra plays Rachmaninoff
and Tchaikovsky. May 12,
2pm, ¥1,500-7,000. Tokyo
Metropolitan Art Space.
Nearest stn: Ikebukuro. Tel:
0570-00-4390. www.geigeki.jp
Wiener Symphoniker
Mozart, Brahms and
Beethoven. May 13 & 15,
7pm, ¥7,000-22,000. Suntory
Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. Schubert and
Mahler. May 18, 6:30pm,
¥7,000-19,000. Tokyo Opera
City Concert Hall. Nearest stn:
Hatsudai. Tel: 03-5774-3040.
www.japanarts.co.jp
Alexander Romanovsky
Piano concert. May 14, 7pm,
¥4,500. Hamarikyu Asahi
Hall. Nearest stn: Shibashi. Tel:
03-5774-3040. www.japanarts.
co.jp
Music in Heaven: The
Comfort in Spirit
Harp concert to support those
dealing with terminal care.
Reservations required. May 15,
7pm, free. Hamarikyu Asahi
Hall. Nearest stn: Shibashi.
Tel: 03-5458-9560. info@
gem-impact.com
Tokyo String Quartet
International quartet plays
Haydn, Beethoven and more.
May 16, 7pm, ¥3,000-6,000.
Tokyo Opera City Concert
Hall. Nearest stn: Shinjuku or
Hatsudai. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
www.japanarts.co.jp
Ingrid Fuzjko Hemming
Swedish pianist. May 16,
7pm, ¥6,000-¥8,000. Sumida
Triphony Hall. Nearest stn:
Kinshicho. Tel: 03-3670-5099.
http://fuzjko.aoba.bz
CLUBBING
COURTESY OF HOSTESS
Mariana
Belgian producer Peter Van
Hoesen heads up the latest
installment of Mariana
(see: Mariana Trench) as
the long-running techno
event moves to house
temple Eleven. Created by
onetime Tokyo resident,
UK producer and promoter
Dave Twomey, aka Tr nch,
Mariana celebrates its
fourth birthday and the
debut of Twomey’s new
label of the same name.
Known for techno at once
deep and spacy but bright
and uplifting, Van Hoesen
is a hot draw with Japan’s minimal crowd. His latest long-player
is last fall’s well-received Perceiver.
Eleven, May 11, 10pm, ¥3,000 (w/ flyer)/ ¥3,500 (door) +1d.
Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.go-to-eleven.com
Since 1949
今年は"にほんごをもの"にする
Éric Le Sage
Debussy, Beethoven and more.
May 16, 7pm, ¥4,500-¥6,000.
Kioi Hall. Nearest stn: Yotsuya.
Tel: 03-3237-0061. www.
kioi-hall.or.jp
Tomotaka Okamoto
Boléro and more. May 17,
7pm, ¥3,000-¥4,000. Shinjuku
Bunka Center. Nearest stn:
Higashi-Shinjuku. Tel: 03-33501141. www.regasu-shinjuku.
or.jp
Concert for Kids
jac.go.jp/english
Tokyo Sky Tree Town
Anniversary
Vocaloid Opera: The End
Rakugo in English
A rare chance to hear 12
traditional Japanese comic
storytellers in English. May 19,
12:30pm, free. Shinjuku Bunka
Center. Nearest stn: HigashiShinjuku. Tel: 03-3350-1141.
www.rakugo-in-english.com
New Japan Philharmonic
plays Beethoven. May 22, 3pm,
¥3,000. Sumida Triphony Hall.
Nearest stn: Kinshicho. Tel:
03-5608-1212. www.triphony.
com
Operatic stage performance
by virtual artist Hatsune Miku
and others. May 23-24, ¥5,00010,000. Bunkamura Orchard
Hall. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.bunkamura.co.jp/
english/orchard
The World of Dragon Quest
X
Kodo Legend
Before Zero
Songs from Carmen and more.
Classical event for pregnant
women. May 25, 3pm, ¥1,0003,000. Philia Hall. Nearest stn:
Aobadai. Tel: 03-3261-9933.
www.smf.or.jp/kids
Lise de la Salle
Piano recital. May 26, 3pm,
¥1,000-3,500. Saitama
Arts Theater. Nearest stn:
Yonohonmachi. Tel: 0570-064939. www.saf.or.jp
La Mer and Petrouchka
Duo piano recital of Debussy's
and Stravinsky's works. May
30, 7pm, ¥4,000-6,000. Kioi
Hall. Nearest stn: Yotsuya. Tel:
03-5774-3040. www.japanarts.
co.jp
Stage
Michael Jackson: The
Immortal
Cirque de Soleil celebrates the
star; May 10-12, various times.
Saitama Super Arena. Nearest
stn: Saitama-Shintoshin.
May 16-19, ¥6,000-25,000.
Yokohama Arena. Nearest stn:
Shin-Yokohama. Tel: 0570-029973. http://mj-t.jp
Nabucco
Giuseppe Verdi’s opera about
the enslaving of the Jews. May
19-Jun 4, 6:30pm, ¥5,250¥26,250. New National Theatre
Tokyo. Nearest stn: Hatsudai.
Tel: 03-5352-9999. www.nntt.
D A I LY CO N V E R S AT I O N A N D B U S I N E S S J A PA N E S E
French house-music
magician and global star.
May 11, 9:30-11:30pm,
from ¥3,500. XEX
Nihonbashi. Nearest stn:
Mitsukoshi-mae.
www.xexgroup.com
Series aimed at parents
with children, inc. pregnant
mothers. May 18, 11am,
¥1,000-1,800. Nakano Zero
Hall. Nearest stn: Nakano. Tel:
03-5340-5042. www.smf.or.jp/
kids. May 25, 11am, ¥1,5002,500. Philia Hall. Nearest stn:
Aobadai. Tel: 03-3261-9933.
www.smf.or.jp/kids
Popular video-game music
turned classical. May 25, 2pm,
¥4,000-5,000. Olympus Hall
Hachioji. Nearest stn: Hachioji.
Tel: 042-655-0802. www.
olympus.hall-info.jp
EVERGREEN LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Bob Sinclair
Traditional Japanese taiko
performance. May 29, 7pm,
¥4,500 (general), ¥3,000
(students). Green Hall. Nearest
stn: Sagami-Oono. www.
kodo.or.jp
Cosi Fan Tutte
Mozart’s tale of love, betrayal
and fiancé swapping. Jun 3-15,
¥4,200-23,100. New National
Theatre Tokyo. Nearest stn:
Hatsudai. Tel: 03-5352-9999.
www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english
4 Stars: One World of
Broadway Musicals
Lea Salona, Ramin Karimloo
and others perform songs
from Les Misérables and more.
Jun 15-23, ¥8,000-11,500.
Aoyama Theater. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. kyodotokyo.
com/4starsTokyo
Scheherazade
Ballet of the Arabian
storyteller. Jul 13, 2pm; Jul
14-15, 2pm, ¥5,000-14,000.
Bunkyo Civic Hall. Tel:
050-3776-6184. www.
koransha.com/ballet/
shinzui2013
Women of Ireland
Full entertainment showcase
with song, dance and live
music. Jul 19, 7pm. Bunkamura
Orchard Hall. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.bunkamura.
co.jp/english/orchard
Dance
Emanuelle Huynh and
Akira Kasai
A grand master of improv
dancing and a contemporary
choreographer move in
symbiosis. May 17-19, ¥3,000
(adv)/ ¥3,500 (door). Asahi Art
Square. Nearest stn: Asakusa.
APPLY NOW FOR SUMMER COURSE!
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Tel: 042-316-3508. http://
akirakasai.com
Utopía
María Pagés Flamenco
Company presents the
doyenne’s latest work. May
18-19, Various times, ¥7,00012,600. Bunkamura Orchard
Hall. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.bunkamura.co.jp/
english
Apollo
Male-only dance troupe,
Condors, performs a new,
dynamic piece directed by
Ryohei Kondo. May 18-19,
2 & 7pm, ¥4,100-5,000.
Saitama Arts Theater.
Nearest stn: Yonohonmachi.
Tel: 0570-064-939. www.
saf.or.jp
www.evergreen.gr.jp
[email protected]
FREE TRIAL LESSON
03-3713-4958
YUTENJI 03-3713-4958 JIYUGAOKA 03-3723-4785
Facset
g
n
i
v
i
d
n
Sky
Experieing
Skydivokyo!
near T
A Gift From Malakhov
Final
Artistic director of Berlin
State Ballet performs original
piece with international
cast. May 21-26, 3pm,
¥5,000-16,000. Tokyo Bunka
Kaikan. Nearest stn: Ueno.
Tel: 03-5721-8000. www.nbs.
or.jp/english
Children of Paradise
Based on the French film
directed by Marcel Carné.
May 30-Jun 1, various
times. Tokyo Bunka
Kaikan. Nearest stn: Ueno.
www.t-bunka.jp/en
Start: 8:45 or 10:45am at Ootone Airport
Airport & pick up location info:
http://www.skydivefast.com/access
Pick up: 6:50am at Tokyo Metropolitan
Theater, 3min walk from Ikebukuro stn
(west gate park)
Price: Tandem Skydiving: ¥39,800
Personalized video: ¥10,000
Max Weight: 80kg
www.skydivefast.com
Tel: 04-2956-7597 (Business Hours: 9am~7pm, everyday)
Clubbing
FRIDAY 10
Ageha
Rhythmholic. Electro: DJs
Darren Emerson, Ol Killer,
etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500.
Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba. www.
ageha.com
Air
Eden. Underground dance
music: DJs Watanabe,
Maeda, etc. From 1am,
¥2,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.air-tokyo.com
Oto
Martinica. Jazz, soul: DJs
Iwamura, Ishikawa, etc.
From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d.
Tel: 03-6457-7983. www.
club-oto.com
Ruby Room
Mention Metropolis
for FREE ADMISSION
THE RACE IS ON!
Groups of 4 or more can
compete with each other
JR S
oto
bo li
ne
Keiy
oH
igh
wa
y
Admission
1 ticket (7 min)=¥2000, 3 tix=¥5000, 5 tix=¥7500
JR Keiyo
Line
Help. DJ Sakiyan and more.
From 11pm, ¥1,500 w/1d.
rubyroomtokyo.com
Agenda Listings
Sound Museum Vision
Girls Festival. Hip-hop
DJs Kaori, Kango, etc: Live:
Fire Ball. From 10pm,
(m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f) free.
vision-tokyo.com
The New Matrix Bar
Matrix Friday. Old school
hip-hop, west side, south
side, all mix DJ Ykk and
more. From 6pm, ¥1,000
(after 11:30pm). Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp
Village
Fantastic. Hip-hop: DJs
Hokuto, Kekke, etc. From
10pm, (m)¥3,000 w/1d,
(f)¥2,000 w/2d. Nearest stn:
Azabu-Juban or Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6230-0343. www.
villagetokyo.com
Womb
Go. Techno: DJ Richie
Hawtin and more. From
11pm, ¥3,500. Minus
Connected & Reunited.
Techno: DJ Richie Hawtin
and more. From 11pm,
www.womb.co.jp
SATURDAY 11
Ageha
The Wonderland. Techno:
DJs Paul Van Dyk, Yoda, etc.
From 11pm, ¥4,500. Nearest
stn: Shin-Kiba. www.ageha.
com
Air
Upbeat. House, all mix: DJs
Nakamura, Kurihara, etc.
From 10pm, ¥3,000. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.
com
Sound Museum Vision
Hed Kandi x Tokyo Runway.
Hip-hop: DJs Ivan Gough,
Daishi Dance, etc. From
10pm, (m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f)
¥2,500 w/1d. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.vision-tokyo.
com
The New Matrix Bar
Fatfingaz, Buddah, etc. From
10pm, (m)¥3,000 w/1d,
(f)¥2,000 w/2d. Nearest stn:
Azabu-Juban or Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6230-0343. www.
villagetokyo.com
Womb
Reel Up. Techno
DJs Ken Ishii, Yama, etc: Live:
Guy Gerber. From 11pm,
www.womb.co.jp
THURSDAY 16
The Room
Ryukyu Holic. Loose & hot
music: DJs Genta, Sato, etc.
From 10pm, ¥2,000 w/1d.
theroom.jp
Village
Celebration. Hip-hop: DJs Sah,
Yaz, etc. From 11pm, (m)¥2,000
w/1d, (f)¥1,000 w/2d. Nearest
stn: Azabu-Juban or Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6230-0343. www.
villagetokyo.com
FRIDAY 17
Air
Endless Flight. House: DJs Koze,
Kawasaki, etc. From 10pm,
Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.com
Eleven
The Awaiting Rural. Techno: DJs
Neel, Brando Lupi, etc. From
10pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.go-to-eleven.
com
Liquidroom
Incubation Release Party.
Techno: DJs Function, Nobu,
etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500.
Nearest stn: Ebisu. Tel: 03-4640800. www.liquidroom.net
Module
Think Big. Hip-hop: DJs Nobu,
Tomy, etc. May 18, from 10pm,
Shibuya. www.module-tokyo.
com
Sound Museum Vision
Touchme After Party. House,
electro: DJs Nakata, Tanaka,
etc. May 18, from 9pm,
(m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f)¥2,500
w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.vision-tokyo.com
The Room
Magic. House, crossover: DJ
Kawasaki and more. May
18, from 9pm, ¥2,500 w/1d.
theroom.jp
Womb
Touchme After Party. House,
electro: DJs Ruth Flowers,
Usus, etc. May 18, from 9pm,
(m)¥3,000, (f)¥2,000. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. www.womb.
co.jp
Exhibitions
AKASAKA/ROPPONGI
21_21 Design Sight
Sound Museum Vision
Mori Art Museum
The Room
Womb
Grand Slam. Hip-hop: DJs
Radiogenic. New wave
DJs Moodman, Ugawa, etc:
Live: Ep-4. May 18, from 12am,
¥4,000. Nearest stn: Ebisu.
Tel: 03-464-0800. www.
liquidroom.net
Nightout. DJs James Dean
Brown, Pi-Ge, etc. From 11pm,
www.rubyroomtokyo.com
Ruby Room
Defected in The House. House:
DJs Chocolate Puma DJ Zki &
Dobre, Daishi Dance, etc. From
10pm, (m)¥3,500, (f)¥3,000.
vision-tokyo.com
Village
Liquidroom
Design Ah! NHK educational
program exhibits “Design
Mind.” Mixed media. Until
Jun 2, ¥500-1,000. Open
Mon & Wed-Sun 11am-8pm,
closed Tue. 9-7-6 Akasaka,
Minato-ku. Nearest stn:
Nogizaka. Tel: 03-3475-2121.
www.2121designsight.jp
Saturday Night Fever.
Hip-hop, R&B, reggae: DJ Ykk
and more. From 6pm, ¥1,000
(after 10pm). Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp
Sound Sanctuary. House,
crossover: DJ Shuya
Okino(Kyoto Jazz Massive)
and more. From 10pm,
Shibuya. www.theroom.jp
Raye Antonelli, Danny T, etc.
May 18, from 10pm, ¥3,000.
air-tokyo.com
Trouble House. House: DJ
Emma. From 11pm, ¥3,500.
womb.co.jp
UPCOMING
Air
Ministry of Sound. House: DJs
All You Need Is Love. Works
from Chagall to Kusama. Until
Sep 1, 10am-10pm (until 5pm
on Tue), ¥1,500. Open Mon
& Wed-Sun 10am-10pm, Tue
10am-5pm. 6-10-1 Roppongi.
Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.
mori.art.museum
Mori Arts Center Gallery
Alphonse Mucha: An Insight
into the Artist. Until May 19,
10am-8pm. ¥800- ¥1,500.
52F Roppongi Hills Tower,
6-10-1 Roppongi. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.roppongihills.
com/art/macg
EXHIBITION
Suntory Museum of Art
“Mono no Are” and Japanese
Beauty. Key motifs in
Japanese art. Until Jun 16,
Open Wed-Sat 10am-8pm,
Sun-Mon & hols 10am-6pm,
closed Tue. 9-7-4 Akasaka,
Minato-ku. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.suntory.
jp/sma
葛飾北斎「冨嶽三十六景　凱風快晴」
（太田記念美術館蔵）
The National Art
Center, Tokyo
California Design, 1930-1965:
Living in a Modern Way.
Furniture, fashion, pottery
and photography. Until
Jun 3, ¥1,000. The Lady and
the Unicorn. 16th-century
tapestries from the Museé de
Cluny in Paris. Until Jul 15,
¥600-1,500. Open Wed-Mon
10am-6pm, closed Tue.
