Japan`s Nº1 English Magazine

Transcription

Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine
#956 Jul 20~Aug 2, 2012
FREE!
S u m m e r
s p l A S H
We travel to a remote Okinawa is land, feature the
beauty of Shimoda, present our special guide to the best
summer festivals, get star struck by dancer travis payne
and have The Last Word on Tokyo hosting The Olympics
Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine
s u m m e r
#956 Jul 20~Aug 2, 2012
FREE!
s p l a s h
We travel to a remote Okinawa is land, feature the
beauty of Shimoda, present our special guide to the best
summer festivals, get star struck by dancer travis payne
and have The Last Word on Tokyo hosting The Olympics
Transform Your Life
from the Inside, Out!
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Metropolis Members Club
This week’s winner!
Congratulations to:
Nick Tanaka
who won a ¥10,000
adidas voucher
Courtesy of adidas
★ Prizes ★ Exclusive Events ★ Discounts
Upcoming prize!
Congratulations to Juliano Wagahisa
(pictured with Metropolis COO Neil Butler),
the winner of a free Delta Air Lines flight
to the US in our Reader Survey giveaway.
One lucky MMC member
will win a Chisun/Loisir
accommodation voucher
Courtesy of Solare Hotels
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JapanTourist is now giving away
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#956
The Tokyo Metpod: If it’s going on in Tokyo,
it’s going on at metpod.com
Jul 20-Aug 2, 2012
Send your snaps to metropolis.co.jp/photo for our online Photo of the Day. The best entries will be chosen for
Photo of the Week.
Paul Stevens
Photo of the week
12 FEATURE
summer splash
Life’s a beach… and then
you shoot one
Photographed by Paul Stevens
04 THE SMALL PRINT
05 Upfront
06 TRAVEL
10 SUmmer Festival
Special
16 Arts & Entertainment
Music, Art, Japan Beat
19 AGENDA
26 MOVIES
29 Dining out
Bites, Local Flavors
32 REAL ESTATE
33 ClassifiedS & JOBS
37 horoscope & mediabox
38 the last word
cover design: kohji shiiki; Photo: Paul Stevens
Women-only car, by Hugo Konno
METROPOLIS is Japan's No.1 English magazine, founded
by Mark and Mary Devlin in 1994 and published for Japan’s
international community by Metropolis KK, a subsidiary of
Japan Inc Holdings.
METROPOLIS is the only English-language magazine
in Japan certified by ABC, Audit Bureau of Circulations.
30,000 copies per printed issue guaranteed
CEO/PUBLISHER Terrie Lloyd CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Neil Butler EDITORIAL Jeff W. Richards (Editor-in-chief)
David Labi (Editor) Akane “Margarita” Ichikawa, Lisa Wallin (editorial assistants) Anna Cock Gibson (Proofreader)
Kyle Hedlund (Content Manager) Akihiro Morita, Maria Ishizawa, Yukiko Morikubo, Elena Osawa (INTERNs)
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dan Grunebaum (entertainment) Don Morton (Movies) C. B. Liddell (ART & architecture)
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Langford (Production Assistant) ADVERTISING Niki Kaihara (Senior sales Director) Karl Nakashima (Sales
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Tel 03-4550-2929 Fax 03-4550-2859 web www.metropolis.co.jp
The Small Print This week’s required reading, by Reg Dunlap
We cannot give them
an order that might
“
lead to their deaths if
the situation gets worse”
—TEPCO chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, on the
decision to evacuate workers from the Daiichi
nuclear plant following the March 11 earthquake
THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE
THE TROUBLE WITH CHINA
ćć Police officials in Tokyo say Chinese diplomats
asked them to cover up the arrest of a Beijing
man who allegedly destroyed a commemorative plaque attached to a cherry tree at
Yasukuni Shrine. The suspected vandal, who
works at a botanical garden in China, told the
cops he “could not stand the cherry tree being
treated badly by the plaque,” which was donated
by a military group before World War II.
Miwa Kaneoya
ćć A newly released poll found that 66 percent of
Taiwanese people feel ties with Japan have
“deepened” since the March 11 disaster.
ćć At the same time, 51 percent said they “plan to
refrain from traveling to Japan for the time
being.”
ćć An investigation by officials in Saitama uncovered 1,257 cases of welfare fraud in 2011, worth
a total of ¥610 million.
ćć A newly unveiled supercomputer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the
US has supplanted a Japanese machine as the
world’s fastest. The new record holder, named
Sequoia, can process 16.324 petaflops of data.
(One petaflop is the equivalent of 1 quadrillion
operations per second. Please don’t ask us how
many zeros that is.)
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?
ćć A group of jilted investors claim they were
scammed out of ¥1 billion by two women and
a man who asked them to help fund the construction of temporary housing for victims of
the March 11 disaster.
ćć The Yomiuri Giants sued the publisher of weekly
magazine Shukan Bunshun for defamation over
an article that claimed manager Tatsunori Hara
paid ¥100 million in hush money to a former
yakuza member over a love affair. The club
admitted the payout was made, but objected to
the implications of an underworld connection.
ćć Residents living near Tokyo Skytree say they are
distressed by the “large number of bicycles left
unattended by visitors and the large volume
of trash.”
ćć Local merchants in the Sk y tree neighborhood are also bummed that, in contrast to the
expected increase in business, tourists are
bypassing them entirely.
HITTING THE ROAD
ćć Government safety officials are puzzled by a drastic increase in the number of motorists who have
been struck by vehicles “after getting out of their
cars [following] an accident or for other reasons.”
ćć Which may explain why the transport ministry has formed a study group to determine the
feasibility of establishing a “system for guiding motor vehicles on expressways without
stats
HISTORY COMES ALIVE
human assistance” by the early 2020s.
ćć Officials from quake-hit areas in Tohoku set up
a booth on the sidelines of last month’s Rio+20
environmental conference to show off rebuilding projects and to offer locally produced food
and booze to conventioneers.
ćć Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide followed
the Russian tradition of laying flowers at the
Moscow grave of Yuri Gagarin—the first man
in space—before his mission to the International Space Station last week.
ćć As part of its 110th anniversary celebrations,
Dai-ichi Life Insurance is letting 200 people a
day view the office of Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Douglas MacArthur, which has
been preserved at the company’s HQ in Chiyoda-ku. The offer ends July 22.
ćć One notable attendee in next month’s ceremonies to mark the atomic bombings of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki will be Clifton Truman Daniel, the
grandson of wartime president Harry Truman,
who made the decision to drop the bombs.
ćć “Disturbing noise” and “negative situations”
were just two of the colorful phrases deployed
by Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua to
describe the TMG’s plan to purchase the disputed Senkaku Islands.
FAMOUS FIRSTS
ćć Officials in Akita Prefecture say the Russian
government has accepted their offer to present
President Vladimir Putin with… a puppy.
ćć The Meteorological Agency says the typhoon
that struck Japan last month was only the 11th
such storm to hit the mainland in the month of
June since recordkeeping began in 1951.
ćć The Ok inawa Historical Film Societ y has
released a 57-minute DVD of archival footage
from World War II that shows intense fighting
between US and Japanese troops. The movie
also includes scenes of “how local residents
lived in US camps.”
ćć Members of the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate
will no longer be able to enjoy free parking
in Tokyo after authorities “issued a strong recommendation to ban the gang from further
benefiting from the scheme.”
THE GOLDEN PARACHUTE
IS OPEN
ćć A Chinese man was arrested for his role in a scam
that involved using tiny wireless earphones to
help compatriots pass the notoriously difficult
Japanese drivers license test. Suspicions were
raised after one examinee scored 97 percent on
the test despite having minimal Japanese skills.
ćć Police in Fukuoka busted five Chinese men for
using a computer virus to steal the passwords
of online bank accounts, then withdrawing
money from the accounts via ATMs. The scheme
netted “tens of millions of yen.”
ćć Two Japanese men in Kanagawa were arrested
for filching designs for automobile engine parts
from a local firm and passing them along to a
Chinese rival.
ćć A newspaper investigation found that 8 of
the 20 TEPCO executives and auditors who
resigned last month to take responsibility
for the Fukushima nuclear crisis have landed
“lucrative positions at group companies and
other entities.”
ćć An advisory panel to the labor ministry has,
sensibly, recommended that companies treat
part-time workers “like permanent employees
if they do the same jobs and are managed the
same way.”
ćć Bottom Story of the Week: “Food, Rest Prescribed for Kanagawa Seal” (via The Yomiuri
Shimbun)
Compiled from reports by AP, Japan
Today, The Japan Times, The Asahi
Shimbun, The Tokyo Reporter, Japan
Probe, The Mainichi Daily News, Daily
Yomiuri, AFP, Reuters and Kyodo
� 180,000 Number of ayu sweetfish spotted in the Tama River in the spring of 1983, according to a
TMG-funded science institute � 12,000,000 Number of ayu spotted this spring thanks to improved
anti-pollution efforts, according to the institute � ¥6 billion Amount of overseas development aid
pledged by Japan during the years 2013-2015 � 10,000 Number of personnel the government will
send abroad during that time to help developing countries make the “transition to a green economy”
04 • download our podcast at • podcast.metropolis.co.jp
people, trends & miscellany
star struck
Upfront
Metpod
Travis Payne
The famed dancer, choreographer
and now fashion designer is back in
his playzone—Tokyo
By Brandi Goode
I
t all began w it h The Space
Giants. The 1970s Japanese scifi TV series was Travis Payne’s
first impression of the land of
the rising sun. The show stuck
with him and ignited a fascination
with Japan that has since brought
him here nearly 30 times. Metropolis had the chance to sit down with
Payne on his latest visit as he finished work on the Johnny’s musical
production Playzone 2012.
Apart from a budding fashion
career, Trav is Pay ne is perhaps
best known for his work on Michael
Jackson’s final stage show-turnedf ilm, t he blockbuster This Is It.
Payne began working with Jackson
in 1992 on "Remember The Time"
and the Dangerous tour—an experience that forever changed his life
and his approach to art. He helped
produce and direct the documentary that grossed $10.4 million in
Japan—the highest figure of any
international market. “In Japan
everything ‘Michael’ always worked.
Hanser & Hue Photography
Asia was his biggest market and
remains so today. I think he would
appreciate how well-received his art
continues to be here,” he says.
Most recently, Payne has been
involved with Playzone 2012 from
überproduction company Johnny
& Associates. Johnny K itagawa,
the company’s founder, has been
a friend and associate of Payne for
over a decade now and Travis Japan,
Johnny’s newest boy band, bears
the artist’s namesake and is his
latest labor of love. The group will
debut at this year’s Playzone, and
will also be the first to showcase
Payne’s apparel.
Japanese artists such as SMAP
and Shonentai are just a few on
Payne’s mile-long list of celebrity
clients, thanks to his big break in
1990 as a dancer on Janet Jackson’s
Rhythm Nation tour. “Everything
has happened to me as an evolution
of the thing before. From dancing to
choreography to directing and now
fashion design, it’s all been a natural
progression,” he says humbly.
W hen asked about adv ice he
would give to aspiring dancers,
he offers similar insights honed
through his own experience. “It’s
not enough to just dance well. Yes,
be an awesome dancer, but you need
to have some business acumen too. I
look at the Paula Abduls and Jennifer
Lopezes of the world—both of whom
I’ve worked with—and I see how
dance was the foundation of what
ultimately became empires,” he says.
“Be ready and be diversified. Learn
about everyone’s job you’re going to
work with. You have to stay current
and always remain a student.”
When he’s not at work in the studio, he spends his free time roaming
the streets, taking in the views—often
from the top floors of hotels. The view
of Tokyo Tower is particularly dear
to him—it was MJ’s favorite spot in
the city. You might also spot him
browsing his favorite store, Don Quijote. “It’s like a giant WalMart in the
middle of the night,” he says, adding
that he learns something new on each
visit. “I call Tokyo a very clean and
very organized New York.”
Playzone 2012 Song & Danc’n Part
II runs at Aoyama Theater until
Aug 11. See concert listings for
details.
#956 • wWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 05
Travel Great Journeys in Japan and Around the World
ACCESS
Iriomote
Dearly remote in Japan’s far-southern isle
Text and photos by Brandi Goode
B
ox t u r t le s, f r u it
bats, crested
eagles, tree-climbi ng l i z a rd s, a nd
scores of tropical
fish. No, this is not
the latest Disney feature—but the
creatures I saw during a three-day
visit to Iriomotejima in Okinawa.
Iriomote National Park covers nearly
40 percent of this island paradise,
known as home to the rare nocturnal
yamaneko (“mountain cat”). Many
v isitors come from neighboring
Ishigakijima for a daytrip, but this
unpretentious tropical destination is
worth a few days’ admiration.
DO
Iriomote’s number-one activity is
a trip up the Urauchi River, Okinawa’s longest, where mangroves
and an abundance of lush greenery thrive. Canoes and kayaks can
be rented for a more independent
journey, and a trek to two waterfalls
awaits after the cruise. The second,
Kanbire Falls, allows close enough
access for swimming. More serious trekkers can continue on for an
18km demanding hike traversing
the island.
Package tours can be booked
Both ANA and JAL fly to
Ishigaki, often through
Naha. From there it’s a
40-minute ferry ride to
either port on the island.
Tokyo Travelpal (www.
tokyotravelpal.com)
offers package deals at
fair prices.
TOKYO
okinawa
iriomote
t hrough most hotels for around
¥8,000, but it’s also possible (and
cheaper) to turn up at the dock,
book your spot on the boat for ¥1,800
and navigate the hike on your own.
There are seven boats daily on the
hour, starting at 9:30am.
Sunbathing on its varied beaches
is another choice pursuit on Iriomote. Hoshisuna is fantastic for
snorkeling, and gear can be rented
at the store above the beach for
¥1,575 a day. Haemida is a lengthy
stretch of sand about 4km west of
the last bus stop, Toyara. The only
other living creatures you’re likely
to find there are a million hermit
crabs and a few goats.
For a dif ferent k ind of bat hing, Painumaya Resort is home to
Japan’s southernmost and westernmost onsen. Day use runs ¥1,500,
which includes three mixed-gender
heated outdoor pools (one other,
the largest, is out of service indefinitely), a swimming pool, and both
indoor and outdoor baths in segregated women’s and men’s areas. All
are situated amid a dramatic jungle
background beside the river. The
resort has a casual café and nice
restaurant where you can order
craft beers from Ishigakijima.
Clockwise from top: The Urauchi river;
Iriomote onsen; Snorkeling at Hoshisuna
beach; Beachview, Hoshisuna restaurant
INDULGE
Other than the Ishigaki beers (the
weizen gets top marks, even by German standards), Iriomote has some
excellent homegrown pineapple and
brown sugar. The former is sold at
unmanned stands for ¥100 throughout the island. The tasty brown sugar
makes its way into ice cream, yogurt
toppings, shaved ice, and just about
anything else that can be sweetened.
Iriomote beef, though no wagyu or
Kobe, is also nice to try. Restaurants
near your lodging are usually willing
to do pickups for dinner service.
STAY
Accommodation centers around the
island’s two main ports. To the north,
the area west of Uehara is the most
convenient because of its proximity
to popular attractions. Hoshisuna
Pension rents basic rooms above
the beach from ¥5,500 per person
and offers sunrise and sunset yoga
for guests. La Teada has sea-facing rooms on the southern end of
the island west of Ohara port and
charges around ¥11,000 per spacious
room. They rent bicycles too—a perfect way to reach Haemida beach.
Last, several campsites provide
cheap or free lodging. Hoshisuna
offers grassy space behind the pension
for ¥300 per camper and has tents for
rent. There’s also a free campground
behind Haemida with showers and a
large, covered cooking area.
GET AROUND
Other than renting a car or scooter,
t he main t ransportat ion on t he
island is one bus that runs both ways
along the island’s main road just
four times a day. If you plan ahead,
it serves the purpose and will drop
you everywhere you want to go. On
our trip the friendly bus driver even
made special stops to highlight wildlife and his favorite pineapple stand!
Most accommodations have their
own vehicles and are happy to take
you to/from the port.
DR. HIDEMI AKAI
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associate professor of the Plastic and
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in Tokyo. Trained at Harvard Medical School,
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skin care specialist, and the Akai Medical
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Cosmetic Surgery
Laser Treatment
Skin Care
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Other cosmetic procedures available. For fees and detailed information services, please refer to our homepage.
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A detached retina or glaucoma gives reason for caution;
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Nagatoro Advertorial
On Your
Doorstep
A natural niche in Nagatoro
1
W
hen planning an outdoor
weekend away in Japan,
ma ny Tok yo resident s’
thoughts turn to Nagatoro,
known for its giddy range of
scenic delights and adventure pursuits. Located close to the metropolis in
Saitama Prefecture, its natural beauty and exhilarating activities are less than two hours away. The
entire town is a designated prefectural natural
park, with the gorgeous Arakawa River running
through its middle. Here are a few of the delights
in store, all year round.
1
2
Chichibu Railway
20 min
Chichibu Railway
50 min
Chichibu Railway
50 min
O hana
batake ibu Chichibu
Se
Seibu Chichibu line
84 min
5 min walk
Yorii
Ku m
Ku m
Tobu Railway line
Tobu-tojo line
90 min
a g ay a
JR Takasaki line
60 min
a g ay a
Joetsu Shinkansen
40 min
Ikebukuro
Chichibu Railway
20 min
2
The Nagatoro station building is a piece of civic
history—it celebrated its 100th birthday last year.
The building was constructed in 1911 to feature a
Western-style structure that was the last word in
modernity back then. The Paleo Express steam
locomotive makes regular seasonal stops here.
☛ 529- 2 Nagatoro Nagatoromachi. Tel: 049466-0002. www.chichibu-railway.co.jp
08 • special advertising section
How to get there
Nagatoro
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE
3
Ueno
At the side of the onrushing Arakawa River,
rocks of up to 80 meters wide and 500 meters
long lie splayed out. The formation resembles
tatami, hence the name “Iwadatami,” meaning—you guessed it—“tatami mat.” Designated
as Japan's first scenic natural monument, the
beautiful formation was created naturally by
changes in the earth’s crust, combined with erosion from the river.
Tokyo
NAGATORO IWADATAMI
Nagatoro Tourist Information. Tel: 0494-66-3311. www.nagatoro.gr.jp
Photos courtesy of Nagatoro Turism
Nagatoro
Tokyo
Yokohama
Chiba
4
Hozenji Temple
5
6
RIVER BOATING
3
Board a traditional Japanese boat with an experienced boatman, and be punted by pole along the
Arakawa River. The green and rocky Horaijima,
along with the precipitous cliffs of ChichibuSekiheki—otherwise known as the “Red Walls
of Chichibu” will satisfy your viewing pleasure.
”Enjoy the gorgeous river valley and the natural
monument, Nagatoro Iwadatami, while being led
through the powerful rapids by the boatman’s
skillful paddling.
☛ Full course (6km) Adult ¥2,900/ Children
¥1,300. Half course (3km) Adult ¥1,550/ Children ¥750. Open: 9am-4pm.
Nagatoro Line-Kudari.Tel 0494-66-0950.
www.chichibu-railway.co.jp/line
HODOSAN JINJA
4
At the foot of Mt. Hodo, this shrine was built
almost 2,000 years ago in 110 CE. Many worshipers visit the shrine to pray for protection against
disaster, theft, and hardships, so you can take
the opportunity to take out some insurance. The
dragon sculptures of the shrine’s main building
of the Man’yoshu anthology (“The Collection of
Ten Thousand Leaves”). Tour the town on foot or
by bike and visit each of these seven temples, each
of which displays one of the flowers.
☛ Tosho-in; Dokoji; Henjoji; Fudou-ji; Shinshoji Temple; Hozenji; Tahoji. Nagatoro
Tourist Information. Tel: 0494-66-3311. www.
nagatoro.gr.jp
FUNADAMA MATSURI
7
are spread out in a variety of colors that come alive
against the natural backdrop.
☛ 1828 Nagatoro Nagatoro-machi. Tel: 049466-0042. www.hodosan-jinja.or.jp
SEVEN FLOWER TEMPLES
5
The seven flowers of autumn are Japanese bush
clover, Japanese pampas grass, arrowroot, fringed
pink, golden lace, boneset, and balloon flower.
These flowers have been adored for generations
and are featured many times in the famous poems
6
This annual summer festival is held every year on
August 15 in Nagatoro. Its origin lies in requesting that the gods of water protect the boatmen.
The event features mantosen, which are boats that
carry stacks of lanterns, and 3,500 fireworks from
both banks on Arakawa River.
SHOTENGAI
7
Just near Nagatoro station you’ll find the oldfashioned street Iwadatami Dori, where you can
immerse yourself in a ’60s atmosphere. Locally
made soba, sweetfish broiled with salt, handmade
manju (steamed buns) and omiyage are available
at the nostalgic shopping district.
Summer Fest
Festival
Special
From matsuri to hanabi, Metropolis helps you get out and enjoy the summer fun
statshot
japanomatopoeia
© sakura - Fotolia.com
What is the definitive
summer food?
1. Watermelon (80%)
2. Somen (cold noodles) (47.4%)
3. Shaved ice (46.6%)
4. Reimen (chilled Chinese noodles) (45.4%)
5. Edamame (26.8%)
6. Beer (26.6%)
7. Mugicha (barley tea) (23.2%)
8. Corn on the cob (19.5%)
9. Goya (12.5%)
10. Unagi (eel) (10.1%)
A ranking of the most used
onomatopoeic words during
the summer:
ベタベタ
1. beta-beta:
sticky
2. dara-dara:
ダラダラ
lazy
キラキラ
3. kira-kira:
twinkle, sparkle
4. waku-waku: ワクワク
excited
ギトギト
5. gito-gito:
oily, sticky, greasy
(more sweat!)
ウキウキ
6. wuki-wuki:
cheerful
7. gira-gira:
ギラギラ
glare, dazzle, glitter
イライラ
8. ira-ira:
irritated, annoyed
9. doki-doki:
ドキドキ
the sound of a heart
beating fast
10. yoro-yoro: ヨロヨロ
unsteady on one’s feet,
dizzy
In addition, our recommendation for the only word
you’ll need to use all season (apart from atsui) is jimejime (じめじめ, humid, wet and clammy). Use it and
you’ll be lavished with admiration over how pera-pera
(ぺらぺら, fluent) your Japanese is.
apps
Don’t have time to get
out and see the summer
hanabi? Watch CG sparks
on your phone with
HanaB (free). Bonus: you
can see fireworks shower
over the Eiffel Tower and
other faraway locations if
you’re feeling homesick.
http://meturl.com/
hanab
The WalkerTouch app,
by magazine WalkerPlus,
lists all the best fireworks
for the summer season
including best spots,
times, pictures from
previous years and even
a checklist of must-have
items for your hanabi
excursion: http://meturl.
com/walkertouch
Source: Asahi Group Holdings. http://meturl.com/summerranking
Budo Demonstration
MBprints T-shirt Printing Shop
A one-off Japanese Budo
Demonst rat ion w i l l be
held on August 11 to commemorate the reopening
of famed martial arts arena
the Tokyo Budokan. The
event will present the Japanese traditional martial
arts, and the dynamic and
spellbinding presentations
will be juicy viewing for
any enthusiasts of the disciplines. Among the skills on display will be
tameshigiri—the testing of a sword. Just don’t jump up on stage or you might
lose your nose. Also witness the finest practitioners of judo, kendo, kyudo,
karatedo, aikido, Shorinji Kempo, naginata and jukendo, along with a special
salute with antique muzzle-loaded arquebus rifles.
For a special seat at the side of the stage, pre-registration is required, and
is limited to the first 100 people. See the website for more information. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, so get on it right away so you can
see the fists and blades sing through the air from just the right vantage point.
If you’re content with a spot on the bleachers, just turn up on the day—and
lest you doubt—be aware that admission is absolutely free. The demonstration will start at 10am (doors open at 9am) and go on until 11:30am, leaving
you energized and inspired to enjoy your summer Saturday. Bring slippers as
shoes are strictly forbidden in the venue.
Main Budojo, Tokyo Budokan, 3-20-1 Ayase, Adachi-ku. Nearest stn:
Ayase. www.budo-demonstration.com
Trying to figure out how to stay cool and still
look stylish in the cloying summer heat?
Sure, you’ve worn t-shirts before. But in
extreme circumstances—not just any t-shirt
will do.
MBprints is your printing connection in
Japan. School or company having an event?
