Contents May 20 M 2019 0 19 1 N No. 51
10 Japan's latest hot spot offers only the finest beef
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Feature: The edible isles
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Restaurant: Ikuta’s mastery of meat
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Ingredient: Chimaki is a treat for every taste
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Sake: Ontario’s own Izumi Gold
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Travel: Huis Ten Bosch brings the Netherlands to Japan
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Event: Next Music from Tokyo vol. 14
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Only in Japan: The Takarazuka Revue challenges the norm
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Event: Toronto Japanese Film Festival
30
Event: Studio Ghibli Fest
EDITOR’S NOTE Showcasing Japan’s greatest (edible) hits What’s Japan’s specialty, you ask? Where do we even start? All across the JV\U[Y` `V\ ^PSS ÄUK H WSL[OVYH VM YLNPVUHS KLSPJHJPLZ [OH[ [HRL HK]HU[HNL VM [OL ILZ[ PUNYLKPLU[Z LHJO SVJHS HYLH OHZ [V VɈLY 0U [OPZ TVU[O»Z MLH[\YL QVPU \Z HZ ^L LH[ V\Y ^H` HJYVZZ [OL JV\U[Y` ^P[O LSL]LU VM [OL TVZ[ MHTV\Z SVJHS KPZOLZ MYVT HYLHZ [OYV\NOV\[ [OL 1HWHULZL HYJOPWLSHNV 0[ TPNO[ Q\Z[ PUZWPYL H KLSPJPV\Z P[PULYHY` MVY `V\Y UL_[ [YPW
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Editors Nina Hoeschele, Amanda Plyley, Yumi Nishio Editorial coordinators Nina Hoeschele, Yumi Nishio Writers Amanda Taylor, Ariel Litteljohn, James Heron, M Crowson, Nicholas Jones, Nina Lee, Sarah Dickson Designers Chieko Watanabe, Midori Yamamoto Advertisement & marketing Kazu Maruyama Publisher Kazu Maruyama
Bento Box Communication Inc. | 3003 Danforth Ave. PO Box 93628, Toronto M4C 5R4 Phone: 416-964-0981 | www.bentoboxmag.ca | Email: info@bentoboxmag.ca
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The edible isles
Fea t ure
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The edible isles
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Restaurant in Japan | Nikusho Ikuta
By Ariel Litteljohn
Wagyu Sukiyaki Enjoy this dish with high-quality beef that will melt in your mouth.
IKUTA’S MASTERY OF MEAT
ENJOY THE FINEST OF MEATS PREPARED AT YOUR TABLE IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE STYLE AT THIS RECENTLY OPENED GEM A SHORT TRAIN RIDE SOUTH OF TOKYO. Located a five-minute walk from the Motomachi-Chukagai Station in Yokohama, newly opened Ikuta restaurant is the latest venture by the restaurant group behind Tokyo’s popular Kappo Tsuyama. Ikuta specializes in preparing shabu-shabu and sukiyaki made with the finest cuts of domestic cattle. Diners are able to choose from a variety of beef brands, all pedigreed, including Kobe beef, Matsuzaka beef, Saga beef and Ishigaki beef. The shop tries to offer different brands of meat every day of the week. Set meals as well as course meals
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are available, and rest assured, restaurant staff will assist with your shabu-shabu and sukiyaki making so that you can concentrate on eating! Customers are also able to choose their meat and make requests based on marbling as well as specific cuts of beef. Highly marbled pieces of beef are very tender when cooked, while less marbled cuts can be chewier. Vegetables are domestically grown and the eggs come from hens that have experienced a life of freedom (they’re free run) and music (yes, chickens listen to music—don’t be surprised if your egg gets up and dances on your table!).
high-quality meat, vegetables, shiitake mushrooms and sometimes tofu cooked on the tabletop and served with various sauces for dipping. Sukiyaki is cooked skillet-style,
The menu is available in Japanese, English and Chinese and the shop has Englishspeaking staff. However, it is also helpful to do your research beforehand about the various options so that you can make an informed choice when selecting your meat and meal. Shabu-shabu and sukiyaki are closely related dishes—thinly sliced,
often in a cast-iron pot, and the broth is seasoned with soy and sugar giving it a sweet and rich flavour. Shabu-shabu is cooked hot-pot style, in a large pot of broth, and tends to be the more savoury of the two dishes. Sukiyaki in Japan is often eaten by dipping cooked ingredients in raw egg.