7-22-2 Roppongi. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.nact.jp
Fantastic Comics
Manga, it’s said, has its roots in the woodprint tradition that
flowered in Edo-era Japan. But how did ukiyo-e—better known
for depictions of Mt Fuji and high-class prostitutes—lead to
today’s material? “Katsushika Hokusai and Kawanabe Kyosai—
Fantastic Comics” tries to solve this riddle with the works of two
of the greatest ukiyo-e masters. Hokusai’s fantastical scenes,
and his disciple Kyosai’s dancing skeletons, show how, as the
art progressed, humor increasingly entered the picture. These
artists’ subject matter, as well as their drawing technique, are
presented as tracing a more direct line to 20th-century manga.
Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art, until Jun 26, free (JHS &
under), ¥700 (HS & univ), ¥1,000 (gen). Open Tue-Sun 10:30am5:30pm, closed Mon. 1-10-10 Jingumae. Nearest stn: Harajuku.
www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp
GINZA/KYOBASHI
/TOKYO
Bridgestone Museum
Through Japanese Eyes: Paris,
1900-1945. Painting. Until Jun
9, ¥500-800. Open Tue-Sun &
hols 10am-8pm, closed Mon.
1-10-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku.
Nearest stn: Tokyo. www.
bridgestone-museum.gr.jp
Craft Gallery, The National
Museum of Modern Art
Body x Body x Body. An
eye-opening exploration of
the human body. Jun 25-Sep
1, ¥70-200. Open Tue-Thu
10am-5pm, Fri 10am-8pm,
Sat-Sun 10am-5pm.
1-1 Kitanomaru-koen
Chiyoda-Ku. Nearest stn:
Takebashi. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
www.momat.go.jp/english
Ginza Graphic Gallery
Why Not Associates: We Never
Had a Plan So Nothing Could Go
Wrong. Photography. Jun 5-29,
free. Open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm,
Sat 11am-6pm, closed Sun
& hols. 1F Ginza Bldg, 7-7-2
Ginza. Nearest stn: Ginza.
www.dnp.co.jp/gallery/ggg_e
H.P. France Window
Gallery
Cadence Circus Decadence.
Wooden carvings of modern
women. Until May 23, free.
Open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm,
Sun & Hols 11am-8pm. 1F
Marunouchi Bldg. 2-4-1
Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku. Tel:
03-3240-5791. www.hpfrance.
com/en
Idemitsu Museum of Arts
Genji-e and Ise-e: The Illustrated
Love Stories. Traditional
Japanese art. Until May 19,
¥700-1,000. Kosometsuke
and Shonzui. Blue-and-white
tea ceramics. May 25-Jun 30,
¥700-1,000. Open Tue-Thu
closed Mon. 9F Teigeki Bldg,
3-1-1 Marunouchi. Nearest stn:
Tokyo. www.idemitsu.co.jp/
museum
Marunouchi Gyoko-dori
Underground Gallery
Art Award Tokyo Marunouchi.
Upcoming contemporary
artists. Until May 26, free. 2
Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku.
Nearest stn: Tokyo. http://
marunouchi.com
Mitsubishi Ichigokan
Museum
Great French Paintings from
the Clark. Renaissance to
19th-century Western art.
Feb 9. Until May 26, ¥1,500
(general). The Clark Collection.
Paintings by Renoir, Manet,
Monet, etc. Until May
26, ¥500-1,500. Wed-Fri
10am-8pm, Tue, Sat & Sun/
hols 10am-6pm, closed Mon.
2-6-2 Marunouchi. Nearest stn:
Tokyo. www.mimt.jp
Mitsui Memorial Museum
Kyosai: Noh and Kyogen
Paintings. Hokusai's greatest
successor's works. Until Jun
16, ¥600-1,200. 7F Mitsui
Main Bldg, 2-1-1 NihombashiMuromachi, Chuo-ku. Nearest
stn: Mitsukoshimae. Tel:
03-5777-8600. www.mitsuimuseum.jp
National Film Center
Japanese Film Heritage.
Permanent collection of works
from the National Film Center.
Until Apr 3, ¥40-200. Open
Tue-Sun 11am-6:30pm, closed
Mon. 3-7-6 Kyobashi. Nearest
stn: Kyobashi. www.momat.
go.jp
National Museum of
Modern Art Tokyo
Francis Bacon. 20th
anniversary of the artist’s
death. Until May 26, 10am-5pm
(until 8pm Fri), closed Mon,
¥700 (HS), ¥1,100 (univ),
¥1,500 (gen). Design Project for
the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.
Until May 26, ¥130-420. Open
Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 10am-5pm,
Fri 10am-8pm. 3-7-6 Kyobashi.
OPEN
CAMPUS
Meet Japan’s Largest MBA Program
Full-time MBA
Part-time MBA
Pre-MBA
May 14 / May 24
19 : 00 - 21: 00
@ Tokyo Campus
www.globis.ac.jp
Nearest stn: Takebashi. www.
momat.go.jp
HARAJUKU/AOYAMA
Diesel Art Gallery
I See a Different You. Studio
Africa photography exhibit.
Until May 10, free. Open
daily 11:30am-9pm. 1-23-16
Shibuya. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.diesel.co.jp/art
Nezu Museum
National Treasure Irises Screens
Rinpa Splendor. Ogata Korin's
screens. Until May 19, Ceramics
and Ukiyo-e Masterpieces from
the Hagi Uragami Museum.
Paintings and ceramics.
Jun 1-Jul 15, ¥1,000-1,200.
Tue-Sun, 10am-4:30pm. 6-5-1
Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku.
Nearest stn: Omotesando.
www.nezu-muse.or.jp/en
SHIBUYA/EBISU
Bunkamura: The Museum
Antonio López. Key
contemporary Spanish artist.
Until Jun 16, ¥700-1,500. Open
Mon-Thu & Sun 10am-7pm,
Fri-Sat 10am-8pm. 2- 24-1
Dogenzaka. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-9111.
www.bunkamura.co.jp
Meguro Museum of Art
Kenichi Sawaki. Illustration.
Until Jun 9, ¥550-700. Open
Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, closed
Mon. 2-4-36 Meguro. Nearest
stn: Meguro. Tel: 03-37141201. www.mmat.jp
Parco Museum
Anzai Expo. Mixed media.
60th-birthday tribute to
Hajime Anzai. May 17-Jun 2,
¥400-500. Hatarakitai. Mixed
media. Art by Shigesato Itoi,
on theme “wanting to work.”
Jun 6-17, ¥400-500. Open
daily 10am-9pm. B1F Parco
Part1, 15-1 Udagawacho,
Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-34775873. www.parco-art.com
Poster Hari's Gallery
Shuji Terayama and Tenjo
Sasaki Poster Exhibit. Theater
posters 1967-1983. Until May
19, ¥300-500. 1-9pm. Asaka
Bldg 103, 2-26-18 Dogenzaka,
Shibuya. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5456-7218. http://
posterharis.com
Sompo Japan Museum of
Art
Odilon Redon. Oil paintings,
lithographs, prints. Until Jun
23, ¥600-1,000. Tue-Sun,
10am-6pm, closed Mon. 42F
Sompo Japan Bldg, 1-26-1
Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest stn:
Accounting
• Auditing
• IPO Consulting
• Due Diligence
Shinjuku. Tel: 03-5405-8686.
www.sompo-japan.co.jp/
museum
The Watari-Um Museum
of Contemporary Art
closed Mon. 7-20 Ueno
Park. Nearest stn: Ueno.
Tel: 03-3822-0111. www.
kahaku.go.jp
JR: Could Art Change the
World? Mixed media by
French “photograffuer.” Until
Jun 2, ¥800-1,000. Open Tue
& Thu-Sun 11am-7pm, Wed
11am-9pm, closed Mon.
3-7-6 Jingumae. Nearest stn:
Gaienmae. www.watarium.
co.jp
The National Museum
of Western Art
Tobacco and Salt
Museum
The University Art
Museum
Series of Art Prints on the
Theme of Japanese Literary
Works. Mixed media. Until
May 12, free. Open Tue-Sun
10am-6pm, closed Mon. 1-16-8
Jinnan. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
Tel: 03-3476-2041. www.jti.
co.jp/culture/museum
Tokyo Metropolitan
Museum of Photography
The Black is Waiting for the
White. Photographer Marci
Giacomelli’s works focusing
on contrasts. Until May 12,
¥600-1,000. Open Tue-Wed &
Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri
10am-8pm, closed Mon. 1-13-3
Mita, Meguro-ku. Nearest stn:
Ebisu. http://syabi.com
Yamatane Museum of Art
Raffaello. Painter and
architect of the Italian
Renaissance. Until Jun 2,
¥1,500. Open daily 9:30am5:30pm. 7-7 Ueno Park.
Nearest stn: Ueno. www.
nmwa.go.jp
Natsume Soseki and Arts.
British art that inspired one
of Japan's greatest Meiji-era
writers. May 14-Jul 7,
¥700-1,500. Open Tue-Sun
12-8 Ueno Park. Nearest stn:
Ueno. www.geidai.ac.jp/
museum
UENO
Ueno Royal Museum
National Museum of
Nature and Science
Deep Sea. Earth's last frontier.
Jul 6-Oct 6, ¥300-600
admission, plus special
exhibition fee. Written in the
Bodies Lived at the Capital
Edo. Skeletons, sketches and
garments. Until Jun 16, ¥600.
Open Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun
We can support you with:
Visa and immigration
Intellectual property rights
(Patent, trademark, copyrights)
Tokyo National
Museum
A Profusion of Flowers.
The language and the
encyclopedia of flowers.
Until Jun 2, ¥800-1,000.
Open Tue-Fri 11am-5pm,
closed Mon & hols. 3-12-36
Hiroo. Nearest stn: Ebisu.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.
yamatane-museum.or.jp
Feinberg Collection: From
Native Soil—The Flowering of
Edo Period Painting in Japan.
New York couple's 40-year
collection of Japanese
masterpieces. May 21-Jul 15,
¥650-1,300. Open Tue-Fri
& Sun 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat
9:30am-7:30pm, closed Mon
& hols. 1-4-1 Yokoami. Nearest
stn: Ryogoku. Tel: 03-36269974. www.edo-tokyomuseum.or.jp
Reasonable prices.
Free first time consultation
Leonardo da Vinci—Portraits
of a Genius. Illustrations and
oil paintings. Until Jun 30,
¥800-1,500.. 8-36 Ueno Park.
Nearest stn: Ueno. www.
tobikan.jp
Shinto Shrines. Sacred
treasures. Until Jun 2,
¥600-2,000. The Beauty of
Japanese-style Calligraphy. A
stunning collection showing
the evolution of kanji. Jul
13-Sep 8, ¥600-1,500. Open
Tue-Sun 9:30am-5pm. 13-9
Ueno Park. Nearest stn:
Ueno. www.tnm.jp
Edo-Tokyo Museum
J-STAR PATENT, TRADEMARK & IMMIGRATION OFFICE
Tokyo Metropolitan Art
Museum
Masterpieces of
Arisugawa-no-miya Yukari
Takamatsunomiya. Items
that belonged to the
Japanese imperial family.
May 21-Jul 14, ¥600-1,000.
Open Sat-Thu 10am-6pm,
Fri 10am-8pm. 1-2 Ueno
www.ueno-mori.org
Imperial
Palace
Aoyama Ave
Other Legal & Business matters
Patent attorney
Immigration lawyer
Exit 4,
Nagatacho stn
Supreme
Court
Establishing a Company &
Branch office
Hiroshi Oogai,
Grand Prince
Hotel Akasaka
www.j-star.jp
Akasaka
Mitsuke
stn
Akasaka
Excel
Hotel
Tokyu
National
Diet
Library
608 Kitano Arms 16-15, Hirakawa-cho, 2-Chome, Chiyoda-ku ,Tokyo, 102-0093
Tel: 03-5216-6890 Fax: 03-5216-6891
Email: [email protected]
OTHER AREAS
Hakone Museum of
Photography
Fuji-san. Photography
by Katsura Endo. Until
Jul 15, ¥300-500.
10am-5pm, closed Tues
(9am-9pm Sat from May
to August). 1300-432
Goura Hakonemachi,
Ashigarashimogun,
Kanagawa. Nearest stn:
Gora. Tel: 046-02-2717.
www.hmop.com
Visa Attorney
Tax
• Corporate
• Tax Preparation
Services
• Tax Consulting
• Immigration
• US Tax Filing
Services
• Accounting Services
• Payroll Services
More Than Twenty Years Experience
KASAI CPA
042-401-0342
Takashi Kasai CPA Firm
4-1-2-302 Honcho, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo
[email protected]
www.kasaicpa.com
Agenda Listings
Hara Museum of
Contemporary Art
Sophie Calle: For the Last and
First Time. Photography.
Images and interviews
with blind people. Until Jun
30, ¥500-1,000. Enoshima.
Photography by Eiichiro
Sakata. Jul 13-Sep 29,
¥500-1,000. Open Tue-Sun
4-7-25 Kita-Shinagawa.
Nearest stn: Kita-Shinagawa.
Tel: 03-3445-0651. www.
haramuseum.or.jp
Hoki Museum
Realism: Its Potential and
Challenges. Until May 19,
¥1,500 (general), ¥1,000
(HS). Feeling the Light and
the Wind. Realist painting
by Japanese artists. May
23-Nov 10, ¥750-1,500. Open
Mon & Wed-Thu 10am-6pm,
Fri, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun
10am-5pm, closed Tue. 3-15
Asumigaokahigashi, Midoriku. Nearest stn: Toke. www.
hoki-museum.jp
National Museum of
Japanese History
The Great Eastern Japan
Earthquake and its Recovery
Efforts. Images and talks by
people from the area. Until
Sep 23, ¥250-420. Open
Tue-Sun 9:30am-4:30pm,
closed Mon. 117 Jonai-cho,
Sakura-shi. Nearest stn:
Keisei-Sakura. www.
rekihaku.ac.jp
Nerima Art Museum
Makino Kunio. Oil
paintings. Until Jun 2,
¥300-500. Open Tue-Sun
1-36-16 Nukui. Nearest stn:
Nakamurabashi. www.city.
nerima.tokyo.jp/manabu/
bunka/museum
Pola Museum of Art
Looking for Beauty: Art
Collector Suzuki Tsuneshi.
An unassuming art lover's
extensive collection.
Until Jul 7, ¥700-1,800.
9am-4:30pm. 1285
Kozukayama, Sengokuhara,
Hakone-machi. Nearest stn:
Gora. www.polamuseum.
or.jp
The Museum of Modern
Art, Saitama
Tamamono. Mixed media.
Until May 19, ¥640-800.
Open daily 10:00am5:30pm. 9-30-1 Tokiwa,
Urawa-ku, Saitama-shi.
Nearest stn: Kitaurawa.
www.momas.jp
Yokohama Museum of
Art
Masterpieces of French
Paintings. Artworks on loan
from the State Pushkin
Museum of Fine Arts in
Moscow. Jul 6-Sep 16,
Fri-Wed 10am-6pm. 3-4-1
Minatomirai, Nishi-ku.
Nearest stn: Minato Mirai.
www.yaf.or.jp/yma
Sports
BASEBALL
62th All-Japan
University Baseball
Championship
May 11-May 16, various
times, ¥1,000. Meiji Jingu
Stadium & Tokyo Dome. Tel:
03-5464-5444.
Interleague
Tokyo

Yakult Swallows
vs. Saitama Seibu Lions. May
14-15, 6pm, ¥500-4,500.
Meiji Jingu Gaien. Nearest
stn: Harajuku. 03-5464-5444
Yokohama

DeNA BayStars
vs. Tohoku Rakuten Golden
Eagles. May 14-15, 6pm,
¥800-¥5,500. Yokohama
Stadium. Nearest stn:
Kannai. Tel: 04-5661-1251.
03-5464-5444
Yomiuri

Giants vs.
Chiba Lotte Marines. May
14-15, 6pm, ¥500-¥5,900.
Tokyo Dome. Nearest stn:
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-58009999. 03-5464-5444
Tokyo

Yakult Swallows
vs. Chiba Lotte Marines. May
17-18, 6pm, ¥500-4,500. Meiji
Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. 03-5464-5444
Yokohama

DeNA vs. Tohoku
Rakuten Golden Eagles.
May 18, 2pm, ¥800-¥5,500.
Yokohama Stadium. Nearest
stn: Kannai. Tel: 04-5661-1251.
03-5464-5444
Yomiuri

Giants vs. Saitama
Seibu Lions. May 18, 6pm,
¥1,500-¥4,500. Meiji Jingu
Gaien. Nearest stn: Harajuku.
03-5464-5444
FIGURE SKATING
Art on Ice
International stars put
on a series of magical
performances. Jun 1-2, 1
& 6:30pm, ¥8,000-28,000.
Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae.
Tel: 0570-550-799. www.
artonice.jp
GOLF
Japan Professional Golf
Championship
May 16-19, ¥10,000. Sohbu
Country Club. Nearest stn:
Inzai Makinohara. www.
pacificgolf.co.jp
JLPGA
Japan Professional Golf
Championship. May 16-19,
¥10,000. Sohbu Country Club.
