bag the best gifts this season

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Nov 28-Dec 11, 2014
Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine
NAO’S
THE TIME
BAG THE BEST
GIFTS THIS
SEASON
FAMILY FIGURES
BABY DOLLS GROW UP
NABE NOW!
HOT POT HOT SPOTS
SOCIAL SAVER
PUA COUNTER-PUNCH
LILY ALLEN’S HOT
OUT HERE
SEE THE WATCH LIST
FIND A CURLY-HAIR
CURATOR
IN TOKYO CLASSIFIEDS
STOCKING
STUFFERS
SEE OUR
HOLIDAY GIFT
SPECIAL!
www.akaiclinic.com
Cosmetic Surgery
Laser Treatment
Skin Care
rejuvenate
yourself with
the best in beauty
technology
NEW
VAMPIRE LIFT
A “Vampire Lift” may sound unnatural, but it’s the newest trend in rejuvenation treatment that utilizes your own blood—the origin of life—as a
source of nutrients to sustain and prolong youth. Now you can experience it at Akai Medical Clinic.
All humans have so-called “growth factors” in their body, the generic name of a protein that promotes the differentiation of specific cells. Unlike
surgeries, the “Vampire Lift” uses that particular growth factor in the blood and special cells in the fat to regenerate tissues.
The biggest feature of this treatment is that it has a natural rejuvenation effect. Where it is injected, wrinkles and sagging will lift naturally, the
overall quality of skin will improve and your skin will gain back its natural elasticity.
Rejuvenating the skin using laser, plasma, radio or ultrasonic waves causes damage through heat, and although the treatment induces activity in
the growth factors, it is not enough. The “Vampire Lift” does not use heat and is a process of actively injecting growth factors to particular parts,
improving blood circulation, increasing collagen and repairing tissues.
AKAI CLINIC CAN PROVIDE TREATMENTS
COMBINING THREE TECHNIQUES TO SUIT
YOUR SYMPTOMS AND NEEDS.
1 Using the “Vital Injector,” we will inject the growth factors into the skin or a little below the
skin, to rejuvenate the skin as a whole.
2 Direct injection of growth factor to circles under your eyes, sagging cheeks, laugh lines or
mouth area to rejuvenate the skin and improve looseness wrinkles. This treatment uses blunt
needles when injecting, causing less bleeding under the skin and bruises. Together with the
“Vital Injector,” this will rejuvenate your face.
3 Injection of fat & stem cells with growth factors simultaneously. This treatment provides the
maximum effect for regenerative medicine. The reason skin loses its lustre is due to shrinking
fat and surrounding cells. This type of injection is called a face lift that does not cut the skin.
DR. HIDEMI AKAI
is a board-certified plastic
surgeon and an associate
professor of the department
of plastic, aesthetic and
reconstructive surgery at
Tokyo’s Showa University.
Dr. Akai trained at Harvard
Medical School and
Massachusetts General
Hospital before amassing
over twenty-five years of
experience.
DR. KEIKO AKAI
is also a board-certified
plastic surgeon, and a
dermatologist.
The Akai Clinic offers a
range of cosmetic-surgery
procedures, laser
treatments and skin care,
using state-of-the-art
equipment and the latest
techniques.
Additional fee for anesthesia is required. Please contact the clinic for more information.
Other cosmetic procedures available. For fees and detailed information services, please refer to our homepage.
We welcome email and phone inquiries.
Omotesando
KNK Bldg 3F 3-5-17, Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
1-min walk from Omotesando stn, A3 exit.
Tel: 03-5771-4114 Email: [email protected]
Clinic hours: 11AM~8PM (Mon~Sun)
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Dermatologist
Yokohama
Quadrifoglio 4F 5-14 Kinkocho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama.
1-min walk from Yokohama stn, North East exit.
Tel: 045-620-5745 Email: [email protected]
Clinic hours: 11AM~7PM (Tue~Fri) & 10AM~5PM (Sat & Hol)
inside
NOV 28-DEC 11, 2014 • #1079
EDITOR’S
LETTER
’Tis the season to be giving with Metropolis! From 3-D printer/
scanners and bleeding-edge robots to ornery soaps and sweaters for dads, we’ve got all the swag to put the swagger in your
stocking this season. Any while you’re at it, why not invite some
creepy-cool dolls to join the fun? (Seriously—check p. 7!)
06
Photo by Julio Shiiki
Present Palooza: Slick stocking stuffers for the season.
With World AIDs Day on December 1—and Christmas being the
day for love in this country—we’ve also got a festively furtive guide
to getting checked for STDs, plus some notes on an alternative
method for taking control of your holistic health. Get your jingle
on and get the most out of this festive time of year!
16
X Marks the Spot: X Generation re-gifts the ’80s.
21
Gift of Music: Alfie Silas sings for Tohoku.
Cover design & photography: Kohji Shiiki. Cover models: Kaede Matsui and NAO. Shot at Aldebaran Atelier Omotesando, 1F Alteka Plaza, 1-1-3-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku.
GET PRINTED!
IN FOCUS
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03
upfront
SCENE AROUND TOWN
LINGOIST
Photo by Mike Kanert
HOLIDAY GIFT PLANNING
With Christmas officially less than a month away, it’s probably smart
to start planning your holiday gift list to avoid a present shopping
stress-induced meltdown on Christmas Eve. Instead of trying to pick
up on subtle hints from your friends and family about what’s on their
wish list, use the phrase “-ga hoshī desu ka” to cut to the chase and
become a gift-giving guru.
123RF
Christmas ni wa nani ga hoshī
desu ka?
EN What do you want for Christmas?
JP
Nov 16: The Pirates of Tokyo Bay rock improv at SuperDeluxe, Roppongi
Photo by Mike Kanert
JP
EN
MacBook Air ga hoshī desu.
I would like a MacBook Air.
Tanjōbi ni nan-no cake ga hoshī
desu ka?
EN What kind of cake do you want
for your birthday?
JP
JP
EN
Nov 17: Behind the cover at Aldebaran Atelier Omotesando, Harajuku
Chocolate cake ga hoshī desu.
I would like chocolate cake.
K
Photo courtesy of Tokyo Artistic Theatre Ensemble
1
お
A
N
A
C
R
2
A
S
S
Down
1 . To p u sh , 2. Stu d y
abroad, 3. Year or age, 5.
Reception desk, 6. Pores,
8. Absence (from home)
B
3
E
4
O
5
6
7
9
Nov 22: David Auburn’s Fifth Planet at Trance Mission, Sangubashi
Photo by Nina Janežič
Across
1. Present or gift, 4. Wrapping paper, 7. To walk, 9.
Eggplant, 10. To lose
8
10
C
D
ANSWERS AT
meturl.com/
kanacross
Solution:
A
B
C
D
Metropolis Members Club
THIS WEEK’S WINNER!
Zak Elliott
won a Premium Quality Kitchen Knife courtesy of Zwilling
UPCOMING PRIZE
One lucky MMC member will win a ¥10,000 gift
voucher courtesy of adidas
Nov 24: Fall colors at Showa Memorial Park, Tachikawa
04
Register for prizes & discounts
www.metropolis.co.jp/club
E
3
TOP
illuminations
Photo by Minn Htike
TO-DO LIST
UNTIL FEB 15
UNTIL MAR 31
UNTIL FEB 15
More than 1 million champagne-gold LEDs
illuminate 1.2km of Marunouchi. Until Feb
15, 5-11pm, free. Marunouchi Naka Dori.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-5218-5100. http://meturl.com/
marunouchiillumination
Two million LEDs create a magical atmosphere
with the them of “Shangri-La.” Until Mar 31,
4-8pm, ¥500-2,000. Country Farm Tokyo
German Village. Anegasaki. Tel: 0438-605511. http://meturl.com/germanillumination
Produced by world-renowned lighting designer
Motoko Ishii, 3 million colorful LEDs are set up
throughout an extensive park. Until Feb 15,
4-8:30pm, ¥500-1,000. Yomiuri Land. Yomiuri
Land. Tel: 044-966-1111. http://meturl.com/
jewellumination
Marunouchi Illumination
Tokyo German Village Illumination
Jewellumination
NOV 29-30
BERLIN X TOKYO
A bevy of German and Japanese
artists and innovators fete 20 years
of partnership between Tokyo and
Berlin.
Nov 29-30, 10am-11pm,
¥500-1,500. Tokyo City View.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-6406-6652.
Nov 29, 11pm-8am, ¥3,500 (adv)/
¥4,500 (door). Daikanyama Unit.
Daikanyama. Tel: 03-54598630. http://meturl.com/
berlinxtokyo2014
NOV 28-29, DEC 5-6
EDITOR’S PICK DEC 22
VISION THIRD
ANNIVERSARY
UHNELLYS LOOPHOLIC RELEASE PARTY
Avant-garde rap-rock duo Uhnellys welcomes special guest
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her for what looks to be one of the
season’s best live music nights. With guitarist, rapper and samplerextraordinaire Kim at the mic and the lovely—and dead solid—Midi
on the drums, Uhnellys is consistently one of Japan’s most energetic
and imaginative rock outfits. Aggressively philosophical, the
band celebrates the release of its latest live outing, Loopholic, on
December 22 in Daikanyama. Dan Grunebaum
Dec 22, 7pm, ¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000 (door). Daikanyama Unit.
Daikanyama. http://meturl.com/uhnellys2014
Four mega DJs help Tokyo’s endless
basement club, Vision, celebrate
three years of beats. Nov 28-29;
Dec 5-6, 10pm, ¥3,500. Vision.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5728-2824.
http://www.vision-tokyo.com/
Ken Ishii
DEC 6
KOYO NO KAI
光のボールでオーケストラ © チームラボ 2013
Butoh dance troupe Torifune
Butoh Sha is joined by a traditional
kyogen comic for an outdoor
performance. Dec 6, 3 & 5pm,
¥500. Torifune Outdoor Stage.
Oiso. Tel: 0463-60-1008. www.
torifune-butoh-sha.com
DEC 4-7
LITTLE WOMEN
NOV 29-MAR 1
LEARN AND PLAY! TEAMLAB FUTURE
PARK
Explore an interactive ”future park“ with digital art produced by teamLab,
an “Ultra Technologist” organization that merges science, technology, art
and design. Nov 29-Mar 1, 10am-5pm, closed Tue, ¥900-1,800. National
Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Fune-no-Kagakukan.
Tel: 03-3570-9151. http://meturl.com/teamlabfuturepark
An original adaptation of
Louisa May Alcott’s classic
novel performed by the Tokyo
International Players. Dec 4-7,
various times, ¥2,500 (students)/
¥4,000 (adv)/¥4,500 (door).
Echo Theatre. Ebisu. www.
tokyoplayers.com
CHECK FOR MORE EVENTS ON P.22!
05
Blazing Saddles: The
Sexiest Soap Ever,
USD$9
feature
THE WEB
GIVETH
Import prezzies with pop
BY RICHARD P. GREENFIELD
Scottish Shetland Wool Sweater - Bright
Striper, USD$210
OUTLAW SOAPS
Danielle Vincent didn’t start out to be a soapmaker. As she tells it, on
her honeymoon she and her husband stopped at a country store in
Northern California that was making its own soap. “It just hit me,” she
tells Metropolis. “Why don’t I try that?” These aren’t your granddaddy’s
soaps—though they may be the ones he wished he’d had: Hair of the Dog,
Blazing Saddles (even a new flask with “Excuse Me While I Whip This Out”
written on it) and Unicorn Poop for kids (don’t let the name fool you—kids
love it), plus some local California pine and sage botanicals. With Japan’s
bath culture, you can surprise your friends or treat yourself—or both.
www.outlawsoaps.com
Want to get some free? “Like” Outlaw Soaps on Facebook, then send your name,
email address and physical address to [email protected] for a chance to
receive a trial pack of soaps from Outlaw!
VVEGO
Sport Coat - Harris Tweed - Navy
Herringbone, USD$895
Irish Poplin Necktie Regimental Stripe - 4-7th
Dragoon Guards, USD$110
O’CONNELL’S
Ethan Huber isn’t the founder of O’Connell’s; he’s the second
generation in his family, which bought the original store more
than half a century ago. O’Connell’s is about much more than
price and selection (though only someone with an oligarch’s
closet space could run out of items of interest on the site)—
it’s also about working with a sales representative who has a
network of trusted providers, many of whom are themselves
second- or even third-generation owner/managers.
O’Connell’s can and does ship to Japan and other countries in
Northeast Asia, and they carry both classics and the styles of the
season. www.oconnellsclothing.com
Robert Porter was a pilot, but he
took a wrong turn into his own
imagination—and the result is
what you can see at Vvego.com.
Porter tells Metropolis, “When you
work in aviation, you see a lot of
unusual materials used in unusual
ways, and a lot of designs—
some of them futuristic, some
of them anachronistic. I found
myself looking at objects made
from this or that material and
wondering what kind of wallet,
or key chain or cufflink it would
make. Eventually I had to stop
wondering and start making.”
www.vvego.com
Warlock
Carbon
Fiber Money
Clip & Key
Fob System,
USD$119
Baseball Glove
Vvault Front
Pocket Wallet,
USD$175
Vvego is giving away one Warlock Carbon Fiber Money Clip & Key Fob System. To
enter, “like” Vvego International on Facebook and send your name, email address
and physical address to [email protected].
Gifty Goods
Hidden in a quaint alley in
Kagurazaka, Atelier Akari
offers traditional candles
(wa-rōsoku)from all over
Japan. Made from the nuts
of the gobi tree, these handcrafted botanical candles are
great for adding atmosphere
to a meal—or just become
entranced by the swaying of
the flame.
1F Maison de Gardenia, 6-73
Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku. Tel:
03-6280-8573. Open Sat-Sun
1pm-7pm. Kagurazaka. http://
akarikagurazaka.web.fc2.com
06
The creative possibilities
offered by 3-D printing
could make for the artist’s
perfect gift this Christmas,
allowing users to print
unique 3-D objects in their
homes or offices. Taiwanbased XYZ’s new da Vinci
1.0 AiO (¥64,800) is the first
low-priced 3-D printer that
incorporates 3-D scanner
capabilities, so objects
placed in the device can be
scanned and duplicated in a
range of colors and materials.
http://us.xyzprinting.com
Photos by Cassie Lafferty
“Hoshimi”
The future is NAO: A miniscule humanoid robot that’s
taking the world by storm. Capable of communicating in
19 languages, the 58-centimeter-tall machine-man was
designed to be a domestic companion and programmed to
recognize, listen to and communicate with humans. If you
haven’t got close to 1 million yen lying around to buy one,
Aldebaran Atelier Omotesando is offering to let interested
Metropolis readers program NAO to deliver a personal
holiday message you can then record for free—or even join
in with NAO to deliver it together! Email inquiries in English
or Japanese to [email protected]. Allow
about 30 minutes for setup and recording.
Aldebaran Atelier Omotesando, 1F Alteka Plaza, 1-13-9
Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Meiji-Jingumae. http://meturl.
com/naorobot
Indie urban apparel store Mynority Classics shakes things
up this season with its Hip Hop Subway Calendar (¥1,500),
which takes Tokyo’s complex railway system and revamps
it into a social graph of hip-hop greats: Akasaka Mitsuke is
now Run D.M.C., Tupac takes residence in Kudanshita and
Public Enemy is located in Nagatacho, site of the National
Diet Building. www.mynorityclassics.com
Mujjo’s Refined Touchscreen Gloves (€20.62, shipping
available to Japan) will allow you to keep warm while
still obsessing over Candy Crush this winter. Offering an
elegant design with a leather wrist closure and cuff, the
gloves also feature a soft layer of integrated fleece lining.
In addition to your fingertips, you can use your knuckles,
your palm or even the heel of your hand—just don’t expect
the gloves to help you get past level 99!
http://meturl.com/mujjogloves
WELCOME TO
THE DOLLHOUSE
Ball-jointed dolls in the family
BY THALIA HARRIS
The world of Asian ball-jointed dolls (ABJDs) maids with tails, some are centaurs with
is one of pop culture entwined with fantasy. horse bodies.”
“They’re works of art, essentially,” says
A single doll can run anywhere from
Cassie Lafferty, a collector from Sydney, ¥10,000-100,000. Sizes vary as well, with
Australia. “If you think of it as a writer creat- Volks’ Super Dollfie line ranging anywhere
ing a story or film writer directing, the story from 26.5-60cm in height. And the possiis there—and I enjoy having an embodiment bilities for customization are endless: Wigs,
of character.”
clothes and even hands and eyes are interLafferty became interested in
changeable.
ABJDs while studying abroad
Laf fer t y’s f irst doll was
in Osaka in 2010. While she
Aithne (pronounced ahninitially wrote them off as
yah), designed as a fourcreepy surrogate children,
year- old girl with red
a chance to play with a
hair. Lafferty put a lot of
pair of dolls back in Auseffort into deciding her
tralia changed her thinkname (which is Gaelic for
ing—so much so that she
“little flame”), as well as
now owns 11 of her own.
her backstory. In addition
Byakkomaru
and Aithne
What separates ABJDs
to having an older brother,
from other collectible dolls is that
Takeo—who in turn has a girlfriend
their ball-and-socket joints are strung with named Yuri—Aithne has an otherworldly
elastic, giving them an exceptionally wide friend named Byakkomaru, a white tiger
range of lifelike poses. The style is inspired spirit with anthropomorphic ears, a tigerby Hans Bellmer’s German ball-jointed dolls striped face and cat eyes. He’s a shy and
of the 1930s, expanded upon through the curious child, and only Aithne can see him.
exquisite Japanese doll tradition, then in
The creation of such storylines is a very
turn inspired by elements of modern anime. common aspect of the hobby, with the dolls
ABJDs debuted in the late 1990s by way taking on real-life personae.
of Volks, a Kyoto-based model kit manuFor those less interested in micro-cusfacturer. Since then, the dolls have been a tomization, Volks and other makers such
huge hit across the world, with the majority as Luts (www.eluts.com) offer ABJD sets
of customers found in Japan, South Korea featuring popular anime, manga and mascot
and China, and a growing fan base in the characters—including perennial favorites
West as well.
like Hatsune Miku—due to frequent col“I’ve always enjoyed creative process- laboration with entertainment-related comes, so for me, this is a whole collection of panies. These dolls are available at such
creative industries meshed up into one,” providers as Tenshi-no-Sato in Harajuku and
Lafferty tells Metropolis. “The dolls them- Volks Doll Point in Akihabara.
selves are hand-sculpted and then molded
Whether considering Asian ball-jointed
and sent to the person who buys them. The dolls as a hobby simply as a gift, there’s no
faces are all painted by hand … you can put question that these dolls open up a world of
[on] customized hands, legs and feet. Some imagination and artistry. Volks says so itself
of them have wings, some of them are mer- in its motto: “We seek creativity.”
07
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING
GET YOUR “WA”—AND “WAH!”— FOR THE HOLIDAYS
WEBSITE
HARBOR
CIRCUIT
PRICES
• Admission: ¥500
• 1 ticket (7 min): ¥2,100; 3 tickets:
¥5,200; 5 tickets: ¥7,800; 8 tickets: ¥10,500
• Group race package (over 12 years old, 5 people
or more): Mini Grand Prix ¥4,700 per person;
Sprint Grand Prix ¥6,000 per person
HOLIDAY DEALS
• Mention Metropolis and get admission free!
• Christmas campaign: ¥6,000 yen for 4 races (offer
valid until Dec 20)
2F Harbor Circuit, Chiba Sports Plaza, 13-26
Dezuminato, Chuo-ku, Chiba
043-441-3243
[email protected]
Mon-Fri, 2-11:30pm, Sat & hols 10am-11:30pm,
Sun 10am-9:30pm
Chiba or Chiba-minato
www.harbor-circuit.com
Looking for
an exciting
present for
Chiba
your kids or
friends this holiday season? Give
them some thrills at Harbor Circuit
in Chiba, where you can all pile
into go-karts and race away your
pent-up family (or friendly) feuds.
No driver’s license needed and full
safety guidelines are explained
before each heat, so beginners
have no need to be nervous. If
you’re going in a group, five or
more people can choose a Group
Race and burn up some rubber
competing against friends. There’s
also the simpler Mini GP option
and even a final 35-lap race—with
five different plans to choose from.
To hone their skills, drivers can also prove themselves against a real-time ranking system. No matter how
crowded it gets, you’re all guaranteed four rides. After the race, everybody can relax around the circuit with
snacks and still be part of the fun race-day atmosphere. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll be screaming for more!
WEBSITE
HOLIDAY DEALS
• Christmas sale Dec 6-7:
• 30% off all online items
• Special sales display atz the Jazzy café; free
coffee and gifts for visitors
REGULAR DEALS
• Free shipping within Tokyo’s 23 wards
1-8-2 Umejima, Adachi-ku
03-5888-5869
[email protected]
Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm
Umejima
http://jazzy-japan.com/
08
JAZZY
This holiday season, why not find a space to give a beloved toy or traditional piece of
furniture a new home? Jazzy deals in distinctive Japanese goods that have been given
up by their original owners as their children grow up or their homes simply run out of
space, providing traditional dolls, ornaments and furnishings at affordable prices to foreign residents and
visitors looking to buy a keepsake of their stay in Japan. Perfect for the gift-giving season, Jazzy also offers
vicarious auction services. Feel free to drop an email to inquire online. Don’t feel like a purchase? Just stop by
for a casual sip or a snack at the on-site café.
Adachi-ku
LINGO
BOX
Present yō de onegai shimasu.
(プレゼントようでおねがいします)
= Please wrap this as a gift.
MORE SPECIALS ONLINE →
WEBSITE
KAMATA
HAKENSHA
(KAPPABASHI)
HOLIDAY DEALS
• Mention Metropolis when you
make a purchase over ¥10,000 to receive a free
large nail clipper
MENU
• Japanese 17-layer-steel 2-knife set, hard case,
¥17,400
• Carbon steel 2-knife set, hard case,¥23,300
• Carbon steel Wa-santoku, ¥9,800
• 17-layer stainless steel small knife with Japanese
wooden handle, ¥7,500
2-12-6 Matsugaya, Taito-ku
03-3841-4205
10am-6pm daily
Asakusa or Tawaramachi
www.kap-kam.com/index_english.html
Asakusa
Established in 1923 with
a history spanning four
generations, Asakusa cutlery
maker Kamata Hakensha
knows how to slice it. The
company’s 800-strong product
lineup includes top-grade
handmade knives as well as
factory-made ranges. These
blades have made repeat
customers of some of the
world’s finest chefs, thanks to
stringent quality checks and
a 100-percent satisfaction
guarantee. All the knives
are designed by the owner, created by skilled craftsmen, and individually edged. Free engraving and an
inexpensive sharpening service seal the deal on a fine gift idea. They can engrave your name for free on any
selected knife in just three minutes. Perfect for a Christmas gift or souvenir of your stay in Tokyo.
WEBSITE
OMOTESANDO
5-10-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Omotesando
GINZA
3-4-18 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Omotesando or Ginza
SHINJUKU
3-34-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Shinjuku
MOKUMEGANEYA
Mokumeganeya creates jewelry through the traditional Japanese metalworking
technique of mokumegane. Roughly 400 years ago, master metalsmith Denbei
Shoami developed an exquisite technique in which differently colored metals
were layered, then painstakingly carved and forged to create beautiful patterns
in the style of wood grains. Top Japanese jewelry maker Mokumeganeya is one of the few brands in the world
to specialize in mokumegane. The brand uses processes that have been handed down since the Edo period,
and which have grown and developed over time to add more and more variations to this ancient technique. Your
jewelry will be made by highly skilled smiths whose hand-crafted techniques ensure that each wood grain pattern
is unique in the world. You’re welcome to drop in any time and check out the jewelry collection at any of the 16
Mokumeganeya stores across Japan. Let the concierges help you find the unique jewelry style that’s right for you!
Ginza, Omotesando,
Shinjuku & Yokohama
YOKOHAMA MOTOMACHI
1-20-2 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama.
Motomachi Chukagai
03-3408-7863 [email protected]
Open Mon-Sun, 11am-8pm
www.mokumeganeya.com/e/
Happy Hour All ¥500!!
Mon-Fri (except Public holidays)
Open-7pm. Heineken 1 PINT,
The Premium Malt’s 1 PINT,
Glasses of wine, Cocktails
Enjoy our great selections
of Irish and European brews.
Spacious 5F terrace
over looking
central Shibuya!
Tokyu
Plaza
More details
http://failte.jp
5F, Sede Bldg. 1-5-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya
OPEN 5:30pm-2am (Mon-Sat)
3-11pm (Sunday & hols)
tel: 03-3476-7776
09
food&drink
Photo by Wendy Nguyen
Japan’s Christmas paradigm seems to dictate that Christmas cakes be present in every
household this season. Doing its part to ensure that happens is toy and video game giant
Bandai, which is selling cakes themed after
its roster of popular superheros, from Pikachu
to Kamen Rider and the warrior girls of Pretty
Cure. Choose from chocolate or vanilla, both
with fruit in cream. At ¥4,104 a pop, they don’t
come cheap—but they might win you some
points with the kids. Available to order at http://
meturl.com/bandaixmas (in Japanese).
Too adorable to eat but at the same time too
delicious not to, Nature Doughnuts is definitely the choice if you have an affinity for all
things cute—even when it pertains to food. This
doughnut chain caters to the health conscious
by using less sugar and additives than you’ll find
in your average cruller, and the kawaii aesthetic
rivals that of most regular doughnut joints’s
Christmas offerings. Prices range from ¥130240, with an assortment of adorable flavors
available. For locations, visit www.naturedoughnuts.jp
looking to maintain their sexy beach bods.
There are lots of greens and fruits, and the establishment is one of the few places in Tokyo
with whole-grain bread and rice.
