Kansai Scene #164 January 2014 by Kansai Scene Magazine

KANSAI’S ENGLISH MAGAZINE

無料 issue 164 January 2014

www.kansaiscene.com

New Year, Fresh Start

the new year issue

Kansai’s natural growers, eating organic in Osaka, farm stays

Plus+

yoga-licious: body after baby Best horse riding classes

Listings: Where to go & what to do Kansai Scene is proudly published and printed by Mojoprint

Events / Art / Film / Live / Club / Maps & Classifieds

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Contents Features Features

Kansai organic farmers

p08

Yoga for mums

p10

Horse riding in Kansai

p16

Spirit Yoga, Osaka

p23

COVER ART: DAAS

St. Michael’s Int’l School, Kobe

p05

The Year of the Horse, as depicted by DAAS, a local mural artist with a passion for painting on walls. Find out more on p.37.

Travel

Farm stay in Nagano

p14

Food & drink

Organic dining in Osaka

p12

Felafel Garden, Kyoto

p20

Business Matters

Ramen school

p07

Listings Events p26 Film p24 Art

p30

Live Music

p32

Club

p36

Business Finder

p38

Classifieds p40 Maps p44

kansaiscene

@kansaiscene

Kansai Scene is published monthly by Mojoprint Publisher/Creative Director...............Daniel Lee Editor.............................................. Carla Avolio Sub-editor................................Donna Sheffield Production Manager..............Akiko Kuribayashi Accounts Manager......................... Michiko Lee

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

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

Contact Kansai Scene General mailbox@kansaiscene.com Editorial editor@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 kansaiscene.com 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 language articles, information and listings for visitors to and residents of the Kansai area.

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

News & Openings

Got some news? Email your suggestions to editor@kansaiscene.com

Meet the press Osaka, Kyoto — Current President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Lucy Birmingham, will speak on the state of the foreign media in Japan on Saturday, Jan 25 in Osaka and Kyoto. FCCJ is one of the world’s leading press clubs, having hosted thousands of political, business, and cultural leaders, human rights groups, NGO activists, and others over its 68 year history. The Club’s 2,000 members include 300 foreign and Japanese correspondents. Both events are open to the public but seating is limited so please register your attendance beforehand. For the Kyoto appearance, contact Eric Johnston erichartley1964@gmail.com. For the Osaka event, register at kansaiscene.com/businessmatters. • When: Saturday, Jan 25 • Osaka: 2pm–4pm, Knowledge Salon, Grand Front, Osaka. ¥1,500 with refreshments. • Kyoto: 6:30pm–8:30pm, Kyoto International House, Kyoto. FREE entry.

Create Osaka’s official mascot Osaka — The city of Osaka is calling for entries from around the world to design the official mascot characters Mio & Tsukushi who will serve in promoting Osaka to the world. Anyone and everyone, from artists to children to amateurs, is encouraged to submit their drawings or designs. The award winning characters will be inaugurated in March 2014 at the Osaka POP Festival, and will star in loads of official tourism campaigns. An initiative of the Osaka POP Executive Committee and the Osaka Government Tourism Bureau, the competition forms part of the inaugural International Cool Japan Awards, created in recognition of the millions of Nippon Pop Culture fans (anime, manga, cosplay, vocaloid, games, and more) across the world. Designs can be created using any medium but must be submitted as digital files through the website. Entry fee: Free • Submission deadline: until Jan 31, 2014 • Prize: ¥200,000

Art should be shared Osaka — Kameraoke is an annual photo exhibition held at

Pinebrooklyn Gallery. This year the organisers want you to submit 4 to 24 photos capturing a day in the life of Kansai. Don’t just browse your computer looking for yesterday’s best—grab your camera, hit the streets and take pictures now! Send high resolution photos (labeled with time of day) by Jan 19 to kameraoke2014@gmail.com. Everyone will have at least one photo exhibited at Pinebrooklyn on Sunday, Feb 23. Need inspiration? Join a Kansai Photo Walk on Jan 12 in Osaka. For more info, see kameraoke.com

• How to apply: osaka-pop.com/en

Five of the best... Hangover cures Each month, KS brings you five of the hottest tips

1 2 3 4 5

Connect with Kansai Scene… Catch up with KS on social media

Eggs: contain large amounts of cysteine, which breaks down the

hangover-causing toxin acetaldehyde.

Vegemite: replenishes the sodium that left your body as urine the night before. Coconut water or sports drinks also work. Fruit juice: replenishes the glucose that left your body as urine the night before. No Nomikata: a plum flavored morning-after drink filled with

the goodness of 600 shijimi (cockles) worth of amino acid.

Mukae Zake: good old hair of the dog

Facebook

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Twitter

@kansaiscene

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Saturday schooling for internationally-minded kids Kobe-based St. Michael’s International School is opening special Saturday classes for kids who need some extra time speaking English. Text: Kansai Scene • Images: St.Michael’s International School

Kansai Scene: St. Michael’s Interna-

tional School has been around for a long time. Why have you decided to open a Saturday School for children at this point in time? Steven Moinester (English Language Section Coordinator): St. Michael’s International School was established in Kobe in 1946 and has been delivering a quality, primary education to the international community ever since. We are opening the Saturday School because of high demand for this kind of service. Internationally-minded families can struggle with finding the most appropriate education for their children in Japan. Many families determine that attending an international school full time is in the best interest of their children. They choose St. Michael’s for the quality curriculum, highly qualified and experienced staff, high standards of behavior and academic success as well as the caring, family atmosphere. Other families desperately want their children to maintain and further develop their English skills, but are concerned about maintaining their Japanese language as well as meeting the cost of a full time international program. For these families, we would like to offer an effective alternative. KS: What are you trying to achieve

with this alternative? SM: The Saturday School provides children with the opportunity to pro-

gressively develop advanced English skills at a reasonable cost, while also attending a Japanese elementary school during the week. The goal is for graduates to attain English ability sufficient for admission to an English languagebased junior high school. This may not be the desire of all families, but the aim is to have that option. We aspire to achieve this goal in an environment that is academically challenging, caring, and enjoyable. This is achieved through the coordinated efforts of a highly qualified and experienced teaching staff, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes English, music, information technology, art, P.E., and library. KS: Is the Saturday School available

to all children? SM: We accept applications for primary grades one through six according to the Japanese school year. This program is appropriate for internationally-minded families whose children currently possess, or have the potential to achieve, advanced English skills. Typically, this would include children with at least one native English-speaking parent, children who have attended international preschools, and returnees who have spent a significant time living in an English-speaking country. For grade one, there may be some flexibility in how we assess the child’s English level and potential to develop advanced skills, but for all other grades, the child

must be able to function at that grade with minimal assistance. KS: How can families apply or get

more information? SM: The best place to begin would be to look through our website at smisenglish.com and make a reservation for an Open House or a tour. Our next Open House will be Saturday, January 25.

St. Michael’s International School • Address: 650-0004 Kobe-shi, Chuo-ku, Nakayamate-dori 3-17-2 • Tel: 078-221-8028 • Website: smis-english.com • Email: els-office@smis-mail.org

Networking opportunities Seminars & presentations Connecting professionals in Kansai.

Parties & events

Presentation & networking event Co-sponsored by Knowledge Capital

The State of the Foreign Media in Japan A talk by FCCJ president Lucy Birmingham Jan 25, Sat, 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4pm (doors 1:30pm) @ Knowledge Salon, Grand Front North Bldg. 7F, Osaka Entry: ÂĽ1,500 w/drinks & pinchos More details and event registration:

kansaiscene.com/businessmatters facebook.com/groups/ksbusinessmatters

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Business Matters

Thank God for noodles. R-amen! We all love ramen, but what’s it like to set up shop in the industry? KS caught up with Hiroshi Miyashima, a true master of the art and owner of Osaka’s own specialist ramen school, to find out the dos and don’ts. Text and images: Sam Evans

Kansai Scene: Just how important is it to use the best ingredients in ramen? Hiroshi Miyashima: Extremely. The building blocks of ramen are the noodles themselves so it is imperative that you do them right first and foremost. It’s a matter of using quality flour but also researching about the flour and treating it appropriately. Using quality meat and vegetables for the broth will also prove influential when it comes to satisfying your customers and lining your pockets, so never give in to the temptation to be stingy! KS: What are the main obstacles when opening and maintaining a ramen shop? HM: Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, good ramen shops never become well known, but bad ramen shops become (in)famous very quickly. A common mistake among unsuccessful ramen chefs is that they concentrate too much on making ramen that they themselves like with the assumption that because they like it, so too will others. This is not necessarily the case in a country where there are so many different regional variations and preferences. Wherever you plan to open your ramen business, I can’t stress enough how important it is to get to know your customer base ahead of time through

market research. Another big problem, in Japan anyway, is that there are so many ramen shops. The market is saturated in salty broth!

same with ramen; customer service, ambience, even resorting to gimmicks, do anything and everything to make your place stand out.

KS: So with there being so many different types of ramen, which would you advise foreigners to make when opening a shop abroad? HM: I think tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen is the best bet for foreigners trying to make it abroad. In my experience, non-Japanese typically take to this type very quickly. My advice in this case, however, would be that if you’re trying to introduce ramen in your home country, education is key. Explain to your customers what ramen is, where it came from and what it’s about in order to garner curiosity.

KS: So what kind of person does it take to be successful in the ramen game? HM: Ramen is very rewarding but also very hard work, so one has to be industrious and passionate. Also you’ve got to be on the ball and constantly evolving to keep up with the ramen trends coming out of Tokyo.

KS: How can one make one’s ramen establishment stand out from the crowd? HM: It’s not about the bowl of ramen, it’s about the ramen restaurant as a whole. Making your food delicious is unfortunately only 10% of the battle. The other 90% comes from the place itself. I always liken it to AKB48... there are so many girls in that group that, for the most part, it’s difficult to tell one from another. However, the ones that you do remember are the ones that have special charm and something slightly different about them. It’s the

KS: Any other advice for foreigners thinking of starting up a ramen business? HM: As I said before, the food is only a small part of the battle so be smart. Invest in technology to cut down the time you spend cooking so you can concentrate more on making your restaurant stand out. Also, however tempting it may be, don’t eat ramen every day or you will notice it when you try to put on that pair of pants that fitted you last month! If you fancy learning more about making ramen, a one day crash course or a more intensive 2-3 week super ramen course can be booked at: www.ramenadventures.com/p/osakaramen-school.html

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Feature

Growing momentum With muddy boots and trowel in hand, KS visits five Kansai farmers making a difference with alternative practices. Text and images: Joan Bailey

Organic farming is a small portion of the agricultural industry in Kansai with fewer than 200 registered organic farmers out of nearly 240,000 according to a 2010 government survey. Even more niche is the emerging group who practice natural farming, which includes heirloom and open-pollinated varieties of non-GMO crops, no-tilling and no use of manures or compost. Despite the subtle differences, both groups of alternative farmers are meeting a growing need for food that is produced sustainably and that connects the community with their land. Here in no particular order, are some of Kansai’s best.

Kazuto Hamma

Erina Hamma

Hamma Farm in Nara Prefecture

Using natural farming methods, Kazuto and his younger sister Erina grow traditional Japanese crops like tea, rice, varieties of daizu (soybeans) and azuki beans, along with wheat and shiitake mushrooms. It was while studying agriculture at university that Kazuto discovered shizen nohou (natural farming). A visit to the home of Masanobu Fukuoka, the farmer-philosopher who first developed the practice, was unforgettable. “It was so green and alive,” he said. “There was such a good feeling there.” Natural farmers see their fields and agricultural practices as part of a whole system. As a result, they use no pesticides or fertilizers, including animal manure and compost. Twelve years ago when Kazuto started farming for himself, he put these techniques to work. “I work in harmony with the microorganisms in the soil that co-exist with me,” he says. Hamma Farm is located in the mountains near Haibara, a small village in Nara Prefecture in the mountains. Their produce can be found at the Nara Organic Farmers Market, natural grocery stores in Osaka and Kyoto, and the twice yearly Osaka Organic Farmers’ Market.

While Erina is certainly a farmer, she is also a baker. Making use of the ingredients grown on their natural farm, she creates scrumptious cakes and breads. Erina is worthy of note not only because her baked goods are mouth-wateringly delicious and ideal companions for the tea she and Kazuto grow on their farm, but because her passion for carefully grown, high quality ingredients ensures that each slice of roll cake, each little muffin, is the best it can be. She came to the farm five years ago after apprenticing at various bio-dynamic and organic restaurants around Japan and is now happily experimenting and crafting her own recipes (including vegan!) to create a unique set of flavors that represent not just her farm and Haibara, but local flavor at its best. Erina grows her ingredients and crafts her treats near Haibara. The Hamma Farm table at the Nara Organic Farmers Market is a good place to find them.