Nearest stn: Inzai Makinohara.
www.pacificgolf.co.jp
KICKBOXING
Nice Middle 18
May 18, 11:30am, ¥3,00010,000. Shinjuku Face. Nearest
stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 042-3234546. www.nicemiddle.jp
MMA
J-Girls: Victorious Goddess
May 19, 5:30pm, ¥3,00015,000. Shinjuku Face. Nearest
stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 03-34982350. www.jg-kickboxing.jp
Pancrase 247
May 19, 4:30pm, ¥6,00012,000. Differ Ariake. Nearest
stn: Ariake-tennis-no-mori. Tel:
03-5339-9198. www.pancrase.
co.jp
MOTOR SPORTS
Gran Turismo D1GP Rd. 2
May 25-26, 10am, ¥1,000¥2,000. Suzuka Circuit. Nearest
stn: Suzuka Circuit Inou. Tel:
059-378-1111.
MOTORCYCLE RACING
Taste of Tsukuba
Motorcycle race. May 12,
¥3,200. Tsukuba Circuit.
Nearest stn: Furukawa. Tel:
0296-44-3146.
PRO WRESTLING
Noah: Final Burning
May 11, 5pm, ¥3,000-30,000.
Nippon Budokan. Nearest stn:
Kudanshita. Tel: 03-3527-5311.
www.noah.co.jp
Rise Up
May 18, 6pm, ¥4,000-7,000.
Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn:
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800-9999.
www.all-japan.co.jp
New Japan: Best of the
Super Jr
May 24, 6:30pm, ¥4,000-7,000.
Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn:
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800-9999.
www.njpw.co.jp
Wrestling New Classic
Tournament
May 24, 7pm, ¥3,000-7,000 +1d.
Shinjuku Face. Nearest stn:
Shinjuku. Tel: 03-6441-2940.
www.wnc-pro.com
WWE Live
Featuring wrestlers John Cena,
Dolph Ziggler and more. Jul
4-Jul 5, 7pm, ¥3,000-7,000.
Ryogoku Kokugikan. Nearest
stn: Ryogoku. Tel: 0570-550799. http://japantour13.wwe.
co.jp
RUGBY
Japan vs. Wales
Jun 15, 2pm, ¥600-5,500.
Chichibunomiya Rugby
Stadium. Nearest stn: Gaienmae.
Tel: 03-3401-3881. www.naash.
go.jp/chichibunomiya
Japan vs. USA
Jun 23, 12:10pm, ¥300-7,000.
Gaienmae. Tel: 03-3401-3290.
www.rugby-japan.jp/ticket
Tonga vs. Fiji
Jun 23, 2:10pm, ¥300-7,000.
Gaienmae. Tel: 03-3401-3290.
www.rugby-japan.jp/ticket
SOCCER
Urawa Reds vs. Kashima
Antlers
May 11, 7pm, ¥1,000-¥4,500.
Saitama Stadium. Nearest stn:
Urawamisono. Tel: 048-8121007. www.j-league.or.jp/eng
Omiya Ardija vs. Shonan
Bellmare
May 18, 5pm, ¥2,000-¥5,000.
NACK5 Stadium. Nearest stn:
Kitaomiya. Tel: 048-644-7950.
www.j-league.or.jp/eng
J. League, Division 1
Kawasaki

Frontale vs.
Cerezo Osaka. May 11, 3pm,
¥800-4,500. Todoroki Stadium.
Nearest stn: Musashikosugi.
Urawa

Reds vs. Kashima
Antlers. May 11, 7pm, ¥1,000¥4,500. Saitama Stadium.
Nearest stn: Urawamisono.
FC
Tokyo vs. Shimizu
S-Pulse. May 18, 7pm,
¥500-6,000. Ajinomoto
Tobitakyu.
Omiya

Ardija vs. Shonan
Bellmare. May 18, 5pm, ¥2,000¥5,000. NACK5 Stadium.
Nearest stn: Kitaomiya.
Kawasaki

Frontale vs.
Albirex Niigata. May 25, 3pm,
Kashiwa

Reysol vs. Urawa
Reds. May 26, 4pm, ¥2,300¥5,000. National Olympic
Gaienmae.
Urawa

Reds vs. Vegalta
Sendai. May 29, 7:30pm,
¥2,000-¥4,500. Saitama
Urawamisono.
Nabisco Cup
FC
Tokyo vs. Albirex Niigata.
May 15, 7pm, ¥500-5,000.
National Olympic Stadium.
Nearest stn: Gaienmae.
Kawasaki

Frontale vs.
Omiya Ardija. May 15, 7pm,
Soccer details at www.j-league.
or.jp/eng
SUMO
May Sumo Grand
Tournament
May 12-26, various, ¥2,10014,300. Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Nearest stn: Ryogoku. Tel:
03-3622-3300. http://sumo.
pia.jp/en
SWIMMING
Japan Open 2013
One of the Japan’s major
swimmers. May 24-26, 9am,
¥2,000-¥4,000. Sagamihara
Green Pool. Nearest stn:
Kamimizo. Tel: 042-758-3151.
Festivals
USMC Camp Fuji
Friendship Festival
Annual open base event with
military displays, etc, and an
after-party. Bring photo ID.
May 11, 11am-7pm (outside
area), 5pm-12am (nightclub
area), free. USMC Camp Fuji,
Nakabata 2092, Gotenba-shi,
Shizuoka. Nearest station:
Takigahara Jietai Mae.
Tel: 0550-89-6102. www.
mccsfuji.com
Thai Festival
Food and clothing stalls and
more. May 11-12, 10am-8pm,
free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. Tel: 03-3222-4101.
www.thaifestival.net
Kanda Matsuri
One of the three great
Shinto festivals in Japan,
feat. a mikoshi float
parade, drumming and
dance. May 9-15, free.
Kanda Myoujin. Nearest
stn: Shin-Ochanomizu or
Ochanomizu. Tel: 03-32540753. www.kandamyoujin.
or.jp
Sanja Matsuri
Over 100 portable shrines
paraded to bring good
fortune. May 16-19, free.
Asakusa Shrine. Nearest stn:
Asakusa. Tel: 03-3844-1575.
www.sanjasama.jp
Shibuya Kagoshima
Ohara Festival
Local specialties and a parade
on the second day. May 18-19,
10am-4pm, free. Hachiko
Square. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.shibuyadeohara.jp
Tokyo Hotaru Festival
Over 100,000 LED lights set
afloat, accompanied by live
music. May 25, 7pm, ¥1,0003,000. Sumidagawa River.
Nearest station: Asakusa.
Tel: 03-6825-7913. www.
tokyo-hotaru.jp
Satsuki Festival
A feast of azalea flowers.
May 29-Jun 3, free. Ueno
Tel: 03-3821-8430. www.
satsukikyokai.or.jp/
satsuki_fes
Tennou Sai
Portable shrine procession.
Jun 3 & 8-9, all day, free.
Susanoo Shrine. Nearest
station: Minami-Senju.
www.susanoo.or.jp/tennosai
Tokyo Pure Ice Festival
Shinagawa Intercity Flea
Market
More than 120 vendors.
Sun & hols, 9am-3pm, free.
Shinagawa Intercity. Nearest
stn: Shinagawa. meturl.com/
shinflea
Umi no Koen Flea Market
Every third Sun, 10am-4pm,
Umi no Koen. Nearest stn:
Uminokoen-Shibaguchi.
[email protected]
Tel: 03-3226-6800.
Best Flea Market
Every second Sun, 10am-4pm,
Tokyo International Forum
Hall C. Nearest stn: Yurakucho.
Tel: 03-3226-6800.
Hanazono Shrine Market
Every Sun, 8am-4pm,
Hanazono Shrine. Nearest
stn: Shinjuku-sanchome. Tel:
03-3200-3093.
Batoma Interior
Exhibition
Interior-design trade show
specializing in Christmassy
items. May 24-25, 11am-7pm;
May 26, 11am-5pm, ¥500.
Laforet Museum. Nearest stn:
Meiji-jingumae. www.batoma.
com
Island Lifestyle Show
Hawaii art, goods and more.
May 25-26, 10am-6pm, ¥800
(adv)/ ¥1,000 (door). Tokyo Big
Sight. Nearest stn: KokusaiTenjijo-Seimon. Tel: 03-64274596. www.hawaii.jp
Bazaars & Markets
Shimokitazawa
University Fair
Arts and crafts, workshops
and Tohoku charity events.
May 11-12, noon-7pm, free.
Around the station. Nearest
station: Shimokitazawa.
www.shimokita-univ.
com/2013spring
Learning
Tokyo Writers Workshop
Nogi Shrine Market
Book Picnic
Every second Sun, 5:30am3pm, Nogi Shrine. Nearest stn:
Nogizaka. Tel: 03-3478-3001.
Oedo Antique Fair
Japan’s largest outdoor
antique market. First and
third Sun, 8am-4:30pm, Tokyo
International Forum Hall C.
Nearest stn: Yurakucho. Tel:
03-5805-1093.
Aoyama Marché
Organic farmers’ market.
Every weekend. United
Nations University. Nearest
stn: Omotesando. Tel:
03-3456-0960.
Yasukuni Shrine Antique
Market
Every Sun, sunrise-sunset.
Yasukuni Shrine. Nearest
stn: Kudanshita. Tel: 03-32618326.
Forums & Expos
Biannual expo for upcoming
artists and artisans. May 18-19,
11am-7pm, ¥1,000. Tokyo Big
Sight. Nearest stn: KokusaiTenjijo-Seimon. designfesta.
com/en
Bicyclists of all treads meet
for slide shows, lectures,
ride-planning, etc. Every
second Wed, 7pm, free,
The Pink Cow. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. www.
halffastcycling.com
Farm-fresh veg from the north.
Every Sat, 7-9am, Roppongi
Hills East Court. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. Tel: 03-6406-5285.
Tokyo Street Hockey
Association
Design Festa Vol. 37
Half-Fast Cyclists
Ibaraki-ichi
Fudaten Jinja Market
Popular horticultural event
in its 15th year. May 11-16,
9:30am-5:30pm, ¥1,700 (adv),
¥2,000 (door), free (elem
and under). Seibu Dome.
Nearest stn: Seibukyujomae.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.
bara21.jp
Meet fellow knitters,
crocheters and sewers to
talk, share ideas, eat, drink
and create. Every first
and third Tue, 7pm, free,
Cafe Respekt. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.meetup.com/
TokyoStitchandBitch
Regular monthly meeting
to improve your work and
discuss others’. Check
submission guidelines
online. Nihon University
College of Art Ekoda Campus.
Tel: 03-5995-8201. www.
meetup.com/Tokyo-WritersWorkshop
A frozen wonderland with
ice bar, sculptures, games,
performances, and more. Jun
9, 10:30am-4pm, free. Ueno
Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel:
03-3828-5644. http://meturl.
com/icefest
International Roses and
Gardening Show
Stitch-n-Bitch
Every second Sun, 10am-4pm,
Fudaten Jinja. Nearest stn:
Chofu. Tel: 04-2489-0022.
Community
Casual group with regular
meet-ups. First, second and
third Fri. Check site for details.
www.tokyohockey.com
Dr. Sketchy’s
Anti-Art School
Burlesque models pose for
artstars and newbies alike with
food, drinks and arty socializing.
May 15, 7pm, ¥2,000. The Pink
Cow. Nearest stn: Roppongi.
www.drsketchytokyo.
wordpress.com
PechaKucha
Architects and designers
present at Heineken Star
Lounge. May 15, 8:20pm,
free. Heineken Star Lounge.
B6 Bldg, 6-28-6 Jingumae,
Shibuya-ku. Nearest
stn: Omotesando. www.
pechakucha.org
Southpaw Open Mike
New night for aspiring comics
and musicians. May 27,
9pm, free. For a spot email
southpawopenmike@gmail.
com. The Black Sheep. Nearest
stn: Ikebukuro. http://meturl.
com/blacksheepmike
Pause Talk
Open forum where creatives
can discuss projects, ideas and
cultural currents. Every first
Mon, Café Pause. Nearest stn:
Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-6912-7711.
www.pausetalk.org
Sunday Spin
Hula-hoop it up in Yoyogi,
no need to bring your own.
Drop in/out at any time. Every
fourth Sun, Yoyogi Park.
Nearest stn: Harajuku. Tel:
03-3469-6081. meturl.com/
hoopinginjapan
Meet contributers to
Forty Stories of Japan and
Downunder Japan, as well as
Japan on Foot writer Mary
King for some sun-soaked
discussion. May 26, noon,
free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. Tel: 090-9153-5917.
www.finelinepress.co.nz
Other Events
Zombie Walk
Join a parade of rotting
corpses around Harajuku.
Advance registration required
via hellozombiena@gmail.
com. May 11, from 2pm, free.
Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. www.zombiena.net
Sound/Art - Tuning in to
Africa
Art installations, live
performances and talk
sessions. May 14-20.
Yokohama Creativecity
Center. Nearest stn: Kannai
or Sakuragicho. Tel: 045-2210219. http://saa.yafjp.org
Mama Fes
Two-day event for mothers
and families, with workshops,
performances and goods on
sale. May 17-18, 10am-5pm,
¥1,000 (gen)/ free (JHS and
under). Tokyo Midtown.
Nearest stn: Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3475-3100. www.
mamafes.com
Manpaku
Open-air food festival with
dishes from all over the world
and a beer garden at night.
May 18-Jun 3, 10:30am-9pm,
¥400-¥2,000. Showa Kinen
Park. Nearest stn: Tachikawa.
http://manpaku.jp/201305
Pena Festayre
Southern French-themed event
with dinner and drinks. Wear
red and white for a free glass of
wine. Reservations required.
May 18, 5:30pm, ¥3,500
(10 food tickets for dishes,
outdoors)/ ¥5,000 (3 course
menu with wine, indoors). Le
Comptoir Occitan. Nearest stn:
Daikanyama or Nakameguro.
Email: bruno.leroy@
hesperidesadvisors.com.
One Love Festival
Reggae music, dance
championship and more.
May 18-19, all day, free.
Yoyogi Park. Nearest
stn: Harajuku. www.
onelovejamaicafestival.jp
Warrior Dash
Muddy obstacle race. Jun
15-16, from 8am. Sagamiko
Resort Pleasure Forest,
Kanagawa. Nearest stn:
Pleasure Forest Mae. Jun
22-23, from 8am. Free
(spectator)/ ¥1,000 (festival)/
¥8,000 (adventure run). Naeba
Ski Resort. Nearest stn: Echigo
Yuzawa. Tel: 03-4550-1199.
www.warriordash.jp
Strong, beautiful, flexible
Transform your body & soul at
BASI PILATES!
Offering you “Authentic Pilates”
Metropolis Campaign
Admission Fee: ¥15,750 ¥0
Trial Machine Private Lesson: ¥10,000 ¥8,400
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Private Lessons
¥30,000 ¥18,000
Machine Private Lessons available at our Roppongi studio
Lessons in English available
Studios in Roppongi, Ginza, Nakameguro and more
03-6425-7054 • [email protected]
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MOVIES
BY DON MORTON
IRON MAN 3: © 2012 MVLFFLLC. TM & © 2012 MARVEL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; SINISTER: (C)2012 ALLIANCE
FILMS (UK) LIMITED; EAMES: THE ARCHITECT AND THE PAINTER: © 2011 EAMES OFFICE, LLC.; GOD SAVE
MY SHOES: © CAID PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED./©MATTEL, INC.; GANGSTER SQUAD: © 2012
VILLAGE ROADSHOW FILMS (BVI) LIMITED; WELCOME TO THE PUNCH: ©THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE 2013;
KILLING THEM SOFTLY: © 2012 COGANS FILM HOLDINGS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; THE WE AND THE I:
(C)2012 NEXT STOP PRODUCTION. LLC. JELLYFISH EYES: ©TAKASHI MURAKAMI/KAIKAI KIKI CO., LTD. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
More reviews and theater details: metropolis.co.jp/movies
Metpod
NEW
IRON MAN 3
2
008’s Iron Man was a fun flick,
m a i n ly b e c au s e of Ro b e r t
Downey Jr.’s unique, irreverent
and even believable portrayal as
the brash-but-brilliant industrialistturned-superhero. The 2010 sequel
was, I thought, dutiful and a bit forced,
and I really don’t remember much
about the bombastic The Avengers.