The fried sweet potato sticks (¥850) come
with honey and sour cream, which merge surprisingly well—the tangy sour cream provides
a nice contrast to the sweetness of the honey
and potato.
But the grand menu is the star attraction.
The grilled salmon (¥1,300), which comes in a
light broccoli cream soup, is cooked perfectly:
flaky but not dry while rich with
flavor. Another winner is the
“salmonburg” steak—essentially a juicy salmon Salisbury
steak ser ved with creamy
mashed potatoes, fresh salad
and hollandaise sauce. For
dessert, try the whole-wheat
French toast, which comes
drenched in maple syrup and
dusted with powdered sugar,
yet still manages to not be
overly cloying. On the side is a
choice of maple syrup, honey,
chocolate or caramel sauce, or
a seasonal fruit compote. Also of note are the
tofu pancakes, which can be garnished with a
healthy layer of fruit for an extra ¥500.
Hungry diners will find an assortment of
pastas, flatbread pizzas and (whole-grain)
sandwiches. The eggs Benedict and the açaí
bowl—a mélange of açaí purée, apples, bananas, berries and granola—are also popular
choices.
Although the main menu is quite reasonable
with everything under ¥1,500, the drinks and appetizers, though delicious, are a bit overpriced.
The deep-fried potato wedges with sweet chili
and sour cream dipping sauce are ¥800, while
a glass of iced tea comes in at ¥600.
Be sure to make a reservation—and at dinner, prepare for a 25-30-minute wait for food.
But the service is friendly and the presentation
and high quality make it well worth the wait.
Barbizon 70, 5-15-9 Minami-Azabu, Minatoku. Hiroo. Non-smoking seats available until
dinner. http://bondi-cafe.com
Photos by Amanda Taylor
Sushi-Bar Numazuko Ginza 1st is a step-up
kaiten-zushi/sake bar perched atop the upscale
(and recently opened) Kirarito Ginza department store. While only the sardines and sakuraebi come from the actual Numazu Port area, the
rest of the menu is as fresh as anything sourced
in Suruga Bay: The salmon (¥220) are delectably soft and the chūtoro (¥520) appropriately
melty. The uni (¥520) is the hot item to grab off
the track. Another branch in Shinjuku; English
menu available. 8F Kirarito Ginza, 1-8-19 Ginza,
Chuo-ku. http://meturl.com/numazukoginza
RESTAURANT
¥¥¥
EN/JP
Surf’s Up at
Bondi Cafe
BY AMANDA TAYLOR
Bondi Cafe, with branches in Hiroo and YoyogiUehara, recreates beachside dining in the heart
of Tokyo—all that's missing are the surf and sand.
Following Tokyo’s rich tradition of themed
restaurants, the Hiroo branch mimics the beach
cafés of Australia and the U.S., with open-concept seating and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors
inviting in lots of light and giving the appearance of a laid-back beach shack. Umbrellas,
wood paneling and low-tempo reggae grooves
in the background complete the illusion. Close
your eyes and you can practically hear the
waves and seagulls.
Bondi’s menu offers plenty of healthy options, perhaps catering to surfers and diners
10
RESTAURANT
Photo by Davi Azevedo
Photo by Nina Janežič
People & Things looks like a simple clothing
store, but a closer look reveals the spacious
wooden interior of a café in the back. While the
shop is dedicated to everyday items and kids’s
and women’s clothes, the family-friendly café
offers delicious teishoku (set menus) at reasonable prices (¥980-1,420), as well as Maruyama
coffee, tea, juice and cocktails. Sweets range
from New York cheesecake and chestnut tart to
chocolate brownies (¥650-960). Stroller parking available. 2-13-6 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi. Kichijoji. www.people-things.jp
Looking for some appley sips this holiday season? Nikka Whisky offers a pair of tipple-tastic
options with its apple wine and lighter Nouveau
Sparkling apple cider, both a treat at just ¥1,045
each. Only 2 percent alcohol by volume, the
cider pops as a light after-dinner drink, while the
barrel-aged wine presents more than the label
suggests: In addition to apple-based wine, it includes a blend of fruit juice and brandy, offering
a woody 22-percent punch. Available online at
Rakuten Global Market, as well as major liquor
shops and department stores.
RECIPE
TOFU EGGNOG ICE CREAM
RECIPE AND PHOTO BY RIEKO SUZUKI
For many, custard eggnog is the quintessential
taste of the holiday season. This recipe puts
a spin on the yuletide favorite, turning it into
eggnog ice cream with tofu—though you won’t
notice the latter. If desired, this can be served as
custard eggnog if you skip the freezing. It tastes
great either way!
Photo by Nina Janežič
¥¥¥
EN/JP
Start to finish: 4h 15min (active time 15 min)
Servings: 4
Royal Garden
Cafe
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
BY MOMOKO MOCHIZUKI
Created with the intent of becoming an integral
part of a “sustainable community,” the Royal Garden Cafe in Aoyama isn’t your average trendy
Tokyo hot spot. Its aspiration seems to permeate
much of what the cafe/restaurant does, as great
care is taken in providing food that not only looks
and tastes good but also does good for the community and the environment.
Located about a 15-minute walk from Omotesando—where trudging through throngs of eager
shoppers can leave you feeling drained—the
Royal Garden Cafe and its surrounding area offer a refreshing change of pace, as time here
seems to quietly recede into oblivion. The encompassing greenery adds to the calm atmosphere: The famous 300-meter-long Icho Namiki
(ginkgo-lined avenue) leading to the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery begins here. The restaurant’s
outdoor terrace seating is the perfect spot for
people- and scenery-watching, made even better when the colors of ginkgo leaves vivify toward
mid- to late November.
The Cafe’s interior is cozy and lodge-like,
made so by the dark, woody furnishing. The open
kitchen adheres to the eatery’s aim of providing
“visible food,” or food with a transparent process
of preparation and sourcing: The day’s freshly
picked vegetables, for example, are listed on a
blackboard along with their region of origin.
The menu spans a wide range of Eastern and
Western dishes, with mains from ¥1,200-1,700.
100g kinu (silken) tofu
180ml milk or soy milk
100ml heavy whipping cream
2 egg yolks
¼ cup (60ml) sugar
30-50ml dark rum
1-2 pinches nutmeg powder
DIRECTIONS
The vegetables are mainly organic, and, while
not wide in range, some vegan options are also
available. Starters include the rich and creamy
gnocchi with gorgonzola cheese sauce (¥650),
and the grilled prawn with cilantro sauce (¥1,150).
Mains include the seafood bouillabaisse with seasonal vegetables and baguette (¥1,700) starring
scallops, clams and mussels, as well as the basil
sauce penne (¥1,200). Although the latter is a bit
bland, the bouillabaisse is hearty and flavorful.
For dessert, the crème brûlée (¥780) hits the
sweet spot just right, with the bottom layer of
rich chocolate cake perfectly balanced by the
tart berry sauce.
The bread is baked in-store using French
wheat, and is available for purchase at the bakery
with pastries and focaccia, among other options.
Definitely a hip location with a great, comfortable vibe—but what truly stands out is the
care visible in the Cafe’s service toward customers, the community and the environment. It’s a
feel-good visit.
2-1-19 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Gaienmae
or Aoyama-itchome. Branches in Shibuya and
Tama Plaza. www.royal-gardencafe.com
1. In a bowl, combine the egg yolks, sugar, milk
and tofu. With blender and whisk, blend to
smooth.
2.Microwave mixture without cover on high
(800w) for 2 minutes. Mix well and microwave
for 1 more minute. Mix again and microwave
for another 40 seconds. Add dark rum and mix
well. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes.
3.Whip the heavy whipping cream in a different
bowl until firm peaks form. Add the mixture
from step 2 and mix well.
4.Pour the mixture into a zip-lock bag or container and freeze for 2 hours. Take it out and
mix the half-frozen ice cream with a large
spoon. Put it back in the freezer. Repeat this
process 1-2 more times to make the ice cream
fluffy and easy to serve. Serve with a sprinkle
of nutmeg powder.
See the Dec 12 issue of Metropolis for a set
of holiday favorites you can prepare using a
Japanese stovetop—no oven required!
Rieko Suzuki
Rieko blogs bilingual recipes at
http://meturl.com/ruby
11
MIFUNE
japanese restaurant
www.mifune-project.com
The samurai spirit lives on at this izakaya
modeled after the traditional taverns seen in films
like The Seven Samurai and Rashomon.
welcome to the samurai world
japanese restaurant
←to
N
ishia
D/5:00pm-12:00am[l.o.11:30]
03.6804.5548
MIFUNE
zab
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Rop
pon
gi st
Roppongi
Hills
1F Utsumi Bldg. 7-18-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku,Tokyo
12
Oedo Line
ROPPONGI Sta.
Meiji-ya
.
Hibiya Line ROPPONGI Sta.
Azabu Police Sta.
Almond
st.
L/11:30am-2:00pm[l.o.1:30]
aka
Mon-Sat
Im
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MIFUNE
ROPPONGI
to T
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ike
→
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION NABE
HOT POT
HEAVEN
With the temperatures dropping, winter is the Japanese time
for hot pots, or nabe as they’re locally known. So why not join
in this seasonal tradition? Gather ’round the bubbling broth and
dip some delectable delights in your favorite choice of flavor!
IWAKAMUTSUKARI
Hiroo
MIFUNE
Roppongi
NIDAIME UOYAMACHI
Tamachi
Just opened on October 2, Iwaka-Mutsukari is
a Japanese restaurant that focuses on natural
food. The vegetables are sourced directly from
farms, the pork and poultry are raised drugfree and even the brown rice is germinated
right at the restaurant. The top-choice herbed
pork hagoromo shabu-shabu puts a fresh spin
on nabe by wrapping the dipping pork in raw
vegetables for a brand-new taste experience.
1-4-10 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-6277-0248.
Open Mon-Sat 5-11:30pm. Ebisu.
www.iwaka-mutsukari.jp
Reservations for four or more people will
receive their first drinks free
Take off your shoes beneath the glowering
image of Toshiro Mifune and enter a dojo-like
world of hanging banners and wooden swords,
where all of the dishes aspire to recreate the
simplicity and excitement of the food the great
actor once loved. The top pick is the appropriately powerful Spicy Japanese Shabu-shabu
Hot Pot, a red pepper dish that will have you
coming back for more. Finish it off with free
noodles or rice to complete the experience.
1F Utsumi Bldg, 7-18-7 Roppongi, Minatoku. Tel: 03- 6804 -5548. Open Mon-Sat
11:30am-2pm (lunch), 5pm-11:30pm (dinner).
Roppongi. http://meturl.com/mifunenabe
Operating in a renovated Taisho-era house,
the first floor of Nidaime Uoyamachi is an
open kitchen with counter seats, while the
second floor consists of private rooms. Be
sure to try the pork shabu-shabu nabe in bonito broth, and the mild-tasting Uoyamachi
original maewari shochu is a must-try. Enjoy
izakaya food at affordable prices in a cozy
atmosphere.
5-24-12 Shiba, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-64350 47 7. O p en M on - Fri 11 : 30am -2: 30 p m
(lunch), 5pm-midnight (dinner); Sat 5pmmidnight. Closed Sun. Tamachi. www.labrea-dining.com/uoyamachi
ROBATA JINYA EBISU
SABAKUROU EBISU
SETOUCHI SUIGUN
Ebisu
Enjoy country cuisine at Robata Jinya, a little
restaurant with an atmosphere full of happy
energy. The oyster and boned chicken mizutaki nabe is a must-try. Enjoy it down to the last
bite by adding rice and finishing the nabe off
as a porridge. The straw-grilled katsuo is also
a shop specialty, its scent of burning straw
giving the dish a unique and delicious aroma.
1F Maison 115, 1-15-4 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku.
Tel: 03-3443-0577. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am2:30pm (lunch), 5pm-midnight (dinner); SatSun 5pm-midnight. Ebisu.
http://meturl.com/robatajinya
Ebisu
Created with the image of a mirage in the desert
in mind, Sabakurou has a reputation for creative
Japanese cuisine with a hint of Cali flavor. The
top picks are the tomato bouillabaisse seafood
nabe and the shrimp toast: the latter’s Jengastyle interweaving of crispy fried bread and
plump shrimp is also popular at Sabakurou’s
award-winning Hollywood branch.
B1 Maison 115, 1-15-4 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku. Tel:
03-3441-5877. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm
(lunch), 5pm-midnight (dinner); Sat 5pm-midnight. Closed Sun. Ebisu.
www.la-brea-dining.com/sabakurou/
Tamachi
Setouchi Suigun provides pirate-themed cuisine
with fish shipped fresh from the Seto Inland Sea,
which was terrorized by various pirate groups—
or suigun—during the Warring States period.
The nabe was traditionally eaten before battle,
its octopus ensuring victory over enemies on all
sides. Or warm your shivered timbers by the fireplace as you scarf a whole sea bream with rice.
1F Hioki Bldg, 5-24-3 Shiba, Minato-ku.
Tel: 03-3451-3977. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am2:30pm (lunch), 5pm-midnight (dinner); Sat
5pm-midnight. Closed Sun & hols. Tamachi.
www.la-brea-dining.com/setouchisuigun/
13
movies
BY DON MORTON
featured movie
FURY
I’m not sure yet about David Ayer. He wrote the
acclaimed Training Day, and wrote and directed the excellent End of Watch. But he’s also
responsible for the iffy Schwarzenegger vehicle
Sabotage. Fury is not quite Saving Private Ryan,
but it comes close, and it can take its place confidently in the pantheon of classic World War II
combat movies. Brad Pitt disappears into the role
of the tank commander nicknamed “Wardaddy,”
Shia LaBeouf (welcome back!) is a revelation
as “Bible,” Jon Bernthal is scary as the wardeadened “Coon-ass” and Michael Pena’s the
Chicano “Gordo.” The story progresses through
the eyes of clerk/typist-turned-gunner Logan
Lerman, who’s too green to have a nickname.
Their Sherman M4 tank becomes isolated behind
German lines during the last days of the war,
where they’re outnumbered and outgunned by
vicious and desperate enemy forces. The action
scenes are terrific, but it’s during the down times
that the film shines. One 15-minute sequence,
involving a pair of women hiding in an apartment,
is the best thing in the movie, brimming with suspense, dread and an unexpected sensitivity.
Then it’s back to the daily business of not getting killed. Intense, visceral and unpredictable.
And muddy. Very muddy. (134 min)
NEW
DAMNATION
Eco-doc notable mainly
for the fact that it was
funded by the Patagonia
outdoor clothing company. Its main argument
is that the Native Americans and salmon would be
happier if tens of thousands of dams hadn’t been built
during the last century. The photography is gorgeous
(like something you’d see in an outdoor clothing store),
but with whom is the film arguing? There’s a general
lack of focus and political balance. Most interesting
bits: singer Katie Lee, still feisty at 94, describing her
memories of pre-dam Glen Canyon, and a graffiti artist who makes his point for dam demolition writ very
large. (87 min)
NEW
INTERSTELLAR
On an ecologically
d o o m e d , n e a r- f u t u r e
Earth, a NASA pilot must
travel through a wormhole to f ind humanit y
a new home, but it means he must leave behind his
beloved daughter, likely to never see her again. By
the way, she sees ghosts. While it’s a science fiction
movie, the science is viable, which makes the fiction
more believable. While Nolan’s films can be cold and
emotionless, in this surreal yet grounded movie, he manages to effectively balance spectacle and emotion, the
cosmic and the intimate. Call it science with a soul. This
must-see film will stretch your mind. Big screen, please.
(169 min)
OPEN WINDOWS
The desktop kind. This
inventive, gleefully
manipulat i ve techno t hriller op ens w i t h a
nerdy blogger (Elijah
Wood) waiting for a dinner date he won with the actress
object of his fanboy obsession, when a menacing, allknowing voice from his computer starts telling him
what to do. The found footage-ish gimmick here is that
the entire movie takes place on his laptop screen. It’s
compulsively watchable for a while, but ultimately the
clever plot twists stack up to the point where the gimmick becomes unsustainable, and I found it difficult to
maintain the desire to keep up. Final twist almost insulting. Japanese title: Black Hacker. (100 min)
RUNNER RUNNER
An Ivy League kid (Justin
Timberlake) online-gambles away all his education money, so he takes
the only-in-the-movies
step of flying to Costa Rica to confront a notoriously
dangerous online-poker mogul and get his money
back. He does, as well as a lucrative job with the
guy, apartment, car, girl, etc. But when he realizes he
wants out, well, go watch The Firm again, because
that’s what this flaccid crime opus is ripping off. It gets
worse—said mogul is Ben Affleck, acting like he did a
decade ago (badly). Zero suspense, rushed and pointless. You’d be a chump to gamble ¥2,000 on my being
wrong. (91 min)
THE LAST DAYS ON
MARS
A crew of scientists looking for life on Mars finds
it. Problem is, it turns
everyone it touches into
SPACE ZOMBIES! (This could explain why life has had
such a hard time evolving there.) A lot of badly choreographed fights in space suits and helmets, which
makes it hard to tell who’s who (or care). There are
actually two mysteries here: Why would the talented
Liev Schreiber be involved in this totally generic space
horror flick? Or for that matter Elias Koteas or Olivia
Williams? And two, how the hell did this trash get
shown at Cannes? There’s no life here. Or entertainment value. (98 min)
BOYHOOD
Richard Linklater filmed,
a lit tle each year, 12
years in the life of young
Mason, from age six to 18,
so during the film’s nearly three hours, we literally watch the lad grow up. This
would scream “gimmick!” if there weren’t so much more
going on. Mason’s sister goes through her own changes,
as do actors Patricia Arquette (terrific) as Mason’s longsuffering single mom, and Ethan Hawke as his nice-guy
but inconsistent dad. You can even see the director’s
style evolve. Bottom line, this is as close as one might
come to capturing on film how people remember growing up. Absolutely unprecedented. Japanese title: Rokusai no Boku ga Otona ni Naru Made. (165 min)
NEW
NEW
NEW
Fury: © Norman Licensing, LLC 2014; DamNation: © 2014 DAMNATION; Interstellar: © 2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.and Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.; Open Windows: © ATRESMEDIA CINE, APACHES ENTERTAINMENT,
SAYAKA PRODUCTIONS, LA PANDA PRODUCTIONS; Runner Runner: © 2013 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.; The Last Days on Mars: © 2013 Qwerty Mars Movie limited and The British Film Institute; Boyhood: © 2014
boyhood inc./ifc productions i, L.L.c. aLL rights reserved.; The Double: © Channel Four Television Corporation, The British Film Institute, Alcove Double Limited 2013; The Guest: © 2013 Adam David Productions; Short Term 12: © 2013 Short Term
Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.; Sabotage: © 2013 DEA Productions, LLC All Rights Reserved.; Paranoia: © 2013 PARANOIA PRODUCTIONS, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; Devil’s Knot: © 2013 DEVILS KNOT LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
14
More reviews: metropolisjapan.com/movies
THE DOUBLE
In a s t y lized, sci - f i
adaptation of an 1846
Dos toyevsk y novella,
Jesse Eisenberg plays
an office worker so unremarkable that he barely exists. His daily routine of being
almost universally ignored by his coworkers and pining
for the pretty girl in the copy room (Mia Wasikowska) is
suddenly derailed by the appearance of a new recruit
who’s his exact double, except he’s aggressive, charming and upwardly mobile. This little brainteaser from
Richard Ayoade (channeling Gilliam, Kaufman, Lynch
and even Kafka) works best as an acting exercise, watching the talented Eisenberg effortlessly switch between
the two. Japanese title: Warau Bunshin. (93 min)
THE GUEST
Director Adam Wingard
and screenwriter Simon
Barret t’s (You’re Next)
films take familiar horror
setups and tweak them
just enough to keep me guessing. A man appears at
the Peterson home claiming to be an Army best-bud
of the family’s dead-in-combat son. This manipulative,
magnetic character is disarmingly polite and has the
uncanny ability to be what he needs to be for each family member. But he’s a brooding time bomb. Downton
Abbey’s Dan Stevens absolutely nails the complex and
subtle title role. It’s a fascinating slow burn with a subversive political subtext and hints of the violence to
come. (99 min)
SABOTAGE
M e m b e r s of a n e l i te
but ethically questionable DE A undercover
unit made up of toughguy clichés (played
by overqualif ied ac tors and headed by Arnold
Schwarzenegger) are being killed off in a variety of
cinematically grisly ways. This sloppy, ultraviolent
whodunit from David Ayer (End of Watch) is so pointlessly gory I call it “action torture porn.” Though it’s
Schwa-chan’s most “serious” performance in recent
memory, the film, which is not without its scuzzy merits,
might have worked better with a less iconic has-been.
There’s a difference between intriguing plot twists and
just being jacked around. (109 min)
SHORT TERM 12
“Wow,” I said as I left the
screening of this meticulously crafted little miracle. Rarely have I been so
effortlessly and unpretentiously moved. This is an unforced, character-driven
and emotionally authentic look at the lives of those who
undertake the day-to-day care of institutionalized, selfdestructive kids between psychiatric appointments
and foster homes. Subject doesn’t thrill you? Go see it
anyway. The central character is Grace (a breakout role
for Brie Larson), who handles her charges with skill and
perspicacity while hiding her own mounting problems.
This movie will make you a better person. Japanese title:
Short Term. (96 min)
PARANOIA
Ambitious hotshot tech
genius (a charisma-free
Liam Hemswor th, aka
“Mini-Thor”) is fired by a
highly competitive cell
phone manufacturer, but rehired to infiltrate a rival
company and steal a high-tech thingy. The film’s main
hook is the participation of both Harrison Ford and Gary
Oldman. Can that be bad? Fagheddaboudit. They’re just
there to chew some scenery and collect a paycheck. Air
Force One this ain’t. And why ask the guy who makes
fluff like Legally Blonde and The Ugly Truth to direct an
industrial-espionage action-thriller? Pointlessly constructed, dreary, contrived and vapid. Japanese title:
Power Game. (101 min)
DEVIL’S KNOT
I n 1 9 93 , t h re e e i g h tyear-old boys were murdered in the Tennessee
woods. Though three
te e na g e r s we re co n victed (wrongly, and released in 2011), the crime
remains unsolved. It has already been the subject of
four documentaries and a book or two. So the real
mystery is why gifted Canadian director Atom Egoyan
(Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter) would feel the need
to make this detailed yet shallow, police-procedural dramatization. Despite the presence of Reese
Witherspoon, Colin Firth and Alessandro Nivola, and a
nice Southern Gothic ambience, this remains an inert,
unsatisfying effort. (114 min)
© 2014『紙の月 』製作委員会
© IMAGE.NET
© Amblin Entertainment
eiga
Based on the 2012 novel of the
same name by Mitsuyo Kakuta,
this thriller is flat, lacks character
development and is riddled with
By Rob Schwartz
false notes. Set toward the end of
the Bubble era in 1994, former sexy starlet of the time
Rie Miyazawa plays Rika, an assiduous and focused
forty-something bank employee. Despite feeling her
husband (Seiichi Tanabe) is too wrapped up in work,
Rika prides herself on her careful, detail-oriented job
performance. After she brilliantly convinces an ornery
elderly customer (Renji Ishibashi) to invest in bonds,
Rika inexplicably throws herself at his grandson Kota
(Sosuke Ikematsu), and starts embezzling millions of
yen from her bank to shower him with gifts and five-star
hotel stays. Needless to say, things spiral out of control and the hardly believable ending leaves an even
worse aftertaste. In addition to the lack of motivation
and abrupt shifts in character, this period piece badly
flubs the details. Among other things, Rika is constantly
using credit cards in cute little cubby-hole bistros in a
time period when charge cards were unused outside of
huge hotels in Japan. The work is indeed a pale imitation
of a thriller. English title: Pale Moon. (126 min)
KAMI NO
TSUKI
movie news
French film director Jean-Pierre Jeunet has legions
of Japanese fans thanks to a certain film he made
back in 2001. “I know this because I live near the
café used in Amélie, and ever y day there are so
many Japanese girls there,” Jeunet said during a
recent visit to Japan. The director explained how a
poster from the film hung behind his favorite table
is a popular photo op. On more than one occasion
Japanese tourists have asked him to get out of the
way of their cameras, not realizing they’re speaking
to the man who made the film. To the delight of his
Japanese fan base, Jeunet brought his first Englishlanguage film, The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet,
to the Tokyo International Film Festival last month.
The tale follows a boy inventor traveling alone from
his family ranch in Montana to the Smithsonian. “It
is an American film, but it is a fake American film,”
the director said. “The funding came from Canada
and France.” The director came to the festival with
10-year-old star Kyle Catlett, who displayed his martial arts skills for the audience before saying he was
thrilled to be in the land that gave birth to karate.
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet is now playing. Kevin Mcgue
cinematic underground
The latest cinema to face the wrecking ball is Shinjuku
Tokyu Milano (1-29-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku; www.
tokyucinemas.net), which opened in 1956 and will run
its projectors for the last time on New Year’s Eve, bowing
out with 35mm screenings of the biggest hits from its
long history starting December 20. The lineup includes
E.T., which ran for half a year back in 1982, The Towering
Inferno and The Matrix. In better news, Shinjuku will be
home to an Imax-equipped Toho Cinemas set to open
in April … The Swedish biopic Waltz for Monica explores
the life of Monica Zetterlund, a telephone operator and
single mother who sojourned to the jazz clubs of ’60s
New York to hone her singing chops, then returned
home to prove jazz could be sung in her native tongue.
On from November 29 at Shinjuku Musashinokan (3-2710 Shinjuku; http://shinjuku.musashino-k.jp) ... The
Israeli thriller Big Bad Wolves, which won international
accolades from Quentin Tarantino and others, is currently screening at Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho (2-7-1
Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku; www.ht-cinema.com) ... Love
Japanese films, but your nihongo isn’t up to scratch?