Hungry for more? Let’s dig in!
Ready to try some for yourself? At Ikuta there are a variety of tables to choose from, from those perfect for an intimate date, to larger tables and party rooms. Throw your next party in the party room (two rooms that seat up to 12 people together), and the restaurant will provide you with an extensive list of possible meats to choose from. Lunch is served daily between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm, starting at ¥1,000 per person (approximately $12). Course meals as well as shabu-shabu and sukiyaki are also available starting at ¥3,000 per person for domestic beef (or ¥5,000 per person for Wagyu beef). If you’d really like to eat like a king (or queen), do order the eight-course omakase meal that features eight different dishes (¥20,000 for two people, or approximately $240). Additional meat or vegetables can be added to any course meal for a few dollars more. And for those on the go, prepared lunch box options are also available for preorder, and can be delivered to nearby hotels or businesses.
Ikuta 151-11 Yamashitacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 045-264-4529 nikusho-ikuta.owst.jp/en OPEN: Daily 11 am–11 pm (*Food last call 10 pm *Drinks last call 10:30 pm)
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2 1. IKUTA’S JAPANESE-STYLE HAMBURGER MEAT GOZEN This superb Japanese-style hamburger meat is prepared with as little filler as possible in order to maximize the original taste of the beef. Served with your choice of Western-style and Japanese-style sauces. (Lunch menu, limited to 10 orders.) 2. KUROGE WAGYU GALBI BENTO BOX Ikuta’s delicious grilled Wagyu beef lunch box. The meat used here is the same as the branded beef provided at the restaurant. This is a great take-out option when the weather is nice. Go and explore Yokohama with this boxed lunch! 3. IKUTA’S OMAKASE SEVEN-COURSE SHABU-SHABU MEAL This option lets you enjoy a variety of Ikuta’s specialty meat dishes, including shabu-shabu, pictured OLYL 0R\[H VќLYZ ]HYPV\Z IYHUKZ VM KVTLZ[PJ ILLM [V [Y` (ZR `V\Y ZLY]LY MVY KL[HPSZ www.bentoboxmag.ca
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By Sarah Dickson
Ingredient | Chimaki
A TREAT FOR EVERY TASTE 粽 【ちまき】 青笹の香り。 子供の健やかな成長を 願う歳時菓子。
W
alking through an Asian supermarket around this time of year, you might spot some mysterious green packets wrapped in a leaf and tied with twine. They may not even seem edible, and you might mistake them for festive decorations. But not only are these things edible, they’re a favourite snack on Children’s Day in Japan, which is coming up on May 5.
The sweet variety usually contains a type of gelatin made from sweet red beans, known as yokan. The savoury variety (also called Chinese chimaki) is made with meat, like chicken or pork, and vegetables such as mushrooms, burdock root or bamboo shoots. The filling is packed in the rice and then wrapped in a bamboo leaf and steamed, resulting in a tasty packet that can be enjoyed as a snack, side dish or dessert.
Known as chimaki, this treat is made with glutinous rice with a variety of other ingredients that also depend on whether the chimaki is sweet or savoury.
Chimaki is particularly enjoyed as a part of Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day. On this day, boys and girls across Japan gather with their families to snack
Celebrate Children’s Day with a snack that’s sure to please.
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on chimaki and wish for prosperity and good health. Children’s Day is one of the holidays in spring that makes up what is now known as Golden Week, a series of holidays that all fall within the same week in May. If you’ve seen chimaki in the supermarket but mistaken it for some kind of decoration, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong as it is sometimes used as décor. Customarily, however, Children’s Day decorations consist of flags resembling koi fish, each with a different colour or size to represent each member of the family. Japanese families will often hang these outside their homes, but you can find them displayed in other areas too. Families also sometimes display samurai armour in their homes to represent their desire to raise strong and powerful boys. This custom goes back to when Children’s Day was known as Boys’ Day (with Girls’ Day being a separate occasion in March) before the holiday was changed to include all children in 1948. Chimaki can be made at home, and while it’s not complicated it can be a bit harder to secure ingredients like bamboo leaves, and even if you can find them it c a n t a k e s o m e p r a c t ic e to m as ter w r a p p in g and tying the chimaki. But for the most part all you need is a rice cooker and a few other simple ingredients from your local Asian grocer to create a homemade version of this tasty snack. T h e re a re a v a r ie t y o f d ifferent recipes to be found on the Internet, and you can even find tutorials on YouTube that will demonstrate how to wrap chimaki. But f o r h a s s le - f re e c h im a ki, it m ig ht b e b e s t t o g r a b t h e m f ro m yo ur lo cal A s ian grocery store.