But I’m glad to say that everyone’s
favorite skewed-hero Man in a Can
is back in form with IM3. As with the
first film, this one works
because Downey spends
a lot of time outside his
ferrous super-suit engaging
in his inimitable, rapid-fire
one-liners. A highlight is
Ben Kingsley, an absolute
hoot as “The Mandarin,” an
expectations-subverting
s u p e r-v i l l a i n w h o s e
vengeful, scorched-earth
ca mpa i g n a ga i n st Tony
Stark and all he holds dear
severely (and sorry about
this in advance) tests his
mettle. Guy Pearce again
demonstrates his range as
a convincing secondary (or
is it primary?) villain, one
of those dreaded smarmy
successful nerds. And of
course Gwyneth Paltrow
and Don Cheadle reprise
their roles as Pepper Potts
and Colonel Rhodes. Well
paced, excellent special effects (in
pointless 3D), pretty funny, entertaining from start to finish and a
satisfying, character-driven balance
of action, comedy and sci-fi. (130
min)
NEW
NEW
This fun, stylish and male-baffling
look at those thin gs that cover
your feet (women’s, that is) consists
largely of interviews with very
wealthy—what you’d have to call
“Imeldic”—ladies who have shoe
closets bigger than my 2DK. The
humble shoe is examined from the
sociological, historical, cultural and
psychological perspective —and
let’s not leave out the erotic. Or the
obsessive. Also represented are
designers like Manolo Blahnik, and a
lot of people speaking in French. But
mostly it’s rich ladies talking about
this pair of Jimmy Choos they just
hadda have but have never worn.
Baffling. Japanese title: Watashi ga
Kutsu wo Ai Suru Wake. (60 min)
SHOWING FROM MAY 11
A self-centered true crime hack
(Ethan Hawke) desperate for a new
hit book moves his unsuspecting
family into a house in which the
previous inhabitants were hanged
en masse, with one child still missing.
He finds some unsettling Super 8
footage that seems to be “family”
snuff films, in that entire families are
ritually burned, drowned or even
lawn-mowered. Ick. Develops like a
mystery thriller before plowing into
supernatural horror. Ending a bit
over the top, but a credible Hawke
holds it together. Relentlessly paced,
well crafted, above average boo
movie with a fittingly discordant
score. Japanese title: Footage. (110
min)
SHOWING FROM MAY 11
GOD SAVE MY SHOES
SINISTER
NEW
EAMES: THE ARCHITECT
AND THE PAINTER
You may never have come into
contact with Charles and Ray Eames,
but your butt most likely has. The
architectural-school dropout and
his wife, the painter who rarely
painted, are most commonly associated with the ubiquitous bentwood
“Eames chair.” But their influence
goes way beyond that. Their iconic
and groundbreaking mix of the
practical and the aesthetic fairly
flowed out of their wonderfully
prolific design studio in Venice, CA.
They made numerous short films,
designed the IBM logo, housewares
and exhibitions. A must-see for
designers. Japanese title: Futari no
Eames: Kenchika Charles to Gaka Ray.
(84 min) SHOWING FROM MAY 11
WELCOME TO THE PUNCH
Highly derivative (of Michael Mann
and Christopher Nolan), style-oversubstance Brit coppers-and-robbers
kill-’em-up. Solid performances by
James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Peter
Mullan and Andrea Riseborough are
repeatedly undermined by writing
rife with risible dialogue and plot
twists you can spot from a mile away.
And the thing’s so convoluted that it
must at one point be explained in one
of those at-gunpoint monologues.
Looks great, but I don’t remember
believing a thing in it. Bright side:
Pretty good Bad Movie potential if
you consume it with friends and a
few drinks. (99 min)
GANGSTER SQUAD
The “Hat Squad” was an elite unit
illicitly sanctioned by legendary
LAPD Chief William Parker in 1949
to play dirty with Mickey Cohen
and drive the Mob out of El Lay.
Fascinating story. Go rent the 1996
Mulholland Falls for more. But this
tawdry, stylishly empty Untouchables wannabe is closer to Dick Tracy,
and so dumbs down and amps up the
story for the multiplex crowd that
it plays more like a preposteronedrenched Fantastic Four sequel with
tommy guns. Talent wasted in this
dim-witted celebration of righteous
bloodshed includes Sean Penn, Josh
Brolin, Nick Nolte, Ryan Gosling and
Emma Stone. (113 min)
KILLING THEM SOFTLY
Of all the movies about mob hit men,
etc., few are more gritty, unglamorous or wickedly amusing than this
sideways look at the daily job of being
a hood. Hey, it’s just business, but in
this economy business is bad. Brad
Pitt’s charismatic-but-callous assassin character has had it about up to
here with the banality of the corporate-type mob decision-makers. Is
organized crime just capitalism in a
more raw form? Gangster-flick fans
may find this dialogue-driven effort
a bit slow (filmmakers prefer “deliberately paced”). Be warned, however,
that when it turns violent, it’s pretty
explicit. Japanese title: Jackie Cogan.
(97 min)
THE WE AND THE I
T he latest from M ichel Gond ry
(Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
but also Green Hornet) is an hour and
a half of intense teenage effusiveness, about a few dozen insanely
energetic Bronx high school kids
sharing a city bus home on the last
day of school before summer. These
soon-to -be-adults yearn, spurn,
chatter, flatter, bully and befriend
as they jockey for status. It’s not a
doc, but every scene is meticulously
crafted to play like one. Gondry
spent two years with these kids at an
after-school acting program weaving
their real lives into the script. Starts
off irritating; grows on you. (103 min)
eiga
movie news
cinematic underground
JELLYFISH EYES
Japanese director
Hirokazu Koreeda has
already tasted success
at the prestigious Cannes
Film Festival. His film
Nobody Knows, a study
of four children living
alone in a Tokyo apartment was selected for
the competition for the
2004 edition of the French festival. Its 14-year-old star Yuya
Yagira became the first Japanese to win the Best Actor award
that year. Now Koreeda will have another shot at the Palme d’Or
when the cinema elite descend on the resort town May 15-26.
His just-completed feature Like Father, Like Son [pictured] stars
author/actor Lily Franky as a loving father who finds the boy he
has raised for six years is not his biological son, due to a hospital
mix-up. It is one of 19 films in the “official selection” program.
Fellow Japanese director Takashi Miike is heading to France
with his thriller Shield of Straw. Other high profile entries in the
competition include Roman Polanski’s Venus in Furs, Steven
Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra on the entertainer Liberace,
and the Coen Brothers’ folksinger drama Inside Llewyn Davis.
After having been invited countless times, Steven Spielberg
finally cleared up his schedule enough to serve as this year’s jury
head. “My admiration for the steadfast mission of the festival
to champion the international language of movies is second to
none,” the Lincoln director said. Like Father, Like Son will open
in Japan on Oct 5. Kevin Mcgue
In sad news, Ginza
Theatre Cinema (1-11-2
Ginza, Chuo-ku; www.
t tcg .jp/t heat re _ g i n za )
will become the latest
Tok yo a r t hou s e to
lower its lights for the
final time this month.
To s ay fa rewe l l , it i s
bringing back some of
the most popular films from its 27-year history, May 11-30. On
the program are Almodovar’s Talk to Her (2002; pictured) and
Bad Education (2004), Jim Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes
(2003) and French movie 8 Women (2002), as well as all-night
screenings of the films of Catherine Deneuve (May 18) and Ken
Loach (May 25)… Portuguese director João Pedro Rodrigues
has won international attention for his work, which often deals
with gay themes. His films have not been widely seen in Japan,
but Shin-Bungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro
Toshima-ku; www.shin-bungeiza.com) will hold an all-night
screening of his features, shorts and documentaries on May
11…If you have a love of cinema and a morning free, check
out the ongoing series of digitally-remastered classic films
presented at 10am at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills (6-10-2
Roppongi Minato-ku; www.tohotheater.jp). Pretty Woman
(1990) is on through May 17, followed by West Side Story (1961;
May 18-31), Rio Bravo (1959; June 1-14), Lawrence of Arabia
(1962; June 15-28) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975;
Jun 29-Jul 12). KM
C o n te m p o r a r y a r t i s t
Takashi Murakami,
known for coining the
term “superflat” to refer to
a present-day Japanese
aesthetic—as well as the
look of his own work—
appropriately helms the
stylish Jellyfish Eyes for
his directorial debut. This is fitting since the superflat oeuvre
is heavily influenced by manga, anime, a kawaii sensibility and
Japanese commercialism, making Murakami the ideal candidate to create this type of popular feature length film. The story
revolves around Masashi (Takuto Sueoka), a boy who has come
from a tsunami relocation center to a small town in Japan. At his
new school, he learns that every child gets a Friend, something
like a robot spirit totem controlled by technological devices to
serve the child. This allows Murakami to create a whole range of
otherworldly creatures while focusing on Kurage-bo (“Jellyfish
boy”), Masashi’s totem. Visually inventive, Murakami mixes
live action and animation to create a compelling flick. While
the idea seems to borrow a bit from the great manga-based film
Ikechan to Boku (2009) and it is a children’s story; overall this is
a fine cross-genre jump for Murakami. Japanese title: Mememe
no Kurage. (100 min). Rob Schwartz
Unless noted, Japanese films screen without English subtitles.
Non-English language films are shown with Japanese subtitles only.
©GAGA CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
© EL DESEO S.A.
Spacious 5F terrace
over looking
central Shibuya!
Enjoy our great selections
of Irish and European brews.
Happy Hour All ¥500!!
Mon-Fri (except Public holidays)
Open-7pm. Heineken 1 PINT,
The Premium Malt’s 1 PINT,
Glasses of wine, Cocktails
BLACK SHEEP Brewery
RIDGEWAY Brewery
and more than 15 varieties of beer
More details
http://failte.jp
Tokyu
Plaza
5F, Sede Bldg. 1-5-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya
OPEN 5:30pm-2am (Mon-Sat)
3-11pm (Sunday & hols)
tel: 03-3476-7776
Open 5pm-Late
1-23-1 Ebisu-Minami,
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-PIZZA!
ONLY ¥2000
03-3713-7067
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Dining Out
fare
T
veg
J
COURTESY OF SAZABY LEAGUE, LTD
apa n’s h istor ic
staple got a shakeup last month with
the opening of Akomeya
T o k y o ( 2 -2 - 6 G i n z a ,
Chuo-ku; www.akomeya.
jp), a “rice lifestyle design
store.” While the shop
sells rice (18 different
types to be exact), it also houses a restaurant serving
dishes using its goods (inari-zushi, ohagi and warabimochi) and a bar serving cocktails based on nihonshu
(sake mojito, anyone?). Modern rice totes (instead of
sacks) are offered, along with wooden rice chests and
masu (those square cedar boxes you’ll remember from
drinking sake—or maybe not). In collaboration with the
opening, Finnish designer Mina Perhonen has created
a rice pouch and a stylish apron. Ask about joining the
regular tasting event Kiki no Kai.
COURTESY OF ROLLING SOBBAT J
achikawa’s spacious Showa Kinen Park is the
venue for a yearly extravaganza that pulled in
some 191,000 punters last year. The purpose of
Manpaku is found in its name, which has elements of
full stomach (manpuku) and wide knowledge (hakuran).
There are seven themed areas to eat your way around—
world, curry, ramen, gyoza, karaage, sweets, and gotochi
(Japanese regional food). Look out in the sweets zone
for the eye-catching Melon Maru Goto Cream Soda
(¥800; pictured). At night Manpaku transforms into a
humongous beer garden, with locally brewed beers
like Shonan Gold and Yokohama XPA alongside all the
faves. Showa Kinen Park, Tachikawa, May 18-Jun 3,
entry ¥500/day. http://manpaku.jp
COURTESY OF ROCKIN’ ON JAPAN
bread
M
issin g ma ma’s
breadbasket?
L on g i n g for a
decent bowl of hearty
soup that doesn’t come
from a certain overpriced
cha i n? T hen h it up t he
recently opened Eat More
Soup and Bread (7F Lumine Est,
3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku; http://emsb.jp). Choose
from soup, salad or pasta as the main dish in their lunch
set (from ¥1,080), and get a mini-salad or soup, minidessert, drink and—wait for it—all-you-can-eat bread.
Which could be a major shock to the carb-deprived system. Tea time involves parfaits (matcha, mixed berries,
caramel nuts) and cakes from ¥680 (¥880 with a drink),
and dinner offers a wider range including clam chowder
(¥1,000) and bouillabaisse (¥1,100).
drink
G
pro
T
wo Japanese heavyweights tussle at the
brand-new Rolling Sobbat J (1F Take Bldg, 1-19
Maruyama-cho, Shibuya-ku; tel: 03-3226-4821),
where the genteel soba noodle meets the barbarous
gravy-like soup of tsukemen. To accompany this culinary clash, the shop is decked out in pro-wrestling
paraphernalia, from mementoes to actual ropes separating the customers from the staff and a cartoon fresco
of puroresu legend The Great Muta. Three soup bases
are on offer—yuzu shio, seafood and tonkotsu, and maze
(mixed)—with the standard dish going for ¥750, and the
maxed-out version for ¥1,050. The name comes from
a move where the flying, spinning wrestler back-kicks
his opponent. If you’re feeling on the ropes after a night
out, stop by until 5am on Monday-Thursday and 7am
Friday-Saturday.
et a jump on the barrage of novelty drinks
set to fill up convenience store shelves
over the summer months by partaking of
a different class of fancy beverage now. For those
who can’t decide between a sugary drink or a sweet
snack, Asahi Soft Drinks has launched a tie-up with
French fine-foods company Fauchon to combine
the both in one heady swig. The consequent entity is
the Fauchon Éclair Tea (¥115), guaranteed to dilate
your pupils and fill your body with a surging rush of
energy, followed by a descent into a comatose state
from which you can only be wakened with a Pocari
Sweat and a large electric shock.
turtle
I
f your idea of Hawaiian fare in Japan stops at loco
moco, you’re missing out. Honolulu Sweets Factory (1F Lumine Kitasenju, 42-2 Senju Asahi-cho,
Adachi-ku; www.honolulusweetsfactory.com) produces the stellar Honu Cookies [pictured]. Named
after the Hawaiian word for turtle, the biccies (¥1,050/
box of 8) are tastefully amphibian-shaped with a heartshaped dollop of filling to make your mouth melt.
Choose from the creamily refreshing mango choco,
white choco, strawberry choco and dark choco. Hua’ai
(fruit) Cheesecake Bars are among the other irresistible delights (¥1,260/5 sticks).
Metropolis is giving away five boxes of Honu
Cookies. To win, email [email protected] with your postal details and tell us
your favorite imaginary snack.
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Tel: 03-6419-7321.
Fax: 03-3797-7321.
Mon-Sat 10am-7pm
YOKOHAMA HQ AND FACTORY
4460, Ikonobecho, Tsuzuki-ku
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Sun-Hols 11am-3pm
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Dining Out
bar review
THE ART OF
DRINKING
Absinthe in Ebisu
By Brandi Goode
T
he "Green Fair y," better
known as absinthe, served
as a symbol of freedom
from conventions for creative souls in France 150 years ago.
La fée verte can now spirit modern
Tok yo drinkers away to another
bohemian time and place.
Bar Tram and its “brother” establishment, Trench, are the handiwork
of owners Takuya Itoh and Rogerio
Igashi Vaz. Both are experts of what
they refer to as “the art of drinking.”
Itoh says they launched the bars to
fill a void in Tokyo, for a venue with a
nostalgic ambience that served topflight cocktails. Absinthe was seen as
the link between fashion, art and bar
culture, and thus became the focal
spirit for their concept.
Tram is the larger, older brother,
restaurant review
LOTUS CAFÉ
A hip twostory café in
Omotesando
By Kimberly Hughes
T
okyo has a café for every
occasion. While some days
might beckon you outside
to enjoy fine weather on a
patio, others might induce you to sit
in a darkened basement surrounded
by chain-smok ing intellectuals.
On those days, head straight to the
backstreets of Omotesando toward
with a collection of antique, eclectic
furnishings scattered throughout its
main space. The lighting is soft with
a rosy hue complementing the velvet covered chairs. Retro lamps, wall
hangings and bottles serve as décor.
Each bottle has a story—one that the
passionate owners are anxious to tell.
If you're not a fan of umeshu,
Hoshiko at Tram could change your
mind. The artisan behind the plum
liqueur spent over 20 years perfecting the recipe, and the result is a
delightful blend of spice and muted
sweetness with just the right touch
of sour. Tram serves a Hoshiko Matador for ¥1,470 with fresh pineapple,
lime and all-spice bitters; we dare
you to try having just one.
Or give in to the Green Muse with
an Absinthe Drip (¥1,155-2,940).
The anise-f lavored brew is served
using traditional glass fountains,
with a slotted spoon and sugar cube
atop a glass. The ideal ratio is apparently three to five parts water to one
part absinthe, so adjust accordingly. Tram serves eight varieties
of the spirit, including Mansinthe,
Marilyn Manson’s own rendition.