Traveling home and want to give unique
gifts from Japan? Working as a musician,
DJ, or event organizer? Pretty much any
conceivable situation can be improved with
a quality, custom t-shirt. That’s the philosophy of MBprints, and it has served the
company well over the years.
But don’t limit yourself to torso-covering
garments. Enshrine your memories on anything from tank-top to hoody—
even on underwear for those kinky bedtime moments.
Founded in Nagoya in 2006, MBprints came to nationwide prominence
when it raised more than one million yen for Tohoku last year. Their friendly
and helpful staff is bilingual, making orders, designs, and deliveries a breeze.
Furthermore, since the actual silkscreen printing is done in-house rather
than being farmed out to a separate factory, MBprints can quickly adjust
or modify an order so you get exactly what you want every time. Orders are
delivered right to your door, and customers on a budget can check out special offers online or by phone. “Like” MBprints on Facebook for even more
discounts!
MBprints, 301 Marutomi Bldg 1-7 Kosaka-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya.
Nearest stn: Fukiage. Tel: 052-846-7192. Open Mon-Fri 10am-7pm,
noon-5pm Sat. Email: [email protected]. www.mbprints.com
10 • special advertising section
tivals
fest picks
Here are our
top picks for
some not-tobe-missed
festivals this
summer
Matsuri
Fireworks
Uchiwa Matsuri
Katsushika Noryo
Fireworks
Kyoto-originated fan festival
feat. dozens of mikoshi. Jul
20-22. Yasaka Shrine, Saitama.
Kagurazaka Matsuri
Ground Cherry Pod Fair
on July 25&26, 5:30-10pm.
Awaodori dancers in yukata
on July 27&28, 7-9pm.
Kagurazaka Shopping District.
Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri
Okinawan drums and bon
dance. Jul 28, 11am-8pm.
Kabukicho, Shinjuku.
Torou Nagashi Festival
Float paper lanterns down
Sumida River to guide the
spirits to the other world after
Obon. Aug 8, 6:45-8pm. Azuma
Bridge, Asakusa.
Kawachi Ondo (pictured)
Osaka-originated live
Japanese folk songs
accompanied by hundreds of
local Bon dancers. Aug 29-30,
from 5pm. Kinshicho station.
10,800 fireworks. Jul 24,
7:20-8:20pm. Rain date: Jul 25.
Edo River, Shibamata baseball
ground.
Kanagawa Shimbun
Fireworks
10,000 fireworks. Aug 1,
7:15-8:30pm, free. Rain date:
Aug 2. Minato Mirai Rinko
Park.
Makuhari Beach
Fireworks
7:30-8:30pm, ¥2,000-3,000.
Rain date: Aug 5. Makuhari
Kaihin Park, Chiba.
Ageo Fireworks
7pm, free. Rain date: Aug 11.
Arakawa riverside, Saitama.
Tokyo Bay Fireworks
7-8:20pm. Rain date: Aug 12.
Harumi Kaijo.
Other
Kawasaki Daishi Furin-ichi
Wind chime market with over
30,000 wind bells. Until Jul 22,
10am-6pm. Kawasaki Daishi
Heikenji Temple, Kanagawa.
Festival Brazil
Cultural fest to commemorate
the country's independence. Jul
21-22, 11am-7pm. Yoyogi Park.
Aloha Yokohama
Japan's biggest Hawaiian
festival. Jul 27-28, From10am.
Osanbashi Yokohama
International Passenger
Terminal.
Asagaya Tanabata Festival
700m-long covered arcade
gets festooned with star
festival decorations. Aug 3-9,
all day. Asagaya Pearl Center.
Mizukake Matsuri World
Festa
Get soaking wet at Thailand's
Songkran (New Year) festival.
Aug 10-12, from 10am. Keyaki
Square, Saitama.
For a complete list of matsuri, fireworks and other festivals, see our listings (p.24)
Rental Bike Kizuki
As of July 21 you’ll be able
to pick up a motorbike
around Japan at any one of
numerous highway service
areas. This is a handy new
limited-period collaboration between the Central
Nippon Expressway and
Rental Bike Kizuki to make
renting a bike and dropping it off as easy and fluid
as possible. What’s more—the first ten customers to make a reservation will
get a 50% discount.
For folks not keen on the long-term financial commitment of owning
a bike—and who don’t have the garage space; those planning a road trip
around spectacular landscapes; or for those who want to try different models—everyone can rent a bike with minimum fuss and maximum reliability
through Rental819 Kizuki.
Launched in 2007 as a motorbike vendor, five branches soon transformed
into 97 franchised shops. Today, Rental819 Kizuki rents bikes from Hokkaido
to Okinawa, and has garnered extensive media coverage.
Only the latest models are on offer, and with all safety equipment for rent.
Foreigners need not worry about insurance or annoying bureaucracy with
Rental819 Kizuki. Just bring your international driving license, national driving license, passport, and credit card, and one of their constantly maintained
bikes will be purring under you in no time. Rental 819 are happy to answer
English inquiries via emails. For information on the rental process, required
documents and insurance fees, check out our write up at: www.japantourist.
jp/view/rental-819-kizuki
Head Office: 1-6-11 Sakura-cho, Kawaguchi, Saitama. Tel: 0120-819-147.
Open 10am-7pm (variable by shop). Email: [email protected]. www.
rental819.com/english
Feature
MY
shi
mo
da
Splashing around
in Shizuoka
A
ussie photographer Paul Stevens gives us a glimpse of a
typical summer workday in
Japan. These photos were the
result of his long, gruelling
sessions (or so he said) at the White Beach
Hotel on Ohama Beach in Shimoda and on
the burning white sands of nearby Shirahama. Julia Nakanishi and Aika Honda are
the subjects of his studious work. We asked
Paul, Julia and Aika some unchallenging
hot-weather questions to show they’re not
just pretty faces—except Paul, that is.
The
Location
White Beach Hotel
The White Beach Hotel is located just 30
seconds from one of the most picturesque
beaches in Japan—Ohama Beach. The closest
hotel, bar and restaurant to the beach, the
hotel is convenient for a shower, a beer or
cocktail, or even a wood-fired pizza for a great
meal aprés beach. Their new restaurant, Mario
Mare, is a beachside Italian dining experience
opened in collaboration with celebrity chef
Mario Frittoli (former Iron Chef and owner of
the popular Mario I Sentieri in Nishi Azabu).
White Beach Hotel, 1902 Kisami, Shimodashi, Shizuoka-ken. Tel: 0558-23-2039.
http://whitebeach-shimoda.com. Mario
I Sentieri, Conforia Nishi Azabu 4-1-10
Nishi Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03 6418 7072.
mario-frittoli.com
The Accessories
T-Five
T-Five is a premium order-made bracelet based on the Eastern spiritual
concept of the cosmic force and the five elements. The latter is an ancient
Chinese theory regarding the universe, while the cosmic force is a
collective name for the earth, sun and moon. Based on the individual’s
date of birth, these handmade bracelets are designed to bring good
fortune in love, employment, and wealth. Their newest item is the T-Five
Shooting Star, which is specifically designed to spiritually strengthen
its wearers and make their dreams come true. T-Five Tokyo Cosmic
Forces Five Elements. Tel: 03-5772-7587 http://www.t-5.co.jp
Feature
The Models
Aika Honda
Where are you from and how long have you
been in Japan? I’m from Tokyo. I grew up here,
so I’ve been here for 19 years! What do you
do when you’re not modelling on the beach?
Studying, working at Hooters. Where do you
go to relax? I like to go to the onsen. What’s
your favorite neighborhood? Harajuku. Do
you agree with nuclear power? Not in Japan
because of the earthquake risk.
Julia Nakanishi
Where are you from and how long have you
been in Japan? I’m from Austria, and I’ve been
here for one and a half years. What do you do
when you’re not modelling on the beach?
Cooking, working out, hanging out with friends.
Where do you go to relax? I go to the beach,
get a massage, or relax in a bar. What’s your
favorite neighborhood? I love the Minato
Mirai area in Yokohama. It’s so pretty with all
the parks, the harbor, and the night view. It has
such a relaxed mood.
Photography by
Paul Stevens
Assistant
Photographer
Adrian Venner
(leixialong
@gmail.com)
Models
Julia Nakanishi
and Aika Honda
Photographed in and
around the White
Beach Hotel in
Shimoda.
http://whitebeachshimoda.com
Accessories by
T-FIVE
The
Photographer
Paul Stevens
Photo by Adrian Verner
Where are you from? Perth, Western
Australia (the most isolated city in the
world… fact). Where have you lived?
All over the world—and on thousands
of airplanes. How did you come to
pick up a camera? My Dad gave me
one when I was eight years old. I still
have it. I called it my “Time Machine”
to revisit the past. I have had a time
machine in my hands ever since.
Favorite spot in Japan? Shirahama
Beach, Shimoda (where these photos
were taken). It’s known as Aussie
Beach since the sand is white and as
its only three hours from Tokyo, you’ll always find an Aussie
there. I also love the vibrant streets of Tokyo. What would be
the ultimate shoot location in Tokyo? The Prime Minister’s
Residence. Not too many people have seen the inside but
I shoot there when I photograph for the Australian embassy
diplomatic visits. Plus anywhere else I am not supposed to
shoot. Favorite place in Tokyo (outside of work). Inokashira
Park which is two minutes from my house. I still have a camera
with me though, as you never know when the aliens will land.
Contact Paul at www.paulstevensphotography.com
Arts & Entertainment All the best in arts & culture across the metropolis
Courtesy of Yucca
YUCCA
music
High-speed Tokyo’s
rock ‘n’ roll slow life
By Iain Maloney
T
okyo five-piece Yucca
have been mak ing
music since 2003 yet
are only now getting
a rou nd to releasi ng
t hei r t h i rd a lbu m.
Their first disc, 2005’s
Laboratory Products,
was followed a mere
eight months later by
The Orange Sun In The Room.
“We weren’t waiting,” insists keyboard player
Yuki Kawana. “It just took that long.” A number of
other projects, such as a brilliant solo album for
Kawana, and real life got in the way—most dramatically when drummer Ayako Shinoda broke
her lower back in 2007.
A necessary hiatus and the recruitment of
new drummer Kazuyuki Chujou lengthened the
delay, but Yucca was always part of their lives.
“Sometimes we got together for sessions and
made music, and then we got drunk and talked
nonsense,” says Kawana. Shinoda moved onto
keyboards and percussion and slowly Yucca
began putting together album number three, Our
Journey (to anywhere we want).
“The title is symbolic,” says Kawana. “It’s an
image of the last six years. We each have separate
lives—our own journeys—but everyone in Yucca
comes together to share the music.”
The album itself feels like Yucca have been on a
journey. From its initial post-rock roots the sound
has grown and spread in a multitude of directions.
A band that always defies easy categorisation, they
themselves have settled on “minimal lo-fi indie
rock.” In truth, they sit somewhere at the centre of
a Venn diagram of indie pop, rock, post-rock, electronica and jazz.
To describe specific influences is difficult, but
all five members’ influences and secret tastes go
into the sound. “When we were young we let only
easily recognizable music into our music, but now
everything seeps in,” guitarist Yusaku Enomoto
says. “For example, vocal lines that sound like
speaking could come from hip hop or Bob Dylan
or Sano Motoharu. We don’t know exactly—we
just let it percolate into our music.”
Enomoto believes the fundamental Yucca
sound hasn’t changed. “Drummer Chujou-kun
joined and we became a five-piece. Another
layer was added to the sound, but we were able
to remain a simple ensemble.” There is a line
through their aesthetic that hasn’t been diverted
by the enforced game of musical chairs—and
that is the groove.
“Someone star ts to play a phrase,” says
Kawana. “The others catch it and spin it out.” Each
song rests on the solid foundation of Chujou’s jazzinflected drumming and Katsuyuki Umezaki’s
strutting bass. “We build up each part from there,”
Enomoto explains. “Sometimes it works smoothly
and sometimes it’s rubbish.”
One noticeable difference with Our Journey is
the prevalence of vocal tracks. While instrumentals were the hallmark of the first two records, and
at live shows microphones were more for thanking
than singing, that has changed. Was it a conscious
decision?
“If singing is needed we do that,” says Enomoto. “But if a song has reached a high degree of
perfection as an instrumental, we don’t add anything more.” Why the change? “At that time [1st
album] there were many post-rock bands around
so we were influenced by that. Our last work was
the same. But more and more I wanted to sing, and
now that we’ve lost our resistance to words the
proportion has gone up.”
Yucca is about doing what they want, their way,
and not letting any pressure into the camp. As the
title suggests, it’s about the journey, travelling
wherever you want at your own pace.
In the liner notes to Orange Sun Enomoto writes,
“It all just started out from my fantasy, imagining
a band that has everything that I wanted to hear
… with every element that I liked in music … and
ever since, we kept playing as we wished without
having even the slightest thought about selling out
or anything.”
Their MySpace page puts it more simply: “We
love music, calm and impulsive, sophisticated
and chaotic—and much beer.”
The album is available from abcdefg*records,
from the usual download merchants and on good
old tactile CD from actual real-world record shops.
Tour dates are currently being planned.
http://yucca-sounds.com
‘
‘Beat’
art
Takeshi
Kitano
“Gosse de Peintre”
By C. B. Liddell
M
aking movies is great if you want the
fame and excitement, but for real
artistic fulfillment there’s nothing
like becoming an actual paint-andbrush artist. This seems to be the conclusion that
leading Japanese filmmaker “Beat” Takeshi Kitano
has come to over his long and successful career.
As his movies increasingly run out of steam,
Takeshi has been devoting a growing portion of his
time to creating artworks in paint or sculpture. In
2010 the Foundation Cartier, a prestigious culture
outlet in the French capital even granted him carte
blanche to curate a show of his own art. The result
was “Gosse de Peintre,” French for “Painter’s Kid,”
a reference to his own father, who was a house
painter. This Paris show has now been lovingly
recreated at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery.
While Takeshi’s definitive movies gave him
the image of a hard-boiled tough guy, in his art he
comes across as naive and innocent, with childish
doodles and garish acrylic caricatures. The exhibition also includes installations, including one
where scale models of animals have been transformed otaku-like into weapons, a stall where
participants can fire paintball guns at cut-outs of
dinosaurs, a machine that produces random Jackson Pollock-style paintings, and a large, clanking
cross between a steam engine and a pedal-powered sewing machine, complete with two giant
disembodied feet (complete with socks!).
Takeshi is dismissive of his abilities, but paints
and makes art for the sheer joy of it. While it is easy
to sneer at much of the output in this exhibition, it
photo by Yusuke Kitamura
japan beat
Koichi Hanafusa
The Fujirockers
keep on truckin’
By Shawn Despres
I
t’s fitting that Tokyo music journalist and
photographer Koichi Hanafusa is editorin-chief of Fujirockers.org—the Fuji Rock
Festival’s official fan site. He has been
a staunch supporter of the fest since its
birth. And without him, Fuji Rock might never
have even been conceived.
Enamored with music since his early teens,
as a high-school student Hanafusa volunteered
at Osaka’s long-running Haru Ichiban festival,
before promoting gigs at university.
Keen to learn the language, Hanafusa moved
to England in 1980 for two years.
“There were only a few Japanese people in the
town I was living and and none of them were pretty
ladies, so I didn’t need to speak any Japanese,” he
quips, with his trademark humor.
While in England, Hanafusa consumed every
music event he could, including the Glastonbury
Festival of Contemporar y Performing Arts—
which blew him away.
“That was a turning point in my life,” explains
Hanafusa. “After that, I wanted to tell everyone I
knew about the experiences I had there.”
After returning to Japan, Hanafusa’s heart
remained in England—specifically on a certain
piece of farmland in the West Country.
“In 1984, I told my boss, ‘My mom is sick. Can
I have a few days off?’ My mom was fine. I wanted
time off to go to Glastonbury again.”
© Office Kitano Inc. Photo Olivier Ouadah
is also hard to resist the playful enthusiasm with
which these works have been created. Takeshi
clearly had more fun making the artworks for this
exhibition than he did making his films. The cynical tough guy act was clearly a front.
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, until Sep 2. See
exhibition listings (Shinjuku/Ikebukuro) for
details.
That visit completed Hanafusa’s transformation into a music journalist. He started writing
about the festival for every Japanese publication
that would publish him.
That same year he met Masa Hidaka, from
local promoter Smash. Impressed by Hanafusa’s
tales, Hidaka asked Hanafusa to take him to the
famed event.
“I heard Masa had thought, ‘Shit, I want to do
something like this.’ People told me he started
looking for a site for Fuji Rock after we came back
from Glastonbury.”
For his part, Hanafusa would go on to write
books, produce records, and host a weekly music
segment on T V show Funky Tomato. He and
Hidaka were sometime collaborators on gigs and
DJ parties.
At the first Fuji Rock in 1997, Hanafusa reported
live from the festival and posted stories and photos on the festival site.
“There were three of us doing the work. We
wanted to share our experiences with those who
couldn’t make it or were going to arrive later.”
As Fuji Rock grew, Hanafusa created Fujirockers.org, a site promoting the festival’s culture all
year round, and Fuji Rock Express, which publishes reviews and reports during the event. It also
acts as an archive for all previous festival info.
Now Fujirockers.org and Fuji Rock Express
have more than 50 Japanese- and English-speaking staff sharing insights and info leading up to the
fest, and giving folks the lowdown on what’s going
on around Fuji Rock’s massive grounds.
Hanafusa hopes the sites might inspire people
in Japan and overseas to experience Fuji Rock for
themselves.
“People should come enjoy the fresh air, nice
people, lovely vibes, great music, and delicious
food,” Hanafusa says. “It’s boring to just check
your bloody computer monitor all weekend long.
Come be a part of this with us.”
Fujirockers.org; www.fujirockexpress.net;
www.fujirock.com.
Koichi Hanafusa also runs www.smashingmag.com, one of the top bilingual music
sites in Japan.
Wrap up the city
Shopping
• Shop for wine from
anywhere in Japan
• 25%~35% discount
on listed wines
• Selection cases
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dining, traveling, shopping—and
living—needs in Japan
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a specialty
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others
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AGENDA
Metpod
By Dan Grunebaum
Courtesy of Eleven
exhibition
The Garden of
Belly Button
� The intimate Hara Museum in Shinagawa has
provided the launchpad for a number of influential
Japanese artists. The next in its “Hara Documents”
series of emerging artists’ exhibitions just might
do the same for painter Masako Ando. A student
with the same teacher that taught the acclaimed
Yoshitomo Nara, Ando also shares his obsession
with the secret lives of children. “The Garden
of Belly Button” presents 17 of her meticulously
worked oil paintings and pencil drawings, many
of them exhibited for the first time.
Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, through
Aug 19. See exhibition listings (other areas)
for details.
clubbing
A Tribute to
Larry Levan
© Masako Ando Courtesy of Tomio Koyama Gallery
show
Dino Kingdom 2012
� Long before Tokyo’s Vision or even Eleven,
there was Paradise Garage, the fabulous prototype of the modern nightclub. At its helm was
mythic DJ Larry Levan. Revered for sculpting
house music out of the materials of late ’70s disco,
Levan was just beginning to be lionized as a godfather of club culture when his life was cut short in
1992 at age 38. But before he died, Levan pulled off
a triumphant Japan tour to celebrate his July 20th
birthday. A Tribute to Larry Levan honors the DJ’s
birthday with two of his stalwart sidemen, DJ Victor Rosado and singer Ce Ce Rogers, as well Japan’s
DJ Nori, who supported Levan on his Japan tour.
Eleven, Jul 28. See club listings for details.
� New dinosaur species from China, as yet
unseen in Japan, form part of the latest mega
dinosaur exhibition to enliven Tokyo summers in
recent years. The show celebrates 40 years of diplomatic relations with China and among its more
than 200 skeletons are newly discovered species
such as the spectacularly armored Sinoceratops,
unearthed only in 2010. No less than 10 different
sub-species of the ever-popular Tyrannosaurus
will also be on display, situated amid giant georamas created to simulate the latest findings on their
habitats and lifestyles.
Makuhari Messe, Jul 21-Sep 23. See other
events listings for details.
“The Garden of Belly Button”
musical
West Side Story
festival
concert
Jazz Art Sengawa Tao
© Masaaki Ikeda
� The glitzy new Hikarie retail and entertainment
tower opened in Shibuya in April, but core facility
Tokyu Theatre Orb remained in hibernation. That
ended this week with the debut of the BernsteinSondheim-Robbins classic West Side Story in the
uniquely shaped, purpose-built musical theater.
The production is the Broadway revival that’s been
reintroducing audiences to the tale of romance
amid gang warfare on Manhattan’s West Side, and
is produced by the writer of the book, the legendary Arthur Laurents.
Tokyu Theatre Orb, through Aug 5. See stage
listings for details.
© Joan Marcus, 2010
� 17 countries. 400 cities. Five million spectators. Taiko troupe Tao has proved the appeal of its
own drama-infused take on Japan’s drumming
tradition with numerous overseas tours. Based
in Aso-Kuju National Park in southern Kyushu,
the group had a sensational official debut at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2004. Under founder
Ikuo Fujitaka’s vision, the group—in contrast to
the understated Kodo—offer a technicolor, costume-filled presentation with more than a whiff of
Cirque du Soleil razzle-dazzle.
Yokohama Blitz, Jul 27-29 and Akasaka Blitz,
Aug 3-5. See concerts (popular) for details.
� From a collection of Japan’s most eccentric
musicians to a one-meter-square jazz club made
from Japanese screens, Jazz Art Sengawa is the
antithesis of a traditional jazz festival. Now in its
fifth incarnation, the event is the brainchild of
leftfield vocalist Koichi Makigami, avant-garde
cellist Hiromichi Sakamoto and jazz bassist Kiyoto
Fujiwara. Three days of performances explode out
of the Tadao Ando-designed Sengawa Theater in
suburban Chofu, culminating in a staging of John
Zorn’s notorious piece Cobra.
Sengawa Theater, July 20-22. See concert listings (jazz/world) for details.
Agenda Listings
hot list
20Concerts
20Stage
21 Dance
21 Clubbing
22 Exhibitions
23 Sports
24 Festivals
24 Other Events
24 Fireworks
Concerts
Popular
Song & Danc'n
Feat. Johnny's boy band
Playzone. Until Aug 11.
Various times, from ¥8,400.
www.johnnys-net.jp
The Ventures
American instrumental
band. On tour until
Sep 17. Various times
and locations. www.
theventures.com
Super Superb
Feat. Kinoco Hotel,
Lastorderz, DJ Ishikawa,
Kaisoku Tokyo. Jul 20, 7pm,
¥2,800 (adv)/¥3,300 (door)
+ 1d. Koenji High. Nearest
stn: Koenji. www.koenjihigh.com
At Que Natsuno Jin
Feat. blues rock band
from Kyoto So-ongi and
all-female rock quartet
Kinoco Hotel. Jul 21, 7pm,
¥2,800 (adv)/¥3,300 (door)
+ 1d. Club Que. Nearest
stn: Shimokitazawa. www.
ukproject.com/que
Magazine Gap in Tokyo
Acclaimed eclectic pop/
rock band from London. Jul
21, 8pm, ¥2,500. Ringoya.
Nearest stn: Ikebukuro.
www.ringoya.org
Kelly Joe Phelps
Folk/blues singersongwriter. Jul 23, 7:30pm,
¥4,000. Shinsekai. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. www.
shinsekai9.jp
XXX
Tenniscoats, Jimanica,
Hiraku Suzuki. Jul 23,
8pm, ¥2,000 (adv), ¥2,500
+1d (door). Super Deluxe.
Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.
super-deluxe.com
Computer Heavy Metal
Feat. Coh (Raster-Noton)
Hardbeats & Metal Guitar
Set, Vovivav, Shotaro Hirata
(Moph Records), and DJ:
Glmn+. Jul 24, 8pm, ¥2,000.
Super Deluxe. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. www.
super-deluxe.com
Radical Music Network
Feat. Mimi Maura, Che
Sudaka, DJ Scratchy
etc. Jul 25, 6pm, ¥4,000
(adv)/¥4,500 (door). CAY.
Nearest stn: Omotesando.
www.japonicus.com/
rmnspe7.html
Elvin Bishop Band
Blues-rock legend. Jul 25,
7:30pm, ¥7,000. Garden.