Left: Erina Hamma uses ingredients grown on her own farm in her baked goods like this yomugi (mugwort) and azuki bean roll cake

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Left: Kazuto Hamma at the Nara Organic Farmers Market

Kunihiro Kitamura

Zenryu Owatari and Ava Richardson

Kitamura Nouen in Nara Prefecture

Hello Organics Farm in Kyoto

Tomatoes, okra, eggplant, rice, and murasaki togarashi (purple Japanese pepper), a traditional Nara variety, fill Kitamura’s fields in summer, while daikon, cabbage, hakusai (Chinese cabbage), and a variety of greens carpet them in winter. Kitamura discovered the distinct flavors and textures of heirloom vegetables while living in France. Upon returning home to Japan, he decided to try growing his own. Ten years later, Kitamura still loves his job. “It’s hard work,” he says as we walk between fields, “but I like delicious food.” Ducks weed his rice in summer while goats and sheep graze fields in preparation for planting. They work the soil and help fertilize it, too. The farm, though, is more than just fields, crops, seeds and harvest. In an old rented farmhouse, he and his wife host regular events that bring people together to learn, laugh, and build community spirit. As a producer, Kitamura says working with people is just as important as working the land. “The relationship with my customers is pivotal.” Find him at the monthly Nara Organic Farmers’ Market or join his home delivery program.

Yasutaka Hosotani Hosotani Farms in Kizu, Nara Prefecture

Hosotani grows rice and a wide variety of vegetables throughout the year. It’s also not too far-fetched to say that he grows new farmers, too. Hosotani comes from a long line of farmers, but a first attempt at organic farming stumped him. “The bugs ate everything,” he said. But a visit to a nearby natural farm helped restore his confidence. “It felt very natural, very peaceful, and I thought, ‘Ok, I can do this’,” he recalls. From the look of his fields and the taste of his vegetables, it’s working very well. Tougan (winter melon) vines climb a trellis, heavy with fruit. Winter greens and daikon sprout in a living mulch of ‘weeds’ that provide erosion and temperature control, as well as a home for beneficial insects. Hosotani also opens up his farm as a classroom, helping students experiment with natural farming practices in small gardens. “By teaching I also grow,” he says. Hosotani wanders both the experimental fields of his students, as well as his own. Customers can also find him at the Nara Organic Farmers’ Market.

Zenryu and Ava grow Japanese and western vegetables using the Ontario Crop Producers and Processors organic regulations, which is a recognized standard in Japan. Ava and Zenryu believe good food starts with good soil. “Caring for your body means caring for the earth,” said Ava. Concerned about the safety of their produce and fields in Ibaraki after the March 2011 disaster, they decided to move. Aided by Sakanotochu’s program that matches landless farmers to farmerless land, they soon started growing salad greens, daikon, beets, garlic, kale, fresh herbs, and more than twenty varieties of heirloom tomatoes. “If there are holes in your komatsuna, it’s proof we’re organic,” says Ava. Tohoku, though, is always on their minds. Last year they sent $1,000 worth of produce to help survivors. “It’s a highlight of our work,” she says. Located in the mountains near Kyoto, Hello Organics can be found at Sakanotochu, an organic grocer and non-profit, in Kyoto. A weekly food box is available only from June to November. (Hard winters mean a limited growing season, but there is a waiting list.)

Where to find the farmers • Nara Organic Farmers’ Market in front of the JR Nara Sta. organic710.exblog.jp/14369916 • Osaka’s Organic Market sponsored by Mori no Tsudoi morinotsudoi.org • Gofushinokusa organic shop in Nara itufushi.exblog.jp • Sakanotochu organic shop and NPO in Kyoto on-the-slope.com/english • True Grace organic grocery in Kumatori, Osaka true-grace.sakura.ne.jp/blog

Above: Zenryu and Ava of Hello Organics Farm (photo courtesy of Ayako Hancock) Left: Kunihiro Kitamura

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Feature

Yoga for the broad with a babe How to stay fit, and not lose your mind as a mother in Kansai. Text: Helen Hayashi • Illustration: Nicole LaRue

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Pregnancy is a time when a woman reassesses her values on every level. At this time, many opt for a more holistic approach to taking care of yourself body, mind, heart and spirit. It can be a magical transformation. For many expatriate women in Japan, one of the first things they encounter is a stern lecture at their clinic about how they should only gain a ridiculously minuscule amount of weight. This causes of a lot of stress for women worldwide, especially now in the era of the media-hyped celebrity pregnancy. Check out FitPregnancy. com where amongst other tidbits of advice, you can get tips from a ballerina about prenatal workouts. I studied yoga and ballet for years, but I groaned at the cover photo of her doing a perfect arabesque while 9 months pregnant! Putting aside a woman’s general desire to be healthy while she creates new life, sometimes there can be physical complications hindering the ability to exercise. It’s vital to get the ‘ok’ from your doctor before undertaking any physical activity, and many teachers will not allow pregnant women to attend class without a doctor’s note. Once you do get that note though, hop to it! Exercise while pregnant is essential both for your physical and mental states, and farther down the road, your future health. A recent WSJ article, titled, “Bigger Postpartum Challenges Than Just Baby Weight”, delved deeper into the types of physical challenges that might creep up on a woman years after she’s given birth. Because many women are choosing to give birth later, spacing their children much closer together, and having twins more frequently (common for older

mothers and in vitro pregnancies), it’s vital to take care of those interior abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. Or, as my prenatal Pilates teacher Hitomi called them, the “elevator muscles”. After a woman gives birth, there are multiple issues—mental, physical (not to mention, oh, the baby to care for) that are compounded by the difficulty of finding time or energy to be active. It’s also very important to be

careful to wait to do anything physical, especially if you have had a C-section or a split diastasis recti. It takes four to eight weeks after giving birth for this gap to close. Please check with your doctor first! For more information, or to find an exercise buddy, visit Kansai Kids Network kansaikidsnetwork.com

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

The experts

A Pectoral and Thorasic Extension Stretch from Hitomi: This exercise can be done seated on a chair, cross-legged, on an exercise ball, or standing but not lying on the back. Prepare with hands on the back of your neck, looking down.

Yuki Ganapaty

Hitomi Matono

Ryan Hurst

• Inhale: lift your head and elbows toward ceiling,

I asked a panel of local experts to share their expertise about how they work with women during and after pregnancy. How can practicing yoga, Pilates or mindful movement help during pregnancy? Yoga teacher Yuki Ganapaty, Manhattan Yoga Studio: During the first

trimester, a pregnant woman’s body changes, primarily internally, and there is exhaustion and morning sickness. But when this finally passes, women can get back into doing light exercise for the remainder of their pregnancy. Practicing yoga is a very safe way to energize the body, and lighten the mental load. A major benefit of yoga is the emphasis on breathing exercises, which improve circulation of blood to organs such as the uterus. This helps deliver nutrients to your growing baby, not to mention the relaxation benefits that come with deeper breathing. Pilates teacher Hitomi Matono:

Pregnancy hormones loosen the joints, so it’s not time to work on flexibility nor intensify a workout. Pilates and yoga exercises help pregnant women strengthen their pelvic floor, which continues to weaken as baby and water weight increase, and helps stabilize loose joints in a gentle way. Trainer Ryan Hurst, Gold Medal Bodies: During pregnancy hormones

erupt, and practicing conscious movement through breathing, and mindful movements can help in both calming, and resetting some of those hormones. We were born to move, and continuing to focus on breath work, strength and stamina work through these movements during pregnancy, can help during childbirth and thereafter.

How can physical practice help after childbirth? Yuki: Strengthening your pelvic floor and staying active during pregnancy helps women heal faster after the birth. I’m living proof that this works. After having twins, my doctor was shocked to see that my uterus was back to normal in one week! A more physically healthy mom, means a much quicker postpartum recovery, better breastfeeding, and a quicker connection with baby. Hitomi: Since exercising produces

endorphins, physical practice keeps the baby blues at bay. Ryan: When you focus on creating a

good habit of moving your body in a mindful way when you’re pregnant, it will allow you have a bit more energy for when Junior comes along. It can be difficult after childbirth to try and return to a particular state of health and body composition. We all know that when your little bundle of joy comes into your world, things often aren’t so joyful. Breastfeedings at all times of the day and night, and endless crying (from both your baby, and husband) don’t allow for proper sleep and abundant energy. Believe it or not, mindful movement can help reduce stress during those first couple of months, which will have flow on benefits for baby.

• Exhale: open elbows to sides, • Inhale: close elbows, • Exhale: back to the starting position.

Yoga in Kansai KOBE • Studio Sundari: yoga-sundari.com • Super Kids Yoga: facebook.com/ yogavitakobe • LIVYOG: livyog.wordpress.com

KYOTO • Tamisa Yoga: tamisa-yoga.com

OSAKA • Manhattan Yoga Studio, Yuki Ganapaty: geocities.jp/micha_meu • Certified Stott Pilates Trained Instructor, Hitomi Matono - Custom Private Pilates Sessions. Email: peteynhitomi@gmail.com • Gold Medal Bodies & The Jungle Gym, Ryan Hurst - Physical therapist, worldwide yoga teacher trainer: realcreativehealth.com • Spirit Yoga Studio: spirityogastudio.com

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Food & drink

Turn over an organic leaf

Clean eating is about more than just counting calories or carbs. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also about considering how food has been grown. KS dishes up the latest on organic food and where to find the best eats in Osaka. Text & Images: Natalie Emmons

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Top & main: Le Coccole Right: Satoyama Cafe

It’s that time of year again: turkey stuffing and leftover Christmas cake get dumped in the trash and unconventional dieting trends promise a beach-worthy bod by early summer. Out with Santa and in with Jenny Craig. It’s like spring-cleaning for your stomach. Whether you select the vegetarian, Paleolithic, macrobiotic, or highly tricky raw food diet, you’ll soon be heading to your nearest market in search of produce to fill your recentlyemptied cabinets. Before you get carried away with the bean sprouts, edible algae, and tofurkey, it is important to remember that the majority of products in your neighborhood grocery store have been sprayed with harmful pesticides. Unless you buy organic products, everything—from the waxy apples stacked in uniform towers to the zesty sauces you drizzle over your bok choy—contains chemicals that may hamper your health as well as your new diet. The organic market in Japan has been on a slow, yet steady rise since the inception of JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standard) Organic in 2000. To qualify as JAS Organic, the soil needs to be chemical free for at least two years and the crops need to be grown and harvested without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. In other words, products labeled as “natural” or “green” are healthier than average, but may still contain traces

of harmful chemicals. However, if the product has the JAS Organic seal, then it has met all of the qualifications and is officially organic. Eating out can be tricky, but thanks to the growing popularity of clean eating, a number of organic restaurants are beginning to sprout. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an establishment that is 100 percent organic, especially in crowded city areas, but the majority of them use organic vegetables, rice, sauces, and detergent. Despite the development of the organic market in recent years, organic produce still only makes up 0.24 percent of the domestic agriculture in Japan. Going organic is costly and risky for farmers and for restaurant owners. If we want to continue to see the organic market succeed and expand, we have to support their efforts. By looking for the JAS Organic seal and dining where the quality of the ingredients matters, you nurture this budding market and you can bet your body will thank you.

