Metropolis #1053 May 30-Jun 12, 2014

Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine www.metropolis.co.jp

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#1053 May 30-Jun 12, 2014

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INSIDE

#1052

MAY 30-JUN 12, 2014

for Metropolis is looking contributors:

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06 FEATURE

WORLD CUP FEVER 03 THE SMALL PRINT 05 UPFRONT 10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 AGENDA 14 LISTINGS 18 MOVIES 23 DINING OUT 24 CLASSIFIEDS & JOBS 29 HOROSCOPE 30 LAST WORD

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The Small Print

By Steve Trautlein

WE DON’T KNOW WHY JAPAN HAD TO IMPORT “ SUCH A HUGE VOLUME OF WHALE MEAT”

ćć Another cop in Osaka committed suicide after being questioned about tampering with evidence in an unsolved robbery case. ćć A survey has found that Japan ranks 39th out of 40 countries in terms of per capita fruit consumption. Italy, Australia and Israel took the top spots.

ANNE-MARIE PAPPAS

—Junichi Sato of Greenpeace Japan, after a cargo vessel sailing from Iceland docked in Osaka with 2,000 tons of cetacean flesh in its hold

POLITICAL ANIMALS ćć Prime Minister Shinzo Abe joined Kim Jong Un and Miley Cyrus on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people. ćć Yoichi Masuzoe became the first governor of Tokyo to make an official visit to Beijing since 2008. ćć Meanwhile, the mayor of Nago in Okinawa flew to the U.S. to tell anyone who would listen that his constituents are opposed to the relocation of an American military base to his city. ćć Sentence of the Week: “A women’s group has started a campaign vowing to swear off sex with any man who is pro-war to protest Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s push to reinterpret the pacifist Constitution.” (via The Japan Times)

DIDN’T SEE THAT ONE COMING ćć The U.S. Nav y revealed that three of its P-3 Orion surveillance planes were demolished when heavy snow collapsed a hangar at Atsugi air base in February. ćć A 51-year-old police inspector in Fukushima and his 52-year-old boss both killed themselves in separate incidents late last month.

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Hundreds of children team up to form “Tokyo 2020” at the National Stadium before its closure for reconstruction, by Taiichi Izawa

12

Number of mountain climbers who died during the final four days of Golden Week, according to newspaper reports

global security.” ćć A team of Japanese and Russian scientists has found that at least four huge tsunamis have hit the northern Sea of Japan coast during the past 2,000 years.

INTO THIN AIR ćć Investigators in Japan and the U.S. say workers at a Las Vegas-based asset management company used a Ponzi scheme to scam “thousands of wealthy Japanese investors with bank accounts in Hawaii.” ćć Officials at Resona Bank say a male employee in his 20s who worked at the bank’s Ikebukuro branch collected more than ¥155 million from clients and then lost most of the money in foreign currency trades. The man killed himself after the fraud was discovered. ćć It was reported that Japan’s most rapidly aging village is Nanmoku in Gunma, where 57.2 percent of the 2,277 residents are 65 or older. ćć The government estimates the village will have just 702 residents by the year 2040.

RIDING THE RAILS JUST PEACHY ćć Safety officials believe the Argentine pilot of a Peach Aviation jet that made a “dangerous descent” near Naha airport last month mistook an air traffic controller’s instruction to “Maintain” for “Maintain descending.” ćć Authorities say the pilot later told a flight attendant to blame the incident on bad weather. ćć Here we go again: Nearly 70 years after the end of World War II, the leaders of Japan and Germany have vowed “to enhance dialogue for

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26

Number of Japanese college students who have died in binge-drinking incidents since 2004, according to another newspaper report

ćć JR Hokkaido unveiled the design of its nextgeneration shinkansen, which will be able to zip passengers from Tokyo to Hakodate in just over 4 hours. The train will debut in 2016. ćć Railway enthusiasts in Taiwan are giddy about the restoration of a Japanese-made Class C57 steam locomotive that had been out of commission since 1979. ćć Researchers in Tokushima say tidal forces in the Naruto Strait are so powerful that they generate as much energy as four nuclear reactors. ćć Bottom Story of the Week: “Lawyer Aims to Make Constitution ‘Hip’ Through Small Study Sessions” (via Mainichi Japan)

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66.9

Percent of Japanese people who say they’re worried about going broke during their retirement, according to a news organization survey

COMPILED FROM REPORTS BY AP, JAPAN TODAY, THE JAPAN TIMES, JIJI, THE TOKYO REPORTER, THE MAINICHI, THE JAPAN NEWS, AFP, REUTERS AND KYODO

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8 WAYS TO LIVE HEALTHY IN THE CITY

Upfront

By Kelly Gardner

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shop for organic online

switch to raw chocolate

There are a several great farmers’ markets around where you can pick up organic fruit and veg, but that means working a trip there into your weekend plans. Why not kill two birds with one stone and switch to organic as well as online ordering? This way you allay any nagging hidden-chemical fears and get your week ’s supply of goodies delivered to your doorstep. Try www.super-organic.jp for a weekly medium-sized seasonal veggie box (¥5,450, free delivery) and www.alishan-organics.com for things like jams, baking supplies, soy meat and eco household products.

Changing to a largely raw food diet will help your body cope with toxins you ingest from processed foods, smoky bars and exhaust fumes. But what do you do if you have an insatiable sweet tooth? At Natural Mart (http:// naturalmart.jp) in Hiroo you can buy raw cacao powder, raw cacao nibs and coconut oil. Mix two tablespoons of each together, add one tablespoon of honey, combine well, pour into an ice tray to form individual chocolate squares and place in the fridge to set. What you end up with is a rich, raw treat that’s classed as a superfood to boot. Bonus tip: they also sell coconut sugar—a natural sugar that tastes as good without that blood-glucose crash.

3

find the nature It really is on your doorstep. And it doesn’t necessarily have to come with hordes of fellow forest hunters à la the climb to the top of Mount Takao. Venture just a little further to somewhere like the Otama trail, which snakes along the Tama River in Okutama City, and the only people you’ll see along the way are fishermen. For sociable types, visit www.tokyosnowclub.com and sign up for guided adventure tours—contrary to what their name suggests, they do more than just ski trips.

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eat japanese food

embrace acupuncture

Once you realize the health benefits of traditional local foods, it puts a whole new spin on embracing a Japanese diet. Try gobo (burdock root) for digestion—it actually stimulates the growth of healthy gut bacteria; goya (bitter melon) to lower blood sugar levels; collagen to reduce wrinkles; and fermented foods like miso, tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and natto to reduce cholesterol, boost the immune system and support digestion.

If those 30-minute lunchtime massages are just not cutting it, let Dr. Junji Ono (www.junjiono.net) work his magic on tight muscles and angry knots. Based in Shibuya, Dr. Ono has earned a reputation for having a “one-shot acupuncture clinic” because his treatment works so quickly that often patients only need one session. He’s Chinese, but also speaks Japanese and English.

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discover wonderful ukon buy bamboo charcoal It makes food taste good, helps prevent heart disease and cancer, and can cure a hangover. Turmeric, or ukon in Japanese, is believed to be one of the most powerful medicinal herbs out there. And the good news is you don’t have to resort to holding your nose and swigging a shot of the powder—you can buy it in pill form from any drugstore (about ¥1,500) or as part of the hangover prevention drink Ukon no Chikara (about ¥180), available from most supermarkets and convenience stores.

The Japanese have been using takesumi (bamboo charcoal) for thousands of years, and the kind they produce is said to be of the highest quality. Buy it from supermarkets (or Kenko.com and Amazon.jp, etc.) and keep it in cupboards or the fridge to absorb smells and balance humidity. Grind it down (or buy it in powdered form) and use it to whiten teeth and absorb toxins from the body. More info: http://meturl. com/takesumi

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calm down with qi gong You can’t avoid the rush in a city like Tokyo, but you can consciously decrease your stress levels through practices like Tai Chi and Qi Gong, both of which are traditional Chinese arts designed to cultivate qi, or life energy, thereby improving health and helping you cope better with qi-depleting stress. The Mei Quan Academy of Taiji (www.meiquantaichi.com) is centrally located in Roppongi and offers classes in English from ¥15,000 for a six-week course. #1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 05

Feature

WORLD CUP FEVER The world’s biggest sporting event is back and so are Japan’s hopes

By Dan Orlowitz

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his year's tournament will mark Japan’s fifth straight World Cup appearance— an accomplishment few would have considered the defending Asian champions capable of just 20 years ago.