The new website Tokyo Filmgoer (http://tokyofilmgoer.
jimdo.com) is publishing info on screenings with English
subtitles. KM
15
city life
THE X
FACTOR
Talkin’ ’bout my
Generation
BY WENDY NGUYEN
“What happened to people our own age? They
disappeared,” says Randy Alford, co-founder of
X Generation Tokyo. “People used to dress up
when they went out. What happened to those
people?”
These questions led Alford and co-founder
Daniel Pellet to embark on a mission to serve the
party-goers left behind by the current, electronica-inclined, often rowdy crowd of the modern
generation. X Generation Tokyo aims to create
an ambience directly catering to the generation
of people born from the ’60s to early ’80s who still
want to go out and have a good time—but want
to do it dancing to music they grew up with, much
of which has moved out of typical club rotation.
Alford and Pellet aim to get music lovers
“into the groove,” so to speak, by playing ’80s
classics to early-’90s dance gems, providing
a venue for people to be startin’ somethin’ on
ASK METROPOLIS ANYTHING
Dear Metropolis,
I have had sex with many partners in the past year
but now am looking to settle down into a relationship. Before I can become physically intimate with
my new partner, I would like to make sure I'm completely free of transmittable diseases. Last time I
checked, I was clean—but since coming to Japan,
I have had trouble finding out where I can get
checked for STDs, VDs and HIV in English that isn't
too costly, and I'm not comfortable asking people
I know. Where can I go to get checked?—Worried
Dear Worried,
Finding out about services, medical or otherwise,
in a foreign country is never easy; finding people
willing to talk openly about sexual health can be
16
the dance floor to the likes of Michael Jackson
while hanging ten and reminiscing with friends
both old and new.
The pair aim to provide a venue that’s, upscale, elegant and exclusive. Prospective attendees undergo a screening process, with
admission on an invitation-only basis, ensur-
ing that everyone who gets through the door
makes the most of each event.
Pellet says that while age is important, the
key is guests see themselves fitting in with the
crowd and savoring the atmosphere that defines
the spirit of Generation X.
http://xgenerationtokyo.com
even more challenging. STDs are as common in
Japan as in most other modern countries, but
often less acknowledged, or the need for safe sex
practices discussed. It’s great to hear you’re taking
both your and your partner’s sexual health seriously. The good news is that there are numerous
options for getting tested for HIV and a range of
STDs in Japan that vary in cost, degree of anonymity and level of English support.
In Japan, the word for STDs is seibyō, and
most public health centers (hankenjo) test for a
range of these for free. Additionally, STD tests
are frequently tested through urologists (for men)
or OB-GYNs (for women)—however, these may
vary in cost and degree of anonymity. It’s also
important to check which STDs are offered for
testing as not all tests are commonly run.The Tokyo Metropolitan Testing and Counseling Office
in Minami-Shinjuku is a good choice.
They offer free confidential and anonymous
testing for HIV and a number of STDs, and foreign-language support is available on Saturdays.
Another thing to consider when making an appointment to get tested is the “window period.”
Most HIV tests measure antibodies; these are
produced by anyone who has been infected by
HIV, and are the body’s way to try and fight against
the infection. However, it takes time for these
antibodies to show up in sufficient numbers. Most
people will develop antibodies that standard HIV
tests can detect within eight weeks. But there is
a chance that some people will take longer to
develop antibodies, and the World Health Organization recommends 90 days following your last
sexual activity that was unprotected. So, if you
had unprotected sex with a person who has HIV
or whose HIV status is unknown, you would need
to wait 90 days to ensure an accurate result, or
have more than one test. For example, if you had
unprotected sex last night, you would need to wait
90 days for an accurate HIV test result and one to
two weeks for many of the STDs. However, you
could have one test now for both HIV and STDs,
and that would tell you your HIV and STD status
for the period 90 prior to your last sexual activity.
You would also need to take another test after
those three months have passed in case the first
test occurred during your window period.
Our Lifeline counselors can talk you through
all of the options in more detail, along with
places available in your location, and any questions you may have about the various STDs and
window periods.
Answer courtesy of TELL. If you need to talk,
they’re here to listen. Call the TELL Lifeline at 035774-0992 from 9am-11pm, 365 days a year. Or
visit their website at www.telljp.com
If you want to “Ask Metropolis Anything” about life
in Japan, send your questions to askanything@
metropolisjapan.com and we’ll find the most
appropriate people to answer your queries.
body&soul
REFLEXUAL
HEALING
The Grinberg Method
offers new ways to treat
old pains
BY LISA WALLIN
Whatever our dreams might be, humans are also
creatures of habit, and plans for personal development can often be subsumed in daily routines.
Karen Carmeli, practitioner of the Grinberg
Method, believes our bad habits physically manifest themselves as back pain, headaches, fatigue
and emotional imbalance. “Most people try to
tackle problems intellectually without fully understanding the true origin of behavior or physical
discomfort,” she says.
The Grinberg Method proposes a balance
between what’s learned intellectually and what
is learned physically and corporeally. Developed
from roots in reflexology by former paramedic Avi
Grinberg in the early 1970s, the Method endeavors to holistically teach the use of movement,
physical pressure and breathing exercises to
increase awareness and create change in the
mind and body. The objective is to increase one’s
attention to what’s going on inside—and why we
do what we do. Of several practitioners around
the world, Carmeli is the only one in Japan.
Carmeli begins her craft with a series of oneon-one sessions in which she asks her client a
number of questions, from personal goals or
struggles to physical discomforts or emotional
disorders. The idea is to establish what the subject needs and touch on the originating source
of any problems. The essence of why subjects
answer a certain way leads to a greater understanding of how they can change for the better.
This is followed by elements akin to massage,
with Carmeli even examining the soles of clients’s
feet as she searches for painful points in the body
and works to remove them. “This is no normal
massage, and it’s not a time to relax and take it
easy,” she explains. “The client must also work to
pinpoint and remove these painful areas by counteracting the practitioner’s physical pressure.”
The technique is frequently painful at first,
owing to what Carmeli describes as built-up muscular tension and energy. These aches and pains,
she says, are manifestations of vices developed
over years of bad posture, stress, nervous habits
and poor management of emotional experiences.
By counteracting this pain and learning to prevent
its creation by dealing healthily with physical and
emotional stress, subjects can achieve a state of
continual development.
The Grinberg Method is an individual process, and the number of required sessions varies
greatly from client to client. Some learn quickly;
others need more time to recognize and end
longstanding habits. “The most important thing
is that clients want to learn how to improve themselves emotionally and physically,” Carmeli says.
They can then use this knowledge on their own
and live life with a greater freedom of movement
and expression.
Having undergone a series of sessions, I can
say it was often an agony unlike anything I’ve
ever experienced: sharp and deep, like being
repeatedly impaled by a dagger. That’s not to say
the pain I experienced was a bad thing. I was left
physically exhausted, yet surprisingly refreshed,
relaxed and with a sense of clarity. I became
acutely aware that although I’m generally healthy,
there’s a lot more I could proactively do to improve
my wellness. I was told that clients can report
raised energy levels, reductions in physical pain
and the removal of repetitive negative behavior.
Whether you think this sort of thing is spiritual
mumbo jumbo or right up your alley, all I know is
that I had the most effective massage therapy
of my life.
¥5,000 per session. Open Mon, Thu & Sat, 11am7pm (reservation only). Tel: 080-3273-0773.
[email protected]. www.grinbergmethod.com
check it out
VILLAGE
VANGUARD
BY MARTIN LEROUX
The sign greeting guests at Village Vanguard
declares the establishment to be an “exciting
book store”—but in reality, it is so much more. The
Vanguard is a superstore stocked with unique
and kitschy products: Intelligently designed stationery and desk supplies, quirky kitchenware,
cute kiddie toys and downright bizarre stuff—like
coffee mugs with dogs and cats dressed as celebrities and curry bowls shaped like toilets. There is,
naturally, a huge selection of memorabilia, from
Peanuts and The Simpsons to Back to the Future
and E.T. When in search of gifts, stop the shophop—there’s something for everybody right here.
Find a Village Vanguard near you at www.
village-v.co.jp
17
FASHION CALENDAR
Do you have what it takes for TV?
Looking for English
& Chinese speakers
Also Japanese, Spanish & French speakers
FROM NOV 28
Nike x Liberty London
Sportswear giant Nike is getting
classy in time for Christmas with
a floral collaboration with iconic
London department store Liberty.
The capsule collection dives into
Liberty’s extensive textile archive
for a series of sneakers and exercise
gear in vibrant florals.
http://meturl.com/nikejp
NOV 29-DEC 15
Tokyo Monsters in Parco Museum
Artist Asami Kiyokawa presents
a retrospective of ’90s fashion in
collaboration with street fashion
bible Fruits magazine. Known for her
elaborate embroidery, Kiyokawa has
selected 60 of her favorite street
snaps from the magazine’s illustrious
history and then stitched over the
subjects’s faces to create a series
of “Tokyo Fashion Monsters” that
encapsulate the extroverted spirit of
the era.
http://meturl.com/fashionmonsters
NOW IN JAPAN!
TOKYO CORRESPONDENT
Fashion One broadcasts original programming to over 300 million
people in 44 countries.
We’re now looking for a Tokyo correspondent to join our worldwide
operations.
No fashion experience needed—just the right personality! Send
your CV, cover letter, photo and/or video application, plus a link to
any on-camera work to:
http://www.fashionone.jp/casting
日本初上陸！
日本人テレビリポーターを募集しています！
ファッション ワンは世界44ヶ国、3億人以上に発信している番組です。
履歴書と、
プロファイル写真一枚を送って下さい。
もしあなたが映っている動画やリンク先があれば、是非一緒に送って
下さい。
http://www.fashionone.jp/casting
日本初上陆！
FROM DEC 1
Bao Bao Issey Miyake Goes Platinum
Issey Miyake is set to release a new
series for its instantly recognizable
geometric bag line Bao Bao. The
new designs are rendered in a highly
reflective platinum foil that makes for
a very bold statement piece in any
wardrobe—while also pushing the
price point right up to over double the
original line, coming in at ¥120,000
plus tax for the basic tote.
www.isseymiyake.com
FROM DEC 5
Miharayasuhiro Opens Atelier
Internationally celebrated menswear
brand Miharayasuhiro is opening an
atelier space in the heart of Harajuku,
which will not only shine a light on its
ever-inventive footwear lineup but
also allow customers to see how the
shoes are made in a live workshop
setting. The atelier will also be taking
custom orders and offering long-soldout archive pieces for sale once more.
www.miharayasuhiro.jp/splash
我们正在面向全球招募中文流利的电视台记者！
你好，美女！想成为一名记者吗？
FROM DEC 6
我们会是你的第一选择！
Temporary Tattoos from Hyde x
Hiromu by Roen
Japanese rock legend Hyde has
teamed up with designer Hiromu
Takahara’s clothing label Roen for
a series of easy-to-wear basics
based on Hyde’s own tattoos. The
core T-shirts literally replicate both
the placement and design of the
rock star’s body art, allowing you to
temporarily borrow his cool without
dedicating your own skin to the
cause.
www.roen.jp
只要你拥有一副可爱的容貌，那就快快加入我们这支年轻的队伍吧！
你只需要给我们发送你的简历和照片。
FACEBOOK等个人网页也欢迎!
http://www.fashionone.jp/casting
BE SEEN. BE THE SCENE.
metropolis.co.jp/fashionone
18
fashion fix
FESTIVE FASHION
BY SAMUEL THOMAS, FASHION EDITOR
The plunging temperatures and hearty food of the festive season allow no
time to let the fashion side down. Moreover, this is one of the few times of
year when you can get away with wearing or even gifting the ironic ugly
sweater—although I for one would like to propose a memorandum on
pairing one with an ironically-worn jaunty Santa Claus hat. There is only
so much irony one can take.
ON POINT
Not all news is good
news: This month
sees a particularly
bad blow to the Harajuku fashion scene
with the closure of
Avantgarde, t he
legwear emporium
that single-handedly launched the fauxtattoo tights boom of
2011, the asymmetric tights boom of 2012 and a whole host of others that
anyone with their finger on the pulse of Harajuku’s backstreets couldn’t
have failed to notice.
However, Avantgarde’s success came at a cost—namely that its original
designs were ripped off faster than they could be made, with big online
retailers that specialize in copies—as well as local Harajuku chains that
should know better—taking advantage of the creativity of the tiny basement boutique. Manager and all-round trend-setter Kazuhiro Watanabe
has had enough and pulled the plug on the shop, leaving the fakers
floundering for inspiration.
Those who’ve yet to have their fix of the Avantgarde tights formula
have until the end of November to swing by the store, and we can only
look forward to seeing what Watanabe turns his hand to next.
Those looking to make themselves the centrifugal force of a party can
look to the likes of Forever 21, which has affordable ¥2,480-plus-tax options featuring dancing reindeer and the like. But those willing to brave
the vintage shops of Koenji or Shimokitazawa can easily find an authentic
’80s example just like your grandmother used to make—although you will
pay a shade more for the real deal.
STREET
FOCUS
SHOPPING
STRATEGY
Observers of Japanese street fashion often ask just how its most flamboyant
ambassadors can function within what clearly is among the world’s more
conservative societies. Well, the simple answer is that aside from students,
many are actually working in the city’s expansive fashion industry, or else
advertising their own brands—as with this issue’s street snap star spotted
selling her very first collection at November’s Design Festa Vol. 40.
Photo by Samuel Thomas
19-year-old Tama Art University
design student Gomi Hayakawa has been the talk of Tokyo
town of late, with her Campfirecrowdfunded lingerie line exceeding its initial funding target
of ¥250,000 by some 565 percent. With so much more cash
on-hand than she needed to
produce her first collection, the
young creator not only expanded on her original concept but
also staged a fashion show in
Shibuya for her eager contributors. The concept of her Feast
brand is to provide fashionable bras in sizes AAA to A, which is a realm
currently mainly catered to by overly childish or else frankly dull designs.
At any rate, there’s clearly a gap in the market for what the designer herself
dubs “Cinderella bust” bras, not only statistically, given that most studies
will agree some 8-10 percent of Japan’s adult population require an A or
smaller cup size, but also by sales, with the entirety of Feast’s first collection selling out within 24 hours of release. A new collection is planned in
time for Christmas and will be available online.
http://hayakawagomi.com/feast
19
arts&culture
thousands, some still suspect they’re—ahem—
the same person.
Why did your Japanese parents decide to
adopt a Caucasian American?
In the mid-’70s, Japan had a big booming economy and it was popular for Japanese families to
adopt American babies. Kind of like how American celebrities such as Madonna and Angelina
Jolie adopt babies from other countries.
What was it like growing up as a white Japanese person in rural Shimane?
I lived in a very small village high in the mountains with a population of under one hundred
people. Everybody had known me since I was
a baby, so nobody treated me any differently
than any other boy in my town.
How is your search for your birth parents
going?
It is a difficult journey, but I will never give up.
What inspired you to begin making videos?
I met a person when I first came to Los Angeles
who suggested that YouTube would be a great
way for me to share my story. I had never heard
of YouTube before and I had never made a
video. But my friend had a camera; he showed
me how to work it and how to upload videos.
It’s been seven years now since my first video.
Tell us why Asian stereotypes make your
videos funny.
POP LIFE
STEREOTYPE
SMASHER
Ken Tanaka subverts racial conventions on
both sides of the Pacific
BY DAN GRUNEBAUM
Metropolis tracked down Ken Tanaka, the Caucasian-Japanese star of numerous YouTube
shorts parodying Asian stereotypes.
Tanaka says he was adopted by Japanese
parents in the ’70s, and was only recently reunited with his long-lost twin brother, Californian actor/comedian David Ury. Despite their
side-by-side appearances in videos seen by
Images courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
ART
AGRARIAN
ART
A peek into peasant life
through Millet
BY C.B. LIDDELL
A lot of art is about liking what you’re supposed
to like, not what you actually like. You could call
this the “Emperor’s New Clothes Syndrome,”
with casual art viewers terrified of being taken
for idiots because they can’t see the purported
genius of the works before them.
While this idea seems to have found its particular vogue in contemporary art, it has a much
longer history, as can be seen in full at the exhibition now on at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum.
The sacred cow presently on display is JeanFrançois Millet, one of the perennial idols of
French art. Now, Millet is not such a bad artist—
but he’s not particularly good either. Luckily, the
show—“Millet, Barbizon and Fontainebleu”—
has lots of other less famous but better artists
to compensate for Millet’s mediocrity. However,
20
The Young Shepherdess, 1870-73, Jean-François Millet
the central question has to be addressed: Why
is Millet so famous?
The best-known painting here is The Sower
(1850), which, through repeated appearances
in art histories and encyclopedias, has become
something of an icon. It shows a peasant striding across a landscape scattering seed. Looked
at up close, however, it seems unremarkable:
you see the muddy colors, the drabness, the
rudimentary face—most of it in shadow, which
makes the figure seems cold and anonymous.
Another famous painting is The Young Shepherdess (1870-73). Here, the face looks like a
papier-mâché mask with slits for eyes. Elsewhere, Millet’s figures seem rather blob-like,
as if he were designing plastic molds for cheap
toys to be included in packets of cereal. The
blobbiness not only robs them of character and
individuality but also of movement. The Sower
seems at first to stride purposefully across the
landscape—but he’s essentially a statue made
from congealed oil paint.
Compare Millet’s peasants with those
painted by the other artists on display here and
you see the difference. Jean-Baptiste-Camille
Corot’s The Reaper with a Sickle (1838) is a much
more human presence, as are the figures in the
paintings by Julien Dupré, such as his Children
Feeding Geese (1881).
So why are Millet’s paintings of blob people
so highly esteemed? The reason seems to have
more to do with 19th-century French class politics than artistic genius.
You’re probably referring to our videos, “What Kind of
Asian Are You?,” “But We’re Speaking Japanese,” and
“Asian Stereotype Police.” These are all videos that
question assumptions about race and identity. When
we write these comedy sketches, we look for common
but absurd situations that we think people will be able
to identify with.
How does the response to your videos about Asian
stereotypes differ in the West and Asia?
For “What Kind of Asian Are You?” we got a lot of comments from Caucasian people who were sure this could
never happen in real life—and then a lot of comments
from Asian people who said they experienced this kind
of situation often. I think people in the West generally
are more sensitive about these kinds of comedy videos.
What do you have in mind for your next video?
We just released a new video where David and I discuss
Japanese jokes and David tells some jokes that I have
heard from many Japanese language learners.
Tell us about your new book.
Earlier this year, my brother and I collaborated on a
new book called Everybody Dies: A Children’s Book for
Grown-Ups. It’s an illustrated picture book that can help
grown-ups cope with the inevitable fate that awaits us
all. It includes fun activities like “match the corpse to
the cause of death” and a last will and testament that
you can fill out. It’s fun for the whole family.
More information on Ken Tanaka, his work and his
books can be found at www.kentanakalovesyou.com
In the period of
the Third Republic,
following France’s
defeat by the Germans in the FrancoPrussian War (187071) and the fall of the
Emperor Napoleon
III, Millet’s paintings
of peasants—which
look like they might
have been painted
by actual peasants—
The Sower, 1850, Jean-François Millet
became symbols of
a new egalitarian
France, keen to unify its urban and rural populations in a
process of national healing.
The indistinctness of Millet’s figures, with their blurred
and unreadable faces, gave them just the right kind of everyman quality for the age, while also making them seem
like outgrowths of the landscape. This made them ideal
totems to reassert the idea that France was its land and
its people, and was, as such, eternal.
Come to this show for the Millets if you must, but stay
for the works of the other painters.
Until Jan 12, 2015. Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum Tokyo,
2-6-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku.. Nijubashimae or Hibiya.
http://mimt.jp/millet
SOUNDS OF
SILAS
Alfie sings for Tohoku
BY JETT EDWARDS
Tohoku residents are still feeling the effects of the earthquake and tsunami that
devastated the region in 2011, forcing
people into temporary housing where
many still live. With the holidays around
the corner, Alfie Silas is determined to
lift their spirits through the gift of song.
Silas—a noted soul singer who’s
worked with Michael Jackson, Barbra
Streisand and Whitney Houston—revisits Japan for her 1st Annual Christmas with Alfie Silas temporary housing
benefit concert series, which starts De-
DRAWN
TOGETHER
The Watanabes release
third EP
BY LAURIER TIERNAN
Tokyo-based alt-rockers The Watanabes
lean toward the folk-rock end of the
genre, à la Crowded House—and like
the Aussie group, The Watanabes are
fronted by two brothers: Duncan and
Selwyn Walsh. Until the fall of 2014, their
credits included two albums, a placement in an ad for Triumph motorcycles,
as well as airplay on the BBC and CNN.
This September, the launch of Draw
What You Like—their latest EP—added a
new page to the band’s already impressive resume. With five new songs, the
cember 1 with five shows in Kanto before
heading north from December 8-11.
The spectacle—which will include
holiday favorites in addition to music
from The Lion King, in which Silas was
featured—is a follow-up to a concert
series she performed in 2011, where she
was met with generous local gratitude.
“There were many tears and hugs—
which I was told does not happen very
often in Japanese culture,” Silas tells
Metropolis. She was particularly moved
when, after a performance in a temporary housing recreational room, a man
yelled out, “Now I can go on!”
Silas is also thankful for being able to
share her passion. “At times, music can
be used as a great tool for healing our
broken hearts,” she says, adding, “We
already feel successful in this endeavor,
having set up several concerts around
Japan—also being blessed by God to
do what we love to do.”
Christmas with Alfie Silas kicks off
Dec 1 in Nerima and ends Dec 11 in
Sendai. ¥2,500. Reserve at www.alfiesingsjapan.com, call 022-217-4611
or mail [email protected]
release recalls The Watanabes’ familiar,
relaxed vibe while reaching new heights
in songwriting and musicianship.
Producer David Naughton, who has
worked with the likes of Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fan Club—as well as
The Watanabes on their second album,
You’re Dancing I’m Absorbed—stretched
the band’s sound by including new instrumentation such as sax and cello.
Draw opens strongly on its first three
tracks. Despite its gloomy title, “There’s
Something Wrong” is a bouncy clapalong; slightly less cheery is “28 Years,”
whose protagonist wonders if he should
“have some kind of plan by now.” “Make
Things Better” starts off acoustic and
stripped as the subject renews his belief
in hope, stating, as the EP title proclaims,
you can “draw what you like.” The closer,
“Drench You in Sun,” pales in comparison to the other compositions, however,
making for a weak finish. But with solid
instrumentation and haunting writing
almost all the way through, Draw What
You Like is definitely worth picking up.
Draw What You Like is available on
iTunes and at Tower Records. For more
information on The Watanabes, check
out www.thewatanabes.com.
21
agenda
WATCH LIST
Concerts
POPULAR
Tsutaya O-East. Tel: 03-54584681. http://meturl.com/
tingtings2014
SoundWitch
Fact 15th Anniversary:
Rock-O-Rama
Japanese rock band with
a post-hardcore/melodic
hardcore sound, feat.
supporting acts by Her Name
in Blood, Loyal to the Grave
and others. Nov 29, 11:30am.
¥6,900. Makuhari Messe.
Kaihin-Makuhari. http://
meturl.com/fact2014
The Three Degrees
American female vocal group
known for their major hit,
“When Will I See You Again.”
Nov 25-29, 6:30-8pm.
¥8,000-10,500. Cotton
Club. Tokyo. Tel: 03-32151555. http://meturl.com/
threedegrees2014
Richard Pinhas
French experimental rock icon
with Japanese noise-rock
legend Tatsuya Yoshida. Dec
1, 7:30pm. ¥3,500 (adv)/
¥4,000 (door). Tsutaya O-Nest.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3462-4420.
www.richard-pinhas.com
Deerhoof
Punk-rock band whose erratic
style veers between pop,
noise and classic rock and
roll. The band’s live shows
are known for their minimal
gear, maximal volume and
surrealist banter. Dec 2, 7pm.
¥3,800 (adv). Daikanyama
Unit. Daikanyama. Tel:
03-5459-8630. http://meturl.
com/deerhoof2014. Dec 16,
7pm. ¥3,800 (adv)/ ¥4,300
(door). Shindaita Fever.
Shindaita. Tel: 03-63047899. http://meturl.com/
deerhoof22014. Dec 17,
7pm. ¥3,800 (adv)/ ¥4,300
(door). WWW. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5458-7685. http://meturl.
com/deerhoof32014
Priscilla Ahn
American singer-songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
whose music is grounded
in folk, country and pop.
Dec 3, 7pm. ¥8,500.
Meguro Persimmon Hall.
Toritsudaigaku. http://
meturl.com/ahn2014
Steel Panther
American glam metal band
known for their profane and
humorous lyrics as well as
their exaggerated on-stage
personae that parody the
stereotypical view of lifestyle
in the 1980s. Dec 3, 7pm.
¥7,000. Tsutaya O-East. Tel:
03-5458-4681. http://meturl.
com/panther2014
A night of heavy rifts and
enchanting vocals for your
aural pleasure. Dec 5, 7-10pm.
¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door).
Club Crawl. Shibuya. Tel:
03-3498-3113. http://meturl.
com/soundwitch2014
Country Yard
Japanese punk-rock group
who have been supporting
acts for bands No Use For A
Name, The Get Up Kids and
Rufio. Dec 6, 1pm. ¥2,800(adv)
+1d. Yokohama Bay Hall.
Motomachi-Chukagai. Tel:
045-624-3900. http://meturl.
com/countryyard2014
The Drums
American indie pop band from
Brooklyn. Dec 8, 7pm. ¥6,000.