Osaka’s top organic eats Le Coccole The owner of this charming hidden restaurant serves homemade macrobiotic and vegan creations using organic produce from her brother’s local farm. le-coccole.jp

Satoyama Cafe Located in a historic brick building, this cafe uses vegetables from Solviva Organic Farm and is a great place for lunch with friends. organicosaka.com/satoyama-cafe

Komeday Number 1 If you are looking for organic bento lunches or catering, this organic kitchen delivers to Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Nara, and Wakayama. komeday.com

Mill Pour In addition to offering organic and fair trade coffee, this coffee bar also serves the best lattes in Osaka. organicosaka.com/mill-pour For more information visit organicosaka.com For restaurants outside of Osaka visit happycow.net

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Travel

Bringing in the harvest Rice is the staple dish of Japanese cuisine, but how exactly does it get from the field to your bowl? KS gets down in the dirt to harvest rice in Nagano Prefecture. Text: Joan Bailey • Images: Kevin Cameron (One Life Japan)

The sound of running water permeates my dreams. I assume it is the rain Kevin predicted the night before, but when I slide open the shoji-covered window the ground is dry. The sound comes instead from the narrow canals lining the village roads. A never-ending stream of water pours down from the nearby mountains, tumbling to the river carving its way along the valley floor. The sky is overcast, but so far no rain. We can work today after all. I am so excited I practically jump out of my pajamas into my farm clothes. My husband and I arrived the evening before, traveling by shinkansen to Echigo-yazawa. There we boarded

a small local bus that carried us past ski resorts preparing for winter, up into mountains where leaves hinted at autumn color. We are headed to a tiny village where Kevin will add us and our luggage to the supplies he’s picked up. Then we’ll head to Sakae-mura, an even smaller village deeper in the mountains where we will help harvest his rice. Four years ago on our first trip with One Life Japan, the outdoor adventure company run by Kevin Cameron and Tomoe Kawafuchi, we helped rethatch a traditional farmhouse and prepared their rice fields for planting. We’d stayed in touch, following Kevin

and Tomoe’s rural adventures online. His fantastic photos and their delicious rice (available via the website) made this trip a mouth-watering prospect. Kevin and Tomoe started One Life Japan when they moved to Sakaemura six years ago from Tokyo. They wanted out of the city, to farm and live a more sustainable life. One Life is a way to share their discoveries and help visitors explore another side of Japan. Tours center around hiking, biking and farming with plenty of good food at every turn. Tomoe’s goal is to learn as much as she can about the traditional practices—from field to table—in the region. “There’s such a beautiful food

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

culture here,” she says while telling me about a new recipe. Based on the simple, seasonal food we eat it’s clear Tomoe is an excellent student. Her artisanal breads enjoy increasing popularity at local shops and the Nagano farmers market. The bread is a centerpiece of our breakfasts, its rice flour base and whole grains making it chewy and flavorful. We decline butter and jam, and eat it plain. It’s that good. After breakfast we head to the field where Kevin demonstrates how to use the small kuma (scythe) to cut the rice stalks. Two mothers and their sons arrived from Tokyo that morning, and we all watch Kevin crouch low among the yellowed stems heavy with grains. Each clump of plants is cut with a single motion, gathered into bundles and laid in pairs behind him, their bases crossed in preparation for tying. We work along on our knees or crouched next to the plants. Even though the tanbo (rice field) was drained weeks ago, the ground remains damp, leaving wet spots on our trousers. The leaves of the rice plants, gold and green, brush on sleeves and hats. Thick weeds along the aze (ridges between fields) lean in, making the harvest more difficult at times. Small frogs leap before us, one venturing up a sleeve resulting in a ruckus followed by gales of laughter. Our chatter gradually fades into birdsong and the rhythm of the harvest. At some point Tomoe

arrives with a thermos of tea and a pan of just-out-of-the-oven apple bread. We sit on the edge of the field eating and soaking up the country quiet. When the cutting finishes we learn to tie the paired bundles together and hang them. Three or four strands of last year’s wara (rice straw) get wrapped a few inches below the cut stems and then twisted together. “Make sure it wraps tightly in that first go-round before you begin twisting,” Kevin advises. “Otherwise, the bundle is too loose and will fall apart while it hangs.” Brows furrowed in concentration we carefully twist and maneuver the bundles in a field now covered with stubble and scattered pairs of rice plants. When the twisted wara curls in on itself, it is ready to be tucked under the band made by the first wrapping. The two bundles are splayed and hung on the rack, a multi-level structure of poles and cross-bars set up at the end of the field. They will stay here for about a week to dry. Dusty, dirty and already a little sore we head to the local onsen, a small affair in a simple one-story building. Local residents take advantage of the piping hot mineral water for their daily bath and as a place to chat and gossip. We emerge fresh and clean, and pile into the van for Keiko Sugihara’s 120-year-old farmhouse where we will spend the night. Snug against the mountains with a small stream just outside her door and surrounded by

her rice and vegetable fields, her home is a cozy resting spot. The smell of fresh cooked rice greets our group as we enter the first floor room. Tempuracoated seasonal vegetables, homemade pickles like zuicki (pickled tarot stem), mazegohan (cooked rice mixed with carrot, bamboo, and mushroom), miso soup, and an assortment of other little tidbits are arrayed before us. We feast and talk until our cups of tea are empty and the plate of fresh fruit - kaki (persimmon) and apples - is gone. One by one we drift off to bed, to dream of golden rice hanging in the sun and steaming in our bowls.

How to get out on the farm One Life Japan Roam the mountains and countryside of Nagano for extraordinary views, good food, and great fun. onelifejapan.com

Satoyama Experience Explore the rural areas of Gifu’s Hida region by bicycle or on foot for a taste of Japan’s beautiful countryside. satoyama-aexperience.com WWOOF Japan Connect with organic growers and producers all over Japan for an unforgettable hands-on experience. wwoofjapan.com

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Kids & family

Horsing Around It’s the year of the horse, so there’s no better time to hop in the saddle and discover Kansai on four legs. Now giddy-up! Text: Helen Marvell • Images: Omar Harran

Winston Churchill once said “There is nothing better for the inside of a human than the outside of a horse,” and I agree! From 11 years old, I started clocking up hours at the stables - mucking out, sweeping the yard and taking long rides in the woods. Sometimes I still crave the smell of manure and fresh woodchips, and the warmth of a furry neck, so I take a break from city life to interact with this intelligent, majestic creature. Luckily in Kansai there are quite a few horse riding options, and there’s something for everyone. Whether it’s a one-off lesson you’re looking for or a new weekly hobby, from beginner level to competition stage.

Here are some of the best places to horse-ride in Kansai:

Harmony Farm (Awaji-Shi) Awaji Island is a beautiful haven away from the bustling cities of Kobe and Osaka. The school here is for the more experienced rider as trekking is the most tempting highlight. You can choose from an array of breathtaking scenes for your trek, including flower fields, rolling hills, forests and the open ocean. There are also some exhilarating one-off adventures like a ‘sea swim’ or a ‘moonlit ride’, depending on the season. Prices start at around ¥4,200 for non-members for a 30-minute lesson on a weekday, but expect to pay upwards of ¥10,000 for the more adventurous rides. The school can also provide transport from the highway bus stop, so what’s stopping you? hf-awaji.com

La Grace Golf Club and Horse Riding Club (Wakayama) Stuck for ideas for your next big bash? Why not mix things up with a ridingthemed party? The club offers a BBQ and riding experience from around ¥3,500 per person. The focus here is definitely more on the party side of things, so horseaverse guests won’t be left in the cold. It’s a great option for children, who can be

lead around the arena in view, while the grown-ups relax with a cold beer and a burger looking out over the luscious scenery. It’s a little difficult to get to if you don’t have a car, but well worth the trip if you do! la-grace.jp

Crane Riding School (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hyogo and Shiga) A large, professional horse riding organisation with riding schools all over Kansai, Crane offers numerous options for both adults and children, as well as ‘couple’ and ‘first lesson’ deals. Lessons start from around ¥3,500 for 30 minutes, and gift certificates are also available for that perfect present. uma-crane.com

Ora Horse (Hanahakukinenkoen tsurumiryokuchi, Kyoto) This riding school is über childfriendly. Not only does it offer beginner courses for children, there’s also an interaction opportunity for smaller children aged 4 and above. The school has an indoor and an outdoor ménage, plus shower and changing room facilities for riders to use. Prices start at around ¥700 for the interactive experience. orahorse.jp

Top tip!

ff of instructor sta The majority k very little ea sp ols ho at these sc Japaending with a English, so att lp you get the he ll wi r ke ea nese sp ur horse riding most out of yo experience.

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Language

海外生活日記

Recipe for healthy living Every year around this time, we start making promises to ourselves that we’ll put in place some good habits: drink less, call home more, join the gym. Getting into a regular fitness regime is something we all know is important. In Japan, this is pretty easy to do given there is no shortage of gyms (ジム jimu) in which to workout ( トレーニングする toreiningu suru). You can run (走る hashiru), cycle (バイクで走る baiku de hashiru), do strength training (筋トレ kin tore), or take classes (クラスを受ける kurasu o ukeru), which run the gamut from yoga to pilates to aqua aerobics. Once you feel fit, it’s also easier to pay more attention to what you are eating. Besides cutting out junk food (ジャンクフード janku fuudo), you can also choose foods that have been mindfully prepared, starting from how they are grown. In Kansai, there’s a groundswell of organic and natural farmers (see page 8 for our feature) plus cafes and restaurants putting their produce to delicious use (see page 12 for our feature). Fitness and healthy eating? A darn fine way of starting the year on a good note.

Vocab and phrases Is this organic?

I’d like to order a vegetarian meal.

この料理はオーガニックですか? ベジタリアンの食事はありますか?

kono ryori wa ooganikku desu ka? bejitarian no shokuji wa arimasu ka?

I’d like to join the gym.

ジムに入会したいです

jimu ni nyukai shitai desu

Would you like to go running together?

一緒に走りますか?

issho ni hashirimasu ka?

Let’s go for a walk.

散歩に出かけましょう

sanpo ni dekakemasho

What’s it like living in… Costa Rica? Yoko Yamada relocated to her husband’s homeland of Costa Rica and discovered a market for her home baked breads and sweets. KS asked all about it. コスタリカで何をしていますか。日本でコスタリカ人の夫と出会い結婚後、子どもを連れてサンホセ市に移りました。日本ではイラストレーターをしていましたが、今は子育てとパン作りをしています。パン作りのきっかけ。もともとパンが大好きでしたが、現地のパンにショックを受けたんです。指で刺すとサクッと突き抜けるくらいパサパサで、味も塩辛いかすごく甘いか…。そこで移住前にパン教室に通いました。総菜パンやメロンパン、シナモンパンなどを焼き、予約販売もしています。一番人気はサンドイッチにするとおいしいプレーンベーグル。現地のカフェはケーキがメインでパンを食べられるところは少ないので、パンを食べられるカフェを開きたいなあと思っています。現地の食事情。現地では米、パスタ、パンが同時に食卓に並ぶこともしばしば…。スーパーでは日本食材が手に入るので、コスタリカの日本人友達と食材情報を交換したり、家で作ったものを分けたりして家で和食を作ります。市内にある韓国料理屋さん「NODALLI」は日本人の間で美味しいと評判です。イチオシのローカル料理！「カネロネス」です。15cmほどの大きなマカロニの中に調理したミンチ肉などを詰め込ん焼いた料理で、マヨネーズがよく合います。コスタリカ版餃子みたいな感じです。普段、何語を話しますか、また学習方法は。家族とは日本語です。夫は日本に９年間住んでいたので日本語がペラペラ。スペイン語は、移住して３年目にやっと学校に通い、基礎が身に付いたと感じます。なかなか机に向かって勉強する時間がないため、夫とはできるだけスペイン語で話すよう心がけています。夫の実家で大勢と話している時は、スピードが早くてついていけませんが、1対1ではわかるまで質問しながら話すようにしています。コスタリカの大晦日と新年の迎え方。日本の大晦日は厳かに過ごす感じがありますが、コスタリカの大晦日は、お祭り騒ぎ。花火と爆竹の音が続きます。子どもが小さいので、夜は寝かせてゆっくりしたいのですが、音がすごいので起きないかヒヤヒヤします。お正月には家族でご飯を食べます。クリスマスも基本的には家族で過ごしますね、コスタリカは家族を大事にする国だと感じます。 Interview by Sarasa Kitano Follow Yoko プラビダ!ライフ http://blog.livedoor.jp/rabbihouse/

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Food & drink

Garden of Eden Tasty, veg-friendly dishes starring locally-sourced ingredients equals heavenly food you can feel good about. Text & images: JJ O’ Donoghue

One of the things I miss about living in London is the food of the Middle East: hummus, falafels, baba ghanoush, kebabs, lahmacun. I lived nearby a predominantly Turkish neighbourhood and if you threw a stone it would land in a kebab. You could eat hummus for breakfast, dinner and tea. Cut to the present and Japan, for all its foreign food worship (I am thinking especially of French and Italian), has yet to fully engage with the delights of the Middle East. And more is the pity because cuisine from this region is overflowing with some of the most healthy and delicious food the other side of washoku. In a cheerful space in Kyoto’s Demachiyanagi, flanked by the Kamo river and Daimonji, Amir Trojbicz has been introducing and converting happy diners to the food of his native Israel for the past 10 years. Felafel Garden is located in a two-storey renovated machiya on the doorstep of Kyoto University. Inside, it has that college vibe: relaxed, friendly, unhurried and even a little curious. Like the artwork on the wall the music too is eclectic. There is even a cozy garden out back with additional seating, which is delightful on warm spring days.