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Drink up! | Izumi Gold
By Amanda Taylor
THE GOLD STANDARD IN SAKE 泉ゴールド 【いずみごーるど】 精 米 6 0％の山田錦 錦 使 用の純 米 吟 醸 生 酒 酒。 。 滑らかで、ほのかに洋 洋梨が薫る味 梨が薫る味 。
2QWDULR·V ÀUVW VDNH EUHZHU\ VW VDNH EUHZHU\ XVHV WUDGLWLRQDO -DSDQHVH QDO -DSDQHVH EUHZLQJ PHWKRGV DQG SXUH KRGV DQG SXUH 2QWDULR VSULQJ ZDWHU QJ ZDWHU
O
ntario Spring Water Sake Company imports orts timehonoured practices ctices as the first sake brewery in Ontario. By combining ingredients and methods vetted in Japan for centuries with the pure spring water of Northern Ontario, the company makes high-quality sake locally accessible.
Ontario’s debut sake company makes its home in Toronto’s Distillery District. It was founded in 2011 and though relatively new to the sake game, the brand launched under the tutelage of Miyasaka Brewing Co., a sake giant in Japan with roots dating back to the 1600s. The company has also consulted with Master Brewer
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Yoshiko Takahashi, an award-winning brewer from Nagano, Japan. And Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is a member of the Brewing Society of Japan. The company follows the traditional practice of brewing Junmai sake, which means its sake is made with only rice, yeast and water. One of its bestsellers is the Izumi Gold. Izumi means “spring water” in Japanese, and true to its name, the brewery uses natural spring water from Muskoka—which is similar in quality to the water of Kyoto’s famous Fushimi spring. The other key ingredient is imported Yamada Nishiki rice. Yamada Nishiki has been considered the gold standard in sake rice for decades due to its absorbent quality, delicious flavour and fine texture. Izumi Gold has a smooth, easy-drinking feel with a mild rice flavour, and it finishes dry. Try pairing it with savoury foods like pork dumplings. If you’re considering picking up a bottle, the “Sakepolitan” cocktail is another must-try. This unique cocktail features Muskoka cranberries, lime
and yu yuzu zu w with ith a rich sake base that deeply infuses the berry and citrus flavours.
If you’re in the Toronto area, stop by the brewery and sample what Ontario Spring Water Sake has on offer. The company runs tours at its headquarters in the Distillery District, where $15 gets you a one-hour tour and a tasting of four sake samples, including the Sakepolitan. Tours usually happen on weekends, but private tours can be booked throughout the week. Ontario Spring Water Sake Company’s products, including Izumi Gold, can be found at restaurants throughout Canada as well as the LCBO. ontariosake.com
Asahi Super Dry 500ml cans are now available in The Beer Store (TBS) For locations visit http://www.thebeerstore.ca/beers/asahi-super-dry
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Travel | Huis Ten Bosch
By Nina Lee
HUIS TEN BOSCH 【ハウステンボス】 Located just two hours from downtown Nagasaki by train, Huis Ten Bosch sits on the secluded ͺT\YH )H` H[ [OL ZV\[O^LZ[LYU end of the country.
HUIS TEN BOSCH 日本一広いテーマパークでおもいきり遊ぶ。
Wooden shoe like to visit a Dutch amusement park in Japan?