Liquidroom. Ebisu. Tel:
03-5464-0800. http://meturl.
com/drums2014
Enter Shikari
English four-piece rock
band known for their
crossover style incorporating
post-hardcore and various
heavy metal sub-genres
with elements of various
electronic genres, creating
a very distinct sound. Dec
8, 7pm. ¥6,000 (adv). Astro
Hall. Meiji-Jingumae. Tel:
03-3402-3089. Dec 10, 7pm.
¥6,000 (adv). Daikanyama
Unit. Daikanyama. Tel:
03-5459-8630. http://meturl.
com/shikari2014
American rock band from
Anaheim. Dec 8, 7:30pm.
¥6,600 (adv). Tsutaya O-East.
Tel: 03-5458-4681. http://
meturl.com/buckcherry2014
Tahiti 80
French indie pop band. Dec
9, 7pm. ¥6,500. Liquidroom.
Ebisu. Tel: 03-5464-0800.
http://meturl.com/tahiti2014
Sam Lee & Friends
British folk musician whose
album Ground of its Own was
nominated for the 2012
Mercury Music Prize. Dec 11,
7pm. ¥3,000. Mt. Rainier Hall.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54595050. http://meturl.com/
samlee2014
Keith & Tex
Jamaican rocksteady duo best
known for their 1967 hit “Stop
That Train.” Dec 17, 8:30pm.
¥4,300 (adv)/ ¥5,500 (door).
Astro Hall. Meiji-Jingumae.
Tel: 03-3402-3089. http://
meturl.com/keithtex2014
H Zett M
American comedy rock duo
composed of lead vocalist
and guitarist Jack Black and
lead guitarist and vocalist
Kyle Gass. Dec 4, 7:30pm.
¥6,000. Studio Coast.
Shin-Kiba. http://meturl.com/
tenaciousd2014
Japanese keyboardist and
producer formerly part of the
jazz instrumental band Pe'z.
Dec 20, 2 & 7pm. ¥4,000.
Mori no Hall. Hashimoto.
Tel: 042-775-3811. www.
worldapart.co.jp/hzettm
Glory Gospel Singers
British pop duo known for
their hit “That’s Not My
Name.” Dec 5, 7pm. ¥6,000.
22
Ryoji Ikeda
Japanese sound artist
whose music is concerned
primarily with sound in a
variety of “raw” states,
often using frequencies at
the edges of the range of
human hearing. Dec 21,
5-7:30pm. One performance
¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door),
both performances ¥5,000.
Laforet Museum (Harajuku).
Tel: 03-5413-3072. www.
laforet.ne.jp
The Stylistics
R&B/soul vocal group's
Christmas special. Dec 18-21,
6:30-9pm. ¥8,400-14,900.
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3405-1133. http://
meturl.com/stylistics2014
Loopholic Release Party
With Uhnellys, an indie-band
from Tokyo and special
guest Seagull Screaming
Kiss Her Kiss Her. Dec 22,
7:30pm. ¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000
(door). Daikanyama Unit.
Daikanyama. Tel: 03-54598630. http://meturl.com/
uhnellys2014
The Ska Flames
Japanese ska band who has
performed with legendary
musicians such as Prince
Buster and The Skatalites. Dec
23, 5:30pm. ¥3,500 (adv)/
¥3,800 (door) +1d. www.
skaflames.jp
Buckcherry
Tenacious D
The Ting Tings
Ross, Whitney Houston and
Aretha Franklin. Dec 21, 2 &
6pm. ¥2,000-7,000. Shibuya
Public Hall. Shibuya. Tel:
03-3402-9911. www.tate.jp
New York-based ensemble
who have performed at
Carnegie Hall and have
appeared on stage with Diana
Countdown Japan 14/15
Featuring Japanese artists
Back Drop Bomb, Sanbo
Master, Scandal and more.
Dec 28-30, 1-9:30pm; Dec
31, 3pm-5am. ¥10,50031,000. Makuhari Messe.
Kaihin-Makuhari. http://
countdownjapan.jp
Clean Bandit
English electronic group
known for their UK
chart-topping single, “Rather
Be.” Jan 6, 7pm. ¥6,000.
Liquidroom. Ebisu. Tel:
03-5464-0800. http://meturl.
com/cleanbandit2014
Klaxons
English indie rock-electronic
band known for their singles
“Magick” and “Golden
Skans.” Jan 6, 7pm. ¥6,000.
Club Quattro. Shibuya. Tel:
03-3477-8750. http://meturl.
com/klaxons2014
The 1975
English indie rock band
consisting of members Matt
Healy, Adam Hann, George
Daniel and Ross MacDonald.
Jan 7, 7pm. ¥6,500.
Zepp Tokyo. Aomi. Tel:
03-3599-0710. http://meturl.
com/19752014
G.I. Orange
British new wave and pop band
formed in the mid-1980s. Jan
11, 7pm. ¥6,000 (adv). Koenji
High. Koenji. Tel: 03-53780382. http://meturl.com/
orange2014
Ásgeir
Icelandic solo singersongwriter whose music is
described as melodic folk.
Jan 12, 6pm. ¥5,800 (adv).
Liquidroom. Ebisu. Tel:
03-5464-0800. http://meturl.
com/asgeir2014
Alt-J
English indie rock band whose
debut album “An Awesome
Wave” won the 2012 British
Mercury Prize. Jan 13, 7pm.
¥6,000. Tsutaya O-East.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5458-4681.
http://meturl.com/altj2014
The Script
Irish pop rock band with
hits “The Man Who Can’t Be
Moved” and “Breakeven.” Jan
16, 7pm. ¥6,500. Akasaka
Blitz. Akasaka. http://meturl.
com/script2014
Cyndi Lauper
American pop icon and winner
of Grammy, Emmy and Tony
awards. Jan 20, 7pm. ¥10,50012,500. Nippon Budokan.
Kudanshita. http://meturl.
com/lauper2014
Tokyo. Aomi. Tel: 03-35990710. http://meturl.com/
vamps2014
At the Gates
Swedish death metal band
with a melodic death metal
sound. Feb 9, 7pm. ¥7,000
(adv). Liquidroom. Ebisu. Tel:
03-5464-0800. http://meturl.
com/atthegates2014
Mötley Crüe
American heavy metal band
known for their genre-bending
music, a mix of anthemic
choruses, stadium-sized riffs
and punk rock and melodic
power. Feb 14-15, 5-4pm.
¥13,000-30,000. Saitama
Super Arena. SaitamaShintoshin. http://meturl.com/
motley2014
with a music set inspired
by Dixieland Jazz. Dec 3-4,
7-9:30pm. ¥7,000. Blue Note
Tokyo. Omotesando. Tel:
03-5485-0088. http://meturl.
com/fukuhara2014
Martin Taylor
British jazz guitarist best
known for his solo fingerstyle
performances. Dec 6-7, 5pm.
¥6,600-9,000. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
http://meturl.com/taylor2014
Martin Taylor and Alison
Burns
British jazz guitarist Taylor with
jazz singer Burns. Dec 6-7, 8pm.
¥6,600-9,000. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
http://meturl.com/taylorburns
Chico & The Gypsies
OK Go
American alternative rock band
known for their often quirky
and elaborate music videos.
Feb 17, 7pm. ¥6,000 (adv).
Tsutaya O-East. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5458-4681. http://meturl.
com/okgo2014
JAZZ/WORLD
A French musical formation
of rumba catalana, flamenco
and Latin pop and rock tunes
led by Chico Bouchikhi, one
of the founders of the Gipsy
Kings. Dec 5-8, 7-9:30pm.
¥8,800. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://meturl.com/
chico2014
Royal Blood
British hard rock duo whose
sound is rooted in modern
garage rock and blues
rock. Jan 21, 7pm. ¥5,500.
Liquidroom. Ebisu. Tel:
03-5464-0800. http://meturl.
com/royalblood2014
FKA Twigs
English singer-songwriter,
producer and dancer whose
album LP1 is one of the
nominees for the 2014 Mercury
Prize. Jan 22, 7:30pm. ¥5,500
(adv). Liquidroom. Ebisu. Tel:
03-5464-0800. http://meturl.
com/twigs2014
Swans
American experimental rock
band led by singer, songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
Michael Gira. Jan 27, 7pm.
¥6,000 (adv). Tsutaya O-East.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5458-4681.
http://meturl.com/swans2015
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Welsh rock band who recently
released their debut album
The Balcony. Jan 28, 7pm.
¥5,000 (adv). Daikanyama
Unit. Daikanyama. Tel:
03-5459-8630. http://meturl.
com/catfish2014
Tycho
American ambient music artist
and producer, whose music
captures the sound of 1970s
analog media while remaining
both progressive and futuristic.
Jan 29, 8pm. ¥6,000 (adv)/
¥6,500 (door). Tsutaya O-East.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5458-4681.
http://meturl.com/tycho2014
Tokyo-Manila Jazz & Arts
Festival
A concert merging jazz and
original Philippine music,
with Noel Cabangon, Boy
Katindig and others. Nov 28,
6:30pm. ¥4,500. Shinjuku
Ushigome Tansu Civic Hall.
Ushigomekagurazaka. Tel:
03-3260-3421. Thanksgiving
Jazz Concert for the benefit of
young musicians’s education
and scholarship funds, with
Tetsuro Kawashima, Tots
Tolentino and others. Nov 30,
6pm. ¥2,000. Akasaka Civic
Center Civic Hall. AoyamaIchome. Tel: 5413-2711. http://
tmjaf.tokyo/
American jazz singer and
pianist and brother of musician
Nat King Cole. Dec 8-10,
6:30-9pm. ¥7,500-9,500.
Cotton Club. Tokyo. Tel:
03-3215-1555. http://meturl.
com/cole2014
Salena Jones with Friends
American jazz and cabaret
singer who won the amateur
night at Harlem’s legendary
Apollo Theater at the age of 15.
Dec 11, 6:30pm. ¥7,500-9,500.
Cotton Club. Tokyo. Tel:
03-3215-1555. http://meturl.
com/jones2014
Heavyweight Sessions
Bebel Gilberto
Brazilian popular singer
often associated with bossa
nova. Nov 28-30, 7-8pm.
¥8,500. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://meturl.com/
gilberto2014
Tokyo Big Band 2014: The
Last
Pianist-arranger Jonathan Katz
leads a 19-piece ensemble.
Dec 3, 7:30pm. ¥4,000
(adv)/¥4,500 (door). Akasaka B
Flat. Akasaka. Tel: 03-55632563. http://bflat.biz
Sarah Àlainn
Violinist and singer who
has performed alongside
world-famous opera singers
such as Yvonne Kenny
and José Carbó. Dec 4,
6:30pm. ¥6,000. Sakura Hall.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3464-3251.
www.sarahalainn.net
Richie Kotzen
Guitarist, singer, songwriter
and producer with an
instantly recognizable and
immediately striking style. Feb
1, 5pm. ¥8,000. Akasaka Blitz.
Akasaka. http://meturl.com/
kotzen2014
Laila Biali
The Vamps
Miho Fukuhara and The
Mardi Gras Combo
British pop boyband. Feb 5,
7pm. ¥6,000-7,000. Zepp
Freddy Cole
Award-winning Canadian
Jazz pianist, vocalist and
songwriter. Dec 2-4, 6:30-9pm.
¥6,600-8,500. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
http://meturl.com/biali2014
Japanese singer-songwriter,
With Japanese jazz trio
Cro-magnon and Hex from the
Jazz label Blue Note. Dec 11,
7pm. ¥3,500 (adv)/ ¥4,000
(door). Daikanyama Unit.
Daikanyama. Tel: 03-54598630. http://meturl.com/
cromagnon2014
Clémentine
French singer-songwriter
based in Japan who has also
appeared regularly on the
entertainment segment for
NHK Educational TV “French
TV.” Dec 12-13, 7-8pm.
¥7,800. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://meturl.com/
clementine2014
Till Brönner
German jazz musician, trumpet
player, singer, composer,
arranger and producer. Dec
14-16, 5-9:30pm. ¥8,500. Blue
Note Tokyo. Omotesando.
Tel: 03-5485-0088. http://
meturl.com/bronner2014
Tito Jackson
Original member of The
Jackson 5, recently better
known as a talented blues
artist. Dec 17-19, 7-9:30pm.
¥8,500. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://meturl.com/
tito2014
hot tickets
JAN
4
Electrox
New Year’s dance music festival with
artists DVBBS, Klaxons, Don Diablo
and others. Jan 4, 2pm. ¥12,00024,000. Makuhari Messe. KaihinMakuhari. www.electrox.jp
Tickets on sale from Dec 6
Edda Magnason with Niels
Lan Doky Trio
An “Homage to Monica
Zetterlund,” Sweden’s
legendary jazz singer/actress.
Dec 20-21, 5-8pm. ¥8,000. Blue
Note Tokyo. Omotesando.
Tel: 03-5485-0088. http://
meturl.com/magnason2014
JAN
27
Lily Allen
English singer’s concert for her third
studio album Sheezus which has
been praised for its lyrical content,
social commentary and outlook.
Jan 27, 7pm. ¥8,000. Toyosu Pit.
Shin-Toyosu. Tel: 0570-00-3337.
http://meturl.com/lilyallen2015
Tickets on sale now
Sarah Brightman
English classical crossover
soprano singer. Dec 1-12,
7pm. ¥13,000-15,000. Tokyo
International Forum Hall A.
Yurakucho. http://meturl.
com/sarahbrightman
The Stylistics
Yutaka Sado & WDR
Symphony Orchestra
Cologne
R&B/soul vocal group's
Christmas special. Dec 18-21,
6:30-9pm. ¥8,400-14,900.
Billboard Live. Roppongi. Tel:
03-3405-1133. http://meturl.
com/stylistics2014
Performance of Beethoven’s
“Ninth Symphony.” Dec 18,
7pm. ¥5,000-16,000. Tokyo
International Forum Hall A.
Yurakucho. http://meturl.
com/sado2014
Dee Dee Bridgewater & The
Legendary Count Basie
Orchestra
Three-time Grammy Awardand Tony Award-winning
American jazz singer.
Dec 22-25, 6:30-5pm.
¥10,800. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://meturl.com/
deedee2014
“Ave Maria” in Christmas
St. Petersburg Chamber
Ensemble Divertissement
performance feat the three
major “Ave Marias” by Bach,
Schubert and Caccini. Dec
22, 2pm. ¥4,500. Tokyo
Bunka Kaikan. Ueno.
Tel: 03-3828-2111. www.
koransha.com
FEB
6
Michael Bublé
Grammy awards-winning Canadian
singer and songwriter. Feb 6, 7pm.
¥9,500-18,000. Nippon Budokan.
Kudanshita. Tel: 0570-00-3337.
http://meturl.com/buble2015
Tickets on sale from Dec 13
¥3,500. Shibuya. www.
vision-tokyo.com
A beloved staple on the
New York City jazz scene
and world-renowned as a
multi-faceted concert hall and
symphony performer. Enjoy
a special Christmas dinner
course. Dress code: Something
red. Dec 21-25, 5:30-9:15pm.
¥18,500-22,000. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
http://meturl.com/kole2014
Kool & The Gang
American jazz, R&B, soul, funk
and disco group. Winner of
two Grammy Awards, recently
chosen as a recipient of a star
on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for 2015. Dec 26-29, 7-8pm.
¥13,800. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://meturl.com/
koolgang2014
Blue Mountain Boys
Classic country and western
and bluegrass. Every third
Sat, 6:30 & 7:30pm, free, Cafe
Sepia. Shibuya. Tel: 03-34061300. www.nagaremono.com/
sepia
CLASSICAL
New Japan Philharmonic
The Brahms Program
conducted by Michiyoshi Inoue.
Nov 29, 3pm. ¥2,000-6,000.
Saitama Kaikan. Urawa.
www.saf.or.jp
Seiya no Trumpet
Trumpeter Wim Van Hasselt
accompanied by pianist Vital
Stahievitch perform pieces
by Bach, Chopin and Rosso.
Dec 6, 6:30pm. ¥4,000. Tokyo
Opera City Concert Hall.
Hatsudai or Shinjuku. Tel:
03-5353-9999. Dec 9, 2pm.
¥4,000. Yokohama Minato
Mirai Hall. Minatomirai. Tel:
045-682-2020. Dec 11, 7pm.
¥4,000. Omiya Sonic City.
Omiya. Tel: 048-647-4111.
www.koransha.com
Milan Cathedral Choir
Christmas concert conducted
by Claudio Riva. Dec 9, 7pm.
¥5,000. Tokyo Cathedral.
Gokokuiji. http://l-tike.com
Violinist who has appeared
as a soloist with the world’s
greatest orchestras including
the London Symphony,
Czech Philharmonic and
more. Jan 10, 2pm. ¥1,5004,000. Saitama Arts Theater.
Yonohonmachi. Tel:
0570-064-939. www.saf.or.jp
Alexander Romanovsky
Ukrainian classical pianist
who has been invited to
perform a Mozart concerto
for Pope Benedict XVI. Jan
17, 3pm. ¥1,000-3,500.
Saitama Arts Theater.
Yonohonmachi. Tel:
0570-064-939. www.saf.or.jp
Nobuyuki Tsujii
Conducted by Vasily Petrenko
with the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra. Jan
22, 2pm. ¥14,000-21,000.
Omiya Sonic City. Omiya.
Tel: 048-647-4111. http://
meturl.com/tsujii2014
Clubbing
FRIDAY 28
Ageha
Vivid. EDM: DJs Vivid, Tours,
etc. (m)¥3,000, (f)¥2,000.
Shinkiba. Tel: 03-55342525. www.ageha.com
Jazzbrothers on the Corner.
Jazz: DJs Yama, Takehana,
etc. ¥2,500 w/1d. Shibuya.
www.theroom.jp
The New Matrix Bar
T2
Matrix Friday. Old-school
hip-hop, west side, south
side, all mix: DJ Ykk and
more. ¥1,000 (after 11:30pm).
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: DJs Shu,
Vivid, etc. (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥2,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
The Room
Club Asia
Champ. Funk, jazz: DJs
Tominaga, Oibon, etc. ¥2,500
w/1d. Shibuya. www.
theroom.jp
Cream. Electro, hip-hop:
DJs Otoguro, Shodai, etc.
(m)¥3,000, (f)free. Tel:
03-5458-2551. http://asia.
iflyer.jp
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: DJs Shu,
Ikezawa, etc. (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥2,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
Womb
Club Asia
SUNDAY 30
New Dive. Techno, bass: DJs
Rs, Raymond, etc. ¥3,000. Tel:
03-5458-2551. http://asia.
iflyer.jp/venue/home
The Yes.House, techno: DJs
Osawa, Surkin, etc . ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
The Room
Liaison. Deep house, jazz: DJs
Harajuku, Kat, etc. ¥1,500.
Shibuya. www.theroom.jp
Womb
Weaves.Progressive house,
tech house DJs Mendo, Uichi,
etc. ¥3,500. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5459-0039. www.womb.
co.jp
Social Club Tokyo
Metropolis November
Getsumatsu. Time to get freaky
with two floors of fun at Social
Club Tokyo in Shibuya! Free,
¥500 drinks. Shibuya. Tel:
03-6826-8438. http://meturl.
com/november
T2
Global Allmix Party. All
mix: DJs Shu, Murasaki,
etc. (m)¥2,500 w/1d,
(f)¥1,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
Womb
EDM Sunday. EDM: DJs Sone,
Loose, etc . (m)¥2,500, (f)
free. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
FRIDAY 5
SATURDAY 29
Ageha
Ageha
Treasure Hunters. EDM,
trance: DJs Alex Kidd, Yoji,
etc. ¥3,500. Shinkiba. Tel:
03-5534-2525. www.ageha.
com
Agepa. All mix: DJs Ami,
Shintaro, etc. (m)¥3,000,
(f)free. Shin-Kiba. Tel:
03-5534-2525. www.ageha.
com
NOV
29-DEC 25
Christmas Market in
Yokohama Akarenga Soko
Shop for Christmas items and
indulge in delicious German food.
Nov 29-Dec 25, 11am-10pm, free.
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
Bashamichi and Nihon Odori. Tel:
045-227-2002. www.yokohamaakarenga.jp
The Room
Breakthrough. Hip-hop: DJs
Jin, Ladi Dadi, etc. ¥2,500
w/1d. Shibuya. www.
theroom.jp
T2
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: Various
DJs. (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥2,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
Club Asia
The Block Party. All mix DJs
Taku, 80kidz, etc. ¥3,000. Tel:
03-5458-2551. http://asia.
iflyer.jp
Womb
Sterne.Techno: DJs Chris
Carrier, Ishino, etc. ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
SATURDAY 6
Rezonanz. Media art,
electronic: DJs Cajak, Kikiorix,
etc Live: Max Loderbauer and
more. ¥4,500. Daikanyama.
Tel: 03-5459-8630. www.
unit-tokyo.com
Ruby Room
Sound Museum Vision
The Wonderland. EDM, house:
DJs Mitomi, Ryukyudisko,
etc. ¥3,500. Shinkiba. Tel:
03-5534-2525. www.ageha.
com
12th Anniversary. DJs
Timutaku, Special K, etc.
¥1,500 w/1d. Shibuya. Tel:
03-3780-3022 (evenings) /
070-6969-4816 (daytime).
www.rubyroomtokyo.com
Utopia. Techno: DJs Sunahara,
Ken Ishii, etc. ¥3,500 w/1d.
Shibuya. www.vision-tokyo.
com
Origami
Social Club. Deep house,
nu disco: DJs Seb Zito,
Groove Patrol, etc. ¥3,000.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-64340968. http://meturl.com/
origamiclub
Innervisions. House: DJs
Kristian, Alex from Tokyo,
etc. ¥3,500. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5784-3384. www.
air-tokyo.com
Sound Museum Vision
The New Matrix Bar
Ed Banger. Electro, techno:
DJs Busy P, Boston Ban, etc.
Saturday Night Fever.
Hip-hop, R&B, reggae: DJ
Asobinite. Electro, house: DJs
Nakata, Tanaka, etc. ¥3,000.
Shinkiba. Tel: 03-55342525. www.ageha.com
Daikanyama Unit
Lost Decade. DJs Tofubeats,
Wildparty, etc . ¥3,000.
Daikanyama. Tel: 03-54598630. www.unit-tokyo.com
Air
Dj Jazzy Jeff. Hip-hop: DJ
Jazzy Jeff and more. ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-57843384. www.air-tokyo.com
Sound Museum Vision
Girls Festival. Hip-hop: DJs
Komuro, Kaori, etc. (m)¥3,500
w/1d, (f)free. Shibuya.
www.vision-tokyo.com
Origami
Developer, Annie Hall. Techno:
DJs Developer, Annie Hall,
etc. ¥3,500. Omotesando.
Tel: 03-6434-0968. http://
meturl.com/origamiclub
The New Matrix Bar
Matrix Friday. Old-school
hip-hop, west side, south
side, all mix: DJ Ykk and
more. ¥1,000 (after 11:30pm).
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp
Sound Museum Vision
Big Groove. Hip-hop: DJs
Krush, Muro, etc. ¥3,500
w/1d. Shibuya. www.visiontokyo.com
Origami
Fasten Musique Label
Showcase. DJs Vlad Caia,
Yoshitaca, etc. ¥3,500.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-64340968. http://meturl.com/
origamiclub
T2
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: DJs
Various DJs. (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥2,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
Club Asia
Jumper. EDM: DJs Mad as
Noise, Hikaru, etc. (m)¥3,000,
(f)free. Tel: 03-5458-2551.
http://asia.iflyer.jp
The New Matrix Bar
Womb
Saturday Night Fever. Hip-hop,
R&B, reggae: DJ Ykk and
more. ¥1,000 (after 10pm).
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp
Boysnoize Records. Electro,
techno: DJs Boys Noize,
Edjotronic, etc. ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
Especial Records Session.
House, crossover DJs
Yoshihiro Okino, Yukari, etc.
¥2,500 w/1d. Shibuya.
www.theroom.jp
Air
T2
The Tour. House, techno: DJs
Nobu, Sodeyama, etc. ¥3,000.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-57843384. www.air-tokyo.com
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: DJs
Various DJs. (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥2,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
The Room
Sound Museum Vision
Dance
Chantecler Tango
Tango musical set in 1940s
Buenos Aires at the luxurious
Chantecler Cabaret performed
by the Mora Godoy Tango
Company. Dec 4-7, various
times. ¥6,500-10,500. Theatre
Orb. Shibuya. Tel: 03-34779999. http://meturl.com/
chantecler
Club Asia
Tremor. Hip-hop, rock: DJ
Meme; live: Dry & Heavy and
more. ¥3,000. Tel: 03-54582551. http://asia.iflyer.jp
Origami
Dense & Pika. Techno: DJ
Dense & Pika and more.
¥3,500. Omotesando. Tel:
03-6434-0968. http://meturl.
com/origamiclub
Womb
The New Matrix Bar
SUNDAY 7
Matrix Friday. Old-school
hip-hop, west side, south
side, all mix: DJ Ykk and
more. ¥1,000 (after 11:30pm).
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.
jp
FRIDAY 12
Ageha
Air
Vortex. Trance: DJs Masa,
Yuta, etc Live: Blue Planet
Corporation and more.
¥3,000. Daikanyama.
Tel: 03-5459-8630. www.
unit-tokyo.com
Artifact. Electro, techno:
DJs Erol Alkan, Osawa, etc.
¥3,500. Shibuya. www.
vision-tokyo.com
8692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Ageha
Daikanyama Unit
Daikanyama Unit
Artemis. House, techno:
DJs Yasu, Nehan, etc.
Live: Lowtec. ¥3,000.