Cock ta i ls l i ke t he Green Beast
(absi nt he, cucu mber a nd l i me,
¥1,200) can also be procured for
the reticent. The rest of the menu is
divided into sections according to
herbal themes, such as ginger, mint
and rosemary, in addition to a selection of classics.
Tram’s international food menu
features snacks such as cheese and
jerky plates (¥500-¥1,250), and an
assorted mix of starters and bread
(¥900-¥1,200). Recommended dishes
include roasted cabbage with herb
oil and cheddar cheese (¥800), gorgonzola and orange-honey pizza
(¥1,100) or the lamb curry (¥1,450).
Finally, take advantage of that betsubara and order the absinthe ice
cream (¥850). Vanilla ice cream is
bathed in Swiss chocolate—an ideal
match for the bitter absinthe, which
is added just before the dish is flambéed tableside—et voila!
Trench is the more “maniac” bar
of the family, targeting true spirits
enthusiasts. There is a ¥500 cover
charge and an abbreviated menu,
which changes monthly.
Twisted classics like the Vesper
Lotus Café.
Run by the good folks at Table
Modern Service, who helped bring
minimalist-st yle café culture to
Tokyo with establishments like the
Bowery Kitchen in Komazawa, Lotus
offers the same cozy warmth, tasty
and reasonably priced food, eclectic ambient music, sophisticated
clientele, and artistic magazines for
browsing.
On a recent d in ner v isit, we
began with a classic appetizer of
Vichyssoise (¥350). The chilled soup
had a perfect consistency and balance of flavor between the potatoes
and leeks. A glass of crisp Chilean
Cha rdon nay (¥600) pa i red wel l
with a second appetizer of chilled
tomatoes (¥500), drizzled with olive oil and
accentuated by strong
hints of garlic. For our
first entrée, we opted
for the grilled chicken
with herb-lemon sauce
(¥1, 0 0 0) — p e r f e c t l y
cooked a nd accompa n ied by a mou nd
o f c r i s p y, f r a g r a n t
grilled potatoes and charred rosemary. The kajikimaguro saikyo-yaki
(¥850), a grilled white tuna filet with
miso sauce, was accentuated by
glazed eggplant and small mounds
of tof u a nd shung ik u (ga rla nd
chrysanthemum).
By far t he toughest choice of
the night was dessert. We finally
d e c id e d on t he m o c h a c hou x
(¥400)—a decadent twist on choux
crème featuring a solid chocolate
crust—and the two-tiered matcha
w ith white chocolate tart (¥550),
which was f lakily-crusted, baked
to just the right level of firmness,
and topped off with a small pile of
azuki beans.
As with anything, Lotus is not all
Martini with No. 3 gin, vodka and
quinine liqueur for ¥1,470 (shaken,
not stirred) w ill amuse t he palate. There’s also an intriguing wall
of bit ters beh i nd t he ba r, most
imported directly by the proprietors
through their Small Axe distribution business. Trench showcases
no less than 30 varieties of absinthe
and a few food items from their
menu at Tram.
Intrigued? Hop on the drinking
Tram and en-Trench yourself in the
world of absinthe, or, as the bars’ slogan suggests: “Get drunk different.”
J/E Menu in Japanese and English
Cocktails from ¥1,200, food
from ¥500
No nonsmoking seats
Tram: table, sofa or counter; Trench:
counter, couples’ tables
Unique ambience, cocktail
ingredients
Tough to get a table at Tram;
reservations recommended
2F Swing Bldg, 1-7-13 Ebisu-nishi,
Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5489-5514
Nearest stn: Ebisu
Tram: Open Mon-Thu 7pm-3am,
Fri-Sun & hols 7pm-4am
Trench: Open Mon-Sat 7pm-2am,
closed Sun
www.small-axe.net
perfection. The service can waver
between annoyingly over-attentive
and near-abandonment. Such is an
easily forgivable blemish, however,
in a café lifted straight out of hipster
New York.
J/E Menu in Japanese & English (lunch
menu in Japanese only)
Some nonsmoking seats
Price (for one person not including
drinks): ¥1,000-2,000
Upstairs for a more airy feel;
downstairs for a cozier, basement
vibe
Variety of food and soft drinks
Touch-and-go service
4-6-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tel:
03-5772-6077. Nearest stn:
Omotesando
Open Sun-Thu 11am-3am, Fri-Sat
11am-4am
www.heads-west.com/shop/
lotus.html
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Our online classified ad
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power to place and track
your ads. All classifieds
submitted for business
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and upgraded free ads can
appear in any section.
To place Job ads, go to
http://classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
Or get in touch by email at
[email protected]
1 AT YOUR SERVICE
1.1 HEALTH
K I M I S H I M A D E N TA L
OFFICE , MINAMI-AZABU,
M I N AT O - K U , T O K YO .
English-speaking dentist,
3min from Hiroo stn,
specializing in both cosmetic
a n d g e n e r a l d e n t i s t r y.
State - of- t h e - a r t fa c i l it y
and friendly staff. Special
offer for Metropolis readers:
30% off dental check-up.
03-6277-4217 http://kimidental-office.com/
P S Y C H I A T R Y /
P SYC H OTH E R APY (心療
Dr. Ryuko Ishikawa,
MD, licensed in both
the US and Japan, wellrespected by international
clients, available at Tajima
Hospital, located in front
of Ryogoku stn. National
Insurance accepted.
Appointments: 03-3634-6111
Ta j i m a H o s p i t a l : 2 -2 1 -1
Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
内科 ).
SHIBAURA DENTAL CLINIC ENGLISH-SPEAKING DENTIST.
General and cosmetic dental
clinic. Dentist is a graduate of
Harvard Dental School, with
over 20 years’ experience
with dental practices in the
USA, Japan. Blue Shield,
Japanese National Insurance
accepted. 5min walk from
J R Ta m a c h i s t n . O p e n
M o n - S a t . 03 - 5 4 4 2- 8 5 2 5
www.shibaura-dental.com/
CLASSIFIEDS
Metropolis and its subsequent Classifieds section are printed every other week.
The upcoming publication dates and corresponding deadlines for print are
as follows. This does not affect the online Classifieds, where ads are visible
immediately after they are approved.
healthone.jp 050-3424-6713
PERSONAL FITNESS
TRAINER . Enjoy one fre e
se s sion with Tokyo’s top
personal trainer. Pay for
one session and get your
second session FREE! Inside
or outside, single or group,
beginner or advanced, The
Fitness Code has the solution
to meet your needs. pete@
thefitnesscode.com http://
www.thefitnesscode.com
08054919980
SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY
( p h y s i c a l t h e r a p y) c a r e
in Hiroo. Native Engli sh speaking therapists
specializing in sports
i n j u r i e s , p o s t- o p e ra t ive
rehabilitation, back/neck
pain, running related,
headaches, orthotics,
ergonomic consultations
and women’s health. www.
tokyophysio.com 03-34436769
Te l : 0 3 - 6 7 1 5 - 9 3 9 1 F a x :
03-6715-9392 Address:
3-29-8 Nishi-Rokugo, Otaku, Tokyo
1.4 TRAVEL
2 FIND A PLACE
2.1 GUESTHOUSE
N A R I TA A I R P O R T C A R /
MINIVAN TRAN SFER
SERVICE . Cheaper than
a taxi . English - speaking
d rive r. M e e t a n d g r e e t .
Free baby seat. Luggage
assistance . Dependable Safe - Ea sy- Q uic k Airpor t
Tra n s fe r S e r vi c e . B O O K
NOW! Email Reservation@
To k yo A i r p o r t e r. c o m .
www.tokyoairporter.com
1.7 BUSINESS SERVICES
1.2 HAIR & BEAUTY
O N LY C U T Z O N E s a l o n
provides a hair cut
service for only ¥1000.
5min walk from Kitasenju
stn . Fri e n d ly En g l i s h speaking staff is available.
Contact us at 03-3 8 821550. Open from 10am until
7pm, 7 days a week. http://
meturl.com/onlycutzone
HAIR STYLIST FROM NEW
YO RK , 17 years’ experience in
Manhattan, haircut, color, H/L, etc.,
available. Contact Mika at a-hair.
03-5813-5077 http://a-hair-salon.jp
1.3 MOVING
FREE LIFE COACHING.
Realize your desires
fa s te r t h a n eve r b e fo re !
We’ve empowered people
worldwide with our proven
method for success in all
areas of life. Now it’s your
t u r n ! C o n t a c t fo r 3 0 m i n
free life coaching. Limited
time offer. freecoaching@
successsecrets.jp
C H E A P E S T, Q U I C K E S T
AND SAFEST! Transporter
To k y o s u p p o r t s y o u r
moving and delivers your
stuf f. Moving for single s
or couples from ¥12,000.
Delivery (furniture,
motorbikes, etc.) from
¥7000. English, French and
Japanese -speaking staf f
available. Inquiries: info@
t r a n s p o r t e r- t o k y o . c o m
w w w.tra n s p or te r-tokyo.
com/english/contact
GREAT LOCATION AND SUPER
C LEAN! Private/s h a re d
furnished rooms in Akasaka,
Azabu-Juban, MinamiShinagawa, 30-second-2min
walk from station. Cleaned
every week. Free internet.
First-month special offer
¥49,000-¥56,000/m!
Utilities included. No key
m o n e y ! 女性も安心！日本人
用シェアハウスも有。全室インタ
ーネット・家具付個室。敷・礼
金、仲介料、水道光熱費及び保
証人不要！ 090 -2405 - 0022
[email protected]
www.bauhousetokyo.com
SAKURA HOU SE . Leading
multilingual real estate
a g e n c y i n To k y o s i n c e
1992. Over 1600 furnished
apartments and guest/
share house rooms, from
¥52,000/m, utilities
included. No key money/
guarantor/agent fee.
Contact us: 03-5330-5250
info @ s a kura - hou se .co m
www.sakura-house.com
2.2 RENT UNDER ¥200,000
SUMIKAWA LAW OFFICE ,
a member of the Yokohama
Bar As sociation , locate d
in Kawasaki (next to
Tokyo). We offer free email
a dvice for vic tim s of car
accidents. Contact us before
reconciling with the
insurance company. Lawyer
Kei Sumikawa. Email:
[email protected] http://
sumikawa.net
1.8 GENERAL SERVICES
JAPAN’S MOST AFFORDABLE
HEALTH INSURANCE. If you
feel like you’re throwing
money away on insurance,
come on over to HealthOne
and start saving today!
Three-, six- and 12-month
plans. Inpatient/outpatient
cove ra g e fo r i l l n e s s a n d
injury. Online enrollment;
pay by credit card or at
convenience stores.
www.healthone.jp info@
acclaimed Peter Walker’s
“Developmental Baby
Massage” and “YogaGym”.
E/J. Private sessions from
¥4000. Small groups
from ¥3000. Four-session
discount. Call Shino at
080 -3362- 04 29 or email
babymassage123@gmail.
com.
LOVI N G BABY MA S SAG E .
Teaching mothers, fathers
and other family members
professional baby massage
and child yoga techniques
from internationally
AFFORDABLE
APARTMENTS &
GUESTHOUSES
IN TOKYO’ S
P O P U L A R
AREAS: Azabu, Roppongi,
Asakusa, Kichijoji,
Yokohama ¥49,000~/m. No
k e y m o n e y/g u a r a n t o r/
brokerage fee. Over 100
g u e s t h o u s e s ( i n t e rn e t ,
utilities included) and
apartments. Call Oakridge:
0 3 - 3 5 0 2 - 2 3 5 1
oakridgehousing@gmail.
com www.oakridgehousing.com
M E T R O H O M E S .
Nishi-Hachioji 1R ¥30,000.
Hachioji 1K ¥32,500.
K i t a -To d a 1 K ¥ 3 6 , 0 0 0 .
Minami-Urawa 1R ¥37,000.
Nishiarai 1K ¥38,000.
Kita-Hachioji 1K ¥39,000.
Keisei-Takasago 1R ¥40,000.
Tobu-Nerima 1R ¥40,000.
C h ito s e - Ka ra s uya m a 1R
¥40,000. Nishiarai 1K
¥40,000. Rokucho 1R
¥41,000. Search for your
room at the M etropoli s
Real Estate Site . http://
m e t r o h o m e s . j p / h t t p : //
meturl.com/mh200less
classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
Issue
1000 Issue
1002
FRI, MAY 24
FRI, JUNE 7
Deadline:
Deadline:
May 16, 3pm
May 30, 3pm
help the emergency housing needs
of the international community.
Since 1968. Donation for stay. Email
for info. housinginjapan@yahoo.
com
F O N TA N A , e s t a b l i s h e d
over 30 years ago. With a
wide range of locations
at competitive prices,
our apartments and
guesthouses are some of
the best. Let our
international team
find you the perfect
p l a c e t o l i v e i n To k y o .
fo n t a n a @ g o l . c o m w w w.
TokyoCityApartments.net
03-3382-0151
I C H I I C O R P O R AT I O N .
Over 600 affordable,
quality-furnished
apartments in central
To k yo l o c a t i o n s . N o key
m o n ey/g u a ra nto r/a g e nt
fe e re quire d . N ew, clean
apartments, simple
contract system, full
English support. Call us
today! 03-5437-5233 www.
japt.co.jp
S E RVI C E D A PA RTM E NT S
in a quiet residential area
of Hiroo. Studios and
suites. 4min from Hiroo
s t n . R a te s : D a i ly ¥ 78 0 0.
Weekly ¥68 50 -/day.
Monthly ¥5900-/day. Over
three months ¥4950-/
day. Tax, utilities included.
f r o n t d e s k@ a z a b u c o u r t .
com www. azabucour t .
com/ 03-3446-8610
2.3 RENT OVER ¥200,000
TO K YO A PA RTM E NT S .
Corporate housing
p rovi d e r of fe ri n g s h o r t
and long-term apartments
throughout central
Tokyo. Fully customizable
packages! Serviced,
furnished and unfurnished
apartments, relocation
service, furniture rental,
a n d p ro p e r ty s a l e s a n d
management. Please
call 0120-957-520.
www.tokyoapartments.jp
M E T R O H O M E S .
U e n o 5 - G o ka n H e i g h t s
1LDK ¥200,000. Re Mode
Minami-Aoyama 1LDK
¥200,000. Works Yotsuya
1 LD K ¥ 2 0 0,0 0 0. Vi ra g e
Nakacho 1LDK ¥200,000.
Ginza Tower 1K ¥200,000.
Lanai Heritage 2LDK
¥200,000. Seion-Kaku
2LDK ¥200,000. Regina
Minami-Azabu 1LDK
¥ 2 0 0,0 0 0. C r e a H o m e s
Jingumae 2LDK ¥200,000.
Apple Tower Tokyo Canal
Court 3LDK ¥200,000.
Ipse Ebisu 1R ¥200,000.
Search for your room at the
Metropolis Real Estate Site.
www.MetroHomes.jp http://
meturl.com/mh200
2.4 HOUSE SHARE
B U D G E T S T A Y .
Google “ Budget Stay,” or
visit our website at http://
budgetstay.jp/qhm.
D o rm ito r y, 8 0 m fro m
Tokyo Subway Shimo stn
¥20,000/m. Private room,
1 5 0 m f r o m To b u S h i m o Itabashi stn, 500m from JR
Itabashi stn ¥35,000/m. 0706516-7597 (10am-10pm)
C ENTR ALLY LO C ATED
S E M I - F U R N I S H E D
STUDIO APARTMENT in
Wakamatsu-Kawada, Shinjuku-ku,
deluxe, independent, 23sqm, w/
a i rc o n , m i c rowave ove n , g a s
stove, bed, computer table, fridge,
light fixture, curtains ¥92,000.
[email protected]
EMERGENCY HOUSING. Non-profit
Megumi House is available 24/7 to
PRIVATE ROOM IN GREAT LOCATION.
Room m ate sought for 4 2 sqm
apartment in Uehara, one-month or
longer, 12sqm private room, w/small
balcony ¥65,000. Utilities extra.
[email protected]
2.7 OFFICE SPACE
COMPASS OFFICES, MEGURO,
S H I N AWAG A- KU. Fully
furnished offices for 1-100
people, virtual offices and
meeting rooms. Flexible
te rm s . Co - wo rki n g a n d
mobile working in the largest
Metropolis reserves the right to refuse, cancel or edit any ad without notice. Metropolis takes no responsibility for the quality of items or services advertised. Please carefully examine vendors or
items offered before commitment. Please be careful when contacting and arranging to meet people.
Visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp for complete listings.
business lounge in Tokyo.
Call 03-4540-1234, email
[email protected]
or visit www.compassoffices.
co.jp for more info.
3 EDUCATION
3.1 JAPANESE SCHOOLS
JAPANESE
LANGUAGE
PROFICIENCY.
