Kansai Scene #155 Apr 2013 by Kansai Scene Magazine

I’m free. Go on, pick me up.

無料 issue 155 April 2013

www.kansaiscene.com

In bloom Hanami in hand: top cherry spots, DIY picnic food, season’s best brew

Plus+ Ancient art of abacus Himeji: more than the castle Saigon city sojourn + Where To Go And What To Do —

Kansai Scene is proudly published and printed by Mojoprint

Local listings, news, maps and classifieds

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Contents Features Top 10 blossom spots

p08

Picnic with a purpose

p10

Lost in calculation no more

p12

Got Class? Get JALT!

p22

Features

COVER ARTIST: Nhon Nguyen Nhon is from Seattle WA, but currently lives and works in Osaka. See more of his work at www.lifelikedust.com.

Travel

Himeji, Hyogo

p30

Saigon, Vietnam

p26

Food and Drink

Shimada Shoten, Osaka

p17

Made in Kansai

Gekkeikan, Kyoto

p25

Listings Film p25 Book p29 Event calendar

p32

Events & Festivals

p34

Art

p38

Club

p40

Live Music

p42

Business Finder

p44

Classifieds p47 Maps p52

kansaiscene

@kansaiscene

Kansai Scene is published monthly by Mojoprint

Enquiries

Publisher/Creative Director...............Daniel Lee Editor.............................................. Carla Avolio Sub-editor................................Donna Sheffield Production Manager..................... Rie Okamoto Accounts Manager......................... Michiko Lee

General mailbox@kansaiscene.com Advertising sales@kansaiscene.com Tel. 06-6539-1717 Fax. 06-7635-4791 Address Osaka-shi, Nishi-ku, Shinmachi 3-5-7, Eiko Bldg. 2F Website www.kansaiscene.com

Art....................................................Colin Smith Event & Festival............................ Yuki Uchibori Film...........................................Donna Sheffield Live music................................. Phillip Jackson Club.................................................Terumi Tsuji

Interested in writing for Kansai Scene? Please contact editor@kansaiscene.com after reviewing our writers guidelines: www.kansaiscene.com/write-for-us

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. We take no responsibility for the quality or content of advertisements. Public and private parties appproached by those claiming to work for or on behalf of Kansai Scene should call this office to confirm the truth of any such claim, especially where money may be involved.

A bit of history Kansai Scene was founded by Peter Horvath and Nishikawa Keiko in 2000 and published by Jatin Banker between 2003 – 2011. Published monthly, KS provides English articles, information and listings for visitors and residents of the Kansai area.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Got some news?

for on the lookout KS is always ents and new newsworthy ev und town. openings aro ggestions to Email your su cene.com editor@kansais

News & Openings

3 Idiots

Bollywood Film Festival Osaka/Kyoto — Bollywood is coming to town next month. A series of four Bollywood movies will be screened at Cinem@rt Shinsaibashi and Kyoto Minami Kaikan. There’s one comedy, two action movies and one full-on romance. The movies will be in Hindi with Japanese subtitles. Tickets for each movie will cost ¥1,300.

Thailand’s in town Osaka — The 11th Thai Festa will be held in Osaka next month. As always it’s free entry, with some yummy Thai food, Thai flute music, Thai massage, Thai Pop (TPop!), a Muay Thai show, and a chance to win Thai Airlines tickets in a lottery. The 11th Thai Festa Osaka • May 18–19, 10am–8pm Osaka Castle Park, Taiyo no hiroba • www.thaifestival.jp

www.bollywood-4.com www.cinemart.co.jp

TGI Fridays now open in Osaka Osaka — Unhealthy eating, American style comes to Kansai! All joking aside, TGI Fridays has joined the lineup of restaurants huddled in the walkways around Universal Studios Japan. The new restaurant, which opened in March, is the only branch in Kansai. Just like the US version, the menu includes grill items smothered in Jack Daniel’s, this writer’s favourite snack fried mac and cheese, and many other glorious ways to ruin your waistline. There’s a range of party and weekday special menus for ¥850–¥1,300 a dish. www.tgifridays.co.jp

Surprising school thief caught on camera Osaka — Four teachers at Nozato Elementary School were understandably annoyed when a thief kept pinching money from their wallets left in a teacher’s room. They were surprised, however, when the culprit was caught on a hidden camera - as it was their very own vice principal. Takashi Honda, 57, claimed he stole the money only to embarrass his principal and didn’t intend to use the money at all. No charges were filed against him, though he lost his job, and he has offered to pay twice the amount he stole to each teacher. The total amount he stole was around ¥235,000.

KS T-shirts unleashed KS — A few issues back we had a competition to design a KS T-shirt. Well, Minikiki’s winning design has finally made the transition from computer screen to shirt, thanks to the T-shirt printing wizards at Sweatshop Union. And we at KS think they look fab. To celebrate we have a shirt to give away to three lucky readers. Just answer this question: What is Minikiki’s real name?

You may have to flip through a few back issues to find it out. Send your answer to: giveaway@kansaiscene.com, with the subject T-shirt Giveaway no later than Apr 17.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Get swapping

French Connections

Osaka — Through a variety of informative presentations, events and networking opportunities, the new Kansai Scene Business Matters group aims to connect, inform and engage small business owners, entrepeneurs and individuals doing business in Kansai. Join our kick-off networking event on Apr 17 at Wormwood (Cafe Absinthe B1). Bring your business cards and get swapping! Apr 17 (Wed), 8–9pm (doors open 7:30pm) • ¥1,000 w/1d • Business attire preferred

Weigh less, pay less Osaka — You think your rent is too expensive? How about you drop a few pounds, and we’ll drop the price. Sounds like a gameshow, but Lady Share House B&D are doing exactly that. Tenants are weighed every three months, and starting with a minimum rent of ¥38,000, rents are calculated by multiplying their weight in kilograms by ¥1,000. So if you weigh 50kg, you pay ¥50,000. If, three months later, you drop to 45kg, you pay ¥45,000. The share house has an exercise studio, beauty spa and free lectures on weight loss for tenants to encourage them to keep their bankbooks and the scales low. http://kansai.hituji.jp/comret/info/osaka/suita/ladys-sharehouseb-and-d/rooms

The latest news for francophiles in Kansai, by Stephan Ducoup

Bonjour! Welcome to April! Although the French school year starts in September, in Japan, everything from school, university and even jobs begins in beautiful April. This is the month of renewal, and nothing says ‘new’ better than the tender petals of the cherry blossom. If you’re a newcomer to Japan, don’t expect to be invited for an egg-hunting game to celebrate Easter. Instead, you’ll be attending huge picnic gatherings with hundreds of people, drinking and eating on blue plastic tarpaulins. Everybody loves to hanami, mon ami! But gentlemen, don’t forget that the tradition is to gather under cherry blossom trees to watch the moon in a romantic way. So let’s kampai together to celebrate hanami at some french events in Kansai: • KOBE: French meeting at Café de Paris in Kitano. Friday April 19 from 7:30pm. • OSAKA: Don’t miss tasting French products at the French fair, held at Hankyu department store in Umeda during the first week of April. • Monthly FRANCE KANSAI meeting at Umeda (check FRANCE KANSAI facebook for exact date: www. facebook.com/francekansai) • KYOTO: Hanami francophone at Insitut Franco Japonais, April 7. • French Afterwork party on April 19 at Kawa café from 7:30pm.

World’s oldest woman Osaka — A 114-year-old Osaka resident has been named the world’s oldest living woman by the Guinness Book of Records. Misao Okawa was born on 5 March 1898, and has two children, a son and a daughter, still living in their 90s. She’s never suffered any serious illness and believes the secret to a long life is healthy eating. “Have I lived so long? It’s strange,” she said to news reporters shyly after receiving the official notification. Interestingly, the world’s oldest living man is also a Kansai resident – 115-year-old Jiroemon Kimura in Kyoto. He was born on 19 April, 1897.

If you prefer to stay at home, don’t forget to check your new episode of the French-Japanese web drama PARIS ALEAS on www.clubantoinette.com

Hanami Francophone at the Institut Français du Japon - Kansai, Kyoto, Apr 7

Business

Matters

A new group that aims to connect, inform and engage small business owners, entrepeneurs and individuals doing business in Kansai.

Networking opportunities Seminars & presentations Parties & events

Kick-off networking event:

Meishi swap

April 17, wed, 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9pm @ Wormwood (Cafe Absinthe B1) ÂĽ1,000 w/1d

www.kansaiscene.com/businessmatters

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Business Matters

Travel with a personal touch With the net making holiday booking ever easier, are travel agencies in trouble? Not really, says GS Travel, who’ve been helping jet-setters in the region for 18 years. Text: KS

KS: You claim to offer the ‘lowest airfares in Kansai’ - how is that possible? GS Travel General Manager, Rumiko Tomomichi: Because of our strong connections with both the airlines and ticket wholesalers and also because of the sheer volume of passengers we are ticketing for each month. That gives us negotiating power to get the best price for our customers. KS: What are the advantages for customers booking with you, rather than direct with the airlines online? Tomomichi: The most important difference is that we care about you as an individual. When booking online direct with the airlines, they don’t care about your passport details, expiration date or visa requirements etc. The website may flash a warning message, but ultimately it is up to you. We on the other hand, provide a total service, that includes checking your passport is up to date and you have the correct re-entry stamps and visas. Another point is that booking with us means if there are any problems, or your flight gets delayed, we can help you sort it out. If you have booked direct with one or multiple airlines, you may find yourself in trouble. In fact, just yesterday a customer called us for help from Narita airport, where his flight had been cancelled. He didn’t speak Japanese and his English was limited and he told us that the airline had put him on another flight. We checked the times and realised straight away that if he had taken that flight there was no way he could have made his connec-

tion. We were able to sort it out with the airline and get him on a different flight on a different day. KS: What effect have low-cost carrier airlines had on the industry? Tomomichi: Obviously it hasn’t been good for business, but it also hasn’t been as bad as we had first feared. Interestingly, we are finding that roughly half of the customers that book and fly with the LCC airlines a few times, have told us they won’t fly with them again. They are attracted by the cheap fares at first, but realise that they prefer someone to take care of them and so come to an agent like us. It’s also important to understand that the bargain fares you see advertised by the LCCs are actually extremely difficult to book. If you do end up with a ticket to Seoul for ¥2,000, for example, you should count yourself extremely lucky. There are very few seats available on any on flight for the cheapest fares. At the end of the day, there is a realistic base price for any flight. For Seoul that would be somewhere in the region of ¥20,000–30,000. One good thing about the LCCs is that they are opening up international travel to people that may otherwise not travel at all. That can only be a good thing for the industry in general. KS: Are you having to do anything to attract customers back from the LCCs? Tomomichi: No, not really. There will always be those people that think the LCCs are great and they will continue

to book direct with them regardless of anything we do. It is the customers who prefer the human touch and that book with us time and time again that we focus on. We have a lot of repeat business. Most of our business is conducted over the phone or by email. People in Kansai love to talk after all. KS: How do you see the traditional travel agency evolving over the next 5–10 years? Tomomichi: I don’t see any major changes really. I believe there will always be a need for our services. It is possible that a trend may emerge for agencies to do away with a physical office, but at GS Travel we will keep the counter service for as long as it is required. KS: Finally, any other tips to get the best deal? Tomomichi: Ticket booking is not as simple as it seems. There are a multitude of ticket combinations and choices that simply don’t appear in online search results, especially if you are planning a journey with stopovers or connecting flights. If you are looking for the best deal, it pays to get a human involved. GS Travel 302 Wadayoshi Bldg., 1-13-21, Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku Osaka (See Shinsaibashi map D2) Tel: 06-6281-1230 www.gs-travel.com

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Top ten blossom spots It’s time to pack the picnic and unroll the hanami tarp. But where to pitch it? Here are some top Kansai spots.

Kyoto Hyogo

5 2 9

7 3

6 8

Osaka

The blossoming of the sakura trees reveals Japan at her most beautiful, and we Kansai dwellers are blessed to be within day trip distance of some of the most breathtaking viewing spots in all of the land. Here are ten of them, but get cracking - remember hanami season only lasts a few weeks!

Yoshino, Nara

10 1

Mie

Nara

Text: Sam Evans

Shiga

Philosopher’s Walk, Kyoto

Wakayama

3 Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya

Revered as a sacred site by the Shugendo faith since the 7th century, the area was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2004. Though Yoshino is awash with some 30,000 sakura trees, people flock to the four groves leading up Mount Yoshino, as the trees there blossom at different times throughout spring. The highest grove, Oku-senbon, lies 800m up the mountain trail. After a few sakes this might seem daunting, but it’s well worth the effort because at the top lies Kinpu Shrine, the most remote and mysterious shrine in the district.

Follow in the footsteps of influential 20th century philosopher Nishido Kitaro as you walk the path he used for daily meditation. The stone thoroughfare follows a weaving canal for 1.7 miles through Kyoto’s Higashiyama district and is lined with hundreds of sakura trees that explode with colour every April. It’s pram/stroller friendly and served throughout by vendors and cute cafes, so this gentle stroll is ideal for families with children or those who just want to do some meditating of their own.

Access: A short walk from Kintetsu

station, get dropped off at Ginkaku-Ji

Lying in the shadows of the majestic Mount Kabutoyama, the park boasts over 3,000 sakura trees and is dissected by the Shukugawa River. During peak periods, the riverbank can get crowded so you’ll have jostle to nab a spot with water views. Be prepared as well to hear a variety of music, from Japanese folk to drunken karaoke, coming from groups who have hit the sake a couple of hours before you. Vendors sell sake, beer and snacks but we say take the 50m stroll to the supermarket where you’ll find what you need for less extortionate prices.

Yoshino station, take the ropeway up to

temple.

Access: A 2 min walk from JR Sakura

the lowest grove; Shimo-senbon.

Information: www.everytrail.com/guide/

Shukugawa station.

Information: www.yoshinoyama-sakura.

the-philosopher-s-walk-in-kyoto

Information: www.nishinomiya-kanko.jp/

jp/english

Access: A 20 min taxi ride from Kyoto

english/spot/spot/auto52.html

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Maruyama Park, Kyoto

The adjacent Yasaka Shrine is a sight not to be missed by visitors to Kyoto’s premier hanami destination. However, the true magic is experienced as night falls and the park’s centrepiece; a huge shidarezakura (weeping cherry tree), is illuminated to give a spectacularlyethereal display that will make even those laying off the booze feel punchdrunk. We recommend a stroll around the park’s traditional Japanese gardens followed by a visit to one of the several restaurants as a sure way to satisfy your appetite.