Nearest stn: Shimokitazawa.
www.gar-den.in. Jul 26,
7:30pm, ¥7,000. Thumbs
Up. Nearest stn: Yokohama.
www.stovesyokohama.com
Fuji Rock Festival
The Stone Roses, Noel
Gallagher, Radiohead, Buddy
Guy, etc. Jul 27-29. ¥16,800
(1 day), ¥42,800 (3 days).
Naeba Ski Resort. Nearest
stn: Echigo Yuzawa. www.
fujirockfestival.com
Submit your event at metropolis.co.jp/listings/submit
Milkyway 2nd Anniversary
Okinawan bands feat.
JaaBourbonz, South, Banbi
etc. Jul 27, 6:30pm, ¥2,500
(adv)/¥3,000 (door) +1d.
Milkyway. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-6416-3227.
Starship featuring Mickey
Thomas
Feat. Mickey Thomas. Jul
27-28. Various times, ¥6,5008,500. Billboard Live. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. www.billboardlive.com
Talking, Kreva, Nikiie, Juju,
etc. Aug 11, 12:30pm, ¥8,500.
Yumenoshima Park. Nearest
stn: Shin-Kiba. www.mbs.jp/
jounetsu/live/2012
World Happiness Festival
Yellow Magic Orchestra,
Kreva, Kaela Kimura, etc.
Aug 12, 12:30pm, ¥8,500.
Yumenoshima Park.
Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba. www.
world-happiness.com
Japan Anison Cup
Masaaki Sakai and Crazy Ken
Band. Jul 29, 6 & 9pm, ¥9,00015,000. Billboard Live. Nearest
Live anime song showcase
with Shoko Nakagawa as MC .
Aug 13, 6:30pm, ¥6,800. Tokyo
International Forum Hall C.
Nearest stn: Yurakucho. www.
tv-tokyo.co.jp/event/music/
anison2012.html
Dumpstaphunk
Under the Influence
Bomba
New Orleans' hottest funk-rock
band feat. Stanton Moore
meets Black Bottom Brass
Band. Jul 30, 7pm, ¥6,000. Club
Quattro. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.club-quattro.com
Buddy Guy
American blues guitarist and
singer. Jul 30, 7pm, ¥7,500
(adv) +1d. O-East. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5458-4681.
Absolute Live Japan
Jack Bruce, Char and Gota.
Aug 2-3. Various times, ¥7,5009,000. Billboard Live. Nearest
Rock In Japan Fes
Feat. Maximum the Hormone,
Kyari Pamyu Pamyu,
Shakalabbits, etc. Aug 3-5.
10am-8:30pm, ¥11,500 (adv
1 day), ¥22,000 (adv 2 days),
¥30,000 (adv 3 days). National
Hitachi Kaigan Park. Nearest
stn: Nakane. www.rijfes.jp/12
A-Nation Music Week
Outdoor J-pop music festival.
Aug 3-12. Various times. Yoyogi
National Gymnasium. Nearest
stn: Meiji-Jingumae. Tel:
03-3468-1171.
Kat McDowell presents
Spirit Rock Vol. 5 X Cinema
Amigo Movie Night
Acoustic show and surfer girl
flick "First love" screening. Aug
4, 6pm, Donation for music,
¥1000 for movie. Surfers Zushi
Beach. www.katmusic.jp
Feat. guitar virtuoso Miyavi
and 80Kidz. Aug 15, 7:30pm,
¥3,500 +1d. Liquidroom.
Nearest stn: Ebisu. Tel:
03-5464-0800.
The Beach Boys
Brian Wilson and surviving
cofounders return to Japan.
Aug 16, 4:30pm, ¥8,000-9,000.
QVC Marine Field. Nearest stn:
Kaihin-Makuhari. Tel: 043-2961227.
Tony Sciuto
American songwriter,
performer and record
producer. Aug 16-17. Various
times, ¥7,000-9,000. Cotton
Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo. www.
cottonclubjapan.co.jp
0808 Session
Feat. Shutoku Mukai (Zazen
Boys). Aug 8, 7:30pm, ¥3,300
(adv) ¥3,800 (door). Show Boat.
Nearest stn: Koenji. www.
mukaishutoku.com
Rising Sun Rock Festival
Superfly, Perfume, Kazuyoshi
Saito, N'Shukugawa Boys,
Rovo, Tha Blue Herb, Brahman,
Asian Kung-Fu Generation, etc.
Aug 10-11. 10am, ¥18,000 (2
days). Ishikari Bay New Port.
rsr.wess.co.jp
MTV Zushi Fes
Feat. Dai Hirai, Crystal Kay,
Scandal, Shikuramen, and
other artists. Aug 10-12. 12pm,
¥7,800. Riviera Marina Special
Stage. Nearest stn: Zushi. www.
riviera-z.jp/live
Jonetsu Tairiku
Special Live
Feat. Fumiya Fujii, Sing Like
Dionne Warwick
R&B and soul singer. Jul
19-21. Various times, ¥21,000.
Blue Note. Nearest stn:
Omotesando. www.bluenote.
co.jp
Ryukyu Festival
Okinawan bands. Jul 22, 4pm,
¥6,800 (adv), ¥7,300 (door).
Hibiya Outdoor Theater.
Nearest stn: Hibiya. www.
mandicompany.co.jp
Masato Honda
Big band jazz. Jul 22-23.
Various times, ¥7,000.
Blue Note. Nearest stn:
co.jp
Shakatak
Fusion, jazz. Jul 23-24. Various
times, ¥6,500-9,800. Billboard
Live. Nearest stn: Roppongi.
www.billboard-live.com
Cubic Star Minimal
Orchestra
Hiromi The Trio Project
Marshall Bruce Mathers III
returns to Japan after nine
years. Aug 17, 5:30pm, ¥9,00020,000. QVC Marine Field.
Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari.
www.creativeman.co.jp
Earth Celebration
Kodo, Hiromitsu Agatsuma,
etc. Aug 17-19. Various tickets.
Ogi Town, Sado Island, Niigata
Prefecture. www.kodo.or.jp/
ec/en
Summer Sonic
Flumpool
Boom Boom Satellites, AA=
and Fear, and Loathing in Las
Vegas. Aug 8, 7pm, ¥3,800 +1d.
Zepp Tokyo. Nearest stn: Aomi.
Tel: 03-3599-0710.
UK Soul feat. Jazzie B and
Caron Wheeler. Until Jul 21.
Various times, ¥7,500-9,500.
Billboard Live. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.billboardlive.com
Eminem
Trevor Horn
Vol.0
Soul II Soul
2manydjs, Soulwax, Basement
Jaxx, etc. Aug 17, 10pm, ¥9,000.
Makuhari Messe. Nearest
stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. www.
creativeman.co.jp/sonicmania
Sonicmania
Green Day, Rihanna,
Sigor sfrwrrsd.fRos, New
Order, etc. Aug 18-19.
11am, ¥15,000(adv.1
day), ¥27,000(adv. 2 days).
Makuhari Messe. Nearest
stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. www.
summersonic.com
Feat. Lol Creme and Ash Soan
from Producers. Aug 5-6.
Zainichi Korean R&B, jazz,
hip-hop, and reggae singer.
Jul 20, various times, ¥7,0009,000. Cotton Club. Nearest stn:
Tokyo. www.cottonclubjapan.
co.jp
Eight-piece band that mixes
percussion, twin bass, twin
drum, keyboard, guitar and tap
dance . Jun 25, 5:30pm; Jul 24,
7pm, ¥2,500 +1d. Quarter Note.
Nearest stn: Tamachi. www.
cubista-minimal.com
American acoustic guitarist
and singer-songwriter. Aug
4, 6&9pm, ¥4,500-6,500.
Kina Grannis
Pushim
Osakan pop-rock band. Aug 19,
6pm; Aug 20, 6:30pm, ¥5,800
(adv) +1d. Tokyo International
Forum Hall A. Nearest stn:
Yurakucho. Tel: 03-5221-9038.
The-Dream
R&B singer and record
producer. Aug 19-20. Various
Naoki Henmi
Legendary gigolo feat.
underground artists Kan
Mikami, Kei Nemoto, Manabu
Yusasa, Yoko Nagisa, and much
more. Aug 19, 6:30pm, ¥3,300.
Super Deluxe. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.super-deluxe.
com
SWV
American female R&B trio
Sisters with Voices. Aug 21-22.
Jazz/World
Jazz Art Sengawa
Cellist Hiromichi Sakamoto
spearheads this avant-garde
jazz festival. Until Jul 22,
various times, ¥3,000-5,000.
Sengawa Theater. Nearest stn:
Senagawa. www.sengawagekijo.jp
Feat. Anthony Jackson and
Simon Phillips. Jul 24-25.
Various times, ¥8,400. Blue
Note. Nearest stn: Omotesando.
www.bluenote.co.jp
Estelle
R&B vocalist. Jul 25-26. Various
times, ¥7.800-9,800. Billboard
New Cool Collective
Eight-piece band from the
Netherlands. Jul 26-27. Various
times, ¥6,500. Blue Note.
www.bluenote.co.jp
Tao
Japanese drum performance
group. Jul 27-29. Various times,
¥5,900. Yokohama Blitz. Nearest
stn: Shintakashima. Aug 3-5,
various times, ¥5,900. Akasaka
Blitz. Nearest stn: Akasaka.
www.drum-tao.com
Gerald Clayton Trio
Go to www.meturl.com/listings
Henry Kapono
Hawaiian recording artist.
Aug 1, various times, ¥5,8008,000. Cotton Club. Nearest stn:
co.jp
Patrice Rushen
Jazzy soul singer feat.
Leon“Ndugu”Chancler,
Everette Harp, Paul Jackson
Jr. and Rhonda Smith. Aug 3-6.
6:30&9pm, ¥7,800-10,000.
Cotton Club. Nearest stn:
co.jp
The Legendary Count
Basie Orchestra
Big band jazz feat. Keiko
Lee. Aug 5-7. Various times,
¥8,400. Blue Note. Nearest stn:
co.jp
Na Leo
Hawaiian music feat. Aureana
Tseu and Kumu Hula Kamaka
Kukona. Aug 7-8. Various
Osibisa
Afro rock group formed in
UK in 1969. Aug 8-11. 5&8pm,
¥6,800-9,000. Cotton Club.
Nearest stn: Tokyo. www.
Who Is This Bitch Anyway
Marlena Shaw feat. Chuck
Rainey, David T. Walker
Larry Nash, and Harvey
Mason. Aug 9-11. Various
times, ¥8,000-10,000.
Classical
Choir of St. John's College,
University of Cambridge
Conductor: Andrew
Nethsingha. Jul 27, 7pm,
¥4,000-6,000. Tokyo Opera
City Concert Hall. Nearest stn:
Hatsudai. Tel: 03-5353-0788.
Natsuyasumi Orchestra
Land
Family-oriented classical
orchestra event. Jul 29, 3pm,
¥3,000-3,500 (adults), ¥1,0001,500 (MS). Kumagaya Kaikan.
Nearest stn: Kumagaya. Tel:
048-523-2535.
Arts Shower
Zoorasian Brass and rabbitfaced (really) String Quartet of
Tsuru-Usagi. Jul 30-31. 2pm,
¥1,000. Tokyo Opera City.
Nearest stn: Hatsudai. www.
operacity.jp
Keisuke Toyama
Piano recital. Aug 1, 7pm,
¥3,000-3,800. Suntory Hall.
Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. Tel: 03-3584-9999.
Jackie Evancho
Brazilian singer-songwriter,
guitarist and arranger.
Aug 12-13. Various times,
¥8,400-10,500. Cotton Club.
Drumstruck
Percussion entertainment. Aug
14-26. Various times, ¥8,000.
The Galaxy Theater. Nearest
stn: Kita-shinagawa. Tel:
03-5769-0011.
Blast
Drum Corps and marching
band entertainment. Aug
16-Sep 2. Various times,
¥7,000-10,000. Tokyo
International Forum Hall C.
Nearest stn: Yurakucho. www.
blast-tour.jp
Jill-Decoy Association
Versions
Experimental, jazz, hip
hop music feat. Monju,
SJQ & Kezzardrix, etc.
Aug 18, 7:30pm, ¥2,800.
Super Deluxe. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. www.
super-deluxe.com
David Benoit
Feat. Greg Mathieson,
Abraham Laboriel and Keith
Carlock. Jul 28-31. Various
times, ¥8,400. Blue Note.
www.bluenote.co.jp
American jazz fusion/smooth
jazz pianist, composer
and producer. Aug 21-24.
6:30pm&9pm, ¥7,500-9,500.
Cotton Club. Nearest stn:
co.jp
Hilary Grist
Patti Austin
Tito Jackson
Orquesta Nudge Nudge
Multi-instrumentalist and
singer-songwriter. Aug 1-4.
Various times, ¥8,400. Blue
Note. Nearest stn: Omotesando.
www.bluenote.co.jp
Dancehall reggae feat. Reggae
Legends with Leroy Sibbles
(The Heptones). Aug 30-Sep 1.
Cotton Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo.
www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp
Joyce
Tokyo Festival of
Intangible Cultures
Vancouver's art-pop, torch-folk
songstress. Jul 30-31. Various
times, ¥2,500-4,500. Cotton
Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo. www.
Steely & Clevie
Akira Miyagawa &
Ensemble Vega
Fusion and bass. Aug 12-14.
Feat. Akiko, Toku, Hideo
Oyama, "Matzz" (Quasimode).
Aug 18, 6&9pm, ¥4,800-6,800.
Larry Carlton Quartet
American a cappella gospel
music sextet. Aug 29-31.
Marcus Miller
Jazz pianist and composer. Jul
27-28. Various times, ¥5,5007,500. Cotton Club. Nearest stn:
co.jp
Carnival Music from Haiti,
Sanam Marvi, Hayashi
Ensembles, etc. Jul 7-27.
Various times, various
tickets. Kioi Hall, Sogetsu
Hall and other venues. www.
mukeibunka.com
Take 6
American R&B and jazz music
singer. Aug 27-28. Various
Yasuhiro Yoshigaki lead
percussion ensemble . Aug 28,
7:30pm, ¥3,000 w/1d. Super
Deluxe. Nearest stn: Roppongi.
www.super-deluxe.com
Composer and pianist with
his octet. Aug 11, 11:30am &
4pm, ¥3,000-4,000. Saitama
Arts Theater. Nearest stn:
Yonohonmachi. www.saf.or.jp
American classical crossover
artist. Aug 19, ¥7,800-8,800.
Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.
bunkamura.co.jp
Lunch Time Concert
Family-oriented classical
concert. Aug 28, 12:20pm,
¥1,000. Saitama Arts Theater.
Nearest stn: Yonohonmachi.
Tel: 048-858-5500.
Koji Oikawa
Piano Recital. Sep 14, 7pm,
Chopin International
Festival
Tribute to the Polish composer
and virtuoso pianist. Sep 15-16.
2pm, ¥4,000-6,000. Karuizawa
Ohga Hall. Nearest stn:
Karuizawa. www.ohgahall.or.jp
Peter Jablonski
Piano recital. Sep 21, 7pm,
Stage
Out of the East
Yamada Taichi's play about
19th-century Japanophile
author Lafcadio Hearn. Until
Jul 25, various times, ¥5,000
(adv students), ¥7,000 (adv),
¥7,500 (door). Haiyuza Gekijo
Theater. Nearest stn: Roppongi.
www.nihonnoomokage.com
Come Fly Away
New Broadway musical feat.
classics from Ol’ Blue Eyes.
Jul 24-Aug 12, various times,
¥7,000-10,500. Bunkamura
Orchard Hall. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.cfa2012.jp
Aida
Guiseppe Verdi’s opera
in a Chinese-Japanese
co-production. Jul 27, 5pm;
Jul 29, 3pm, ¥3,150-12,600.
New National Theatre Tokyo.
Nearest stn: Hatsudai. Tel:
03-5352-9999.
for complete listings
West Side Story
Romeo and Juliet-inspired story
of street gangs in ’50s US. Until
Aug 5, various times, ¥8,00013,000. Theatre Orb. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-3244.
Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare's comedy
adopted by Oxford University
Dramatic Society. Aug 24,
7pm, ¥2,500 (general), ¥2,000
(students), ¥1,000 (HS).
Saitama Arts Theater. Nearest
stn: Yonohonmachi. www.
saf.or.jp. Aug 29, 7pm; Aug
30, 2pm, ¥2,500 (general),
¥2,000 (students), ¥1,000
(HS). Kanagawa Arts Theater.
Nearest stn: MotomachiChukagai. www.bugei.ac.jp
Gamarjobat Silent Comedy
Pantomime duo. Aug 31-Sep 2,
Kanagawa Arts Theater.
Nearest stn: MotomachiChukagai. www,gamarjobat.
com
That's Gamaru Show
Feat. silent comedians
Gamarjobat. Sep 1, 1pm,
¥4,000-4,500. Kanagawa
Arts Theater. Nearest stn:
Motomachi-Chukagai. Tel:
045-633-6500.
Kohakuiro no Ame ni
Nurarete Celebrity
Musical by all female
performing group Takarazuka.
Sep 8-9, Noon & 4pm, ¥5,0007,000. Green Hall. Nearest stn:
Sagami-Oono. www.hall-net.
or.jp
Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic
adaptation. Ongoing, various
times, ¥3,000-9,800. Dentsu
Shiki Theater Umi. Nearest stn:
Shinbashi. www.shiki.gr.jp/
applause/operaza
Osaki-Hirokoji. Tel: 03-34941840. Aug 5, 1:30pm, ¥6,000.
Kanagawa Kenmin Hall.
Nearest stn: Nihonodori. Tel:
04-5662-8866.
¥1,000 (after 11:30pm).
matrixbar.jp
Tchaikovsky Highlight
Micro Cosmos
Classic ballet. Jul 21, 1:30pm,
¥5,500. Chiba City Civic Hall.
Nearest stn: Higashichiba. Tel:
043-224-2431.
Chiekovsky Ballet
Highlight
Classic ballet. Jul 22, 1:30pm,
¥6,000. U-Port Hall. Nearest stn:
Osaki-Hirokoji. Tel: 03-34941840.
Toyota Choreography
Award
Works by the best dance
designers. Jul 22, 3pm,
¥2,500-3,000. Setagaya
Public Theater. Nearest stn:
Sangenjaya. www.toyota.
co.jp/tca
World Ballet Festival
Triennial international dance
competition. Aug 1-4 & 8-9,
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Nearest
stn: Ueno. www.nbs.or.jp
Napua Greig & Hawaiian
Hula Girls
Hawaiian music and dance.
Aug 4-5, various times, ¥5,0007,000. Shinjuku Bunka Center.
Nearest stn: Higashi-shinjuku.
Tel: 03-3350-1141.
Dances from the Two
Capitals
Performances by geisha and
maiko from Kyoto and Tokyo,
followed by French dinner
and kaiseki course. Aug 25,
1:15 & 6pm, ¥32,000. Imperial
Hotel. Nearest stn: Hibiya. Tel:
03-3504-1255.
Danse Cross
Musical based on Disney
classic. Ongoing, various times,
¥5,000-9,800/¥2,500 (student).
Shiki Theater Haru. Nearest
stn: Takeshiba. www.shiki.
gr.jp/applause/lionking
Collaboration of two
choreographers, Maria Donata
d'Urso and Brunpei Kunimoto.
Aug 30, 7:30pm, ¥3,000 (adv),
¥3,500 (door). Yokohama Red
Brick Warehouse. Nearest stn:
Minatomirai. www.institut.jp/
ja/evenements/12048
Beauty and the Beast
Onegin
The Lion King
Japanese adaptation of the
Broadway musical. Ongoing,
Shiki Theater Natsu. Nearest
stn: Oimachi. www.shiki.gr.jp/
applause/bb
Cats
Japanese version of the hit
Broadway musical, produced
by Gekidan Shiki. Ongoing,
Cannon Cats Theater. Nearest
stn: Shin-takashima. www.
shiki.gr.jp/applause/cats
Evita
Musical on the life of
Argentine political leader
Eva Perón. Ongoing, various
times, ¥4,000-9,800/¥3,0004,000(student). Jiyu Theater.
Nearest stn: Hamamatsucho.
www.shiki.gr.jp/applause/
evita
Dance
Yokohama Bayside Ballet
Danses Grecques, Carmen,
and Bolero. Jul 20, 7pm,
¥7,000-9,000. Yokohama Red
Brick Warehouse. Nearest stn:
Minatomirai. Tel: 04-52111555.
See/Saw
Dance by contemporary dance
company Nibroll. Until Aug
12, various times, ¥3,200. YCC.
Nearest stn: Bashamichi. www.
precog-jp.net
Dance Dance Dance
Ballet in three acts by John
Cranko. Sep 28, 7pm; Sep
29-30, 3pm, ¥1,500-12,000.
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Nearest
stn: Ueno. www.nbs.or.jp
Clubbing
Friday 20
Ageha
Bikini Night. House: DJs
Funkagenda, Mitomi, etc. From
11pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn:
Shin-Kiba. www.ageha.com
Air
Likemind. Techno, tech house:
DJs So, Okamoto, etc. Live: Aril
Brikha. From 10pm, ¥3,000.
air-tokyo.com
Club Asia
Ray Van. All dance music: DJs
Jommy, Fukushima, etc. From
11pm, ¥3,500 w/1d. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. www.clubasia.
co.jp
Micro Cosmos
Home Disco Light. Hip-hop:
DJs Hasebe, Yanatake, etc.
From 12am, ¥2,000 w/1d.
microcosmos-tokyo.com
Module
Techvane. Hard techno,
minimal: DJs Tasaka, Saimura,
etc. From 10pm, ¥3,000 w/1d.
module-tokyo.com
Classical ballet to traditional
Japanese dance to street and
contemporary dance. Until Oct
6, various times, various price,
various venues in Yokohama.
www.dance-yokohama.jp
Sound Museum Vision
Ballet Matsuri
The New Matrix Bar
Family-oriented ballet event.
Jul 21, 11:30am & 3:30pm,
¥6,000. U-Port Hall. Nearest stn:
Dragon Rock. House, electro:
DJs Switch, Usus, etc. From
Shibuya. www.vision-tokyo.
com
Matrix Friday. Old school
hip-hop, west side, south side,
all mix: DJ Ykk, etc. From 6pm,
Saturday 21
Mention Metropolis
for free admission
Bon Voyage. Hip-hop: DJs
Mr Beats, Toshiya, etc.
From 12am, ¥2,500 w/1d.
Module
Klass. House, techno: DJs
Ackky, Masda, etc. From
stn: Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com
JR S
oto
bo li
ne
Keiy
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igh
wa
y
Admission
JR Keiyo
Line
Sound Museum Vision
Showcase. Techno: DJs
Sander Kleinenberg, Xu, etc.
From 10pm, ¥3,500. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. www.visiontokyo.com
The Room
Magic. Disco, house: DJs
Kawasaki, Inoue, etc.
From 9pm, ¥2,500 w/1d.
theroom.jp
Unit
World Bass Summit. Dubstep:
DJs Dieselboy, Razor Rekta,
etc. From 11:30pm, ¥4,000.
Nearest stn: Daikanyama.
www.unit-tokyo.com
Warehouse702
Freerange Tokyo. Deep
house: DJs Jimpster,
Aosawa, etc. From 11pm,
JYP3,500 w/2d. Nearest
stn: Azabu-Juban. www.
warehouse702.com
Womb
Intergalactic. All mix, electro:
DJs Taku, Nakata, etc. From
11pm, JYP3,500. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.womb.co.jp
Sunday 22
Eleven
Thanks! Techno, house:
DJs Takayama, Image
Play, etc. 7-11pm, ¥2,000.
go-to-eleven.com
Micro Cosmos
The Venus. Hip-hop: DJs
Arata, Kazuki, etc. From
12am, ¥2,500 w/1d.
Join our online plantain community—something different!
Module
Dem. Techno, house: DJs
Hellth, Yoshikawa, etc. From
Ruby Room
Muddyroad. DJs Dobby,
Snatch, etc. 5-10pm, ¥1,500
w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.rubyroomtokyo.com
Womb
House Nation Tea Dance.