While the Japan Football Association (JFA) struggled for decades to become competitive, playing mostly against Southeast Asian countries and clubs paid handsomely for their presence, archrivals South Korea flourished in the 1980s with regular World Cup appearances.

All of this changed in 1992 with the founding of the J.League, the country’s first professional soccer competition. As the league expanded and clubs continued to improve their youth systems, it was only a matter of time before Japan’s emergence as a team able to compete with the best of Europe and South America.

The squad that will take the field at Recife’s Arena Pernambuco on June 14 (June 15, 10am JST) represent not only Japan’s success in the soccer world, but also its many struggles along the way.

Metropolis looks at some of the highlights (and lowlights) of Samurai Blue’s pursuit of football glory.

1993

Japanese fans feel the Agony of Doha Japan’s first-ever Asian Cup title in 1992 riveted the nation, but what the country’s long-suffering fans really hoped for was a trip to the United States for their first-ever World Cup appearance.

Needing a win against Iraq on the final day of Asian qualifying on October 28, 1993, Japan went into the final ten minutes with a 2-1 lead courtesy of two players who would become the country’s greatest soccer icons, Kazuyoshi Miura and Masashi Nakayama.

06 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

But a late corner kick for Iraq turned into a goal

by Jaffar Omran Salman, causing the match to end at 2-2 and tragically eliminating Japan from qualifying. Known as the “Agony of Doha,” this iconic loss would become ingrained in the hearts and minds of fans for years to come.

1997

A nation revels in the Joy of Johor Bahru After being awarded co-hosting duties with South Korea for the 2002 tournament, an appearance in France ’98 would allow Japan to put its best foot forward. But the team struggled in the final round of qualifying, forcing the ouster of manager Shu Kamo after a second-place finish in the group forced a one-legged playoff showdown with Iran.

His replacement, assistant Takeshi Okada, would oversee the Samurai Blue’s trip to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for a match that would determine Asia’s final representatives.

The team was joined by thousands of Samurai Blue supporters, who erupted in joy when Masayuki Okano’s golden goal in extra time booked Japan’s first World Cup appearance.

1998

Japan wins hearts, if not games, in WC debut Little was expected of Japan in its first World Cup appearance. On the pitch the team managed respectable 0-1 losses to powerhouses Argentina and Croatia, as well as the country’s first World Cup goal courtesy of Masashi Nakayama in a 2-1 loss to Jamaica. In the stands, thousands of Japan supporters contributed to an incredible atmosphere, surprising observers who were completely unaware of soccer’s growing popularity in the Land of the Rising Sun.

The winless side returned home to a mixed reception, including an infamous incident at Narita Airport in which fans threw drinks at striker Shoji Jo. It was as good an indication as any that Japanese fans had begun to inherit not only the iconography used by their European peers, but also their tendency to have a short memory.

2002

Troussier Japan shines at home Four years later, the spotlight was on Japan as half a dozen new stadiums were built across the country. The Samurai Blue fielded a squad that included Sydney Olympians Hidetoshi Nakata, Naoki Matsuda, and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, as well as “Golden Generation” players such as Shinji Ono and Junichi Inamoto.

After an opening draw against Belgium in a packed Saitama Stadium 2002, Philippe Troussier’s side easily progressed to the Round of 16 with wins against Russia and Tunisia. Though Japan was knocked out of the competition by eventual third-place finishers Turkey, the tournament was considered a triumph and gave a boost to J.League attendance.

2006

Zico Japan flounders in Germany Japan punched its ticket to the tournament in a somewhat unusual fashion: a 2-0 closed-door win against North Korea in Bangkok. But under the command of Brazilian legend and former Kashima Antlers player Zico, the team suffered from internal discord and never found its bearings in Germany.

A 1-0 lead against Australia in the opening game turned into a nightmare as Japan surrendered three goals in the final ten minutes, sowing the

ALL PHO TOS A A SA

BY M AT O KI K

for his decision to leave Cerezo Osaka starlet Shinji Kagawa off the team.

But despite warm-up losses to England and Ivory Coast, Okada’s decision to start backup goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima—and bench Shunsuke—paid off for Japan in South Africa. Honda’s goal put Japan over Cameroon in the opening game, and despite a 1-0 loss to Netherlands in the second match, Japan reached the Round of 16 in a 3-1 thrashing of Denmark.

Japan went the distance in its Round of 16 match against Paraguay, taking a scoreless draw all the way to penalty kicks where the team eventually lost 5-3. Okada returned to Japan a hero, while several Japanese players made their way to Europe after impressing scouts.

2014

seeds of what would become a healthy rivalry between the two countries.

That match was followed by a scoreless draw against Croatia and a 4-1 loss to Brazil, sealing Japan’s exit from the tournament. The embarrassing defeat would become the final match for superstar Hidetoshi Nakata, who announced his retirement less than two weeks later.

2010

Embattled Okada Japan provides dramatic display After popular coach Ivica Osim was forced to step down from the national team following a stroke, Takeshi Okada was recalled by the JFA to bring Japan to its fourth-straight World Cup. Despite a largely trouble-free qualification, his lofty goal of reaching the semifinals was widely mocked by both press and fans, and a run of losses ahead of the tournament even inspired fans to petition for Okada’s resignation.

Among the squad’s World Cup debutants were midfielder Keisuke Honda, then at CSKA Moscow, and left back Yuto Nagatomo, who after the tournament would join Italy’s Cesena in the Serie A. Yet rumors flourished that former Celtic legend Shunsuke Nakamura’s inclusion in the squad was due to sponsor pressure, and Okada was criticized

How far can Zac Japan progress?

Though it may be difficult to find anyone truly convinced that Alberto Zaccheroni is capable of guiding Japan to its first World Cup title, it’s undeniable that under his watchful eye the Samurai Blue have become more talented than ever before.

In addition to a qualifying campaign that was considered all but a formality, the Italian led Japan to its fourth Asian Cup title in 2011, as well as its first East Asian Cup in 2013. Japan’s thrilling 4-3 loss to Italy in the Confederations Cup and away wins at France and Belgium drew rave reviews from the international press, but the team has also run cold at times against lower-ranked opponents such as Belarus, Iraq and Canada.

In a crowded World Cup field that includes host Brazil, reigning champion Spain and powerhouses Germany and Argentina among its 32 participants, Japan was rewarded in last December’s final draw with a generously balanced group that includes Colombia, Ivory Coast and Greece. As fans of countries such as England and America lamented their placements in the “Group of Death,” Japanese media rejoiced in the “Group of Opportunity”—albeit one that could see them face titans Italy or Uruguay in the Round of 16.

Japan’s squad of 23 players demonstrates the extent to which Japanese soccer has evolved since the Agony of Doha: the baker’s dozen with prior experience in the J.League’s second division indicate the strength and depth of the country’s soccer culture, while the 12 belonging to European clubs represent Japan’s ability to produce star players.

Speaking of “12,” the “12th Man” should also push Shinji Kagawa and company forward, with supporter group Ultras Nippon prepared to make its presence known wherever Japan is playing. Hordes of journalists and fans traveling to the tournament will be backed by Brazil’s 1.5 million-strong nikkei community, not to mention the millions of neutral fans across the world who have fallen in love with the J.League thanks to internet streaming.

Whether or not Japan reaches its first-ever quarterfinals, its performance at the World Cup will surely inspire more to participate in the sport at all levels—a goal that remains the same for the JFA, even after more than two decades of revolutionary change.

FOREIGN JOURNOS ON JAPAN’S CHANCES PAUL WILLIAMS (Editor, Asian Football Feast) Website: www.asianfootballfeast.com Twitter: @AsianFballFeast Where will Japan finish?

Round of 16 Why? Japan’s attacking talent will more than cover for their suspect defense. Honda, Kagawa, Osako and Kakitani will cause trouble for opposing defenders and while Japan will leak goals, they’ve shown that they can match it with the best against Italy, Belgium and Holland in recent games.

ALAN GIBSON (Editor, JSoccer Magazine) Website: www.jsoccer.com Twitter: @JSoccerMagazine Where will Japan finish?