Trojbicz’s food philosophy, without putting too grandiose a point on it, is to only serve what he would eat. That means he’s just as good at knowing his way around the veggie patch as the kitchen. In the age of globalization there has been push back through localization; while this sometimes comes off as marketing or branding (think “100 percent organic”) Falafel Garden tries where and when possible to source ingredients, especially vegetables, locally and to operate to organic principles. Much of the menu is a mix between vegan and vegetarian, but not all: chicken kebabs and schnitzel, a German staple, both feature. But then again, one doesn’t go to Napoli for a hamburger. For me, the falafels here are the winner. Trojbicz makes bite-sized balls out of a mix of ground chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, spices and parsley, deep-fries them and serves the burnished morsels with pita, salad and a

sauce, such as tahini or chili. The result is a simple and delicious sandwich offered in three different sizes and prices, with the largest size advisable for falafel lovers or those with big appetites. There is also the option of adding a side of hummus or baba ghanoush, made from aubergines, olive oil and seasonings, for an additional ¥250. However, these portions are a little on the small side. With a well-priced menu and an owner/chef who is knowledgeable and passionate about his food and its origins, Falafel Garden is well worth the visit. It’s a great introduction to Middle Eastern cuisine and especially worth considering if you are vegetarian or if you have vegetarian visitors. Also worth noting is that Falafel Garden opened a sister-shop located near to Imadegawa subway station and Doshisha University.

Falafel Garden • Address: 3-16 Shimoyanagi-cyo, Tanaka, Sakyo-ku, KYOTO • Access: Take the Keihan line to Demachiyanagi. Falafel Garden is a short walk east of the main gates. • Open: 11am–9:30pm Monday to Sunday • Web: falafelgarden.com

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Fitness that’s right Om In a fitness funk? Try swapping dumbbells for downward dogs to freshen up your workout.

varieties of yoga offered by his school and how they work differently to

Text: Sam Evans • Images: Spirit Yoga

In Kansai, the gym is still king when it comes to fitness. Just glance up to the fifth floor of any building near a train station. And when you do, if the sight of those wannabe hamsters padding on treadmills makes you want to head for the nearest couch with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s, then you might want to consider an alternative way of staying in shape. You might consider yoga. Kansai has a decent collection of yoga schools, a fine example of which is Spirit Yoga in Osaka’s Tenjinbashi. Opened in 2007 by Osaka resident and yoga extraordinair Haidar Ali, Spirit Yoga offers an average of 24 classes per week, taught by a mixture of Japanese and international instructors from throughout Asia and North America as well as through frequent cameos from renowned names in the yoga universe. “Yoga has long been my passion and the idea behind Spirit Yoga has always been to create an international community where people from all over can come to be taught by the best instructors and have their individual needs taken care of,” says Ali.

Haidar Ali gives us the skinny on some

benefit your body.

Sessions are held in the tantalisingly aromatic studios that, as is quite novel in Japan, have huge windows to let in natural light. As well as catering to those wanting to practice yoga at session level, Spirit Yoga also focuses on developing yoga teachers through the adjoining yoga school that Ali opened in 2010 and since then has become the only Yoga Alliance certified RYS-200/ RYS-500 school in Western Japan. Despite the range, passion and prestige present at Spirit Yoga, prices are reasonable; with three initial trial lessons just ¥3,500 and the Gold Member offer, whereby one can attend as many sessions as one desires for just ¥9,991 a month. That’s a lot of yoga considering Spirit offers around 20 classes including Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Ayurveda, Power Yoga, even pre-natal and kids classes. With all this on offer, your path to yogic nirvana is only a short train ride away!

Ashtanga Mysore is a style derived from the teachings of the influential Yogacharaya Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. It’s unusual because unlike many other styles, where the class is “led” by a teacher, Ashtanga is taught oneon-one within a group setting. This means that all levels practice together and individuals can develop at their own pace to master sequences of therapeutic postures or asanas. Yoga Nidra is sanskrit for “sleep” and as the name suggests, involves deep meditation and asanas held for extended periods to relieve stress and leave tired yogis feeling invigorated and energised. Recommended for worn-out souls. Sivananda comes from the teachings of Swami Sivananda and focuses more on breathing and detailed explanations of asanas. It also utilises positive thinking (vedenta)

spirityogastudio.com

and meditation (dhyana) to promote physical and mental wellbeing. Very stress-relieving, this style allows individuals to find their own rhythm.

Spirit Yoga Studio • Address: Tenjinbashi Matsumura Bld. 5/6F, 3-10-17, Tenjinbashi, Kita-Ku, Osaka, 530-0041 • Tel: 06-6881-3317 • Website: spirityogastudio.com • Email: info@spirityogastudio.com

With 90 minutes said to have the benefits of 3 hours’ sleep, Restorative yoga is low-intensity and uses props like cushions and bolsters to support the body. This style focuses on deep breathing and asanas intended to gently stretch, relax and heal. It’s great for those with injuries or a strained body or mind.

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do KS

Pick

Dec 27

Escape Plan Jan 10 • Mikael Hafstrom, 115 mins, Action, Slyvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks… so just rehash the old tricks! Sly is a professional prison-breaker (no seriously) but gets stuck for real with Arnie in a superhigh-security joint. Mayhem ensues.

Film previews

Ender’s Game Gavin Hood, Sci-Fi, 114 mins, January 18 Starring: Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Hailee Steinfeld

It seems that Sci-Fi is truly back in vogue. With Abrams not only reinvigorating the Star Trek brand for a new audience, but reigniting the flames under the slumbering Star Wars series, it is inevitable that the studios will look to tried and tested stories to try and find a franchise worth clinging to (the Twilight, Harry Potter and Hunger Games franchises all lined the pockets of many a movie mogul). So Ender’s Game was truly a sleeping giant that could potentially be hiding fortunes untold; having won the Nebula and Hugo Awards for best novel in 1985 and 1986 respectively, the book’s popularity shot up after the film was announced, as it became a best-seller once again. But is this adaptation worth a watch, or is it yet another project filed securely in the “the book was much better” category? Director Gavin Hood has made this a labour of love, having penned the screenplay as well as straddling the director’s chair. He has a stellar cast to play with, with Ford playing the stern Colonel Graff, his trademark grumblings interspersed with fragments of harsh discipline and “this hurts me more than it hurts you” moments. Kingsley is given yet another role that he nails, and of which you wish you could see more. Butterfield is also perfect as Ender, a boy who has to have his potential dragged out of him through intimidation, threats, trials and trickery. The idea that these young recruits, with their inherent gaming skills, have the ability to save the universe will no doubt please many a teenage-geek hunkered over their Xbox, but the harsh boot camp and awesome zero gravity games make this fantastic narrative that much more believable. Some omissions from the book have been made; the bad guys are no longer known as “buggers” but “Formics,” and the futuristic technology has been updated to fit our modern sensibilities. But these are just minor alterations that shouldn’t take away from the fact that this is a fun, absorbing and oftentimes thought-provoking family flick. Is it better than the book? It’s no Godfather, but I’d say it was the best attempt in recent memory.

Don’t forget you can find a list of local cinemas (and what’s playing) online at: www.kansaiscene.com/cinemas/

Only God Forgives Jan 25 • Nicolas Winding, 90 mins, Crime Thriller, • Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas

For all its verve and colour, this Asian-set drug story doesn’t hold up to the simplistic beauty of Drive. That being said, this is a nice twist on the family revenge story and worth a watch.

American Hustle Jan 31 • David O. Russell, 138 mins, Crime Drama • Christine Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper

This kind of love and respect for a mafia movie is rarely seen in modern movies, but this “based on real events” con-movie is well paced, even with the inevitable slow moments that come with a plus-2 hour movie.

Trick: The Last Stage Jan 11 • Yukihiko Tsutsumi, Crime Thriller • Hiroshi Abe, Yukie Nakama

The long-running and much loved TV/ movie series is finally coming to an end. Expect the storyline to be as twisted and weird as always… but how will they finally finish off the franchise?

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Cinema listings (selected theaters) Osaka Osaka Toho Cinemas Umeda • Tel: 06-6316-1312 • www. tohotheater.jp • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st & 14th of the month: ¥1,000, every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: The Hunger Games:

Catching Fire, Hunter x Hunter The Last Mission From Jan 4: Mayerling From Jan 10: Escape Plan, Wake Up Girls! From Jan 11: Trick: The Last Stage From Jan 17: The Story of CN Blue - Never Stop From Jan 18: Ender’s Game, Bilocation From Jan 31: American Hustle

Umeda Burg7 • Tel: 06-4795-7602 • http://burg7. com • Discounts: Weds (women) 1st of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: Cloudy with a

Chance of Meatballs 2, Majokko Shimai no Yoyo to Nene From Jan 10: Odd Thomas From Jan 11: Killing Game, Penthouse North From Jan 18: Kuroshitsuji From Jan 25: The Idolm@ster Movie, The Dust of Time, Only God Forgives, Nuigurumer Z, Chiisai Ouchi From Jan 31: The Wolf of Wall

Street

Umeda Garden Cinema • Tel: 06-6440-5977 • www. gardencinema.jp/umeda/ • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: Blancanieves,

Good ol’ Freda

From Jan 4: Piazza Fontana The

Sessions

From Jan 11: Quelques heures de

printemps

From Jan 18: Lore

Cine Libre Umeda • Tel: 06-6440-5930 • www.ttcg.jp/ cinelibre_umeda/ • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st and 15th of the month: ¥1,000

Now showing: Fire by Christian

Louboutin, Cutie & Boxer From Jan 4: Wadjda, Can’t Stand Losing You/Surviving The Police From Jan 11: The Sapphires From Jan 18: Before Midnight From Jan 25: Chichi ha Iemoto

Theatre Umeda • Tel: 06-6359-1080 • www.ttcg.jp/ theatre_umeda • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,000

Now showing: Almanya -Welcome

to Germany, Chai Koi

From Jan 4: Mitten+ From Jan 11: Linhas de

Cinem@rt • Tel: 06-6282-0815 • www. cinemart.co.jp/theater/shinsaibashi • Discounts: Mon (men) Weds (women), 1st and 25th of the month: ¥1,000

Now showing: Switch, Blind

Wellington, Love and Bruises From Jan 24: V/H/S/2 From Jan 25: Los amantes pasajeros

Osaka Station City Cinema • Tel: 06-6346-3215 • www. osakastationcitycinema.com • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,000

Now showing: Cloudy with a

Chance of Meatballs 2

From Jan 10: Escape Plan,

Insidious, Dangerous Liaisons From Jan11: Trick the movie last stage, Judge From Jan 18: Ender’s Game, Kuroshitsuji From Jan 24: Genome Hazard From Jan 25: Chiisai Ouchi From Jan 31: The Wolf of Wall Street, What Maisie Knew

Detective

From Jan 4: Saving General Yang,

Junan

From Jan 11: Full Circle From Jan 18: Burnt By The Sun

3 - The Citadel From Jan 25: Drug War, We’re the Millers

Kyoto Movix Kyoto • Tel: 075-254-3215 • www.movix. co.jp • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st and 20th of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: Cloudy with a

Chance of Meatballs 2

From Jan 10: Escape Plan,

Insidious 2

From Jan11: Trick: The Last Stage,

Judge

From Jan 18: Kuroshitsuji, Enders

Game

From Jan 25: Chiisai Ouchi, I’m

Toho Cinemas Namba

so excited!

Kyoto Cinema

Kobe Os Cinema Mint Kobe • Tel: 078-291-5330 • www.jollios. net • Discounts: Tues (women), 1st and 16th of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: Hunter x Hunter

The Last Mission

From Jan 10: Escape Plan From Jan 11: Trick: The Last Stage,

Killing Season From Jan 18: Kuroshitsuji From Jan 24: Genome Hazard From Jan 31: The Wolf of Wall Street, What Maisie Knew

Kobe Kokusai Shochiku • Tel: 078-230-3580 • www. shochiku-eigakan.com • Discounts: Tues (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: Cloudy with a

Chance of Meatballs 2

From Jan 11: Judge From Jan 18: Kuroshitsuji, Ender’s

Game

Os Cinema Kobe Harborland

• Tel: 06-6633-1040 • www. tohotheater.jp • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st and 14th of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

• Tel: 075-353-4723 • www. kyotocinema.jp • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,000

• Tel: 078-360-3788 • www.jollios. net • Discounts: Tues (women), 1st and 16th of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: The Hunger Games:

Now showing: Fire by Christian

Now showing: Cloudy with a

Catching Fire, Hunter x Hunter The Last Mission From Jan10: Escape Plan, Wake Up Girls! From Jan11: Trick: The Last Stage From Jan 17: The Story of CN Blue - Never Stop From Jan 18: Enders Game, Bilocation From Jan 24: Genome Hazard From Jan 25: The Idolm@ster Movie From Jan 31: American Hustle

Namba Parks Cinema • Tel: 06-6643-3215 • www. parkscinema.com • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: Cloudy with a

Chance of Meatballs 2, Majokko Shimai no Yoyo to Nene From Jan 10: Escape Plan From Jan 11: Judge, Killing Season, Falstaff - Verdi From Jan 18: Ender’s Game, Kuroshitsuji From Jan 25: Chiisai Ouchi, Los amantes pasajeros, Nuigurumer Z From Jan 31: The Wolf of Wall Street

Louboutin, God Save My Shoes, Naboer, Babycall, From Jan 4: Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf ’s, Cutie & Boxer, Love Marilyn, Sous le sable, Farewell My Concubine From Jan 11: Wadjda, Buddha Mountain From Jan 18: Quelques heures de printemps, Before Midnight From Jan 25: Burnt By The Sun 3/ The Citadel

Toho Cinemas Nijo

Chance of Meatballs 2

From Jan 10: Escape Plan From Jan 11: Trick: The Last Stage,

Judge

From Jan 18: Bilocation From Jan 25: Chiisai Ouchi From Jan 31: The Wolf of Wall

Street

Cine Libre Kobe • Tel: 078-334-2126 • www.ttcg.jp/ cinelibre_kobe • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st and 15th of the month: ¥1,000

• Tel: 075-813-2410 • www. tohotheater.jp • Discounts: Weds (women), 1st and 14th of the month: ¥1,000; every day after 8pm: ¥1,200

Now showing: Moratorium

Now showing: Cloudy with a

From Jan 11: Ai Weiwei: Never

Chance of Meatballs 2

From Jan 10: Escape Plan, Wake

Up Girls!