House, electro: DJs Yuria,
Maria, etc. Live: Jager
Meisters, etc. From 4-10pm,
¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.womb.co.jp
03-6859-8522
BUY NOW ONLINE
www.demiko.com
Monday 23
Air
Lavo. Electro, techno: DJs
Hiyuma, Kiichi, etc. From
stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.
com
Eleven
Mazik. House: DJs Tomoya,
Yoji, etc. From 10pm, ¥2,000
w/1d. Nearest stn: Roppongi.
www.go-to-eleven.com
Warehouse702
Us. House, techno: DJs
Yama, Sugiurumn, etc. From
warehouse702.com
Womb
Gimmic. House, disco: DJs
Delta, Kohno, etc. From
stn: Shibuya. www.womb.
co.jp
Agenda Listings
Tuesday 24
Air
Sense. House, tech house:
DJs Yucci, Hayato, etc. From
stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.
com
Eleven
Sdm. Bass music: DJs Mal,
Skyfish, etc. From 10pm,
¥1,500 w/1d. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. www.
go-to-eleven.com
Module
Substance. Techno: DJs
Masayasu, Rosso, etc. From
Ruby Room
Open Mic. Open mic.
From 7pm, ¥1,000 w/2d.
rubyroomtokyo.com
Wednesday 25
Eleven
Foop. Tech, minimal: DJs
Kansugi, Yui, etc. From
stn: Roppongi. www.
go-to-eleven.com
Module
Easy Skanking. Reggae: DJs
Bana, Ucchie, etc. From
Warehouse702
John’s Lounge. House,
techno: DJs Bass, Moca, etc.
From 7pm, ¥2,500 w/2d.
Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban.
www.warehouse702.com
Womb
How High? House: DJs Kez
Ym, Kikiorix, etc. From
stn: Shibuya. www.womb.
co.jp
Thursday 26
Air
Donutz. House: DJs Yummy,
Takato, etc. From 10pm,
¥2,500 w/1d. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.
com
JR HARAJUKU Sta.
2
3
OTA MEMORIAL
HARAJUKU MUSEUM OF ART
QUEST
Eleven
Monkey Mountain. Classics,
house: DJs Dazzle Drums,
Nk-Soul, etc. From 10pm,
stn: Roppongi. www.
go-to-eleven.com
SOFT
BANK
NIKE
MUJI
1
LAFORET
HARAJUKU
ZARA
5
6
Tokyo Metro
MEIJI-JINGUMAE
‘Harajuku’ Sta.
7
1F Osakabe Bldg, 5-46-12
Jingumae, Shibuya-ku.
Tel: 03-3486-4484.
Get High Tech. Tech house:
DJs Yoji, Nhato, etc. From
stn: Shibuya. www.clubasia.
co.jp
Module
Implants
Closed Wed. & Hols.
Club Asia
Bang Bang. Hip-hop: DJs
Yablove, Rie, etc. From
12am, ¥2,500 w/1d.
Nightmare. All good music,
fetish: DJs Various DJs. From
Orthodontics
[email protected]
www.aoyama-omotesando.jp/en
A Tribute to Larry Levan. House,
classics: Nori & Victor Rosado.
Live: Ce Ce Rogers. Jul 28, from
Roppongi. www.go-to-eleven.
com
Exhibitions
Akasaka/Roppongi
21_21 Design Sight
Tema Hima: The Art of Living in
Tohoku. Traditional crafts from
the northeastern region. Until
Aug 26, ¥1,000. Open Mon &
Wed-Sun 11am-8pm, closed
Tue. 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minatoku. Nearest stn: Nogizaka.
www.2121designsight.jp
ANA Intercontinental
Hotel
Chromatic Coincidences.
Abstract painting on reflection
about coincidences by French
artist Laurence Meyer. Until
Aug 15, free. 1-12-33 Akasaka.
Nearest stn: Tameikesanno.
www.anaintercontinentaltokyo.jp
Mori Arts Center Gallery
Ancient Egyptian Book of the
Dead. Journey through the
afterlife. Until Sep 17, ¥1,500.
52F Roppongi Hills Tower,
6-10-1 Roppongi. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
Suntory Museum of Art
Bingata. Ryukyu (Okinawa)
style dyed fabric. Jun 13-22,
¥1,300. Open Wed-Sat
10am-8pm, Sun-Mon & hols
10am-6pm, closed Tue.
9-7-4 Akasaka. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.suntory.
jp/sma
The National Art Center,
Tokyo
Gutai. Avant-garde artist group
from the ’50s-’70s. Until Sep
10, ¥1,000. Open Wed-Mon
10am-6pm, closed Tue.
7-22-2 Roppongi. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.nact.jp
Ginza/Kyobashi/
Tokyo
Craft Gallery, The National
Museum of Modern Art
Ginza Graphic Gallery
Micro Cosmos
Ceramics
Upcoming
Eleven
Womb
Friday 27
Aesthetic
Dentistry
Champ. Funky jazzy music: DJs
Tominaga, Oibon, etc. From
stn: Shibuya. www.theroom.jp
Premium. Progressive
house, trance: DJs Syn,
Ken-Gee, etc. From 10pm,
warehouse702.com
Sensual. Deep tech house,
tech house: DJs Fumi,
Mihara, etc. From 10pm,
¥1,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
www.womb.co.jp
FREE
COUNSELING
FOR
METROPOLIS
READERS
The Room
Crafts Gallery for Kids & Adults:
Botany in Craft. Handcrafted
plant-like objects. Jul 22-Sep
2, ¥200. Open Tue-Thur
10am-5pm, Fri 10am-8pm,
Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. 1-1
Kitanomaru-koen Chiyoda-Ku.
Nearest stn: Takebashi. www.
momat.go.jp/english
Warehouse702
4
Go to www.meturl.com/l
Sound Museum Vision
New York State of Mind.
Hip-hop: DJs George, Lead,
etc. From 10pm, ¥3,000.
vision-tokyo.com
2012 ADC. Tokyo Art Directors
Club awards. Until Jul 28, free.
The Posters 1983-2012. The
Prize Winning Works from The
International Poster Triennial
in Toyama. free. Open Mon-Fri
11am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm,
closed Sun & hols. 1F Ginza
Bldg, 7-7-2 Ginza. Nearest stn:
Ginza. www.dnp.co.jp/gallery/
ggg_e/index.html
Hibiya Park
Asagao-ten. Blooming morning
glories. Jul 28-Aug 3, From
7am, free. Hibiiya Koen 1-6.
Nearest stn: Hibiya. Tel:
03-3501-6428.
Idemitsu Museum of Arts
Matsuri. Paintings of festivals
in the Edo period. Until
Jul 22, ¥1,000(general),
¥700(HS&univ). Open
Tue-Thur 10am-5pm, Fri
10am-7pm, closed Mon. 9F
Teigeki Bldg, 3-1-1 Marunouchi.
idemitsu.co.jp/museum
Mitsubishi Ichigokan
Museum
Edward Burne-Jones. Works
by the British Pre-Raphaelite
painter Sir Edward
Burne-Jones. Jun 23-Aug 19,
¥1,500 (general). Wed-Fri
10am-8pm, Tue, Sat & Sun/
hols 10am-6pm, closed Mon.
2-6-2 Marunouchi. Nearest stn:
Tokyo. www.mimt.jp
National Film Center
Nihon Eiga. History of Japanese
films from the NFC collection.
Ongoing, ¥200. Let's Go To The
Movies. Retro movie posters,
culture, etc. Until Jul 29, ¥200.
Open Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun
10am-5pm, Fri 10am-8pm.
3-7-6 Kyobashi. Nearest stn:
Kyobashi. www.momat.go.jp
National Museum of
Modern Art Tokyo
Reika Furukawa. Yamato-e
(Japanese paintings inspired
by the Tang Dynasty
paintings). Until Jul 29,
Photography Today 4. Feat.
works by Shinya Arimoto,
Shuhei Motoyama, etc. Until
Jul 29, ¥420 (general). Kikkawa
Reika: An Explorer fro Line
in Modern Times. Yamato-e
painter. Until Jul 29, ¥850.
Open Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun
10am-5pm, Fri 10am-8pm.
3-7-6 Kyobashi. Nearest stn:
Takebashi. www.momat.go.jp
Seek
Sendai Tanabata. Large colorful
decorations and photographs
from the star festival. Jul
31, free. Mon-Fri 9am-8pm,
Sat-Sun & hols 11am-6pm.
2F Shin Tokyo Building
3-3-1 Marunouchi. Nearest
stn: Nijubashimae. www.
marunouchicafe.com
Span Art Gallery
Span Art Collections. Gallery
collection. Until Jul 21, free.
Ishii Etsuo. Painting. Jul 23-29,
free. Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm,
closed Sun. 2-2-18 Ginza.
Nearest stn: Ginza. www.
span-art.co.jp
Vanilla Gallery
Kyoshojo. Minoru Sugiyama's
illustrations of giant girls,
copperplate engraving, CG,
etc. Until Jul 21, free. Seme-e
Roman. Collection of seme-e,
a genre of shunga depicting
women in bondage. Jul 23-28,
¥500. Namio Harukawa.
Illustrations of men oppressed
by voluptuous women. Jul
30-Aug 11, ¥500. Open Mon-Fri
noon-7pm, Sat noon-5pm,
closed Sun. 4F Daini Kamata
Bldg, 6-10-10 Ginza. Nearest
stn: Ginza. Tel: 03-5568-1233.
Vanilla Mania Gallery
Majutsushi no Heya. Occult
CG, black magic goods,
Gothic items on display and
sale by Majutsudo. Until Jul
28, 7-11:30pm, drink order.
7pm-11:30pm. 7-7-7 Ginza,
Chuo-ku. Nearest stn: Ginza.
Tel: 03-3571-3337.
Harajuku/Aoyama
Design Festa
Hela Tiden. Illustrations
and crafts by Hejsan. Until
Aug 27, free. Open daily
11am-7pm. 3-20-18 Jingumae.
Nearest stn: Harajuku. www.
designfestagallery.com
Diesel Art Gallery
Christian Joy. Yeah Yeah Yeah's
costume designer. Until Aug
10, free. Open daily 11:30am9pm. 1-23-16 Shibuya. Nearest
stn: Shibuya. www.diesel.
co.jp/art
Spiral
The Blinking of an Eye.
Feminine works by Ai
Yamaguchi and Pip&Pop.
Until Aug 3, free. Open daily
11am-8pm. 5-6-23 MinamiAoyama, Minato-ku. Nearest
stn: Omotesando. www.spiral.
co.jp
Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial
Museum of Art
Neko Hyakkei. Utagawa's
ukiyo-e of pussies. Until
Jul 26, ¥1,000(general),
¥700(HS&univ). World of
"Fifty-three Stations of the
Tokaido Road". Ukiyo-e by
Hiroshige and Kunisada.
listings for complete listings
From Aug 1-Sep 26, 10:30am5:30pm, ¥700. Open Tue-Sun
10:30am-5:30pm, closed Mon.
1-10-10 Jingumae. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. www.ukiyoe-otamuse.jp
Shibuya/Ebisu
Bunkamura Gallery
The Splender of the Kithan
Dynsasty. Various media
from Mongolia. Until Sep 17,
free. Open daily, 10am-7pm.
2- 24-1 Dogenzaka. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.bunkamura.
co.jp/english
Bunkamura: The Museum
Talking Flowers, Fairies
and Butterflies. The world
of Ernst Kreidolf and his
children’s illustrations. Until
Jul 29, 10am-6:30pm, ¥1,300
(general). Open Mon-Thu & Sun
10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm.
2- 24-1 Dogenzaka. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. www.bunkamura.
co.jp
Parco Museum
Mika Ninagawa. Photographer
of the movie Helter Skelter.
Until Jul 23, ¥500. Open daily
10am-9pm. B1F Parco Part1,
15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku.
www.parco-art.com/web
Yamatane Museum of Art
The Modern Nihonga. Celebrate
the 120th anniversary of the
birth of Fukuda Heihachiro.
Until Jul 22, ¥1,200 (general).
Open Tue-Fri 11am-5pm,
closed Mon & hols. 3-12-36
Hiroo. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.
yamatane-museum.or.jp
The National Museum of
Western Art
Berlin. European art from
Renaissance to Rococo. Until
Sep 17, ¥1,500 (general). Open
daily 9:30am-5:30pm. 7-7 Ueno
Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. www.
nmwa.go.jp
The University Art
Museum
The Splendor of the Khitan
Dynasty. Treasures of the
Mongolian dynasty. Until Sep
17, ¥1,400. Open Tue-Sun
10am-5pm, closed Mon. 12-8
Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno.
www.geidai.ac.jp/museum
Ueno Royal Museum
Tutankhamun. More than
a hundred artifacts from
the golden age of pharaohs.
Aug 4-Dec 9, ¥2,500-2,800
(general). Open Sat-Thur
10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm. 1-2
Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno.
www.ueno-mori.org
Other Areas
Hara Museum of
Contemporary Art
Garden of Belly Button. Masako
Ando's delicate paintings of
children, animals and plants.
Until Aug 19, free. Open Tue-Sun
11am-5pm, closed Mon. 4-7-25
Kita-Shinagawa. Nearest
stn: Kita-shinagawa. www.
haramuseum.or.jp
Makuhari Messe
Shinjuku/
Ikebukuro
Dino Kingdom. Jurassic
showcase. Jul 21-Sep 23,
9am-5pm, ¥2,500(general),
¥1,200(elem&MS). Nakase
2-1, Mihama-ku. Nearest
stn: Kaihin-Makuhari.
www.m-messe.co.jp
Dokkin Jikken Shitsu
Gallery
Meguro Museum of Art
Tokyo
Kid'O Kurage. Latex fashion
specialist Kid'o Kurage's next
generation rubber art. Jul
14-28, free. Open Tue-Sun
4-7pm. Final day 1-7pm. Closed
Mon. 602 Gunkan Bldg, 1-1-10
Okubo. Nearest stn: HigashiShinjuku. www.dokkin-jikken.
com
Hiromart Gallery
Golden Altitudes. Works by
Berlin-based Canadian Artist
Robin Fry. Jul 27-Sep 16, free.
Open Wed-Sun 1-7pm, closed
Mon-Tue. 1-30-7 Sekiguchi.
Nearest stn: Edogawabashi.
Tel: 03-6233-9836.
Kenji Taki Gallery
Yomogaetta Kaiga. Works
by Morisuke Komoda. Until
Sep 2, ¥500. Open Tue-Sun
10am-6pm, closed Mon. 2-4-36
Meguro. Nearest stn: Meguro.
www.mmat.jp
National Museum of
Japanese History
Gakki wa Kataru. Japanese
musical instruments of 18th
and 19th centuries. Until Sep
2, ¥830. Dento no Asagao.
Morning glory. Jul 31-Sep 2,
¥100. Open Tue-Sun 9:30am4:30pm, closed Mon. 117
Jonai-cho, Sakura-shi. Nearest
stn: Keisei-Sakura. www.
rekihaku.ac.jp
Tetsu Imamura. Painting. Until
Aug 3, free. Open Tue-Sat
noon-7pm, closed Sun-Mon
& hols. 3-18-2 Nishi-Shinjuku.
Nearest stn: Hatsudai. www.
kenjitaki.com
Pola Museum of Art
Roonee 247 Photography
The Museum of Modern
Art, Saitama
Michitari Kaketari. Photography
by Satoshi Nishikiori. Until
Jul 22, free. 5-18-11 Shinjuku.
Nearest stn: YotsuyaSanchome. www.roonee.com
Sompo Japan Museum of
Art
Chihiro to Sekai no Ehongakatachi. Children's book
illustrations. Until Aug 26,
10am-6pm, ¥1,000 (general).
42F Sompo Japan Bldg, 1-26-1
Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest stn:
Shinjuku. www.sompo-japan.
co.jp/museum
Tokyo Opera City Art
Gallery
Beat Takeshi Kitano. Japanese
comedian/director's first
exhibition in Japan. Until
Sep 2, ¥1,300. Open Tue-Thu
11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8pm.
3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest
stn: Hatsudai. www.operacity.
jp/en/ag
Ueno
National Museum of
Nature and Science
Genso no Fushigi. Learn about
chemical elements. Jul 21-Oct
8, free. Open Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun
9am-5pm, Fri 9am-8pm, closed
Mon. 7-20 Ueno Park. Nearest
stn: Ueno. Tel: 03-3822-0111.
www.kahaku.go.jp
Picasso. Paintings. Until Oct
2, ¥1,800 (general). 1285
Kozukayama, Sengokuhara,
Hakone-machi. Nearest stn:
Gora. www.polamuseum.or.jp
Ultraman Art. Design and
figurines. Until Sep 2, ¥1,100.
Open daily 10:00am-5:30pm.
9-30-1 Tokiwa, Urawa-ku,
Saitama-shi. Nearest stn:
Kitaurawa. www.momas.
jp/022eng/e_index.htm
Sports
Baseball
Central League
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
vs. Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Jul 25-26, 6pm, ¥500-4,500.
Meiji Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. Tel: 03-3401-0312.
Yomiuri Giants vs.
Yokohama Dena Baystars. Jul
25-26, 7pm, ¥500-5,900. Tokyo
Dome. Nearest stn: Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
Yomiuri Giants vs. Chunichi
Dragons. Jul 30-1, 6pm,
¥500-5,900. Tokyo Dome.
Nearest stn: Suidobashi.
Yokohama Dena Baystars vs.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Jul 31,
6pm, ¥500-6,000. Hiratsuka
Stadium. Nearest stn:
Hiratsuka. Tel: 04-6333-1166.
Pacific League
Saitama Seibu Lions vs.
Chiba Lotte Marines. Jul
25-26, 6pm, ¥600-20,000.
Seibu Dome. Nearest
stn: Seibukyujomae. Tel:
04-2925-1141.
Chiba Lotte Marines
vs. Fukuoka Softbank
Hawks. Jul 27-29, 6:15pm,
¥800-4,800. QVC Marine
Field. Nearest stn: KaihinMakuhari. Tel: 043-2961227.
Saitama Seibu Lions
vs. Orix Buffaloes. Jul
30-31, 6pm, ¥600-20,000.
Seibu Dome. Nearest
stn: Seibukyujomae. Tel:
04-2925-1141.
Chiba Lotte Marines vs.
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham
Fighters. Jul 31-Aug 2,
6:15pm, ¥800-4,800. QVC
Marine Field. Nearest stn:
Kaihin-Makuhari. Tel:
043-296-1227.
Golf
JLPGA
CAT Ladies Tournament.
Aug 17-19, 8am, ¥3,500.
Dai-Hakone Country Club.
Nearest stn: Sounzan.
Kickboxing
Krush. 20
Jul 21, 6:30pm, ¥4,50012,500 (door). Korakuen
Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
Carnivorous
Part 1: "Outlaw Fight." Aug
12, 11am, ¥3,000-10,000.
Differ Ariake. Nearest stn:
Ariake-tennis-no-mori. Tel:
047-333-7868.
Krush. 21
ING
O � E N IGN
CAMPA
��AZILIAN �A�
¥7,800 → ¥5,500
★ Roppongi station exit 7
★ Nogizaka station exit 2
Aug 12, 6pm, ¥4,500-10,500
(door). Korakuen Hall.
Nearest stn: Suidobashi. Tel:
03-5800-9999.
Tel: 03-6804-2632
Motor Sports
http://maris-gina.com
PRIVATE
SALON
BY APPOINTMENT
ONLY
Motegi 2 and 4 Race
Aug 4-5, 11am, ¥1,500-5,000.
Twin Ring Motegi. Nearest
stn: Motegi. Tel: 02-85640001.
Pro Wrestling
DDT Road to Budokan
Tournament
Jul 22, noon, ¥1,000-6,500.
Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn:
Suidobashi. www.ddtpro.
com
WWE Smack Down
Aug 9-10, 7pm, ¥3,00020,000. Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Nearest stn: Ryogoku. Tel:
03-3623-5111.
Oz Academy
Women's pro wrestling
tournament. Aug 19,
6pm, ¥3,000-7,000.
Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn:
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-58009999.
Soccer
J. League, Division 1
FC Tokyo vs. Albirex
Niigata. Jul 28, 6:30pm,
¥500-5,000. Ajinomoto
Tobitakyu. Tel: 04-24400555.
Kashima Antlers vs.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Jul
28, 6:30pm, ¥1,400-¥7,500.
Kashima Soccer Stadium.
Nearest stn: Kashima Sports
Stadium.
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Cerezo
Osaka. Jul 28, 7pm, ¥1,0005,000. Hitachi Stadium.
Nearest stn: Kashiwa. Tel:
047-162-2250.
Kawasaki Frontale vs.
Omiya Ardija. Jul 28, 7pm,
¥800-4,500. Todoroki
Musashikosugi. Tel: 044-7220303.
Urawa Reds vs. Jubilo
Iwata. Jul 28, 6pm, ¥1,0004,500. Saitama Stadium.
Nearest stn: Urawamisono.
Tel: 048-812-2002.
Yokohama Marinos vs.
Shimizu S-Pulse. Jul 28, 7pm,
¥900-5,000. Nissan Stadium.
Nearest stn: Kozuke. Tel:
04-5477-5000.
Agenda Listings
Tennis
Toray Pan Pacific
Women's Tournament
Sep 21-29, various times,
¥1,000-20,000. Ariake
Colosseum. Nearest stn:
Ariake. Tel: 03-3529-3301.
ATP Sunday Rakuten
Open
Sep 30, 12pm, ¥2,500-5,000.
Ariake Colosseum. Nearest
stn: Ariake. Tel: 03-35293301.
Festivals
Sumomo Matsuri
Plum festival with Kagura
(Shinto dance with music)
performances. Jul 20, from
8am, free. Okunitama
Shrine, Nearest stn: Fuchu.
www.ookunitamajinja.or.jp/
matsuri/sumomo.html
Uchiwa Matsuri
Fan festival feat. a dozen of
decorated floats. Until Jul 22,
free. Yasaka Shrine. Nearest
stn: Kami-kumagaya. www.
uchiwamatsuri.com
Festival Brazil
Food, music and culture
fest to commemorate the
country's independence.
Jul 21-22, 11am-7pm,
free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest
stn: Harajuku. www.
festivalbrasil.jp
Kawasaki Daishi Furinichi
30,000 wind chimes on
display and sale. Until Jul 22,
10am-6pm, free. Kawasaki
Daishi Heikenji Temple.
Nearest stn: Kawasaki Daishi.
www.kawasakidaishi.com
Kagurazaka Matsuri
Strong, beautiful, flexible
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Offering you “Authentic Pilates”
Metropolis Campaign
Admission Fee: ¥15,750 ¥0
Trial Machine Private Lesson: ¥10,000 ¥8,400
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¥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/
Hozuki Ichi (Ground Cherry
Pod Fair) on Jul 25&26
(5:30-10pm). Awaodori
dances on Jul 27&28
(7-9pm), free. Kagurazaka
Shopping District. Nearest
stn: Kagurazaka. www.
kagurazaka.in
Okinawa Matsuri
Ryukyuan street music
festival. Jul 25-26, 1-9pm,
stn: Harajuku. www.
okinawa-matsuri.com
Shimbashi Koichi
Matsuri
Bon odori, yukata contest,
beer garden, festive food
stalls. Jul 26-27, Noon-9pm,
free. Shimbashi SL Square.
Nearest stn: Ginza. www.
shinbashi.net
Aloha Yokohama
Japan's biggest Hawaiian
festival. Jul 27-28, 10am-9pm,
Jul 29 10am-6pm, free.
Osanbashi Yokohama
International Passenger
Terminal. Nearest
stn: Namamugi. www.
aloha-yokohama.com
Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri
Okinawan drums and bon
odori. Jul 28, 11am-8pm,
free. Streets of Shinjuku
and Kabukicho. Nearest stn:
Shinjuku, east exit. www.
shinjuku-eisa.com
Nepal Festival
Nepalese food and dance.
Jul 28-29, 10am-8pm,
stn: Harajuku. www.
nepalfestival.org
Thailand Myanmar
Cambodia Festa
Flea markets, Southeast
Asian food, and culture.
Jul 28-29, 10am-8pm, free.
Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. www.bmi-music.
com
Asagaya Tanabata
Festival
700m-long covered arcade
gets festooned with colorful
decorations. From Aug 3-9,
all day, free. Asagaya Pearl
Center. www.asagaya.or.jp
Go to www.meturl.com/l
Torou Nagashi Festival
Floating lantern festival. Aug 8,
6:30-8pm, free. Sumida River
Azuma Bridge Terrace. Nearest
stn: Asakusa. www.e-asakusa.
jp/event/1208_tourounagashi.
html
Mizukake Matsuri World
Festa
Splash water at each other at the
Thailand's Songkran festival.
Aug 10-12, 10am-8pm, until 6pm
(last day), free. Keyaki Square.