Quarterfinals Why? The unheralded efficiency of Shinji Okazaki— while the focus is on Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda—may be the key to goals. If the "big occasion" Samurai Blue turn up— the team that gave Holland a scare and Belgium a beating—anything can happen. Japan tends to rise to its opponents. Hopefully a quarterfinal berth can be achieved and then, who knows what can happen in a knockout match!

ANGUS MACLEOD (Editor, JapanFooty) Website: www.japanfooty.com Twitter: @japanfooty Where will Japan finish?

Round of 16 Why? Given the quality of the opposition that Japan is likely to face if it makes it to the second round, I cannot see the team making it as far as the quarterfinals. Going forward, Japan is a very entertaining side to watch, but a shaky defense and an error-prone goalkeeper will make it difficult to improve on its showing at South Africa 2010.

BEN MAXWELL (Host, J-Talk Podcast) Website: jtalkpodcast.blogspot.com Twitter: @JTalkPod Where will Japan finish?

Round of 16 Why? In a wide open group, Japan has a strong chance of progressing, with Yuya Osako my pick to lead the line ahead of "golden boy" Yoichiro Kakitani. Unfortunately for Japan, they are likely to play either Uruguay or Italy (sorry, England!) in the first knockout round if the team makes it out of its group, and even though the Samurai Blue gave the Italians a hell of a game at the Confederations Cup last year, I don't think they will be able to pull off an upset and make the quarterfinals.

#1053• #1051 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 07

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They sell not only natural and organic edibles, but also multifunctional health provisions and daily comestibles that are good for the body. All of the products are very carefully and attentively screened and selected. Products available on the website are only the top 10 percent of those made available by partner manufacturers. Take some time to explore the website and learn more about the wide variety of wholesome products on offer. These organic and natural products are good for the well-being of your body, mind and spirit. Shop now and earn one point of credit for every ¥100 you spend!

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1F CAS Bldg, 5-3-9 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku 03-6277-0962 Daily 8am-7pm Hiroo www.islandveggie.com

#1053 ● WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP ● 09

Arts & Entertainment ALL THE BEST IN ARTS & CULTURE ACROSS THE METROPOLIS

S E T U BR NLEASHED U

stage

ects r i d mes a J i Diquza Bruta Fuer in

By L

a ll isa W

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PHOTO COURTESY OF FUERZA BRUTA

t’s been a long road for Diqui James (pictured right) and the band of amazing artists populating his hard-hitting, fullimmersion spectacle, Fuerza Bruta.

When the Argentine military dictatorship ended in the early 1980s, James joined like-minded young ar t ists to unleash an explosive burst of creativity onto the streets of Buenos Aires. La Organización Negra (The Black Group) nurtured a dark and almost violent form of street theater, and as its popularity grew, its members were soon climbing the walls of buildings and performing aerial acrobatics suspended from massive pieces of constructed scaffolding. An offshoot group with a more positive—and commercial—spin, De La Guarda, achieved global recognition and even came to Japan in 2003, but it still did not represent what James hoped to artistically achieve.

Now with Fuerza Bruta, James aims to continue the tradition of events such as carnival and street theater, which broke the social and cultural boundaries between Argentina’s literate elite and the less educated lower classes. And that formula is working to break international boundaries as well.

“It’s a social, not individual experience,” James tells Metropolis. “When you gather 1,000 Japanese people, they will react differently from 1,000 Argentinians. It’s a different approach from a physical point of view: we kiss each other when we say hello, we embrace and talk and move our hands a lot. In Japan, not as much—we’re breaking social rules, so the reaction is very different. And watching people’s reactions… the Japanese are so extreme. They are super calm and then wild in one second. I love it.”

James believes that his audience is inseparable

PHOTOS: KOHJI SHIIKI

from the show, providing it with a key piece of its street-festival rawness. “It’s a nice connection, knowing that the audience can change parts of the show depending on how much they want to participate and interact, but even just watching, you’re part of it.”

Indeed, Fuerza Bruta’s performers regularly storm through the all-standing crowd, drawing audience members out by the wrists or smashing paper boxes full of confetti over their heads. The various stages and set pieces rumble across the floor as the crowd scrambles to get out of the way, while an aerial pool of water gradually descends so low the audience can reach up and touch it as performers slam their bodies against the transparent plastic plane from above.

“It’s the opposite of a circus, where you’re watching people do things that you will never do in your life. Here it’s the opposite. We reach a performing aspect where audience members think ‘I want to be in the pool, I want to be dancing,’ and they feel this is something they can do.”

Not to say the cast isn’t talented: Some of James’ performers have been working with his company since 1999, and he’s always pushing forward with new ideas. “I sit down and start talking about an idea and everybody will say, ‘Ahh I saw something like that…’ and you think that it’s all already been done. But I don’t care, because I will do it differently. After we’ve finished it then I’ll check out what they were talking about and it’s totally different. I think it’s important to go ahead and believe in your own instinct. If you do something, it will stand out from what anyone else does.”

James never pushes his performers beyond their comfort points, though, and they communicate with complete trust. He feels that enjoying what they do is vital for both his cast’s safety and the show’s high-energy atmosphere. Performers who feel safe, both creatively and physically, are performers who are willing to test their limits on their own, he reasons. More than physical daring, he demands the creativity to enjoy trying out new things, and the focus to reproduce the same show day after day while touring far and wide.

It took nine years of discussion and preparation to bring Fuerza Bruta and its elaborate props—or “toys,” as James calls them—to Japan.

Yet this is only the beginning, with a bigger show planned in New York later this year. James always has his eye on doing the next new thing in his own inimitable way.

Until Jun 29 at Akasaka Sacas. See stage listings for details. http://fuerzabruta.jp

japan beat

CARL STONE

Resident expat computer music seer

By Dan Grunebaum

C

omputer music pioneer Carl Stone’s career took a left turn when he joined the Department of Information Media at Chukyo University in Aichi. Stone had begun to explore sonic collages via cassettes and turntables in the 1970s, and in the ’80s innovated the use of laptops to create live electronic music. Invitations to Japan led to a faculty position, and Stone now splits his time between Japan and the US. The native Californian spoke to Metropolis about the computer’s evolving role in music and how Japan shapes his sound.

Computer music is now omnipresent. What have been the biggest changes since the ’70s? Miniaturization and portability. When I was a student we had a synthesizer studio that probably cost about a half-million dollars.

Now that studio's power can be roughly represented in a ¥5,000 iPad app. I used to tour with about 50kg of gear.

Now all I take is a laptop, audio interface and toothbrush.

Is the computer now just another musical instrument?

It depends on how one chooses to use it. It definitely can be an instrument, but it can also be a tool for composing, for recording and more.

Much computer music lacks traditional identifiers of music such as melody and rhythm. What differentiates “sound” from “music”? In John Cage’s theory, nothing.

Not only did he feel that any sound could be repurposed as music, but in fact the distinction between even

unintended sound and music was artificial. I remember listening to a conversation between Cage and Morton Feldman, another great composer. Feldman was complaining about the time he was walking on the shore, lost in thought, and some people were blasting music from a radio. Cage, who often used unintended sounds including random radio transmissions, laughed and said that it wouldn’t have bothered him because, “I would think they were just playing one of my pieces.”

Tell us about two or three of your defining works, and what you were trying to achieve with them. Probably my most notorious work is called “Shing Kee,” which takes a small sample of German art-song sung in English by a Japanese pop singer, and methodically stretches it until it becomes a new sonic world. A more current series of pieces I’ve done recently use an electronic process I call “skinning,” where the shape and rhythm of one piece of music is “wrapped” around the harmony of another. Some very interesting things can result. Probably the best example of this is in my piece “Al-Noor.”

CHINA DRESS

Cosplay as art

By C.B. Liddell

T

he latest exhibition at the Bridgestone Museum of Art is a small but fascinating look at the motif of the Chinese dress in early 20th-century Japanese painting. Why did so many Western-style Japanese painters of this era get their models to don the gaudy elegance of a neighboring country?

One obvious explanation is that the typical Chinese dress, a slightly modernized version of the old Qing Dynasty qipao (mandarin gown)—sometimes with a slit up the leg, sometimes without—was simply an elegant and colorful garment that was appealing to paint.

It certainly fit in with the slightly lurid palette that was favored in those days, as we can see in Perfume (1915) by Takeji Fujishima, who, along with Ryuzaburo Umehara, is one of the main painters featured here, although there are works by other well-known Japanese painters as well.