From Jan 11: Trick: The Last Stage From Jan 17: The Story of Cnblue

Never Stop

From Jan 18: Kuroshitsuji, Ender’s Game, Bilocation From Jan 24: Genome Hazard From Jan 31: American Hustle

Tamako

From Jan 4: Cutie and The Boxer,

Wadjda, Blancanieves

Sorry, The Sapphires, Before Midnight From Jan 25: The Idolm@ster Movie, I’m so excited

Nara Movix Kashihara • Tel: 0744-21-1700 • www.movix. co.jp

Note: for show times and ticket information, please contact the cinemas directly

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Event pickups

Until Feb 16

Osaka castle reimagined 大阪城3Dマッピング Nishinomaru Gardens, Osaka Castle Park, Osaka

3D projection mapping is all the rage these days and Osaka City Tourism Bureau has teamed up with the illumination wizards at Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki to bring the show to Kansai. Wrap up warm and take an evening trip to the Nishinomaru Gardens in Osaka Castle Park this winter and you’ll be rewarded with a truly impressive display of this cutting edge technology. The castle comes alive as video graphics are projected onto its facade in time to bone crunching audio, belting out of enormous speakers either side of the viewing area. The castle is seemingly overrun with demons, dragons and even a tiger, as its foundations appear to twist and turn in their wake. It’s not all action however, as the show also includes club-like geometric visuals and a beautiful garden complete with butterflies and a waterfall. The show runs for approx 10 minutes and is well-worth the entry fee, considering you can also enjoy the other illuminations installed around the garden - including a sea of blue LEDs and an amazing illumination ‘cube’ that you can walk underneath. If you get peckish, there are food stalls behind the viewing gallery too. Entry: Standard days: Adults ¥1,600, Children (4-years old – Elementary school) ¥950 • Special days (Fri, Sat, the day before holidays and other designated days): Adults ¥2,000, Children (4-year old - Elementary school student) ¥1,200 • Access: Tanimachi 4-chome station, 5 mins walk • See website for tickets: www.tenka1hikari.jp/ticket/

Event Listings January Toy Train Fair プラレール博 in Osaka ATC (Asia and Pacific Trade Center) Hall Osaka • Jan 1–5, 11&12

A must-see for train fans young and old, this massive purarail (plastic toy railway) event features a giant diorama, ride-on trains and even Chuggington and Thomas & Friends sections. • Admission: ¥900 adults, kids: ¥700 (on the door) • mbs.jp/event/plarail

Forty-seven Ronin Exhibition of Ornamental Hairpins And Combs 櫛と簪とおしゃれ―粋に華やかに、麗しく― Hosomi Museum, Kyoto Jan 3–Feb 23

A beautiful display of Japanese art pieces from the 17th to 20th century. • Closed: on Monday • Admission: ¥1,000 adults (¥800 at the door), concessions • www. emuseum.or.jp/eng

Traditional New Year’s Amusements for Children 今昔館に初もうで―お正月のむかし遊び― The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living • Jan 3–6

Traditional Japanese games will be showcased in a reproduced town from the olden days. On the 3rd, the first 200 visitors can enjoy hot amazake. • Admission: ¥600 adults, concessions • konjyakukan.com

Railway Fair 2014 鉄道博2014 Osaka Business Park Enkei Hall, Osaka • Jan 4–7

A large exhibition featuring railwayrelated items, including a display of N & HO gauge models, an auction of collectables and many other events. • Admission: ¥600 adults (¥500 at the door), concessions • tv-osaka.co.jp/tetsudou2014

The Osaka Fire Brigade’s New Year Ceremony 大阪市消防出初式 FREE O’s Park in Asia and Pacific Trade Center, Osaka Jan 5

Firefighters from the Osaka Fire Brigade will celebrate New Year with a parade of fire engines, boats and helicopters, a colourful hosing show, rescue drills and more. Time: 10am • Admission: free • www.city.osaka.lg.jp/shobo/ page/0000242322.html

Bonsai Fair 雅風展 Miyako Messe, Kyoto Jan 9–12

Over 1,200 bonsai artworks; a bonsai market, a bonsai-making demonstration, workshops, seminars and more. • Admission: ¥800 (free for children under 18 years old) • www.miyakomesse.jp/ event/2014/01/39-5.php

Festival on the 10th 十日戎 FREE Imamiya Ebisu-jinja, Osaka Jan 9–11

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do Until Jan 7 and 11–13

Jan 8

Rice Field & Ogre Ritual 田遊び鬼会

Penguin Parade

FREE

Tokoji Temple, Hyogo

ペンギンパレード FREE

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Osaka

Grab your camera, put on your tuxedo and head over to Osaka Kaiyukan for the annual Penguin Parade. This charming show, which attracts hordes of spectators to Osaka’s world-famous aquatic attraction, features a procession of King Penguins walking through Event Square right next to the aquarium. The show happens three times a day so there’s ample opportunity to see the adorable birds, which are the second largest species of penguin on Earth, in their dapper black-and-white suits ambling down an 80-meterlong path. And when evening comes and the penguins head home to roost, the square will transform into a fabulous illumination show.

As a general rule, being bludgeoned by an ogre is something one should avoid, except that is, if you find yourself at a 14th century rice harvesting ritual in Hyogo’s Tokoji Temple. In this Buddhist ceremony, held to pray for a rich harvest, performers act out a farming scene (ta-asobi) while wearing antique masks carved in 1842. It all gets exciting when the farmer and his wife get jiggy, and red- and blue-skinned ogres start terrorising audience members. But don’t be too quick to take cover: it’s said that those who are hit by the blue ogre will be blessed with happiness in the new year. As well as being a great spectacle, this ceremony is a unique opportunity to experience an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Time: 6pm • Admission: free • Access: JR Kakogawa line, Takino

Admission: free • Access: Subway Chuo line Osaka-ko stn; 5 min

stn; 40 min by taxi • www.city.kasai.hyogo.jp/04sise/11osir/

walk • kaiyukan.com

osir1212/osir121227c.htm

Over a million visitors come to buy holy bamboo branches and pray for prosperity in their business. Also held in most shrines around Kansai. Admission: free • imamiya-ebisu.jp/ toukaebisu

session. • Admission: free • soemon-cho.com

Japan’s Best Food Stalls とんど祭とたぶん（自称）

Falconry Demonstration

日本一の屋台達

放鷹術の実演 A demonstration of traditional Japanese falconry will take place at Green Garden in Nijo Castle. Time: 11am and 2pm • Admission: ¥600 adults, concessions • www.city. kyoto.jp/bunshi/nijojo

New Year Archery Contest 通し矢 Hoe-Kago Parade 宝恵籠行列 FREE Soemon-Cho and Surroundings, Osaka • Jan 10

Colourful palanquins called hoekago parade around Minami area carrying geisha, famous people and even puppets from bunraku theatre; there will be a morning and evening

FREE Kozugu Shrine, Osaka Jan 13 (the date is subject to change.)

Nijo Castle, Kyoto • Jan 11

Sanjusangendo Temple, Kyoto • Jan 12 FREE

See 2,000 young ladies in festive kimonos shoot arrows at a target. Admission: free • sanjusangendo.jp

Provided by Biwako Visitors Bureau

Traditional Card Game かるた祭り FREE

Omijingu Shrine, Shiga

Jan 12

Shrine maids in ceremonial kimonos perform karuta, a traditional Japanese game between two or more people who fight over cards, to please the god of Omijingu. • Admission: free • oumijingu.org/publics/ index/127/#page127

A rare chance to sample food from Osaka’s most renowned restaurants at affordable prices. Enjoy food stalls, exhilarating attractions and live performances. • Admission: free • Access: Subway Tanimachi / Sennichi-mae line Tanimachi9chome; 5 min walk • Tel: 06-67621122

Uzue Ritual For Good Harvest 卯杖祭り FREE

Itakiso-jinja, Wakayama

Jan 15

Enjoy free porridge made from azuki beans as part of a solemn ritual to pray for good harvest. Time:10am–4pm • Admission: free • official.itakiso-jinja.net

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do Jan 31–Feb 2

Jan 25

Wild Boar Festival

Chinese New Year 2014

いのしし祭り

2014春節祭

FREE

Sasayama Castle Ruins, Hyogo

FREE

Kobe Nankin-Machi, Hyogo

If you’ve ever been curious about sampling wild boar, then the Wild Boar Festival in Hyogo is the time and place to do it. Held in Sasayama, a city in east Hyogo renowned for producing high-quality boar meat, the annual festival is a celebration of all things porcine. As for culinary delights, there’ll be boar steaks, a traditional hotpot called botan-nabe, even boar hamburgers! Plus the hilarious uribo, baby boar races, are held exclusively at this event making it a perfect day out for the whole family.

Celebrate the new year with a “Gong Xi Fa Cai” at Kobe’s Chinatown (Nankin-machi) where a glittering array of festivities and gourmet bites await. Over three days, this vibrant part of Kobe, one of only three designated Chinatowns in Japan, will come alive with parades of dancing lions and the golden dragon named “ron ron”. See more than 50 spectacular performances, including red and gold lantern displays, Chinese traditional martial arts, dancers in colourful theatrical costumes and a fancy dress parade.

Time: 10am–3:30pm • Admission: free • Access: JR Fukuchiyama

Admission: free • Access: JR Kobe line / Hanshin Railway

line Sasayamaguchi stn bus to Nikaimachi; 5 min walk • inoshishi.

Motomachi stn; 5 min walk • nankinmachi.or.jp

tanba-sasayama.com

Event listings cont. Paintings Found in the Kitora Kofun Tomb キトラ古墳壁画特別公開 Asuka Historical Museum, Nara Jan 17–26

Two paintings found inside the Kitora kofun tomb (in the 600s) will be on display; the paintings “the Black Tortoise of the North” and “the White Tiger of the West” have been restored by this museum. Admission: ¥500 adults, concessions • www.nabunken.go.jp/ asuka/kikaku/20131122-01.html

Field Burning on Mt. Wakakusa 若草山焼き FREE

Mt. Wakakusa, Nara

Jan 25

A 300-year-old ritual in which a field on Mt. Wakakusa is set on fire. Admission: free • www.kasugano. com/wakakusayama

Jan 19

Namba Yasaka-jinja hosts a tug of war using rope woven by locals that same morning. • Time: 8am (11am tug-of-war) • Admission: free • Access: Subway Yotsubashi line Namba stn; 5 min walk.