Satsuskiyama Park, Ikeda

Sprawling up the side of Mount Satsuki, Satsukiyama Park is ideal for the more active hanami-ers. The five hiking trails with stunning views of the Osaka Plain should provide apt incentive for burning off the beer. However, if you prefer to take a more relaxed approach to cherry blossom viewing, the park also houses a free botanical garden, zoo and petting zoo that are open for the bulk of the day. A great park for families. Access: A 10 min walk from Hankyu Ikeda station. Follow the crowds. Information: www.osaka-info.jp/en/search/ detail/sightseeing_1804.html

as you’ll be surprised at how fast fifteen acres gets filled. Access: You can’t miss it from JR Osakajo-Koen station or Tanimachi 4-Chome on the Tanimachi subway line. Information: www.osakacastle.net/english/ park/index.html 9

Heian Shrine, Kyoto

After entering through the huge tori gate, KS recommends a leisurely jaunt around the courtyard that separates many of the main buildings followed by an exploration of the garden at the back. Here you’ll find an enchanting array of plants and ponds, but most importantly the weeping cherry trees that bloom a few days after most others, making this spot ideal at the tail end of the season around mid-April. Access: Take the 5 or 100 bus from Kyoto station or the subway to Higashiyama station from which the shrine is a 10 min walk. Again, follow the crowds. Information: www.heianjingu.or.jp/ english/0101.html

Access: 20 min on the 100 or 206 bus from Kyoto Station. Get off at Gion. Information: www.kyoto.travel/2009/11/ maruyama-park.html

Enryakuji Temple, Shiga

Founded in 788 and now the headquarters of the Tendai sect of buddhism, this monastery has an enthrallingly gory past. KS would never spoil the story for you though; instead we recommend taking the pleasant walk through the hilly, pink forests of its three areas – Todo, Saito and Yokawa – to see the historical buildings and find out for yourself. Access: Monks used to walk up the mountain but thankfully there’s now a cable car station a short bus ride from Hiezan Sakamoto station. Information: www.visitkansai.com/ sightseeing/hieizan-enryakuji/

Himeji Castle Park, Hyogo

The brilliant white of the walls alone is enough to draw visitors to Japan’s finest and most famous castle. Come hanami season, however, and the castle plays second fiddle to the blossoming sakura trees, which wash the castle grounds in pink. Note that this spring, repairs on the keep mean that it will be largely covered in scaffolding, but the observation deck offers the chance to watch the work as it happens, providing adequate consolation for those in need of their daytime TV renovation show fix. Access: 5 min by taxi from either JR or Hanshin Himeji station. Information: www.japan-guide.com/e/ e3501.html 8

Osaka Castle Park

This fifteen-acre oasis surrounding Osaka’s exalted relic has cherry blossom trees strewn around its perimeter that bloom to create an exquisite pink barrier separating those inside from the grey of the city’s north-east quarter. Popular with couples, groups, in fact all Osakans; we say put a tarp down early

Sakurai, Nara

Abundant with sakura trees and miles into the countryside, this less-known location really is a treat for the senses. Here, one is able to experience the scent of the cherry blossoms in a way that is impossible near the bigger cities where the air is tinged with exhaust fumes. The river that snakes through the town has steps leading down to it at some points, making it ideal for gathering. It’s also comforting to know that you’ll be in divine company while having a tipple here as the nearby Omiwa Shrine is dedicated to the god of sake. Access: Sakurai station on the Kintetsu Railway, Osaka line. Information: www.city.sakurai.nara.jp/ english/sakurai01.html

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Feature

Picnic with a purpose Spring has sprung! Let’s eat and drink to it with a homemade hanami bento. KS finds out what’s in the best boxes. Text and images: Alan Wiren

It all began with the emperors. During the eighth century, the Japanese aristocracy held plum blossom viewing parties in the Nara area. Later, when the capital moved to Kyoto, people started gathering to appreciate the much larger cherry trees. Although now one of the most popular trees in Japan, cherry trees were not always so ubiquitous. It was after the capital was moved, once again, to Tokyo that the eighth shogun commanded the widespread planting of cherry trees and encouraged the common people to turn out in springtime for hanami. He must have done a good job of it, because still now, in mid-spring, any park throughout the archipelago boasting cherry trees becomes a sea of blue tarps laid out for picnic goers. It surely is not just the will of the shogun that has kept this tradition alive. Makiko Itoh is a native of Tokyo who authors the blog Just Bento (www.justbento.com) and whose writing about Japanese food has been featured in magazines such as Saveur and Gourmet. When I ask her what keeps hanami so popular in Japan, she tells me: “The changing of the seasons is a central part of the Japanese consciousness.” Ohanami is one of the events that celebrates this. ‘’It’s a picnic

with a purpose,’’ she says. Modern-day hanami can be anything from a company outing to a romantic date. Hanami has become so much a part of the yearly cycle of life in Japan that it has made some enduring additions to the culture. One is the expression, hanna yori dango (dumplings over blossoms). It can have different interpretations, but often refers to someone who is more interested in the food and drink at a hanami than in viewing the cherry blossoms. I’d have to say that’s me. When I attend a hanami the most important question is always, “What shall we eat?” At many of the more popular spots you’ll find food vendors and even makeshift restaurants, but bringing your own spread is much more in the spirit. For this, a bento is just the thing. So, what should you pack in your hanami bento? For starters, there’s the eponymous confection - hanami dango - comprising three to four mochi “dumplings” colored pink, white, and green, skewered on a stick. The first two colours represent the blossoms, while the green is for leaves of the cherry tree. Other wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) in these colors are often included in bento. Sakura mochi, a larger portion of mochi tinted pink

Left to right: Kogomi (young fern shoots), makizushi, hanami dango and bamboo shoots

and wrapped with a genuine pickled cherry leaf, is a popular addition. On what to include in the hanami bento, Itoh explains: “Although many wagashi are tied to a specific season, no individual item is absolutely required.’’ In fact, a walk through the basement of most department stores at this time of year will demonstrate that the edible part of hanami is still evolving. While the motif of cherry tree colors can also be extended to foods other than sweets - boiled shrimp, green shiso leaves, and pink umeboshi (pickled apricot) to name just a few - there is no formula for the perfect hanami bento.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

A more practical guide is to choose foods that go well with the drinks for the occasion. The overwhelming majority of hanami are drinking parties. Sake and shochu have been the drinks of choice since the Edo period, but recently beer, wine, and even cocktails have started to appear. And the blossoms themselves can be part of the hanami beverages. One or two salt-preserved cherry blossoms, added to warmed sake, tea, or just hot water, make a befitting accent on a chilly day. Those who want to drink in style should also note the recent

development of artisan sake. Although a bit more pricey, these brews are made from 100% rice and have all the intrigue and subtlety of fine European wines. Hanami also provides the perfect opportunity for Izakaya-style dining, where drinks and a variety of small dishes can be shared among friends. Karaage and edamame are popular choices. Itoh recommends makizushi rolls or chirashizushi (sushi rice mixed with vegetables, seafood, and egg). The most fundamental thing is to remember that hanami is a celebration

of spring, so Itoh suggests including vegetables such as bamboo shoots, nanohana (canola), or mountain vegetables for a taste of the season. A hanami bento can be as elegant or as simple as you choose. A night-time picnic under illuminated blossoms could be a great opportunity to show off your culinary skill. But on the other hand, your bento could comprise the simplest of Japanese away-fromhome food: a few onigiri and a jug of green tea.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Feature

Lost in calculation no more Rubbish at maths? Get your brain thinking of numbers more visually, with some free Japanese abacus classes. Text & images: KS

For those that have been taught arithmetic as a child using plastic blocks and mindless repetition of times tables, studying the soroban provides more than just a nimble-fingered challenge. You are required to essentially reprogram your brain. The soroban was first conceptualised as a calculating method some 5,000 years ago by the Babylonians. Lines were drawn in the sand and pebbles used as counters to visualise calculations. These basic concepts were developed by the Greeks and Romans and put to good use by traders and tax accountants in ancient Rome. Its usage

spread along the great trading routes of the Silk Road all the way to China where it was perfected into a portable wooden device known as the suanpan in the 12th century. The Japanese soroban is a direct descendent of the suanpan, a neat arrangement of 23 vertical rods encased in a wooden frame and bisected by a wooden bar - the ‘reckoning’ bar. Each rod represents a digit of the decimal system with five diamond-shaped beads attached to each rod. The four beads below the bar each have a value of ‘1’ (ichidama) and the single bead above has a value of ‘5’ (godama). By moving these beads up and down and carrying over to consecutive bars, you are able to perform fast, complex and accurate calculations – at least that’s the idea. I am seated opposite my instructor at a narrow desk, together with a dozen or so other soroban trainees at the free (yes, free) soroban class offered at the Osaka Chamber of Commerce. I have been handed a brand-new soroban for the lesson, together with some photo-

copied worksheets, and received some basic explanation of the various parts of the instrument. Without further ado I am directed to the first practice calculation on the worksheet. Six plus one? Even I know this one. But now I have to prove it by visualising the calculation with the soroban. There is an order and protocol to follow, as one might expect. I must slide the beads down using the tip of my forefinger and up, using the tip of my thumb. For numbers six to nine I must pinch in both directions at once, sliding the godama down while sliding the ichidama beads upwards. This delicate finger pinching and flicking may be fiddly at first but is actually very therapeutic. I progress through the worksheets, learning to use two consecutive rods to calculate double figures and by the end of the session I am performing simple subtractions. The soroban provides a visual method of calculation that really helps any learner of arithmetic to ‘see’ the numbers. Interestingly, the ultimate nirvana of any soroban student is the

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

The common 23-rod soroban used in Japan today. The five beads on each rod are bisected by a horizontal ‘reckoning bar’.

Student voices: Why study the soroban? “I like soroban because it’s kind of amazing and fun! I want to

ability to not need the instrument at all. They become so comfortable using the tool that they are able to project a virtual soroban in the mind, and perform rapid and often complex calculations on the fly. You may have seen people on TV, staring intently at numbers (often 4, 5 or more digits) flashed in rapid succession on monitors. They are then instantaneously able to give the correct sum of those numbers with unerring accuracy. Amazing stuff. This skill is known as anzan and can take many years to master. There are competitions and accolades to be won for the most proficient at anzan and qualifications to be obtained for the serious soroban student, but it is the applications in real life that have allowed the soroban to endure. It not only nurtures an intuitive understanding of numbers but also encourages concentration and patience - qualities highly regarded in Japanese society. So much so, that soroban study is compulsory in elementary schools in Japan in the third and fourth grades. With Japanese students repeatedly making the top five in global maths rankings (according to a major US study ‘Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study’ published in 2011) and out-performing their European and North American peers, there may be a case for reintroducing the abacus into western curriculums. That is certainly what Ken Moritomo, Director of the Japan and Osaka Abacus Association, hopes. In between teaching children at his popular soroban juku, he has been organising free lessons for foreigners since 1986. “My master plan is to teach adults who can return to their countries and spread the soroban techniques they have learned.” He has so far had more than 1,000 people from some 92 countries attend the classes and is always welcoming new recruits, both young and old. My two-hour soroban initiation is over and although I have just scratched the surface, I leave with a renewed respect for this humble mathematical tool and its black belt exponents. I shall return. But not before I do my homework.

be a soroban super master hero!” — Ricky Arvidson, USA, 8 “The interest in the beginning was mostly out of curiosity for something totally unknown to me. I’ve been regularly attending the class for about a year (after a 10-year hiatus) and have been conscientiously practicing at home on a daily basis. The ultimate motivation that drives me at this point is reaching a level of proficiency that would enable me to swiftly and accurately do three-digit mental additions and subtractions through anzan. Apart from that goal, I can feel other ‘sideeffects’ in the form of a heightened ability to focus intently on a task, and also, though hard to quantify, better memory skills. It’s, in any case, undoubtedly great training for the brain.” — Yannic Piche, Canada, 37 “As I use a calculator a lot in my work, I gradually became too dependent on it. Sometimes, I even use a calculator for simple 2 digit additions! I was really impressed when I first attended the lessons in April this year. The teachers and students were able to calculate so fast without even using the abacus. It’s like having calculators in their brains.” — Javen Yap, Singapore, 30

Details: Join Ken and his band of volunteer soroban instructors on Saturdays from 10am–12pm at the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Honmachi. Instruction is oneon-one and either in English or Japanese. The classes are absolutely free and there is no commitment. • Email: ken_moritomo@nifty.com • Address: 5F, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bldg. http://sites.google.com/site/osakasoroban

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Made in Kansai

Centuries of sake Tasting the modern-day treasures of a 400-year-old sake brewery. Text: JJ O’ Donoghue • Images: Peter Damashek

The smokestacks and beautiful wooden buildings used for storing, washing, polishing and fermenting rice in the olden days can still be seen in Fushimi.

Rice is so central to Japan’s socio-cultural history that it’s no wonder someone eventually figured out that through a process of fermentation rice could be turned into alcohol. And thus sake, or nihonshu, was born. As well as a hangover. The origin of sake is, unlike the drink, unclear. While the technology used for brewing sake has changed greatly over time, the basic method still stands: adding spring water to polished rice and allowing koji (a magical mold) and yeast to ferment until sake is produced. At the Gekkeikan brewery in Fushimi, a short journey south of Kyoto city, they have been making sake for nearly four centuries. Because of the suitability of Fushimi’s spring water and its proximity to waterways, along which rice and sake could be transported to and from Osaka and Kyoto, Fushimi has long been associated with sake breweries. Disembarking at any of the JR, Keihan or Kintestu stations in Fushimi, it’s hard to imagine that you are in the environs of a town steeped in centuries of sake tradition. However, once you leave the busy shopping arcade and claustrophobic streets you’ll find that, thanks to the Fushimi breweries, much of ‘old Japan’ has been preserved, as much for tourists as for the sake. Gekkeikan is just one of seventeen surviving breweries in Fushimi, albeit the biggest one. Its presence is marked all over town by smokestacks and beautiful wooden buildings used for storing, washing, polishing and fermenting rice in olden days. The historic buildings have been preserved for posterity while sake production has shifted to a modern brewery nearby. Gekkiekan has come a long way since it was established by the Okura clan. Still a family-run business (the 14th Okura descendent leads the business today), it employs more than 600 people between its brewery operations in Fushimi and Folsom, America. Chances are if you drank sake in America, more than likely it was a Gekkeikan sake. For many people sake is still a bit of mystery. Do you drink it warm or chilled? Does sake get better with age like fine wine or whiskey? And, is sake a type of (rice) wine as many

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

people assume? Looking for answers, I spoke with Gekkeikan’s Yoshida Miwa, who is an advisor for the brewery. His answers: either, no and no. In particular, I think the rice/wine confusion originates from the words we use when we talk about sake. Read on. The best place to start when visiting Gekkeikan is the Okura brewery museum. Housed in an old brewery building, it’s a short but satisfactory tour through 370 years of sake production and most of the information is in both English and Japanese. Throughout its history, Gekkeikan has notched up quite a few firsts: in 1907 the company became the first purveyor of sake to the Imperial family, and in 1961 Gekkeikan developed the first all-season sake plant in Japan. This was short of revolutionary in the industry; for centuries sake production was confined to the winter months, which aided fermentation. However, as Miwa from Gekkeikan pointed out, when the brewery was established in 1637 all-season sake production was in operation, if not widely done so because of the summer heat and humidity. It was not until about 40 years later during the Edo period that the shoguns decreed a law that sake could only be produced in winter in an effort to preserve rive yields as the population expanded. This practice lasted for centuries. Today, with its year-round sake production, Gekkeikan brews a vast

line-up of sake. According to Miwa, most of the rice used in Gekkeikan sakes is sourced in Kyoto. But for the more distinguished sakes (ginjo and daiginjo sake), Gekkeikan uses Nishiki rice, the royalty of sake rice, harvested in Hyogo. Gekkeikan’s sakes run the full range; from cheap ‘one-cup’ sakes to gold medal winners, and to sample them all you’d need to take a week off (followed by another week to recover). The most popular brand is Tsuki (月), distinguished by its bright orange carton. Miwa describes ‘Tsuki’ as the “most versatile of sakes, you can drink it warmed or on ice and it suits just about any food.” However, we started near the top end of the line-up with a ginjoshu, which, as Miwa explained, has 40 per cent of the rice grain polished away prior to fermentation. (Generally speaking the more polished the grain the more delicate and refined the sake.) It’s particularly sweet and more suitable as a dessert drink than as an accompaniment for a main dish. One of its novelty features is the glass cup that comes with the bottle. Modeled like a billycan it has its own little stand, hence its been given the name ‘Retro Bottle’. If sweet sake is not to your palate another popular Gekkeikan sake is Tama no Izumi, the ‘Jewel of the Fountain’. Similar to a ginjo sake, it is in fact a daiginjo, an extension of the ginjo brewed to a higher grade. The

Tama no Izumi leans further towards dry than sweet, or in Japanese parlance karakuchi. With its more refined taste it is more suited to sashimi or tempura. One of Miwa’s recommendations is the Nouvelle Laurel sake, a mid-priced award winning junmai (no added alcohol and at least 30% polishing) sake. Characterised by a light taste and sophisticated bouquet, it can be drunk chilled or warm. “In fact you’ll never grow tired of the taste,” Miwa says. So what does the future hold for Gekkeikan? “To keep producing sake that people enjoy,” Miwa says. While sake is the nobility of Japanese alcohol, Miwa notes that the market is ‘flooded’ with competitors, of which chuhai is particularly strong. However, with its history of research, investment and innovation expect Gekkeikan to keep brewing all manners of sake from its base in Fushimi for centuries to come.