Nearest stn: Saitama-Shintoshin.
www.saitama-arena.co.jp/
mizukake12
Namaste India
Cultural festival with live
stage, food and market. Sep
22-23, all day, free. Yoyogi Park.
indofestival.com
Thai Fair
Culture festival. Sep 22-23,
10am-8pm, ¥200 (adults).
Yokohama Red Brick
Warehouse. Nearest stn:
Minatomirai. www.bmi-music.
com
Other Events
Tokyo Pride Parade
Midtown Water Works
Alegria de Mexico
Dino Kingdom
LGBT event, with food, live
music, etc. Aug 11, all day,
free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn:
Harajuku. www.tokyo-pride.
org
Mexican festival. Aug 11,
noon-9pm; Aug 12, 11am-7pm,
free. Yokohama Red Brick
Warehouse. Nearest stn:
Minatomirai. Tel: 04-52111555.
Ueno Summer Festival
Folk dancing, toro-nagashi
(floating lanterns), potted
plant fair, antique fair, and ice
sculpture. Until Aug 12, free.
www.ueno.or.jp/ichioshi/
ichioshi_27.html
Citta Natsu Matsuri
Mikoshi, bon odori, festive
games and food. Aug 13-15,
noon-9:30pm, free. Cinecitta
Street, Kawasaki. www.
lacittadella.co.jp
Oktoberfest
German beer festival. Aug
17-26, free. Shiba Park. Nearest
stn: Hamamatsucho. Aug
31-Sep 9, free. Toyosu Park.
Nearest stn: Toyosu. www.
oktober-fest.jp
Roppongi Hills Bon Odori
Festive food offered by
restaurants in Roppongi
Hills. Aug 24-26. Bon dance
on Aug 25-26, 5:30-8pm, free.
Roppongi Hills Arena. Nearest
stn: Roppongi. www.event.
rhythm-cal.jp
31st Asakusa Samba
Carnival
Tokyo’s most traditional
neighborhood filled with
Brazilian dancers. Aug 25,
1:30pm-6pm, free. Around
Asakusa station. www.
asakusa-samba.jp
Super Yosakoi
Kochi-originated bon dance.
Aug 25-26, noon-8pm, free.
Around Harajuku station.
www.yosakoi-harajuku.com
Koenji Awaodori
Tokushima style bon odori.
Aug 25-26, 5-8pm, free. Nearest
stn: Koenji. www.koenjiawaodori.com
Azabu-Juban Noryo
Matsuri
International food, music, etc.
Aug 25-26, 3-9pm, free. Nearest
stn: Azabu-juban. www.
azabujuban.or.jp
Argentinean Festival
Food, wine, and tango. Aug 25,
6pm, free. Hibiya Park. Nearest
stn: Hibiya. Tel: 03-3501-6428.
ejapo.mrecic.gov.ar/ja
Kawachi Ondo
Live Japanese folk songs
accompanied by hundreds
of local Bon dancers. Aug
29-30, 5pm, free. Nearest stn:
Kinshicho. www.tokyo-tokyo.
com/Kinshicho.htm
Belgium Beer Weekend
78 variety of beer. Sep 5-9,
¥3,100 (w/glass, and 10 food
tickets). Roppongi Hills Arena.
belgianbeerweekend.jp
Sri Lanka Festival
Trade, culture, and food at
more than 80 stalls. Sep 8-9,
10am-7pm, free. Yoyogi Park.
lankaembassy.jp
Ten minutes of mist and light
illusion. Until Sep 2, Mon-Fri
8pm, Sat-Sun&hols 7:40pm,
8:30pm, free. Midtown Park.
Nearest stn: Roppongi.
Jurassic showcase for budding
paleontologists. Jul 21-Sep 23,
9am-5pm, ¥2,500. Makuhari
Messe. Nearest stn: KaihinMakuhari. www.dino2012.com
Bier de Janeiro
German beer and Latin music.
Jul 21-22, 11am-10pm, ¥2,000
(w/1d), ¥2,500 (w/1d). Space O.
Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae.
www.zato-trd.co.jp/event/
bier_de_janeiro
Writers' Bloc, Tokyo
Evening Musings 7
Jamaican/Caribbean
and African-American
communities, are invited
to come to listen to the
group's output and to share
their own writings. Jul 22,
7:30pm, free. Jamrock Cafe.
jamrockcafeonline.com
Ultraman Festival
Celebrate the 45th
anniversary of Ultraseven.
Jul 27-Sep 2, 10am-5:30pm,
¥1,600 (adv), ¥1,800 (door).
Sunshine City. Nearest stn:
Ikebukuro. www.ulfes.
com/2012
Steam Garden
Steampunk club event, for
retro-futurists to enjoy hookah,
absinthe, and performances.
Jul 28, 12am, ¥3,500 (general),
¥2,500 (19th century fashion).
Trump Room. Nearest stn:
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3770-2325.
Hoop Lounge
Hoop dance workshop with
booze in one hand. Aug 1, 7pm,
free. Super Deluxe. Nearest stn:
Roppongi. www.super-deluxe.
com
Department-H
Underground party hosted
by drag queens. BYOB.
Aug 3, 12am, ¥3,000(dress
code)/¥4,500 (w/flyer)/ ¥5,000
(door). Tokyo Kinema Club.
Nearest stn: Uguisudani. Tel:
03-3874-7988.
Tokyo Bay Noryosen
Get on board for some maritime
nomihodai action. Wear your
yukata and get ¥1,000 off from
Mon-Thu. Until Sep 23, 7:15pm,
¥2,500 (general), ¥1,000 (HS
& MS), ¥500 (elem). Takeshiba
Passenger Ship Terminal.
Nearest stn: Takeshiba. www.
tokaikisen.co.jp
Sadistic Circus
Vanilla Gallery presents tenth
anniversary of underground
sideshow. Sep 29, 12 am.
Shinjuku Face. Nearest stn:
Shinjuku. www.sadistic-circus.
com
Fireworks
Koedo Kawagoe Fireworks
Jul 22. Aina Shinsui Park,
Nearest stn: Kasahata. www.
koedo.or.jp/foreign/english/
event.html
Hanabi Symphonia
2,500 firworks. Jul 21 & 28,
Aug 4 & 11 & 18, 8:30-8:40pm,
free. Yokohama Hakkeijima
listings for complete listings
Sea Paradise. Nearest stn:
Hakkeijima. www.seaparadise.
co.jp
Yugawara Onsen Kaijo
Fireworks
6,000 fireworks. Jul 22-Aug
3, 8-8:30pm, free. Yugawara
Kaisui Yokujo, Kanagawa.
Nearest stn: Yugawara. www.
hanabi.walkerplus.com/detail/
fw0533.html
Katsushika Noryo
Fireworks
10,800 fireworks. Jul 24, 3:40pm,
free. Rain date: Jul 25. Edo River,
Shibamata Stadium. Nearest stn:
Shibamata. Tel: 03-6758-2222.
Kamakura Coast Fireworks
7-8pm, free. Rain date: Jul 26.
Zaimokuza and Yuigahama
Beach. Nearest stn: Kamakura
Funabashi Fireworks
7:30-8:30pm, free. Funabashi.
Nearest stn: Minami-Funabashi.
Oarai Seaside Fireworks
3,000 spectacular fireworks
set off on boats. Jul 28, 7:30pm,
free. Oarai city, Ibaraki. Nearest
stn: Oarai. Tel: 029-267-5111
Sumidagawa Fireworks
7:05pm, free. Asakusa.
Nearest stn: Asakusa. www.
sumidagawa-hanabi.com
Hachioji Fireworks
7-8:30pm, free. Rain date: Jul
29. Hachioji Shimin Kyujo
(ball park). Nearest stn:
Nishi-Hachioji
Showa Kinen Park
Fireworks
7:20-8:30pm, free. Showa
Kinen Park. Nearest stn:
Tachikawa. Tel: 042-527-2700.
Natsu Oiso Matsuri
8:30-8:50pm, free. Oiso Beach.
Nearest stn: Oiso.
Asahi-shi Iioka You Festival
4,500 fireworks. Jul 28, 8-9pm,
free. Rain date: Jul 29. Iioka
Kaigan, Chiba. Nearest stn:
Asahi.
Futtsu Fireworks
7:20-8:30pm, free. Rain date Jul
29 or Aug 4. Futtsu Park, Chiba.
Nearest stn: Aohori.
Ogawamachi Tanabata
Matsuri Fireworks
Jul 29. Vicinity of Ogawamachi
station, Saitama.
Oarai Kaijo Fireworks
7:30-9pm, free. Rain date: Jul
29. Oarai Sun Beach, Ibaraki.
Nearest stn: Oarai
Tsumagoi Summer
Festival
7:30-8:30pm, free. Rain date: Jul
29. Tsumagoi Middle School,
Gunma. Nearest stn: Manza.
Mooka Natsu Matsuri
Fireworks
7:20-9pm, free. Rain date: Jul
30. Mooka City Hall, Tochigi.
Nearest stn: Mooka.
Yugao Summer Festival
4,000 fireworks. Jul 28, 8-9pm.
Rain date: Jul 29. Kaminokawa
Street, Tochigi. Nearest stn:
Ishibashi.
German Village Fireworks
5,000 fireworks. Jul 28, Aug 12,
Sep 16, 8:30-8:50pm. German
Village, Gunma. Nearest stn:
Akagi. Tel: 027-283-8451.
Kamogawa Noryo
Fireworks
7:30-8:30pm, free. Rain
date: Jul 30 or 31 Maehara
Kaigan, Chiba. Nearest stn:
Amokamogawa.
Oyama Summer Festival
7:15-8:45pm, free. Omoigawa,
Tochigi. Nearest stn: Koyama.
Saitama City Fireworks
7:30pm, free. Owada Park,
Saitama. Nearest stn: Owada
www.stib.jp/event/data/
oowadahanabi
Saitama-shi Fireworks
5,000 fireworks. Jul 30, 7:30pm,
free. Rain date Jul 31. Owada
Park, Nearest stn: Omiya Koen.
www.stib.jp/event/data/
oowadahanabi.html
Ajigaura Kaigan Fireworks
2,500 fireworks. Jul 30, 7pm,
free. Ajigaura Kaigan, Ibaraki.
Nearest stn: Ajigaura.
Ashinoko Kosui Matsuri
Hakone Shrine's priests on the
boats, toro-nagashi (floating
lighted lanterns) and fireworks.
Jul 31, 7:30-8:30pm. Rain date:
Aug 8. Lake Ashi, Hakonemachi, Kanagawa, Nearest stn:
Odawara.
Kanagawa Shimbun
Fireworks
7:15-8:30pm, free. Yokohama.
Nearest stns: Minato Mirai or
Sakuragicho. Tel: 045-227-0744.
Koto Fireworks
7:40-8:30pm, free. Arakawa,
Sunamachi Mizube Park.
Nearest stn: MinamiSunamachi.
Sagami Lake Fireworks
7:30-9pm, free. Rain date: Aug
2. Sagami Park, Kanagawa.
Nearest stn: Sagamiko.
Suigo Omigawa Fireworks
8,000 fireworks. Aug 1, 7-9pm,
free. Rain date: Aug 2. Omigawa
Ohashi, Chiba. Nearest stn:
Omigawa.
Kozushima Fireworks
900 fireworks. Aug 2,
Aug 3. Maehama Kaigan,
Kozushima, Tokyo.
Mitokomon Fireworks
Aug 10. Senba Lake, Ibaraki.
Nearest stn: Kairakuen.
Makuhari Beach Fireworks
7:30-8:30pm, ¥2,000-3,000.
Makuhari Kaihin Park. Nearest
stn: Kaihin-Makuhari.
Ageo Fireworks.
13,000 fireworks. August 4,
7pm, free. Rain date: Aug 11.
Hirakata riverside, Saitama.
Nearest stn: Ageo.
Edogawa Fireworks
7:15-8:30pm, free.Rain date:
Aug 5. Edogawa Riverbed.
Nearest stn: Sasazaki.
Akishima Kujira Matsuri
Yume Fireworks
date: Aug 5. Heiwa Park Ball
Park. Nearest stn: HigashiNakagami.
Atsugi Ayu Fireworks
7-8:30pm, free. Rain date: Aug
5. Sagami River, Kanagawa.
Nearest stn: Hon-Atsugi.
Odawara Sakawa River
Fireworks
7-7:50pm, free. Rain date:
Aug 6. Sakawa River
Sports Square. Nearest stn:
Kamonomiya.
Southern Beach
Fireworks
date: Aug 5. Southern Beach
Chigasaki. Nearest stn:
Chigasaki.
Sakura Flower Fireworks
7-9pm, free. Rain date: Aug
5. Inbanuma Lake. Nearest
stn: Sakura.
Miura Coastal Fireworks
date: Aug 8. Miura Beach,
Kanagawa. Nearest stn:
Miura Kaigan.
Tateyama Bar Fireworks
Aug 9. Hojo Kaigan, Chiba.
Nearest stn: Tateyama.
Jingugaien Fireworks
Tohoku charity event with
10,000 fireworks feat. Kim
Hyun Joong, SKE48, Myname,
etc. Aug 10, 5:30pm, ¥4,2005,500. Chichibunomiya
Rugby Stadium. Nearest stn:
Gaienmae.
Tokyo Bay Fireworks
Aug 12. Harumi Kaijo.
Nearest stn: Kachidoki.
Okutama Noryo
Fireworks
date: Aug 12. Okutamamachi Hikawa. Nearest stn:
Okutama. www.hanabi.
walkerplus.com/detail/
fw0548.html
Nagatoro Funatama
Matsuri Fireworks
7:30-9pm, free. Nagatoro
Iwadatami. Nearest stn:
Nagatoro. www.nagatoro.
gr.jp
Kisarazu Fireworks
date: Aug 16 or 17. Kisarazu
Harbor.
Itabashi Fireworks
Shonan Hiratsuka
Fireworks
Watarase Summer Festa
Kanazawa Fireworks
Aug 5. Arakawa Toda Bridge.
Nearest stn: Takashimadaira.
20,000 fireworks with the
"Niagara Otama" as one of
its key drawing points. Aug
4, 7-8:30pm, free. Ashikaga,
Tochigi. Nearest stn: Ashikaga.
Koga Fireworks
25. Sagami River. Nearest
stn: Hiratsuka.
26. Umi no Park, Yokohama.
Nearest stn: Shinsugita
Inashiki Summer Festival
7:20-8:50pm, free. Koga Golf
Links, Koga city, Ibaraki.
Nearest stn: Koga.
7pm, from ¥6,000. Edosaki
Athletic Park, Inashiki,
Ibaraki. Nearest stn:
Namegawa.
Yokosuka Fireworks
Sagamihara Fireworks
7:15-7:45pm. Rain date: Aug 5.
Umikaze and Mikasa park in
Yokosuka, Kanagawa. Nearest
stns: Horinouchi or Shioiri.
Ome Noryo Fireworks
Aug 5. Nakayama Park. Nearest
stn: Ome.
Aug 26. Takada Bridge,
Kanagawa. Nearest stn:
Kamimizo.
Movie ReviewS
& cinemas P. 26
Agenda Movies By Don Morton
For theater details: metropolis.co.jp/movies
The Lincoln Lawyer
In this adroit adaptation of one of
Michael Connelly’s complex and
realistic page-turners, Matthew
McConaughey, doing his best
(least vapid) work in years, assays
with only occasional overacting
the title role of Mick Haller, a clever
but charmingly amoral criminal defense attorney whose office
is the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car. He gets a profitable break
when he’s hired to defend a multimillionaire (Ryan Phillippe)
on rape charges, but quickly finds himself in a lose-lose ethical
dilemma that will require all his notorious craftiness to get out of.
Also William H. Macy and Marisa Tomei. (119 min)
Big Miracle
Metpod
Brave
H
ey, what’s up with Pixar? For 11 films it
was the most consistently successful
production company in film history,
releasing delights like Toy Story,
Finding Nemo and Cars. These were all visually
groundbreaking and highly entertaining, but, more
importantly, they were emotionally engaging
because the company never went to work until it
had a good, original story. My belief that its tie-up
with Disney would not derail this admirable
filmmaking philosophy was weakened with last
year’s lackluster Cars 2, and with Brave, it seems as
First Love
NEW
The Lady
NEW
This tiny surf film from Claire
Gorman follows a trio of spirited
teenage girls from Phillip Island
in southern Australia as they
pursue their dream of going to
Hawaii to find out whether they
have the right stuff to make it in
professional surfing. The title refers to the sport of surfing itself,
and how you never forget it. It’s fairly amateurish in construction but nicely filmed, and offers a look at the world of women’s
pro surfing as it exists today. What it lacks in sophistication it
nearly makes up for in spunk as you catch a ride on their pure
passion for the sport. (52 min)
Showing from July 21
Ad m i re r s of B u r m a’s Au n g
San Suu Kyi will get a detailed
portrait of the pro-democracy
leader in this dramatization of
her life, her 15 years of house
arrest, and the sacrifices made
by her and her family. David
Thewlis is excellent as Suu Kyi’s British husband, and Michelle
Yeoh uncannily embodies the subject’s qualities. But action
director Luc Besson is clearly out of his comfort zone in the
biopic genre, and at best this is a sincere but pedestrian retelling of an inspiring story. I’m glad I saw it, but as it dragged into
its third hour, I found myself wishing instead for a punchy,
90-minute documentary. (132 min)
though the formerly trend-setting studio has been
reduced to a supplier of merchandisable princesses
to the bland entertainment giant. Merida, a strongwilled (bratty) Scottish princess at odds with her
mother over an arranged marriage, slips mom a
magic tart (untested drug) obtained from a witch
(street dealer) that will “change” her mom. It does.
Into a bear. And dad’s a renowned bear hunter. Oh
dear. It looks great, but almost all animations do
these days, and for a movie so named, precious
few risks are taken. The storyline is thin, there’s no
romantic element or clear villain (unless you count
brattiness), little narrative momentum and zilch
sense of wonder. Get it together, Pixar. Japanese title:
Merida to Osoroshi no Mori. (95 min)
Shark Night 3D
A group of one-dimensional college
kids is marooned on a private
island in a saltwater lake that
seems, somewhat suspiciously, to
have been stocked with several
species of shark, all very hungry.
Checklist: leering rednecks (one of
whose teeth are scarier than a Great White’s), speedy sharks that
can trail and catch a water skier, a highly ridiculous backstory, flat
acting, plenty of padding between cheesy chomp scenes, and a
complete lack of any sense of threat. The only reason I can think
of for this rudderless, cast-attrition piece of shark-sploitation to
exist is to make Piranha 3DD look good. (91 min)
Piranha 3DD
The super-piranhas from Alexandre Aja’s trashy 2010 Piranha now
make their way into a water park.
This spiritless sequel by John
Gulager alternates between the
beasties dining on dehumanized,
dishabille spring-break Barbies
(they apparently favor the naughty parts) and repetitive
not-so-special effects. Then David Hasselhoff shows up for a
little self-parody (which is only effective, David, when it’s not
all you have left). This wet and witless waste is hilariously
funny…if you’re a leering 12-year-old boy obsessed with fake
titties (the “DD” stands for a bra size). Makes the Aja film seem
like art. (82 min)
Big Oil, Inupiat Eskimos, Greenpeace, Alaska and even the Soviets
find themselves unlikely allies,
albeit mostly for non-altruistic PR
reasons, in rescuing a trio of gray
whales trapped by an early freeze
and able to get air through only a
small and rapidly closing hole in the ice. Inspired by events in
1988, this is an ode to putting politics aside and getting things
done. Listening, Washington? Sounds a bit bland, yes, but it plays
like an action movie once it gets rolling, and each likable actor
(John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Ted Danson) strikes the right
note. Thinking family approved. (107 min)
The Amazing
Spider-Man
This alternate origin story is more
a drama with action than a pure
action flick, but director Marc
Webb, who gave us (500) Days of
Summer, knows how to flesh out
characters and create believable
emotions. Andrew Garfield is spot-on in the title role, and there’s
sweet chemistry between him and the always affable Emma
Stone. Rhys Efans does a creditable mad scientist/malevolent
Lizard. It’s an entertaining if popcorny blend of action and
emotion. But, I don’t know, it lacks the imagination, the sense
of wonder and the pure exhilaration of the Sam Raimi/Tobey
McGuire batch, and felt warmed-over. (136 min)
Princess Ka’iulani
Ka’iulani, the pampered niece
of Hawaii’s last king, was sent
to England when the scheming
Americans decided to take over. In
Britain she got a thorough education and apparently had time for
an entirely fabricated romance. A
lady of intelligence and will, she returned and was instrumental
in securing voting rights for her people in the new U.S. territory.
Some day someone will make a great film about the end of the
Hawaiian monarchy and America’s tawdry forced annexation,
but this deadly earnest, historically shaky costume weepy ain’t it.
Nicely filmed, but with a History Channel feel to it. (97 min)
United
As sports tragedies go, the plane
crash that killed half the members
of the Manchester United football
club’s legenda r y you n g 1958
sta r t i n g s qu ad rate s r i g ht up
there. But it brought together the
international football community
as never before. This moving British TV movie views the event
and its emotional aftermath through the eyes of the 19-year-old,
soon-to-be-great Bobby Charlton (Jack O’Connell), who survived
the crash. But the film belongs to a riveting David Tennant as the
fiery, unconventional coach Jimmy Murphy. Also an excellent
Dougray Scott as team owner Matt Busby. There’s no football.
(90 min)
Also Showing
The Rum Diary
A nice-looking but narratively fuzzy timewaster from a novel by Hunter S. Thompson on
his time in Puerto Rico in the ‘60s. (120 min)
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Tilda Swinton is outstanding in this look inside
the deteriorating mind of the mother of a
teenage sociopath. Japanese title: Shonen wa
Zankokuna Yumi wo Iru. (111 min)
One Day
Call this stylish, witty and believable love story
from Lone Scherfig (An Education) an antidote
to Nicholas Sparks. (108 min)
The Beaver
A depressed man finds he can speak through a
hand puppet. Great perf by Mel Gibson, but too
creepy, dark and maudlin for most. Japanese
title: Soredemo Aishiteru. (91 min)
Helter Skelter: © 2012映画『ヘルタースケルター』製作委員会photo by mika ninagawa; First Love: © 2011 Liquid Pictures; Brave: © Disney / Pixar All rights reserved. ; The Lady: Magali Bragard © 2010 EuropaCorp - Left Bank Pictures - France 2 Cinéma; The
Amazing Spider Man: © 2011 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ; Piranha 3DD: © 2011 PDOUBLED FILMS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ; The Lincoln Lawyer: © 2010 LAKESHORE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LCC And LIONS GATE FILMS INC. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED. ; Big Miracle: © 2012 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.All Rights Reserved. ; Shark Night 3D: © 2011 INCENTIVE FILM PRODUCTIONS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Conan the Barbarian: © 2011 CONAN PRODUCTION, INC; The Big Year: © 2012 Twentieth Century Fox
Home Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved. ; This Must be the Place: © 2011 Indigo Film, Lucky Red, Medusa Film, ARP, France 2 Cinema, Element Pictures. All Rights reserved. ; United: © World Productions (United) Limited MMX1; Man on a Ledge: ©
2011 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ; The Courier: © 2011 COURIER PRODUCTIONS, LLC. ; Princess Kaiulani: © 2010 Oahu Productions LLC. All rights reserved
Man on a Ledge
eiga By Rob Schwartz
movie news
© IMAGE.NET
An escaped con (Sam Worthington and his variable American
accent) out on a hotel ledge 21
floors up appears to be anything
but suicidal. Why is he there? Is he
really proclaiming his innocence
or perhaps creating a diversion?
From, like, maybe a diamond heist? The film follows two plot
lines, both eye-rollingly preposterous, but you couldn’t call it slow.
Dumb, yes. And sloppy, and nonsensical and improbable, sure.
This one requires an absence of disbelief, not a mere suspension.
The film finally plummets to its death in the busy, mindlessly tidy
ending. I felt jerked around and cheated. Japanese title: Gakeppuchi no Otoko. (102 min)
Helter Skelter
The Courier
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a guy who
will deliver any package, whatever
it may be, to wherever or whoever,
no questions asked, etc. If this
sounds like it’s kind of a low-rent
Transporter, that’s because it is.
But only at its best moments. The
supporting cast includes Til Schweiger, Miguel Ferrer, Lili Taylor
and Mark Margolis, but the poorly written, wandering script is full
of holes, and it’s all a big mess. Then there’s this mysterious Keyser
Soze type named Evil Sivle, and you even get Mickey Rourke as
a murderous Elvis impersonator. (That was an encoded spoiler.)