Daikanyama. Tel: 03-54598630. www.unit-tokyo.com
Justin Vandervolgen. House,
disco: DJ Justin Vandervolgen
and more. ¥3,500. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5784-3384. www.
air-tokyo.com
The Room
T2
12th Anniversary. DJs Hata,
Izpon, etc. ¥1,500 w/1d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-37803022 (evening)/070-69694816 (daytime). www.
rubyroomtokyo.com
Air
Ykk and more. ¥1,000 (after
10pm). Roppongi. www.
matrixbar.jp
Robag Wruhme. Electronic: DJs
Robag Wruhme, Hyota, etc.
¥3,000. Omotesando. Tel:
03-6434-0968. http://meturl.
com/origamiclub
Ruby Room
Daikanyama Unit
Seven-time Grammy winning
songstress. May 5-6, 6pm. ¥9,50033,000. Tokyo Dome. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999. http://taylorswiftjapantour.com
Tickets on sale from Dec 13
Origami
Yuzuko Horigome
Special Christmas Nights
with Hilary Kole
MAY
5-6
Taylor Swift
for free
06s. Drum‘n’bass: DJs Dc
Breaks, Aki, etc . ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
Christmas Special Classics
Kiev Ballet performs
segments from The Sleeping
Beauty, Swan Lake and The
Nutcracker accompanied by
the Ukraine National Opera
Orchestra. Dec 24, 7pm.
¥5,000-8,500. Tokyo Opera
City Concert Hall. Hatsudai
or Shinjuku. Tel: 03-53539999. www.koransha.com
The Nutcracker
T2
Global Allmix Party. All mix:
DJs Various DJs. (m)¥3,500
w/1d, (f)¥2,500 w/2d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5428-
Performed by the K-Ballet
Company. Dec 20-26, various
times. ¥11,500. ACT Theater.
Akasaka. Tel: 03-3589-2277.
www.k-ballet.co.jp/company
23
Ends Dec 31
24
Stage
DEC 14, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 23
Choreographed by Ikko
Tamura. Dec 13-21, various
times. ¥2,500 (adv)/¥3,000
(door). Dairakudakan
Kochuten. Kichijoji. Tel:
0422-21-4984. www.
dairakudakan.com
Exhibitions
NOV 28 (FRI)-DEC 14 (SUN)
Ballet: Cinderella
Ideal for the Christmas
season. Performed by the
National Ballet of Japan. Dec
14, 19, 21 & 23, 2pm; Dec
18, 7pm; Dec 20, 1 & 6pm,
¥3,240-10,800. New National
Theatre Tokyo. Hatsudai
(Keio New Line). Tel:03-53529999. www.nntt.jac.go.jp/
english
DEC 2 &19-23
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014:
Eternity
Taiko performance. The third
work directed by artistic
director Tamasaburo Bando.
Dec 2, 6:30pm, ¥6,500.
Muza Kawasaki Symphony
Hall. Kawasaki. Dec
19, 7pm; Dec 20-23 2pm;
S-seats ¥7,000, A-seats
¥5,000, students ¥3,000.
Bunkyo Civic Hall Dai-Hall.
Korakuen or Kasuga. Tel:
0259-86-3630. heartbeat@
kodo.or.jp. www.kodo.or.jp
Tokyo Theater for Children
presents: Dick Whittington
A hilarious take on the classic
British children’s tale. Nov
28-30, various times. ¥2,5003,500, kids two and under free
if sitting on parents’s laps.
Theatre Bonbon. Nakano.
Tel: 03-3381-8422. http://
tokyotheatreforchildren.com
ONGOING
Le Monde Enchanté de
Jacques Demy
Behind-the-scenes
photographs from works by
French New Wave director
known for The Umbrellas of
Cherbourg and other films.
Until Dec 14, ¥70-210. National
Film Center. Open Tue-Sun
11am-6:30pm, closed Mon.
3-7-6 Kyobashi. Kyobashi.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.
momat.go.jp
The Dream of French
Paintings: From
Impressionism to Ecole de
Paris
New Winter
Faces concealed by masks,
these mysterious men are not
heroes and leading actors,
but villains and secondary
characters. Artist Kenichi
Obana tells their tales in
wood carving and oil painting,
exploring their hopes,
dreams, simple joys and fears.
Nov 28-Dec14, free. Open
daily noon-7pm. 3F Ogura
Bldg, 2-12-4 Nishi-Azabu,
Minato-ku. Nogizaka.
Tel: 03-6419-7229. www.
nanatasu.jp
ENDING SOON
Ryan Su: New Paintings
Showcasing Taiwanese
painter Su’s black and white
portraits of animals. Nov
11-29, 11am-7pm. Free.
Megumi Ogita Gallery.
Ginza. Tel: 03-3248-3405.
http://meturl.com/su2014
Sadie Rebecca Starnes:
Given
American painter whose
works are influenced by
family histories of Native
Americans, diasporic
literature and alizarin
crimson. Nov 14-29, noon
to 7pm. Free. Megumi
Ogita Gallery Showcase.
Tel: 03-3571-9700. www.
megumiogita.com/index.html
Select works by Monet,
Chagall, Cézanne, Foujita
and more. Until Dec 14,
¥500-1,400. Bunkamura: The
Museum. Open Mon-Thu & Sun
10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-9pm.
2-24-1 Dogenzaka. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.
bunkamura.co.jp
The Beauty of Chanoyu
Kettles
Explore 400 years of Chanoyu
Kettle history. Until Dec 14,
10am-4:30pm, closed Mon,
¥500-800. Sen-Oku Hakuko
Kan. 1-5-1 Roppongi-itchome,
Minato-ku. Roppongiitchome. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
The Renaissance Golden
Age: From Botticelli to
Bronzino
About 70 works by the great
Renaissance masters, courtesy
of the famed Uffizi Gallery in
Florence. Until Dec 14, ¥1,0001,600. Tokyo Metropolitan
Art Museum. 8-36 Ueno Park.
Ueno. www.tobikan.jp
Masterpieces from the
Kunsthaus Zurich
Japanese exhibition of one
of the best art museums
in Switzerland boasting a
world-class collection of
modern art. Until Dec 15,
10am-6pm, ¥800-1,600. Open
Wed-Thu, Sat-Mon 10am-6pm,
Fri 10am-8pm, closed Tue.
7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku.
Nogizaka. www.nact.jp
Natural Base
The Umbrella Goes West
Solo butoh performance
by Kudo Taketeru. Dec
2-3, 7:30pm. ¥3,000 (adv)/
¥3,500 (door). Space Zatsuyu.
Shinjuku. Tel: 090-88465379. www.kudo-taketeru.
com
Oil and watercolor exhibition
by Claudia Ahlering.
Oct 24-Nov 30, 1-7pm.
Free. Hiromart Gallery.
Edogawabashi. Tel:
03-6233-9836. http://meturl.
com/naturalbase2014
Berlin x Tokyo
Tao Drum Rock: The 33
Samurai
Drum entertainment spectacle
from Tao, a team of highly
trained athletes and highly
expressive artists. Dec
9-10, 7pm. ¥5,200-7,200.
Bunkamura . Shibuya. Tel:
03-3477-9111. http://meturl.
com/drumtao
Once
Musical about love on the
streets of Dublin; winner of
eight Tony Awards, based
on the 2007 Academy
Award-winning film of the
same name. Nov 27-Dec 14,
various times. ¥13,000. Ex
Theater Roppongi. Roppongi
or Nogizaka. Tel: 03-64062222. http://once-musical.jp
Japanese Classical Dance
with Orchestra Vol. 2
Nihon Buyo dance
performance with the Tokyo
Philharmonic Orchestra
produced by Jusuke Hanayagi.
Dec 13-14, 6:30 & 3pm.
¥3,200-12,300. Tokyo Bunka
Kaikan. Ueno. Tel: 03-38282111. www.t-bunka.jp/en
Dairakudakan Butoh
Performance
Ojo-Tokuro-sama.
Two-day design, art, culture
and music exhibition. Nov
29-30, 10am-11pm. ¥1,500.
Roppongi Hills. Roppongi.
www.berlinxtokyo.com
Ninsei, Kenzan and Crafts
of Kyoto
Featuring the ceramic works
of artists Nonomura Ninsei
and Ogata Kenzan. Until Dec
21, Mon-Thu 10am-5pm,
Fri 10am-7pm, closed Mon,
¥700-1,000. Idemitsu Museum
of Arts. Open Tue-Thu
10am-5pm, Fri 10am-7pm,
closed Mon. 9F Teigeki Bldg,
3-1-1 Marunouchi. Tokyo.
www.idemitsu.co.jp/museum
Zaha Hadid
National Treasures of
Japan
Artifacts gathered across
various genres and periods.
Oct 15-Dec 7. ¥900-1,600.
Tokyo National Museum.
Ueno. www.tnm.jp
The Japan Fine Arts
Exhibition
Featuring Japanese and
Western paintings, sculptures,
applied fine arts and writing.
Until Dec 7, 10am-6pm, closed
Tue, ¥700-1,200. The National
Art Center, Tokyo. Open
Wed-Thu, Sat-Mon 10am-6pm,
Fri 10am-8pm, closed Tue.
7-22-2 Roppongi. Nogizaka.
www.nact.jp
Koyasan 1,200th
Anniversary: Treasures of
the Sacred Mountain
Figures carved by some of
Japan’s most celebrated
Buddhist sculptors, including
Unkei and Kaikei. Oct 11-Dec
7. ¥800-1,300. Suntory
Museum of Art. Roppongi.
http://suntory.jp/sma
Iraqi-British architect, and
first female recipient of the
Pritzker Architecture Prize in
2004. Until Dec 23, 11am-7pm,
closed Mon, ¥1,000-1,200.
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery.
Open Tue-Thu 11am-7pm,
Fri-Sat 11am-8pm. 3-20-2
Nishi-Shinjuku. Hatsudai.
www.operacity.jp/en/ag
Lee Mingwei and His
Relations
Mixed media artist with
an interactive style. The
completion of his works
relies on the participation
of his audience. Until Jan 4,
¥500-1,500. Mori Art Museum.
Open Mon & Wed-Sun
10am-10pm, Tue 10am-5pm.
6-10-1 Roppongi. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.mori.
art.museum
school)/ ¥500 (4 years-junior
high). Open Mon & Wed-Sun
10am-10pm, Tue 10am-5pm.
6-10-1 Roppongi. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.mori.
art.museum
Sun 10am-5pm, closed Tue.
3-15 Asumigaokahigashi,
Midori-ku. Toke. www.
hoki-museum.jp
The World of Tim Burton
Ryoji Arai
Widely regarded as one of
cinema's most imaginative
and visual filmmakers. Mori
Arts Center Gallery. Until Jan
4, 11am-10pm, Sat & Sun
11am-11pm, ¥800-1,800. 52F
Roppongi Hills Tower, 6-10-1
Roppongi. Roppongi. www.
tim-burton.jp
Japanese illustrator who won
the Astrid Lindgren Memorial
Award from the Swedish
Arts Council in 2005 for his
contribution to “children’s
and young adult literature in
the broadest sense.” Ginza
Graphic Gallery. Dec 3-25,
11am-7pm, closed Sun, free.
Open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat
11am-6pm, closed Sun & hols.
1F Ginza Bldg, 7-7-2 Ginza.
Ginza. http://meturl.com/
craftsofkyoto2014
Ferdinand Hodler: Towards
Rhythmic Images
Paintings by one of the
best-known Swiss artists of
the 19th century. Until Jan
12, ¥800-1,600. The National
Museum of Western Art. Open
daily 9:30am-5:30pm. 7-7
Ueno Park. Ueno. www.
nmwa.go.jp
Willem de Kooning: From
the John and Kimiko
Powers Collection
Dutch-born American artist and
one of the founders of abstract
expressionism. Until Jan
12, ¥500-800. Bridgestone
Museum of Art. Open Tue-Sun
& hols 10am-8pm, closed Mon.
1-10-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
www.bridgestone-museum.
gr.jp
The Fab Mind: Hints of the
Future in a Shifting World
Focuses on the aspirations and
activities of those who seek
to understand and resolve
social issues through design.
Until Feb 1, 11am-8pm, closed
Tue, ¥500-1,000. 21_21
Design Sight. Open Mon &
Wed-Sun 11am-8pm, closed
Tue. 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku.
Nogizaka. Tel: 03-34752121. www.2121designsight.jp
Born Here, Yet to Be Born
Here
Showcasing the various artists
who have gathered at the
Nakamuraya Salon over the
years. Until Feb 15, 10:30am7pm, closed Tue, ¥300.
Nakamuraya Salon Museum of
Art. 10:30am-7pm, closed Tue.
3-26-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo. Shinjuku. www.
nakamuraya.co.jp/museum
Hikari Exhibition
Featuring the relationship
between light and space, the
earth and humans, showcasing
the beautiful world of light.
Until Feb 22, 9am-5pm, until
8pm on Fri, closed Mon,
¥600-1,600. National Museum
of Nature and Science. Open
Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 9am-5pm,
Fri 9am-8pm, closed Mon.
7-20 Ueno Park. Ueno. Tel:
03-3822-0111. www.kahaku.
go.jp
Narahara Ikko: Domains
One of the leading
photographers of post-war
Japan. Domains focuses on
human beings in a monastery
in Hokkaido and a female
prison in Wakayama, both
isolated from the external
world. Until Mar 1, 10am-5pm,
closed Mon, ¥130-430. The
National Museum of Modern
Art, Tokyo. Open Tue-Thu
& Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri
10am-8pm. 3-1 Kitanomarukoen. Takebashi. Tel:
03-5777-8600. www.momat.
go.jp
Hiroshi Noda
Jacob Kirkegaard
Sound and video installation
on Fukushima by Danish sound
artist. Until Jan 4, 10am-10pm/
Tuesdays 10am-5pm, ¥1,500
(general)/ ¥1,000 (uni/high
Living to Paint: Realism from
the Entire Psyche. Until May
17, 10am-5:30pm, closed Tue,
¥900-1,800. Hoki Museum.
Open Mon & Wed-Thu
10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-7pm,
UPCOMING
Micro Salon 2014
Showcasing microworks by
up-and-comers and veterans.
Dec 6-27, Tue-Fri, 11am-7pm;
Sat, 11am-5pm; closed Sun,
Mon & hols, free. Tokyo Gallery
+ BTAP. Tue–Fri 11am–7pm &
Sat 11am–5pm, closed Sun,
Mon & hols. 7F, 8-10-5 Ginza.
Shinbashi. Tel: 03-35711808. www.tokyo-gallery.com
James McNeill Whistler
The leading art figure of
Japonism. Dec 6-Mar 1,
10am-6pm, closed Thu,
¥600-1,500. Yokohama
Museum of Art. Fri-Wed
10am-6pm. 3-4-1 Minatomirai,
Nishi-ku. Minato Mirai. www.
yaf.or.jp/yma
Sports
BASKETBALL
11am-10pm. Free. Sengakuji
Temple. Sengakuji. http://
meturl.com/gishisai
Hagoita-ichi
Vendors sell wooden
paddles to “bounce back
evil.” Dec 17-19, 9am-9pm.
Free. Sensoji. Asakusa.
Tel: 03-3842-0181. www.
taitonavi.jp/enjoy_detail.
html?no=78
Oji Kitsune-no-Gyoretsu
Fox Parade
Hatsumode inspired by
tales of foxes masquerading
as humans. Dec 31-Jan 1,
10:30pm. ¥1,000 (parade
participation fee). Shozoku
Inari-jinja Shrine. Oji.
http://kitsune.tokyo-oji.jp
Forums &
Expos
Eco-Products 2014
Showcasing environmental
technologies and
environmentally-friendly
products and services. Dec
11-13, 10am to 6pm. Free.
Tokyo Big Sight. KokusaiTenjijo-Seimon. http://meturl.
com/ecopro2014
Antique Jamboree
The largest antique event
in Japan with a vast variety
of items with different
tastes and styles including
Japanese, European and
American antiques as well
as collectible toys. Jan 9-11,
10am to 5pm. ¥800 (adv)/
¥1,000(door). Tokyo Big
Sight. Kokusai-TenjijoSeimon. http://meturl.com/
antiquejamboree
Basketball Japan League
●●Yokohama B-Corsairs vs.
Bambitious Nara. Nov 29-30,
6pm (doors open at 4pm),
¥1,000-9,500. Hiratsuka
Gymnasium. Hiratsuka.
http://b-corsairs.com.
●●Yokohama B-Corsairs vs.
Gunma CraneThunders. Dec
6-7, 6pm (doors open at 4pm),
¥1,000-9,500. Sky Arena.
Sobudai-mae. http://bcorsairs.com.
●●Yokohama B-Corsairs vs.
Oita Heat Devils. Dec 27-28,
6pm (doors open at 4pm),
¥1,000-9,500. Hiratsuka
Gymnasium. Hiratsuka.
http://b-corsairs.com.
PRO WRESTLING
Big Japan
Nov 22, 7pm, ¥3,150-6,300.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
DDT
●● Nov 30, 12pm (opens
at 11am), ¥3,000-5,000.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
●●“Boyz.” Dec 10, 7pm
(opens at 6pm), ¥3,000.
Shinjuku Face. Shinjuku. Tel:
03-3419-0536.
SOCCER
Kawasaki-F vs. Hiroshima
Nov 29, 2pm. ¥800-2,300.
Todoroki Arena. Musashi
Nakahara. Tel: 044-798-5000.
www.j-league.or.jp/eng
F-Tokyo vs. Yokohama F-M
Dec 6, 3:30pm. ¥600-6,200.
Ajinomoto Stadium.
Tobitakyu. Tel: 04-24400555. www.j-league.or.jp/eng
Monster Hunter Festa
Calling all fans of the
“Monster Hunter” video
games, with official “Monster
Hunter” competitions, stage
events and merchandise.
Jan 18, 10am to 5pm. Free.
Makuhari Messe. KaihinMakuhari. http://capcom.
co.jp/monsterhunter/festa15
Bazaars &
Markets
Swedish Christmas Bazaar
Swedish food, drinks,
handicrafts and folk music.
Nov 30, noon to 4pm.
¥500. Swedish Embassy.
Roppongi-itchome. Tel:
03-5562-5050. http://meturl.
com/swedishchristmas
Midtown Christmas 2014
Illuminations, Marché de
Noël and other Christmas
events. Nov 13-Dec 25, 11am
to 9pm. Tokyo Midtown.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-34753100. http://meturl.com/
midtownxmas2014l
Tokyo Skytreetown
Dream Christmas
Nov 1-Dec 25, 11am
to 10pm. Free. Tokyo
Skytree. Oshiage. http://
dreamchristmas2014.jp
Shinagawa Intercity Flea
Market
More than 120 vendors.
Sun & hols. Nov 15-Jan 1,
9am-3pm, free. Shinagawa
Intercity. Shinagawa.
http://meturl.com/shinflea
Iidabashi Ramla Market
Festivals
Every first and third Sun,
10am-4pm, Iidabashi Ramla.
Iidabashi.
TRADITIONAL
Umi no Koen Flea Market
Gishi-sai
Commemoration of the 47
akoroshi who avenged the
death of their master. Dec 14,
Every third Sun, 10am-4pm,
Umi no Koen. UminokoenShibaguchi. rinpodan@
umino-kouen.net Tel:
03-3226-6800.
25
Best Flea Market
Every second Sun, 10am-4pm,
Tokyo International Forum Hall
C. Yurakucho. Tel: 03-32266800.
Hanazono Shrine Market
Every Sun, 8am-4pm,
Hanazono Shrine. Shinjukusanchome. Tel: 03-3200-3093.
Stellato. Shirokanedai. Tel:
03-3442-5588. http://meturl.
com/monthlywine
Reiki Training Course
Nihon Reiki Do training in
English and Japanese.
Nov 28. ¥45,000. Shakti
Studio. Horikiri-Shobuen.
Tel: 03-6822-3269. www.
nihonreikido.com
Ibaraki-ichi
Farm-fresh veg from the north.
Every Sat, 7-9am, Roppongi
Hills East Court. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6406-5285.
Nogi Shrine Market
Every second Sun, 5:30am3pm, Nogi Shrine. Nogizaka.
Tel: 03-3478-3001.
Oedo Antique Fair
Japan’s largest outdoor
antique market. Every first and
third Sun, 8am-4:30pm, Tokyo
International Forum Hall C.
Yurakucho. Tel: 03-58051093.
Aoyama Marché
Organic farmers market. Every
weekend, United Nations
University. Omotesando. Tel:
03-3456-0960.
Yasukuni Shrine Antique
Market
Since 1949
今年は"にほんごをもの"にする
Every Sun, sunrise-sunset,
Yasukuni Shrine. Kudanshita.
Tel: 03-3261-8326.
EVERGREEN LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Fudaten Jinja Market
JAPANESE PROFICIENCY TEST
N1, N2, N3, N4
ST
Shinjuku Central Park
Market
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
UDEN
VISA T
* One month intensive
* 2 & 3 days a week
* Private & Corporate
* Business Japanese
www.evergreen.gr.jp
YUTENJI 03-3713-4958 JIYUGAOKA 03-3723-4785
Registr
a
April 2 tion for
015
NOW O term
PEN!
Free trial lesson
for groups
[email protected]
03-3713-4958
Every second Sun, 10am-4pm,
Fudaten Jinja. Chofu. Tel:
04-2489-0022.
Local produce stalls,
workshops and live
performances. Every Sat,
10am-4pm, Shinjuku Central
Park. Tocho-mae. Tel:
03-2504-2128. http://meturl.
com/shinjukuparkmarket
Yebisu Marché
Organic fruits and vegetables.
Every first and third Sun,
11am-5pm, Ebisu Garden
Place. Ebisu. www.facebook.
com/YEBISUMarche
Community
Grief Support Group
Hosted by TELL every
Wednesday. For more
information, contact training@
telljp.com. Oct 8 - Dec 10,
7pm to 8:30pm. Free. Wesley
Center. Omotesando. Tel:
03-6427-4696. http://meturl.
com/griefsupport2014
Half-Fast Cyclists
Bicyclists of all treads meet
for slide shows, lectures,
ride-planning, etc. Every
second Wed, 7pm. Free.
The Pink Cow. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6434-5773. www.
thepinkcow.com
Stitch-n-Bitch
Meet fellow knitters,
crocheters and sewers to talk,
share ideas, eat, drink and
create. Every first and third
Tue, 7pm. Free. Cafe Respekt.
Shibuya. www.meetup.com/
TokyoStitchandBitch
Multicultural Cafe 2014:
Let’s Make Fillings of
Monaka
Making wagashi, Japanese
sweets, while exchanging
culture. Nov 19-Jan 31, six
various times between Nov
and Jan. ¥1,000 (one time).
Shinjuku Bunka Center.
Higashi-Shinjuku. Tel:
03-3350-1141. http://meturl.
com/multicultural2014
TCS Improv Workshop
The weekly Tokyo Comedy
Store: In the Moment impov
workshop, all levels welcome.
Beginner intensives on
weekends throughout
the year. See website for
more details. Every Wed,
7-9pm, Our Space Studio.
Hatagaya. Tel: 03-57707401. www.tokyocomedy.com
Film
Don’t miss an issue!
Hula-hoop it up in Yoyogi, no
need to bring your own. Drop
in/out at any time. Every fourth
Sun, Yoyogi Park. Harajuku.
Tel: 03-3469-6081. http://
meturl.com/hoopinginjapan
Learning
For the cost of postage get Metropolis on your
doorstep—and have ransom note material for decades.
http://metropolisjapan.com/subscription
26
Mini-salsa lessons and
awesome performance. Nov
30, 5:30-11pm. ¥2,500 w/1d
(adv)/¥3,000 w/1d (door);
under 18 free. Trescalini
Tokyo. Osaki. Tel: 03-54375550. http://meturl.com/
salsaparty2014
Festivin 2014
Japan’s largest natural wine
festival. Nov 30, 4:30-8pm.
¥7,000 (adv)/ ¥8,000 (door).
Ebis303. Ebisu. Tel: 03-54204371. http://festivin.com
Evening Musings 31:
Remember, Remember!
The Wordsmiths of
November!
Monthly explosion of words
and lyrics in verse and prose.
Nov 30, 7:30-9:30pm. Free.
Jamrock Cafe. Harajuku.
www.facebook.com/
writersbloctokyo
Art Rink
Ice skate while enjoying art.
Until Feb 22, sunset until
10pm, ¥500; skate rentals
¥500. Yokohama Red Brick
Warehouse. Minatomirai.
A film festival known for
presenting cutting-edge,
attention-grabbing films.
The 2014 program includes
Journey to the West, Next to
Her and others. Nov 22 - 30,
4:10pm to 6:20pm. ¥1,3001,800. Yurakucho Asahi Hall.
Yurakucho. Tel: 03-32840131. http://filmex.net/2014
Ballet Gents Christmas
Dinner Show
From Shinjuku Milano
Cinema, With Love
Baccarat Eternal Lights
The Shinjuku Tokyu Milano
Cinema, which opened in
1956, will be closing its
doors on New Year’s Eve,
and will be holding 35mm
screenings of the biggest hits
from its long history including
E.T., The Towering Inferno
and The Matrix. Dec 20-31,
11am-1pm. ¥500. Shinjuku
Milano Cinema. Tel: 03-32021189. http://meturl.com/
milanocinema
Other Events
Enjoy a nice dinner and a
performance by the K Ballet
Company’s top dancers. Dec
15, 6:30pm, ¥25,000-30,000.
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo.
Mejiro or Edogawabashi. Tel:
03-3943-3908. http://meturl.
com/gentschristmas
Ebisu Garden Place Christmas
illuminations. Until Jan 12,
12-11pm. Free. Ebisu Garden
Place. Ebisu. http://meturl.
com/baccarateternal
Department-H
Underground party hosted
by drag queens. Every first
Sat night of every month.
BYOB. Until Dec 5, 12am,
¥3,000(dress code)/¥4,500
(w/flyer)/ ¥5,000 (door). Tokyo
Kinema Club. Uguisudani.