Our flexible,
affordable
Japanese
lessons can help you reach
your communication goals for
eve r yd ay c o n ve r s a t i o n ,
passing the JLPT, or reading
newspapers or books.
Individual or group classes
at times and locations suitable
for you. Contact Aoyama
L a n g u a g e S c h o o l to d ay!
0 3 - 5 4 1 3 - 7 4 5 0
www.aoyama-school.com
[email protected]
3.2 JAPANESE TEACHERS
JAPANESE LESSONS. Easy Japanese
classes for beginners at my
place near Iogi, Nerima-ku, Seibu
Shinjuku line. ¥1500/h. Contact
me in English. 080 -5071-5723
http://123japaneseschool.jimdo.
com/ [email protected]
3.4 ENGLISH TEACHERS
PRIVATE ENGLISH CLASSES. If you
are seeking private English lessons,
please contact me. I'm from Britain
and have been teaching for 15
years. Business, conversation or
test preparation all ok. dallarasj@
yahoo.co.uk
3.5 LANGUAGE EXCHANGE
Chinese, English, Japanese. Hi!
I'm seeking an E/J or Chn language
exchange partner, M/F ok, in Kanagawa
or the Tokyo area. I'm a Japanese male,
28, living in Yokohama. Don't care
about age/nationality. Thank you!
[email protected]
English and Japanese. I'm seeking a
language exchange partner, preferably
an American, 26-38, in or near Ichikawa
City. I'm a JF translator, 35. gk24vbn8@
gmail.com
English and Japanese. Hi, I'm a
Japanese man, 30s, studying English.
I like watching movies, going abroad
and playing games. I live in central
Tokyo (Hibiya line, Tozai line). Please
send me a message. Cheers. y_keigo@
inter7.jp
English and Japanese. I'm a JM,
38, working in Tokyo. I would like a
language exchange partner and friend.
I can teach you speaking, writing and
listening. I would like to brush up my
spoken English. Need it for my job.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. Hello, I'm a
JF, 35, seeking a language exchange
partner and friends. I'd be glad if we
could chat about many things, like
travel, music, business, etc. Yoroshiku!
Yutenji/Nakameguro/Sangenjaya area.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. Group
language exchange every Wed, 7:309:30pm, at coffee shops around Ginza.
Most members are 20s and 30s. We
switch languages every 30min. Fun
events on weekends. Free to join. ando.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. Hi, I’m a JF,
20. I can help you with your Japanese.
I seek a native English speaker, M/F ok,
20-29. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Are you a
motivated Japanese person? Do you
want to improve your English for
free? I will help you study E if you give
me some advice on doing business
in Japan. Let’s help each other!
[email protected]
English and Japanese. American
language exchange. Toyoko line
(Shibuya, Daikanyama, Nakameguro,
Yutenji, Gakugei-Daigaku, Jiyugaoka)
and Hibiya line (Ebisu, Hiroo,
Roppongi). I live in Yutenji and am free
on Mon. Sat-Sun possible. Tue-Fri caseby-case. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Native English
speaker is sought in Kokubunji City by
Japanese male, 35. I would like to talk
with you in E/J over coffee. Feel free
to contact me. Skype partner is also
welcome. [email protected]
English and Japanese. I’m an
inte rn ati o n a lly o p e n - m in d e d ,
attractive, well-educated SJM,
early 30s. I’m with an international
consulting firm in central Tokyo. Let’s
meet at a cafe or a bar in central Tokyo!
[email protected]
English and Japanese. Seeking E/J
language exchange partner in the
23-ward area, M/F ok. I’m American,
male, 23. Don’t care about age/
nationality (though as I’m trying to
learn Japanese, a Japanese person is
preferred). [email protected]
English, German, Japanese. JM, 24,
from central Tokyo, is seeking native
English or German-speaking people to
help me learn the languages in Tokyo.
Of course, I’d be pleased to help you
learn J. [email protected]
Filipino and Japanese. Filipino
language speaker wanted by Japanese
guy for exchange via Skype or at
cafes in Yokohama or Yokosuka. I’m
a complete beginner. I can speak
advanced E and intermediate Sp.
[email protected]
German and Japanese. JF seeks Ger/J
language exchange partner. Seit Sechs
Monaten lerne ich Deutsch aber ich
spreche Englisch. F/M ok. If interested,
drop me a line. gardenstate2005@
hotmail.com
Korean and Japanese. J u s t
started Kor and seeking help in the
Marunouchi/Otemachi area. I’m a
Japanese female, speak E and Ger,
seeking a Korean female for lunchtime.
[email protected]
Spanish, French, Japanese. I’ve been
learning Sp and Fr for some time. I can
understand daily conversation of both,
but need to practice composition and
speaking. Weekdays, daytime only.
[email protected]
Thai, Japanese, English. Looking
forward to meeting anyone who
lives in the Tokyo area for language
exchange, cafe, hanging out and
traveling together sometimes. I'm
Thai, male, professional career,
easygoing and fun. freemap49@
yahoo.com
3.6 LEARNING: GENERAL
PACIFIC CULTURE CLUB offers
you lessons in IKEBANA KOTO (a
traditional Japanese instrument),
calligraphy and wearing kimono.
One lesson ¥3000. Available in
French and Spanish. Please contact
P.C.C. at 03-3391-1578. keiko.pac@
gmail.com
3.9 TEACH ME!
Hungarian teacher sought for
preferably weekday lessons during the
day in central Tokyo. I can go to you,
cafe lesson, Skype, etc. gewatson@
gmail.com 08056842220
4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS
English and Japanese. Cool, friendly,
intelligent JM seeks native English
speakers for language and cultural
exchange. Let’s enjoy talking about a
variety of topics over coffee or dinner
in E/J. [email protected]
Bed and mattress, medium (W4’6”)
¥4000. Pick up only. 08033508967
English and Japanese. JF, 31, seeking
a native English speaker for language
exchange. Tokyo area preferred.
[email protected]
Bed, queen-sized mattress and boxspring, in excellent condition, w/bed
frame and nightstands ¥60,000. chris.
[email protected]
4.1 FURNITURE &
FITTINGS
Chair, Papasan, rattan, in good
condition ¥1000. Pick up Koto-ku or
pay for delivery. Front door needs to be
80cm or legs will need to be removed.
[email protected]
Curtains, fo ur availa b l e
(W70xL160cm), light brown, w/white
inner curtain, side strap and hooks,
almost new ¥3200/set. ¥10,000/
all. Pick up Meguro or chakubarai.
[email protected] 090-8301-4489
Shelf unit, large, custom-made for audio
equipment and storing CDs, electronics
not included ¥40,000. Sofabed, pullout, brown leather, in good condition
¥50,000. [email protected]
Stool, Deluxe, sturdy, adjustable
height handle, black, w/casters,
fabric-covered, rectangular-shaped
seat, w/rounded corners ¥2500.
Pick up Meguro. [email protected]
090-8301-4489
Table, c o f fe e , te a k ¥ 2 0 0 0 .
08033508967
Tea chest (L73xD33xH90cm), in good
condition. New ¥35,000. Sell ¥25,000.
Negotiable. Come and see Minato-ku.
[email protected]
4.2 APPLIANCES
high/low settings, easy to carry on
train. [email protected]
6 VEHICLES
H e a t e r, o i l . B u n k y o - k u .
[email protected]
6.1 CARS, PARTS, &
ACCESSORIES
Hutch, n o t a s s e m b l e d
(H180xW75xD30cm), 20 y/o, in ok
condition. Pick up Kyodo, Odakyu line,
or arrange delivery. I can arrange a
truck. [email protected]
Mattress, semi-double (120x200cm),
used five months, in excellent
condition, pocket-coil design. Pick up
Kamata. [email protected]
Various items. DVD player and VCR,
w/remotes; wooden cabinet. Pick up
Musashi-Sakai, or can deliver along
Inokashira line. karmatheif@gmail.
com
Zabuton, 2 6 av a i l a b l e , o l d
(54x58x5cm), stuffed w/cotton, in good
condition. Pick up Kyodo, Odakyu line
or COD delivery. [email protected]
To Advertise in Japan’s No.1 English
magazine, log on at www.metropolis.
co.jp/classifieds or email your
commercial ads to commercial@
metropolis.co.jp.
5 HOBBIES&INTERESTS
5.1 CAMERAS
Appliance sale! Sun food processor
¥2000. Merita coffeemaker, w/filter
pack ¥1000. Pick up Takaido, Tokyo.
[email protected]
Lens, Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 L USM proseries zoom, new ¥70,000/obo. Can
test first. [email protected]
Dishwasher, Panasonic Eco Navi
NP-TR5-W, bought Oct '12, as new,
hardly used, still under warranty.
New ¥65,000. Sell ¥22,000. Firm.
[email protected]
Tripod, Gitzo GT2541 Carbon
Fiber 6X series, 1.36kg, max height
(without tripod head) 153cm, almost
new, w/original box. Photo available.
[email protected]
Fridge, Haier JR-N100C, small,
98L ¥2500. Pick up Toyosu.
[email protected]
5.2 SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Mug/can heater/chiller, new, never
opened. New ¥5000. Sell ¥1500. Pick up
Shirokanedai. [email protected]
4.3 SAYONARA SALE
Sayonara sale! Sharp washer/dryer,
7kg, front-loading ¥18,000. National
fridge, four-door, w/ice maker
¥18,000. Rice cooker, microwave/
baking oven. Delivery possible if
not too far away. naomimovingon@
gmail.com
Sayonara sale! Shelves, kitchen
furniture, appliances, lounge furniture.
Details available. happyjenny1979@
hotmail.com
Sayonara sale! LG washer, silver,
5kg, newer ¥15,000. Microwave/oven/
grill ¥5000. Fridge, two-door ¥7000.
Family-sized fridge ¥18,000. Single
bed, w/mattress ¥10,000. saito.kanako.
[email protected]
Sayonara sale! Baby gate system,
large vase, table, bar counter chairs,
DVDs, PC parts, etc. Roppongi, Azabu.
[email protected]
http://tokyosayonara.weebly.com/
Sayonara sale! Fridge, washer, DVD
player, shelves, futon, storage boxes,
printer, kitchen utensils, ironing
board, heater, air purifier, water filter,
hairdryer, etc. ¥40,000/all. Lots of free
stuff. [email protected]
Sayonara sale! Ikea furniture, two y/o:
bed, dressers, etc. Pick up Koto-ku area
before June 10. Closest stations are
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, Kikukawa. agnes.
[email protected]
4.4 TV & HOME
THEATER
LCD TV 20”, no HDMI input, only D-cable,
S-video, regular AV, w/cables and remote
¥6000/obo. Pick up only Mitaka/MusashiSakai, Chuo line, or Tanashi, Seibu
Shinjuku line. [email protected]
4.6 FOR KIDS
Various items. Tricycle, Anpanman
car set, Hello Kitty kitchen, kids' carpet,
toys. Photos available. profscott2000@
yahoo.ca
4.7 FOR FREE
Heater, Yamazen CF1-1203, ceramic
(10x30x36cm), electric, recently used,
Suitcase, M a r i e C l a i r e
(H72xW48xL25cm), old, in good
condition ¥3000. Pick up Myogadani
stn, Marunouchi line, or Ginza area.
[email protected] http://www.
flickr.com/photos/95006453@N08/
Bodyboard, HPD Paipo, w/custom
carry bag, as new ¥20,000. Photos
available. [email protected]
Golf clubs, Iron Daiwa Hi-Trac TCS,
w/carbon shaft 3-5-7-9-11 and Sureout sand wedge ¥3000. Pick up near
Yokohama. sayonara_vancouver@
hotmail.com
Surfboard, Chaos, hand-crafted,
6’17” ¥10,000. Brand new McTavish
skate longboard, handmade, 3’8”
¥25,000. Pick up Ebisu. Photo
Surfboard. Longboard, 9’6”, in great
condition. View Kugenuma-Kaigan,
Fujisawa. [email protected]
Surfboard, Tom Wegner Alaia, 5’3, w/
custom carry bag, used once. Photo
5.3 MUSICAL
EQUIPMENT
Amps. Vox DA20 guitar amp,
almost new, in box ¥15,000. Ibanez
IBZB 10W bass amp ¥4000. Pick up
Nakameguro stn. dhilleson@stmaur.
ac.jp 09025248221
Headphones. Ultrasone Edition
9 studio monitoring headphones,
limited edition, in presentation
box, brand new, unused ¥300,000.
[email protected]
edwardsoperation.com
Insect sounds, Ric Viers’ Blastwave,
on USB drive, thousands of sounds,
brand new, never plugged in. New
$249. Sell ¥15,000. justcallmehenry@
gmail.com edwardsoperation.com
Piano, Apollo Upright A-5, sweet, full
sound, made in Japan by Toyo Piano
Company, mute pedal for late night
practicing ¥100,000. Photos available.
Can help arrange move. isaac.ezer@
gmail.com 090-6482-6843
Piano, Yamaha P-140, digital, built-in
loudspeakers, w/stand and pedal,
in perfect condition, bought in
'09 ¥45,000. Pick up Kagurazaka.
[email protected]
5.5 GAMING
Chess in Azabu area. Seeking
someone to play on the weekend,
preferably Sun morning. I'm in the
Azabu area and could meet for coffee
and a game. If interested, please shoot
me a mail. Regards, Peter. pknight01@
mac.com 090-6015-1424
8 COMPUTERS
8.2 HARDWARE
JCE AUTOS - THE
A U T O M O B I L E
PROFESSIONALS. Specializing
in car buy-backs, door-todoor shipping, long-term car
storage and any other carrelated matters. If you need
assistance with your car, we
are here to help. Tel: 03-68683366 or 090 -9362- 5098
[email protected]
www.jce-autos.jp
MAZDA STATION WAGON, 1800cc,
seats five, in very good condition
overall, mechanically excellent, w/
ETC unit, 12-stacker CD, navigation,
shaken, insurance, all taxes paid
until July '13, economical ¥80,000.
[email protected]
09018591378
6.3 BICYCLES, PARTS, &
ACCESSORIES
Bike, six-gear, 18 m/o, in very good
condition ¥3000. Pick up Tokyo.
[email protected]
090-8498-1298
Bike, men’s, 3x6 gear, 28” wheels, one
y/o, in very good condition ¥16,000.
[email protected] 08012787931
Handlebars, B MX Fre e s t yl e ,
Skyway EZ 1980s, white, w/decals,
unused ¥4000. Pick up Ochanomizu.
Other Haro parts also available.
[email protected]
09071768259
Road bike, Devinci Millennium
Optimum Carbon C-T, 61cm, suits rider
around 187cm, w/Ultegra nine-speed
shifters, derailleur, 105 cranks, brakes,
XSR-2 rims, Schwalbe tires, Serfas
saddle, Cateye computer, Sachs bottle
holder, Shimano SPD pedals ¥80,000.
[email protected]
Road bike, Giant TCR, size M frame,
yellow/black, as new, currently
disassembled, various parts available.
New ¥226,000. Sell ~¥60,000. Price
depends on parts. View Nishi-Ogikubo.
[email protected]
7 GENERAL
7.1 PHONES
iPhone 4 16GB, white, locked to
SoftBank, as new, w/cable and
earphones (never used) ¥15,000.
[email protected]
Phone, Pioneer, w/cordless companion
phone for another room, both white
¥2000. Pick up only. 08033508967
7.2 FASHION
Bag, men's, business, faux leather
(52x30x11cm), used once. New ¥6000.
Sell ¥2000. Pick up Gotokuji or COD
delivery. [email protected]
Monitor, Acer, LCD, 21.5”, G225HQ,
resolution 1920x1080, aspect ratio 16:9,
DVI and VGA inputs, original packaging
¥10,000. Pick up Saginomiya or
Nakamurabashi stn. ohpopshop@
gmail.com
Scanner, Iris, pen, w/OCR software.
New $120. Sell ¥3000. marantzfan564@
yahoo.com
10 HELP!
10.2 SUPPORT
NEED TO TALK? We’re
here to listen. TELL
LIFE LINE: free
English-language
a n o n y m o u s
counseling, daily from 9am-11pm, by
trained volunteers: 03-5774-0992.
TELL COUNSELING CENTER:
affordable multilingual
p sychothe rapy by accre dite d
Western-trained professionals, a
CIGNA International Provider:
03-4550-1146. TELL website: www.
telljp.com. Follow us on Facebook
and Twitter @TokyoLifeLine.
THE JAPAN HELPLINE, 24 hours a
day, from anywhere, about anything.
From emergency assistance to
simple questions. Visit www.jhelp.
com/ and press “help,” or call
0570-000-911. To volunteer or
support, please contact team@jhelp.
com. www.jhelp.com/
WEST PAPUA: ONE SOUL , ONE
PEOPLE. Fifty years ago, West Papua
should have been an independent
country. Since 1969, West Papua has
been invaded and the people robbed
of their rights, culture and country.