Field Burning at Boro Point 望楼の芝焼き

Carpet Show

Shionomisaki Boro no Shibafu in Kushimoto-cho, Wakayama • Jan 25 FREE

Makino Winter Festival

The Osaka Int’l Women’s Marathon

たかしまマキノウィンターフェステ

第33回大阪国際女子マラソン

綱引神事 Namba Yasaka-jinja, Osaka

Hall and Mido-suji Street, and then back through the park to finish at the stadium. • Admission: free • osaka-marathon.jp

A spectacular field-burning event where flaming arrows are shot to ignite the grassland. Admission: free • Tel: 0735-623171 • www.kankou-kushimoto.jp/ txt002.html

Ritual Tug of War FREE

TV characters’ performances, a snowman contest and much more. Admission: free • makinokougen. co.jp

ィバル2014

Makino Highland Ski Slope, Shiga • Jan 25 FREE

Special activities especially for children, including music shows,

FREE

Nagai Stadium, Osaka

Jan 26

Runners will leave Nagai stadium at 12:10pm, pass through Osaka Castle Park, past Osaka Municipal

Kobe Club, Kobe • Feb 8

Community & Information Center in Kobe presents a Carpet auction and buffet dinner at the Kobe Club. Admission: ¥3,500 • Time: 6p–10pm • www.chickobe.com

Sennin-Buro Hot Spring 仙人風呂 FREE Kawayu Onsen, Wakayama Until Feb 28

Enjoy a hot bath in a giant hole dug into the river bed in the tiny town of Kawayu. • Admission: free • tb-kumano.jp/en/onsen/kawayu Find more listings online at: www.kansaiscene.com/listings

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Art

Fruits de la Passion:

Until Mar 23

Pick

Ernesto Neto, We stopped just here at the time 2002 © Ernesto Neto Photo © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI / Georges Meguerditchian - /Dist. RMN-GP

La Collection du Centre Pompidou Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art

The Centre Georges Pompidou provides the ideal counterbalance to the antiquities and classical masterpieces of Paris’s other great museums, the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay. Its iconoclastic techno-utilitarian exterior, designed in the 1970s by a team including Renzo Piano (the man behind Kansai International Airport), still looks cutting-edge and remains controversial today. The Centre houses the Musée National d'Art Moderne, one of Europe’s greatest collections of modern and contemporary art. New pieces are being added to its 50,000 works of art all the time, and the ones traveling to the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art in January are contemporary works acquired in the last decade. The 31 pieces are highlights of the Centre Pompidou’s contemporary collection, representing a wide variety of genres. The 25 artists represented are currently in the international limelight and many have represented their home countries at the Venice Biennale. It isn’t often that Kansai sees an opportunity of this scale to catch up with the latest in global contemporary art.

Jan 18–Mar 23 • Works of modern art added in the last decade to the collection of the Musée National d'Art Moderne (MNAM), Centre Pompidou in Paris, one of the world’s top venues for modern and contemporary art. • Open: 10am–6pm (10am–8pm Fri and Sat during special exhibitions) • closed Mon • Admission: ¥1,200 • Access: Hanshin Iwaya Stn • www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp

Materials and Substance[s]

©KOSHIMIZU Susumu, Flower, Red, 1986

The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama

Dec 21, 2013–Feb 11, 2014 • Exhibition focusing on materials, organized around the notion that materials are not merely means of creating art, but in fact provide works of art with a fundamental reason for being. • Open: 9:30am–5pm • closed: Mon. • Admission: ¥500 • Access: From JR Wakayama Station to “Kencho mae” bus stop • momaw.jp

Until Feb 11

“Virtually all works of art consist of materials given form. From a physical standpoint, the question ‘What is a work of art?’ can be answered easily: sculpture is wood, stone, or metal, painting is a mixture of pigment and vehicle on canvas. All works of art consist of substances that human beings have modified in some way…” Food for thought from the museum’s website (translation by KS). When we view traditional art, we look for the ideas and emotions expressed by the artist. We are drawn in by the artist’s techniques and powers of imagination, and and tend to forget that the work is in fact a material object. In the 20th century, however, more artists started to focus on the physical presence of the materials. Among them were the post-war Japanese artists of the Gutai (“concrete”) group and the Mono-ha (“material”) movement, both of which had their genesis in Kansai, and the internationally acclaimed Korean-born, Japan-based sculptor and painter Lee Ufan. This exhibition presents modern and contemporary Japanese work that embraces rather than transcends its materials, at a museum designed by Kisho Kurokawa, one of Japan’s greatest modern architects.

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Art Listings German artist Thomas Neumann, both of whom also work in diverse media including video, drawing and installation.

Open: 1pm–7pm • Closed Sun, hols and Dec 28, 2013–Jan 5, 2014 • Admission: Free • Access: Subway Fukaebashi Stn • nomart.co.jp

Focusing on these two legendary manga artists, exhibition traces the medium’s history from the post-war birth of full-length “story-manga” through the advent of anime, international recognition, and acceptance as a full-fledged art form.

Open: 9:30am–5pm (until 8pm on Fri) • Closed Tue (if Tue is a national holiday, open Tue and closed Wed) • Admission: Varies • Access: Subway Tanimachi 4-chome Stn • www.mushis.city.osaka.jp

Expressionism with their dynamic application of paint.

Open: 9:30am–5:30pm • Closed Mon (if Mon is a national holiday, open Mon and closed Tue) • Admission: ¥1,500 • Access: JR / Hankyu / Hanshin Sannomiya Stn • www.city. kobe.lg.jp/culture/culture/institution/ museum/main

Kyoto Maruyama Okyo

©パイプ掛付き木製煙草入れ撮影：益永研司個人蔵

Osaka

Jotenkaku Museum at Shokoku-ji Temple Dec 21, 2013–Mar 23, 2014

The Craft Works of Bruno Taut: Taut’s Design Legacy in Japan

Later work from the collections of Shokoku-ji, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji by great painter of the 18th century whose realistic style had a cathartic effect on Japanese painting, paving the way for modernism.

Crafts by German architect Bruno Taut, who spent over three years in here in the 1930s, taking a break from designing expressionistic modern buildings, and steeping himself in Japan’s craft traditions.

Open: 10am–5pm • Closed Wed • Admission: Free • Access: JR Osaka Stn • www1.lixil.co.jp/gallery/english

Motonori Inagaki + Thomas Neumann: Water and Plant FREE Gallery Nomart Dec 7, 2013–Jun 18, 2014

Photos on the themes of water and vegetation by Motonori Inagaki and

The Universe of Natsume Soseki in Prints Y.Art-Gallery Jan 21–Feb 2 FREE

The unique world of Natsume Soseki, often considered the greatest modern Japanese novelist, as portrayed by 10 printmakers.

Open: Tue–Sat 11am–7:30pm, Sun & hols 11am–5pm • Closed Mon • Admission: Free • Access: Subway Nakazaki-cho Stn • yart-gallery.co.jp

Power of Manga: Tezuka Osamu and Shotaro Ishinomori Osaka City Museum of History Jan 15–Mar 10

GRAPHIC WEST 6: The Osaka City Museum of Modern Art Design Collection FREE

Open: 10am–5pm every day during exhibition • Admission: ¥800 • Access: Subway Karasuma line Imadegawa Stn • shokoku-ji.jp

Hyogo Turner from the Tate: The Making of a Master

Golden Age of Ukiyo-e: Utamaro and His Contemporaries Akashi City Museum of Culture Jan 4–Feb 9

One hundred and thirty works from the halcyon days of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, including handdrawn originals, by Utamaro and his school as well as other masters such as Sharaku and the artists of the Utagawa school. Open: 9:30am–6:30pm every day during the exhibition • Admission: ¥1,000 • Access: JR Akashi Stn • akashibunpaku.com

Kobe City Museum Jan 11–Apr 6

Large show of works from Britain’s Tate Gallery by late-18th to early19th century master J.M.W. Turner, whose boldly composed landscape paintings elevated the status of the genre and prefigured Abstract

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

LIXIL Gallery Osaka Dec 6, 2013–Feb 18, 2014 FREE

©Kiyoharu Yamada(Kyoto), Souseki Haiku Cat in heat become emaciated only his eyes goggle.

Until Mar 5

ddd Gallery

The Osaka City Museum of Modern Art is still on the drawing board, as it has been for some years now, but it continues to collect works of modern and contemporary art in preparation for its eventual opening. Among these is a great collection of avant-garde graphic works from between the world wars and from the postwar golden age of modern design. This exhibition, presented by ddd in cooperation with the Osaka City Museum of Modern Art, draws on this collection to present posters and graphics by some of the 20th century avant-garde designers who shaped our world. Many decades on, the work of the Russian avant-garde, the Bauhaus school, de Stijl, the Swiss school, and the Czech avant-garde still looks like our hopes and fears for the future: Utopian and dystopian, by turns frenzied and rational, but always bold and new.

Jan 17–Mar 5 • Avant-garde graphics from the early- and mid-20th century including iconic works of the Russian avant-garde, Bauhaus and de Stijl. • Open: 11am–7pm (until 6pm on Sat) • closed: Sun, Mon and hols • Admission: Free • Access: Subway Namba Stn

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Live Music

Feb 11

Aldious

All-girl Japanese heavy metal band from Osaka • Club Quattro, Osaka Metal • 6pm • ¥3,800/¥4,300 • Tel: 06-6311-8111

Pick

A relatively new band on the Kansai rock scene that has gained rapid success. Formed just five years ago in Osaka by guitarist Yoshii and vocalist Rumi (who unfortunately had to leave the band in 2012 due to health issues) Aldious released their debut four-track EP Dear Slave in November 2009. Known for their provocatively glam image, the band have decided to tone down their looks to concentrate as they say on being recognized for their musicianship over being seen as just an all-girl metal band. Aldious released the double A-side single “Dominator/I Don’t Like Me” in October last year and it became the band’s highest charter to date. The track “I Don’t Like Me” is a melodic piano-backed piece, whereas “Dominator” is speed metal at its best, fast and furious!

Live Music Listings Nov/Dec

Feb 1 • Rock • 6:30pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • Tel: 075-351-1321

Rock & Pop The Autumn Defense Indie side project of John Stirratt (Wilco). Jan 16 • Club Quattro, Osaka Indie • 7pm • ¥5,500 • Tel: 066535-5569

Amazarashi @ Zepp

Cero

Japanese pop rock singer songwriter

Japanese indie-pop trio Club Quattro, Osaka

Jan 18 • Indie • 7pm • ¥3,300 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Amazarashi Zepp, Osaka

Jan 25 • Pop rock • 6pm • ¥4,500 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Little Mix

Singing on the Sofa Acoustic Sessions ft. Takayama Maki, Sakai Chifumi, Yammy, Kakidani Yuko with Thomas Posner & Shunji Takenaka

Mo’some Tonebender Japanese rock trio

Taku Taku, Kyoto Feb 7 • Rock • 5pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • Tel: 075-351-1321

The Lumineers Folk rock band from Denver, Colorado Club Quattro, Osaka

Feb 7 • Rock • 7pm • ¥6,000 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Acoustic vocal sessions back by bass and guitar Rag Live Spot, Kyoto

Feb 1 • Female vocal • 7:30pm • ¥2,240/¥2,800 •Tel: 075-255-7273

British four-piece girl vocal group Club Quattro, Osaka

Jan 27 • Pop •¥4,500/¥5,000 • Tel: 03-5575-5170

ALvino @ Varit

Sakanaction Sakanaquarium Scoobie Do @ Shangri-La

Japanese five-piece fusion rock outfit

ALvino Japanese rock trio Varit, Kobe

Zepp, Osaka

Los Lonely Boys @ Shangri-La

Scoobie Do

Jan 29-30 • Rock fusion • 7:30pm •¥6,000 • Tel: 06-6882-1224

Los Lonely Boys

Japanese funk rock band

Crazy Ken Band

American chicano rock power trio

Feb 19 • Rock • 6pm • ¥3,000 • Tel: 06-6357-3666

Popular pop funk Japanese band Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka

Feb 2 • Rock • 6:30pm •¥6,500 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Jackman

Jan 30 • Pop-funk • 6:30pm/9:30pm •¥8,300/¥9,800 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Kan (Kimura Kan)

Japanese visual kei rock band

Yamazen & Z-Riders

Japanese soft rock singer songwriter

Jan 24 • Rock • 6pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • Tel: 06-6311-8111

Japanese rock band

Feb 6-7 • Rock • 7pm •¥7,000 • Tel: 06-6882-1224

Shangri-La, Osaka

Club Quattro, Osaka

Taku Taku, Kyoto

Shangri-La, Osaka

Zepp, Osaka

Feb 7 • Rock • 7pm •¥4,500 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Char Popular Japanese rock guitarist Chicken George, Kobe

Feb 2 • Rock • 7:30pm • ¥5,500/¥6,000 • Tel: 06-6882-1224

Glen Matlock Ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Varit, Kobe

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do Jan 5

Jan 16

Hiroki Kurita Thirty-five-year-old Osaka blues singer-guitarist Hiroki Kurita released his debut eight-track album Brand New Life through the Osaka-based label and venue Raw Tracks last April. Putting his first band together while still at high school, Kurita covered hard rock tracks but was later introduced to black music during a visit to New York where he also experienced gospel sounds in a Harlem church. This then progressively led him to the blues. The Osaka Raw Tracks venue is an intimate affair with a capacity for about 100 people and in fact the stage area is almost as big as the audience section though it is a nice venue. Osaka blues singer guitarist • Raw tracks, Osaka • Blues • Time:TBA • ¥1,500 • Tel: 06-6358-0005

Jan 15

The Autumn Defence

Magnus Hjorth

An indie side project put together by Wilco bassist John Stirratt in collaboration with his friend and fellow musician Pat Sansome. Their first release was way back in 2001, with the album The Green Hour, which was followed two years later by Circles and their latest offering is this month’s upcoming Fifth. On the new album John Stirratt says “Songs touch on difficulties of living in big, cold cities and the challenges… the first song, is related to the challenge of urban life and seasonal depression.” Sansome is more upbeat luckily. “August Song, which has more of an optimistic tone…is more of a summer song,” he says. So thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom. The Autumn Defence come to Japan for three dates (Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka) and as this is a part-time project get along while you can.