Tel: 03-3874-7988. http://
department-h.com
Shibuhouse Party
Festivin’s Eve Party
Enjoy a night of music, food
and a selection of natural
wines from all over the
world, with performances
by Higurashi Toshiro & Steel
Made Crew, Hamaguchi
Yuji and others. Nov 29,
5:30-8:30pm. ¥4,000 (adv)/
¥4,500 (door). Ebis303.
Ebisu. Tel: 03-54204371. http://meturl.com/
festivinseve2014
Le G.A 3 Year Anniversary
Party
A night packed with the hottest
dancers, DJs and luxurious
prizes. Nov 29, 11pm. Ladies
free/ Gentlemen ¥3,500 +1d.
LE G.A. Roppongi. Tel:
03-6459-2520. www.le-ga.jp
A food court-style annual
event with around 100 food
stands and shops providing
various vegefood related
foods and goods, including
environmentally friendly
products. Nov 29-30,
10am-4:30pm. Free. Yoyogi
Park. Harajuku. Tel:
03-3469-6081. http://meturl.
com/vegefood2014
Bordeaux Wine Seminar
Wine tasting with a Frenchstyle gourmet dinner. Nov 28,
7:30-10:30pm. ¥11,980 (adv).
Family Salsa Party in Osaki
Tokyo Filmex 2014
Tokyo Vegefood Festa
Sunday Spin
Spanish music and delicious
paella. Nov 29-30, 10am-8pm.
Free. Yoyogi Park. Harajuku.
Tel: 03-3469-6081. spainfes.
com/
Fiesta de España
Explore Spanish culture with
flamenco performances,
All-night house party with
the Shibuhouse residents
on the 22nd of every
month, 7pm-7am. ¥1,000
w/ food & drink. Contact
[email protected] for
address/directions. Shibuya.
www.shibuhouse.com.
Japan Idol Festival
With Links, Chu-Z, Ultra Girl and
more. Jan 25, 3pm, ¥4,500.
Shinjuku Blaze. Shinjuku.
Tel: 0570-550-799. www.
kyodotokyo.com/JIF
Nitro Circus Live
A wild, action-fuelled stunt
show using motorcycles,
bicycles, skateboards and
more. Mar 7, 5pm; Mar 8, 2pm,
¥7,000-15,000. Tokyo Dome.
Suidobashi. Tel: 0570-550799. http://nitrocircus.jp
MORE LISTINGS
ONLINE → HTTP://
METURL.COM/
LISTINGS
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.
FRI, DEC 12 ISSUE
Deadline: Dec 4, 3pm
FRI, DEC 26 ISSUE
Deadline: Dec 18, 3pm
1 AT YOUR SERVICE
1.1 HEALTH
I N N E R
BALANCE.
Tr a d i t i o n a l
oriental
treatment of
acupuncture
a
n
d
moxibustion.
Also body
massage
a n d r e f l e xo l o g y. M o b i l e
ser v ice to your home or
of f ice. Email Takahito at
[email protected]
or see http://tmasuda.wix.
com/inner-balance.
COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH
COVE R AG E FOR E XPATS,
D I PLO M AT S , TE AC H E R S .
Inpatient and outpatient
care, emergencies, surgery,
meds, checkups, dental, lab
tests, MRI and more. Thirtyday money-back guarantee.
Quick, easy application;
convenient payment
options. Enroll today!
info@e ar thhe althcare.jp
w w w.ear thhealthcare.jp
078-351-7300
SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY
(physical therapy)
care
in
Hiroo.
Native English -speaking
therapists specializing
in sports injuries,
p o s t - o p e r a t i v e
rehabilitation, back/neck
pain, running related,
headaches, orthotics,
ergonomic consultations
and women’s health.
w w w.tokyophysio.com
03-3443-6769
STRESS REDUCTION. Stressed?
Seeking relief? Develop coping
skills in the eight-week Stress
Reduction and Wellness
Program. Begins Jan 18, ‘15.
Learn mindfulness meditation,
deep breathing and more. Free
orientation sessions Dec 14 and
Jan 11. tokyostressreduction@
gmail.com tokyostressreduction.
org 080-3662-7844
T H I N K I N G A B O U T
ADVERTISING WITH
METROPOLIS? Platinum
¥32,400. Gold ¥27,000. Silver
¥21,600. Prices include one
photo. Bronze ¥2000 (photo
+ ¥ 20 0 0). P r i ce s a r e f o r 4 0
wo r d s , o n e p rin t i s s u e, t wo
weeks online. For details,
v i s i t t h e To k y o C l a s s i f i e d s
blog—http://metropolis.co.jp/
classifiedblog—or email us at
commercial@metropolisjapan.
com.
1.2 HAIR & BEAUTY
CU R LY H A I R S PE C I A LI S T
IN TOK YO. Englishsp e aking K iyoko, highly
experienced in NY’s
cu rly h a i r s a lo n s , t a ke s
care of curly hair at her
salon, Nepenji, in Ebisu.
R e s e r v a t i o n s : 0 3 -3 7 93 2357 or [email protected]
http://english.nepenji.net/
index_en.html
MEN’S BARBERSHOP IN
ROPPONGI WELCOMES
FOREIGNERS. Englishspeaking assistant will get
your haircu t right . H aircu t s
¥ 4 8 0 0. W i t h s h a v e ¥ 5 8 0 0.
Kids’ haircuts ¥4000¥ 4 4 0 0. F i r s t- t i m e d i s co u n t
¥ 1 0 0 0 . h t t p : //o a z o . b i z / t o p
0 3 - 5 5 4 5 - 7 7 9 7 o a z o7 7 9 7 @
yahoo.co.jp
1.7 BUSINESS SERVICES
LAW OFFICE IN KAWASAKI
(nex t to Tokyo), member
o f t h e Yo k o h a m a B a r
Association. Legal
service in English for
traffic accidents, divorce,
inheritance, bankruptcy,
business cases (contracts,
establishing a company,
trademarks, etc.) and other
legal problems.Email:
web@smk w.biz w w w.
sumikawa.net/
VISA COUNSELING:
female immigration lawyer
handles your visa case.
Permanent residency,
naturalization, eligibility
(inviting your spouse/
children/workers from
your country), extension/
change of visa status.
Consultation ¥5000. OFFICE
LIFE (Miho Fujibayashi).
Te l : 0 9 0 - 8 3 3 0 - 0 6 70
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://officelife.
jp/en/
I M M I G R AT I O N L A W Y E R AT
N I P PA S H I O F F I C E s u p p o r t s
visa and naturalization
applications, company
establishment and branch
off ice installation, including
commercial regis tration, as
well as inheritance procedures
in Jap an. Fre e co n sul t at io n
available in English, Español
and Japanese. Tel: 03-6264 8446 [email protected] http://
nippashi.com
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. Specialists
in branding, web design, photo/
video production. Drawing A Crowd:
a new approach in design. Get in
touch. [email protected]
2.2 RENT UNDER ¥200,000
Tokyo or Saitama accommodation
sought. Very responsible, clean, quiet
Canadian male, 46, university lecturer,
seeking accommodation in the Tokyo or
Saitama area. Under ¥100,000 preferred.
[email protected]
ICHIGAYA, IN CENTRAL TOKYO.
Furnished, 25sqm, w/south and
north balconies, cherry blossom
trees in Jap anese garden,
sunny and quiet, 5-7min from
Akebonobashi and UshigomeYanagicho subway stn, very
convenient to Yotsuya/Shinjuku
by bicycle ¥100,000-. Tel/fax:
03-3341-7875 [email protected]
w w w.itto -jinnai.com/green/
greencorp.html
PRIVATE FURNISHED
A P A R T M E N T S .
Odakyu line: MukogaokaYu e n / Yo m i u r i - L a n d - M a e ,
20/30min from Shinjuku.
Keikyu line: Hatcho-Nawate,
15min from Shinagawa.
1K~2LDK ¥58,000/
m~¥120,000/m. Tel: 044-9337000 Email:mh@minowagroup.
jp w w w.minowagroup.jp/
minowahomes
1.8 GENERAL SERVICES
FURNITURE RENTAL. Create
customized furnished
apartments with our
furniture rental ser vice.
Furniture packages
arranged by our qualified
interior designers to
accommodate various
sizes and styles. We also
of fer ap ar tment leasing
consultation. Please call
0120-957-520. www.smartrental-tokyo.com
S E RV I C E D A PA R TM E NT S
in a quiet residential area
of Hiroo. Studios and
suites. 4 min from Hiroo
stn. Rates: Daily ¥ 7800.
Weekly ¥6850 -/day.
Monthly ¥5700-/day. Over
three months ¥5130-/day.
Ta x , u t i l i t i e s i n c l u d e d .
frontdesk@azabucourt.
com w w w.azabucour t .
com/ 03-3446 -8610
2 FIND A PLACE
2.1 GUESTHOUSE
CREA-UN UENO. Furnished
private rooms, w/digital locks,
near Asakusa, Ueno, Skytree.
S a f e a r e a , f e m a l e - o n l y,
rooftop garden w/nice view,
BBQ space, free bicycle. From
¥56,000/m. Utilities included.
No key money/guarantor.
[email protected]
http://www.sakura-ko-bo.com
03-6912-0692
2.3 RENT OVER ¥200,000
0
TOKYO APARTMENTS. Your
one-stop housing solution
throughout Tokyo. Providing
s e r v ice d , fu rni s h e d a n d
unfurnished apartments,
for both long- and shortterm stays. Also providing
relocation services,
furniture rental, property
m anagement and sales.
Please call 0120-957-520.
www.tokyoapartments.jp
2.4 HOUSE SHARE
KANAMACHI GUEST HOUSE.
Brand-new furnished share
rooms, separate male and
female floors, all rooms
w/d i g i t a l l o c k s , a i r co n ,
fridge, 1min walk from
Kanamachi stn, Chiyoda
line ¥40,000/m. room@
airay-apartment.net
03-5876-4575 www.airayapartment.net/
area of Chiba on Jan 1, and I am
seeking an apartment. Thanks. japan@
roughsmoke.com
HOUSEMATE FOR NISHI-AZABU/
ROPPONGI. Seeking a new male
housemate for my sunny flat in
Nishi-Azabu, 2min from Roppongi
Hills, two floors, balcony, fully
f u r n i s h e d , av a i l a b l e D e c /J a n
¥90,000/m. Utilities extra. na_ka_
[email protected]
2.5 PLACE WANTED
Apartment required in Chiba. Hello, I
am starting a new job in the Kobukecho
3 EDUCATION
3.5 LANGUAGE EXCHANGE
a line! [email protected]
English and Japanese. Hello, I’m
seeking a new friend around my age
to improve my English. I’m 27, female,
new to the Kanto area, easygoing, love
traveling around the world and taking
photos. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Japanese
male, 34, seeking a language exchange
partner who can teach me E in the
Shinjuku area. I’m gay, so I hope you
will understand this. blackpeter_2004@
yahoo.co.jp
Danish, German, Japanese. Hej and ‘N
Tag! JF, 30s, seeks Danes and Germans
to help her with languages in Tokyo/
Kanagawa through fun conversations
over cups of coffee or just hanging out.
Please be nonsmokers, late 20s-30s.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. JF, 40s,
seriously seeks language exchange
partner or English conversation partner
to brush up her E. Can anyone help me?
Of course, I would be happy to help
your Japanese if you like. Serious only,
please. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Hi there, I’m
seeking language exchange partners
around central Tokyo on weekends. I can
speak reasonable English, but recently,
I have little opportunity to speak it. I’m
a Japanese female, 40s. Serious only—
but should be fun! hydrangea2008@
gmail.com
English and Japanese. I’m a Japanese
guy, 40, E/J language exchange expert
with eight years’ experience. I live in
central Tokyo. I need a native English
speaker’s help to make my English
more natural. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Canadian
guy, 31, seeks a Japanese person
who can teach me a little casual J and
help me write a J blog. I’m into sports,
traveling, drinking. M/F ok. Azabu area.
Tell me about yourself. togoshiblue@
yahoo.com
English and Japanese. Hi, I’m
Shogo, male, 22, living in Shibuya. My
character is mild. I want to practice
speaking E and become friends with
someone who wants to learn J. Shall
we teach each other? Take it easy.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. Japanese seeks
native English speakers around the Soka
area. Not sure how to do a language
exchange. Let’s talk over coffee at a
coffee shop. Prefer female. Friendship
and chat. language_exchange3@
hotmail.com
English and Japanese. I love joking
in E and playing with words. I want to
be able to do the same in J. So far, my
Japanese is as funny as day-old ramen.
You must be open-minded! uk84@
outlook.com
English and Japanese. Japanese
female, early 20s, seeking a language
exchange. Nihonbashi area after work
preferred, but open to weekends, too.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. JF, 40, seeking
a language exchange partner or English
conversation partner to improve my
English for work. I would like to help
your Japanese (casual or formal). We
can meet up around Narita. Serious only.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. Japanese
female, 40s, seeks an English exchange
partner. Weekdays during the day near
Kawasaki stn. tome.haruka-soushi@
ezweb.ne.jp
English and Japanese. Japanese male
seeking language exchange friends who
can meet at a cafe around Shinjuku.
Native English speaker with teaching
experience preferred. I have good skill
and certification for teaching Japanese
to speakers of other languages. inoue.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. Native English
speaker is sought by Japanse male
in Kokubunji. Weekday evenings or
anytime on weekends. I would like to
talk with you at a cafe or via Skype.
Serious but fun. [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]
French and Japanese. Fr and J daily
exchange in Otemachi. winds_fr@
hotmail.com
French, English, Japanese.
Frenchman seeking a language
exchange partner to improve his
Japanese. I can teach you Fr or E in
return. Beginners/advanced welcome.
Let’s enjoy sharing our cultures and
interests. [email protected]
French, English, Japanese. Hello!
I’m a native Russian speaker, 23,
working as an E/Fr teacher, seeking a
Japanese speaker to help me improve
my Japanese. I’m a beginner. Not
far from Ichikawa-shi, Chiba. julia_
[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
Italian and Japanese. Would like to
learn basic It from a native speaker
who wants to practice J. Possibly near
Shibuya on weekday evenings after 7pm.
[email protected]
Italian and Japanese. Seeking a casual
friend to study J. I can teach you It. I’m 43,
in Shibuya, can teach you at your place
early mornings until 10:30am. Let’s meet
to get to know each other. maxtokyo@
rocketmail.com 090-6486-9050
Italian and Japanese. JM, 40s,
interested in Italian cars, art, culture and
food, is seeking a language exchange
mate in Tokyo. I work on weekdays, so
weekends/holidays are convenient for
me. [email protected]
Korean and Japanese. Japanese male,
41, seeks a native Korean speaker for
Kor/J exchange. I like music, reading,
cooking. I hope we can learn from each
other and have some fun. astralsky@
excite.co.jp
Mandarin and English. Chinese female,
well-educated, friendly, seeking a
native English speaker available to
meet after 7pm on weekdays around
Shinjuku stn. Serious study only.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. JF seeking a
language exchange partner and longlasting friendship. I can teach you J
in return. Around Yokohama is better
on weekdays, but I can go to Tokyo on
weekends. [email protected]
Russian, English, Japanese. Hello,
I’m a native Russian speaker. I arrived
in Tokyo to study Japanese at a
language school, but I want to improve
my Japanese more. If you’re learning
Russian, I can help you, too. segasf@
rambler.ru
English and Japanese. JF, 30s, seeking
an English conversation partner to
improve my English. We could meet
at cafes around Ginza. I like to travel
abroad. [email protected]
Spanish and Japanese. Native Spanish
speaker (Latin American preferred)
sought for language exchange. Meet in
Tokyo area once/week. Serious learners
only, please. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Hey, I’m a
JF keen to expand my English vocab
while helping you with J. We can use
movies, music, TV skits, etc., to refine
our language skills. Feel free to drop me
S p a n i s h , E n g l i s h , J a p a n e s e.
Hi, American male, 31, seeking
practice with spoken J. E is my native
language, and I also speak Sp fluently.
[email protected]
27
3.6 LEARNING: GENERAL
wood, attractive ¥4500/obo. tripeler@
yahoo.com
Sofabed, deep blue (L178xW90xH30cm)
¥4500/obo. [email protected]
4.2 APPLIANCES
IKEBANA (JAPANESE
TRADITIONAL FLORAL
ARRANGEMENT) is a powerful
means of self-expression. Trial
lesson, including all materials
¥4000. No Japanese necessary.
Certification, diploma can
be earned. Three classroom
locations in Tok yo. Website:
www.atelier-soka.com/english/
index.html Email: [email protected]
3.9 TEACH ME!
Appliance sale! Washer, 4.6kg; Elabitax
fridge, 85L; dryer, 5kg; microwave oven;
ceiling lamp; stove, city gas. Can help
with delivery. frodo.baggins.tokyo@
gmail.com
Fan, tower ¥500. Pick up Hiroo stn.
[email protected]
Fridge/freezer, Sanyo SR-B18J, 175L
(fridge 123L, on top; freezer 52L, in three
drawers), silver, ‘05, good for one-two
people, in excellent condition ¥10,000.
View Shinjuku. Can arrange delivery
for extra cost. metropolisclassified@
jungletelegraph.net
Laminator, w/pouch film ¥4500.
[email protected]
4.3 SAYONARA SALE
Chat in Japanese with coffee. I'm a
scientific researcher seeking people to
practice Japanese in Machida or SagamiOno. Can pay ¥1000-¥1500/h + coffee. In
return, I can also teach you English for
free. [email protected]
Sayonara sale! Ski set, violin 1/2 and
1/4, baby seat. Pick up Hirano area,
Koto-ku. Photos available. zhaoan@
yahoo.com http://www.flickr.com/
photos/30249643@N07/
Expert Python/C++ programmer
(local). Can pay ¥1000/h, plus coffee.
Must be fluent in English or Japanese.
Master’s or PhD student (engineering)
is ideal. Must be able to meet in Tokyo.
[email protected]
Sayonara sale! Sharp Juicepresso; bread
maker; rice cooker; washer/dryer; 55” TV;
oven; Nespresso machine, w/cappuccino
maker; toaster; kettle; steam mop;
vacuum; Apple TV. anaherrerahernandez@
gmail.com 09088571974
Help me, please. British man, my
Japanese is awful. I can’t speak and
it’s making me unhappy. I want a
strict Japanese teacher. I don’t want
a language exchange. Two hours/
week. Can pay about ¥1000/h.
[email protected]
Sayonara sale! Sharp Aquos TV 32”,
Sanyo rice cooker, humidifier, Ikea
lamp and boxes, heater, curtains, etc.
[email protected]
Hjaelpe mig med dansk! Leder efter
dansker i Tokyo eller Kanagawa. Jeg
taler lidt dansk og vil gerne laere mere!
Jeg kan hjaelpe dig med japansk. JF, 30s,
ikke-ryger. [email protected]
Khmer teacher wanted. Seeking
native Cambodian speaker to teach me
conversational Khmer once/week. I can
pay ¥2500/h or ¥3000/90min. tnbms16@
yahoo.com
Native English speaker wanted who
can play with my 4-year-old son in
English. He understands English a little
bit. I’d like him to study in a natural
setting. Female university students
preferred. I’ll prepare rewards.
[email protected] 080-5071-5723
Reasonable English lessons. Japanese
male, 30, seeks native English teacher
who could teach me on weekends
along the Odakyu line. Please introduce
yourself. [email protected]
Teach me martial arts or yoga. I’m a
Japanese man in Tokyo. Please teach
me for free. Hope to hear from you soon.
[email protected]
Wine teacher in Tokyo. Teach me about
French wine in Tokyo on weekends. Prefer
a native teacher with teaching experience
and a wine qualification. Will pay for your
time. [email protected]
4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS
4.1 FURNITURE & FITTINGS
Bed, air, full-sized double (approximately
H60cm), built-in air pump, w/remote,
inflates in 3min ¥4500/obo. tripeler@
yahoo.com 080-6581-4724
Cork flooring, two carpets available
(260x350cm/six-tatami), one y/o, in
great condition, minor marking ¥5000.
Pick up only Meguro-ku. markintray@
hotmail.com
Furniture sale! Single wooden bed frame
and mattress, wooden dining table.
[email protected]
Furniture sale! Ikea table
(L119xW73xH74), four chairs, one bench
¥15,000. [email protected]
Sayonara sale! Kids’ bunk beds, w/
detachable ladder ¥10,000. Front-loading
washer/dryer ¥35,000. Kitchen cupboard,
dining set, TV and Blu-ray DVD and speaker
stand set ¥40,000. Miscellaneous items.
Pick up TX line before Dec 15. dechlan@
hotmail.com
Sayonara sale! Large and small plants,
tables, sofas, chairs, beds, small fridge,
wine fridge, etc. Central Roppongi.
[email protected] 090-6013-1396
Sayonara sale! Wooden bed frame,
double ¥35,000. Dark brown sofa
¥20,000. Sharp 32” TV ¥10,000. Coffee
table ¥1000. Ceiling light fixture ¥1000.
Metal floor lamp ¥1000. Three-level metal
bin ¥4000. [email protected]
Sayonara sale! Ski wear set, Christmas
tree decorations, futon mattress and
sheets, plant pots, digital photo frame,
waterproof boots and suit, cordless
phone, Japanese study books, PlayStation
Portable and games. Details available.
[email protected]
Sayonara sale! Washer/dryer. New
¥200,000. Sell ¥120,000. Fridge, 345L
¥16,000. Desk, drawer and chair ¥19,000.
Stove ¥18,000. Rinnai ¥35,000. Power
Mac G5 ¥65,000. And more. oxbow@i.
softbank.jp
4.5 AUDIO & MP3
Music system, Bose Wave Version I,
w/iPad/iPhone (up to 4s) dock, remote
¥25,000. Cash only (no electronic
transfers). No shipping. i.mobile.
[email protected]
4.6 FOR KIDS
Car seat, Stokke iZi Go X1 by BeSafe,
w/ISOFIX, bought ‘12. New ¥60,000.
Sell ¥25,000. Details available. svend.
[email protected]
Crib. Mamas & Papas, turns into a toddler
bed, w/changing table and under-cot
storage, adjustable to three different
heights, sturdy, high quality, no mattress
¥20,000. [email protected]
090-2419-9289
Karate gi, used, for ages 3-12 ¥600¥2000. [email protected]
Garden furniture. Wooden table for six,
w/two chairs and one hammock, same
material, four additional brown garden
chairs ¥18,000. anaherrerahernandez@
gmail.com 09088571974
Various items. Kids’ toys, bike, guitar,
piano, tent, mattress, flannel and
normal bed sheets, winter coats and
clothing from Italy and Spain, books,
shoe rack and coat holder. By Dec 9.
[email protected]
09088571974
Hutch, w/shelves, drawers, glass-door
cabinet (W170xD45xH73cm), light tan
Windbreaker, Puma, size 130cm, black,
in good condition ¥1000. Pick up or
28
chakubarai. Photo available. housetsu@
gmail.com
4.7 FOR FREE
Analog TV 14", w/remote. Pick up Tokyo
area. Photo available. acapulco58@
hotmail.com
leather seats, Exon lights, aluminum
wheel, 120,000km, shaken until May
‘16, all taxes paid ¥695,000. Firm.
No dealers or auction sites. alinjap@
yahoo.com
6.3 BICYCLES, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES
Case, plastic (L73xW40xH20cm), for
wardrobe, books, etc., in good condition
(one plastic fastener missing). Pick up
Gotokuji or Kyodo, Odakyu line. e-ri-no@
excite.co.jp
Bikes. Two adults’ bikes and one
child’s bike, w/child seat s and
h e l m e t ¥ 3 0 0 0. A r o u n d M e j i r o.
[email protected]
09088571974
Clothes, for baby: white jacket, size
50-80cm ¥300. Pink jacket ¥500. Baby
clothes. Pick up or chakubarai. Photos
available. [email protected]
Mountain bike, GT Timberline LTD,
aluminum frame, 24-speed, Shimano,
new tires, upgraded seats, w/lock and
pump ¥20,000. [email protected]
5 HOBBIES&INTERESTS
5.1 CAMERAS
Bag, Crumpler Karachi Outpost, previous
model, size M, some scuffs but otherwise
in excellent condition ¥5000. Firm. Cash
only. Pick up Shibuya, Shinjuku or Harajuku
areas. [email protected]
DSLR and lens. Nikon D7000, in excellent
condition, w/battery, charger, cap
¥40,000. Lens, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 D,
in excellent condition, w/protector and
polarizing filter ¥10,000. pradeepks@
gmail.com 09099727392
Lens, Canon zoom EF-S 18-55 1:3.55.6 IS, in excellent condition ¥8000.
[email protected]
5.2 SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Skates, roller, size 8, hardly used ¥2000.
Pick up Hiroo. [email protected]
Ski wear set: pants, coat, goggles,
suitable for around 170-180cm ¥5000.
[email protected]
Treadmill, Ignio, bought from Rakuten,
speed setting 1-16km/h. salenohanashi@
gmail.com
5.3 MUSICAL EQUIPMENT
7 GENERAL
Mobile phone, SoftBank, prepaid
¥4500. [email protected]
7.3 MISCELLANEOUS
File folders, size B1, three available
¥750/all. Pick up or chakubarai. Photo
available. [email protected]
7.4 ITEMS WANTED
Bicycle sought for a reasonable price.
自 転 車 を 安く売ってくだ さる方
を探しています。 umek2002jp@
yahoo.co.jp
8 COMPUTERS
8.2 HARDWARE
Sound module. Roland MKS-50 analog
synthesizer sound module, in very good
condition ¥29,000. Pick up Senzoku
stn, Tokyu Meguro line. deshayes.g@
gmail.com
M o n i t o r, w i d e s c r e e n ¥ 3 0 0 0.