One of the theories put forward is that these paintings are, oddly enough, examples of “Orientalism.”

This is a process of projection and “privileged” perception—identified by the Palestinian cultural critic Edward Said—that supposedly subordinates weaker countries and cultures to stronger ones by emphasizing the exotic.

It is usually associated with Western imperialism and post-colonialism, but in this case Japan was supposedly playing the Western role and casting the

Profile of a Woman, 1926-7 by Takeji Fujishima rest of Asia in the role of an exoticized and sexualized artistic subject.

One possible weakness of this thesis, however, is that most of the models in the works were actually Japanese. Even Sotaro Yasui’s famous Portrait of Chin-Jung (1934) is a painting of a Japanese lady—Chin-Jung being a playful nickname.

In many works, such as Seishiro Yata’s endearing Girl Who Put on Chinese Clothes (1927), there is more a sense of cosplay or fashion expediency, as the Chinese dress was at its height of popularity in Japan in the

POLA MUSEUM OF ART

art

How have your many years in Japan influenced your music and career? In many ways. First of all, just being in Japan serves as a place of constant stimulation, not only because of the arts scene but because of the fascinating urban soundscape. I rarely go outside without a handy portable recorder. But also the music scene itself here is interesting, and I’ve found a lot of musicians I enjoy playing with. I’ve been lucky to improvise with great musicians like Yoshihide Otomo, Yasuaki Shimizu and Yuji Takahashi.

What are some of the challenges you face as a foreigner on the faculty of a Japanese university? The usual issues of language and culture differences, which of course get mediated over time. I was a freelance composer for many years before I took this job, so I had very little experience in academia besides my early years as a student at an American art school. Academic bureaucracies are problematic enough, but the Japanese seem to have raised them to an art form.

Japan is a hub of computer music. Tell us about a few favorite Japanese computer music composers. Electronic music has a lot of important history here, going back to pioneering work by Toru Takemitsu, Yuji Takahashi, Akira Ikufube. These days I’m enjoying music

by Ryoji Ikeda, Satanic Pornocultshop and Chihei Hatakeyama.

Tell us about your upcoming performances and new groups. I’ll play on June 6 with Brian O'Reilly from Singapore, who performs as Black Zenith. In the fall, I’ll play with new group Tapakasa, featuring the great Akira Sakata on sax, Yumiko Tanaka on shamisen and Pearl Alexander on bass. We performed earlier this year as an experiment and liked the results so much we are planning to keep it going.

Ftarri, Jun 6. See concert listings (popular) for details.

early 1930s. Ryuzaburo Umehara’s lurid and savage canvases featured his wife in Chinese dresses that she made up expressly for the purpose of modeling for her husband.

Rather than a prelude to imperialism, the Japanese interest in the garment therefore can better be understood as an attempt to find a modern fashion aesthetic that better suited the Asian physical type. One strength of the Chinese dress was that it could be modernized much more successfully than the more cumbersome Japanese kimono.

Takeji Fujishima was particularly interested in creating a modern sense of Asiatic beauty to compete with the aesthetic dominance of the West. One of his goals as an artist was to paint profile portraits of Japanese women that could compare with the exquisite beauty of the Renaissance profile portraits he had seen in Italy.

In his memoirs he admitted the difficulties.

“I was stuck because I couldn’t find a Japanese woman with a beautiful profile,” he uncharitably wrote.

“They might be beautiful seen face-to-face, but seen from the side half, their beauty disappeared.”

In Profile of a Woman (1926-7) he finally found a model to serve his purpose, although photos of the girl suggest there may have been a degree of stylization and exaggeration.

In works like this, Japanese Western-style painters were able to escape from the “kimono look,” which had been commandeered by the rival nihonga painters, while also asserting a degree of independence from their Western models.

The Bridgestone Museum of Art, until Jul 21. See exhibition listings (Ginza/Kyobashi/Tokyo) for details. #1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 11

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12 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

AGENDA

COURTESY OF CREATIVEMAN

community

ETSY CRAFT PARTY

Utagawa KunisadaⅡ, “Ceremony of Entering the Ring of the 11th Yokozuna, Shiranui Kōemon”

exhibition

SUMO IN UKIYO-E � Despite recent foreign incursions, sumo remains the most Japanese of sports, with age-old Shinto traditions at its heart. With the f lourishing of ukiyo-e woodblock prints in the Edo era, the artistic depiction of heroic sumo wrestlers reached its apogee. This exhibition presents about 100 works from the collection of Kazuyoshi Ishiguro that depict not only the giant wrestlers locked in combat, but also their daily lives and routines alongside scenes of sumo being viewed by Edo-era crowds.

Of particular interest is a series of illustrations of the successive yokozuna, or highest-ranked sumo wrestlers, from the Edo period, including the development of the ring-entering ceremony that is still carried out today.—Dan Grunebaum Jun 1-26, Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art. See exhibition listings for details.

� Online marketplace Etsy offers people all over the world a chance to connect to buy and sell handmade and vintage goods. Stepping into the non-digital world, the Etsy Craft Party is a one-day celebration of meeting and making. Craft maniacs will unite to create something according to this year’s theme, “recapture,” transforming photographs into displayworthy works of art using craft supplies and creative techniques. The event will be shared online through the hashtag #craftparty, with participants around the world using the same theme to produce their own creative works. Entrance is free and the door is open to anyone. Bring family and friends—but keep an eye on your kids, as needles and scissors will be everywhere. —Lisa Wallin Jun 6, Studio and Space IVVA. See community listings for details.

concert

COLDPLAY

� Post-breakup Chris Martin brings his rock juggernaut back to town for what’s being billed as an intimate club night. Of course, the 2,000-seat Tokyo Dome City Hall can only be considered “cozy” when you’ve headlined Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic and are usually booked into the likes of Saitama Super Arena. Coldplay have been touring the world presenting songs from their newly released Ghost Stories, an album that charts the course of Martin’s “conscious decoupling” from you-know-who (…um, that’s Gw yneth Paltrow just in case you didn’t). Coldplay shows have the power to draw the audience in and take them on an adventure in an alternative universe. Bring a hankie and prepare to sing along.—DG Jun 12, Tokyo Dome City Hall. See concert listings (popular) for details.

PHOTO: PAUL-SANDERS

sport

ROLLER DERBY

learning

FELDENKRAIS CLASS

� The Feldenkrais Method® is a physical and mental education system designed to increase physical self-awareness through movement. The brainchild of Moshé Feldenkrais, a physicist and engineer who also co-founded the Jiu Jitsu Club de France, the method was initially developed in the late 1940s to address Feldenkrais’ own chronic knee injury. Exploring the relationships between joints, muscles and posture, the method aims to make students aware of their muscular use patterns and discover new ways of moving to reduce pain and increase efficiency. Classes focus on comfortable, easy movements that gradually evolve into functional activities. —Mike Kanert Jun 6-28, Hongo Koryukan. See learning listings for details.

� Ever wonder what really goes down at chicks' roller derby? Find out when the Tokyo Roller Girls lace up for an all-star doubleheader at the Purdy Fitness Center on the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka.

The first bout gets rollin’ at 10:30am and the initial matchup is the Tokyo Roller Girls B Team versus the Killa Geishas of Masawa. Then at 1pm, the Okinawa Devil Dog Derby Dames go head-to-head with the Tokyo Roller Girls All Stars. Both Tokyo Roller Girl teams boast members of the Zama Killer Katanas (pictured). And FYI, the Katanas are looking for new skaters: Japanese nationals and SOFA-sponsored women are welcome. There’s also a junior league for ages 7-17. If you don’t have a military ID to attend the base bouts (sanctioned by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association), don’t fret—you can register at the gate and be escorted to the mayhem.—Aly Lawson Jun 14, Purdy Fitness Center, Yokosuka. See sports listings for details.

PHOTO: ROB SHAW

concert

Danny Elfman & Tim Burton

DANNY ELFMAN � Anyone who’s ever seen a Tim Burton film knows that Danny Elfman’s evocative music is one of the keys to their success. In 2013, Elfman premiered a program of music from Burton films accompanied by footage, sketches and storyboards from classics such as Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Conducted

by John Mauceri with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Senzoku Freshman Singers, the Tokyo rendition of this worldwide smash promises to feature a special guest performance from Danny Elfman himself. Tickets go on sale May 24—and knowing Japan’s affection for Burton and pop-classical hybrids in general, they’re sure to go fast.—DG Aug 9-10, Tokyo International Forum. See concert listings for details.