Help support West Papuans’ desire
to be free. http://tapol.gn.apc.org/
[email protected]
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TOKYO. If
you have a problem with drinking, we
can help. English-speaking meetings
daily. 03-3971-1471 inquiries@
aatokyo.org http://aatokyo.org
Infertlity support group. TTC Tokyo
is an infertility support group in Tokyo
which provides informal opportunities
for women and men experiencing
infertility to connect with one another.
Please visit our website for more info.
www.ttctokyo.org
12 SOCIAL SCENE
12.1 LET’S PARTY
Bracelet, ladies’, Murano lampwork
charms, sliver chain, w/other jewels/
charms ¥8000. Photos available.
[email protected]
Jeans, Levi's 505 (W32xL30), hardly
worn, in very good condition ¥1000.
Pick up near Korakuen stn, Marunouchi
line. [email protected]
7.3 MISCELLANEOUS
Gardening items. Four empty
planters ¥3000. Large ivy in terracotta
planter ¥2500. Small ivy in terracotta
planter ¥1300. Small cherry tree in
terracotta planter ¥1700. Geranium
planter ¥1300. And more. No delivery.
[email protected]
Kitchenware, pots, pans, cutlery, etc.
¥5000/all. 08033508967
GAITOMO INTERNATIONAL
PARTY, VERY POPULAR AND
THE BIGGEST PARTY IN JAPAN.
A Gaitomo International Party
is held every Fri, Sat and Sun in
Tokyo and Osaka. Locations
are Roppongi, Ginza, Azabu,
etc. ¥1500-¥2000. Not club
music. Mainly conversation in
a friendly atmosphere. info@
gaitomo.com http://gaitomo.
com/
Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
jp/tokyo13warriors
JAPAN I NTE R NATI O NAL
PARTY - 10TH ANNIVERSARY.
Sat, May 25, 6:30-9pm, Devi
Fusion (Roppongi). Japan's
biggest international party.
250 people expected. All-youcan-drink and free snacks.
J a p a n e s e m e n : ¥ 4 0 0 0.
Othe rs : ¥3000. M obile :
getyourfriend.com/mobile/
[email protected] http://
www.getyourfriend.com/
090-1735-5405
I N T E R N AT I O N A L PA R T Y
@ LEAFCUP. Come join us
and have fun. Men ¥3000.
Foreigners/women ¥2000.
All-you-can-drink-and-eat.
Shibuya and O miya : May
11 and 25. Iidabashi and
Yo k o h a m a : M a y 1 8 a n d
June 1. For more info: www.
leafparty.com
13 CLUBS & INTERESTS
13.1 SPORTS
AMERICAN FOOTBALL .
Nihon Unisys Bulls, X league
Central Division, seeks fit
players w/ US college football
experience for all positions.
P r a c t i c e e ve r y S a t / S u n
from 10am-3pm (including
meeting) in Tokyo/Saitama
(time & venue subject to
c h a n g e). At te n d a n c e a t
practice must be over 60%.
Please contact for tryout info
and send your profile to team
admin. bullsxleague@gmail.
com http://www.unisys.co.jp/
football/
ALL-NATIONALITY TOUCH
FO OTBALL . N o n - co nt a c t
tag rugby (OZ tag) and
Rugby League players. We
play every Sat from 10am in
Tatsumi. M/F and beginners
welcome! Good exercise and
fun! Many other activities
such as BBQs and drinking
parties! Email for details.
tokyorugbyleague@
hotmail.com http://ameblo.
AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE
PLAYERS . Japan ANZAC S
Rugby League team is
seeking Rugby League
players for Japanese
Rugby League official
games from Apr to Sep.
Everyone welcome.
Contact for more details.
[email protected]
PLAY RUGBY. The Tokyo Crusaders
are a friendly, but keen, international
rugby club. Devoted to the game and
its social side, the “Cru” welcomes
all players and supporters.
Established in 1990, the Cru plays
in the Shuto League 1st Division.
http://www.facebook.com/tokyo.
crusaders www.tokyocrusaders.
com
TA M B O U R E L L I . Ve r y u n i q u e
new sport from Scotland. Using
a tambourine -like instrument
as a sports racquet, players hit a
shuttlecock! We play two or three
tim e s/m onth on we e ke n d s in
Meguro with many socials. Join us!
More details: www.tamjapan.org/en/
[email protected]
All-level tennis group in Tokyo.
Serious and motivated tennis players
sought by active tennis group to join
their weekly sessions in central Tokyo.
We have advanced and intermediate
groups on weekday evenings. Beginner
and low-intermediate also welcome.
No entrance or membership fees.
Reasonable participation fees. tokyo.
[email protected]
American touch football. Seeking
people to play with in a suburb of central
Tokyo on weekends. No skills needed as
long as you can run. kaka0413@hotmail.
co.jp
Diving in Izu. Get in touch to talk about
scuba diving near Tokyo. Info on scuba
lessons, equipment advice, dive trips,
monthly social events, CPR training, etc.
[email protected]
Don's Half-Fast Flash-Mob Weekend
Urban Bicycle Rides. halffastcycling@
hotmail.com
Futsal players wanted by a very
friendly international team. Practice is
in Tokyo and Kanagawa on Sat. Details
Futsal players needed. Are you a
Tokyo resident who wants to play futsal?
Please introduce yourself (name, age,
nationality, where you live, experience
with futsal). [email protected]
Gaijin Golfers. Come join the most
fun and active golf group in Japan
for expats, foreign residents and
English-speaking Japanese. Excellent
network for finding golf partners,
regular golf outings and lots more!
[email protected] http://www.
gaijingolfers.com
Interested in tai chi? Then why not
start now! Take a step to counter the
stresses of daily living. Practice is in
Toyama Park on Sun mornings, near
Takadanobaba stn. [email protected]
Tennis in central Tokyo! Active
international group of tennis friends
in central Tokyo welcomes new
players. We play on weekday evenings
and weekends. Different levels, fun
workouts with coach, great people!
Motivated players only, please. tennis.
[email protected]
13.2 LEISURE
MCARTHUR HEIGHTS. Take a break
where General Douglas McArthur
did! One hour from Tokyo by car or
direct train. Beautiful cabins on the
ocean, w/onsen, beach, shopping.
[email protected]
Japan Outdoor Adventure Club
for people living in/visiting Japan.
Group trips almost every weekend.
Membership is free and everyone is
welcome! [email protected]
http://www.tokyosnowclub.com
JOBS
To advertise:
[email protected]
FEMALES WANTED AT AN ELITE
MEMBERS’ CAFE IN EBISU. Seeking
women interested in drinking or
having dinner with our male members.
Must be over 18, speak Japanese,
have proper ID and etiquette. Models,
attractive looks a plus. Nothing
suspicious and no sexual contact.
¥5000-¥20,000/h. Please contact in
Japanese at 03-6412-7755 or ebisu_
[email protected].
13.3 ARTS
J A PA N E S E / E N G L I S H D R A M A
WORKSHOP STARTING. Seeking
amateur actors to join an exciting
n ew En gli s h/Ja pa n e s e d ra m a
group in Kita-Senju. Japanese and
foreign students, all levels welcome.
I d e a l fo r l a n g u a g e s tu d e n t s .
Contact 080-3212-5378 for details.
[email protected]
Love Shakespeare? Amate ur
group in Tokyo, meeting once/month
to celebrate our love of the Bard.
Come to read, or just to listen. All
nationalities welcome, no experience
necessary! rchrd_schwartz@yahoo.
com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Shakespeare-sama/
Short movie. I am seeking staff and
actors for a short movie. No payment,
but fare and food will be provided by
us, and after editing, DVD will be given
to everyone. [email protected]
13.4 MUSIC
Dancing in illusion. JM guitarist in the
Shibuya area seeking a female singer.
Let's play music together! Beginners
welcome. I like pop, rock, punk, R&B.
[email protected]
Melodic hardcore band seeking
drummer. We're seeking a regular
drummer. You can find "Agent of the
Grand Canyon" on Facebook. If you're
interested, email us. twelvesunday@
gmail.com http://www.myspace.com/
agcpunk
Songwriter seeking guitarist. UK
singer/songwriter seeking an original
guitarist to start a band with. I have
written and recorded songs, you add
your own style to them. I can email
demos. Influences: Stone Roses and
Nirvana. [email protected]
08038495222
13.5 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT
Diamond Way Buddhism Tokyo.
Do you want to explore your own
mind? Guided Buddhist meditation
every Sun, 6pm, near Azabu-Juban.
International practitioners, beginners
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, TOKYO. A fine
hotel located near Tokyo stn is seeking
bilingual waiter, waitress or bartender.
To apply, send your E/J resume,
w/photo, to recruitment. tokyo@
shangri-la.com (www.shangri-la.
com)
ZAMA AND YOKOTA AMERICAN
BAS E B EAUTY AN D BAR B E R
SHOP seeking experienced barbers,
hairstylist, nail stylist and massage
therapist for full-time positions.
Call for an interview. 09017692781
[email protected]
welcome, Japanese spoken. Please call
090-3598-3072 for more info. daginia@
gmail.com http://www.diamondway.jp/
Reiki share. Non-profit Reiki share
group. We meet twice/month in the
Ueno area. Other healing modalities
are ok, too. Contact for info.
[email protected]
Zen meditation. You’ve always
thought it would be interesting to try it
- why not now? Join us Fri evenings at
Tokuun-in in Ueno. Make arrangements
in advance by email, and check our
home page. [email protected].
ne.jp www.wgthorpe.com
13.6 RELIGIOUS
Ukrainian Orthodox. St. Jude
Ukrainian Orthodox Mission celebrates
liturgies in downtown Tokyo every
other Sun. All nationalities, all sincere
people welcome! Ukrainian, English,
03-4550-2929
CHAT HOSTS & TEACHERS WANTED
BY LEAFCUP @ Tokyo, Iidabashi,
Shibuya, Yokohama, Omiya. Seeking
enthusiastic and proficient English,
Korean, French, Spanish and/or German
speakers who can teach and lead lively
conversations. ¥1000-¥1500/h. Apply
online: www.leafcup.com/job.htm
MEDIA ADMINISTRATION STAFF.
Metropolis is seeking a motivated
Japanese national with excellent
English-language skills to provide
administrative support in a dynamic
multinational media and marketing
o f f i c e l o c a t e d i n N i s h i -A z a b u .
Office administration experience
r e q u i r e d . A b i l i t y to m u lt i t a s k ,
highly organized, excellent people
skills. Responsible, outgoing, with
the ability to work with a great
team of different nationalities and
backgrounds. Send your E/J resume
to [email protected].
SALES INTERN. Metropolis is seeking
a bilingual (E/J) intern to join its
Restaurants & Bars advertising team.
No pay, but transportation provided.
Please fax your resume (E/J) to
03-4588-2278 or email knakashima@
metropolis.co.jp.
Japanese spoken. [email protected]
www.stjude.jp 0422-43-5424
13.9 INTERNATIONAL
Intercultural Activities. JII (Japan
Intercultural Institute) is a nonprofit, member-run organization
that sponsors activities (seminars,
cultural events, conferences) for
those wanting to further develop
intercultural competencies and
m e et oth e r inte rculturali st s .
[email protected]
www.japanintercultural.org
14 PERSONALS
14.1 FRIENDS
Coffee friend if you're not boring.
Professional white guy working in
Tokyo seeking friends. Let's go have a
coffee and enjoy each other's company.
[email protected]
Fishing. I'm seeking friends who
like fishing. Let's go together. I
work for a fishing tackle company.
Drop me a line if you are interested.
[email protected]
German/Austrian friends? Hallo,
I'm a JM, 26. I want friends from
Germany and Austria. I am interested
in the language and countries. M/F ok.
I like music, cooking and having fun
on weekends. Danke! akaiyuuwaku@
gmail.com
Hello, people! Cool fella, happy
fella (black American in Setagaya)
seeking cool people, happy people!
New friends can be good friends! b_
[email protected]
Jazz-playing friends. JM seeks
jazz players for fun. I've been playing
the alto sax for a couple of years. Still
amateur, but want to play with others.
NEPENJI
Curly Hair Specialist & Colorist
Cut & Treatment ¥8,400 (first visit)
Single Color ¥6,300~
Half Head ¥8,400~
Metropolis
readers also
Full Head ¥12,600~
receive 20% off
color treatments,
Blow Dry ¥3,675
with any cut.
2-6-14 Ebisu-Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3793-2357
NEW Aoyama Salon Open
Email: [email protected]
Open: Wed-Sun 11am-9pm
http://nepenji.net
[email protected]
New friends. American male, can
never have enough friends. If you feel
the same way, please look me up. I
enjoy drinking, dining, or just hanging
out at a cafe as long as the conversation
is interesting. [email protected]
Seeking family friends. We are
seeking a family who has kids in
Higashi-Yamato, Kodaira, Nishi-Tokyo,
Musashi-Murayama, Tachikawa,
Fuchu or Higashi-Murayama. We
have two boys. Let’s hang out. Please
contact us if you are interested.
[email protected]
Seeking foreign friends. Two friendly
Japanese guys are disposed to go out
as spring comes along. Incidentally,
we would like to make foreign friends
in Tokyo. If you want to make Japanese
friends, please write us. tapness@
hotmail.com
Seeking friends in central Tokyo.
JF, early 30s, seeks friends to hang
out with in central Tokyo. atkm92@
yahoo.co.jp
Seeking friends! I am a JM, 40, from
Tokyo, seeking friends to go for drinks.
I work in Marunouchi as personnel at
an architectural design company. aqua.
[email protected]
14.2 MEN LOOKING
FOR WOMEN
WOOKIN’ PA NUB. Seeking some
kind of true love or something,
native English or someone pretty
comfortable speaking English,
who likes back scratches, has a
wicked sense of humor, is seeking
to annihilate her ego. Been trying
that myself. It’s hard! thebookof_
[email protected]
American cheesecake, 37, born in
America, raised near Santa Monica, my
father spoke German. Now near Tokyo
Tower. Love restaurants, fashion, R&B,
exercise every day. You: live or work
in Tokyo, open-minded. tokyotwr10@
yahoo.com
Attractive black girl? Handsome,
young, very athletic blond American
guy seeking beautiful black girl, any
nationality, under 40. I speak a little of
many languages, so mail and give it a
shot! [email protected]
Batsu-ichi? Black guy in central Tokyo
seeking a batsu-ichi JF for a serious
relationship. Let's meet and talk about
life. Serious only. Email please. No
jokes or quick-tempered and impatient
people, please. [email protected]
Bilingual SJM, 41, in Setagaya, seeks
bilingual lady for a serious relationship.
I’m fit, smart and financially stable.
I lived in NYC for ten years, so I can
communicate in English. Please email
me and let’s start talking! dubstone79@
yahoo.co.jp
British male, 31, friendly, tall, slim,
seeking a nice girl to hang out with.
Nationality/race unimpor tant ,
but should be 20-35 and have a
nice personality. Interested in
music and film: you should be, too.
[email protected]
Caring and cute JM seeks attractive,
hearty, nonsmoking Western female for
friendship. I simply would like to share
fun, interesting and great experiences
with you. If you feel the same way, just
drop me a line. [email protected]
Chinese-Canadian, 32, 175cm,
65kg, caring, fun-loving, athletic, likes
basketball, music, movies, seeking a
serious relationship with an attractive
JF, 22-32. [email protected]
Exotic and bilingual JM businessman
in Tokyo, early 30s, romantic,
good-looking, friendly, seeking a
sincere and kind woman who enjoys
movies and traveling for a serious
relationship. Please reply w/details.
[email protected]
Friends and more. Hi, I 'm a
professional foreigner, 40, living in
Japan, seeking a clever and elegant
lady around my age to join me in dining
out and exploring the Tokyo nightlife.
[email protected]
Kinky side? Good-looking, successful
SWM, mid-30s, in Tokyo, seeking
relationship with a nice girl who has a
curiosity for swapping and adventures
in love. Be attractive and proper
when it's appropriate and fun and
spontaneous, too! adultfuntokyo@
yahoo.com
Large and lovely English-speaking
woman, 20s-40s, sought by mature,
professional SJM nonsmoker.
[email protected]
Let's become good friends. I am
a fun, kind, active SJM, 40s, seeking
someone who could share good times
and possibly a serious relationship. I
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from you! [email protected]
Lonely in Japan? If you’re a Western
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man who is fun, sincere, smart and
crazy (in a good way), what are you
waiting for? Please email me now!
Let’s have fun together! imymeore@
gmail.com
Mature and sophisticated Japanese,
some have said charming, seeking an
elegant, passionate, kind SWF. I dream
about wild nights as well as sharing the
simple pleasures of love. Is that you?