Fushimi - sake city Getting there From Kyoto: 10 minutes by Kintetsu or JR train from Kyoto Station. Take the Keihan from Sanjo Station. From Osaka: 40 mins from Yodoyabashi Station by Keihan

Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum 9:30am–4:30pm all year round (closed major holidays). Adults ¥300, children (12-17) ¥100. Phone: 075-623-2056 From April river cruises operate on the waterways in and around Fushimi. Contact 075-623-1030 Fushimi Yume Kobo Jukko-ku Bune.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Food and drink

Just sip it and see Forget the fancy words and labels, selecting the perfect sake is a matter of personal taste. Shimada Shoten lets you do just that. Text: Nicholas Coldicott • Images: KS

Sake is a funny beast. It’s so diverse, so volatile, and so bloody difficult to make that you never know quite what’s inside a bottle. The brewers don’t help. They can’t seem to agree on how to describe their drinks. Some go on about the types of rice and yeast, others focus on grain polish. Some give the nihonshu-do (a fairly unreliable measure of dryness), but many don’t. You could study all the terminology in the sake world and still have no idea how to read a label. The only way to figure out what a sake tastes like is to sip it and see. So thank God for Shimada Shoten, a sake retailer that lets you sample most of its stock. From street level, there’s little to lure you inside. It’s one of those old-school shops, established before retailers learned about design, flow and psychological tricks to separate you from your money. You’ll be as baffled as you would be in any sake store.

Downstairs it’s a different story. Thirty-two years ago, proprietor Yoichi Shimada turned his cellar into a tasting room. Guests sit at large wooden tables and help themselves to his stock. Shimada or his English-speaking wife might be around to advise, but they just leave you alone to help yourself. Grab a bottle and pour the sake into 60ml glasses. When you’re done, count your empty glasses and head upstairs to pay ¥210 per serving no matter which sake you drink. If you want nibbles, you can order pickled plums, cheese or chunky miso. Shimada visited more than 250 breweries to select his sakes. His lineup reflects his passion for aged brews. He says it’s only in the last few decades, as big breweries came to dominate the market, that people began to believe sake tastes best when it’s fresh. He says aged sake was far more common in the Kamakura period.

It’s shaky ground when you’re using 800-year-old tastes to justify your palate, but you’ll be on his side after you’ve tried Ume-no-Yado, a sake from Nara that was brewed in 1991 and has a wonderful crème brûlée taste, or Gekkeikan, a rich, robust Kyoto sake brewed in 1976. Shimada’s other big passion is the shape of the drinking vessel. He has a range of choko, from tall glasses to ceramic saucers, and can teach you which shape suits which drink. Shimada says sake is the only drink that inebriates you at a constant rate. Or to put it in his terminology, gets you drunk at a perfect 45-degree angle. He also says it’s the one drink that leaves your body without a trace by morning. Not everyone will agree, but as with any drink, you feel better if you drink the good stuff... and Shimada Shoten is packed with the good stuff.

Shimada Shoten 島田商店 • Address: 3-5-1 Itachibori, Nishi-ku, Osaka • Tel: 06-6531-8119 • Open: 9am–7pm, Mon–Fri / 9am–6pm, Sat • Closed: Sun, holidays www.sake-shimada.co.jp

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Kansai Seen Life through the lens of Kansai based photographers

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Hanami Scenes Floral festivities abound during Aprilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sakura season in Japan. During this brief window, usually lasting only three weeks, the whole nation flocks to practice the centuries-old tradition of hanami, picnicing beneath blossom-heavy cherry trees. Photographs by Jean-Yves Terreault www.terophoto.com

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Language

海外生活日記

Picnic Japanese If you turn on the TV in Japan at this time of year, the chances are you will see weather forecasts charting the movements of the sakura zensen (sakura front) as it makes its way from Kyushu up to Hokkaido over the course of the month, leaving swaths of drunken merrymakers in its wake. With lovingly prepared, handmade bento in hand (p.10), blue sheet underarm and a cooler full of sake (p.14) , you’ll no doubt be heading off to one of our Top 10 Hanami Spots (p.8) with a group of friends to enjoy your own hanami picnic. You may have even sent someone ahead to basho tori (claim) a prime piece of hanami real-estate. It’s not uncommon to witness lone salarymen seated among seas of blue sheets often from the very early hours, just to secure a spot large enough to accommodate all their colleagues. Whomever you find yourself sharing a blue sheet with, you might want to try out the following phrases to help the sake flow more freely. すごい！自分で作ったの？

Sugoi! Jibun de tsukutta no? 朝6時からここにいるよ

Asa roku-ji kara koko ni iru yo 桜は満開みたいですね

sakura wa mankai mitai desu ne お酒は弱いです

osake wa yowai desu ここでバーベキューしても大丈夫ですか？

koko de barbekyu shitemo daijyobu desu ka? ゴミは必ず持ち帰りましょう！

gomi wa kanarazu mochi kaerimasho! 紙皿を取って来てくれる？

kami-zara o tottekite kureru? 一気、一気、一気！

ikki, ikki, ikki! 春の風は強いですね。

Haru no kaze wa tsuyoi desu ne

Wow! Did you make these yourself? I’ve been here since 6am. Looks like the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. I’m not a strong drinker. Are we allowed to barbecue here?

Let’s make sure we take all our rubbish home! Can you please pass me a paper plate? Down in one, down in one, down in one! The winds are strong in spring aren’t they.

What is it like living in… Belgium? Momoyo Kokubu has been in Belgium for more than 10 years, living with her beloved family and doing what she loves most, music. She tells KS all about it. Interview by Sophie Umeda １．ベルギーで何をしていますか。ブリュッセルのフィニステール聖母教会でオルガニストの仕事をしています。教会はたくさんの店が並ぶ繁華街のRue Neuve（ヌーヴ通り）にあり、週末のミサに加えて、月曜日のランチタイムコンサートがあります。いつも大勢の人が集まる美しい18世紀の教会堂に、1830年の楽器を2000年に修復した歴史的なオルガンがあります。また、近所の教会でオルガンを、自宅でピアノとチェンバロを生徒に教えています。他には、ブリュッセルのオルガン演奏会協会の会員としてオルガン演奏の普及に努めています。春から秋にかけて教会が寒すぎない季節に、月に２回ほど演奏会で弾きます。２．ベルギーへ住むきっかけは、そして普段何語を話しますか。イギリスの音大時代、参加した国際オルガン・コンクールで、ベルギー人の夫と出会ったことです。普段はフランス語、16歳の娘とは日本語を話します。ブリュッセルは多国籍な街なので英語を話す機会も多いです。教会ではフランス語とオランダ語のミサがあり、片言ですがオランダ語も話せます。最初、夫と英語で話していましたが、彼はフランス語圏ベルギー人なので結婚して２年目に子供が生まれてから、家ではフランス語と日本語を使うことに決めました。同時に通い始めたブリュッセル王立音楽院では音楽のクラスは全てフランス語だったため、だんだん話せるようになりました。オランダ語に関しては、ミサで10年以上耳学問はしていたので、ようやく自分でも発音出来るようになって来た感じです。４．ベルギーに行って想定外によかったこと。無農薬マーケットが充実しており、食材豊かでごはんが美味しいこと。そして、ベルギーというより、ブリュッセル限定なのかもしれませんが、「他人に介入しない」風土が住みやすく感じます。５．ベルギーのここがオススメ！まだあまり知られていないかもしれませんが、教会とそのオルガンには素晴らしいところがたくさんあります。友達が来るとオルガン訪問をしますが、みんなとても感激してくれます！音楽ではクラシックからポップ、ジャズとあらゆる種類の音楽フェスティバルが信じられないぐらいたくさんあることも魅力的ですね。 Follow Momoyo: Blog http://momokokubu.exblog.jp/ Momoyo is performing as part of an organ duo in Kobe this month at the Takarazuka Vegahall on Apr 8, from 7pm • Tickets ¥2,500 • http://takarazuka-c.jp

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Language

Got Class? Get JALT! Aim to take your teaching skills further this academic year. Text and images: Ray Franklin

Pop quiz: A native-English speaker living in Kansai would most likely work as A) an international company rep; B) a techie; C) an artist of some sort; or D) an English teacher. As anyone with jobs A, B, or C can attest, most people will automatically assume that if you speak English then your job is D, which anecdotal evidence suggests is indeed the answer. In Kansai, it’s more than likely that anyone you’ve met who is even vaguely familiar with the English tongue will have taught a language class at some point. Many of us teach English as a job for only a few years during our adventures in Japan, while others go on to make it a profession, even teaching the teachers. In either case, there are times when both rookie and veteran teachers could use some help, both to boost their morale and to add some tools to their trade. At that point, getting some JALT in your job will make it easier for you, by helping you become a better teacher. The Japan Association of Language Teaching (JALT) is the premier group for any language teacher (not just English) in Japan who wishes to further develop professionally. Conceived at a language conference in 1975, JALT has grown into an organisation of nearly 3,000 members with 35 chapters and 26 Special Interest Groups. Osaka JALT chapter president, Bob Sanderson, says JALT offers unparalleled opportunities for language teachers to develop and improve their skills. He says: “Whether you join JALT officially or simply attend our events as a one-day member,

you are guaranteed to learn things that will make you a better teacher.” JALT, which is affiliated with a number of professional teaching organisations, is much more than just an academic forum for language research. There are Special Interest Groups for primary school, junior/senior high school, and business English, as well as a focus on topics such as Study Abroad, Global Issues, Gender Awareness, and Teachers Helping Teachers. Each local chapter hosts various invited speakers and workshops throughout the year, and has regular meetings where members can network and exchange tips with other teachers. JALT membership costs ¥10,000 per year, which includes a subscription to their bi-monthly publication The Language Teacher and their bi-annual JALT Journal of more scholarly articles. For those not wanting to commit to a full year’s membership, events are open to the public for a small, one-day membership fee. While active chapters exist in Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, and Himeji, Osaka JALT boasts the second-largest chapter in Japan with around 200 paid members, plus others who have signed up for the free email list via osakajalt.org or joined the Facebook group. One of Osaka JALT’s main events is its annual oneday mini-conference called Back-toSchool, held this year on April 14, which aims to share teaching ideas on a wide range of topics to help everyone start the new school year on a positive note. The mini-conference is open to the public. One interesting speaker

this year will be Ms Yuko Nishiyama, who will be talking about her experiences since evacuating from Fukushima after the disasters of March 11. Chapter president Bob Sanderson encourages all language teachers to attend. “With long and short presentations, poster sessions, and plenty of time to socialize, there is sure to be something for everyone,” he says. “We look forward to what is sure to be a great day.” Later in the year, Kansai-based teachers are in for another treat as JALT’s main event - the national conference - will be held at the Kobe Convention Center in Portopia on October 25–28, with the theme JALT2013: Learning is a Lifelong Voyage. As many of us come to realize when learning Japanese, simply talking in a language is not the same as teaching the language. So if you’re a language teacher “with class”, then do yourself a favor by adding some JALT to your job.

Ray Franklin is Osaka’s JALT publicity officer. To become a JALT member or to find out about the national conference, go to www.jalt.org. To attend the Osaka mini-conference in April, go to www.osakajalt.org

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Also playing

Apr 13

Hitchcock Apr 5

Film previews

Chinese Zodiac

Pick

120 mins • Action/Adventure • Director: Jackie Chan Stars: Jackie Chan, Qi Shu, Oliver Platt

The perfect blend of martial artist and comedian, Jackie Chan is endlessly entertaining, and often nail-bitingly thrilling, to watch on screen. Born Chan Kong-sang, the veteran action star owes a lot to his early education at the strict China Drama Academy, where he learned martial arts, acrobatics, singing and acting. He was being groomed for a job in the Peking Opera, but ended up working as a stuntman and extra in the Hong Kong film industry. Athletic and inventive, he got a reputation for being fearless: he’d try anything. When the Hong Kong movie industry began to fail, he had to return to his parents, who were living in Australia. There he worked in a restaurant and on a construction site, which is where he earned his nickname Jackie. (Given by an older worker Jack, who found his real name hard to say.) An agent in Hong Kong, Willie Chan, headhunted Jackie for a new Hong Kong movie, and his career as a stuntman was revived. When he began to develop his own style of acting, blending humor with his amazing stunts, his movies became huge successes. But it wasn’t until Rumble in the Bronx (1995) that western audiences really got to know him. Jackie’s stunts are almost inhuman. He refuses to use a stuntman or CGI, so when you see him dangling off a clock, falling, and crashing through a series of canopies to hit the ground in Project A (1983), that’s really him. Ditto him sliding down the glass front of a twenty-one story building in Who Am I? (1998). When you see these kind of stunts, it’s no surprise to learn he’s broken almost every bone in his body, and has a plastic plug in his skull. This new offering has him searching the world for 12 bronze heads of Zodiac animals, but don’t worry too much about the plot itself. Just enjoy the action and comedy from the most lithe and daring 60-year-old you’re likely to see this year. Don’t forget you can find a list of local cinemas online at www.kansaiscene.com/cinemas/

This movie may be called Hitchcock, and we do peek behind the scenes of the legendary director’s infamous movie Psycho, but the focus is squarely on his number one collaborator, wife Alma Reville. Based on some real-life accounts, we learn how Alma contributed support, ideas and finances towards the production of Psycho, a film that the studio never wanted Hitchcock to make. 98 mins • Biography/Drama • Director: Sacha Gervasi Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johnansson

Iron Man 3 Apr 26

The modest self-proclaimed genius, billionaire and playboy philanthropist Tony Stark returns. After saving the world with his buddies the Avengers last year, he’s facing a new threat in the shape of terrorist leader the Mandarin. The Mandarin knows Stark’s got some nifty technology and wants to use it for evil. Time to suit up, Tony! 109 mins • Action/Adventure/Sci-fi Director: Shane Black • Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow

Cosmopolis Apr 13 Fancy a ride through town? Eric Packer is waiting for you in the stretch limo. Packer is a cold, sociopathic billionaire, coasting through town to get a haircut. On his way he’ll make money, lose money, get caught up in a riot and cheat on his wife. If you like slow-paced thrillers where characters talk themselves around in circles, you’ll enjoy this ride. 109 mins • Drama • Director: David Cronenberg Stars: Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon

Now Is Good Apr 27 What’s on your to-do list? For 17-year-old Tessa, time is running out to get things done after she’s diagnosed with leukaemia. She wants to live life to the max and pack it with experience, including breaking the law, and taking drugs. While she’s busy ticking things off, she accidentally falls for the boynext-door Adam. Drama, Romance • Director: Ol Parker Stars: Dakota Fanning, Josef Altin, Jeremy Irvine

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Travel

Hanoi

Saigon a go-go

Laos

Call it Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, this bustling city is exhilarating by any name.