I’m not making any of this up. (99 min)
Conan the Barbarian
While this witless, cheapo
“reimagination” dutifully conjures
up the necessary spurting blood,
clanging swords, sorcery, beheadings, flayings and slayings, it is so
lacking in imagination that it more
closely resembles a rip-off of all
those sword-and-sorcery rip-offs of the 1982 film that launched
Schwa-chan’s pre-politics career. A studly Jason Momoa does the
generic barbarian honors in this blood-soaked CGI contrivance
despite not seeming all that barbaric (Conan the Buff?), and he
looks as though he’d be more comfortable on a romance novel
cover. Best line: “I live. I love. I slay. I am content.” (113 min)
T
Minions (and their fans) rejoice! It turns out you won’t have to wait until
next summer to see the world’s cutest criminals on the big screen. The
2010 film Despicable Me was a showcase for Steve Carrell’s trademark
smug voice and the dazzling 3D computer animation of Paris-based
studio Mac Guff. But the surprise hit of the film were the Minions,
thousands of little yellow creatures that help super villain Gru (Carrell)
carry out his nefarious plans. Part of the appeal seems to have been the
high-pitched gibberish of the pint-sized henchmen, who were voiced
by their creators, French animators Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud,
along with Jemaine Clement of the band Flight of the Conchords. A
smartphone app was released that “translates” the squeals the Minions
make over the films closing credits. The creatures also turned up in the
Nintendo DS game Minion Mayhem, countless toys, and even the kids
menu at International House of Pancakes in the US. The popularity
paved the way for a sequel, but the painstaking animation process
means a release date of summer… 2013. But Minion maniacs will be
able to tide themselves with the short Banana, which will be screening
with the Dr. Seuss adaptation The Lorax, which comes from the same
creative team behind Despicable Me. Kevin Mcgue
The Lorax opens in Japan October 6.
cinematic underground
© VENDÔME PRODUCTION
his is one of the year’s most
highly anticipated live-action
J-flicks. Based on Kyoko Okazaki’s manga of the same name that won
the 2004 Tezuka Osamu Cultural
Prize, it marks both Mika Ninagawa
and Erika Sawajiri’s return to film.
Photographer Ninagawa made her
directorial debut with the acclaimed
Sakuran in 2006 but has not directed
since. Sawajiri was basically hounded
o u t o f f i l m a f te r h e r d i s a s t r o u s
handling of the press for Closed Note in
2007, an abomination that consisted
of her (gasp!) telling the truth.
The story revolves around Ririko
(Sawajiri), the latest “it” girl. However,
her stunning looks are completely due
to plastic surgery, which she has had
all over her body. Pushed to live the
perfect life, Ririko’s psychological state
begins to break down when the shoddy
surgeries start to come undone. Her
world is even more threatened when
new and beautiful model Kozue (Kiko
Mizuhara) arrives on the scene.
Some may think the story a mirror
of Sawajiri’s life, but it ’s far more a
critique of Japanese pop culture and
the obsession with beauty than with
her. Laced with sex and sumptuous
colors (like Sakuran), it is dragged
down by some scenes with melodramatic fights and dialog. Still, Helter
Skelter makes enough of a point, and
is produced well enough, to hold your
attention throughout. (127 min)
The Big Year
Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen
Wilson play a trio of obsessive
birders engaged in a competition
to spot the most species in North
America in one year. Filmmaker
David Frankel (The Devil Wears
P rada, Marley & Me) i s to b e
commended. It’s hard to make three gifted comedians so dull,
even in a charm-free, relentlessly test-marketed, inflated sitcom
like this. And the premise: competitive BIRDwatching. I got chills.
(This is a fictionalized adaptation of a non-fiction book.) Some
nice scenery. I didn’t laugh, or even learn anything about birds.
What’s next, David, a coin collectors’ actioner? Japanese title: Big
Boys. (100 min)
This Must be the Place
Sean Penn is one of the best actors
working today. Except when he
isn’t. And no one can say he’s
not courageous in his choice of
roles. This time he tries on a fried,
Ozzy Osbourne-type retired rock
star, with about the same level of
effectiveness as he achieved in I Am Sam. The aimless, affected,
Dublin-based rocker, named Cheyenne, decides to hit the road
and track down the Nazi prison guard who tormented his father,
now hiding out in America. A deeply strange movie, with a dollop
of social comedy but more than a little arty and unsure of its
tone, this one falls short of its Lynchian aims. Japanese title: Kitto
Kokoga Kaeru Basho. (118 min)
Recreator
Three bad actors encounter clones of themselves, requiring
audiences to endure six bad actors. Japanese title: Syncro. (90
min)
Iron Girl
T
h i s blo ckbu ste r showca s e s
t he dua l t rend of Japa ne se
action films trying to copy big
budget Hollywood features and porno
actresses trying to go legit. Following
in the footsteps of Sasha Gray, Maria
Ozawa and Sora Aoi, adult video actress
Asuka Kirara has made the jump to
mainstream film. She stars as the title
character who wears an armoredclad suit and fights baddies who prey
on the weak (sound familiar?). The
minimal story line follows our super
girl who suffers from amnesia and
must defend a village in the Wasteland
from a gang of criminals called “Crazy
Dogs.” Naturally, the tiny hamlet has
an ancient scripture of its own that
prophesies an “Iron Savior,” yada, yada,
yada. The flick is even more staged and
stilted than its American counterparts
and it’s difficult to get involved in any
way. The action sequences are passable
but not breaking any new ground in CG
or choreography. Yawn. (92 min)
The French romantic comedy The Women on the 6th Floor (2010
pictured) will be charming audiences at Bunkamura’s Le Cinema
(2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku; www.bunkamura.co.jp) from July
21. Director Philippe Le Guay used his own father as the basis for the
main character, a staid stockbroker in 1960s Paris whose life is turned
upside-down when he falls for his Spanish maid…The documentary
Winds from Fukushima will screen at Pole Pole (4-4-1 Higashi Nakano,
Nakano-ku; www.mmjp.or.jp/pole2) from July 28. The doc follows the
daily lives of people still living in the shadow of the crippled nuclear
reactors, with the aim of showing the idyllic country life that has come
under threat by power that is sent to big cities.…Summer in Japan
is traditionally a time for horror stories…and horror movies. ShinBungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro Toshima-ku;
www.shin-bungeiza.com) continues its summer series of all-night
horror movie marathons on July 21 starting at 10:30pm, with cult
classics The Exterminator (1980), Night Train Murders (1975), Evilspeak
(1981) and more. KM
Unless noted, Japanese films screen without English subtitles. Non-English language
films are shown with Japanese subtitles only.
Shinjuku
03-3352-6606
Ikebukuro
03-5951-3614
Akasaka
03-3539-3615
Dubliners is now online!
Shibuya
03-5459-1736
Shinagawa
03-6718-2834
Toranomon
03-5501-1536
www.dubliners.jp
8/4 BEER
HALL DAY!!
All Day ¥500
Except Toranomon & Akasaka as these 2 branches are closed on 8/4
Beer Hall Day was established to celebrate the
opening of the
first everLIVE
beer EVENTS
hall on Aug 4th, 1899.
SPECIAL
8/5∼31 Pint
Beer Festival!!
Everyone who purchases a pint of beer gets
a raffle ticket for a chance to win a 3000
yen Dubliners’ voucher.
Bites
the latest dish on food & drink in the big city
puppet
Dining Out
beer
Courtesy of Budweiser Carnival
F
A
or a thematic meal
with strings attached,
pop along to the
Thunderbirds Café (B1
Pasela Resorts Ochanomizu,
1-21-5 Kanda Jimbocho,
Chiyoda-ku; www.paselabo.
tv/thunderbirds), to dine
amid memorabilia of the
famous 1960s UK sci-fi series.
The dining area resembles
the Tracy Island control room in Gerry and Sylvia Andersen’s show, and features
rare collectors’ items such as three-meter-long original models of the Thunderbird
1 and 2 aircraft. Themed dishes—such as John’s bagel sandwich and Ming Ming’s
Asian beauty salad (both ¥780)—are perhaps intended to make the 40- and
50-something target group relive their youthful excitement at watching the exploits
of the puppet saviors. Owner Newton Co. is responsible for other themed venues,
like the Dragon Quest Bar and Masked Riders Diner.
t the three locations of
Budweiser Carnival (1-16-3
Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku;
plus locations in Shimbashi and
Kannai; www.kitanokazoku.jp/
budweiser/index.html) get frothing
American lager served up to you by
niftily-dressed Bud-girls to get the
thirst burning a hole in your throat.
The menu also offers some Yankee
snacks to put some iron in your
bloodflow, such as grilled chicken
(¥680), pork ribs (¥1,280), and more.
Beerwise you can get lager, stout, and
half-and-half, plus plenty of other
glass-fulls, and you can buy a range
of drinks for just ¥315 on weekdays between 4-6:30pm. Keep an eye out for news of
their monthly DJ bash at the Shinjuku branch.
café
cheesecake
I
Photo by Margarita
f you thought Scandinavia
was just famous for
gripping trilogies about
technologically literate gothic
detectives—then you’ve not
tasted its coffee. A popular
Oslo coffee-cum-cocktail
bar is now opening its first
overseas location in the form
of Fuglen Tokyo (1-16-11
Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku; www.
fuglen.no). If you ask the
average Japanese person about Norway, you’ll get shown the way to the nearest
koban. All this is bound to change thanks to this trendy new venue. The place is
divided into three sections: “Daylife” serves up coffee from the Scandinavian nation;
“Nightlife” pickles you in house cocktails; and “Lifestyle” allows fiddling with antique
Norwegian playthings. And we’re not talking about A-HA. Coffees average at around
¥450, and cocktails at ¥1,350.
A
Photo by Margarita
pparently
cheesecake was
a favorite of the
Ancient Greeks. And seeing
as they also liked dressing
up as goats and indulging
in five-day bouts of sex and
theater, they clearly knew
what was good for them.
Everyone has their favorite
kind, from bricklike lumps of
plain white, to foamy, fruity
varieties. In upscale Azabu-Juban, specialist Cinq Cinq (1F Azabu-Juban Kan 2-4-8
Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku; www.azabu-cheesecake.com) is taking the cake one step
further. Some 80 different varieties include all you might imagine, plus some very
odd ones, such as tomato, which apparently goes well with wine. Sold at ¥450 per
slice, and also in whole cakes.
We accept major
credit cards
(except for special
discounts)
the latest dish on food & drink in the big city
Dining Out
Good to Go
Tokyo discovers the pleasures of takeout
By Steve Trautlein
Picnics, barbecues, beer gardens—Tokyoites certainly love to take their eating and drinking outdoors
during summertime. And thanks to all the new takeout counters and windows springing up around town,
you can too. Here are a half dozen of our current favorites.
Pizza
New Yorkers consider eating pizza
by the slice to be not so much a lifestyle choice as a God-given right. So
we’re relieved that Tokyo is finally
hopping on the pizza-to-go bandwagon—and in such a big way. First
came the debut of the N Y-based
Sbarro chain a couple of years ago
(w w w.sba r ro.jp), fol lowed t h i s
spring by Napoli’s, a takeout/eat-in
spot in Shibuya (www.napolisjapan.
com). Our newest favorite, though,
is 045 Pizza Myro in Yokohama’s
Motomachi shopping district. With
selections from ¥250 and a w ide
range of pies, it’s the closest we’ve
come to enjoying a slice of the Big
Apple in Japan.
1-24-1 Ishikawacho, Naka-ku,
Yokohama. Tel: 045-264-4045.
Open Tue -Fri 11:30am-10pm ,
Sat-Sun 11:30am-7pm, closed
Mon. Nearest stn: Ishikawacho
(JR line) or Motomachi-Chukagai
(Minatomirai line). www.face
book.com/045pizzamyro
Donuts
It was a brave man (or, as it turns out,
woman) who first came up with idea
that tofu and fried dough would go
well together. But the Kobe-based
Hara Donuts manages to pull off
the trick. Chewy and slightly sweet,
the basic donut (¥120) at this rapidly expanding chain is made with
all-natural ingredients like wholewheat flour, soymilk and okara (tofu
lees). Health-conscious snackers will
appreciate the “vegetable” donuts
(carrot, spinach, etc.; ¥150), but junk
food junk ies need not despair—
chocolate and cocoa varieties are
also on the menu (¥130). Hara Donuts
operates a dozen shops in the Tokyo
area, including a newly opened takeout counter in Yokohama’s Porta
department store.
Various locations. Open daily
10am-7pm (while donuts last).
http://haradonuts.jp
Onigiri
How do we love thee, Omusubi Gonbei? Bear with us while we count the
ways. First, there’s the fact that each
of your rice balls is shaped by hand
from still-hot rice. Second, there’s
the size—the onigiri here are 50 percent bigger than their puny conbini
cousins. Third, the preservativeand additive-free menu includes
items made from brown rice. But
best of all, orders are likely to be
filled by a staff member who actually harvested the rice—employees
are encouraged to visit the suppliers’ paddies. Osumubi Gonbei has
18 shops in the metropolitan area;
the newest, in the Atre Kawasaki
complex, debuted May 31. Rice balls
¥100-¥250.
Various locations. Open Mon-Fri
7am-7pm. www.omusubi-gonbei.com
Dumplings
It wasn’t too long ago that even Chinatown junkies like us had never
heard of sheng jian bao. Now we’re
wondering how we ever got along
without them. These soupy, steamedthen-pan-fried dumplings occupy
a kind of middle ground between
standard Chinese takeout fare like
cha siu bao buns, which are easy
to eat on the go, and xiao long bao
soup dumplings, which are impossible to eat anywhere except a table.
Filled with minced pork and generous helpings of scallion, sheng jian
bao can be found all over Chinatown
these days. The popular Wanfuchin,
on the main drag, is our favorite spot
for takeout. A generous serving of
four costs ¥460.
191-24 Ya m a s h i t a - c h o ,
N a k a - k u , Yo k o h a m a . T e l :
045- 641-1595. Op e n Mon-F ri
10am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm.
Nearest stn: Ishikawacho (JR
line) or Motomachi- Chukagai
(Minatomirai line).
Taiyaki
The only positive thing about the
collapse of Tokyo’s taiyaki boom is
the high quality of shops that are still
in business after the bubble burst.
That’s certainly the case with Kurodai in Shinjuku, whose once bustling
Daikanyama location has, sadly,
closed its doors. Three simple versions of their anko-filled snacks are
available—plain, macha and black
sesame (¥130-¥250)—but Kurodai
spices things up with optional toppings of honey, butter and cream
(¥50 each). Using top-shelf ingredients like homemade bean paste,
brown cane sugar and Kyoto green
tea, this shop offers a guilt-free takeout experience.
1F Lumine Shinjuku 2, 3-38-2
Shinjuku . Tel: 03-5325-2494.
Open daily 11am-10pm. Nearest
stn: Shinjuku. www.daikanyamakurodai.com
Hamburger
Roppongi has often been described
as a meat market, and w it h t he
arrival of Hot Rocks in April, that
statement is now literally true. The
takeout window at this burger joint
gives out onto the main Roppongi
drag, but if you want to take a load
off from the dance floor, a few small
tables are available inside. Hot
Rocks’ eponymous burger (¥980)
comes topped with egg, cheese and
just about everything else, and it’s
accompanied by a handful of what
may be the best spicy fries in Tokyo.
Pizza and chicken are also on the
menu, and Mexican-themed tapas
can be ordered at the standing bar
upstairs.
3-15-22 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel:
03-6804-5416. Open daily 11am5a m . Ne a re st st n : Roppong i .
www.hotrocks.jp
Metrohomes selected listings
MetroHomes.jp
All english-language services!
Just a few examples from Japan’s biggest
English-language real estate database...
Nagano Woodland Forced Sale
Nearby golf course
Bottom side of property
1,032m2 hillside plot of land next to golf course
Cool weather, a verdant
mountain landscape, clean
air, and right next to the
27-hole Enrei Golf Course.
If you dream of escaping
Tokyo each summer, this is
Kamiyama Keyakikan #B-1
Shibuya-ku • Nearest stn:
Yoyogi Koen Sta (7 min) •
179m2 • 3LDK apartment
• ¥550,000 • No key money
Storia Shirokane
Minato-ku • Nearest
stn: Shirokanedai Sta (1min)
• 43 m2 • 1LDK apartment
• ¥168,000 • No key money
the place to do it.
Due to business
circumstances, the
private owner is
reluctantly selling this
wonderful hillside plot.
Shirokane House A
Minato-ku • Nearest stn:
Shirokane-Takanawa
(9 min) • 263m2
• 4LDK • ¥500,000
Designers Apartment,
Feel A Shibuya
(Shibuya 5 min) • 41m2
• Studio • ¥190,000
Vent Vert
Toshima-ku • Ikebukuro
(8 min) • 18m2 • 1R• ¥85,000
• No agency fee/key money
Nissho Mansion
Shibuya (5 min) • 22m2
• 1R • ¥105,000
AXEL HOME
Enplus Inc.
Central Park Tower LaTour Shinjuku
Shinjuku-ku • Nearest stn: Tochomae
(5 min) • 49–289m2 • 1R-5LDK,
¥248,000–1,580,000
Contact
• Frank A. Kasala
• Tel: 03-4530-9820
• Cell: 090-6456-1596
• anacapa007@hotmail.
com
• Higashiyama, Shiojiri
City, Nagano
• 1,032m2 hillside plot
• Power and water
supplied to perimeter
• ¥6,800,000
Park Habio Shinjuku East
Side Tower
Shinjuku-ku • Nearest stn:
Higashi-Shinjuku (3 min)
• 43m2 • 1LDK • ¥177,000
• No key money
Sumida Riverside Tower
Chuo-ku • Nearest stn:
Hatchobori (8 min)
• 52–186m2 • 1-4 bedrooms
• ¥185,000–1,297,000
• No key money
JAPT. Gotanda 2-C
Shinagawa-ku • Nearest stn:
Gotanda (6 min) • 20m2
Studio • ¥120,000
• No key money/deposit/
agency fee/guarantor
JAPT. Yotsuya B
Shinjuku-ku • Nearest stn:
Yotsuya (6 min) • 23m2
•1K • ¥130,000
• No key money/deposit/
agency fee/guarantor
Harajuku (ID:4078)
Shibuya-ku, • Nearest stn:
Harajuku (6min) • 41m2 • 1DK •
¥121,000 • No agency fee /key
money/deposit/guarantor
Fujitomo Bldg.
Edogawa-ku • Nearest stn:
Kasai (5 min) • 21m2 • 1K
• ¥85,000 • No agency fee/key
money/guarantor
The Tokyo Towers Sea Tower
Chuo-ku • Nearest stn:
Kachidoki (5 min) • 75m2
• 3LDK • ¥200,000
• No key money
Koto-ku Monzen Nakacho B
Koto-ku • Nearest stn: Monzen
Nakacho (7min) • 13m2
• Studio • ¥90,000 • No agency
fee/key money/guarantor
Property information accurate at time of printing. Please check MetroHomes.jp for up-to-date listings
metrohomes key features: ● Over 10,000 rental properties to search through ● Add favorites to a basket to keep an eye on them ● “What’s New” column updated daily
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32 ● download our podcast at ● podcast.metropolis.co.jp
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1 AT YOUR SERVICE
1.2 Hair & Beauty
1.1 Health
Acupuncture in Tokyo/
Aoyama/Shibuya area .
Non-invasive, gentle
treatment. Soothing &
relaxing. Only disposable
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Individual assessment,
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p ro g ra m . N u r tu ri n g a n d
s up p o r tive atm o s p h e re .
Fully integrated w/
conventional practices
and medication. Covered
by most foreign insurance.
Te l : 03 - 5 4 69 - 0 810
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radioactivity, earthquakes,
tsunami, natural disasters,
plus emergency benefits!
Affordable, full-set
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O steopathy
by a UK-trained, qualified
osteopath, providing safe
and effective treatment for
headaches, back/neck pains,
arthritis, nerve-compression
syndromes such as
sciatica, TMJ problems, etc.
AOP -Aoyama Osteopathy
Practice-. Visit the English
page at www. aoyamaosteopathy.com/english/
O nly C ut Z one s a l o n
provides a hair cut
service for only ¥1000. 5min
walk from Kita se nju stn .
Friendly English-speaking
staff is available. Contact
us at 03-3882-1550. Open
from 10am until 7pm, 7 days
a week. http://meturl.com/
onlycutzone
Sophisticated Private
Hair Salon. Bondz Salon’s
owner has experience in
NY. High quality service and
natural products. Cut: ¥5000.
Color: ¥5000 ~. All menu
20% off on first visit. 1min
from Azabu-Juban stn. www.
bondzsalon.jp/index_.html
Reservation: 03-6426-5562
GET THE SKINCARE SAFE ENOUGH
TO EAT! Are the toxins in Japan
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1.3 Moving
provide qualified babysitters
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w w w. h o n e yc l ove r. c o . j p
[email protected]
MOVING? Experienced staff
will assist you at reasonable
prices. Transportation for
overseas/domestic moving.
Packing and warehousing
with care. Customs clearance. Air or sea freight
fo r w a r d i n g wo r l d w i d e .
03-5851-9331/090-1216-0012
1.7 Business Services
AFFORDABLE
B USI N E SS
PRESENCE IN
JAPAN! Easy
entry into one
of t h e m o s t
profitable markets in the
world with our virtual office
services: phone answering,
call and mail forwarding, and
address for business
registration. Starting from
¥7350/m. Contact Telephone
Secretary Center today!
03-5413-7320 www.telese.jp/
en/index .html contact@
telese.jp
SUMIKAWA LAW OFFICE ,
a member of the Yokohama
Bar As sociation , locate d
in Kawasaki (next to
Tokyo). We offer free email
advice for vic tim s of car
accidents. Contact us before
reconciling with the
insurance company. Lawyer
Kei Sumikawa. Email:
[email protected] http://
sumikawa.net
I F You think it, we ’ ll
do it! Affordable, private
concierge service. Allow
us to take care of your
mundane tasks, freeing
you up for important
things. All jobs considered:
organizing house cleaning/
m ov i n g , t a k i n g c a r e o f/
renting out your holiday
house, booking sports/
concert/travel tickets,
arranging unique vacation
plans, providing personal
assistants/translators for
visitors, simple translating,
etc. SYMPLIFE: www.
symplife .net enquirie s@
symplife.net
Loving Baby Massage .
Teaching mothers, fathers
and other family members
professional baby massage
and child yoga techniques
from internationally
acclaimed Peter Walker’s
“Developmental Baby
Massage” and “YogaGym”.
E/J. ¥3000/session. Foursession discount: ¥10,000.
Call Shino at 080-3362-0429
or email babymassage123@
gmail.com
sweet
deals!
TA X C O N S U LTAT I O N I N
ENGLISH! If you are anxious
about your tax return, we
can handle your problem for
a reasonable price. Please
call 03-5843-6511 or email
us at is@meisei-audit .jp.
Check our website for more
info: http://takedatax.jp
50% off
classifieds
classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
Issue
958 Issue
960
Fri, aug 3
Fri, Aug 17
Deadline:
Deadline:
Jul 26, 3pm
Aug 9, 3pm
2 FIND A PLACE
2.1 Guesthouse
Next to Azabu-Juban and
Minami-Shinagawa stn.
Private furnished rooms
in Akasaka(2min), AzabuJuban, Minami-Shinagawa,
very close to the station.
Cleaning every week. First
two months special offer
¥46,000~¥56,000/m, utilities
included. No key money, free
Internet. 日本人向けのシェアハウ
スもあり、全室インターネット・家具付
個室。敷・礼金、仲介料、水道光熱費及
び保証人不要！090-2405-0022
[email protected]
www.bauhousetokyo.com
2.2 Rent Under 200,000 yen
¥55,000~/
MONTH IN
R O P P O N GI .
Roppongi
¥63,000~.
Hanzomon
¥48,000~.
Ikejiri-Ohashi
¥48,000~.
Ginza ¥53,000~. Gotanda
¥48,000 ~. Kachidoki
¥48,000~. Utilities
¥7000/m. Fully furnished, w/
f r e e I n t e r n e t . Yo t s u y a
¥68,000 (utilities ¥10,000).
Dormitory ¥45,000 (utilities
¥ 5 0 0 0). N o key m o n ey,
¥10,000 refundable deposit.