#1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 13

Listings Concerts POPULAR Live Dojo

J-pop band with a masked maid-turned-guitarist, Sekkenya. May 30, 7pm; May 31, 6pm, ¥3,500 (adv) +1d.

Shinjuku Loft. Nearest stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 03-5272-0382. www.loft-prj.co.jp/LOFT

Taicoclub 14

Lightning Bolt, Panda Bear and others. May 31, 11:30am-Jun 1, 2pm, ¥11,000-12,500 (adv).

Kodama no Mori. Nearest stn: Yabuhara.

Tel: 03-6303-3690. http://taicoclub.com/14

Man with a Mission

Rockers in wolves' clothing.

May 31, 5pm, ¥4,935 (adv).

Makuhari Messe. Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. www.diskgarage.com

The Birthday

Japanese garage rock. May 31, 6pm, ¥4,860 (adv) +1d.

Yokohama Bay Hall. Nearest stn: Motomachi-Chukagai.

Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.smash-jpn.com

1Eyedman

Self-deprecative lyrics with pop-rock melodies and electro riffs. May 31, 7pm, ¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door). O-Nest. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-3462-4420. shibuya-o.com

The Watanabes and Jimmy Binks

Melodic pop and alternative country fundraiser for Playground for Hope. May 31, 8pm, free (donations welcome). What the Dickens.

Nearest stn: Ebisu.

Tel: 03-3780-2099. www.thewatanabes.com

ARTEMA

Electro-metalcore. Jun 1, 7pm, ¥3,000 (adv) +1d.

Daikanyama Unit. Nearest stn: Daikanyama.

Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.smash-jpn.com

Buridane

Profound and sensitive lyrics penned and sung by young French singer. Jun 1, 6:30pm, free. Zounohana Terrace. Nearest stn: Nihon O-dori. Tel: 045-201-1514. www.institutfrancais.jp/ yokohama

Super Anisong Ichiban

Voice actresses perform anime songs live. Jun 1, 5pm, ¥3,500-4,000 (adv) +1d.

Akasaka Blitz. Nearest stn: Akasaka. Tel: 03-5720-9999. www.tbs.co.jp/blitz

One Click Wonder Vol. 4

Kiba of Akiba, Kissing the Mirror and more. Jun 1, 6pm, ¥2,500 (adv) +1d. O-West.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 0570-02-9999. www.hipjpn.co.jp

Good4Nothing

With ska-punk band Hey-Smith. Jun 1, 6pm, ¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door) +1d. Shibuya Club Quattro.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 050-5533-0888. www.club-quattro.com

Sadie

Heavy metal visual-kei. Jun 2, 7pm, ¥4,860 (adv) +1d.

Akasaka Blitz. Nearest stn: Akasaka. Tel: 03-5720-9999. www.red-hot.ne.jp

The Album Leaf

Solo project by Jimmy LaValle. Jun 3, 7pm, ¥5,000 (adv) +1d. WWW. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.smash-jpn.com

Fact

With Memphis May Fire and Lower than Atlantis. Jun 4, 6:30pm, ¥3,700 (adv) +1d.

14 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

GO TO WWW.METURL.COM/LISTINGS FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS Zepp Tokyo. Nearest stn: Aomi.

Tel: 03-3499-6669. www. creativeman.co.jp

Letters Vol. 27

Braziliansize, Fat Prop and others. Jun 4, 6:30pm, ¥2,300 (adv)/ ¥2,800 (door) +1d.

F.A.D Yokohama. Nearest stn: Ishikawa. Tel: 045-663-3842. www.fad-music.com

Godiego

Japanese progressive rock.

Jun 6-7, various times, ¥9,000.

Motion Blue. Nearest stn: Bashamichi. Tel: 045-2261919. www.motionblue.co.jp

Carl Stone

Composer and sampling king joined by Black Zenith and others. Jun 6, 7:30pm, ¥2,000 (adv). Ftarri.

Nearest stn: Suidobashi.

Tel: 03-6677-0117.

Loudness

1980s metal band celebrates 30 years in the biz. Jun 6, 7:30pm, ¥7,000 (adv) +1d. Ex Theater Roppongi. Nearest stn: Roppongi or Nogizaka.

Tel: 03-3499-6669. www.creativeman.co.jp

Four Get Me A Nots

Kaminari Sessions

Genius guitarist Rolly and others. Jun 13, 7:30pm, ¥4,000 (adv)/ ¥4,500 (door) +1d. F.A.D Yokohama.

Nearest stn: Ishikawa. info@kaminari-guitar.com. www.fad-music.com

Big Mouth Rock Festival

Meaning, Nogod, Lynch and others. Jun 14, 4pm, ¥4,100 (adv)/ ¥4,600 (door). Club Citta.

Nearest stn: Kawasaki.

Tel: 045-650-2155. www.artpop.org/bmrf2014

Broccasion Live

Asparagus, Back Drop Bomb, The Novembers and more. Jun 14, 4pm, ¥4,500 (adv) +1d. Ex Theater Roppongi. Nearest stn: Roppongi or Nogizaka.

Tel: 03-3444-6751. www.smash-jpn.com

JAZZ/WORLD Chuck Loeb's Silhouette Band Super guitarist with others.

May 28-30, various times, ¥8,000-10,000. Cotton Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo.

Tel: 03-3215-1555. www. cottonclubjapan.co.jp

Three-piece melodic J-rock.

Jun 6, 7pm, ¥2,800 (adv)/ ¥3,300 (adv) +1d. Club Quattro.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-3475-9999. www.club-quattro.com

Yousuke Onuma Quartet

Satanic Carnival

Simon Phillips

With Maximum the Hormone, Dustbox, SiM and more. Jun 7, noon, ¥8,500 (adv). Makuhari Messe. Nearest stn: KaihinMakuhari. info@satanic.jp. satanic.jp

Nocturnal Bloodlust

Melodic metal visual-kei.

Jun 7, 6pm, ¥3,600 (adv) +1d.

Shinjuku Blaze. Nearest stn: Shinjuku. www.diskgarage. com

The Pees

Old school rock'n'roll. Jun 7, 7pm, ¥3,800 (adv)/ ¥4,300 (door) +1d. Club Quattro.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-3770-6900. www.vintage-rock.com

Extreme

Blast from the past. Jun 9, 7pm, ¥8,000-9,000 (adv) +1d.

Shibuya Public Hall. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-34025999. www.udo.jpBlast from the past. Jun 10, 7pm, ¥8,0009,000 (adv). Tokyo Dome City Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi.

Tel: 03-3402-5999. www. udo.jp

Mucc

With Sug and others. Jun 12, 6:30pm, ¥6,000 (adv) +!d.

Studio Coast. Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba. Tel: 050-55330888. www.diskgarage.com

D-Lite

Singer from K-pop group Big Bang. Jun 12, 7pm, ¥8,800 (adv) +1d. Yokohama Arena.

Nearest stn: Shin-Yokohama.

Tel: 050-5533-0888. www. diskgarage.com

Coldplay

Chris Martin and company play tearjerking tracks from their new album. Jun 12, 7pm, ¥12,000 (adv) +1d. Tokyo Dome City Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi. Tel: 03-3499-6669. www.creativeman.co.jp

Albert Lee

Country rock. Jun 13-Jun 15. various times, ¥7,500-9,500.

Cotton Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp/ en/

Acid Black Cherry

Former Janne Da Arc member's solo project. Jun 13, 6:30pm; Jun 14, 5:30pm, ¥7,500 (adv) +1d. Yoyogi National Gymnasium. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae.

Tel: 050-5533-0888. www.diskgarage.com

First quartet performance. May 30, 7 & 9pm, ¥4,500. Motion Blue. Nearest stn: Bashamichi.

Tel: 045-226-1919. www. motionblue.co.jp English jazz, pop and rock drummer. May 30-31, various times, ¥8,500. Blue Note.

Nearest stn: Omotesando.

Tel: 03-5485-0088. www.bluenote.co.jp

Simon Phillips: Protocol II Featuring Andy Timmons, Steve Weingart and Ernest Tibbs. Jun 1-2. various times, ¥8,500-10,000. Cotton Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo.