Thailand Vietnam Cambodia Ho Chi Minh

Text and images: Bonnie Carpenter

One gets an abrupt insight about the intensity of this high-octane big city when you first attempt to cross a busy street. There are few crosswalks here, and even fewer walk lights. Pedestrians ever so cautiously strike out in the midst of a huge mass of oncoming traffic with motorbike drivers weaving tightly- and frighteningly close around you. With a pounding heart, you make it breathlessly to the other side. Whew!! Welcome to Saigon. Long known as Saigon, Vietnam’s largest city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City after the late North Vietnamese leader, in 1975. (For the politically correct, locals do use both HCMC and Saigon interchangeably, so either name will do.) With a dynamic blend of an emerging new economy and rich cultural past flavoured with the legacy of French colonialism, HCMC has much

to offer the intrigued tourist. So whether you’re in town for a quick stopover, or as a longer trip to explore the rest of the country, it’s worth taking time to appreciate the city’s historic and modern riches. Here, in no particular order, are ten of our recommended sites. 1.The War Remnants Museum has tragic photographs of children born deformed from the use of chemical warfare and soldiers from both sides in acts of atrocities. This museum is not for the faint of heart. Like Hiroshima, it serves as a brutal reminder on the horrors of war and the toll it takes on a nation’s people. 2. Notre Dame Cathedral and the General Post Office are architectural wonders of classic colonial buildings built when the French occupied the city in the 1880s. Visitors will be scru-

tinized under the benevolent gaze of a huge painting of the founding father of the nation, Ho Chi Minh. 3. Reunification Palace was built in 1966 to house South Vietnam’s president and has remained an unchanged memorial to when Saigon surrendered to the communists in 1975. 4. Ben Thanh Market. Ah, the shopping here! A huge local market showcasing goods from all over Vietnam. Booths near the front entrance have government-fixed prices but you are free to bargain hard in the rest of the market. Splash out for an aoi zai (the traditional national costume) or take a lunch break at counter stalls with homemade cheap eats. Che’, a refreshing coconut milk drink layered with sweet beans and gelatin, is the perfect complement to the ubiquitous national noodle dish of Vietnam, pho.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Web Resources The following websites feature some of the most comprehensive up-to-date travel information. Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) will not only give you a brief history of each sightseeing spot together with a handy map, but they also list what else is nearby. For example, researching the Reunification Palace turned up a local massage shop, (nothing like a foot massage after a hard day of sightseeing), the Fine Arts Museum a stone’s throw away, and even a sushi bar. How easy to design a day tour of your own with local research already in place! TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com) rounds everything out with travellers’ opinions, photographs and ranking of top sites. It’s a grassroots forum that tells all (the good and the bad) of what travellers have experienced. WikiTravel (www.wikitravel.org) has all the necessary practical bits of travel in detail such as hours, addresses etc. and more photos to peruse before you travel. • BEST TIME TO VISIT: Saigon’s average temperature of 28°C makes it hot and humid most of the year. November to March is the best season for those who want to take a break from Kansai’s cold weather. May to October is their hot and rainy season. Avoid “Tet”, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year, in late January/early February. Like oshogatsu, businesses shut down, people return to their hometowns, and transportation prices skyrocket.

5. Built by Cantonese Buddhists in 1909, Jade Emperor Pagoda boasts elaborate statues of deities surrounded by huge hanging spiral incense cones used for wishes and prayers. 6. Ho Chi Minh Museum features two floors of photos and artifacts reverently documenting the modest life of “Uncle Ho”. 7. Quite particular to Vietnam, the Water Puppets Theatre is a charming performance of wooden puppets manipulated by bamboo poles hidden beneath a murky pool of water. The lively dolls act out folktales of yore accompanied by traditional instruments and costumed singers. 8. The Cu Chi Tunnels, a day trip only 60 kilometres to the south, are a testament to the grit and tenacity of the Vietnamese. It is a maze of 200 kilometres of hand-dug passageways where the Vietnamese survived underground, resisting French troops in the 1940s and then again the Americans in the 1970s war. 9. Cao Dai Great Temple houses an amazing fusion of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, ancestor worship and elements of Christianity all rolled into one faith, known as Cao Daism. Approximately three hours outside Saigon, services can be viewed during lunch hour where white-robed devotees gather to worship. The Temple itself is an architectural splendor with sacred dragons curling around peppermint coloured columns and a Divine Eye overseeing the universe. 10. Mekong Delta: 2-3 day tours take travellers along the narrow waterways of the Mekong River, where one can cruise among floating markets and jungle.

• ACCOMMODATION: One of the best backpacker areas in Asia, the growing Pham Ngu Khoi area in Saigon offers clean, safe lodging centrally located for ¥1,200-3,000 per room. This bargain price often includes a full breakfast of pho and tropical fruits, AC, a fridge AND a big screen wall TV with cable channels in English. Travel agencies located nearby include Cafe Kim Tourist (www.thekimtourist.com) and The Sihn Tourist (www.thesinhtourist.vn). Both offer good value, well-organised day and city tours or trips to the Mekong Delta, and even fun motorcycle tours of the countryside, all in English. • GETTING THERE: Several of Japan’s major airlines are offering competitive pricing against the low-cost carriers. A quick search on SkyScanner (www.skyscanner.com) showed an ANA ¥62,500 RT price to SGN (Ho Chi Minh City) from KIX with JAL at ¥73,900, beating out JetStar’s price of ¥75,000. • VISAS: A tourist visa for Vietnam is necessary for most nationalities. Available at the Vietnamese Consulate in Osaka (www.vietnamconsulate-osaka.org/en) or online (www.myvietnamvisa.com). The latter allows you to pick up your visa at the HCMC airport upon arrival, paying the final fees there.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Books

A blooming brilliant book A Canadian teacher hitchhikes from south to north following the blossoming sakura, but discovers much more about Japan along the way. Text: Donna Sheffield

There are many travel books about Japan, but none as passionate, detailed and downright clever as this one. I first stumbled upon it about six years ago, looking for some insight into Japan before I applied for a job here. In hindsight I couldn’t have picked a better guide to tempt me to these shores. Will Ferguson’s adventure began like many – with a suggestion over some booze. While enjoying the cherry blossom with fellow schoolteachers, he vaguely said he’d like to follow the progress of the blooms as they open from southern Japan to Hokkaido in the north. The next day his coworkers were already planning out the trip for him, so a suggestion became destiny. But destiny with one simple rule: he decided to hitchhike the whole trip. Japanese friends puzzled over this particular detail, gently reminding Ferguson of the efficient Bullet Train. But it’s this detail that transforms Ferguson’s story from one simply about the efficiency of Japan’s public transport (which we all know to be true) to one rich with surprising, quirky and meaningful encounters. He writes: “To really worm your way into off-track Japan, you need to travel in the company of people who live there. Train passengers... ultimately remain spectators. Hitchhikers are co-conspirators, fellow travellers.” As he travels through big cities and country roads with only his thumb for fuel, Ferguson meets a whole cast of characters. His story is less about the blossoms themselves, and more about the people that take him to them. He explains shinto beliefs, Japanese ideals, his feelings about the term gaijin, and many other key cultural concepts in a very simple, observant way. Though it’s not a travel book per se, Ferguson’s descriptions of the many towns dotted across his route give a better insight than any Lonely Planet guide. He catches the blossoms in all their glory at Himeji Castle, and throws in

some local history as he describes being welcomed by the crowds. Ferguson is knowledgeable, but never big-headed, sliding in the facts as a friendly whisper in the ear only. Of course, his journey isn’t all delightful people and easy travelling, and that’s when it really gets interesting. The mean people of Fukui didn’t take pity on his rain-sodden form for three hours, and leaving Kanazawa he managed to get arrested for hitchhiking on a national expressway. Throughout the book, Ferguson writes with an easy tone, as if you’re just hitchhiking alongside him, and keeps his chapters short, with not a syllable wasted. A few maps dotted throughout help you keep track of where he is geographically. Re-reading this book now that I’ve lived in Japan, I find myself smiling in recognition, yet still finding new and interesting points I want to explore too. This book’s a travel guide, a unique insight into Japanese culture and history, and an homage to Japanese people, all rolled into one. Ferguson no longer lives in Japan, but is back in his hometown of Canada with Japanese wife Terumi. Reading his Japanese journal, I’m inspired to hit the road more myself, and can only hope to make even half the memories he did. • Title: Hitching Rides with Buddha • Author: Will Ferguson • Publisher: Canongate U.S. • ISBN: 978-1-84195-785-2 Note: Previously published under the title Hokkaido Highway Blues www.willferguson.ca

Free Stuff!

reader One lucky KS des of Hitching Ri can win a copy ddha. Bu th wi name aw email your To enter the dr ansaiscene.com @k ys wa to: givea by Apr 17. ct ‘Hitching Mark the subje ddha’. Rides with Bu

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Travel

Beyond the Castle Himeji’s iconic castle may be under reconstruction, but that just means more time to experience the area’s other riches. Text and images: Alena Eckelmann

Castles have something magical about them, and the majestic white example in the city of Himeji is no exception. This UNESCO World Heritage Site inspires daydreams about the lords and princesses who ruled here for over 500 years. Although a visit to Himeji Castle is a must for anybody in Japan, its most famous building – the Main Tower – is under reconstruction until 2014. But don’t let that put you off; the grounds are still open and there are special visitor facilities for the restoration period. It’s also the perfect reason to explore Himeji’s other attractions.

Sakura at the castle Once there were hundreds of majestic castles all over Japan, but only a few remain today. While the majority of these are concrete reconstructions, the 500-year-old Himeji Castle – nicknamed the “White Egret” because of its brilliant white exterior and resemblance to a bird taking flight – is still in its original wooden form.

Hiromi Yamamoto, my volunteer guide from the Himeji Goodwill Guide Kashinoki-kai association showed me around the spacious grounds and to the inner part of the castle while narrating stories about former inhabitants and their plight. Forty-eight lords from thirteen families have reigned here in succession from when the first castle was built in the mid 14th century until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which did away with feudal Japan. The lords’ family crests still grace the tiles on the castle walls and buildings. Usually visitors would make their way to the top of Main Tower on foot, shuffling over wooden floors and climbing several flights of wooden stairs. The current restoration work gives you a once-only chance to be carried to the top by elevator from where you can enjoy a splendid “Egret’s Eye View” over Himeji (www. himejijo-syuri.jp/en).

Although the Main Tower is covered, you can still enjoy the castle grounds, which will be filled this month with one thousand cherry trees in full bloom. What better view can you get for your hanami picnic than a white castle in an ocean of pink? For night owls, there is an option of viewing of illuminated cherry trees after sunset. Tip: Check out the Mitsuyama Taisai Festival, which takes place only every 20 years, held at the Himeji’s Harimanokuni Sosha Shrine until Apr 7 (www.sohsha.jp/ mitsuyama.html). The main event will take place on Apr 3 at the Sannomaru-Hiroba, Sannomaru Park in front of Himeji castle.

Island fun About 18 km off the coast of Himeji lies the hidden gem of Ieshima Islands (www.h-ieshima.jp). Still relatively unknown among foreigners, this island chain comprises a group of forty-four islands, of which only four are inhab-

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

ited. A ferry will take you from Himeji Port to the main island of Ieshima in 35 minutes. For over 400 years the island’s inhabitants have been mining nearby Tangajima quarry for rocks, which have been used to build Osaka Castle and Kansai International Airport. In the port you will see large ships with cranes sporting massive iron claws. There were over one hundred of these Gatto-sen in the late 1980s, with forty still in operation. Mining is still in progress, and if you climb up to Ieshima Shrine, you will catch a glimpse of Tangajima Island and see that a third of the island has disappeared after 100 years of mining. The other main occupation here is fishing, and one hundred fishing boats welcome you upon arrival at Ieshima Harbor. Lined up next to each other along the 2km long pier that connects the two hamlets of Miya and Maura, they make for an impressive sight. Kazuya Nakanishi, a native of Osaka, and Jeremy Blaustein, hailing from the US, have made Ieshima their adopted home. Having launched the Ieshima Concierge project (http://nakanishieshima.jimdo.com) to welcome foreign visitors, they’re more than happy to walk around the island with you, guide you on a sea kayaking tour, go fishing or hire a boat and venture out for camping and bonfire on Nishijima Island’s recreation ground. They can also chip in and interpret what the local obachan will tell you should you decide to enroll in their “island cooking” class. Of course, delicious fresh fish and seafood is on the menu, and you can even cook what you caught earlier in the day. Tip: On the last weekend of August, Ieshima hosts an annual Open Water Swim Competition between Tangajima and Ieshima islands (www.e-sports.jp/ieshimaows).

Autumn leaves with The Last Samurai You might have heard of the 88 temples pilgrimage route around Shikoku Island, but did you know that there is a 33 temples pilgrimage route right here Kansai? This Saigoku Sanjusan-

sho is dedicated to

the veneration of Kannon-sama, the Goddess of Mercy. Visit all 33 temples and you can be sure of salvation whatever your frailties might have been. Engyoji Temple on Mount Shosha (www.shosha.or.jp) in the northwest of Himeji is temple number 27 on the Kannon pilgrimage route. This temple of the Tendai branch of Buddhism has been an ascetic training ground for monks for centuries. Nowadays Engyoji mostly serves as an esthetic background for blockbuster movies. Recently a Taiwanese period drama was partly filmed there and some years ago, Tom Cruise wielded his sword on site as The Last Samurai. Statues of Kannon-sama line the path from the ropeway’s up-hill station right to the Nimon Gate where two grim-looking guardians make sure that ill-minded travelers don’t pass. Many pilgrims have left their prayer beads, which now decorate the hands of the deity. The over 1,000-year-old Engyoji Temple complex consists of a great number of buildings dotted over a large area on Mount Shosha. In the old days the center of the complex was the impressive triangular setting of Daikodo Hall, Jikido Hall and Jogyodo Hall. The first was a lecture hall where monks were educated, the second was the place where they ate and slept and in the third they would practice ascetic training. Even today ascetic training is practiced here, and eager visitors can even take part in zazen, a form of sitting meditation (on prior registration). The top of the mountain is easily reached by ropeway, but naturelovers would enjoy the hike up to the top. Come autumn, Mount Shosha’s Engyoji becomes a top koyo spot where people from near and far enjoy the blaze of red, yellow and orange of autumn leaves.