03-3560-7405 / 080-5436-1777
w w w . r o p p o n g i mayflowerhouse.com
AFFO R DAB LE
APARTMENTS &
GUESTHOUSES
IN TOKYO’ S
P O P U L AR
AREAS: Azabu, Roppongi,
Asakusa, Kichijoji, Yokohama
¥49,000~/m. No key money/
guarantor/brokerage fee.
O ve r 1 0 0 g u e s t h o u s e s
(Internet, utilities included)
and apartments. Call
Oakridge : 03 -3 502-2 3 51
oakridgehousing@gmail.
com www.oakridgehousing.com
more info at:
classifieds.
metropolis.co.jp
1.8 General Services
MOVING OVERSEAS? Call
ECONOSHIP! With over 30 years’
experience, you can count
on Econoship for courteous,
efficient, reliable service and
reasonable prices. Call, email,
or see our new website. Ask
how you can receive 10 boxes
free of charge. info@econoship.
n e t w w w. e c o n o s h i p . n e t
0120-222-111
HoneyClover Babysitting
an d H ousekeeping
Services . We spe cialize
i n En g l i s h - s p e a ki n g a n d
foreign babysitters. We will
AAA FUNERAL SERVICES:
T okyo M o r ticians
Funeral Company, Tokyo.
Flat rate, including carriage,
c r e m a t i o n , c e r e m o ny,
documents, tax ¥169,000.
¥5000 discount for
advanced registration.
Storage house near Haneda
TYO Airport, Ota-ku,Tokyo.
Call Francis at 090 - 65149 9 8 1 . h t t p : //t yo ku s o . j p/
foreigner/
I C H I I C O R P O R AT I O N .
Over 600 affordable, qualityfurni she d apar tme nts in
central Tokyo locations. No
key money/guarantor/agent
fe e re quire d . New, clean
apartments, simple contract
system, full English support.
Call us today 03-5437-5233
www.japt.co.jp
F O N TA N A , e s t a b l i s h e d
over 30 years ago. With a
wide range of locations
at competitive prices,
our apartments and
guesthouses are some of
the best. Let our international
team find you the perfect
p l a c e t o l i v e i n To k y o .
fo n t a n a @ g o l . c o m w w w.
TokyoCityApartments.net
03-3382-0151
P R I VAT E F U R N I S H E D
A PA RT M E N T S . O d a k y u
l i n e , M u k o g a o k a -Yu e n /
Yomiuri-Land-Mae, 20/30
min from Shinjuku. Keikyu
line, Haccho-Nawate, 15min
from Shinagawa. 1K～2LDK,
¥58,000/m ～ ¥120,000/m.
Tel: 044-933-7000 Email:
[email protected]
w w w. minowagroup. jp/
minowahomes
S E RVI C E D A PA RTM E NT S
in a quiet residential area
of Hiroo. Studios and
s u i te s . 4 m i n f r o m H i r o o
s t n . R a te s : D a i ly ¥ 78 0 0.
Weekly ¥68 50 -/day.
Monthly ¥5900-/day. Over
three months ¥4950-/
day. Tax, utilities included.
f r o n t d e s k@ a z a b u c o u r t .
com w w w. azabucour t .
com/ 03-3446-8610
Free-First-Month Offer:
http://budgetstay.jp/qhm/
index.php?event. Dormitory
in Akabane, Shimo
¥23,000/m. Private room
in Itabashi, Shimo-Itabashi
¥43,000/m. 070-6516-7597
(10am-10pm).
2LDK (50M 2), NEWLY RENOVATED,
IN HIGASHI-SHINJUKU, 10min walk
to Shin-Okubo stn, JR Yamanote line,
2min walk to Higashi-Shinjuku stn,
Oedo line ¥135,000/m. One-month
management deposit included.
[email protected]
¥55,000/M FURNISHED STUDIO
APARTMENT FOR LONG/
S H O R T S TAY. N o g u a r a n t o r/
no key money, next to a quiet,
p r i v a t e l y r u n c a f e . S u b w a y/
Nishi-Ojima or JR Kameido stn:
Shinjuku/30min; Akihabara/10min;
Shibuya/35min. Famous shotengai:
Sunamachi-Ginza. 090-9683-3676
[email protected] http://tokyo.
craigslist.jp/apa/3104070300.html
Metropolis reserves the right to refuse, cancel or edit any ad without notice. Metropolis takes no responsibility for the quality of items or services advertised. Please carefully examine vendors or
items offered before commitment. Please be careful when contacting and arranging to meet people.
Visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp for complete listings.
Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
2.3 Rent Over 200,000 yen
3 EDUCATION
3.1 Japanese Schools
T O K Y O A P AR T M E N T S .
Bilingual real-estate agency,
o f fe ri n g fu rn i s h e d a n d
unfurnished apartments
throughout central Tokyo.
Also providing shortstay serviced apartments,
relocation service, furniture
rental and property
management services.
Please call 0120-957-520
www.tokyoapartments.jp
50% off
c lmore
a s sinfo
i f iat:
eds
classifieds.
metropolis.co.jp
P L A Z A H O M E S , LT D .
We h a v e b e e n a t r u s t e d
English-friendly real estate
agency since 1969. We
guarantee to cater to the
needs of expatriates with
our experience and
enormous database of
properties for sale or
r e n t i n To k y o . C o n t a c t
us at 03-3583- 6941 or
[email protected]
h t t p : // w w w. r e a l e s t a t e tokyo.com
T r ust - Resi d ence .
D e s i g n e r, h i g h - r i s e a n d
luxury apartments, no
d e p o s i t , n o k e y m o n e y,
no agent fee. We offer you
perfect apartments for
the be st deals in the Bay
area, and all around Tokyo.
info@trust-residence.
com 03-3548-0254 http://
trustresidence-tokyo.com/
JAPANESE
LANGUaGE
PROFICIENCY.
Our flexible,
affordable
Japanese
lessons can help you reach
your communication goals
for everyday conversation,
passing the JLPT, or reading
newspapers or books.
Individual or group classes
at times and locations
suitable for you. Contact
Aoyama Language School
today! 03-5413-7450 www.
aoyama-school.com info@
aoyama-school.com
3.2 Japanese Teachers
JAPANESE LESSONS. Learn
Japanese from a highly
trained (420 hours) and
licensed professional teacher
with plenty of teaching
experience! Variety of lessons
adapted to your needs .
Flexible schedule. JLPT
preparation available. Why
not take a free trial lesson?
p ro _ j a p a n e s e _ te a c h e r@
yahoo.co.jp
ASSOCIATION OF JAPANESE
TEACHERS. Highly qualified,
e x p e r i e n c e d i n s t r u c to r s
offer individual/small group
lessons at your home/office/
instructor’s home. Business/
d a i ly c o nve r s a t i o n /J LP T
available. Lesson fees from
¥2200/h at instructor’s home.
¥2700/h + transportation
fee at other places. Discount
n e g oti a b l e fo r l o n g e r/
fre q u e n t /g ro u p l e s s o n s .
0 3 -3 9 1 8 - 0 8 76 , 0 4 4 - 8 5 5 5039 [email protected]
http://ajt.rakurakuhp.net/
JAPANESE LESSONS. Teaching all
levels, with ample experience in
business. I offer both lessons in
business Japanese and provide
you with a window into Japanese
business culture. ¥1000/30min.
Available at cafes, my office or
Skype lessons. yoshihito.mori@
gcom-consulting.com
3.4 English teachers
E n g li s h fo r B u s i ne s s
people. Is English vital to
your business? Do you want or
need to improve your verbal,
written and presentation
skills? If so, Corporate English
is for you: we are not your
usual teacher. Rather, we are
experienced managementlevel English communication
t ra i n e r s wi t h ex te n s ive
teaching experience. To find
out more and for contact
details, please visit our website
at www.CorporateEnglish.biz.
We are conveniently located
in Minato-ku. vincelambert@
hotmail.com
G ua r antee d
F o r mula fo r
( E nglish )
Writing Success.
英語によるライテ
ィングコース :
16-lesson online
writing course offered by highly
experienced Canadian writer/
instructor. Get free writing manual.
[email protected] www.
writingexpertonline.com
080-6683-6262
3.5 Language Exchange
English and Japanese. Are you
or do you want to be a translator or
interpreter? Are you interested in various
topics? Do you want to really improve
your English? Let’s meet in Ikebukuro or
Nerima. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Interested in
finding a language exchange partner
on weekdays in the daytime. Let’s help
each other learn and become friends.
Drop me a line. Denentoshi line, Shibuya
or Shinjuku would be ideal. msali925@
yahoo.com
English and Japanese. Can you teach
me J and learn E from me in return? I
have free time Mon-Fri before 5pm or
weekend evenings. Let us meet and help
each other. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Hi! I’m a JF, 22,
living in Tokyo. I’d like to be able to speak
E better. Would someone teach me? I’ll
teach you J in return. Please send me a
reply. [email protected]
English and Japanese. American
English teacher seeking a language
exchange partner with some good
ideas to help me learn J. I can help with E.
Shinjuku preferred. Please mail me your
schedule. [email protected]
English and Japanese. Japanese guy
going to grad school. Was in the US for
10 months, but want to improve my
English more. Kind of used to teaching
Japanese. Green/Meguro/Namboku
line. Love subcultures. Yoroshiku!
[email protected]
English and Japanese. JF, 24, seeking
a native English speaker as my partner
in the Utsunomiya or Omiya areas. I
work at a trading company. I’ll teach
J on weekends. honami.takahashi@
gmail.com
English and Japanese. JF, late 40s,
seeking a language partner in the Chiba
area. I can meet you at a cafe and we can
practice together! I’d like to improve my
speaking and would be happy to help
your Japanese. I’m friendly and kind.
[email protected]
English and Japanese. I’m a JM, 25,
seeking a language exchange partner
in the Shinjuku/Shibuya area. My English
level is everyday conversation. Please
drop me an email and let’s see if we click.
[email protected]
Spanish, English, Japanese. Male,
25, living in Nippori, Tokyo, seeking
someone who wants to learn Japanese.
M/F ok. If you are interested, please feel
free to contact me. Encantado! I speak E
and Sp. [email protected]
Thai, Japanese, English. Looking
forward to meeting anyone who lives in
the Tokyo area for language exchange,
cafe, hanging out and traveling together
sometimes. I’m Thai, male, professional
career, easygoing and fun. freemap49@
yahoo.com
4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS
4.3 Sayonara Sale
Sayonara sale! Fridge, shelf,
bookshelf, sofa, chair and table, office
chair, etc. Photos available. saiport1@
gmail.com https://picasaweb.google.
com/1177316
wheel turns the wheels, sturdy metalframed body ¥3500. beijingbetsy@
yahoo.com
Car seat, newborn-age 4/18kg, clean,
in good condition ¥6000. Yoyogi.
[email protected] 03-3467-1502
Chair, rocking, E-chair ¥6000.
[email protected]
5 HOBBIES & INTERESTS
5.1 Cameras
Medium format camera, Mamiya
645, w/body, eye-level finder, pistol
grip, 120 film holders, 80mm f1.9, 45mm
f2.8, and 110mm f4 and more ¥70,000.
[email protected]
5.3 Musical Equipment
Bass, Hohner B2AV, five-string, w/
licensed Steinberger bridge system,
in excellent condition, good sound and
low weight, EMG Select active pickups,
passive/active toggle switch, fold-down
leg rest, natural wood finish ¥60,000/
obo. [email protected]
Compressor/EQ/limiter, Avalon
VT-747, bought in America, two y/o,
in great condition ¥150,000/obo.
Can takkyubin within Japan. ian@
homenormal.com
Sayonara sale! PC Gateway, 714JP
dual core 2.8GHz, 3GB RAM, 500GB
HD HDD, Nvidia graphic card, two
DVDs, card reader, Sharp monitor,
PC table, keyboard, mouse ¥18,000.
[email protected]
6.1 Cars, Parts &
Accessories
AUTO DIRECT is a one-stop
shop for all your motor
equipment and services
in English. Buying cars in
Japan? Rent/sell/lease cars,
import your favorite car from
outside Japan, and insurance
in English. Call 03-5573-8776
or email [email protected]
www.autodirect.jp/
Sayonara sale! Ikea, two y/o: black
wood-finished bookcase, w/double
glass doors ¥2000. Small, white
nightstand ¥1000. Tall, beige metal
rack/shelf ¥500. Pick up Ikejiri-Ohashi.
[email protected]
Sayonara sale! P ro fe s s i o n a l
copy machine, desks, fridge,
chairs, TV, carpet. Minami-Azabu.
[email protected] 0806684-5942
4.6 For Kids
Car, classic racing, for ages 2-5, steering
Daihatsu Move, 2004, 48,100km,
ABS, Xenon, CD/MD, ETC, automatic,
shaken June ‘13, gas, AC, power
steering, power window/mirrors,
central locking, navigation, new
tires and battery, nonsmoking,
champagne gold ¥345,000.
daihatsumove.wordpress.com/
6.2 Motorbikes, Parts, &
Accessories
HONDA LEAD SCOOTER, 110CC,
w/NAVI, dark blue and silver,
waterproof built-in GPS Navi,
three y/o, 9300km, both tires new
¥115,000. [email protected]
8 COMPUTERS
8.1 Services
6 VEHICLES
Sayonara sale! Bed, sofa, fridge,
steam iron, household goods, etc. Near
Shibuya. Details available. sendnemail@
gmail.com 090-1700-9409
Sayonara sale! Bed, dining table,
fridge, washer, microwave, desk and
chair, vacuum, bookshelves, clothing
racks, long mirror, clear plastic storage
boxes, etc. Prices negotiable. Pick
up Ikebukuro area. Photos available.
[email protected]
related matters. If you need
assistance with your car, we
are here to help. Tel: 03-68683 3 6 6 o r 0 9 0 - 93 6 2- 5 0 9 8
jce-autos.jp
T ok y o I T Se r v i ce s .
We fix all kinds of computer
problems and also of fer
a d ata re cove r y se r vice
i n To k yo . We p r ovi d e a
range of computer services
to co rp o rate , s m a l l a n d
medium-sized businesses,
and individual PC and Mac
users as well. Onsite call and
English computers for sale.
Rentals also available. 1min
walk from JR Yamanote line,
Hamamatsucho stn S5 exit,
3min from Daimon subway
B4 exit. 10am-6:30pm.
Call 03-3437-2312.
www.tokyoit.jp/english
8.2 Hardware
Desktop, Gigabyte, AMD Athalon dual
core 64x2 2.30GHz, 2GB RAM, just over
230GB HD, Realtek audio, wireless
keyboard and mouse, Win Ultimate
7 32-bit ¥20,000. Office/Photoshop/
Lightroom optional. sergeimagic@
hotmail.com
JCE AUTOS - THE
A U T O M O B I L E
PROFESSIONALS.
Specializing in car sales,
buy-backs, door-to - door
s h i p p i n g , l o n g - te r m c a r
storage and any other car-
iPad 1 64GB, Wi-Fi, in excellent
condition, screen film and back
cover since day one, w/TDK wireless
headphones, stereo iPad dock, unused
camera connection kit, cables, original
package, etc. ¥35,000. rsd91750@
nifty.com
Mac, MacBook Pro, 13”, two y/o. w/
receipt and box ¥65,000. By Aug 1.
Details, photos available. sendnemail@
gmail.com 090-1700-9409
Monitor, Acer P224W, 22” widescreen,
bought from Bic Camera, seven m/o, in
perfect condition. New ¥26,000. Sell
¥10,000/obo. Can takkyubin in Japan
only. [email protected]
10 HELP!
GAITOMO INTERNATIONAL
PART Y: VE RY P O PU L AR
P AR T Y . A G a i t o m o
International Party is held
every weekend in Tokyo.
There are many Japanese who
want to talk with foreigners.
Fe e l t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l
atmosphere! ¥1500~¥2000.
gaitomo.ninja-web.net/
10.2 Support
N E E D TO TA LK ?
We’re here to listen.
TELL LIFE LINE: free
English-language
anonymous
counseling, daily
from 9am-11pm, by trained
volunteers: 03-5774-0992. TELL
COUNSELING CENTER: affordable
multilingual psychotherapy by
accredited Western-trained
professionals, a CIGNA International
Provide r: 03 - 4 5 50 -1146. TELL
website: www.telljp.com. Follow us
o n Fa c e b o o k a n d Tw i t t e r @
TokyoLifeLine.
West Papua: one soul , one
people . Fifty years ago, West
Papua should have been an
independent country. Since 1969,
West Papua has been invaded
and the people robbed of their
rights, culture and country. Help
support West Papuans’ desire to
be free. http://tapol.gn.apc.org/
[email protected]
CONVERSATION LOUNGE
M I C KE Y H O U S E AT
TAKADANOBABA. Relax in
a living room atmosphere
and meet new friends from
different countries. Open
Mon-Sat from 6-11pm.
O n e d ri n k ¥ 50 0 ~. ht tp : //
mickeyhouse.jp/english
TOKYO INT’L PARTY. Best
int’l party in Tokyo! July 13:
Shibuya Xanadu. July 14:
Omotesando sushi party,
all-you-can-drink and eat.
July 21: Nishi-Azabu Muse.
July 27: Quest Roppongi.
J u l y 2 8 : K a n d a , a l l -yo u can-drink and eat. Speed
dating: July 22. best@
i n t e r n a t i o n a l p a r t y. c o m
http://internationalparty.
com/index_e.html
13 CLUBS & INTERESTS
13.1 Sports
Alcoholics Anonymous Tokyo. If
you have a problem with drinking, we
can help. English-speaking meetings
daily. 03-3971-1471 inquiries@
aatokyo.org http://aatokyo.org
Infertlity support group. TGP Tokyo
is an infertility support group in Tokyo
which provides informal opportunities
for women and men experiencing
infertility to connect with one another.
Please visit our website for more
information. [email protected] www.
tgptokyo.com
12 SOCIAL SCENE
12.1 Let’s Party
JAPAN I NTE R NATI O NAL
PARTY - SUMMER SPECIAL.
Sat, July 28, 6:30-9pm, Devi
Fusion (Roppongi). Japan’s
biggest international party.
Meet 250 new people. Allyou - c a n - d rin k a n d fre e
snacks. ¥3000-¥3500(JM).
Mobile: getyourfriend.com/
mobile/ jiparty@hotmail.
com 090-1735-5405 www.
getyourfriend.com/
A M E RI C A N F O O T B A L L .
Nihon Unisys 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. bullsxleague@gmail.
com http://www.unisys.co.jp/
football/
K ick up a sto r m at
BungEling Bay. If your goal
is to lose weight, tone up, gain
strength, or simply to feel
healthier, then our qualified
and experienced trainers
can help you. 03-6905-6573
[email protected]
www.bungelingbay.com
www.wonderyoga.jpn.org/
eng/index.html enquiry@
wonderyoga.jpn.org
ALL-NATIONALITY TOUCH
FOOTBALL. Non-contact tag
rugby (OZ tag) and Rugby
League players. We play every
Sat from 10am in Tatsumi.
M/F and beginners welcome!
Good exercise and fun! Many
other activities such as BBQs
and drinking parties! Email for
details. tokyorugbyleague@
hotmail.com http://ameblo.
jp/tokyo13warriors
Underground in the City of Light!
JUL
26
Thu
MORE INFO AT
http://metropolis.co.jp/events
AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE
PLAYERS . Japan ANZAC S
rugby league team is looking
for rugby league players for
J a pa n e s e Ru g by Le a g u e
official games from Apr to Sep.
Everyone welcome. For more
details,contactjapananzacs@
gmail.com
TA M B O U R E L L I . Ve r y u n i q u e
new sport from Scotland. Using
a tambourine -like instrument
as a sports racquet, players hit a
shuttlecock! We play two or three
times/month on weekends in Meguro
with many socials. Join us! More
details: www.tamjapan.org/en/ info@
tamjapan.org
Aikido in English. Seidokan Aikido of
Tokyo invites you to practice a modern
style of aikido in an international
environment. Sat, 1-3pm, Itabashi-ku, Toei
Mita/Saikyo line. We welcome men and
women, foreign and Japanese. dojo@
tokyoseidokan.com www.tokyoseidokan.
com 03-5994-1185
All-level tennis group in Tokyo.
Serious and motivated tennis players
sought by active tennis group to join
their weekly sessions in central Tokyo.
We have advanced and intermediate
groups on weekday evenings. Beginner
and low-intermediate also welcome. No
entrance or membership fees. Reasonable
participation fees. [email protected]
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 Lessons
SUMMER
CAMPAIGN
alpha.ac.jp/Japanese/
» ¥19,800/MO MONDAY-FRIDAY (FIRST 4 WEEKS)
» Group Intensive Lessons 10am-12pm or 1-3pm
» Valid until August 31
»Tranomon 22F Toranomon Kotohira Tower, 1-2-8 Toranomon, Minato-ku.
Tel: 03-3504-8080. Email: [email protected].
»Yokohama 4F Yasda-1 Bldg., 2-21-8 Tsuruyacho,Yokohama.
Tel: 045-316-8282.Email: [email protected].
***We have one-on-one lessons, office or home lessons, and Skype lessons available.***
Many Western people study Japanese at ALPHA
» JLPT preparation
» Conversation
» Business
Rugby in Tokyo. Tokyo’s top rugby
club. Own ground, showers, jacuzzi, bars,
restaurants. Two teams, weekly fixtures,
free beers, birds, international tours and
great camaraderie. All ages, shapes and
sizes welcome. [email protected]
http://ycacrugby.com
13.3 Arts
Join the camera fun. Join the Tokyo
Cameras Club, meeting every third Sun of
the month. Amateurs and professionals
welcome. Each month a new theme. Have
fun and make friends! tokyocameras@
yahoo.com http://tech.groups.yahoo.
com/group/tokyocameras/
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! Visit webpage for
information. rchrd_schwartz@yahoo.
com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Shakespeare-sama/
1
Japan’s
No.
Seeking fellow artists. Let’s have
an exhibition together. Any kind of art
welcome. Bands also welcome to play
during the show. Let’s plan together.
[email protected] 0906704-8757
Second-hand Bookstore!
40,000 International books
available from ¥200
13.4 Music
SHINJUKU COSMOPOLITAN
PARTY - SUMMER SPECIAL.
Sat, Aug 4, 6:20-9pm, Int’l
Club Tokyo Loose. Shinjuku’s
biggest and full-scale
international party. 200
people. Everybody welcome!
All-you-can-drink and free
snacks. Female: ¥3000. Male:
¥3500. party@shinjukuparty.
com www.shinjukuparty.
com
One-week yoga retreat
with Clive Sheridan at Mitake,
Tokyo, from Sep 17-23. Retreat
includes asana, pranayama,
m e ditation an d s ats ang ,
and is suitable for all levels.
Accommodation in traditional
guesthouse and vegetarian
m e a l s i n c l u d e d . h t t p : //
Bass singer wants to start J-pop
group. Bass singer, 32, intermediate
Japanese. I have an excellent voice, am
skilled in instruments and group singing.
Seeking JM/JF younger than 35. Serious
replies. [email protected]
Drummer wanted by Tokyo rock
band performing original material, M/F
ok. Male English vocalist, 40s, JF bassist,
20s, and JM guitarist, 40s. Rehearsals in
Takadanobaba Sat or Sun. Non-Japanese
must have plans for long-term stay in
Japan. Contact Andi. andobi@hotmail.
com 09054293440
Café
Book Off - Shirokanedai
10:00~22:00 03-5475-5696
Cafe Corner
8:00~20:00 L.O.
4-3-19 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku
Spa Shirokane
Metro Namboku line
Toei Mita line
Shirokanedai station
Exit No.2
Happoen
Grand Hills
Shirokanedai
n
atio
Post office
i st
eda
kan
o
ir
Sh
Seven Eleven
Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
JOBS
CHAT HOSTS & TEACHERS WANTED
@ LEAFCUP (Tokyo, Yokohama, Omiya).
Seeking enthusiastic & proficient Korean,
French, Spanish, German, and/or English
speakers who can teach and lead lively
conversations @ chat tables and group
lessons. ¥1000-¥1800/h. Apply online:
www.leafcup.com/job.htm
EXECUTIVE SALES ASSISTANTS.
American executive seeks to
form a team of bilingual Japanese
female assistants to promote sales
of injectable human collagen filler
and PRP kits to Japanese cosmetic
surgeons throughout Japan. Extensive
travel is required. ¥330,000 to start.