Originally from the Swedish west coast town of Laholin, and now based in Copenhagen, Denmark, Magnus Hjorth attended the renowned jazz college Fridhems Folkhogokoh in Sweden before moving on to the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Denmark. The Magnus Hjorth Trio came into existence in 2006 releasing Loco Motif, 2007 Old Borrowed Blue 2009 and Gershwin With Strings in 2011. Hjorth has also collaborated with Japanese drummer Kazumi Ikenaga in the past. A sought-after side-man pianist, he has recorded with a number of prominent bands and musicians after being voted best soloist at the international jazz contest Getxs Jazz in 2007. On this current tour of Japan, Magnus Hjorth plays dates in Osaka, Kobe and Tokyo with Keisuke Torigae on bass and Kazumi Ikenaga on drums. Swedish jazz pianist • Mister Kellys, Osaka

Indie side project of John Stirratt (Wilco) •

• Jazz • 7:30pm/9:15pm • ¥4,200/¥4,500

Club Quattro, Osaka • Indie • 7pm • ¥5,500

• Tel: 06-6342-5821

• Tel: 06-6535-5569

Feb 9 • Rock • 7pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • Tel: 078-392-6655

Phantom Excaliver

Mongol800

Japanese four-piece rock band

Japanese punk rock trio from Okinawa

Neverland, Nara

Feb 10 • Rock • Time:TBA •¥1,500/¥1,800 • Tel: 09-1142-1996

Analog Fish Japanese alternative rock trio known for anime Naruto title track Taku Taku, Kyoto Dragon Ash @ Namba Hatch

Dragon Ash Japanese rap rock group Namba Hatch, Osaka

Feb 10 • Rock • 7pm •¥5,900/¥6,400 • Tel: 06-6882-1224

Feb 11 • Rock • 4pm • ¥3,500/¥3,800 • Tel: 07-351-1321

Aldious All-girl Japanese heavy metal band from Osaka Club Quattro, Osaka

Feb 11 • Metal • 6pm •¥3,800/¥4,300 • Tel: 06-6311-8111

Osaka Jo Hall, Osaka

Feb 13 • Rock • 7pm • ¥5,800 • Tel: 06-6357-3666

Finch American post hardcore band from California Club Quattro, Osaka

Feb 13 • Hardcore • 7pm • ¥6,300 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Feb 15 • Pop • 4:30pm/8pm • ¥4,500/¥6,000 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Jazz & Blues Larry Ransome John Coltrane tribute by Kyoto resident drummer Blue Note, Kyoto

Jan 10 • Jazz • 8pm •¥2,500 • Tel: 075-223-0398

Magnus Hjorth

Tiina Kariina

Swedish jazz pianist

Japanese pop singer-songwriter from Osaka

Jan 15 • Jazz • 7:30pm/9:15pm • ¥4,200/¥4,500 • Tel: 06-6342-5821

Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka

Mister Kellys, Osaka

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do Jan 16

Feb 13

Gilad Atzmon

Mongol800

Gilad Atzmon is much more than a jazz saxophonist. Born and raised in Israel, and now living in the UK, Atzmon is also well known for his thought-provoking political and cultural writings regarding his homeland and the Middle East (Atzmon recently appeared on the David Icke online TV channel The Peoples Voice speaking about a number of subjects including his criticism of Zionism). I would recommend the musician’s book The Wandering Who? Not to sidetrack from Gilad Atzmon’s music too much with politics, his 2003 album Exile was the BBC jazz album of the year and he has been called “the hardest gigging man in jazz”. During his career he has recorded twelve albums and as well as saxophone he is also an accomplished player of the clarinet and ethnic woodwind instruments. This is the gig of the month for venue, value and artist.

In 2001 Mongol800 sold over 2 million records and they did it the hard way, with very little commercial backing, which tells you that this punk rock trio from Okinawa are doing something right and producing music that people want to hear (the album in question was their second and aptly named Message). This concert kicks off a tour that marks the band’s 15th anniversary and the threesome of Takazato Satoshi, Uezo Kyosaku and Guna Takashi have over that period released six albums all of which have been commercially successful saleswise. Their latest was last year’s Good Morning Okinawa. The band mix elements of both punk and ska in to their style of rock music and are also known by fans as Monpachi. Japanese punk rock trio from Okinawa • Osaka Jo Hall, Osaka Rock • 7pm • ¥5,800 • Tel: 06-6357-3666

Israeli born British based jazz saxophonist and writer • Blue Note, Kyoto • Jazz • 8pm • ¥2,500 • Tel: 075-223-0398

Gilad Atzmon

PE’z

Israeli born British based jazz saxophonist and writer

Japanese upbeat jazz instrumental group

Jan 16 • Jazz • 8pm • ¥2,500 • Tel: 075-223-0398

Feb 9 • Jazz • 4:30pm/7:30pm • ¥5,400/¥6,900 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Blue Note, Kyoto

Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka

Japanese piano fronted jazz trio Jan 19 • Jazz • 8pm • ¥1,500 • Tel: 075-223-0398

Naoto Ashizu Japanese solo pianist Blue Note, Kyoto

Jan 26 • Jazz • 8pm • ¥1,000 • Tel: 075-223-0398

Naoh Japanese jazz saxophonist Mister Kellys, Osaka

Jan 31 • Jazz • 7:30pm/9:15pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • Tel: 06-6342-5821

Feb 14 • Jazz • 7:30pm • ¥6,720/¥8,400 • Tel: 075-255-7273

Classical & World Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese

Kyoko Inazuma Trio Blue Note, Kyoto

Rag Live Spot, Kyoto

Scandanavian world music

Jamie Cullum @ Namba Hatch

Ritto Sakira Hall Arts & culture Centre, Ritto

Jamie Cullum British jazz-pop-blues pianist singer songwriter

Feb 1 • Ocarina • 2pm • ¥3,150/¥3,500 • Tel: 077-551-1455

Namba Hatch, Osaka

Jose James @ Billboard Live

Kawai Ikuko

Jan 31 • Jazz pop • 7pm •¥6,500 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Jose James

Fried Pride

American club jazz hip-hop vocalist

Classically trained violinist and composer

Japanese jazz blues guitar and female vocal duo

Feb 11-12 • Jazz hip-hop • 11th-4:30pm/7:30pm ~ 12th6:30pm/9:30pm • ¥6,300/¥7,800 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Rag Live Spot, Kyoto

Feb 8 • Jazz blues • 7:30pm • ¥4,400/¥5,500 • Tel: 075-255-7273

Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka

Sadao Watanabe Japanese jazz and other genre saxophonist

Ritto Sakira Hall Arts & Culture Centre, Ritto Feb 15 • Classical • 1:30pm • ¥2,000/¥2,500 • Tel: 077-551-1455

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

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Club

Jan 26

Circus Svreca Japan Tour

Svreca Japan Tour 13 (Techno) • DJs: Svreca + more• Open: 8pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi •

Circus welcomes the Madrid-born techno DJ/producer Svreca aka Enrique Mena. He owns the very underground techno label Semantica, which has been putting out experimental yet sophisticated techno like Silent Servant, Surgeon, Mike Parker, Oscar Mulero and his own tracks for a few years. Last September, he was supposed to play the closing set on the final day of the Labyrinth, widely considered one of the best outdoor techno festivals. It was unfortunately canceled due to a typhoon. For those that were at the festival and felt frustrated, and those that are into deep techno, this is the party not to miss.

Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

Club Listings January 2 (Thu) Circus Circus New Year Party (Techno)

• DJs:Daniel Bell, Shingo • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka. com

Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

Onzieme Cyber Japan presents Bikini Night 2014 (House) • DJs:

Mitomi Tokoto, Mitsuda Daisuke, Marvy, Soery, Skire • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

3 (Fri)

10 (Fri)

Circus

Joule

Roska Japan Tour in Osaka (Bass Music) • DJs: Roska, Tell,

Shinichi Osawa DJ Set (Electro/ House) • DJs: Shinichi Osawa,

Eyez, Sou, Keiburger, Kin-Pon • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

Troop Cafe Visitors - New Year Special Edition (House) • DJs: Daniele

Baldelli + more • Open: 10:30pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (WF: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Kobe • Tel: 078-321-3130 • troopcafe.tumblr. com

4 (Sat) Circus Circus Show Case 2014 feat. Fumiya Tanaka (Techno) • DJs:

Fumiya Tanaka, Jimmer + more •

Masatoshi Uemura + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,500(ADV: ¥2,000) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 • club-joule.jp

11 (Sat) Circus Agile (Techno) • DJs: Hito,

Monashee • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka. com

Eze Kitahama Entrada (Techno/ House) • Live: Sick • DJs: Yogurt,

Kazuma, Maiko, Logo, Hide • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,000 • Where: Kitahama • Tel: 06-6233-7788

Onzieme

24 (Fri)

Eleven Lights (EDM) • DJs: Benkay

& Bold, Ko-Matsushima, Erich Logan, YPY, MJ-Michi, Unbalance + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

Union Extende Mix (House) • DJs:

peechboy Liqued Brothers, Yusuke, Afr • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • club-union.jp

17 (Fri) Circus Wolf + Lamb Japan Tour 2014 (House/Techno) • DJs: Wolf

+ Lamb + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka. com

18 (Sat)

Circus Lark (Techno) • Live: Kaitaro • DJs: Yoshiki, Yusuke, Spot • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka. com

25 (Sat) Circus Circus Show Case 2014 feat. Ken Ishii (Techno) • DJs: Ken Ishii

+ more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-62413822 • circus-osaka.com

Exodus Trancist (Trance) • DJs: Zen

Oikawa, Masa, Show-Hey, Kota + more • 10pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • exodus728.com

Onzieme Onzieme Yasutaka Nakata (House/ Electro) • DJs: Yasutaka Nakata +

more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,500) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

Lime feat. Darren Emerson (House/Techno) • DJs: Darren

Emerson, Yashima, Freak Menu, Dimitri, Masataka • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com Find more listings online at: www.kansaiscene.com/listings

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

From left: • Ishmael • What if 6 turned out to be 9? • Something important is about to happen.

Artist profile

If these walls could talk You may just see it as a thing that keeps the cold out in winter, but to this month’s cover artist DAAS, that wall is a canvas. Text: KS • Images: DAAS

There can’t be many Umeda-ites who haven’t enjoyed a taste of the craic in The Blarney Stone. You can easily recall the drinks, food or events, but how about the walls? Can you remember the colour? The creamy yellow dappled stone probably never really drew your attention before, because it’s been created deliberately not to; it blends smoothly into the background of a typical modern Irish pub. Giving pubs and other public spaces authentic-feeling ‘faux’ walls is just one of DAAS’ specialities. While this kind of work is subtly blended into the background of your big night out, you definitely wouldn’t miss his other work: giant colourful murals created with acrylic, wood and canvas. DAAS first came to Japan from Florida as a contracted artist/performer for Universal Studios Japan in 2007. He continued to work for USJ until January 2013, after which he became a full-time artist. He explains: “I’ve been fortunate enough to work solely as an artist for nearly 15 years, by doing a variety of things such as large-scale murals for Harley Davidson Motorcycles and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, live painting performances, scenic work for

Universal Studios Orlando, Busch Gardens and custom interior wall finishes and aging.” It takes DAAS about two weeks to complete an artwork. He works mainly in acrylics, but recently he’s been experimenting with more mixed media, such as plasters to add extra texture and physical depth to his wall paintings. “My style of art has developed into a sort of push and pull between unity and fragmentation,” he says. “It relies heavily on geometrics shapes, expressive colors and organic textures combined into a recognizable form like an animal or human face. I’ve never really felt locked into one style or another, so this current method of creating is bound to change sooner or later. It’s the process and evolution of the work that I enjoy the most.” DAAS lives in Nishinomiya, very close to Shukugawa river, which means he hasn’t got far to stumble to enjoy some stunning spring hanamis. The proximity to nature is a big plus. “The natural way things age in nature, I believe, is the biggest influence for me. I find myself continually attracted to old stone walls with layers of color, moss and lichens. One of

my favorite places to recharge myself creatively is in Nara near Tōdai-ji, I can spend hours walking around and staring at all the old structures and walls.” As well as being inspired by nature, recently DAAS has been digging the grafitti-esque work of José Parlá and Gerhard Richter’s Abstracts. While he may spend a lot of time gazing at walls, and working hard to either blend them in or liven them up, DAAS’ unique portfolio also includes some colourful depictions of people. His most memorable commission was a portrait of a friend’s mother who passed away. “It was a representational piece painted in oil on canvas. The main thing I enjoyed about it was the chance to paint something outside of my current style and comfort zone. It presented some enjoyable challenges, such as capturing the essence of someone’s personality whom you have never met, working in oils and laying out a completely different color palette.”