[email protected]
Japanese learning materials, Ultimate
Japanese Course, w/eight CDs, 528
pages of text ¥2000. Pick up Hiroo stn.
[email protected]
10 HELP!
10.1 HELP ME
Female models wanted for art project.
Seeking open-minded female models for
photo project in Tokyo. No experience
needed. Any race/age/proportion
welcome. Honorarium, free headshots
or prints in return. Great opportunity
to be part of an art exhibition.
[email protected]
Japanese study books, nine available,
basic, 2-kyu and 1-kyu preparation, 1000
kanji cards, etc. ¥3000/all. yannu@
hotmail.com
PlayStation Portable, w/five games
(French) ¥2500. [email protected]
Wii console, hardly used, w/game set
(Super Mario Bros, Mario Party 8, Super
Mario Galaxy 2), in excellent condition,
original packaging ¥20,000. masui41@
live.com
5.6 COLLECTORS
Beer glasses, from various Japanese
microbreweries, new, collection of 12
¥5000/all. ¥500/each. Krombacher Pils
glass boot, 1.5L ¥2500/obo. tripeler@
yahoo.com
6 VEHICLES
6.1 CARS, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES
Benz C180 Wagon Kompressor,
Avantgarde limited edition, black, ETC,
WEST PAPUA: ONE SOUL, ONE
PEOPLE . Fif t y- one 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/ markhelp2@
gmail.com
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
TOKYO. If you have a problem
with drinking, we can help.
English-speaking meetings daily.
03-3971-1471 [email protected]
http://aatokyo.org
H I V Pe e r Su p p o r t g ro u p a n d
workshops. Get together with people in
the same boat as you, who understand.
Held in a safe, considerate, 100%
confidential setting to discuss what’s
on your mind, ask questions and make
new friends. info@peersupporttokyo.
com www.peersupporttokyo.com
Infertility support group. T TC
Tokyo is an infertility support group
that provides informal opportunities
for women and men experiencing
infertility to connect with one another.
Please visit website for more info.
[email protected] www.ttctokyo.
org
11 MESSAGES
11.1 PERSONAL MESSAGES
5.5 GAMING
PlayStation 3, Japanese version,
60GB, games use Blu-ray discs as media
format, powerful cell processor, dynamic
RSX graphics chip, backward compatible
to original Sony PlayStation ¥25,000.
Photo available. [email protected]
090-6013-1396
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
[email protected]. www.jhelp.com/
Christmas tree, multi-colored, fiber
optic (120x55cm), in excellent condition,
w/AC adapter, extra lamp, ornaments,
decorative lamp chains (two 32-bulb,
one 100-bulb chain boxes) ¥9000.
[email protected]
Laptop, Latitude E6400, 250GB HD,
8GB RAM, Win 7 Pro, w/Japanese backlit
keyboard, DVD-R/W ¥20,000. nrad_bob@
hotmail.com
Electronic dictionary, Sharp PW-A8200,
Japanese, in good condition ¥4000. Pick
up Hiroo. [email protected]
NEED TO TALK? We’re here to listen.
TELL LIFELINE: free, anonymous
English counseling daily from
9am-11pm by trained volunteers:
03-5774-0992. TELL COUNSELING:
affordable multilingual psychotherapy
by accredited Western-trained
professionals, a CIGNA International
Provider: 03 - 4550 -1146. TE LL
website: www.telljp.com. Follow us on
Facebook and Twitter @TokyoLifeLine.
7.1 PHONES
iPhone 5 64GB, SoftBank, black, in very
good condition, battery replaced at Apple
Store. [email protected]
Sound module, Korg TR-Rack, in good
condition ¥20,000. Pick up Senzoku
stn, Tokyu Meguro line. deshayes.g@
gmail.com
5.4 BOOKS/CD/DVD
10.2 SUPPORT
Kei jidosha expert sought.
Buying a kei minivan to use as
camper. Any kei fans/experts
who can advise me which is
the roomiest model for a tall
person to comfortably sleep
in? [email protected]
WRITE A MESSAGE for
your special someone!
Write any thing, from bir thday
messages to proposals. http://
classifieds.metropolis.co.jp.
12 SOCIAL SCENE
12.1 LET’S PARTY
To advertise in Metropolis, Japan’s
No.1 English magazine, log on at www.
metropolis.co.jp/classifieds or email
your commercial ads to commercial@
metropolisjapan.com.
SUBSCRIBE TO METROPOLIS
AND NEVER MISS AN ISSUE.
One year (24 issues) ¥3600
(corporate subscribers, 7-100
copies ok ¥22,560). Half year
(12 issues) ¥1800 (corporate
subscribers, 7-100 copies ok
¥12,000). Bank transfer or
credit card (Visa, Mastercard,
D in e r s Club). D e t ail s at
http://metropolisjapan.com/
subscription.
INTERNATIONAL PART Y
AT L E A F C U P. C o m e j o i n u s
a n d h a v e f u n . M e n: ¥ 3 0 0 0.
F o re i g n e r s / wo m e n: ¥ 20 0 0.
A l l - y o u - c a n - d r i n k- a n d - e a t .
Iidabashi and Yokohama: Dec 6
and 20. Shibuya: Dec 13 and 27.
www.leafparty.com
13 CLUBS & INTERESTS
13.1 SPORTS
AMERICAN FOOTBALL.
N ihon Unis ys Bulls , X league
Central Division, seeks fit players w/
US college football experience for
all positions. Practice every Sat/Sun
from 10am-3pm (including meeting)
in Tokyo/Saitama (time & venue
subject to change). Attendance
at practice must be over 60%.
Please contact for tryout info and
send your profile to team admin.
[email protected] http://
www.unisys.co.jp/football/
A L L - N AT I O N A L I T Y TO U C H
F O OT B A L L . N o n - c o n t a c t t a g
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 ht tp: //ameblo.jp/
tokyo13warriors
A M AT E U R R U G B Y L E A G U E
PLAYERS. Japan ANZACS Rugby
League team is seeking Rugby
League p layer s for Japanese
Rugby League of f icial games
from Apr to Sep. Everyone
welcome. Contact for more details.
[email protected]
Professional oil massage wanted.
Seeking a professional or student
masseur. Can pay ¥7000/90min or
exchange English or Italian. Serious only.
No shiatsu—only aroma oil massage.
Thanks. [email protected]
Sponsorship. Ten years’ experience
in cafe/bar work, including working at
international hotels. I’d like to open
a cafe/bar, but need sponsorship.
Individuals and companies are welcome.
Please, if interested, let us come to an
agreement. samueladonkor@gmail.
com 090-6152-6274
J O I N TH E B I G G E S T,
B E S T, M O S T P O P U L A R
I N T E R N AT I O N A L PA R T Y !
Great people, drinks and
food! Meet new friends
and party with nice people
in a friendly atmosphere.
E ve n t s i n To k yo (G i nz a ,
Azabu, Roppongi) and
Osaka. ¥1500- ¥2000.
http://english.gaitomo.com/
[email protected]
J A PA N I N T E R N AT I O N A L
CHRISTMAS PARTY. Sat, Dec
20, 6:30 -9pm, Bar Quest
(Roppongi). Japan’s biggest
international par t y. 250
people expected. All-youcan-drink and free snacks.
Japanese men: ¥ 4000.
Others: ¥3000. Mobile: http://
getyourfriend.com/mobile/
[email protected] http://
w w w.get your frien d.com /
090-1735-5405
FUN WITH TOUCH RUGBY! Join
us for social or competitive touch
rugby every Sat at 2:30pm by Ariake
stn, Yurikamome line. Any age, sex,
level ok. Please email for details.
[email protected] http://www.
funwithtouch.com/where-we-play/
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 . U n i q u e n e w
sp or t from S cot land . Using a
tambourine-like instrument as a
racquet, players hit a shuttlecock.
We play two or three times/month
on weekends in Meguro with many
socials. Join us! More details: www.
tamjapan.org/en/ info@tamjapan.
org
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 available.
[email protected]
Futsal team. Intermediate futsal team
in Tokyo seeking people who can enjoy
the game with others. Please introduce
yourself (age, nationality, where you
live, whether you belong to another
team). [email protected]
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]
Tokyo Snow Club. A ski/snowboard club
for anyone living in, or visiting Tokyo. We
go on big group trips every weekend in
the winter. Powder, live music events,
and parties in snow. Membership is free!
[email protected] http://www.
tokyosnowclub.com 050-5806-5616
13.3 ARTS
Love Shakespeare? Amateur 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/
13.4 MUSIC
Bassist wanted. Danish female singer
seeking serious bassist. Rehearsals in
Ikebukuro, minimum three times/month.
We do covers and originals. Live gigs,
serious debut plans. Pop/rock. 日本語
大丈夫. [email protected] www.
soundcloud.com/liuwina 080-4374-2109
Blues rock band seeks bassist and
drummer. I've been playing in pubs/bars
in Tokyo. Seeking a bassist and drummer
who can play gigs once/twice a month. I
am an English-speaking Japanese. Let's
have fun after work. [email protected]
New players sought, especially goal
keeper and strikers, for regular futsal,
11-a-side, socials. Any nationality
ok. [email protected] www.
kantoceltsfc.com
Drummer wanted to complete a fourpiece band in Tokyo. Original material; a
compound of folk, Joy Division, Neil Young,
Dostoyevsky. We’re all in our late 40s, but
there’s plenty of life in us. No Keith Moons.
[email protected] 08056594286
Quality football. Interested in playing
football at the weekend and training
midweek? Want to enjoy a few beers
after a good run out? If you consider
yourself a quality player, please drop
us a note. [email protected]
Japanese drummer seeking musicians.
Guitar and bass player sought for rock,
dance, pop, blues, jazz, etc. Melody is
important. Hopefully, we can have gigs
so everybody can dance! kosuke1016@
hotmail.com
Samurai and ninjutsu martial arts.
Seeking people interested in training
in old-style Japanese fighting arts.
Effective and intelligent, but safe
training approach. rootarty@gmail.
com
Table tennis in Minato-ku. Hi,
our international team is seeking
experienced players. You need to
be living or working in Minato-ku
and commit to play ten times/year
on Sundays (all day). No beginners,
please. [email protected]
Women’s football club. Five-aside, 11-a-side, on grass fields. Two
or three practices/matches on Sun.
All nationalities, experience levels,
beginner s welcome. Happy and
friendly club! We have many socials.
[email protected]
13.2 LEISURE
SKIING AND
BOARDING
IN HAKUBA.
Snow package:
Dec 19-Mar
31; departs
Ikebukuro
Fridays at
7:30pm (11:30pm arrival);
t wo night s, one dinner, t wo
breakfasts, round-trip private
bus, two-day ski pass, live music
party ¥26,900. 0261-75-5155
[email protected] http://
hakuba-hotel-accommodation.
com
MACARTHUR HEIGHTS.
Take a break where General Douglas
MacArthur did! One hour from Tokyo
by car or direct train. Beautiful cabins
on the ocean, w/onsen, beach,
shopping. housinginjapan@yahoo.
com
Japanese home cooking. Japanese
housewife offers washoku home
cooking at her house near Kawasaki
stn on weekdays during the day. The
lessons are free; you just pay the cost
of ingredients. tome.haruka-soushi@
ezweb.ne.jp
Tokyo ET contact group. Join us
beneath the stars as we endeavor
to make contact with ET visitors
and their craft. nakanosky@
g m a il .co m h t t p: // w w w.m e e t u p.
com / Tokyo - E T- Contac t- Group /
events/193113322/
13.5 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT
KAROL SLECZEK: “INTRODUCTION
TO TI B ETA N BU DDH I S M A N D
MEDITATION.” Karol Sleczek started
prac ticing Buddhism 35 years
ago. He is highly respected for the
depth of his wisdom and incisive
teachings. Sat, Nov 29, 5:30-9pm,
Yoyo gi H achiman C ommunit y
Hall. [email protected] www.
d iam o n d w ay. jp/ in d ex- e n . h t m l
080-4389-8818
Reiki events. This group is for people
who are interested in Reiki and
spirituality. For more details about
our upcoming events, please visit our
webpage. [email protected] http://
www.reikibyyuko.com/reiki-events.htm
Tai chi in Yoyogi Park. Yoyogi Park is
open again. Come learn and practice
Guang Ping Yang Taiji Chuan with likeminded people. Early morning practice
is best. [email protected] www.gpytcjapan.
com 03-3487-3011
Zen meditation (Zazen). 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
色ー度カフェ. ボランティアヒー
リング。任 意 の 助 け の た め の 私
に連絡してください。 winds_fr@
hotmail.com
13.6 RELIGIOUS
Seeking a Baptist church without
judgmental people, many English
speakers, and where everyone is in
normal clothes? Contact me and let’s
meet at Higashi-Shinjuku stn, exit A2, Sun
at 10:30am. [email protected]
13.9 INTERNATIONAL
Intercultural activities. JII (Japan
Intercultural Institute) is a non-profit,
member-run organization that sponsors
activities (seminars, cultural events,
conferences) for those wanting to further
develop intercultural competencies
and meet other interculturalists. yuko.
[email protected] www.
japanintercultural.org
Nihongo 倶楽部いんたぁなしょなる.
Nihongo Club International is a volunteer
group to help foreign people learn
Japanese at the Tokyo Volunteer Action
Center in Iidabashi. Every Thu, 7-9pm.
[email protected]
Build a
Smarter Body
14 PERSONALS
14.1 FRIENDS
Build a flexible and healthy physique
and enjoy eating, work, hobbies
and sports more than ever before.
Aerial partner. Anyone want to study
aerial silks or ring together as training
partners? We can exchange conditioning
techniques, work out together. Dance,
yoga, gymnastics, or ballet background
would be great to help me increase my
flexibility. [email protected]
PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO
American gentleman seeking friends.
I can speak Japanese, enjoy various
activities and dining out. I'm openedminded, 5'9", 175lbs, have dark blond
hair, blue eyes. [email protected]
4F Laguetto Aoyama, 3-14-2
Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Anyone from Denmark? JF, 30s, lived
in Denmark before, wants to learn more
of the language and culture. Is there
anybody who can meet somewhere
in Tokyo? Nonsmoker, late 20s-30s
preferred. Glaeder mig til at hoere fra dig
snart! [email protected]
03-6440-0505
bodydirector.com
WRITE FOR US!
Coffee in Machida. Would anyone from
Western countries (especially northern
Europe) like to have a cup or two of coffee
together with an English-speaking JF,
30s, in/around the Machida area? Please
be nonsmokers, late 20s-30s. b2jw13@
hotmail.co.jp
Diving buddy. JF, around 40, is seeking a
scuba diving buddy. I've been into it since
I saw a big turtle at the Great Barrier Reef.
Just registered for my OWD license (very
beginner). Let's explore Izu, Fiji, Guam
together! [email protected]
Expand my horizons. JF hopes to
meet English speakers (including nonnative) who can share nice friendships.
I’d like to expand my horizons through
new points of view from foreign people.
Shall we have some tea? Nonsmokers,
under 35 preferred. polkadots.1466@
gmail.com
✓ Feature stories ✓ “The Last Word”
✓ Food & Drink
✓ Tech
✓ Interviews & Community Profiles
Prior experience and strong industry contacts a must.
To apply, send letter of introduction, CV and relevant clips to
[email protected]
In Tokyo. JF, 34, seeks English speakers
who like to see streets and architecture
in Tokyo. If you're interested in friendship
with me, please contact me. Non-native
speakers also ok. Nonsmokers, punctual
people preferred. shipyard212@yahoo.
co.jp
Due to the high volume of correspondence we regret that
we can’t respond to every query. No calls please.
J-STAR PATENT, TRADEMARK & IMMIGRATION OFFICE
Let's be friends. Hello! I'm seeking
friends in Tokyo. I'm Asian, but anyone
is welcome. I'm 22, like to hang out
with different kinds of people. Just
message me—I'm always available!
[email protected]
Reasonable prices.
Free first time consultation
We can support you with:
Visa and immigration
Seeking friends in central Tokyo.
JF, early 30s, seeks friends to hang
out with in central Tokyo. atkm92@
yahoo.co.jp
Seeking illustrator friends. Tokyobased children's story writer from
Canada seeks illustrator friends for
possible collaboration. My influences
include Kenji Miyazawa, Nankichi Niimi,
St. Exupery and Oscar Wilde. Let's work
together to get published in Japan or
overseas. Japanese ok. androgoner@
gmail.com
Seeking non-Japanese friends. JF,
40, lived/worked overseas, fluent in E/J,
seeking non-Japanese, business-minded,
preferably Mandarin/Cantonesespeaking friends. Strictly friendship only.
Sex doesn't matter as long as you love to
talk about business ideas. yurinyc@
yahoo.com
Intellectual property rights
(Patent, trademark, copyrights)
Establishing a Company &
Branch office
Other Legal & Business matters
Hiroshi Oogai,
Patent attorney
Immigration lawyer
www.j-star.jp
Exit 4,
Nagatacho stn
Supreme
Court
Imperial
Palace
Aoyama Ave
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]
WADA Legal & Administrative Office
We can help you with:
Snowboarding buddy. French guy, 39,
seeking a snowboarding buddy for the
upcoming season. [email protected]
• Visa & Immigration Procedures
• Mixed Marriage, Naturalisation
and Refugee Status
• Establishing a Company &
Branch Office
• Accounting Services, Acquiring
Business Licences
• Preparation/Translation of
Legal & Business Documents
• Other Legal & Business Matters
14.2 MEN LOOKING FOR WOMEN
DISCRE ET E XCITE ME NT WITH
HANDSOME MAN. I’m a married
British man seeking a special lady
for casual romance in Tokyo. I’m
tall, slim, handsome, mid-30s, just
looking to spice up my life. Mail
me and tell me about yourself.
[email protected]
SUBMISSIVE SJM, 36, cute, is
seriously seeking a woman who is
into, or interested in, dominating
men. I am so submissive, with seven
years’ experience, that I am happy to
take whatever and serve you in any
way. [email protected]
Grand Prince
Hotel Akasaka
For information:
Tel: (03) 3345-7977
FAX: (03) 3345-5377
http://www.wada-lats.com/
E-mail: [email protected]
3-5-3-1402 Nishi-Shinjuku,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
29
Adventure awaits. Creative and
lighthearted film/documentary maker
from London, 34, seeks someone to
swap stories and start new adventures
with. I can be serious or playful, and so
can you. Where’s the best country you’ve
been? [email protected]
American male seeking girlfriend.
I’m really into music, dancing, BBQs
and exploring new places. I’ve traveled
to a lot of cool places in the world. I love
living here. [email protected]
Artist seeking friend or more. Artist
seeks Japanese female artist to go to
parks, etc., to sketch together. 白人画
家は日本人の画家の彼女を探して
います。 [email protected]
Asian seeking experience with white
or black woman. Hello. New here. I’m
Asian and have never made out with
a white or black woman, so I want to
experience it. I hope I’ll get lucky. よろ
しく！ [email protected]
Attractive and exotic JM seeks
romance. Adorable, caring, movieand classical music-loving Japanese,
36, working for an international firm
is seeking a long-term relationship
with a kind and sincere woman of any
nationality. Serious inquiries only.
[email protected]
Attractive, exotic JM seeks significant
other. Adorable, bilingual, caring JM,
early 30s, in Tokyo, is seeking a nice,
sincere lady for romance leading to a
long-term relationship. I enjoy sports,
movies and classical music. Waiting
for your reply. evanescence0222@
gmail.com
British male, 31, friendly, tall,
slim, seeking a nice girl to hang out
with. Nationality/race unimportant,
but should be 20-35 and have a nice
personality. Interested in music and
film: you should be, too. shiodomebye@
gmail.com
Chinese guy in Tokyo. Hello, I am
a Chinese guy working in Tokyo. I’m
courteous, patient, optimistic, like most
indoor and outdoor activities. Please
drop me a line and let’s get to know
each other. [email protected]
Cute, interesting JM for SWF. Seeking
attractive Western female with a nice
smile. If you are interested in chatting
over coffee or nice food, please contact
me and let me know. I am looking
forward to your message. Just try once.
[email protected]
Debu-san. Japanese man, 40s, gentle,
open-minded, romantic, seeks chubby
girlfriend for a long-term relationship.
Any age, nationality ok. Please do not
hesitate—you are a lovely woman.
[email protected]
European seeking young Japanese
lady. I’m European, 40, living in
Tokyo, seeking you—a JF around 30
or younger—to stay with in Japan or
elsewhere. You’re creative, openminded, adaptable, modest, slim and
neat. [email protected]
Frenchman seeks woman. French
gentleman, smart, funny, handsome,
seeks woman. I'll love you like no man
has ever before. I live in Minami-Azabu.
Write me—you won't be disappointed.
[email protected]
Ginza/Otemachi. Seeking a sparkling
personality to match mine. A woman
with interest in the UK preferred, 26-31,
nationality irrelevant. Only contact me if
you have time to meet weekdays around
7pm in Ginza/Otemachi. englishmobile@
outlook.com
Girlfriend. Japanese man, 45, decent,
cultured, with a good sense of humor,
seeking a lady around my age (35-55),
Japanese or foreign, to enjoy friendship,
fun and relaxation. tsuneokobayashi@
hotmail.com
Handsome American man seeks
Japanese lady. I'm an American
gentleman, 5'9", 175lbs, dark blond
hair, blue eyes, seeking a sincere, loving
relationship with a special lady. I can
speak Japanese. [email protected]
Handsome, sexy man seeking hot
older woman in Tokyo or Yokohama. I
love mature ladies (40s, 50s). A nice,
tall, handsome gentleman is waiting,
hoping to meet you. 日本語可能で
す。 [email protected]
30
Handsome, sweet, smart Japanese
man seeks WF who seeks secret happy
events in her spare time in Tokyo. Single/
married ok. Shall we begin to talk? I
think this opportunity will be a great one
for us. [email protected]
Italian or Spanish? British guy seeking
Italian or Spanish woman living in
Tokyo. Have drinks, some fun. Send me
a message and tell me about yourself.
[email protected]
Japanese male seeks new friend.
Is anyone seeking a good relationship
here? I don’t want affairs; I want a real
relationship with a special female. I’m
a SJM, cool and honest, not a party
animal, love freedom. [email protected]
JF wanted. Hi, young white guy, 28, is
seeking a good-looking young Japanese
woman. [email protected]
JM seeking foreign girl. Hi, I’d like
to make friends with a foreign girl. I’m
easygoing and I want to do fun things.
I play music and I work in real estate
in Tokyo. I like to shop, drink, etc.
[email protected]
Joint adventure. Reasonable-looking
Englishman, 50, with much to offer,
seeks attractive English speaker who’s
into nature, art, travel, healthy living,
in a homely but active environment
in Kanagawa. If you have time,
conversation and desire, we could go
far. [email protected]
Let’s create happy memories
together. I hope to find that special
lady with whom to create beautiful
memories; a lady I can be free with, play
like kids; a lady who will love me for who
I am. [email protected]
Let’s meet. SJM, mid-40s, attractive,
sincere, open-minded, slim, seeks
someone special. It would be no less
than a miracle to find someone, but
suppose I give up searching? Then,
there will be nothing. That is why I’m
here. [email protected]
Life is nice. British man, 35, single,
seeking a nice Japanese woman for
casual dating. I enjoy onsen and sake.
I hope we can share some fun and
exciting times together. happylamp@
hotmail.co.uk
Long-distance relationship with
a SJF. Seeking a SJF who wants a
serious relationship leading to settling
down with a family and kids. If you're
interested, please reply. No gamers.
Serious only. And if you're racist, don't
write me. [email protected]
Married Caucasian man for married
w o m a n. G e n t le m a n, l a te 4 0 s ,
attractive, cultured and polite, seeks
similar woman. [email protected]
Married needs help. Fr iendl y
Caucasian MM in central Tokyo seeks
discreet and sincere JF for romantic
and intimate encounters. I am mid-40s,
well-educated, respectful, nonsmoking.
Please contact me and let's see what
happens. [email protected]
Massage for curvy lady. Tall, elegant,
refined Caucasian businessman, fit,
mature, experienced, offers deep,
relaxing and sensual full-body massage
with aromatic oil to curvy Japanese
lady. Totally safe and discreet—just
relax and enjoy—followed by dinner.
[email protected]
Me, you and our secret. I'm married,
30s, white. I love my wife as I'm sure
you love your husband, but sometimes
we need some extra love. Let's meet
and see what happens. maxtokyo@
rocketmail.com
MWM seeking MJF. Caring, educated,
good-looking MWM, 40s, seeks married
woman for relaxing relationship. If
romance is lacking in your marriage
and you're sincere and mentally/
emotionally stable, please get in touch.
[email protected]
our desires privately and enjoy physical
pleasures. Please be clean, serious.
Meet first. [email protected]
Passionate Canadian man seeks
romance. Loving single Canadian, 44,
seeks passionate lady for friendship
or more. I am into motorcycles, travel,
road trips, etc. [email protected]
JOBS
Pocchari JF? I'm an African currently
residing in central Tokyo. I'm seeking
a pocchari Japanese lady for a serious
relationship. No jokes, please. Serious
emails only. Age is not a problem—it's
just a number. [email protected]
Questions! Are you seeking a tall guy?
Are you too stressed and in need of
some fun? If yes, reply to me. jsn334@
gmail.com
Secret dating for enjoyable moments.
Married Scandinavian WM seeks JF for
discreet relationship in Tokyo. Wish to
share enjoyable moments, a stressfree time for both of us to enjoy. I am
a nonsmoker, charming, fit, good at
sensual massage. lifeistobeenjoyed@
yahoo.com
Seeking awesome lady. A big happy
hello. Seeking SJF, 30s, for a long-term
relationship if we are happy together.