Information Stay: Himeji 588 Guesthouse: The proprietress, Kyoko Matsuoka, is a keen traveler who caters to every need of her guests. Price: ¥2,700 per person per night 670-0012 Hyogo-ken, Himeji-shi, Honmachi shoten-gai, Honmachi 68; English spoken; (http://himeji588.com)

Eat: Kineya: Japanese sweets shop and café that serves breakfast sets including Himeji’s famous almond toast. 671-2224 Hyogo-ken, Himeji-shi, Nikaimachi 95; no English spoken; (http://kineya.net) Café Lamp: American-style café and restaurant that serves delicious hamburgers, bagels and sandwiches. 670-0012 Hyogo-ken, Himeji-shi, Honmachi 68; Some English spoken; Open: 11am–8pm

Learn: Himeji Goodwill Guide Kashinokikai Association provides free guided tours of Himeji Castle in English. Three-day prior reservation necessary. Email himejitourkashinoki@gmail.com

Getting there: A JR Special Rapid train runs from Shin-Osaka and Osaka via Kobe to Himeji. It takes about one hour from Osaka and costs ¥1,450. There’s also a Shinkansen station if you want to travel further afield from Himeji.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

This month in Kansai

ART

EVENT

Hanayo: Berlin Details p.38

Canon New Cosmos of Photography 2013 Details p.38

Tatsuno Sakura Matsuri Details p.34

EVENT

ART

EVENT

ART

Hikone Castle Evening Moat Cruise Details p.34

Kim Dunstan: Amasan - Japanese Diving girls

Benishidare concert Details p.34

Setouchi Triennale 2013 Details p.38

Details p.39

LIVE

ART

FESTIVAL

LIVE

George Clinton @Billboard Live Osaka

ddd gallery 191st exhibition: [dddg] groovisions

Chinka Sai Festival Details p.36

Jun Skywalker @Zepp Osaka Details p.42

Details p.43

Details p.38

LIVE

ART

FILM

FESTIVAL

Details p.25

Details p.36

Misia @Orix Theatre Details p.42

Ancient Glass: Feast of Color Details p.39

Iron Man 3

Janjaka Odori Dance

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

ART

FILM

EVENT

FESTIVAL

Van Gogh in Paris: New Perspectives

Hitchcock Details p.25

Details p.38

Wakayama Jokamachi Baru

Hashigojishi Details p.36

Details p.34

FESTIVAL

EVENT

Details p.36

Details p.35

Details p.34

EVENT

ART

LIVE

Sanno Matsuri Details p.36

Biwako Jazz Festival 2013

Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri

Peony Flower Festival Details p.35

Details p.35

Midosuji Cycle Picnic

The “Blue” that Captivated the World: Ukiyo-e Exhibition

Hachikenya Ohanami Festa

Lecca @Varit Details p.43

Details p.39

EVENT

CLUB

EVENT

The 45th Kusatsu shukuba matsuri Details p.35

Mai Asia Music Festival @Maishima Sports Island Details p.40

Tetsudo Koshien 2013 Details p.35

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Events

Apri 1–21

Tatsuno Sakura Matsuri 龍野さくら祭 FREE

Tatsuno-Koen Park and Surroundings, Hyogo

Welcome the end of winter by celebrating the explosion of cherry blossoms at the Tatsuno Sakura Matsuri. With picturesque woodland walks, Japanese gardens and secret viewpoints, Tatsuno-koen Park is one of Kansai’s finest spots for viewing the season’s blossoms. On April 7, there will be a grand parade of samurai clad in their impressive suits of armour. There will also be colourful performances and exhilarating attractions at venues in and around the park. Time: 10am • Admission: free • Access: JR Kishin line Hon-Tatsuno stn; 20 min walk • Tel: 0791-64-3156

Event Listings Hachikenya Ohanami Festa, Osaka はちけんやお花見フェスタ FREE Hachikenyahama Mar 30–Apr 14

Enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms on the banks of the Okawa River. Bustling markets, various catering cars and street performances will be held at weekends. www.ohanami-festa2013.net

Make like aristocrats from days of old by enjoying the spectacle of cherry blossoms at night while gliding down a castle moat on a Japanese barge.

Admission: ¥1,500 adults • Access: JR Biwako line Hikone stn

The Sustainability in German Companies, Osaka 御堂筋Talkin’ About FREE

Osaka Gas Building • Apr 4

Meet new people and create networking opportunities at the international cultural salon “Midosuji Talkin’ About”. For April, Doris Erhardt-Freitag will speak about the disaster of Fukushima nuclear plant and the sustainability of carbon footprint reduction. Hikone Castle moat cruise: Provided by Biwako Visitors Bureau

www.facebook.com/ MidosujiTalkinAbout

Hikone Castle evening moat cruise, Shiga

Wakayama Jokamachi Baru 第４回わかやま城下町バ

彦根城お堀巡り－夜間特別運行－

ル～春はさくらバル～

Hikone Castle • Weekends Apr 1–20

Wakayama Castle, JR Wakayama stn and Surroundings • Apr 6

Get your walking boots on for a Japanese style pub-crawl of Wakayama Jokamachi Baru. With 142 places to eat and drink, it’s the largest “Baru” event in Japan. Exciting attractions will also be taking place during the event.

Admission: ¥3,200 (¥3,400 at door), 5 restaurants or bars are available http://baru.wakayamashi.jp

Naniwa Puppet Theater Festival, Osaka なにわ人形芝居フェスティバル Isshinji Temple & Surroundings Apr 7

Take the family for a fun day out to this puppet festival held in Isshinji. There will be various puppet shows at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, amazing street performances, food stalls, art exhibitions and more.

Admission: various charge for different performances. http://terateratera.sakuraweb.com/ ningyoufes

Benishidare Concert, Kyoto 紅しだれコンサート 2013 Heianjingu Shrine • Apr 10–13

Enjoy a stroll past the drooping branches of weeping cherry trees as soothing live music floats through the air. Admission: ¥1,700 (¥2,000 on door) • www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/kyo_np/ info/moyoosi/2013benishidare

Yuasa Andon Art Exhibition, Wakayama ゆあさ行灯アート展 2013 FREE

Yuasa-cho area • Apr 17–21

Step back in time into the Japan of old at this artistic lantern exhibition, where the Edo-period streets glow with stunning displays of paper lanterns. http://lepo.fool.jp/green/andon

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Apr 28

Photo provided by Biwako Visitors Bureau

Apr 14

Midosuji Cycle Picnic

The 45th Kusatsu Shukuba Matsuri

第4回御堂筋サイクルピクニック

第45回草津宿場まつり

FREE

Nakanoshima Park, Osaka

FREE

Put on your bike pants and get ready to ride for a good cause. The invigorating spring Cycle Picnic aims to support safe riding and to appeal for cycleways on Osaka’s famous Midosuji Street. Join a ride through the city centre, enjoy a fashion show for cyclists, and sample fare from many stalls selling tasty food and goods. You can also try your hand at riding a tandem bicycle, handcycle, small wheel and other rare bicycles. With a variety of exhilarating attractions, the Midosuji Cycle Picnic has something for cyclists of every stripe.

Kusatsu city Hall and Surroundings, Shiga

Time: 10am–3pm • Admission: free • Access: Keihan Railway

Kusatsu Shukuba Matsuri Festival is a 1-day spectacle celebrating the history of Kusatsu as an important shukuba – a place where travellers could rest on their journey – during the Edo period. Exhilarating events will take place across the city in a range of established venues. See streams of people in colourful period costumes running the gamut from aristocratic to peasant attire, and enjoy performances of live rock music and epic stage battles. There will also be an evening Noh play, mouth-watering food stalls and many other exciting events.

Naniwabashi stn • Tel: 06-6475-8885 • To enter the appeal, email:

Time: 10am–7:30pm • Admission: free • Access: JR Biwako line

webmaster@aozora.ar.jp • http://cyclepicnic.wordpress.com/event

Kusatsu stn; 10 min walk • Tel: 077-566-3219

Biwako Jazz Festival 2013 びわこJAZZフェスティバ

La Festa Primavera 2013 ラフェスタプリマベラ

ルin東近江2013

2013

The International Food Expo UTAGE 2013 in Osaka‘13食博覧会・大阪

Yokaichi Station, Higashi Omi City Hall and Surroundings Apr 20 & 21

FREE Start in Nagoya, finish in Osaka • Apr 20–24

FREE

All music lovers will find something to enjoy in this festival’s eclectic line-up of music. Local and professional bands will perform at 35 venues scattered around the scenically beautiful town. http://biwako-jazzfes.com

Calling all car enthusiasts to this exciting showcase for classic cars. Porsches, MGs, and other rare automobiles will begin a 1,400kmtour of Kansai; they start at Nagoya on the 20th and finish at Osaka Castle on the 23rd. www.lafesta-primavera.com

Intex Osaka • Apr 26–May 6

The quadrennial food festival is back in Osaka this year! Sample dishes from home and abroad, taste beer from around the world, and learn about dietary education. There will also be colourful stage performances and much more.

Admission: ¥1,500 (¥2,000 at door) • www.shokuhaku.gr.jp

The 66th City Regatta, Osaka 第６６回大阪シティレ

Peony flower Festival 長谷寺ぼたんまつり

Tetsudo Koshien 2013, Osaka 鉄道甲子園 2013

ガッタ

Hasedera Temple • Apr 20–May 14

Herbis Hall • Apr 27–May 6

Enjoy the elegance of Hasedera temple when over 150 varieties of flowers in its gardens erupt into bloom. Details are subject to change.

Children of all ages are sure to love this exhibition of trains. There will be working model railways, delicate miniature bullet trains, and driving simulators. Add to that a host of games and the chance to win prizes at the lotteries and you’ve got yourself an unbeatable activity for the whole family.

The Genpachi-Bashi Bridge Apr 20 & 21 FREE

Every April a mixture of serious rowers, sun worshippers, and socialites gather on the banks of the River Okawa for two days of racing. • Access: JR Loop line Sakuranomiya stn • Tel: 06-64693865

Admission: ¥500 adults • www.hasedera.or.jp

Admission: ¥1,000 • www.tetsudokoshien.com

Infiorata Kobe 2013 インフィオラータこうべ2013 FREE Apr 27 & 28 at Sannomiya Higashi • May 3 & 4 at Kitano-Zaka

This annual event in Kobe, the world famous flower festival, Infiorata, will feature pavements in the city covered by a carpet of tulip petals.

Access: JR / Hanshin / Hankyu Railway Sannomiya stn; 5 min walk

Find more listings online at: www.kansaiscene.com/listings

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Festivals

Apr 12–14

Sanno Matsuri 山王祭 FREE

Hiyoshi-Taisha shrine, Shiga • Apr 12–14

Hashigojishi 伊勢の森神社梯子獅子 FREE

Isenomori-Jinja, Hyogo • Apr 7

Nestled in the heart of a mountain, the historic Isenomori shrine will be the setting for a whole day of fascinating ceremonies, including a thrilling tightrope performance. This spectacular performing art is part of a religious ceremony with a 300-year history. Wearing heavy headdresses, lion dancers will bravely perform on a tightrope crossing a 10m valley. Set against a backdrop of beautiful cherry blossoms, their acrobatics are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Time: Noon • Admission: free • Access: JR Kobe line Maiko stn bus to Tsuna Ichinomiya IC; 10 min taxi • Tel: 0799-72-4624

Experience a variety of Shinto rituals at one of the largest festivals in Shiga. This centuries-old religious festival, which runs for two days, has been designated a significant intangible folk cultural asset. Witness a “wedding ceremony of the gods” as a torch-led procession of two mikoshi miniature shrines is led down a steep hill. See the “birth of an infant god” as participants shake four mikoshi until they drop to the ground. The stunning parade of seven mikoshi reflected on the surface of Lake Biwa is a sight not to be missed. Time: all day • Admission: free • Access: Keihan Railway Sakamoto stn 5 min walk • Tel: 077-578-0009 • hiyoshitaisha.jp/ event/sannou

Festival Listings Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri, Shiga 長浜曳山まつり FREE Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine and surroundings • Apr 13–16

See one of the Three Great Float Festivals of Japan at an event with over 400 years of history. Described as “moving museums”, the elaborate floats are decorated with historic tapestries and intricate carvings. The festival’s highlight is the kabuki theatre performed on the floats. Admission: free • Access: JR Biwako line Nagahama stn; 5 min walk Tel: 0749-65-6521

Chinka Sai Festival, Kyoto 鎮花祭 FREE

Apr 18

Izumo Daijingu Shrine •

Witness this remarkable religious dance performed by local men in their gala attire, adorned with flowers. It is one of the highlights at the centuries-old Chinka Sai festival, held to prevent the outbreak of plague.

Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka stn; 5 min walk • Tel: 06-6771-0066

Kenpyo Sai Festival, Nara 献氷祭

Time: 10am • Admission: free • Access: JR Sagano line Kameoka stn bus to Izumojinja-mae • Tel: 0771-24-7799

FREE

Shoryoe, Osaka

Janjaka Odori

聖霊会舞楽大法要

Janjaka Odori Dance, Wakayama ジャンジャカ踊り

FREE

Shitennoji Temple • Apr 22

Appreciate some magnificent classical performing arts at this event, which commemorates the ancient great figure, Prince Syotoku. A variety of elegant dances will be performed by skilful actors in glittering attire. Time: 1pm • Admision: free • Access: Subway Tanimachi line

Time: 1pm–3pm • Admission: free • Access: JR Kinokuni line Dojoji stn; 7 min walk •Tel: 0738-22-2041

FREE

Dojoji Temple • Apr 27

Enjoy an exciting dance depicting a legend in which a girl, Kiyohime, turned into a serpent and ran after her beloved monk Anchin. Watch the 25m paper-mache snake running up stairs without stopping!

Himuro-jinja • May 1

See stunning artworks of ice displayed at a religious festival that dates back to the year 710. The “Ice Dedication” festival, which brings together ice manufacturers and retailers from around Japan, sees sculptures of fish and flowers frozen in pillars of ice being offered to the gods of Himuro shrine. Later in the afternoon, the gods are entertained with a performance of classical arts known as bugaku. Time: 11am • Admission: free • Access: Kintetsu Railway Nara stn; 10 min walk • Tel: 0742-23-7297

Photo provided by Biwako Visitors Bureau

Apr 7

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Art

Until Apr 20

Setouchi Triennale 2013

Pick

Seto Inland Sea

For an event that combines art with breathtaking scenery, look no further than the Setouchi Triennale - a contemporary art festival held on multiple islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Works from over 175 artists will be installed in stunning locations across twelve Inland Sea islands, including Naoshima, plus the port areas of Uno (Okayama Prefecture) and Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture). Renowned for its collection of contemporary museums and installations, Naoshima is a must-visit destination for art lovers. Passports provide admission to all works included in the festival, plus free or discounted admission to other related art facilities. The second and third installments of the Triennale will be held in summer and fall. Mar 20–Apr 21/Jul 20–Sep 1/Oct 5–Nov 4 • Sculpture, installation, environment, architecture, performance Open: Hours vary depending on site Admission: ¥3,500 adv./¥4,500 same-day for passport, additional fees for some sites/events Access: Ferries depart from Uno or Takamatsu for the various islands. http://setouchi-artfest.jp/en/

Above: Stratums, Tanya Preminger Below: ANGER from the Bottom, Beat Takeshi × Kenji Yanobe

Art Listings Kyoto

Osaka

Hanayo: Berlin

Rie Nakano: Kocho no yume (Butterfly’s Dream)

FREE Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto Until Apr 20 • Analog photography

FREE Port Gallery T Apr 8–Apr 20 • Sculpture

Open: 11am–7pm; closed Sun, Mon and national holidays

Open: 12–7pm, until 5pm on Sat; closed Sun and national holidays

www.takaishiigallery.com/en

Van Gogh in Paris: New Perspectives Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art Apr 2–May 19 • 19th-century European painting

Open: 9am–5pm; closed Mon (open when Mon is a national holiday) • Admission: ¥1,400, ¥1,000 university and high school students, ¥500 junior high and elementary school students www.city.kyoto.jp/bunshi/kmma

Yamamoto Kinoko Theater

Groovisions @ ddd gallery

ddd gallery 191st exhibition: [dddg] groovisions ddd gallery Mar 12–Apr 26 • Graphic design FREE

Open: 11am–9pm, until 6pm on Sat; closed Sun, Mon and national holidays www.dnp.co.jp/gallery/ddd

Search Project Vol. 2: Yamamoto Kinoko Theater FREE Art Area B1 Mar 29–late June • Fashion, design, contemporary art, video, dance

Open: 12–7pm; closed Mon (when Mon is a national holiday, open Mon and closed Tue) www.artarea-b1.jp

www.portgalleryt.com

Festart Osaka 2013 FREE 20 galleries in the Kitasenba / Nishitenma area (guide map available) • April 8–20 • Various media

Access: Higobashi, Yodoyabashi, Kitahama, Naniwabashi, Oebashi and other nearby stations • Open: hours vary www.festart.net

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Until Jun 30

Apr 2–25

Yokoo Tadanori The Word in Art: As is Painting so is Writing, as is Writing so is Painting Canon New Cosmos of Photography 2013 FREE

Osaka • Artcourt Gallery

Camera manufacturer Canon sponsors an annual open-call photography competition, Canon shashin shinseiki (New Cosmos of Photography) that aims to discover and cultivate talented emerging photographers. Prizewinning entries from the 2012 contest will be on view at Osaka’s Artcourt Gallery, a spacious contemporary art gallery located in the OAP facility along the Ohkawa River.