Tel: 03-3215-1555. www. cottonclubjapan.co.jp/en/

Ayane Shino

Solo guitarist . Jun 1, 2 & 3pm, ¥2,000. Softwind. Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-6808-7337. www.softwind.jp

Concert in Support of Ofunato City

Various artists performing to support earthquakestricken city. Jun 1, 2pm, ¥1,800-3,500. Mori no Hall.

Nearest stn: Hashimoto. Tel: 042-775-3811. www.hall-net. or.jp/02hashimoto

Momo Ohtani Trio

Jazz piano, bass, and drums trio. Jun 3, 8 & 9:30pm, ¥2,0002,500. Softwind. Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-6808-7337. www.softwind.jp

Noriko Satomi

Classical songs fused with jazz.

Jun 4, 7 & 9pm, ¥4,200. Motion Blue. Nearest stn: Bashamichi.

Tel: 045-226-1919. www.motionblue.co.jp

Sinne Eeg

Popular Danish jazz vocalist.

Jun 4, 6 & 9:30pm, ¥6,5008,500. Cotton Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp

Wayne Escoffery Quartet

With David Kikoski, Gerald Cannon, and Lewis Nash. Jun 5-Jun 7. various times, ¥7,5009,500. Cotton Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp

Inomata Takeshi Trio

Old-school jazz drummer with piano and bass. Jun 5, 7pm, ¥4,200. Ginza Jujiya Hall. Nearest stn: Ginza or Yurakucho. Tel: 03-3535-1028. www.hall.ginzajujiya.com

Chris Dave and the Drumhedz

Drummer with other highly acclaimed musicians. Jun 6, 7 & 9:30pm, ¥5,500-7,500.

Billboard Live.

Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.billboard-live.com

Jazz Concert for Families

Kazumi Tateishi Trio performs music from Ghibli movies and other anime. Jun 7, 11am, ¥500-2,000. Mori no Hall.

Nearest stn: Hashimoto. Tel: 042-775-3811. www.hall-net. or.jp/02hashimoto

Tak Matsumoto Solo Live Tour 2014 B'z guitarist’s solo tour. Jun 8-15, various times, ¥9,800.

Blue Note. Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. www.bluenote.co.jp

Gentle Forest Jazz Band

Theatrical big band. Jun 8, 5 & 8pm, ¥4,000. Motion Blue.

Nearest stn: Bashamichi.

Tel: 045-226-1919. www.motionblue.co.jp

Yukari Yamamura

Collaboration of classical flutist and jazz guitarist, Taro Sukegawa . Jun 9, 8 & 9:30pm, ¥2,800. Softwind. Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-6808-7337. www.softwind.jp

Toshio Miki

Sax player with others. Jun 10, 7:10pm, ¥2,800. Satin Doll.

Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-3401-3080. www.leglant. com/satindoll

Carpe Diem

Dynamic piano and violin duo. Jun 12, 8 & 9:15pm, ¥2,500. Softwind. Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-6808-7337. www.softwind.jp

Chino Montero

Three-time Grammy nominated artist from Hawaii.

Jun 13, 7pm, ¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door). Thumbs Up. Nearest stn: Yokohama.

Tel: 045-314-8705. http://livealoha808.com

Rufus Lin Jazz Trio

Canadian jazz vocalist and pianist with friends. Jun 14, 8pm, ¥1,500. Café Dolce Vita.

Nearest stn: Okubo.

Tel: 03-3364-1530. http://rufuslinmusic.com

Blue Mt. Boys

Classic country and western and bluegrass. Every third Sat, 6:30 & 7:30pm, free, Cafe Sepia.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-3406-1300. www.nagaremono.com/sepia

CLASSICAL Teatro Dell'opera Di Roma: Nabucco Conducted by Riccardo Muti.

May 30, 3pm; Jun 1, 3pm, ¥8,000-54,000. NHK Hall.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-3791-8888. www.roma2014.jp

Metropolitan Series

Conducted by Michael Sanderling starring violinist Katrin Scholz. May 30, 7pm, ¥3,000-7,200. Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space.

Nearest stn: Ikebukuro.

Tel: 0570-00-4390. http://yomikyo.or.jp/

Teatro Dell'opera Di Roma: Simon Boccanegra Conducted by Riccardo Muti.

May 25 & 31, 3pm; May 27, 6:30pm, ¥8,000-54,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 03-3791-8888. www.roma2014.jp

The 72nd Yokohama Minato Mirai Popular Series

Conducted by Michael Sanderling starring violinist Katrin Scholz with Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.

May 31, 2pm, ¥1,500-7,200.

Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall.

Nearest stn: Minatomirai.

Tel: 0570-00-4390. http://yomikyo.or.jp

Sacred Music from Four Centuries Tokyo Embassy Choir

performing choral masterpieces from Victoria to Stravinsky. May 31, 6:30pm; Jun 7, 7pm, free, with collection for local charities. Meiji Gakuin Chapel. Nearest stn: Meguro. www.meijigakuin.ac.jp

Marc Albrecht

With Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. Jun 1, 2pm, ¥2,000-5,800. Suntory Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. Tel: 0570-55-0017. www.suntory.co.jp

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

With The Philadelphia Orchestra. Jun 2-3, 7pm, ¥10,000-35,000. Suntory Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. Tel: 0570-550017. www.suntory.co.jp/ suntoryhall

Kunitachi College of Music Piano Project Yuko Hisamoto on piano. Jun 3, 7pm, ¥500-2,000. Suntory Hall Blue Rose. Nearest stn: Roppongi Itchome. Tel: 0570-55-0017. www.suntory. co.jp/suntoryhall

Barbara Frittoli

Soprano recital. Jun 4, 7pm, ¥4,000-15,000. Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. Nearest stn: Hatsudai or Shinjuku. Tel: 03-3791-8888. www.nbs.or.jp

The Vienna Chamber Orchestra

Conducted by Stefan Vladar and featuring pianist Tomoharu Ushida. Jun 5, 7pm, ¥6,000-9,000. Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. Nearest stn: Hatsudai or Shinjuku. Tel: 03-5353-9999. www.operacity. jp/concert

Cello Ensemble 008

Performing "Stairway to Heaven" and other songs. Jun 6, 7pm, ¥4,200. Ginza Jujiya Hall. Nearest stn: Ginza or Yurakucho. Tel: 03-3535-1028. www.hall.ginzajujiya.com

Sumida Triphony Hall. Nearest stn: Kinshicho. Tel: 03-56085404. www.triphony.com

Verdi’s Requiem

With Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and New National Theatre Chorus.

Jun 12, 7pm, ¥3,600-7,200.

Suntory Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongi-itchome. Tel: 0570-55-0017. www.suntory. co.jp/suntoryhall

Vladimir Ashkenazy

With pianist Behzod Abduraimov and NHK Symphony Orchestra. Jun 13, 7pm, ¥1,500-8,800. NHK Hall. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-3465-1751. www.nhk.or.jp

Jonathan Nott

With Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and Jennifer Larmore singing songs perfect for the early summer. Jun 14, 6pm, ¥2,000-9,000. Suntory Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. Tel: 0570-550017. www.suntory.co.jp/ suntoryhall

Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton

Live orchestra plays famous scores by Danny Elfman with visuals of Tim Burton's original sketches and storyboards. Aug 9, 6:30pm; Aug 10, 1pm, ¥5,8009,800. Tokyo International Forum. Nearest stn: Yurakucho.

Tel: 0570-550-799. www. elfman-burton.jp

Stage Cavalleria Rusticana

Story of love, adultery and revenge in Sicily. May 30, 2pm, ¥5,250-26,250. New National Theatre Tokyo. Nearest stn: Hatsudai. Tel: 0120-489-459. www.nntt.jac.go.jp

Romeo & Juliet

With pianist Itamar Golan . Jun 7, 2pm, ¥6,000-13,000. Suntory Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. Tel: 0570-55-0017. www.suntory.co.jp/ suntoryhall

Shakespeare's classic tale of love and tragedy, performed by the Representative International Theatre Company of London. May 30, 6:30pm, ¥5,000 (adv)/ ¥5,500 (door). Musashino Kokaido.