Travel | Huis Ten Bosch
J
apan has had a fascination with Dutch culture since 1600, when the ship De Liefde arrived unexpectedly in Japan. Following attacks in hostile Spanish waters, the trade mission diverted its course and found itself at the port in what is now known as Usuki in eastern Kyushu. After arriving in Japan, the crew managed to earn the trust of the Tokugawa Shogunate, who granted the Dutch traders rare permission to trade with Japanese merchants. Several years later, the Japan division of the Dutch East India Company was established in Hirado and later Dejima, not far from present-day Sasebo. The Dutch traders and sailors maintained a strong relationship with the Shogunate, and even worked with them to crush rebellions. Owing to this strong relationship, the Dutch were one of the very, very few
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countries allowed to trade with Japan during their Isolationist period. Out of this 400-year-long legacy in Japan, Huis Ten Bosch, a Dutch-themed amusement park, was born. Opened in 1992, Huis Ten Bosch recreates a Middle Age-era Dutch town and sits on Hario Island in southern Sasebo VU ZJLUPJ ͺT\YH )H` ,X\HS WHY[Z YLZVY[ theme park, botanical gardens and living museum, Huis Ten Bosch brings royal European decadence to Japan. Huis Ten Bosch means “House in the Woods” and is modelled and named for one of the Dutch Royal Family’s residences in The Hague. In the spring, the grounds are filled with millions of tulips in a kaleidoscope of colours rivaling Holland’s famed Keukenhof Gardens, while recreations of famous Dutch buildings like Utrecht’s Dom Tower offer splendid panoramic
Experience royal European decadence in Japan
views of the harbour and the gondolas cruising lazily through the canals. Most visitors arrive by train, but a ferry also runs between Nagasaki Airport and Huis Ten Bosch. Visitors are greeted ^P[O NVYNLV\Z +\[JO )HYVX\L HYJOP[LJture, traditional windmills and expansive gardens as far as the eye can see. All year round, seasonal flowers bloom throughout the park—spring tulips, summer roses and autumn maples. W inter at Huis Ten Bosch glitters with lights during Kingdom of Lights, one of the largest illuminated festivals in the world, while the summer treats guests to music and fireworks festivals. More than a park, Huis Ten Bosch is also a resort that
houses elegant and futuristic hotels built in European style and boasting everything from relaxing spas to cruises along the canals, robot concierge services and secluded cottages. Several museums dot the park, showcasing intricately painted Imari porcelain pieces, priceless glass artwork from around the world and even the history and future of video games. Resort, museums and gardens aside, Huis Ten Bosch is also a theme park with animatronic dinosaurs, pirate ships and forest adventures, haunted houses, a mirror maze, chocolate museum, shooting gallery and a Ferris wheel.
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Travel | Huis Ten Bosch
Officially the biggest theme park in Japan— even bigger than Tokyo Disneyland—Huis Ten Bosch attracts more than 3 million visitors every year, and is consistently named one of Japan’s top amusement parks. The park is home to 56 cafés and restaurants serving a myriad of cuisines and more than 50 shops offering many souvenirs, from traditional Japanese pastries to art supplies made in Holland, local wines, jewelry and even handmade baumkuchen, a tasty German-style roll cake popular in Japan. Whether you’re in Japan and find yourself wanting to see a little bit of Europe, or want to experience the kind of wacky amusement park for which Japan is known, Huis Ten Bosch will satisfy your cravings. And they’ll serve it with a bit of Dutch chocolate, too.
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New Location (as of Dec.27, 2017) 5775 Yonge Street, Suite 600, Toronto
Kyoto Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour
WITH YAKATABUNE LUNCH CRUISE
1 This tour is accompanied by a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter. With Mt. Arashiyama as the backdrop, take a walk through the Sagano Bamboo Grove. 2 Visit the temple gardens of Tenryu-ji, a World Heritage Site considered one of Kyoto's best Zen temples. 3 Enjoy panoramic views of Kyoto city from Jojakko-ji Temple. 4 Enjoy lunch on board a traditional yakatabune boat cruise.
TOUR BASIC INFORMATION Seasonal Tour: March 20 – December 28, 2019
Departure city: Kyoto | Visits: Kyoto Duration: Approx. 4 hours English-speaking guide, lunch, other admission fees and transportation costs included in the tour
PRICE
CAD $
173
*Price is valid for month of May 2019. *Price may fluctuate monthly due to change in exchange rate.
HOW TO PURCHASE Reservations can be made by either telephone or email. Please contact JTB International (Canada) Ltd. at Phone: 416-367-5824 | Toll-free: 1-800-268-5942 | Email: jtbtoronto@jtbi.com | Website: www.jtb.ca
ITINERARY
New Miyako Hotel
Jojakko-ji Temple
Walk to Kyoto Station. Go from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station via JR Rapid Service or Local Train Service (non-reserved seat). This tour uses public transportation with non-reserved seats. Please note that seating is not guaranteed.
This temple overlooks the town of Sagano and the city of Kyoto. The area is famous for its beautiful scenery when the coloured leaves cover the mountain in autumn.