Send resume, w/photo to jknight@
jhewitt.co.jp www.jhewitt.co.jp
03-5486-5791
Writers wanted. Love travel and
helping others understand Japan?
Earn flights, hotel stays, meals, apparel,
and more for your travel-writing.
We aim to recruit 1000 contributors
through ‘12 to our grassroots network
covering every corner of the country.
Non-professionals welcome, as are
non-native English speakers. We
provide a style guide and some editing.
See www.japantourist.jp/about/
contributing.
N at i ve E ngl i sh T eachers
Needed. Enthusiastic native English
speakers for children wanted for
¥2000+/h. Optional roles available
in administration and development.
Hours: Tue-Fri, 3-5pm. Near Ebisu
s t n . P l e a s e s e n d C V t o i n fo @
bilingualk id stokyo.com www.
bilingualkidstokyo.com
Staff wanted at World Beer
Museum. Newly opened, at Sky Tree
Sora Machi, 3-5 days/week, shifts
from five hours, w/breaks, between
1 1 a m a n d 9 p m , co nve r s at io n a l
English and Japanese required .
¥1000~¥1200/h. Send your resume, w/
photo, to [email protected]. www.
world-liquor-importers.co.jp/
Experienced guitarist wanted.
Progressive rock band is seeking
guitarist. Music is difficult, and includes
tricky polyrhythms. Check music at
band website. [email protected]
www.arthurpentameter.net
Female singer wanted. I’m a Japanese
guitarman. I perform around Shibuya,
Yoyogi Park. Pop rock! Everybody, let’s
try to play music! Everybody, let’s start
dreaming! [email protected]
Trash/hardcore drummer wanted!
We are a male and female-fronted trash/
hardcore band from Tokyo. We practice
in Shinjuku once/week. We perform
once/month. If you are interested, please
mail us! [email protected]
To advertise:
[email protected]
03-4550-2929
over some drinks maybe. chaocchin@
yahoo.co.jp
In Tokyo. JF, 32, likes to have good
friendships (not relationships) with
foreign people interested in Tokyo. I
think Tokyo is a fascinating city. Let’s
talk and explore together sometimes.
Nonsmokers, 40 or under preferred.
[email protected]
New in town. Hispanic male seeking
friends to teach me Japanese and
show me around. Yokohama area. I
like going to the gym, beach, watching
movies. Message me if you want to
hang out and make a new friend.
[email protected]
R-dx.co., Ltd. Now hiring PC-operators
and net models. Conversational
Japanese speakers preferred.
Many cute Cos ready! Dorm ready!
Double-work welcome! Trial welcome!
Average ¥3000/h + ¥10,000/day bonus
depending on your potential. Open 24
hours, flexible time (early birds, night
owls welcome!). Work at Ikebukuro,
Fussa, Shin-Koiwa office. Work from
home available. Tel: 090-6256-9339
R eferees needed for
football/soccer. Want a power
trip at weekends? Good salary and
travel covered. Great way to keep
fit. Preferably a qualified referee or
a person with a good knowledge of
the game. Games within the Kanto
area . [email protected]
www.footyjapancompetitions.com
03-3770-0288
14.3 Women Looking
For Men
Raving friends. I love DnB, trance,
house and dubstep and want to meet
some people who like to party to
the same beat. I miss the UK scene!
[email protected]
14.2 Men Looking For
Women
ARE YOU MARRIED? Or single?
Are you a little bored and seeking
romantic dates and intimacy?
Seeking a Japanese lady to share
some great times together and to
spend some quality time chatting,
eating out and enjoying romance.
[email protected]
Attractive SJM for SWF or JF. SJM
seeks a nice Western or Japanese
female for friendship and possibly
more. Nonsmokers preferred. I am
confident that we can create happy
and fun times together. Now, email
me! [email protected]
Believe in destiny? Hoping to find
a nice and humorous girl to share the
joys of life, possibly something serious.
If you are open-minded and cute, then
maybe I am destined to be with you.
[email protected]
Single? Then this is for you.
Singles-only dating parties
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,
¥2000. [email protected]
Concerts or dining out. Attractive,
sporty, bilingual SJF, 30, seeks someone
for dining out or concerts. If you
like symphonies, concertos, opera,
jazz, we will be able to enjoy time
together. Nonsmokers only, please.
[email protected]
Japanse beauty seeks mature SWM,
38-55, in central Tokyo, for a long-term
relationship. He must be successful,
sincere and romantic. I am 37, look young,
beautiful, fashionable and feminine. Let’s
enjoy summer with great Champagne
together! [email protected]
Unforgettable memories together.
Wear black/white clothes at first. Lovely,
charming-eyed JF with university
degree, 43, seeks my real love for a
happy marriage: Caucasian American,
42-49, stable job, dark hair/eyes,
handsome, intelligent, not tall. Always
love! alliwantistobewithyouaustin@
hotmail.co.jp
14.5 Escorts
Black female fetish. Divorced
Japanese, 40s, very tall, slim, seeking
a black girlfriend who lives around
Tokyo. Any nationality/age ok. Start
from email friendship, then meet.
Intimate relationship if we love each
other. [email protected]
E x cellent
career
opportunity at the Tokyo
Am erican C lub! E x p e r ie nce d
restaurant captains, waiter/waitress,
k i tc h e n /c h e f s t a f f , s o m m e l i e r,
banquet servers please apply. Basic
Japane se/interme diate E nglish .
Multiple openings in our fine dining,
casual adult, family dining, food and
beverage outlets. Three-to-five-day
work schedules available, good
stable pay with benefits (health/
pension, transporation, meals and
other benefits). Please send your
r e s u m e t o j o b s @ t a c - c l u b . o rg
www.tokyoamericanclub.org
PA RT-T IM E NAT I V E E N G L I S H
TE AC H E R w a n t e d f o r E n g l i s h
Conversation School, Kichijoji. August
only. Either Thu 2-9, or Sat 10-6, or
both. Experience required. Contact:
[email protected]
13.9 International
JAPANESE TRADITIONAL
ARTS. Enjoy sado, karate,
shodo, koto, shamisen and
soroban casually. You can
reserve and attend lessons
at your convenience. It
isn’t necessary to have
any instruments, just
bring yourself. Check
h t t p : //p e a c e - c l u b . j p/
cultureschooleng.html
peaceclubtoyocho@gmail.
com
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.
japanintercultural.org
14 PERSONALS
14.1 Friends
Hemi-Sync! I’m a SJF, 45, seeking a
friend who is interested in subtle energy
in Tokyo, especially Hemi-Sync. Sex/
age/nationality irrelevant. I’m not into
it too much, but want to talk about it
Chinese guy in Tokyo. Hello, I am
a Chinese guy working in Tokyo. I’m
courteous, patient and optimistic, like
most indoor and outdoor activities.
Please drop me a line and let’s get
to know each other. reuterswang@
yahoo.co.jp
Nice and slow. Seeking a female who
wants a casual relationship. I’m a goodlooking SJM, nice and slow, financially
secure, fluent in English, living in
central Tokyo. Weekends and weekday
evenings preferred. I can send my
photo. [email protected]
AA+A1 ABSOLUTE JAPANESE
BEAUTIES 24/7. All aged
18-27. Upscale Japanese and
European flight attendants,
actresses, dancers, models
are offering GFE. Dominatrix
and fetish play. Friendly
and prompt. Credit cards
welcome. Always the best
quality and fre sh face s .
Have class and style. You
will be amazed. Available
24 h our s .09 0 - 8 3 0 4 -18 8 8
www.miss-platinum.com
Nice-looking SJM, 30, kind, sweet,
seeks single Canadian female, 19-28,
for friendship or more. I look very
young. If you are fine, how about
talking at a cafe? beautiful.ocean333@
gmail.com
Petite partner. Englishman seeks
petite, affectionate woman, about
40-50, up to 155cm, for friendship
and romance leading to a lasting
relationship. m106819151-tsky@
yahoo.com
Public notice. Yes, it is official: I am
now single and considering applicants
with brains and a sense of humor.
Good looks would definitely work
in our favor. Please tell me about
yourself. Seeking long-term, serious
relationship. [email protected]
NO.1 ESCORT CLUB IN TOKYO.
Gorgeous and beautiful young
Japanese ladies. Clean and
discreet. Nurses, OLs, models.
Over 19 years only. Call: 0801262-8080. Open: 5pm-12am.
Check out real images at
www.clubboo.jp.
Western girlfriend wanted by good
looking, sun-tanned, long-haired, warm,
kindhearted, caring and generous SJM,
37, in Tokyo. [email protected]
F O R E I G N E R - F R I E N D LY,
100% LEGAL OUTCALL
E S C O RT AG E N C Y. E r o t i c
full-body oil massage using
Japanese rejuvenation
methods is a unique
combination of sensual and
body-to-body techniques.
Sensual massage-trained
Ja pa n e s e fe m ale s O N LY.
No sexual diseases,
modification pictures.
BRANCHES: Tokyo, Osaka,
Kyoto, Kob e , Yo ko h a m a ,
Kawasaki, Nagoya, Fukuoka,
Hiroshima, Sapporo, Sendai.
Call 06-6643-1281 (English).
Business hours: 9am-5am,
Email: front@tomato-club.
net , Info: www.eroticmassage-japan.com
Japan’s complete Adult
N ightlife G ui d e fo r
foreigners! Having trouble
finding a Japanese girl for
fun? Come to http://erolin.net
and check all possible clubs,
and escorts for foreigners!
When you visit, don’t forget
to mention “Erolin Guide”!
[email protected]
JAPANESE MILF LIVE VIDEO
C H AT ! Wa n t to t a l k w i t h
mature Japanese women?
Register FREE and send an
email to inq-en@madamu.
tv saying “I saw Metropolis”
to get ¥1000 worth of
BONUS points! Valid once/
person. www.madamu.tv
A sian M ystique
E sco r ts p r o v i d e s g i r l next-door type escorts for
your girlfriend experience
in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya,
Fu ku o k a . S e x y, f r i e n d l y
Japanese escorts provide the
fun,professionalstaffprovide
peace of mind. Open 24/7,
same day orders welcome.
asianmystiquejp@yahoo.
co.jp www.asianmystique.
com 080-5454-9795
15 JOBS
15.1 Job Wanted
Seeking curvy girl for drinks and fun!
Seeking funny, round JF, 20 or over, to
enjoy the city with. I love music, movies
and art. How about you? halfhorse33@i.
softbank.jp
Serious friendship needed. Tall
black Canadian, 196cm, living in the
Kanto area, is seeking a true mature
lady, 28-45, for real friendship.
Appearance not a factor. Character
matters most. Send me mail, please.
[email protected]
times. Tel: 080-8706-6755.
www.lipsescorttokyo.com
Prompt referrals. Seeks new
girls. 応募歓迎.
HOME HELPER. Experienced Filipina
cleaner and babysitter. Excellent
service with a smile. References
available. ¥1500/h. Please
contact Chai at 080-4092-8923.
[email protected]
A A A D E AR S I R S .
C A L L U S F I R S T
AN D G ET TH E B E ST.
To p - q ua l it y g i rl s fo r to p
d e m a n d a r e w i s h i n g fo r
the opportunity to share
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generous, classy gentlemen.
O u r b e st at te nti o n at a l l
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c lmore
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classifieds.
metropolis.co.jp
by Cathryn Moe
Horoscope
♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
May 21~June 21 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
June 22~July 22 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Stand up, sit down, move forward, back
up—do you feel like you’re a walking
conundrum? If so, there’s a reason.
You are not to blame. What has been taught is in
the process of being rewritten. What was, may
not be much longer. Knowing this, you spin less
and detach more. Not easy for an Aries! The inner
peace you develop becomes your battle shield. Be
the unique, marvelous individual you are.
It’s all money this week so gather it up
and spend it while you can. Or save it and
peruse online catalogues and brochures
of dream destinations. Go to a spa, wine and dine
yourself. Treat your friends, roll in 800 count
cotton sheets, smell a flower…the list goes on and
on. It’s about liberating yourself. Know you are
here to be counted as part of the wave that faced
uncertainty and changed reality for the better.
The Sun enters your area of talents Saturday. You see light flowing through
chinks of old beliefs. You know nothing stays the same, but it still comes as a surprise
when it actually happens. Since the Venus eclipse,
family and group requests are being addressed.
Resolution is just around the corner. Whatever
you have focused on is likely to come to pass.
Prepare yourself for colorful fireworks.
A Cancer’s inner drive is connected
to family. It’s what gives the heart
support and sustenance if you are
a Moonchild. No one said it would be easy, and
some may try to throw you off your path. The lessons you learn now are your tools for the future.
When you relax and feel, what gives you a sense
of peace? If it’s taking care of your family, you have
found your niche.
LEO
VIRGO
Libra
SCORPIO
Dear Leo, you are in a pivotal week. The
Moon and Mercury in your Sign combine on Friday to blend intelligence with
feelings. Your next step then seems clear and your
path smoother. The Sun enters Leo on Saturday,
bringing warmth to your Birthday Zone. Happy
Birthday! It’s time to deal with any deleterious
effects of an important relationship. Your heart
needs to be clear to bring your family closer.
When you are ready, you can move.
You can make the changes you dream
of. Change can appear to happen from
the outside in, but in many ways, it’s from the
inside out. This reflects who you have become in
the context of your life. The Sun enters your solar
twelfth house on Saturday. It shines warmth and
light in damp, hidden areas. The next few weeks
clear cobwebs so you can move and breathe.
As you have developed your own laws
of attraction with disciplined Saturn in
Libra, Mars transits through your Sign
to put them into action. Feel an inner push? Make
that phone call! Swamped with emails? Answer
them. The Sun enters your sector of hopes,
dreams and wishes on Saturday. This is the week
to connect with groups and watch your life grow
in ways that match who you are now.
The more you apply yourself in a relationship this week, the more you benefit.
Taurus opposite your Sign rules, but it’s
Vesta, Jupiter, Ceres and Venus in Gemini who see
that you receive from your investments. These
are strong astrological placements, designed to
bring what your heart desires. Act now. Think
logistically—how to travel from here to there. If
you don’t need to travel, simply jump in!
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
Jan 20~Feb 18 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣
Feb 19~Mar 20 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
With internal physics, it is believed time
can stretch and change to accommodate
your spirit. In this flexible universe, you
can be your Centaur self and leap over hurdles
this week. The Sun enters your solar ninth house
of long journeys on Saturday. Combined with
Mercury the Messenger, focus your thoughts to
join with the soul mate you truly desire. The web
may be a way to make a magical connection.
The light in the tunnel is meant to
warm your heart and illuminate a
confounding question in your life.
Beginning Saturday, the Sun adds activity to your
thoughts. Mercury nearby awaits an ‘aha!’ as you
get in touch with that calm place within. No calm
place? Breathe, trust, focus and remember you can
manifest your dreams. If in doubt, seek a spiritual
teacher and apply yourself with all you have.
Amazed by your ability to keep those
creative sparks flowing in the midst
of dampening emotions and change?
You’re assisted by Saturn, that god of structure and
time, in calming degrees of ‘the fiery path’. For four
weeks you can enjoy travel in a big way, or take a
chance to move a relationship forward when you
usually would not. The Sun shines heart warmth
into long-term connections beginning Saturday.
Put a big effort into an important
relationship. Mars is there to assist,
energize and bring you courage and
stamina. With Saturn in the safe zone of the ‘fiery
path’ in this part of your chart, you have four
weeks of easier flow as you apply yourself. Your
personality is developing a spiritual groove (read
‘turned inside out for an upgrade’). Do something
romantic that doesn’t make sense (yet)!
Mar 21~Apr 19 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
July 23~Aug 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Nov 22~Dec 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Apr 20~May 20 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Aug 23~Sep 22 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣
Dec 22~Jan 19 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Metropolis Mediabox
Julio Shiiki
AXIOMATIC FOR THE
PEOPLE
Regarding “Between a Cock and a
Hard Place” (The Last Word, July
6): Ah, the idle confusion of youth…
Seriously, though, what on earth is he
on about? Some major contradictions
going on in there, that’s for sure. At
one stage people are watching the
parade and having fun, then at the
next they are listless scum who dare
to buy ice cream. It’s often young foreigners who do
things once or twice and then make
giant leaps of twisted logic to reach
for pie-in-the-sky social axioms. This
fellow is definitely one of those. I can
only assume he’s never been to Danjiri
CANCER
Sep 23~Oct 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Oct 23~Nov 21 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
PISCES
facebook.com/MetropolisMagazine
metropolis.co.jp/community
twitter.com/MetropolisTokyo
metrodining.jp
in Osaka, and so has
no idea what he’s
talking about. Our communities
are fraying at the
seams because
tourists are buying
treats at festivals?
I don’t get it and
neither does this
dude obviously.—
johnnyrabbit
Of course I’m not suggesting that our
communities are fraying at the seams
because tourists are buying treats at
festivals. You’ve got the direction of
causality wrong, and you’ve simplified
my argument. I’m only suggesting that
the undeniable listlessness of Japanese
urban festivals (with many exceptions)
may be a symptom of something
deeper, a loosening of the social
fabric in the cities. It’s also a matter of
perspective, of what you expect from
a street festival and what you consider
to be fun and lively, so maybe we’d best
agree to disagree.—alexdudok
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
Regarding “High Time for Summer
Time” (The Last Word, June 22):
Aonghas Crowe writes that Japan
should adopt daylight savings. This
is a terrible idea. The article only
cites the benefits of having the clock
shift forward in summer, and does
not establish at all why setting it back
for winter is beneficial. There was
absolutely no justification given to
daylight savings! Changing the clock
twice a year is confusing, causes
people to miss appointments, and is not
supported by logic. Here is my proposal:
In Tokyo, in June, the sun rises
around 4:30am and sets around
6:30pm. As Mr. Crowe pointed out, lots
of sunshine from 4:30am is mottainai.
Japan, as a sovereign nation, should
simply shift its time zone by 2 hours
permanently. The sun would then
rise at 6:30am in summer and set
at 8:30pm. This much more closely
matches the average salaryman’s
workday, and does not inconvenience
students, so must be beneficial for
energy conservation. What about
winter? Winter sunrise is 5:30am or so,
and sunset is 4:30pm. Shifting forward
the same 2 hours would provide
sunrise at 7:30am and sunset at
6:30pm, also far superior to the current
time zones. Doesn’t this seem like a
better arrangement?—JG
FOAMING ON THE COUCH
Regarding “Foaming Spirit” (Upfront,
July 6): One thing to consider,
however, is that some of the craft
beers in Japan legally classified as
happoshu taste great and are by no
means cheaper then regular Japanese
beer. There are some great craft beers
these days coming out of Japan. In the
Midwestern United States, Hitachino
Nest Beer from Ibaraki Prefecture
is relatively easy to find and unlike
the “Japanese” brands sold in the
US, it actually comes from Japan.—
texasmark
I am pretty sure that figure is supposed
to be 900 million [liters of alcohol
consumed per year], not 9 billion.
9 billion would mean every man,
woman and child in Japan drinks
70.3 liters of alcoholic drinks a year.
While salarymen easily pull that
off, newborn infants do not. It would
also put Japan five times higher
than France, which has the highest
consumption in the world at 13.1
liters.—kevinmcgue
Metropolis wants to hear from you. Send your comments to [email protected]. Note that letters may be edited for length and clarity.
The Last Word
Want to have The Last Word? Send your article
to: [email protected]
An Olympic Undertaking
Tokyo’s people
deserve the
Games despite
their self-serving
politicians
By Fred Varcoe
elena osawa
S
o, Tokyo’s bidding for the
Olympics again. They tried
desperately to get 2016, but
Rio de Janeiro played the
“what-about-us-dow nhere?” card and the Games finally
headed to South America for the first
time. Emotionally, you can’t argue
with that. Rio is one of the world’s
most famous—and South America’s
most visible—cities. And so the International Olympic Committee got that
monkey off their back.
A Brazilian journalist f riend
of mine wasn’t convinced it was a
wise choice. “It really is a dangerous
place,” he pointed out. Well, at least
Rio will be able to get in some practice with the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The IOC hasn’t always made
intelligent choices. Athens 2004?
The Olympics that bankrupted a
country? Again, it was an emotional
choice—the home of the Olympic
movement. Tokyo 1964. Wow! Just
15 years after trying to destroy the
world, Japan was given a chance to try
and unite it. I guess the IOC bought
into Japan’s idea of burying history.
Seoul 1988? I think North Korea
was more democratic
than South Korea at the
time. Scumbag dictator
Chun Doo-Hwan and
his Vogon troops were
still slaughtering people
a year before the Games
began. Berlin 1936? Yes,
Jesse Owens was a welcome highlight, but they
were Hit ler’s Games.
(M e a n w h i l e , J a p a n
forced Korean marathon gold medalist Son
Ki-Chong to race under
the Japanese flag).
Bra zi l has come
under fire for its poor
prepa rat ions for t he
2014 World Cup (as did
South Korea in 2002),
but will probably work
things out. But one wonders if there are many
cities/countries in the
world that can provide a
suitable, cash-rich, safe
venue for the Olympics.
Personally, I would like to see the IOC
build a permanent Olympic city and
end this “bidding” nonsense. Maybe
Greece could give up an island and
a new Olympia could flourish as a
Vatican City-like state within a state.
Until that happens, we’re left with
pulling names out of a hat.
And now, Tokyo’s name is back
in there. I’m happy, but many aren’t.
With a whole section of the country
in need of rebuilding, why endorse
a massive, expensive project like the
Olympics? Private money might well
help fund the Games, but it would be
underwritten by national and local
governments. Which means it will be
underwritten by our tax yen. Montreal famously took 30 years to pay
off its 1976 Olympic debts. So would
the Tokyoite get value for money?
Hard to say. Although the Olympics
are awarded to a city, the country
bathes in their reflected glory—just
look at Britain. It’s a grand PR tool.
Except when your bid is in the
hands of idiots. Chief Tokyo idiot
Gov. Shintaro Ishihara is a strong
supporter of the bid, but comes with
so much baggage that he should
stay away from the campaign. Most
Westerners in Japan see Ishihara as
an unequivocal fascist, aligned not
just with the right-wing, but with the
murderous uyoku who parade around
Tokyo in intimidating black trucks.
He doesn’t believe in the West’s view
of Japanese history and can’t keep
his mouth shut on issues such as the
Nanking massacre. Ishihara is not as
stupid as he looks and probably not as
evil as some believe. But for the Tokyo
Olympic bid, he’s a disaster.
Ahead of the vote on the 2016
Olympics, Ishihara made an appearance at the Foreign Correspondents’
Club of Japan and allowed himself
to be sidetracked by his ugly politics
to the detriment of the PR the conference was aimed at promoting.
For the final presentations, Tokyo’s
PR gurus got it completely wrong,
forc i n g PM H ato y a m a to t a k e
the podium and make an arse of
himself with his mangled English.
The presentation needed clarity and
passion; it got the wet-fish treatment. It was a sad and disastrous
anti-climax to Tokyo’s bid efforts.
W hat was overlooked was the
fact that the Tokyo bid was far-andaway the most attractive in terms
of faci lit ies a nd f ina nce. Tok yo
needs to put the PR right this time.
The IOC has noted that the support
rate among the public for the 2020
Olympic bid was much lower for
Tokyo than its two rivals, Madrid
and Istanbul. This was also a problem with the 2016 bid. Madrid had a
rating of 78 percent support, Istanbul 73 percent. Tokyo trailed in at 47
percent. Game over, then?
Have Tokyo’s PR gurus done the
math? Probably not, because they
didn’t do it four years ago either.
Madrid: population 6.2 million; 4.83
million people want the Games.
Istanbul: population 14 million; 10
million want them. Tokyo: population 35 million; 16.4 million people
say yes. Apparently 30 percent of
Tokyoites had “no opinion.”
Ishihara has reportedly accused
the Japanese of lacking the conviction
to achieve anything great. Perhaps
they’re more concerned with surviving on a day-to-day basis, keeping their
jobs, worrying about earthquakes and
tsunami, and staying sane in the face
of deranged, ignorant and criminally
selfish politicians.
The people of Tokyo deserve the
Olympics and an opportunity to be
proud of their city. And hopefully by
2020, they will also have a governor
they can be proud of.
The Olympics are
a grand PR tool.
Except when your
bid is in the hands
of idiots”
■ Fred Varcoe is a British, nonaward winning, often-fired, litigious,
clearly unbalanced journalist living
somewhere near Tokyo
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