Website: daas-art.com Twitter: @Daas_Art

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Kansai Business Finder Education Kobe YWCA Global Network of Women

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

Osaka YWCA Global Network of Women

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

Arthur Murray Dance School Dance Studio

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

Marga Language Service Japanese Language School

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

Osaka Abacus Association Let’s learn Abacus!

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

Espeto Sports Acrobatics and Capoeira school

Osaka, Minato-ku, Namiyoke 5-4-20 Tel: 06-6582-7177 Url: www.espeto-sports.com

Shops & Services

> for more listings and maps see kansaiscene.com/business-finder

Brastel Remit

Creamy Kids

Send money overseas

International Modeling Agency

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

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

TNT-PC English PC Support

Pakmail Amagasaki

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

We Ship Anything, Anywhere!

Yuko Tamaki Accounting Office

Pakmail Esaka

Accounting & Tax Services

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

Mojoprint

Miyabi Int’l Gyoseishoshi Law Firm

Full Color Printing

VISA Lawyers in Osaka

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

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

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

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

Shinmei Law Office Business Lawyer

Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do 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

Travel GS Travel Best Fares in Osaka

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

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

Real Estate & Accommodation Takani Co. Ltd. Total solution for house-hunting

Tomson Real Estate

K Studio New York

English speaking real estate specialist in Kobe

English Speaking Beauty Salon

Kobe, Chuo-ku, Kotono-cho 2-2-7, Ueda Bldg. 202 Tel: 078-200-6369

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

Health & Beauty

Mayflower House

Ishida Women’s Clinic

Osaka guesthouse

Women’s Health Care in Osaka

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

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

Entrance Japan Shared houses across Osaka

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

Dreamers Furnished / Non-Furnished lofts for rent

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

Hair Art & Make up BOY Hair and Make Up

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

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

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/ absinthe-solaar

Outback Steakhouse Australian Themed Steakhouse

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

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KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

<info@entrance-japan.com> http:// www.entrance-japan.com

Classifieds

Place your ad online at: kansaiscene.com/classifieds

Accommodation For Rent TANIMACHI 3 ROOMS TOWNHOUSE, NO AGENCY FEE. 3 room townhouse, walking

distance to Shinsaibashi, 4mins walk to Tanimachi 9 station. Shopping street nearby. 65,000yen/month+1 month dep. No guarantor required. 1K apt, 39,000yen/month in Abeno, 30,000yen/month in Kadoma, 1DK apt, 42,000yen/month in Sekime also available. Contact: Kenji 08033547200 <ksugo2002@yahoo. co.jp>

KOBE: NO KEY MONEY NO AGENCY FEE. Furnished with

washer, fridge etc. 2LDK Hankyu Ojikoen, near shops, 51m² ¥98,000 Good for sharing Very convenient Eng or Jpn. 090-9286-1216 <ffeilden@yahoo.co.jp> http://www. ffeilden.com/

Room / Flat share SHARED ACCOMMODATION FOR RENT IN OSAKA. Wagokoro:

Rent ¥39,000~, 9.72m2~, 8min walk from JRSenrioka st. / Marche Awaza: Rent ¥46,000~, 7.29m2~, 7min walk from Awaza st. No key money, deposit/ guarantor. Furnished. Initial cost: 1st month’s rent+handling fee(15,750). Mention Classified ad = handling fee is FREE

Shared House NEW! GREEN APARTMENT RETRO-MODERN SHAREHOUSE OSAKA NEWLY OPEN JANUARY.

retro-modern shared house with cool renovated building at OSAKA Bentencho st. rent ¥36,000~46,000 and expenses ¥10,000 per month. at contract, admin fee ¥30,000 and deposit one month rent. reference required. Contact: Jiro Kumakiri <j.kumakiri@gmail. com> or www.facebook.com/ GreenApartmentOsaka SHARE HOUSE SUPPORTER.

Share-college KOBE. JR Nada station Room charge 43000(included utilities) about 17000en lower than the normal charge!! 2 person, English speaker or teacher. Task is petit support 2 hour per week. Contact: DREAMERS INC<info@dreamersjp.com> Website: dreamers-jp.com

Jobs Education NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHER FOR CHILDREN IN OSAKA. We

are looking for a native English teacher for afternoon classes. English conversation classes 15:0018:30. 2,500-3,000 yen / hours + Transportation. Requirements : Teaching Certificate, Experience and Bachelor's Degree, Accept short term. Contact: Masaaki Matsumoto <flyhummingbirds@gmail.com> http://www.hummingbirds.cc P/T TEACHERS NEEDED. PLC Language Center seeks P/T teachers for our school near Tsuruhashi station. Monday through Friday available. Please send resume to mark@gopros.net. Training will start from Jan. and the job will start from April. Proper visa needed. Contact: Uehonmachi Pros <pros8806@chive.ocn.ne.jp>

FT ENGLISH TEACHER AT FRIENDS EIKAIWA.Starting at

1500/hr. Proper Visa needed. Must be native speaker. Prep time and travel expenses paid. Located near JR Suminodo in Daito city, Osaka. Contact: Eri Aoki <friendseikaiwa@ nifty.com> http://friendseikaiwa. sp.land.to SEEKING A NATIVE ENGLISHSPEAKER IN SAKAI CTIY, OSAKA. We are seeking

an English teacher for a once or twice a week position. Previous teaching experience is appreciated. One private adult lesson pays 2000 Yen plus covered travel expenses. Applicants who are interested, please send your resume via email to the address listed below<info@ vacation-es.co.jp> http://www. vacation-es.co.jp/ FT NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHER.

(beginning April 1, 2014) To teach kids and adults, we require a genki team player for Tue through Sat afternoons and evenings. In Korien on Keihan line. K or ES certified Exp essential. Salary starts from ¥220,000 per month. Full details on application. Bonus trans visa – see website. Please apply now by email or fax. Contact: Modern English <info@modernenglish.net> http:// www.modernenglish.net/index-en. php ENGLISH TEACHERS REQUIRED. Osaka and Kyoto.

English Teachers Required for various teaching times at two of our Kansai based schools. Immediate start available. Teaching experience preferred but not required. Training provided. Students are adults. Class size maximum 4 students. Please email resume to <lookforhelp12@ yahoo.com> TEACHERS WANTED. School

in Ashiya/Okamoto is looking for FT/PT English,French and Korean 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> http:// www.comlanguageschool.com KANSAI CORPORATE CLASSES.

CES is seeking professional, English/Chinese/Korean/ Indonesian corporate instructors for p/t corporate classes (2-7 Hours a day) in Himeji, Akashi, Osaka, Shiga, Nara and Kyoto. P/t hourly rates 3,500-4,500 yen per hour. For more info, please forward C/V with availability to <mark@cesjapan. co.jp> ENERGETIC NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER WANTED. Energetic

native English speaker wanted. International School in Nishinomiya and Amagasaki area. F/T M-F. Visa s/ship avail. Email: <tree-house@ pearl.ocn.ne.jp>

General ENGLISH SPEAKING BAR STAFF WANTED FOR NEWLY OPENED.

bar in Umeda. Beer & Pizza Gosuke. Conversational level Japanese required. All nationalities welcome. 3hrs a night, 6pm-5am. ¥900/ hr (first month ¥850/hr). Please contact the manager, Mr. Asada at 06-6312-3387 (4pm - midnight). Contact: Mr. Asada<gogosuke@ hotmail.com>

Entertainment DANCE INSTRUCTORS WANTED. Looking for

international dance instructors (any dance form) to teach at a new studio opening April 2014 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. http://www.daas-art.com For more information, please send email to: info@daas-art.com

PART-TIME: HOSTESS. WANTED

スタッフ募集 Foreign, female hostess

wanted for Fri-Sat,20:30-01:00 Located in Fuse [kintetsu line] ¥1500/hr~ Conversational Japanese and proper visa required. will provide transportation after shift, please call 080-6188-3645 or e-mail kikaku111@hotmail.co.jp https:// www.facebook.com/SWING.Fuse Contact: Higuch

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KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014 kansaiscene.com

Media / IT LEAPFORCE AT HOME INDEPENDENT AGENT JAPANESE. This is an opportunity

to evaluate and improve the results for one of the world's largest internet search engine companies. Candidates must: currently reside in Japan, proficient in Japanese and English, Possess a high speed internet connection & pass exam. Please Note: One position per IP. Contact: aleapforce13 <ashley@ leapforce.com> https://www. leapforceathome.com/qrp/public/ job/33

Station West Exit. Easy access from JR Sannomiya Station. Drop-in consultations welcome. English spoken. NHI accepted. Appts required. Open Mon-Sat 9:30am7:00pm (Th&amp;Sat 9:30am-1pm) All your general needs, cleaning, etc. Call 078-331-3512 Contact: Kitano<kitano@kitanosika.com> Website: www.kitanoshika.com

Health & Beauty ENGLISH SPEAKING DENTIST IN KOBE. Kitano Dental Clinic is

located near Hankyu Sannomiya

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 06-6572-6877 <moritomo@osakaabacus.or.jp> Website: sites.google. com/site/osakasoroban/

Announcements

ENGLISH SPEAKING NETWORK FIELD ENGINEER - FULLTIME.

Looking for a service oriented engineer living in Kansai. Linux server knowledge, network management, Hardware and software support experience. Entry level Japanese prefered, but not required. Jp drivers lic. Near Hankyu Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi. 9:30am to 7:30pm 5 days a wk. Y200,000 starting salary. Contact: <koji.tomita@gmail.com> http:// www.tnt-pc.com

more info: <darkangel.dance@ hotmail.com>

OSAKA BOOK GROUP'S JANUARY MEETING. We'll

talk about "July's People" by Nadine Gordimer on January 26, starting at 12.30. The venue is Cafe Foodelica, which is located one-minute walk from Eiden's Shugakuin station. Contact: Massa < bookisbetter2012@yahoo. co.jp> http://www.facebook.com/ masanaka

Courses & Classes POLE-DANCE, JAZZ-DANCE LESSONS POLE-DANCE AND JAZZ-DANCE LESSONS IN OSAKA. all levels are welcome!

Other BILINGUAL ARTS PUBLICATION: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS.

Visual ; written works on the theme "Last Train/First Train" are being

considered for Kamihikouki&'s March issue. Please submit by 2/2/14 to <kamihikouki.mag@ gmail.com> https://www.facebook. com/pages/KamihikoukiMagazine/260614457424490

For Sale (used) XPERIA Z FOR SALE. Factory

unlocked. Six months old. Great condition. 16gb micro SD included. Box and charger included. Decided to change to iPhone. 35,000yen. Contact: Tony Romani < tonyromani73@gmail.com> KLX250E KAWASAKI D-TRACKER 250CC. I am selling

a 2007 KLX 250cc bike. Rode for 2 years and has 13600km only. Very good condition. Includes helmets, navi and gear. 250,000 obo. Serious inquiries only. Call Tony 090-65031517 < aikidotboy@hotmail.com>

Sorryâ&#x20AC;Ś Due to space restrictions we are unable to print all classified ads. See kansaiscene.com for more classifieds online.

Cine Libre Umeda 3F

ARC 6F

Grand Front Osaka

Umeda Sky Building

35F German Umeda 4F Consulate Garden Cinema Westin Hotel

Yodobashi Camera

JR Osaka Sta.

Mitsukoshi Isetan

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Miyabi Int’l Law Firm

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National Museum of Art

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Big step

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Tezukayama Gallery

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Junkudo Tower Records

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Family Mart

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Nikko Hotel

Uniqlo

Shinsaibashi-suji (shopping arcade)

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Covent Garden

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Tokyu Hands

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Kobe City Hall

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Kyoto Royal Hotel

Jomo Gas

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Sannomiya Hanadokeimae st.

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Shiyakushomae

Kawara Machi

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Kyoto City Hall

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Tomson Real Estate Sansei Hosp.

World Express

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Kobe Sauna

Kobe Ikuta Junior High School

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Soraku Park

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Pearl Street

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1F Bistrot Cafe De Paris

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Kitano-cho Tor Road

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