8:40
Tenryu-ji Temple
30
min
A World Heritage Site. The Japanese garden is complemented by the beautiful landscapes of Arashiyama, and has been registered as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Sagano Bamboo Grove Enjoy a relaxing walk through the Sagano Bamboo Grove.
Togetsu-kyo Bridge Togetsu-kyo Bridge is a famous 250metre-long bridge in Arashiyama, and offers a spectacular location for viewing cherry blossoms or coloured autumn leaves.
30
min
60
12:00
Board the yakatabune boat for a Japanese-style lunch
min
Guide service ends once participants have reached the boat boarding pier.
30
min
13:00 Tour
ends after lunch
Please head back to Kyoto Station or your next destination on your own after the tour. This tour ends at the boat pier. Participants will receive a JR train ticket for travel from Saga-Arashiyama to Kyoto.
All photos ©JNTO
For more information, please contact JTB International at 1-800-268-5942 (toll-free) or email at jtbtoronto@jtbi.com [Remarks]1. Planning Company: JTB Corp. Address: 2-3-11 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agent (No. 64) A member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents 2. If the minimum number of participants (2) is not met by 4 days before the scheduled date, the tour on that date may be cancelled. 3. This tour uses public transportation with non-reserved seats. Please note that seating is not guaranteed. 4. As this is a walking tour, please wear shoes and clothing that are suitable to walking. The total walking distance for this tour is approximately 3 km. 5. The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations. 6. Japanese food will be served for lunch. Please understand that there is no vegetarian option available. 7. This tour ends at the boat pier. Participants will receive a JR train ticket for travel from Saga-Arashiyama to Kyoto. 8. If the boat cannot be boarded due to high water levels, etc., the meal will be served at a restaurant instead. In this case JPY 2,000 per person will be refunded. 9. Yakatabune boat cruise fare of JPY 1,000 must be paid at the location for each child (meal not included). (As of Feb. 1, 2018)
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Event | Next Music from Tokyo
By Steven Tanaka
EVERYTHING’S ‘IRIE’ AT
NEXT MUSIC FROM TOKYO VOL.14
Next Music from Tokyo (NMFT) is an annual tour that introduces Canadians to the most creative and skilled bands from Japan’s indie and underground music scenes. The tour began in 2010 and brings a different group of Japanese bands to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver each year. NMFT 14 has five acts on the roster— and surprisingly, three of the acts draw on reggae, dancehall and dub music to varying degrees.
of KCGD’s music should appeal to fans of Yasutaka Nakata and Perfume.
hiatus. Performing solo, imai has compensated for the lack of vocals by injecting even more passion and creativity into his uniquely amazing dance instrumentals. Stereogirl i s a y o u n g f i v e - p i e c e b a n d performing US/UK-influenced indie rock with plenty of emotion and soul
TAMTAM is a four-piece band who have reinvented themselves over the years. They began playing strictly reggae music but switched to post-rock and then to folk and neo-soul, yet they have always retained a bit of their dub reggae roots. Currently they have an extremely soulful modern funk sound akin to Thundercat but with sultry female vocals.
KO-GO-NO GORAIKO-Z describe their music as the combination of two legendary bands—Fishmans and Number Girl. They amalgamate the beautiful psychedelic reggae of the former with the fast, noisy and abrasive rock of the latter and perform their unique musical style with jaw-dropping skill. J o i n i n g t h e t h r e e a b o v e , imai i s o n e half of the famed electro hip-hop duo group_inou, who are currently on indefinite
Koutei Camera Girl Drei (KCGD) is an idol group of three female emcees who rap over incredibly well-crafted electronic dance instrumentals. Recent songs have incorporated the vocal styling and rhythms of dancehall reggae. The sophistication and unusually high quality
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and a distinctly Japanese quirkiness. They will remind many of NMFT fan f a v o u r i t e s K i n o k o Te i k o k u .
With a long track record of sold-out shows, NMFT is proof that music played with energy and passion transcends language barriers and can be appreciated by audiences anywhere. The Toronto shows will be held May 17 at The Rivoli and May 18 at Lee’s Palace. More detailed information can be found on the tour website: nextmusicfromtokyo.com.
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Only in Japan | Takarazuka
By M Crowson
SHE’S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS Get on the gender-bending entertainment train with Takarazuka Kagekidan, Japan’s mesmerizing all-female revue. 華やかな舞台に詰まった夢。女性が演じる男性は本物の男性よりかっこいい？ can perfectly play male roles, or otokoyaku, especially the role of the chivalrous male hero.