Kobe • Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art

Born 1936 in Nishiwaki, Hyogo Prefecture, internationally acclaimed artist Yokoo Tadanori is one of Kansai’s most original and prolific talents. His psychedelic, sometimes disturbing and often hilarious graphic designs won fame before he switched his focus from commercial work to painting in 1981. The Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art, opened in Kobe in November 2012, owns about 3,000 works donated by the artist. The museum is now presenting the second phase of their inaugural exhibition, focusing on Yokoo’s cryptic and humorous use of words in his paintings.

Apr 2–Apr 25 • Photography Open: 11am–7pm, until 5pm on Sat; closed Sun

Mar 2–Jun 30 • Painting

Admission: Free

Open: 10am–6pm, until 8pm Fri and Sat; closed Mon (when Mon

Access: JR Sakuranomiya, JR Osakatenmangu or subway

is a national holiday, open Mon and closed Tue)

Minamimorimachi stn

Admission: ¥800 • Hankyu Ojikoen, JR Nada or Hanshin Iwaya stn

www.artcourtgallery.com

www.ytmoca.jp/english

Open: 11am–7pm • Access: subway Tanimachi 6-chome Stn http://kairo.raindrop.jp

Hyogo

Kim Dunstan: AMASAN - Japanese Diving Girls Open: 12–7pm; closed Sun and Mon www.soho-art-gallery.com

Noriko Nakagawa: Sumika (Dwelling) Kairo Gallery and Sukima Studio • Mar 29–Apr 3 • Paper sculpture, ceramic works FREE

www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp

The “Blue” that Captivated the World: Ukiyo-e Exhibition

Kim Dunstan

FREE SoHo Art Gallery Apr 9–Apr 14 • Etchings

Open: 10am–6pm, until 8pm Fri and Sat; closed Mon (when Mon is a national holiday, open Mon and closed Tue) • Admission: varies depending on exhibition

Ashiya City Museum of Art And History • Mar 20–May 6 • Ukiyo-e prints Mecha design @ Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art

Okawara Kunio: Legend of Mecha Design Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art Mar 23–May 19 • Anime-related design

Shiga Ancient Glass: Feast of Color Miho Museum Mar 15–Jun 9 • Ancient glass works

Open: 10am–5pm; closed Mon (when Mon is a national holiday, open Mon and closed Tue) • Admission: ¥1,000 www.miho.or.jp

Open: 10am–5pm; closed Mon (when Mon is a national holiday, open Mon and closed Tue) • Admission: ¥300 http://ashiya-museum.jp

Find gallery access details and more listings online at: www.kansaiscene.com/listings

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Club

Apr 29

Mai Asia Music Festival Dance Music • April 29 (Mon/National Holiday) • Maishima Sports Island • Acts: Denki Groove, Laurent Garnier, Nina Kraviz, Kireek, A-1 aka Spin Master, Ami Suzuki, Hiloco, Mukai, Shu, Toyo + much more • Open: 10am–8pm • Admission: ¥4,000 (ADV: ¥3,500) • Where: Maishima • http://my-fes.com

Nagisa Osaka, which started in April 2007 and became one of the most popular outdoor dance music festivals in Kansai, will change its name to Mai Asia Music Festival to evolve into a more international festival. Though it’s a “new” festival, the headliners are sweet: a pioneer of Japanese techno music Denki Groove, French house maestro Laurent Garnier and a new techno diva from Moscow, Nina Kraviz. The most unique thing about this festival is that you can see numbers of relatively unknown yet talented DJs from Manila, Korea and Malaysia as well! Be sure to check out the festival’s official website for full line-up details. If you are going in a group of five or more, you might want to consider getting the group tickets (advanced tickets only via e-plus) to save some money. Come and enjoy the great dance music under the sun. Top: Laurent Garnier. Bottom: Denki Groove

Club Listings April

6 (Sat)

2 (Fri)

Circus

Azure Heartbeat (Hip-hop) • DJs: Lead, B-Ball + more • Admission: Gentlemen : ¥2,500/1D, Ladies & Foreigners : ¥Free • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6212-0226 www.club-azure.net

Union Nu Deep (House) • DJs: Stock, K-katsu • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥1,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 www.club-union.jp

Universe A Taste of Sonar Osaka (Bass Music) • Acts: Nicolas Jaar, Adrian Sherwood & Pinch, Actress, Jealousguy, seiho + more • Open: 6pm–12am • Admission: ¥5,000 (Advance) • Where: Namba http://cavaret-universe.com

“The People in Fog” Release Tour Osaka (Techno) • DJs: The People In Fog aka Sodeyama, Ryo Murakami, Fumi, Sekitova • Open: 7pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 http://circus-osaka.com

www.onzi-eme.com

Wold-Kyoto

¥3,000 (ADV: ¥2,500) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 www.onzi-eme.com

Source to Soul Dexpistols!! (Electro) • DJs: Dexpistols, North Wave • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: Gentlemen: ¥2,500/1D, Ladies: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075-212-4119

Nanko Sankaku Park

7 (Sun)

12 (Fri)

Circus

Azure

Steppers Dub Addict (Dub) • DJs: Kanayama, Regal-Iwah, R.F.R Sound, Roots Far I • Open: 8pm • Admission: ¥1,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822

Osaka Safari (Hip-hop) • DJs: George, Shimotaku, Malu, B-Ball, Bullset, Macko • Admission: Gentlemen : ¥2,500/1D, Ladies & Foreigners • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6212-0226

www.world-kyoto.com

Deepluse (Techno/House) • DJs: Kihira Naoki, Lobo, Hide, Yuki, Aluca • Admission: ¥Free! • Where: Nanko www.deepulse.com

Joule Yoji Anthems Request Countdown (Techdance) • DJs: Yoji, M.Minami, Motoshi + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: Gentlemen: ¥3,000/1D, Ladies: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 http://club-joule.jp

Onzieme Hyper Society x block.Party (House/ Electro) • DJs: Tomoyuki Tanaka, Taku Takahashi, Taku-Hero + more • Open: 8pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥1,500) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089

http://circus-osaka.com

Onzieme Boys Noise Japan Tour (House/ Electro) • DJs: Boys Noize, Monashee, Idiot deux, sou + more • Open: 9pm • Admission:

www.club-azure.net

Circus Tightrope Dancing (House) • DJs: Ageishi, Tetsuo • Open: 8pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

http://circus-osaka.com

Joule Ministry of Sound feat. Reset! (Electro/House/Breaks) • Acts: Reset!, Jaxx Da Fishworks, KoMatsuhima, Hisanori H + more • Open: 8pm • Admission: ¥2,500 (Before 9pm: ¥1,500) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 http://club-joule.jp

Wold-Kyoto Co-Mademoiselle Yullia (Electro) • DJs: Mademoiselle Yulia, Tem + more • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: Gentlemen: ¥2,500/1D, Ladies: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075-212-4119 www.world-kyoto.com

13 (Sat) Circus Shei Shei Night (Dance Music) • DJs: Fu-Tsuka, Shinya Yoshida, Uelta + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥1,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 http://circus-osaka.com

Grand Cafe Daishi Dance presents Midnight! (House) • DJ: Daishi Dance • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (Before 9pm: ¥1,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6213-0031 www.grandcafeosaka.com

14 (Sun) Circus Agile (Techno) • DJ: Monashee - Open to Last • Open: 7pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 http://circus-osaka.com

19 (Fri) Circus Phaze (Techno/House) • DJs: Iori Wakasa, Satoshi Fumi, Miki Shinichi, Sekitova • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822

20 (Sat) Circus Outdraw (Techno) • DJ: Masanori Mikami & Synya - Open to Last • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 http://circus-osaka.com

Onzieme Midnight Request feat. Sinden (House/Electro) • DJs: Sinden, Juse, Freak Menu, Idiot deux + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D• Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 www.onzi-eme.com

Troopcafe Summit (Techno) • DJs: Akiko Kiyama + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (WF: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Sannomiya • Tel: 078-321-3130 http://troopcafe.tumblr.com

Wold-Kyoto Motivation (House/Techno) • DJs: Towa Tei, Y.Sunahara • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: Gentlemen: ¥3,000/1D, Ladies: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075-212-4119 www.world-kyoto.com

21 (Sun) Circus Vitalic “Rave Age” Release Tour (Techno/Electro) • DJs: Vitalic + more • Open: 7pm • Admission: ¥4,300 (ADV: ¥3,800) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 http://circus-osaka.com

G2 Indigo Tribe feat. Space Tribe (Trance/Techno) • Acts: Space Tribe, Kei Fujishiro, Fullmoon Mondo, Sai, Atesh + more • Open: 5pm–12am • Admission: ¥4,000/1D (ADV: ¥3,000/1D + Original T-shirt) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6244-3177 http://g2-osaka.net

27 (Sat)

http://circus-osaka.com

Joule Torque (Techno) • DJs: Ben Klock, Masa Ueda, Shine, Emijah + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (WF: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 http://club-joule.jp

Circus Mike Dred Japan Tour (Techno) • DJs: Mike Dred, Altz, saki, Brankey • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-62413822 http://circus-osaka.com

Wold-Kyoto Fealess x Co- (House/Electro) • DJs: Shinichi Osawa, Masatoshi Uemura,

Golden, Tem • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Kyoto • Tel: 075-212-4119 www.world-kyoto.com

30 (Tue) Grand Cafe Legend (House) • DJ: Sugiurumn - 5 Hour Long set • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥1,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6213-0031 www.grandcafeosaka.com

May 2 (Thu) Bar One, Shinsaibashi International Party Rockers present Party Hard (All-genre). DJ: Special guests DJ Mahli (Hollywood) and DJ E-Smoove (New York) • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ladies ¥2,000/2D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6212-5867 www.bar-one.jp

Find more listings online at: www.kansaiscene.com/listings

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Live Music KS

May 1

Pick

Happy Mondays The ‘Manchester Sound’ (sometimes known as the ‘Madchester Sound’) is back as the Happy Mondays reform yet again. First coming together in 1980 and lead by the colourful and occasionally incoherent Shaun Ryder, the band was discovered by Manchester music impresario Tony Wilson. Back in 1990 at the height of their fame, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney said of them: “They reminded me of the Beatles in their Strawberry Fields phase.” And of course Happy Mondays wouldn’t be complete without non-stop dancer Bez! The old line-up is back together. Last year saw a sell-out UK tour and there is talk of a new studio album; all is Happy with the Mondays! Leading ‘Manchester Sound’ Reunion • Namba Hatch, Osaka • May 1 • Indie Rock • 7pm • ¥7,000 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Live Music Listings April/May Rock & Pop

Vocal group • 6:30pm • ¥9,500 • Tel: 06-6357-4400

Arrested Development Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka April 17

R&B/Hip-hop • 6:30pm/9:30pm • ¥6,900/¥8,400 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Toshinori Yonekura Namba Hatch, Osaka April 19-20

R&B/Pop • 19th-7pm/20th-6pm • ¥7,350 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Rize/Zazen Boys Club Quattro, Osaka April 19

Pop-rock • 7pm • ¥4,200 • Tel: 066311-8111

Jun Skywalker Zepp, Osaka April 19

Pop-rock • 7pm • ¥5,500 • Tel: 067732-8888

Loudness Zepp, Osaka April 20

Rock • 6pm • ¥6,800 • Tel: 06-77328888

Koda Kumi

Orix Theatre, Osaka April 29-30

Osaka Jo Hall, Osaka May 9-10

Happy Mondays

Whitesnake

Namba Hatch, Osaka May 1

Orix Theatre, Osaka May 10

Jazz-pop • 7pm • ¥6,800 • Tel: 066586-0106

Exile Kyocera Dome, Osaka Apr 16-17

Juju

Obituary

Indie Rock • 7pm • ¥7,000 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Pop • 7pm • ¥7,800 • Tel: 06-63413525

Rock • 7pm • ¥9,000 • Tel: 06-65860106

Club Quattro, Osaka April 21

Flow

Oldcodex

Rock • 6pm • ¥4,800/¥5,300 • Tel: 06-6341-3525

Big Cat, Osaka May 11

Metal • 6:45pm • ¥7,000 • Tel: 066535-5569

Muse, Kyoto April 21

Rock • 5:30pm • ¥5,500 • Tel: 075223-0389

Maon Kurosaki Muse, Osaka April 21

Pop • 6pm • ¥4,800/¥5,300 • Tel: 06-6245-5389

Misia Orix Theatre, Osaka April 23-24

Pop • 7pm • ¥7,500 • Tel: 06-65860106

G-Dragon Kyocera Dome, Osaka April 27-29

K-Pop • 27th-5pm/28th&29th-3pm • ¥9,500 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Marc Ribots Ceramic Dog

Marc Ribots Ceramic Dog Club Quattro, Osaka May 3

Experimental guitar • 7pm • ¥6,500/¥7,500 • Tel: 06-6311-8111

Television Muse, Osaka May 8

Rock • 7pm • ¥7,200 • Tel: 06-62455389

Angelo Big Cat, Osaka May 9

Visual kei rock • 7pm • ¥5,800/¥6,300 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Robben Ford

Robben Ford Club Quattro, Osaka May 15

Guitar • 7:30pm • ¥6,000 • Tel: 066535-5569

Mika Namba Hatch, Osaka May 15

Singer songwriter • 7pm • ¥7,000 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

May 15

May 10

May 8

Mika

Whitesnake

Television

Born Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. in Beirut, musician Mika, now a London resident, is on the road touting his third studio album release, the 2012 The Origin of Love. Debuting in 2007 with Life in Cartoon Motion and already with awards under his belt, Mika’s music is difficult to dislike; it’s simple, easy on the ear, and foot-tappingly catchy. Aside from his own work he has been writing for other artists and comes to Japan on the back of a successful North American tour with a core trio of himself on piano backed by bass and keyboards. As for the future, in Mika’s own words: “All in all, 2013 looks like it’s going to be pretty cool.”