Nearest stn: Kichijoji. Tel: 0422-46-5121. http://meturl.com/romjul14

Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi

Arabella

Maxim Vengerov Violin Recital

Opening night of Chamber Music Garden. Jun 7, 6pm, ¥1,000-5,000. Suntory Hall Blue Rose. Nearest stn: Roppongi Itchome. www. suntory.co.jp/suntoryhall

Teiko Maehashi

Solo violinist with pianist Kazumasa Matsumoto. Jun 8, 2pm, ¥3,000. Suntory Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. Tel: 0570-550017. www.suntory.co.jp/ suntoryhall

Behzod Abduraimov

Piano recital. Jun 8, 3pm, ¥1,000-3,500. Saitama Arts Theater. Nearest stn: Yonohonmachi. Tel: 0570-064939. www.saf.or.jp

Lina Vasta

Legendary soprano singer . Jun 8, 2pm, ¥5,800. Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. Nearest stn: Hatsudai or Shinjuku. Tel: 03-5353-9999. operacity.jp

Tokyo College of Music

Performance by current students and graduates . Jun 9, 7pm, ¥2,000. Suntory Hall Blue Rose. Nearest stn: Roppongi Itchome. www.suntory.co.jp/ suntoryhall

Operatic tale of two sisters and their dreams of romance.

May 31 & Jun 3, 2pm, ¥5,40026,250. New National Theatre Tokyo. Nearest stn: Hatsudai.

Tel: 03-5352-9999. www.nntt.jac.go.jp

Kafka on the Shore

One of Haruki Murakami's best works adapted for the stage. Japanese only. Until Jun 7, various times, ¥7,0009,800. Saitama Arts Theater.

Nearest stn: Yonohonmachi.

Tel: 0570-064-939. www.saf.or.jp

Thriller Live

Musical featuring some of Michael Jackson's greatest hits. Until Jun 8, various times, ¥5,500-8,500. Blue Theater.

Nearest stn: Roppongi.

Tel: 03-5414-3255. www.thrillerlive.jp

Alien Registration

Stories of life in transience told

by Tokyo-based musicians and actors. Jun 8, 2:30 & 7:30pm, ¥2,000 (adv)/ ¥2,500 (door) +1d. Bar Gari Gari.

Nearest stn: Ikenoue. mjleroux@gmail.com.

Rokumeikan

Dr. Brian Bowman with Tomomi Sato on piano. Jun 10, 7pm, ¥2,500-3,000. Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall. Nearest stn: Hatsudai or Shinjuku.

Tel: 03-5353-9999. www.operacity.jp

Japanese dramatic opera about the love-hate relationship of a parent and child. Jun 19-20, 6:30pm; Jun 21-22, 2pm, ¥3,150-16,200.

New National Theatre Tokyo.

Nearest stn: Hatsudai.

Tel: 03-5352-9999. www.nntt.jac.go.jp

New Japan Philharmonic

Kodo: Mystery

Euphonium Recital

Featuring various musicians.

Jun 11, 7:15pm, ¥3,000-10,800.

Re-interpretation of Japanese traditional taiko. Jun 21, 4pm;

Jun 22-23, 3pm; Jun 24, 6pm; Jun 25, 2pm, ¥3,000 (students)/ ¥7,000 (gen). Asakusa Public Hall. Nearest stn: Asakusa.

Tel: 03-3844-7491. www.kodo.or.jp

Module

Butterflies are Free

Origami

Leonard Gershe's romantic comedy about a blind musician's budding relationship. Jun 26-27, 7pm; Jun 28, 1 & 7pm; Jun 29, 3pm, ¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000 (door).

Our Space Studio. Nearest stn: Hatagaya. http://baf.ytg.jp

Fuerza Bruta

Postmodern theater show from Buenos Aires. Until Jun 29, various times, ¥8,800 (adv)/ ¥9,800 (door). Akasaka Sacas.

Nearest stn: Akasaka. www. fuerzabruta.jp

Dance The Peacock

Techvane. Techno: DJs Petter B, Mochi, etc. From 10pm, ¥3,000 w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.module-tokyo.com Sidney Charles. House, techno: DJs Sidney Charles, So, etc. From 10pm, ¥3,500.

Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel: 03-6434-0968. http://meturl. com/origamiclub

Sound Museum Vision

Module

Shibuya Mixx!! Edm: DJs Shu, Kaya, etc. From 10pm, (m)¥3,500 w/2d, (f)¥2,500 w/2d. Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-5428-8692. www. t2-shibuya.com

Global Rhythms. DJs Shark, Sancon, etc. From 10pm, ¥2,000 w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.theroom.jp

Panorama

Compagnie DCA performs under the direction of Philippe Decouflé. Jun 13, 7:30pm; Jun 14-15, 3pm, ¥1,0005,000. Saitama Arts Theater.

Nearest stn: Yonohonmachi.

Tel: 0570-064-939. www.saf. or.jp/en

Fabulae

Japanese flamenco bailaora and Spanish butoh dancer.

Jun 15, 7pm, ¥6,000. Owl Spot Theater. Nearest stn: Higashi Ikebukuro. Tel: 070-54641971. www.owlspot.jp

Paint it India Vol.2

Indian classical dance with Taiwanese artists. Jun 20, 7pm, ¥3,000 (adv)/ ¥3,500 (door) /¥5,000 (w/ workshop).

Roma Rakuda. Nearest stn: Higashi Nakano. padma. odissi@gmail.com. http:// meturl.com/paintitindia

Clubbing

Matrix Friday. Old school hip-hop: DJ Ykk and more.

From 6pm, ¥1,000 (after 11:30pm). Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp

The Room

Velours

9th Anniversary. DJs Tibby, Tsukimoto, etc. From 10pm, (m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f)¥2,500 w/1d. Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel: 03-57784777. www.velours.jp

Womb

Defected in the House. House: DJs Sam Divine, Daishi Dance, etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.womb. co.jp

SATURDAY 31 Ageha

FRIDAY 30 Ageha

Afrojack. Edm: DJ Afrojack and more. From 10pm, ¥10,000.

Nearest stn: Shinkiba. www. ageha.com

Air

Reboot. Techno: DJs Qhey, Mayuri, etc. From 10pm, ¥3,000. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.com

El Amor. Disco, boogie: DJ Nao Endo and more.

From midnight, ¥1,000.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www. theroom.jp

Womb

Bounce. Edm: DJs Sone, Hikaru, etc. From 10pm, (m)¥1,500, (f)free. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp

FRIDAY 6 Air

Kyodai vs Okino Kyodai.

House, jazz. From midnight, Live: Kyodai. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo. com

Sound Museum Vision

High Street. Dub step, bass: DJs Araabmuzik, Kentaro, etc. From 10pm, (m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f)¥2,500 w/1d.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www. vision-tokyo.com

The Room

Air

Womb

Ejoe’s House. House, soul: DJs Mr. V, Ejoe Wilson, etc. From 10pm, ¥3,000. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.com

Module

Take Off. House, techno: DJs Shinkawa, Mg, etc. From 6am, ¥1,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.module-tokyo.com

Sound Museum Vision

Enterprise. Electro, hip-hop: DJs Treated Crew, Dex Pistols, etc. From 10pm, (m)¥3,000 w/1d, (f)¥2,500 w/1d.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.vision-tokyo.com

The Room

Chaos Tokyo. Special Secret show. All mix: DJ Yuskay (New York). Every Fri and Sat 11pm-5am, (F) Free ¥1000/2d ticket, (M) ¥3500w /1d. Nearest stn: Ginza. https://www. facebook.com/Domsworx

The Room

Breakthrough. Hip-hop: DJs Yazzilla, Jin, etc.

From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www. theroom.jp

Saturday Night Fever. Hip-hop, R&B, reggae: DJ Ykk and more. From 6pm, ¥1,000 (after 10pm). Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp

Sabaku no Bara

Dust Space. All good music: DJs Dust Crew. From 8pm, ¥1,000 w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com

Ah! Yeah! Oh! Yeah! All mix: DJs Kaori, Irie, etc. From 10pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shinkiba. www.ageha.com

The New Matrix Bar

FRI MAY 30, 11PM

THURSDAY 5 Air

T2

Dance Archives in Japan

Ballet homage to Japan. Jun 12, 7pm; Jun 13 & 15, 2pm; Jun 14, 2 & 7pm, ¥3,150-12,960.

New National Theatre Tokyo.