Illustration by Chieko Watanabe
What would you do if you were the enterprising owner of a railway company looking to draw tourists to Takarazuka city, a struggling hot springs town at the untrafficked end of your Osaka-bound train line? If you’re Hankyu Railway tycoon Ichizo Kobayashi, you’d gather a troupe of young performers to attract new tourists. Kobayashi opened the Takarazuka Revue in 1914 in Paradise, a Western-style building that had a very brief life as an indoor pool. But co-ed swimming was prohibited back then, and with competition from local hot springs, the pool business dried up. So Kobayashi turned Paradise into H SP]L T\ZPJHS [OLH[YL ]LU\L! H\KPLUJLZ ZH[ VU [OL covered-over empty pool, facing a set of adjacent changing rooms that were converted into a stage.
The very first revue featured family-friendly shows put on by young performers from 12 to 17 years old, who all embodied the troupe motto of “modesty, fairness and grace.” Japan has a long theatrical history of singing, dancing and acting performances, but, from its very first show, Takarazuka has gone against one key element [OH[ KLÄULK TVZ[ VM [OH[ OPZ[VY`! HSS [OL WLYMVYTLYZ HYL female. It was long believed that only a man could truly perform onnagata, the role of a woman, on stage. But with its grand, all-female performances and sweeping, romantic storylines, Takarazuka has shown that, yes, women can play female roles, called musumeyaku—and perhaps only a woman
Takarazuka has seen explosive domestic success, with 2.5 million people attending the performances each year (higher than annual attendance rates for Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku), and tickets tend to sell out in minutes. The intensely devoted fanbase is 90% female. What is it about the Takarazuka that so appeals to women? It may be the impressive ]HYPL[` VM ZOV^Z! WLYMVYTHUJLZ HYL O\TVYV\Z VY dramatic, contemporary or historical, adapted from both Japanese and international sources. The 2019 schedule includes Mugen Musou, a Japanese story built around the famous samurai Musashi Miyamoto, and the movie-inspired Oceans 11. It may also be that the otokoyaku performances push back against strict gender binaries, though fans will devote themselves to performers in all roles, following them from their debuts to career peaks. All that stardom doesn’t come easily. Thousands of hopefuls between the ages of 15 and 18 apply each year in order to become one of the roughly 40 successful young women who will train in ballet, singing and poise at the Takarazuka Music School. The chosen few will sign a seven-year contract with the company and be placed in one of five different [YV\WLZ LHJO ^P[O H KPZ[PUJ[ WLYMVYTHUJL ZWLJPHS[`! Flower, Moon, Snow, Star and Cosmos. “Superior Members,” who form an exceptional sixth group, can appear in any production. Here is where dreams are made—and, for many, lost.
Take a gander at Takarazuka Interested in enjoying Takarazuka? You’re in luck. Over the last few years, the Revue has attempted to expand its audience with performances abroad, including their North American debut in Chicago in 2016. But wherever you are, consider treating yourself to an impressive display of female theatrical skill.
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DO
DO NOT
enjoy the fandom.
be afraid to be a fanboy.
try to take part.
Die-hard fans line up overnight just to glimpse their idols, so enjoy the joy of those at the show.
Men are also welcome to be part of the audience, so don’t hesitate to attend.
Visitors can try out the stage costumes and makeup at the theatre’s very own hair salon.
DO
G O
Let's
llearn earn
N I H O N G O
easy JJapanese apanese HAIKU
Haiku (俳句) is a very short form of Japanese poetry which consists of 17 syllables in total, arranged in groups of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. Although it is short and rules are applied to its writing, it uses carefully chosen words to convey emotions and describe nature.
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Matsuo Basho is the most famous haiku poet.
When speaking of haiku, certainly Basho comes to mind.
Haiku needs to be read thoroughly in order to read in between the lines.
松尾芭蕉は一番有名な 歌人です。 Matsuo Basho wa ichiban yumeina kajin desu.
一番 (ichiban) literally means “number one.” It can be paired with an adjective to mean “most” or “-est.” E.g.: Ramen wa ichiban sukina nihonshoku desu. (ラーメンは一番好きな日本食です。Ramen is my favourite Japanese food.)
俳句といえば、芭蕉です。
俳句は行間を読むために、 読みこむことが大切です。
Haiku toieba Basho desu.