I’m a SWM, early 40s, from Canada. I
love to chat and explore new places in
Tokyo. Let’s meet soon! blue_sky20@
outlook.com
Seeking companionship maybe
leading to something serious. I’m
Caucasian, 43, tall, nonsmoking, social
drinker. My likes: travel, surprises,
music, books, hikes, last minute plans,
open minds, spontaneity, going out (but
also staying in), sharing, simplicity...
Reply w/photo. pisces030771@hotmail.
com
Seeking female swimming mate.
I seek a female swim mate for occasional
practice after work and on weekends. I
am a JM, 40, working in central Tokyo.
Western female under 45 preferred.
[email protected]
Seeking friend. SM foreign business
executive working in Tokyo, 32, is
seeking a warm relationship with a SJF/
JF/married woman, 30-50, for a discreet
relationship. Let’s enjoy conversation.
Looking forward to your response!
[email protected]
Seeking heavy girlfriend. WM, early
40s, kind, sweet, passionate, seeks a
warmhearted, heavy lady for romance.
太った女性を大好き. 私は日本語を
少し話す. [email protected]
CHAT HOSTS AND TEACHERS WANTED BY
LEAFCUP in Tokyo, Iidabashi, Shibuya,
Yokohama. Seeking enthusiastic,
proficient English, French,
Spanish and/or German speakers
who can teach and lead li vel y
conversations. ¥1,000 - ¥1,500/h.
A p p l y o n l i n e : h r @ l e a f c u p .co m
www.leafcup.com/job.php
ART MODEL NEEDED. Nude model
sought for sophisticated art project.
Willing to offer attractive modeling
fee. Serious only. This is not porn.
Privacy is 100% respected. Mail:
[email protected]
Serious relationship. SM, mid30s, 180cm, living in Tokyo, loves
movies, music, travel, seeks a serious
relationship. 日本語大 丈 夫です.
[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.
[email protected]
Single, handsome, caring and witty
JM seeks a nice Western or Japanese
female for friendship and possibly
more. Nonsmokers preferred. If you are
interested in exciting and happy times
with me, email me now. cioinjapan@
gmail.com
Seeking serious relationship.
European guy, early 40s, positive,
easygoing, gentle, romantic, lots of
hobbies, seeking female, 35-55, openminded, easygoing, enjoys simple
things. Speak Nihongo. No busy people,
please. [email protected]
Travel to Tokyo often. I visit Tokyo
about once/month. I would like to meet
someone for dinner/conversation. I
love to discuss travel, food and life.
I am American, 44, attractive, with
blue eyes. Let’s meet and enjoy time
together. [email protected]
Seeking serious relationship. Hi,
I’m half-Caucasian American, halfJapanese, 29, from Hawaii. I speak
Japanese. Living and working in
Tokyo as an English instructor. I’m
seeking a serious girl. Thank you.
[email protected]
Weakness is all that we humans are
about, I guess. Especially when it comes
to being alone. I’m a black guy seeking a
JF in the same situation. I guess I’m not
alone. Serious only, please. strike4me@
yahoo.com
To advertise in Metropolis, Japan’s
No.1 English magazine, log on at www.
metropolis.co.jp/classifieds or email
your commercial ads to commercial@
metropolisjapan.com.
14.3 WOMEN LOOKING FOR MEN
Seeking soulmate. I am seeking a
lady with whom I can spend the rest
of my days. I seek love and I hope
I’ll find it here. andremenandes@
outlook.com
Nice Japanese for nice woman.
Japanese man, 40s, 175cm, gentle,
calm, kind, caring, decent, with a good
sense of humor, seeking an attractive
woman of any nationality living in
Japan. [email protected]
Serious long-term relationship sought
by attractive JM. Adorable, caring,
movie-loving Japanese, 36, working
for an international firm, is seeking a
kind, sincere woman of any nationality.
Serious only. evanescence0222@gmail.
com
Only the lonely. Western man, blond,
green, 183cm, fit, 80kg, seeking a secret
relationship with a lonely JF. Let's share
Serious only for a lon g -ter m
relationship. Any age, nationality ok.
[email protected]
03-4588-2277
METROPOLIS, JAPAN’S NUMBER ONE
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE MAGAZINE, is
seeking motivated bilingual (E/J)
sales assistants, executives, support
staff and interns to join its advertising
and marketing team. Send E/J resume
to [email protected].
M ETROPOLIS I S S E E K I N G A N E /J
BILINGUAL INTERN to join the most
successful English-language
advertising team (Restaurants &
Bars) in Japan. Great opportunity
to learn about advertising in an
exciting environment. No pay, but
transportation provided. Please fax
your E/J resume to 03-4588-2278 or
email knakashima@metropolisjapan.
com.
Serious relationship with SJF. Seeking
a SJF who wants a serious relationship
leading to settling down with a family
and kids. If you’re interested, please
reply. No gamers. Serious only.
[email protected]
Seeking large Japanese girlfriend.
Canadian guy, 40s, open-minded,
gentle, romantic, positive, seeks
overweight girlfriend for long-term
relationship in Tokyo. Serious only,
please. [email protected]
Seeking serious, chubby JF. European
guy, 40, open-minded, easygoing,
honest, faithful, seeks a JF who can
meet up soon (not too many emails)
for a long-term relationship. Let’s meet
up over coffee and talk. niman429@
yahoo.com
To advertise:
[email protected]
S I N G L E S - O N LY D AT I N G
EVENTS EVERY FRI NIGHT for
foreign men and Japanese
women. Leave the event with a
new date! Always more women
than men. FREE if signing up in
advance! Otherwise, ¥2,000.
[email protected]
www.exeo-international.com
Serious relationship in Tokyo. SJF is
seeking a serious relationship (not a bed
buddy) in Tokyo. I’m 40s, positive and
open-minded. If you’re interested, please
email me with your photo. aubin-euclid@
softbank.ne.jp
LAVISH DATES AND
INDULGENT NIGHTS—WE
CR E ATE O PP O RTU N ITI E S
for elite foreign males to meet
elegant Japanese females. Start
with a luxurious dinner date,take
the night where you want it to go.
Fresh, young women join our club
every day. Try our free one-month
trial offer: first date is on us!
0120-675-858 (E) international@
universe-club.jp http://universeclub.jp/en
Elegant yet natural. Woman, who
values trust and love, seeks a longterm relationship. Educated, healthy,
charming European or North American
preferred. We all want a bit more warmth
in life. I’m mid-40s. Singles only.
[email protected]
European man for serious relationship.
I’m a SJF, 30s, seeking a European
gentleman as I’m interested in the
culture. Email me for more info. Serious
and genuine people who know how to
introduce themselves only. framboisier@
inter7.jp
Friends first. Divorced Japanese woman
in Kanagawa, early 40s, seeks educated,
hardworking gentleman around my
age. Must be a dog-lover and sushieater. Let’s be friends first and hope
it leads to something more someday.
[email protected]
Japanese MILF seeks French gentleman.
Sensual JF, mid-40s, seeks single
French gentleman, 40-60, over 175cm,
preferably living in Tokyo. Let’s see
if we have chemistry. tama123_123@
yahoo.co.jp
Rare discovery! Warmhear ted,
attractive, positive, slim SJF, enjoys
cooking, hiking, working, art, seeks
gentle, attractive, successful Caucasian
in central Tokyo who wants to raise a
loving family. What’s important is trust,
respect and stimulating each other. Photo
necessary. [email protected]
Seeking boyfriend. SJF, 30s, 160cm,
black medium-length hair, slender,
seeking relationship in Tokyo. If you
are smart, tall, gentle, muscular, speak
English or Japanese, please write me
back. I like nature, eating out, drinking.
[email protected]
Sexy apron, lovely dish gloves
and pretty face. Got your attention?
Fit Japanese, educated, great cook,
reaching mid- 40s, seeks single
professional, late 30-mid-60s, native
English speaker, up for nice dishes,
laughs and sharing your world with me.
[email protected]
Speechless. Did you listen to the comet
singing that was picked up by Rosetta?
I was enraptured by its sound. Fewer
words—just chemistry speaking for itself.
Could we really find such a relationship?
I wish to find one. oriontopleiades@
gmail.com
“Thinkers” welcome. European girl
seeking someone sophisticated, with
a deeper insight on life. I love to talk
about philosophy and have a weakness
for well-spoken people with a bit of wit.
[email protected]
This is it... SJF, mid-30s, openminded, loves to laugh, listen to music
(especially R&B), chill out indoors,
seeking a boyfriend. I hope we can be
serious. Cat-loving black man preferred.
[email protected]
14.4 GAY & LESBIAN
Friends and fun. Japanese guy, 27, 170,
65, good-looking, seeking friends and
fun in/around Tokyo. Please reply w/face
photo and stats. [email protected]
14.5 ESCORTS
ESCORTS have gone online.
To f i n d a l o v e l y l a d y
co m p a n i o n , v i s i t h t t p: //
classifieds.metropolis.co.jp/
category/personals/escorts.
15 JOBS
15.1 JOB WANTED
NEED A BABYSITTER?
My name is Merinda
Masuda. I’m 16, great
with children and give
them 100% attention.
Trustworthy,
responsible, loving, can do
housework while children sleep.
Seeking work in central Tokyo.
Availab le mos t evening s , S at
evenings and Sun.
[email protected]
“Tokyo’s premier multidisciplinary rehabilitation center”
• Assessments and treatments
Club 360 is a multidisciplinary health
performed by a team of
and fitness center, which also offers
internationally trained, registered and
personal training, group classes,
experienced physiotherapists.
boxing and kickboxing.
• Private treatment rooms
• Large, fully equipped rehab gym
• Central location 3 min walk from Roppongi Hills
• Consultations available in English and Japanese
Special offer
Gel Nail from ¥4,980
ALL SERVICES 20% OFF
(First time visitors only) *except Gel Nail.
Menu
Sports injuries
Manicure..........¥5,500
Pedicure...........¥6,500
Shellac Hand....¥5,980
Shellac Foot.....¥6,980
Musculoskeletal and spinal conditions (neck and back pain)
Ergononomic and postural assessments
Gait assessments
Appointment by:
fl[email protected]
http://florir-nail.com
03-3403-5570
Rehabilitation programs
Address: B1 CMA3 Bldg, 3-1-35 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku • Nearest stn: Roppongi
Hours: Open Mon-Sat 6:30am-9:30pm, closed Sun • Tel: 03-6434-9667
Open hour: weekdays 12:00~21:00
Sat, Sun & hol: 11:00~20:00
No.2 Sanken Bldg. 3F 4-1-19 Roppongi Minato-ku
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
Package 3 Machine
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]
www.basipilates.jp/english/
Now You Can Recharge
in Roppongi 24/7/365
Hotel
IBIS
Soba shop
Tel: 03-3796-2411
relaxtokyo.com
Metropolis Promo
60 & 120min courses now ¥1,000 off
30min course ¥500 off
Mos
Burger
Almond
Takoyaki shop
Police box
Roppongi-dori
COURSES
Body care
30 min: ¥3,150
60 min: ¥6,300
(Early bird 6am-2pm ¥5,250)
120 min: ¥12,600
Oil massage
(daytime only)
60 min: ¥8,400
120 min: ¥16,800
31
RELATIONS
KURISUMASU EVERY DAY
BY GRACE BUCHELE MINETA
Japan and America are rather different when it comes to gift-giving. On one
hand, gift-giving seems to be a year-round thing in Japan: My husband and I
have a box full of pre-wrapped American goodies in the closet in the tatami
room so we never show up to a coworker’s house empty-handed. On the
other hand, I still have the urge to toss presents at all my friends and family
around Christmas time. It just doesn’t seem like “Christmas” if shops aren’t
trying to make me buy stuff I don’t need for people I like. Japanese gift-giving
culture definitely costs more—but I do like not having to scramble two days
before Christmas trying to gather X number of presents for my close friends.
毎日がクリスマス
贈り物に関しては日本とアメリカの間で違いが多くあります。私は同僚の家に行く際
に贈り物をいつでも渡せるように、常に和室のクローゼットの中にアメリカのお菓子
をあらかじめ包装したまま箱の中に完備しています。一方、
日本では贈物は年中のイ
ベントのようです。私はクリスマスの時期になると家族や友人のプレゼント選びです
ごく悩んでしまいます。友達の為に余計なプレゼントまでお店でついつい買ってしま
い、
その時に初めてクリスマスだと実感します
（笑）
。
はっきりしているのは日本の贈り
物の方がお金が掛かります。
しかし、
クリスマス直前に仲の良い友人のためにいくつ
プレゼントが必要だったか焦らなくていいのが良いですね。
■ Grace Buchele Mineta is an author who blogs and draws comics
about her daily life in Japan at www.HowIBecameTexan.com.
horoscope
BY CATHRYN MOE
♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
May 20-Jun 20 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Jun 21-Jul 21 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
I f you could jus t wave a magic
wand, everything would be sorted
and you could go out to play. Even
though thoughts are things, it still takes time
to persuade others. Don’t worry about verbal
negotiations this week—you have more than
enough alacrity to jump through any wit-shaping discourse that comes your way. It’s your
tendency to want to travel just when the deep
starts rolling in that you will want to watch.
Although Pallas Athene and Saturn
will have you guessing as to what
your partner is really thinking (and
if you’re single, you may be hard to find just
for this very reason), Mercury transits to your
solar eighth house on Friday. In this position,
you become a bit of a mind reader. They may
pretend otherwise, but this week you can
trust your instincts—in fact, you may have to,
because you’ll be having fun just when you
thought life had nothing new to offer.
You can take a seat and watch the
dappled light patterns around you.
Single or not, your heart and mind
are likely to be focused on partnership—Vesta,
Venus, Ceres and the Sun have been highlighting this part of your life. On Friday, Mercury
factors in, and what you don’t already know
you can intuit or just plain think into fruition.
Don’t be surprised if you win a confrontation
before it starts.
With Mars opposite your sign, you
may be attracting more attention
than you expected. Up until now,
there may have been a bit of a learning curve
with relationships and how you view them. Mars
breaks through stereotyped perceptions and
ways of interacting. But what do you really want
to do with all your hard-found knowledge? Do
you want to act on it, or view it from afar? At the
moment, work has center stage—but it won’t be
long until you’ll be happily distracted.
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
Sep 22-Oct 22 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Oct 23-Nov 21 ♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Be up for the unexpected: What seems
dull and dreary may be more cuddly,
cozy and reliable. Stock up on warm
soups and hot breads to keep your palate interested. Not all that is flash will last, and right now
you may want to conserve your energy for what
keeps your soul well nourished. Money could fly
through your fingers as you feel unusually enthusiastic about your future. Don’t be surprised if
you receive several excellent offers this week.
Mar 20-Apr 18 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Jul 22-Aug 21 ♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣
Apr 19-May 19 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣
Aug 22-Sep 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
CANCER
You may want to go back to where
you were before, but retracing your
steps isn’t always the quickest route.
That’s because in the interim, you’ve experienced more, and your desires are tempered
with ... well, yes, wisdom. Having few ties
gives you a high level of flexibility, but it also
could encourage you to jump before you’re
ready. With the advent of Mercury entering
your house of romance on Friday, you may
want to give love another chance.
At the moment, your stars’s advice is
not so much what to do as what not
to do. Dark Moon Lilith is hovering at
the beginning of your sign, just about to enter.
Lilith has legendary powers and can manifest in
a way so powerful that others may tremble, and
that’s not what you want (or is it?). Your powers of
perception are growing. The temptation to break
the rules is a shortcut fix—rather, make new ones
and enlist the help of your friends, or remodel
your environment.
Words are likely to come trip pingly off your tongue. Vesta, Venus,
Ceres, the Sun (and on Friday, Mercury) break loose in your solar third house of
communication—your views are visionary at the
moment. You need freedom; to the moon and
back may not seem enough. Stretch yourself to
your safest limits and live for now—don’t worry
about your future to the exclusion of trying
something new. Kicking up your heels gets you
where you want to go.
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
Jan 20-Feb 17 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Feb 18-Mar 19 ♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Do you want to move forward, or do
you want to stay where you are? This
is a big question for Sagittarians right
now. You can move forward metaphorically and
stay where you are geographically—but there’s a
metamorphosis going on that has to do with what
you recently discovered about yourself. Uranus in
trine aspect to your Sun has brought you freedom
you may not have known you would like as much
as you do. Mercury enters your sign on Friday to
help you talk about it in a logical manner.
Capricorns are great friends and
excellent builders of what needs to
be done. What you have started will
pan out, although it may take a different form, or
be in another place altogether. Mars in the last
degrees of your sign gives you the energy you
need to keep going. Vesta hovers in your solar
twelfth house, whispering that your dreams are
just on the horizon—which is absolutely, adamantly true. You don’t have to believe it; you’ll
be living it soon.
You may wish for intellectual freedom
to match meteoric emotions and
sensual starbursts. Getting them in
alignment is rare but doable. Right now the
Sun, Ceres, Vesta and Venus are in your sector
of friends and group associations. On Friday,
Mercury joins the party. You can have it all,
but it might be exhausting—if you can, choose
a few treasures of interest and allow yourself
to thoroughly luxuriate rather than wearing
yourself threadbare.
You can have just as much fun doing
something new as you are having
right now. The only question is the
expenditure of energy—time, money—to get
there. Mercury segues into a square aspect
with your sign on Friday. Observing during this
planetary alignment with Vesta, Venus, Ceres
and the Sun will allow you to make your wisest
choices yet. If you are feeling hesitation, there’s
no need to manually override it—better to look
at it closely, with compassion.
Nov 22-Dec 20 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
32
Dec 21-Jan 19 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
PISCES
A research team led
by a professor at Keio
University has proven
that “pigeons can
recognize themselves
in a mirror.”
LINGO BOX
Kagami (鏡) = mirror
Ryūgaku (留学) = study abroad
the small print
Kōgi suru (抗議する) = to protest
Saiban-in (裁判員) = lay judge
BY STEVE TRAUTLEIN
Han tero (反テロ) = antiterrorism
stats
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER CYBER-ATTACKERS FIND
LOOPHOLES FIRST, OR WE FIND THEM FIRST AND
CLOSE THEM.” —Akitsugu Ito of Tokyo-based software company Cybozu,
Inc., which is offering bounties to “good-willed engineers” who can find security flaws
in its programs
ONWARD & UPWARD
⊲Officials
⊲
at the Japan Tourism Agency are
urging hotels to prepare for emergency situations by stockpiling “necessities” for foreigners, including halal food and Bibles.
⊲The
⊲
organizers of the Eiken English proficiency test have an eye on the international
market—they’ve signed a study-abroad agreement with education authorities in Australia.
⊲About
⊲
1,000 demonstrators attended a rally
last month in Shibuya to protest the state secrets protection law.
THE SENSITIVE TYPES
⊲It
⊲ was reported that an increasing number
of courts around the country are limiting the
display of graphic photographs in trials attended by lay judges.
⊲A
⊲ research group that includes a professor
at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto
University has found that chimpanzees can
trace pictures but “lack the imagination to fill
in missing parts.”
⊲Crown
⊲
Princess Masako, who suffers from a
stress-related disorder, appeared at a banquet
to welcome King Willem-Alexander and Queen
Máxima of Holland. It was the first time in 11
years for her to attend such a function.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT
⊲The
⊲
Cabinet has created a new ministerial
post charged with overseeing preparations
for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
⊲The
⊲
minister will be expected to handle issues ranging from “transportation networks
to antiterrorism.”
⊲MSDF
⊲
officials are hoping to develop a new
breed of high-speed destroyers that can also
conduct minesweeping operations.
⊲A
⊲ group of fifth-graders from an elementary
school in Shinagawa ventured to Asakusa to
conduct interviews with foreigners in English
on such topics as “what their hobbies are” and
“what impressions they have of Japan.”
SPIRITED AWAY
⊲Celebrated
⊲
anime purveyor Hayao Miyazaki
got a standing ovation as he took the stage
46 Percent of Americans who view
China as the U.S.’s closest ally in the
region
26
Percent of Americans who view China
as the U.S.’s closest ally in the region
364,892
Cars and vans being recalled
by Toyota over defects that include a
faulty safety belts and cracked fuel pipes
to accept a lifetime achievement Oscar at a
ceremony in Hollywood.
⊲The
⊲
Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau has
accused executives at film production company Sedic International—whose hits include
2008’s award-winning Departures—of hiding
about ¥1 billion in income.
⊲A
⊲ 45-year-old Japanese woman visiting the
city of Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest
Territories has gone missing. She was last
spotted walking along a local highway.
⊲Workers
⊲
at the Genkai nuclear plant in Saga
Prefecture managed to extinguish a fire that
broke out in the basement of its auxiliary building. No one was injured.
AND FINALLY…
at a glance
BY ADAM GARWOOD
Check out Adam’s other work at http://meturl.com/adam3
⊲The
⊲
University of Tokyo placed 24th in U.S.
News & World Report’s ranking of the world’s
500 top institutions of higher learning. That
was the best in Asia.
⊲In
⊲ all, 17 Japanese schools made the list, including Kyoto, Osaka and Tohoku universities.
⊲Officials
⊲
at the environment ministry say
they’re heartened by an increase in the number of sea turtles that have been coming
ashore to lay eggs.
⊲Amazon
⊲
Japan has signed a deal with Yamato
delivery company that will allow customers to
receive orders at about 3,000 Yamato locations around the country.
Small Print Updated Weekly
→ METURL.COM/SMALLPRINT
Compiled from reports by AP, Japan Today, The Japan Times, Jiji, The Tokyo
Reporter, The Mainichi, The Japan News, AFP, Reuters and Kyodo
33
the last word
The “Real” Social
Dynamics
Why men need to learn
from women
BY PETER SIDELL
Illustration by Christi Rochin
NO ONE IS
BORN WITH
IMMACULATE
SOCIAL
SKILLS,
AND THEY
DEVELOP AT
DIFFERENT
SPEEDS IN
DIFFERENT
PEOPLE. ”
WANT
TO HAVE
THE LAST
WORD?
Send your article to:
editor@
metropolisjapan.com
My dating life hasn’t always been a roaring success. I have, in fact, had my share
of failures. I once tried to charm a woman
in such toweringly cack-handed fashion
that it pains me to think back on it— well,
actually more than once, but I’m thinking
here of a particular instance when, instead
of just turning me away or shooting me
down, she gave me some honest and very
memorably direct feedback on precisely
why my approach wasn’t appreciated.
Thankfully, I didn’t then go to Real Social Dynamics (RSD) for help. This is the
“dating coaching company” that employs
Julien Blanc, who recently made himself
notorious with a video of his methods of
seduction (if you can call them that)—most
notably his habit of pushing womens’s
heads toward his groin while saying “Pikachu,” which in his mind makes it all cute.
There was an immediate response
to the video. The #takedownjulienblanc
twitter campaign saw protests at his
prospective speaking venues, seminars
canceled, his visa for Australia rescinded
and permission refused to even enter
the U.K. Since this happened, examples
of his behaviour posted on sites such
as Tinder and Twitter, where he actively
and consistently cultivated an image of
spiteful misogyny without any apparent
irony, have exposed him as a truly odious individual, despite his unpersuasive
after-the-fact apology on CNN.
As the story spread, there was naturally something of a rush to judgment, and
rightly so. However, in riding the wave of
popular revulsion, some commentators
roundly condemned the whole “pickup” field, customers and providers alike.
As reprehensible as they are, is it fair to
judge an entire industry on the actions
of one man?
No one is born with immaculate social skills, and they develop at different
speeds in different people. So naturally
some of us are lacking. I see little difference between, say, an aspiring journalist
investing time and money in taking courses to acquire the necessary skills, and a
man with poor social skills doing the same.
You might as well criticize someone who
wants to lose weight for going on a diet.
To my mind, what’s in question is the
quality of the advice and products available for this purpose. Just as there are
fad diets and no end of quackery aimed
at people who want to lose weight, so the
content of pick-up products varies dramatically. Some programs offer genuine
insight into the psychology underpinning
male-female interactions, and consist
not really of “game” rules but life coaching disguised as dating advice to appeal
to men who would otherwise be averse
to the idea of self-help.
However, there are also of course
charlatans and profiteers, seeking only
to rake in cash by exploiting the market.
They deal not in self-improvement but
in manipulation, tricks and techniques
that disguise inadequacies rather than
eliminating them—and some of them can
plumb the depths seen in Blanc’s video.
This market isn’t going to go away,
though. So where are men to find the
products they need?
Most seminars and courses are run
by men, with males making up the vast
majority of speakers. On the RSD website, all the “executive instructors” are
men appointed by men and trained by
men. Is it really possible to learn about
the nuances of male-female interaction
when you’re seeing only one side?
When I got that feedback from the
woman I tried to charm, it stung at the
time. But in a wider frame, I found it
genuinely helpful. And that’s where I
think the answer lies: courses, programs
and seminars for men, but envisioned,
designed and presented by women.
This would work for men because
they’d not only acquire the skills they
need—and want—but also learn the difference between irreverent and disrespectful, cheeky and coarse, acceptable
and offensive. And in the face of this competition, the other players in the market
would be forced to evolve, improving their
product and raising standards all round.
It would also then work for women
because, with their own insight available
directly to men, there would be no forum
for people like Blanc to pass on their
“wisdom,” no excuse for men to seek
it out, and hopefully no men acting on
it—or at least fewer.
That’s how to take down Julien Blanc.
Banning him would just add to his notoriety and give him the publicity he wants.
Squeezing him out would make him irrelevant—and leave him assuredly behind.
■ Peter Sidell is a teacher and sometime
writer and stand-up comic living in Kanagawa.
The views expressed in “The Last Word” are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Japan Partnership Co. Ltd. or its partners and sponsors.
NEXT ISSUE
34
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THE MAN WHO
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TRIES TOKYO
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