Believe it or not, this year marks the 35th anniversary since the demise of Deep Purple in the ‘70s that gave birth to the ‘snake’. Back in 1978 when the first Whitesnake album, Trouble, was released, the line-up consisted of David Coverdale on vocals, the late Jon Lord on the ivories, guitarists Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden plus bassist Neil Murray and stickman Dave Dowle. The current six-piece includes stalwart percussionist Tommy Aldridge plus US guitarists Rob Beach and Doug Aldrich. Over those 35 years, Coverdale and various entourages have released eleven studio albums, most recently the 2011 Forevermore. By now everyone knows what to expect from a live Whitesnake performance and still after all these years Coverdale and co. never disappoint.

As part of the ‘70s New York rock scene, the hugely influential band Television shared a genre with the likes of Patti Smith Group, The Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads. But the group’s poetical lyrics, minimal studio techniques, and great musicianship set them apart from some of their contemporaries. Television played their first gig in March 1974 and it wasn’t long before there were booked into regular shows at the famous CBGB club. Their debut album unfortunately sank in the US, but sold very well in Europe, and so a cult following was born. In 2003 the album in question, Marquee Music, was actually ranked 128 on Rolling Stones yearly 500 greatest albums of all time. The current line-up consists of Tom Verlaine, Billy Ficca, Fred Smith and Jimmy Rip.

Pomp Classic Rock Anniversary • Orix

New York Rock Scene Reformation

Theatre, Osaka • May 10 • Rock • 7pm •

Muse, Osaka • May 8 • Rock • 7pm •

¥9,000 • Tel: 06-6586-0106

¥7,200 • Tel: 06-6245-5389

Young British singer-songwriter Namba Hatch, Osaka • May 15 • Singer songwriter • 7pm • ¥7,000 • Tel: 06-65355569

Ayumi Hamasaki

Naoh

Osaka Jo Hall, Osaka May 15-16

Mister Kelly’s, Osaka April 21

Pop • 6:30pm • ¥8,500 • Tel: 067732-8888

Folk • 7pm • ¥6,000 • Tel: 075-3511321

Sax funk • 5pm/6.30pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • Tel: 06-6342-5821

Jazz & Blues Sinne Eeg

Sinne Eeg Mister Kellys, Osaka May 15 Jon Cleary Trio

Jon Cleary Trio George Clinton

George Clinton Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka April 16

Funk • 6:30pm/9:30pm • ¥14,500/¥16,000 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Club Quattro, Osaka May 14

Funk piano • 7pm • ¥5,000/¥5,500 • Tel: 06-6311-8111

Jazz • 7:30pm/9:30pm • ¥5,250/¥7,500 • Tel: 06-6342-5821

Folk & World

Lecca

Lecca Varit, Kobe April 23

Reggae • 7pm • ¥5,000 • Tel: 078392-6655

Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur Taku Taku, Kyoto April 16

Find more listings online at: www.kansaiscene.com/listings

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Kansai Business Finder Wining & Dining Absinthe Mediterranean Restaurant Cafe/Bar

Nishi-ku, Kita-horie 1-2-27 South Yotsubashi Bldg. 1F Osaka Tel: 06-6534-6635 Url: www.absinthe-jp.com

Asbinthe Solaar Roof Top Restaurant Cafe Bar & Beer Garden

Chuo-ku, Namba 5-1-18 Namba Dining Maison 8F Osaka Tel: 06-6633-1445 Url: www.absinthe-jp.com/absinthesolaar

Himalaya Indian Restaurant

Kita-ku, Umeda 1-2, Osaka Ekimae, Dai-2 Bldg. B1 Osaka Tel: 06-6545-6116 Url: www.meera.jp/en/himalaya

Meera Indian Restaurant

Chinese Cafe Eight

Osaka YWCA

TNT-PC

Chinese Cuisine

Global Network of Women

English PC Support

Chuo-ku, Soemon-cho 7-2 Luz Shinsaibashi 5F Osaka Tel: 06-6125-5338 Url: www.chinesecafe8.com

Kita-ku, Kamiyama-cho 11-12 Osaka Tel: 06-6361-0838 Url: www.osaka.ywca.or.jp

Nishinomiya-shi, Maruhashi-cho 6-8-1F Nishinomiya Tel: 0798-65-7555 Url: www.tnt-pc.com

Dublin Bay

Arthur Murray Dance School

Miyabi Int’l Gyoseishoshi Law Firm

Dance Studio

VISA Lawyers in Osaka

Chuo-ku, Minami-senba 3-5-28 Osaka Tel: 06-6245-1731 Url: www.arthurmurray.co.jp

Kita-ku, Nishitenma 1-8-9 Viequ tower #2406 Osaka Tel: 06-4981-7439

Irish Pub

Chuo-ku, Dotonbori 2-1-5-B1 Osaka Tel: 06-6213-1122 Url: www.irishpub-dublinbay.com

Zerro The Place to be...

Chuo-ku, Shinsaibashi-suji 2-3-2, Queen’s Court Bldg 1F Osaka Tel: 06-6211-0439

The Blarney Stone Shinsaibashi The Irish Pub in the Heart of Osaka

Chuo-ku, Higashi-Shinsaibashi 2-527 Kohda Bldg B1F Osaka Tel: 06-6484-2220 Url: www.the-blarney-stone.com

Kita-ku, Umeda 1-3-1, Osaka Ekimae, Dai-1 Bldg. B2 Osaka Tel: 06-6348-0134 Url: www.meera.jp/en/

The Blarney Stone Umeda

Outback Steakhouse

Kita-ku, Sonezaki 2-10-15 Sonezaki Center Bldg. 6F Osaka Tel: 06-6364-2001 Url: www.the-blarney-stone.com

Australian Themed Steakhouse

Kita-ku, Umeda 2-1-24 Shinsakurabashi Bldg. 1F Osaka Tel: 06-6457-7121 Url: www.outbacksteakhouse.co.jp

Murphy’s Irish Pub First Irish Pub in Japan

Chuo-ku, Higashi-shinsaibashi 1-631 Lead plaza 6F Osaka Tel: 06-6282-0677 Url: www.murphysosaka.com

Fubar Restaurant and Bar

Chuo-ku, Shinsaibashi-suji 1-5-22F Osaka Tel: 06-6245-3757 Url: www.fubarosaka.com

Captain Kangaroo Food, Sports & Rock ‘n’ Roll

Kita-ku, Sonezaki-shinchi 1-5-20 Okawa Bldg. 1F Osaka Tel: 06-6346-0367 Url: www.roo-bar.jp

Chedi Luang Horie Traditional Thai food

Nishi-ku, Kita-horie 1-7-11 Osaka Tel: 06-6535-1515 Url: www.chedi.jp

> for maps see kansaiscene.com/business-finder

The Irish Pub in the Heart of Osaka

Coolabah Sports Cafe

Chuo-ku, Nishi-shinsaibashi 2-1613, Housen Bldg. 1F Osaka Tel: 06-6213-5153 Url: www.coolabah.jp

Ali’s Kitchen Pakistani & Arabic Cuisine

Chuo-ku, Shinsaibashi-suji 1-10-12B1 Osaka Tel: 06-6553-2292 Url: www.aliskitchen.jp

Trois Dix Macrobiotic & slow food restaurant

Nishi-ku, Kitahorie 1-22-4 Osaka Tel: 06-6648-8336 Url: http://locoplace.jp/t000094365/

Marga Language Service Japanese Language School

Chuo-ku, Onoe-dori 5-1-27-8F Kobe Tel: 078-271-6446 Url: www.marga.jp

Doshisha Business School Discover the Doshisha Global MBA

Doshisha University Karasuma-Imadegawa, Kamigyoku Kyoto Tel: 075-251-4600 Url: gmba.doshisha.ac.jp

Futaba Language School

Yuko Tamaki Accounting Office Accounting & Tax Services

Chuo-ku, Tanimachi 1-7-3-8F, Osaka Tel: 06-6809-1955 Url: www12.plala.or.jp/ytaccounting/ indexeng.html

International Solution Group Investments, Real Estate, Taxes US and Japanese

Chuo-ku, Tanimachi 1-3-17 suite 1001 Osaka Tel: 06-6949-0144 Email: kansai@isgjapan.com

Kyokushin Karate Osakacentral Branch Dojo

Japanese Classes in Shinsaibashi

Karate classes (Mon.20:00-,Thu.20:00-,Sat.19:00-)

Chuo-ku, Minamisenba 4-10-201101 Osaka Tel: 06-6244-2528 Url: www.futaba-japanese.com

Kita-Ku, Tenma 2-2-17 Nakano Bldg. 1F Osaka Tel: 090-4762-0016 Email: http://osakachuo.blogspot.jp

Osaka Abacus Association

Creamy Kids

Let’s learn Abacus!

Minatoku, Yunagi 2-13-7 Osaka Tel: 06-6572-6877 Url: https://sites.google.com/site/ osakasoroban/

Shops & Services Mojoprint Full Color Printing

Education

Nishi-ku, Shinmachi 3-5-7, Eiko Bldg. 2F Osaka Tel: 06-6539-1717 Url: www.mojoprint.jp

Kobe YWCA

Brastel Remit

Global Network of Women

Send money overseas

Chuo-ku, Ninomiya-cho 1-12-10 Kobe Tel: 078-231-6201 Url: www.kobe.ywca.or.jp

Sumida-ku, Yokoami 2-6-2 Tokyo Tel: 0120-983-891 / 03-6869-4851 Url: www.brastelremit.jp

International Modeling Agency

Kita-ku, Umeda 1-2-2 Osaka Ekimae, Dai-2 Bldg. 2F Osaka Tel: 06-6347-7705 Url: www.pre21.com/creamy

Pakmail Amagasaki We Ship Anything, Anywhere!

Tsugiya 2-2-28 Amagasaki Tel: 06-6492-8950 Url: www.pakmail-ama.com

Pakmail Esaka We Ship Anything, Anywhere!

Suita, Esaka-cho 1-23-17 Osaka Tel: 06-6330-8988 Url: www.pakmail-osaka.com

Sweatshop Union T-Shirt Print Shop

Naniwa-ku, Sakuragawa 4-5-19 Osaka

To list your business in the Kansai Scene Business Finder contact sales@kansaiscene.com for more details.

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Tel: 06-4394-8850 Url: www.sweatshop.jp/eng

Shinmei Law Office Business Lawyer

Kita-ku, Nishi-tenma 4-11-22, Hanshin-shinmei Bldg. 501 Osaka Tel: 06-6362-8013 Url: www.shinmei-law.com/e

Exeo International International Dating Parties

Kita-ku, Umeda 1-1-3-3F Sky Lounge Mariage Osaka Tel: 050-5810-3977 Url: www.exeo-international.com

ACCJ Kansai American Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Kita-ku, Dojima-hama 1-1-8, Dojima Park Bldg. 5F Osaka Tel: 06-6345-9880 Url: www.accj.or.jp

Travel

GS Travel

Oriental Process

Best Fares in Osaka

Apartments for Rent

Chuo-ku, Higashi-Shinsaibashi 1-13-21, Wadayoshi Bldg 302 Osaka Tel: 06-6281-1230 Url: www.gs-travel.com/en

Ikuno-ku, Tsuruhashi 1-1-36 Osaka Tel: 080-1422-4679 Url: www.orientalprocess.com

H.I.S. • No.1 Travel

Shared houses across Osaka

We go the extra mile for you

Kita-ku, Umeda 3-4-5, MainichiIntecio 15F Osaka Tel: 06-6133-0273 Url: www.no1.his-west.jp

Real Estate & Accommodation Takani Co. Ltd. Total Solution for House-hunting

Yodogawa-ku, Nishimiyahara 2-335 Osaka Tel: 06-6396-6770

Mayflower House Guesthouse

World Express Kobe’s Popular Travel Agency

Chuo-ku, Kotonoo-cho 5-3-5, Green Chapeau Bldg. 104 Kobe Tel: 078-222-5050 Url: www.wexp.co.jp

Chuo-ku, Izumi-machi 2-1-15 Osaka Tel: 0120-881-456 Url: www.osaka-mayflowerguesthouse.com/en

Entrance Japan Kita-ku, Shibata 1-14-8-9F Osaka Tel: 06-6136-3330 Url: www.entrance-japan.com

TOA Furnished / Non-Furnished lofts for rent

Nishiyodogawa-ku, Tsukuda 1-1-36 Osaka Tel: 06-6471-8136 Url: http://passage.sunnyday.jp

Chuo-ku, Higashi-Shinsaibashi 1-2-23-5F Osaka Tel: 06-6252-7630 Url: www6.ocn.ne.jp/~boy

Oriental Dental Clinic English Speaking Dentist

Chuo-ku, Nakayamate-dori 3-4-7, Oriental Medical Dental Bldg. 4F Osaka Tel: 078-321-2717 Url: www.oriental-shika.com

K Studio New York English Speaking Beauty Salon

Kita-ku, Toyosaki 5-2-22-2F Osaka Tel: 06-6371-9033 Url: www.ksny.jp

Interaction Hair

Health & Beauty

Stylish cuts to suit you and your lifestyle

Ishida Women’s Clinic

Nishi-ku, Minami-Horie 1-14-12201 Osaka Tel: 06-7501-7313 Url: www.in-hair.jp

Women’s Health Care in Osaka

Asashi-ku, Shinmori 2-1-26 Osaka Tel: 06-6951-9701 Url: www.ishida-clinic.jp/en

Hair Art & Make up BOY Hair and Make Up

Procyon Apartment Executive apartments for rent

Chuo-ku, Uchiawajimachi 1-1-6 Osaka Tel: 06-6942-5766 Url: www.palforest.com/residence

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

fkids.jp Start Date: April 1st, 2013 Time: 9:30-13:00 www.fkids.jp/

Classifieds

Place your ad online at: kansaiscene.com/classifieds

Employment > Education Seeking PT Native English Teacher Tue-Thu.

Native English Teacher Wanted English School in

Takatsuki & Ibaraki (near JR and Hankyu) requires full & part time experienced teachers for kids and adult. Group and private classes. Friendly atmosphere. ¥250000/mth or 2500/50min. Email: resume w/ photo to coconut-e@nifty.com www. coconut-english.com

Native English Teachers Looking for native English

language teachers to reshape a curriculum aimed at 3-6 and 6-9 year olds and deliver full time teaching at a school in the Okamoto area. BA degree, teaching qualifications & experience required. Good salary & benefits. Reply with resume to Tim at teapot. enquiry@gmail.com

Bilingual Teachers needed by a school in Oji, Nara. 18 minutes from Tennoji, Osaka. Applicants need to have a strong grammatical English background to explain English grammar to Japanese students. Please email your resume to miki@nara-nichibei.jp c/o Mr. Miki www.nara-nichibei.jp

Part-time Teachers Wanted Korea International

Needed Wednesday afternoons and evenings. Kids and adult conversation classes. 1500yen/ hr. Located next to JR Hanaten Station in Osaka. Email us with your CV and check out our website. friendseikaiwa@nifty.com http:// friendseikaiwa.sp.land.to/

Reliable, professional P/T Native English Teacher

Students-centred Language school requires a reliable, professional P/T Native English Teacher for senior citizens' classes in Okamoto, Kobe from April. Monday 13:00-15:30/2 ×70min. /3,500yen/per class+trans. More than 5 yrs. teaching experience is preferable. Send C/V to hello@gentimeless.com http:// globalenglishnetwork.seesaa.net/ Native English Teachers wanted An English cafe &

School in Kyobashi is seeking Native-English teachers for free conversation and lessons. Call us 06-6353-7878 or E-mail us: peraperaenglish85@gmail.com http://pure-english.jp/

Preschool staff members We are looking for teachers who

have lots of energy and can teach by playing with young children.Our school is in Takatsuki city,Osaka. PT positions available for native speakers.Please send us your resume with a recent photo. Email:info@

hotmail.co.jp Let's talk in English with customers!