[email protected]
Need love. Handsome English
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am handsome, fun, intelligent, wellmannered and empathic. Let's have
romance together. Please send photo
w/email. I'm looking forward to hearing
from you. [email protected]
Older woman? Sane, relaxed,
attractive SJM, 26, seeks someone
older. Maybe we can go to a nice cafe
or get drinks first. I want to take it easy.
Hope to hear from you. akaiyuuwaku@
gmail.com
Romance with an older lady. Very
nice and sexy gentleman seeks an
older, or much older, woman to have
nice dates and a romance. feeltokyo@
yahoo.co.uk
Seeking a lady who lives in Tokyo.
Let's have a chat! I'm a JM, 38, living in
Tokyo. [email protected]
Serious and long-term relationship
sought. Any age/nationality ok.
[email protected]
Serious, long-term. SWM, 34, welleducated and traveled, with a stable
job, seeks true love. If you are 20-30s,
warm and caring, and seeking a
serious long-term relationship, then
please drop me an email. Serious only,
no games. No Roppongi girls, please.
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Special female friend, preferably
20-41, sought by SJM, 41, for having a
good time together. I like analog music,
good food, traveling, cats, peace,
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things. [email protected]
SWM seeking fun! Australian, 26,
seeking some casual fun in Tokyo! I am
an athletic and open-minded guy and
am seeking someone to share a good
time after work or on the weekend. r_
[email protected]
UK lady. SJM, 30s, tall, slim, lover
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彼女が欲しいな〜 Single white
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Geek wanted because he is
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Life partner. Female, 32, wants to find
her life partner. Prefer a SWM from Italy,
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Mature, attractive SJF, 30s, kind of
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for wonderful times. English ok. pink_
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Mountain woman. I live in an upland
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people ok, too. before_sunrise_2009@
yahoo.co.jp
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Single African-American.
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with. Tokyo resident and office worker
preferred. [email protected]
Sweet JF. If you're seeking a sweet
life with a sweet JF, write me. I'm a SJF,
mid-30s, enjoy making sweets, walking
in the park and beach. Well-mannered
gentleman with professional job only.
No info, no reply. [email protected]
Traveling partner. Affectionate,
warm, caring, fun-loving, professional,
multilingual JF seeks a mature,
sophisticated gentleman, 35-45, for
a meaningful long-term relationship.
Do you also enjoy traveling, water
sports, nice dining, music, art, reading?
[email protected]
Why don't we give it a try? Attractive,
laid-back, fun, sweet SJF, early 30s,
seeks SWM for a serious relationship.
Let's see how it goes. Love travel,
nature walks, good food and drinks.
No drama, nonsmokers only, please.
[email protected]
14.4 GAY & LESBIAN
Cross-dresser/TS/TV. Nice Westerner,
23, seeking a nice Japanese crossdresser/TS for company in Tokyo or
nearby. I want to find a person I can
treat completely as a girl and have fun.
[email protected]
Mocha girl seeking playful female. I'm
a sweet, fun, chill woman, 20, seeking
an open-minded female to have some
fun with. Let's hang out and see where
it leads. Willing to meet at your place
anytime. Email me to know more.
[email protected]
いろいろ募集中. Well-educated and
athletic American male, mid-20s, is
seeking others with similar interests and
clear goals in life. 日本語もokです。Tokyo/
Saitama area. [email protected]
14.5 ESCORTS
24 HOURS/7 DAYS. Sweet,
young Japanese and European
girls available only for VIP
executives. Are you a lonely
gentleman? She is waiting…
Now hiring girls. 090-38007428 onvo4z507871w4n@
ezeweb.ne.jp
Ready to meet my charming prince.
Hello, there! Funny French woman is
seeking her Japanese prince charming.
Me? Sweet and kind, 30. You? The same
and ready to love. Players not allowed.
A bientôt! [email protected]
Respectful relationship.
Warmhearted, attractive SJF, loves
cooking, hiking, art, seeks gentle,
successful Caucasian living in central
Tokyo. I want to settle down and raise
a family. What's important is trust and
stimulating each other. Serious only.
Please email w/photo. sorosoroaitai@
yahoo.co.jp
Romantic and stylish. My dream is
to meet a good-looking and generous
gentleman with good taste to take me
to nice resorts/onsen, enjoy wine/good
food, spas, relaxing, etc. I’m mid-30s,
slim, feminine and friendly! dejidj2011@
yahoo.co.jp
Seeking serious relationship. I'm
a girl who loves the Lord with all my
heart. Down-to-earth, loving, caring,
family always comes first. Love travel,
the outdoors. I'm early 40s, divorced.
Love to hear from you. ppirbi777love@
yahoo.co.jp
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Couple seeks couples and select
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BY CATHRYN MOE
Horoscope
♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
Navigating this new paradigm is tricky.
The rules are just being defined. This
is particularly true for Aries at the
moment. The New Moon and solar eclipse are
in your sector of income and ownership. This
includes your feelings and every thought that
occurs to you. You are a co-creator of your environment; enjoy the power that has been handed
to you. Hot flame that you are, inspire the truth!
Watch for a turn of events. The New
Moon in your sign coincides with a
solar eclipse over the weekend. You
may notice your inner world begin to match your
outer one. You enjoy a stability that your presence
actually creates. Note that Saturn is still retrograde
in your house of significant others. Marry their
strength, not their potential. As unfair as it seems,
their challenges are not yours to sort out.
The weight of your dreams drizzles
into your waking life. The New Moon
and solar eclipse Saturday is just the
beginning. Within the next few months you may
find your thoughts mirrored in the windows of
your environment, not to mention your soul.
Make sure you are able to soar to your special
place whenever you need to. Someone has you
all figured out. Or so they think!
Someone is backing you and helping
you to make good choices. Ceres in
your sign wants to see you healthy,
happy and well fed. Vesta, there too, looks after
your insights and how you use your wisdom. As
things change, you’re able to break old patterns
and transform them into a stellar leap forward.
The New Moon and solar eclipse over the weekend shows who your friends are.
LEO
VIRGO
Aug 23, 24~Sep 22, 23 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣
Sep 23, 24~Oct 22, 23 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
LIBRA
SCORPIO
Tame the lion within. You were born to
lead but that doesn’t mean exhausting
yourself dealing with others’ tricks. The
New Moon and solar eclipse over the weekend
connect into your career sector. This includes
how you feel about yourself and what kind of
image you present. Now, with Mars, Mercury, the
Sun and Pallas Athene in this area, you’re on a roll.
But remember your soul only wants to be loved.
Take a moment to breathe. Nobody
said you had to be overscheduled.
And if they did, you can restructure
your thoughts to see how you feel about it. Note
the New Moon and solar eclipse over the weekend
open a door as they close a window. If you can’t
schedule a trip to a faraway land, open a spiritual
insight or two. There isn’t time left to hold onto the
past, since it doesn’t exist anymore.
You can get through this week by
emulating your mirror sign, Aries. Put
yourself first and think, “What would
they do?” The list of people you have let move in
front of you may have grown too long. The New
Moon in your sector of soul-level change and
things that feel fated coincides with a solar eclipse.
Know that choices you make with a partner are
potentially pivotal.
A solar eclipse in your sector of significant others falls through your window
over the weekend. It’s a time of the New
Moon, determining a shift you’ve longed for but
may not have expected to actually show up. Love
comes in many forms. If you don’t have what you
need to take care of yourself, you may have to start
over. Nourish the part of yourself that reaches out
to others. Then the next step will come quickly.
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Want to run free but feel called to stick
around for cuddles and comfort?
That’s understandable, as this week
you navigate the energy in your sector of service
and health. You have a job to do, and it’s changing.
Due to the New Moon and solar eclipse over the
weekend, your focus turns to the value of material reality. That’s right, Sag—who gallops away
to foreign lands and freethinking—might want to
consider settling down.
There’s a New Moon and decisions to
be made. Over the weekend, the solar
eclipse puts pressure on your area of
romance. Will you or won’t you? How can you not?
Check to see if you are taking care of everything
that feels right in your world. If not, you could find
out you’re overextended just when you wanted to
clear out and start again. Creativity is not in question. You have it and more. In the labyrinth of your
week you will find the path that supports you.
Detachment from others’ influence
is essential as you expand your heart
waves this week. It’s your scene, and you
have as much right as anyone to have this earth
be and become what you need it to be. Breezes
are bright and invigorating for you over the
weekend. The New Moon in your sector of home
life coincides directly with a solar eclipse. Don’t
worry if you can’t see it. The ripples start where
you begin to feel.
Before you go judging yourself or others, remember the whole vibration of
our planet is in flux. Some days you’re
having a pink and fluffy day that is reflected in
your thoughts as well as the sunset. Other days
you’re floating on clouds of confusion and indecision. That’s all to the good, as you’re learning to
tell your instincts from those that are externally
generated. Take your time and when in alignment,
make your move.
March 20, 21 - April 19, 20 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
July 23, 24~Aug 22, 23 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
Nov 22, 23~Dec 21, 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Apr 20, 21~May 20, 21 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣
Dec 22, 23~Jan 19, 20 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Metropolis Mediabox
Oct 23, 24~Nov 21, 22 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Jan 20, 21~Feb 18, 19 ♥♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
facebook.com/MetropolisMagazine
W. PAYOON
Author Jessica Chambers
re s p o n d s : T h a n k you s o mu c h !
June 21, 22~July 22, 23 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
Feb 19, 20~Mar 20, 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
twitter.com/MetropolisTokyo
I mean, it would
b e r id icu lou s to
say that I haven’t
noticed the seedier
aspects of Japan,
but hey—I’m leaving this place for
good. Why go on a
negative? Thanks
so much for your
p o sit iv it y, s ome
people just love a
good moan.
hear about her experience at a Japanese
school, and perhaps a more personal
account of growing up in Tokyo. Let’s
give her a mulligan—try again!—hurvj
THE MADCHATTER
STILL DREAMIN’
Regarding “808 State” (Music, Apr 12):
Ironically, most of the bands in the socalled “Madchester Revolution” of 1989
were in fact guitar bands… I think that’s
a false dichotomy [the author] is making, based on his personal hindsight
only.—jonholmes
Regarding “In A Japanese Dream”
(The Last Word, Apr 12): Oh my god!
Don’t say nice things about Japan! The
grumpy gaijin brigade will be all over
you! They remember the war, you
see...—Johnny Rabbit
I hate to impugn this writer because
I appreciate her perspective and I
feel that everyone deserves a voice.
However, is anyone else struck by the
shallowness of her decade-long experience? Props for getting published as
a college freshman; but what did you
really accomplish though this piece
beyond the stereotypical “Harajuku”
and “bowing” drivel? I’d be interested to
Most of the bands getting press coverage were guitar bands, but the number
of dance remixes they released shows
the scene was very much all about the
rave.—Yohan Mau5
R e g a r d i n g “ P h o to o f t h e We e k ”
(Upfront, Apr 26): Any photograph of
an animal in a zoo is pathetic. Reminds
me of a great Calvin and Hobbes strip.
Calvin: Hobbes, do you want to go
to the zoo tomorrow?
Hobbes: Sure. Then, let’s visit a
prison.
Please raise the bar for your
photographs.—Allan
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF…
Regarding “Sayonara Tokyo” (The
Last Word, Apr 26): Nothing wrong
with the innocence of a child’s view.
T he i mp re s s ion s he h a s i s n ice .
Everyone doesn’t see the seedy side
of things. […] Go girl! Best of luck in
school!—Sept922
May 21, 22~June 20, 21 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Madchester had at least three different
aspects. I lived through it. There were
electronic dance artists and DJs, guitar bands who were influenced by the
electronic/dance scene and straight
guitar bands. The Hacienda itself had
overwhelmingly dance-oriented club
nights, though.—Johnny Buckle
ZOOROPA
Metropolis wants to hear from you. Send your comments to [email protected]. Note that letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Metropolis Members Club
Register for prizes & discounts
www.metropolis.co.jp/club
THIS WEEK’S WINNER!
UPCOMING PRIZE!
Mark Davis
won a set of two premium handmade crystal wine glasses
Courtesy of Zwiesel Japan
One lucky MMC member will win
a ¥10,000 gift voucher
Courtesy of Adidas
The Last Word
Want to have The Last Word? Send your article
to: [email protected]
BY WAY OF
THE INLAND SEA
Honoring Donald
Richie’s legacy
By Dreux Richard
state that there is.” In light of that
sensibility,I have always regarded his
writing as unburdened—he drifted
in the vacuum between cultures,
weightless compared to the rest of us.
In the process, he revealed the nature
of our responsibilities as expatriates:
not to interpret individual cultures or
render them familiar to each other,
but to move beyond their constraints
into a bet ter rea lm of t hought.
I choose to think of Richie’s life and
writings as testimony disputing the
t u n it y. E ng l ish-la ng uage pr i nt
publication in Japan isn't long for
this world, and it should therefore
surprise no one that the talent pool
among expatriate writers can seem
shallow. Perhaps little can be done
about t h is—Wester ners haven’t
been afraid of Japan since the bubble
burst, and they would rather read
about China now. But that doesn’t
explain why The Japan Times (Richie’s longtime patron) has invited
the International Herald Tribune to
LOUISE ROUSE
I
ar rived in Japan hav ing
been advised: begin with
The Inland Sea. As if it was
a k ind of dut y American
Millenials are bound to, I
responded with willful ignorance. If
Donald Richie was the “right” author
to read during expatriation, I would
read anything else.
I spent my first t wo weeks in
Japan traveling south from Tokyo
to visit friends. When I later read
The Inland Sea, I discovered I had
unwittingly traced much of Donald Richie’s route with near-perfect
fidelity. Since then, I retain the sense
t hat expatriate w riters in Japan
don’t choose Donald Richie for their
patron saint. They touch down at
Narita having already received him.
R ichie’s legac y is pr ismat ic.
Most will remember him as a bridge
between cultures, an elucidator of
the inscrutable Japanese psyche. But
I don’t think Richie ever felt Japanese people needed elucidating.
He treasured the opacity he sometimes perceived in them and knew
it belonged foremost to his manner
of perceiving. Still others—perhaps
cloistered in academia where the bulk
of Western thought about Japan now
occurs—will remember him as the
best-read of the “occupation heirs”
who populated postwar Japan’s literary scene. They will wrongly contend
that the distinguishing feature of his
lifework was the geostrategic privilege
that permitted it: that Donald Richie
was an occupier first and foremost.
Never mind that he was as warmhearted, self-conscious and human an
observer of the occupation as any two
nations could have hoped for.
Richie often remarked upon the
clarity afforded him by his ethnically-imposed outsider status in
Japan. He called himself a “citizen
of limbo… t he most democratic
very notion of clear cultural boundaries; boundaries that Richie knew
were precious, but also often porous
or illusory.
Do we know as much? Do we
understand what we might gain—
not just for ourselves, but also for
our respective cultures—by living,
thinking and writing as expatriates in
Japan? Donald Richie’s legacy, after
all, is not to be found in the books he
wrote, in the speeches he delivered
or in the Japanese films that might
never have transcended the archipelago had they not been propelled
by his pen and his ardor. It’s closer by.
We are his legacy: several generations
of expatriates occupying the limbo
whose imperceptible boundaries he
eloquently described, privileged with
the opportunity to emulate his clarity
and weightlessness.
We lately squander that oppor-
demolish what little remains of its
mandate for independent reporting. It doesn't explain why academia
has relegated literary translation to
extracurricular activity—thereby
removing the sole remaining career
incentive for aspiring translators.
Such shor tcom i ngs mat ter
because they ref lect our ability to
address ourselves to the tasks of our
era. Donald Richie arrived in Japan
bearing a preternatural understanding of the moment he’d been called
upon to inhabit and the work it
would demand of him. His was the
postwar era. Buoyed by an ongoing
US fascination with Japan, a subsequent generation of writers and
thinkers later addressed themselves
to equally trenchant work during
the Bubble Era, when Emperor Hirohito’s death was the signal moment.
Our generation of US expats must
live, think and write in the 3/11 era,
which we have been asked to do
without some of the economic and
institutional advantages enjoyed by
our predecessors. Yet ours is perhaps
the most important era of all, for its
outward appearance of peace. Much
as an aged Donald Richie identified
the accumulating inhumanit y of
our age in Tokyo’s physical ugliness,
we must identify the corresponding
wounds that have accumulated on
our host society and its spirit. We are
equipped to do so because of where
we live—in the clear-eyed space
between two troubled nations and
their respective cultures. And along
the path Richie laid for us.
HE WAS AS WARMHEARTED, SELF-CONSCIOUS AND HUMAN
AN OBSERVER OF THE
OCCUPATION AS ANY
TWO NATIONS COULD
HAVE HOPED FOR.”
■ Dreux Richard is the literary
translation editor for Kyoto Journal
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