/HPR\ ^H N`ȬRHU ^V `VT\ [HTLUP yomikomu koto ga taisetsu desu.
Noun + といえば means if one were to speak of (noun), then certainly... E.g.: Manga toieba ‘Doraemon’ desu. (マンガといえば『ドラえもん』 です。When speaking of manga, Doraemon definitely comes to mind.)
行間を読む (Gy kan wo yomu) means “reading in between the lines.” In a casual conversation, you can say「行間読 んでよ」(gyokan yonde yo), which means “Please catch the implied meaning” or “Please take a hint.”
Compiled by Andrea Levac and Mitsuku Nobumasa. Brought to you by the Toronto Japanese Language School | www.tjls.ca | @tjlsca | info@tjls.ca
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Film focus | Toronto Japanese Film Festival 2019
TORONTO JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2019
The Samurai—and the stars—are heading to this year’s Toronto Japanese Film Festival.
By James Heron
The samurai, of the cinematic variety, are set to descend on Toronto this summer. They are joined by reluctant sake brewers, yakuza assassins, tea ceremony sages, deadly mahjong-playing robots, kimono-clad beauties, dashing hotel detectives and calculating masters of “corporate kabuki.” The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s eighth annual Toronto Japanese Film Festival will be held from June 6 to 27 and is featuring 28 films, visiting stars and directors, taiko drumming performances, a sake tasting, art exhibitions and, of course, lots of sushi. The festival has now grown into the largest film event of its kind in North America and is recognized by the Japanese film industry as a vital conduit for bringing Japanese film to the world. Many films come to the festival prior to their Japanese release. One of Japan’s most talented and in-demand actresses, Mikako Tabe, is making her first visit to Toronto to introduce her new film, Sadao Nakajima’s LOVE’S TWISTING PATH, a heady mix of romance and classic chambara jidaigeki (sword-fighting samurai dramas). The festival will also welcome director Toshiyuki Teruya with his award-winning BORN BONE BORN, as well as director Tatsushi Omori who visits with two films, WHEN MY MOM DIED, I WANTED TO EAT HER ASHES and the festival’s closing night screening, EVERY DAY A GOOD DAY, an artful examination of the tea ceremony and actress Kirin Kiki’s final film. More guests will be announced soon. The opening night film is the North American premiere of Masayuki Suzuki’s mystery thriller, MASQUERADE HOTEL, starring Takuya Kimura and Masami Nagasawa. For a full list of all 28 films being screened, visit torontojff.com. Tickets go on sale May 1 and five- and ten-film pass buyers will receive a gift from the festival’s founding sponsor, Shiseido Canada. Toronto Japanese Film Festival 2019 June 6–27, 2019 | Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Garamond Ct., Toronto For tickets or more information: Call 416-441-2345 or visit torontojff.com
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Event | Studio Ghibli Fest
By Nina Hoeschele
STUDIO GHIBLI FEST
SHOWCASES OUR FAVOURITE FILMS Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kiki’s Delivery Service by catching it on the big screen, along with many other Studio Ghibli classics.
K
nown for its charming, fantastical adventures with an array of memorable characters and creatures, all presented in beautifully drawn animation, Studio Ghibli is legendary for its anime feature films. From the furry, multi-legged Cat-bus of My Neighbor Totoro to the haunting forest spirits of Princess Mononoke, each Studio Ghibli film you see is bound to leave a lasting impression on your imagination.
Whether you’re a long-time lover of Ghibli or still looking to experience your first Ghibli film, this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest
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But the screenings don’t stop there—this joyful festival will continue to delight us with Ghibli films all through the year. Other planned screenings include Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in May, Whisper of
gives you the opportunity to catch some of these unforgettable adventures on the big screen. From April to December, a catalogue of Ghibli’s most beloved titles will be screening in 41 participating theatres across Canada. And with each film being screened both dubbed in English and in Japanese with English subtitles, you can choose your preferred way to experience each story. At the centre of this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest is Kiki’s Delivery Service, the magical coming-of-age story of a resourceful young witch. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the beloved film, which will screen at select theatres across Canada on July 28, 29 and 31.
the Heart in early July, My Neighbor Totoro in August, The Secret World of Arrietty in September, Spirited Away in October and Princess Mononoke in November, with The Tale of the Princess Kaguya finishing out the festival in December. For a full listing of the films being screened, and to find out which theatres near you will be participating, visit the festival’s website at www.ghiblifest.com.
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