P/T English teacher TKC

Looking for male bar staff. Age: 20~40 years old. Nightclub will offer English-only service. Basic Japanese ability & proper visa required. ¥800 per hour, 3days a week. Please call 06-6781-2116 / 080-6188-3645 Kikaku111@ hotmail.co.jp Let's talk in English with customers!

experienced English instructors for p/t and semi-f/t corporate classes and Intensives in Kobe, Osaka, Shiga, Kyoto from April/May 2013. P/t hourly rates 3,500-4,500 yen per hour. For further information, please forward resume with availability to mark@cesjapan.co.jp provides after school care for elementary school kids. We need energetic native English speakers who can give fun English time at Nishinomiya-kitaguchi in Hyogo. Mon-Fri 2:30-7:30pm ¥180,000/ month. Japanese skills preferred. Experience with kids & proper working visa required. 北山美佐 (Misa Kitayama): m-kitayama@ serio-corp.com

Japanese Bilingual Teachers needed Japanese

4:30-9:15pm(negotiable)¥2,400/hr Located 3min walk from Nakamozu St. (20min from Namba) on the Midosuji /Nankai Kouya line. Teaching experience for kids & adults preferred. Proper working visa and a university degree needed. Send CV and a photo at teddybear@ sakai.zaq.ne.jp Tokis Co., Ltd www. sakai.zaq.ne.jp/teddy/

School in Ibaraki City, Osaka seeking part-time EFL instructor for the school year beginning April. Approx 6 teaching hours a week. Commuting allowance. Bachelors degree required. Teaching experience preferred. Must enjoy working with teenagers. Send CV to kis2013osaka@gmail.com www. kis-korea.org/en/index.php

Kansai Corporate Classes CES is seeking professional,

Part Time English Teacher

TEACHERS WANTED School in Ashiya/Okamoto is looking

for FT/PT English and French teachers ASAP. University diploma is preferable. Must be native speaker with valid visa. Payment: 2700-3000yen per hour and transportation. Contact us by email. ashiyaplus@hotmail.co.jp

ENGLISH & PORTUGUESE Part

Time teachers in Umeda Seeking PT instructors for Portuguese and English. Applicants must be native speakers, univ. degree and with proper working visa. See our website www.euro-lingual. com. Send CV to abc@saboji.com, with photo and visa status and expiration specifications. ALT in Wakayama - Kinokawa

and Kainan cities needed ASAP. We're looking for ALTs for public schools in Kinokawa and Kainan cities in Wakayama from April. Candidates must be responsible, punctual with proper visa and basic Japanese skills. We offer 2,500JPY per lesson plus up to 1,000JPY transportation. Send your resume and/or call free 0120-895-988 today www.e-howdy.net/

Bilingual staff wanted for

share house & monthly apartment agency J-Stay [Share house agency in Kyoto] Bilingual friendly staff wanted, who has a driving license in Japan, can speak, read and write in JPN & ENG, can work at least 1 year or more, can communicate with JPN staff fluently. *950yen/hour, 5days/week *See more detail in our site, and send us your resume. yamaguchi@j-hoppers.com www.jstay.jp/recruite_jp.html

For Rent

Full color printing. From bar flyers and business cards to company brochures and logos — order your printing online today.

050-5805-6312 info@mojoprint.jp

Osakako Apartments Available from 55000yen/

month semi furnished 1R 55000 semi furnished. 2DK 75000 fully furnished. 2DK 85000 fully furnished. 2LDK 90000 unfurnished. 2LDK 110000 fully furnished. No Key money, No guarantors, No agency fees, 3month min. contracts. alex@ abhousingosaka.com 09037030314 www.abhousingosaka.com

3LDK apartment in Kitano,

> General Seeking Staff and Musician/Performers!

1) Opening Staff 1000~1200/ hr 2) Musician & Performer for entertainment 1500~2000/hr. Both at "World Beer & Wine Museum". 3-5days/wk, 5hrs/day shift between 11am-9pm w/breaks. Conversation level Eng/Jpn. Send resume w/ photo to w.b.m-osaka@worldliquor-importers.co.jp http://www. world-liquor-importers.co.jp/ Free Translation APP Is

the Japanese language barrier keeping you down? If so write Rsystem to join as a volunteer in our research based campaign. Skilled operators will assist you by Japanese translation live, face-to-face on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. You can access this service completely FREE! Contact us here: harada@rsystem. co.jp or visit www.teltell.jp PART-TIME: Nightclub Hostess スタッフ募集 Looking

for Female hostess staff. Nightclub will offer English-only service. Basic Japanese ability & proper visa required. Will provide transportation after shift ends. ¥1500/hr ~ please call 06-67812116 / 080-6188-3645 Kikaku111@

Kobe Newly renovated, spacious bright south facing apartment for rent. 2 months refundable deposit. Air conditioners in all rooms. New bathroom & Kitchen. 72 sq. meters with corner balcony with excellent views over Sanomiya. ¥100,000/ month Call 09067779864 or email kevin@elliottventures.com for a viewing. www.elliottventures.com/ Bentencho Apartments Available from 65000yen/

month fully furnished 1DK fully furnished ¥65000/mon. 2DK fully furnish ¥80000/mon. 2DK unfurnish ¥75000/mon. 2LDK unfurnish ¥90000/mon. 6min walk to Bentencho subway/JR Loopline station. All amenities close by. No Key money, No guarantors, No agency fees, 3month min. stay required. Alex 09037030314 alex@abhousingosaka.com www. abhousingosaka.com

Room/Flat Share Old flat house(Nagaya) 5mins to CHIBUNE station

Hanshin Line. 10 mins to UMEDA. 45 square meter, 3 rooms (tatami 6 jyou each) with kitchen, bath, toilet, 2 closets, front&back yard. You can share with friend.¥65,000 no agency fee sumiko.morimoto@gmail.com

Kansai Scene magazine APRIL 2013 kansaiscene.com

Courses and Classes Yamamoto Miki Handicraft School Make original items

-bags, pouches & sewing kits, using ribbons, beads, lace... How about children's start of school kits? Bring clothes to repair/renovate. ¥2000/2hr class. 10am-9pm M-F, 1-5pm Sat. Pls bk 090-8797-5725 miki-y.tg7@docomo.ne.jp Everyone is welcome!

Wing Chun Kobe 神戸詠春拳

Learn the Kung fu style that made Bruce Lee famous! Classes are held by an experienced Teacher and are hands on. Learn Pad work, Form, Hand and foot drills and Chi Sau (sticking hands). Wed, 7pm, Oji sports center, Kendo gym, Kobe, 5 mins walk From Oji Koen station. Beginners Welcome. Contact Michael: 09092558164 www. ojisports.jp/eng/index.html Japanese lesson in Osaka

Let's learn Japanese! Taught by a JEES certified native Japanese teacher. At coffee shop, anywhere convenient. Tuition fee is reasonable. Instructor can speak English. Email here: fu.nihon555@ gmail.com www.jpnlessonosaka.net

Events

6572-6877 https://sites.google.com/ site/osakasoroban/ African dance&drum performance: "AFRICA

UNITE vol.2" March 30(sat) @ Nakatsu Geijutsu Bunka Mura: AFRICA UNITE vol.2 African dance showcase & African music live performance. Open: 13:00 Start: 13:30. Adv: ¥2500(+1 drink) Door: ¥3000(+1 drink). Make your reservation here: http://africaunite. doorkeeper.jp/events/2765 or email: studiotribes@yahoo.com http://africaunite.doorkeeper.jp/ events/2765

Announcements International Church in Osaka Join us every Sunday at

10:30 for an international service in both Japanese and English. For directions or more info, visit site (ENG and JP). Near Nagahoribashi station. http://www.hopeosaka.com Looking for supporting guitarist Western pop/dance

music cover band is looking for guitarist to perform paid gigs at bars & events mainly on Fri/Sat nights in Kobe/Osaka. Band: sax/guitar/ bass/drums & 3 female vocals. Drop us a mail: soulkiss07@hotmail. co.jp www.reverbnation.com/ soulkissbandjapan Stall Holders Wanted for Uni Charity Festival May

2013 Handicraft,.Food. Live Music. N.P.O. activities etc May 3rd Fri & 4th Sat. 1 day is ok. At Umekoji Park. Kyoto. 50% of profits for charity. N.P.O groups keep all own profits. Apply by 10th April. www. facebook.com/uni.charity.festival International Potluck (Mochiyori) Party in Umeda!

We have a potluck party in Umeda every Friday and sometimes on Saturday at 7pm. The fee is 700yen and the location is near Hep Five. Please bring your own snacks and drinks and lets make new friends. dambadam@yahoo.com

Party Hard Osaka PARTY

HARD at Bar One (Sam & Dave 1) on May 2. 10PM to 5AM. Osaka's wildest party during Golden Week with special guest DJ Mahli from Hollywood. All Mix Music Bash. Free Champagne for ladies 10PM till midnight. For more info check out “Party Hard” at www.iflyer.tv or internationalpartyrockers.com FREE ABACUS CLASS for

FOREIGNERS FREE ABACUS CLASS for FOREIGNERS offered by O.C.C.I. and Osaka Abacus Assoc. to promote int'l goodwill. Individualized lessons taught in Japanese or English. Saturdays 10-12 am. Course material provided for free. Near Sakaisuji-Hommachi and Kitahama. Call: Moritomo Ken 06-

Bilingual Easter Worship Service and Party! Come to

Mustard Seed Christian Church near Utsubo Park for an Easter worship service and Party! Bilingual, music, food. Everyone is welcome, families too! 3 different times. See website for details. www. mustardseedosaka.com/easter.php

Looking for housesit this

summer? English/dutch family looking for sublet in kobe/kyoto area 2-3weeks from 18/7. We lived in japan for 7yrs before so know our way around. happy to pay yr rent plus utilities. Katinkavisscher@ gmail.com

Pets Be a hero to cats! Be a hero!

Save the life of a stray or abandoned pet here in Japan. Contact Japan Cat Network for more information media@japancatnet.com http:// japancatnet.com

Other Friday Night Futsal New

players needed for futsal every Friday evening in central Osaka. All levels welcome. Contact sundayfootyjapan@yahoo.co.uk shipping? Can anyone suggest how to ship possessions

to North America by renting part of a shipping container? I don't want to use the expensive commercial movers/shippers. Thanks, John. chile1@ktj.biglobe.ne.jp

Looking for housesit this

Stand out from the crowd with our new Classified display ads Call us today: 06-6539-1717

sometimes in Kobe area. Looking fo someone who will speak in Japan dambadam@yahoo.com J-English language exchange partner Japanese

man looking for a native English speaker who wants to learn and speak more Japanese in Osaka area!! please email me if you are keen on !! cheers. yasuyuki: japaneseladdie@ gmail.com

For Sale SAYONARA SALE IN ABENO-KU!

We are moving out of Japan on the 25th of April and we need to get rid of our stuff before our departure. For detailed info please visit our website http://byebyeosaka2013. blogspot.jp/ Sayonara Sale. Cheaper items free with purchase of larger

ones. Please visit my blog page for descriptions, photos and prices. http://tambasayonarasale.blogspot. jp/ Thanks Giveaway in Minoh Giving

away lots of stuff. Shoe rack, laundry basket, laundry rack, dishes rack, mixer, iron and board, vacuum, bookshelf, ski jacket, X-mas tree, hair dryer, scales, dustbin, books, curtains, scales. lynnneke@hotmail. com Luggage and Home Decor

Sale Have a black luggage set (one big suitcase, one carry on). Also a large duffel bag with wheels and stand-up handle. Other home decoration items as well. Must pick up from Tezukayama station. robin. ellam@gmail.com double-burner gas stove & grill – ¥3000 obo (pick up

Midoribashi) Some music stuff too. check link. http://osaka4sale2013. wordpress.com

cheap furniture for sale

Language Exchange English-speaking friends wanted in Osaka Our English

speaking group needs native English speaking friends to boost up our motivation to speak English ! Please drop me a line if interested, takashi nakagawa karintoprince@yahoo.com

recherhe une personne parlant francais je suis un

francais de 40 ans qui vit a osaka depuis 10 ans. je recherche un ou une amie francaise ou autre nationalitee parlant bien francais afin creer une nouvelle amitiee. hobies /cinema/photos/ rousselet bruno brelbru@yahoo.fr

English-Japanese in Kansai ! I'm an English teacher & hope

to meet a nice Japanese person for language exchange and friendship over a cup of coffee in Umeda or

Moving back to the US in the end of March. Selling all my furniture in my apartment. I'm selling a bed, chairs, tables, a fridge, a wash machine, toaster and much more. By interested email me. joseph. joestar.1978@gmail.com Child bunk bed Ikea Childs

BedKURA Turned upside down the bed quickly converts from a low to a high bed. From Ikea. Length: 199 cm Width: 100 cm Height: 116 cm Mattress length: 190 cm 7500 YEN. marymacallister@aol.com

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Umeda

Bank

Post Office

Entrance Japan

Cine Libre Umeda 3F

Theater Umeda

ARC 6F Umeda Sky Building

35F German Umeda 4F Consulate Garden Cinema Westin Hotel

Yodobashi Camera

JR Osaka Sta.

Mitsukoshi Isetan

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National Museum of Art

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Chinese Cafe Eight

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Fubar

Daimaru Dept. South

Cross Hotel

Shinsaibashi 3F

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Lapichu

Minamisenba

Uniqlo

Daimaru Dept.

Dotonbori

23 mm

OPA Big step

Yotsubashi

Naniw a-s

Nikko Hotel

1F Absinthe

Horie Park

MinamiHorie

Daimaru Dept. North

Midosuji

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Family Mart

El Pancho

Yotsubashi

Kitahorie Hospital

Movie Theatre

Nagahori tsurumi-ryokuchi line Nagahoribashi

Ali’s Kitchen

Temple

Crysta (underground shopping) Nagahori dori

Shinsaibashi

Chedi Luang

Shrine

Tokyu Hands

Arthur Murray

Nishiohashi

Church

Hotel

Mizuho Bank

Shinsaibashi-suji (shopping arcade)

Shinmachi

Kansai Scene Mojoprint Office

Bank

Post Office

Dotonbori

Sakaisuji

Shinsaibashi/Namba

Hanshin expressway(loop route) Namba walk (underground) Sennichimae line Nipponbashi bash Kintetsu nara line 5 Namba walk Nippon

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Starbucks

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Keihan Line

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Kyoto Royal BLDG.

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Fuyacho-dori

Tominokoji-dori

Yanaginobanba-dori

Kyoto Royal Hotel

Hankyu Line

Teramachi Area

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OPA

Daimaru

Kobe City Hall

Shiyakushomae

Jomo Gas

Kawara Machi

Kobe Kokusai Shochiku

Sannomiya Hanadokeimae st.

Hotel Okura

Kyoto City Hall

Tozai Subway Line

Asahi Bank

Flower road

Daimaru Dept.

Kainan lin

Kyoto

Sakaimachi-dori

2F Guild

Subway

Route 2 San Plaza Sannomiya Cine Marui Center Phoenix Center Plaza East Plaza West Junkudo

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Sansei Hosp.

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Hanakuma Park

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