Nearest stn: Hatsudai. Tel: 03-5352-9999. nntt.jac.go.jp

Wedm. Electro, house: DJs Hiroki, Ikezawa, etc. From 10pm, (m)¥1,500, (f) free.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.womb.co.jp

Bootylicious. Hip-hop: DJs Iku, Ren, etc. From 10pm, ¥2,000 w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo. com

The New Matrix Bar

The Prince of the Pagodas

Womb

Rirenight. Hip-hop: DJs Verbal, Ilmari, etc. From 10pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.vision-tokyo.com

Yang Liping's lauded dance drama. Until Jun 1, various times, ¥5,500-12,000.

Bunkamura Orchard Hall.

Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-5353-9522. www. bunkamura.co.jp A look back into the 100-year history of modern dance in Japan. Jun 7-8, 3pm, ¥3,1505,400. New National Theatre Tokyo. Nearest stn: Hatsudai.

Tel: 03-5352-9999. www.nntt. jac.go.jp

Niwa, etc. From midnight, free. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.theroom.jp

Jazzbrothers. Jazz, house: DJs Yama, Takehana, etc.

From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www. theroom.jp

Womb

Rhythmholic. House, techno: DJs Anja Schneider, Sodeyama, etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya.

Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.womb.co.jp

WEDNESDAY 4 T2

Shibuya Girls Party. Edm: DJs Matsuzaki, Saori, etc. From 10pm, (m)¥2,500 w/2d, (f)¥1,500 w/2d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.t2-shibuya.com

The Room

Noi. Bar style: DJs Yagisawa,

Sterne. Techno: DJs Renato Cohen, Ishino, etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.womb.co.jp

UPCOMING Ageha

Daishi Dance. Edm: DJs Laidback Luke, Daishi Dance, etc. Jun 7, from 11pm, ¥4,000. Nearest stn: Shinkiba. www.ageha.com

Air

Beat in Me. House, techno: DJs Valentino Kanzyani, Raha, etc. Jun 7, from 10pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo. com

Daikanyama Unit

Kaku Mix. Hip-hop DJs Nobu, Tatsuki, etc: Live: Ozrosaurus and more. Jun 7, from 11pm, ¥3,000. Nearest stn: Daikanyama. www.unit-tokyo.com

Sound Museum Vision

Harajuku Now. Electro, all mix: DJs Nakata, Verbal, etc.

Jun 7, from 11pm, ¥3,000.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.vision-tokyo.com

The Room

Ers Brazil. Brazilian groove, house: DJs Shuya Okino(Kyoto Jazz Massive), Shacho, etc. Jun 7, from 11pm, ¥2,500 w/1d.

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.theroom.jp

Womb

06s. Drumnbass: DJs Shimon, Asy, etc. Jun 7, from 11pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.womb.co.jp

#1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 15

Listings Exhibitions AKASAKA/ROPPONGI

¥11,900 ¥18,000

21_21 Design Sight

Kome: The Art of Rice. Mixed media. An exploration into Japan's staple food. Until Jun 15, ¥500-1,000. Open Mon & Wed-Sun 11am-8pm, closed Tue. 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Nogizaka. Tel: 03-3475-2121. www.2121designsight.jp

Filler -

Fujifilm Square

The Majestic Mountain Scenery of Japan. Capturing how mountains define the nation's landscapes. Jun 27-Jul 16, free. Open daily 10am-7pm.

9-7-3 Akasaka, Roppongi.

Nearest stn: Roppongi.

Tel: 03-6271-3350. http://fujifilmsquare.jp/en

*Hair growth program for ladies as well

¥7,000

¥1,900 ¥9,400

¥5,000 ¥9,000

Open everyday / 10am ~ 7pm Wed/11am ~ 8am Tax not included in listed prices.

Ends Jun 30

Bridgestone Museum of Art

✿ ウェブサイト （記事広告・バナー広告）

✿ ダイレクトメール （3万人以上の外国人へDMが可能） ✿ SNSマーケティング （4万人以上の外国人へリーチ） ✿ 制作物（印刷制作・ウェブ制作・画像/映像制作） ✿ 翻訳（英語・中国語・韓国語・タイ語）

✿ 外国人調査（英語・中国語・韓国語・タイ語） 5月発行号でペット特集と健康生活特集を発行します。

ご予算に応じた幅広いプロモーション案をご提案いたします。 営業部までお問い合わせください。

TEL: 03-4588-2277 • sales@metropolis.co.jp 16 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

Mitsui Memorial Museum

Kogei: Superlative Craftsmanship from Meiji Japan. Sophisticated decorative art and stunningly crafted accessories. Until Jul 13, ¥800-1,300. 7F Mitsui Main Bldg, 2-1-1 Nihombashi-Muromachi, Chuo-ku. Nearest stn: Mitsukoshimae. Tel: 03-57778600. www.mitsui-museum.jp

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Essays in Idleness: Enjoying Classical Literature Through Art. Handscrolls by Kaiho Yusetsu, folding screens, illustrated books and more.

Jun 11-Jul 21, ¥1,000-1,300.

Open Wed-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun-Mon & hols 10am-6pm, closed Tue. 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku.

Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.suntory.jp/sma

GINZA/KYOBASHI/ TOKYO

✿ 雑誌（純広告・記事広告・文字広告）

Félix Vallotton—Fire Beneath the Ice. Swiss painter influenced

by Japanese woodcuts. Until Sep 23, ¥800-1,600. Wed-Fri 10am-8pm, Tue, Sat & Sun/ hols 10am-6pm, closed Mon. 2-6-2 Marunouchi. Nearest stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-5405-8686. www. mimt.jp

Suntory Museum of Art

The Power of Images: The National Museum of Ethnology Collection. Symbols and totems from around the world. Until Jun 9, ¥500-1,000.

Ballet Russes: The Art of Costume. Luxurious and painstakingly made apparel.

Jun 18-Sep 1, ¥600-1,500.

Open Wed-Thu, Sat-Mon 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm, closed Tue. 7-22-2 Roppongi.

Nearest stn: Nogizaka. www. nact.jp

下記の外国人集客サービスを提供しています。

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum

National Film Center

The National Art Center, Tokyo

メトロポリスは創刊20周年を迎えました！

3-1-1 Marunouchi. Nearest stn: Tokyo. www.tokyo.mae.lu/jp/ node_19876/hana-hito-tokyo

Mori Arts Center Gallery

Takehiko Inoue Interprets Gaudi's Universe. Japanese artist's take on one of Spain' architectural geniuses.

Jul 12-Sep 7, ¥800-1,300.

52F Roppongi Hills Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi. Nearest stn: Roppongi. www. roppongihills.com/art/macg/

Growth Factor

GO TO WWW.METURL.COM/LISTINGS

Chinese-Style Dresses from Fujishima Takeii to Umehara Ryuzaburo. Oil paintings by Japanese artists in the early 20th century. Until Jul 21, ¥500-800. Open Tue-Sun & hols 10am-8pm, closed Mon. 1-10-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku. Nearest stn: Tokyo.

Tel: 03-5777-8600. www. bridgestone-museum.gr.jp

Craft Gallery, The National Museum of Modern Art

Flowers: From the Museum Collection. Mixed media.

Floral motifs that change seasonally. Until Jun 1, ¥70-200. Works of Living National Treasures and Great Masters. Ceramics, glassworks, laquerwares and more. Until Jun 1, ¥70-200. .

Open Tue-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. 1-1 Kitanomarukoen. Nearest stn: Takebashi.

Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.momat.go.jp/english

Idemitsu Museum of Arts Discover the Beauty of Japan IX: Fascination with Japanese Painting. Masterpieces from various eras. Until Jun 8, ¥700-1,000. Tessai: Commemorating the 90th Year of the Death of the Artist.

Dynamic and expressive paintings by a great master artist of the literati painting style. Jun 14-Aug 3, ¥700-1,000. Open Tue-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-7pm, closed Mon. 9F Teigeki Bldg,

The Works of Hicozoh Akamatsu and Movie Title Design in Japan.

Typography and character styles. Until Aug 10, ¥70-210.

Open Tue-Sun 11am-6:30pm, closed Mon. 3-7-6 Kyobashi.

Nearest stn: Kyobashi.

Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.momat.go.jp

Reading Cinema, Finding Words: Art after Marcel Broodthaers.

Mixed media. The relationship between photography, films and video in contemporary art and cinema. Until Jun 1, ¥450-850. After the Quake: Thinking about Tohoku III. Mixed media by various artists.

Until Jun 1, ¥130-430. Open Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-8pm. 3-1 Kitanomarukoen. Nearest stn: Takebashi.

Tel: 03-5777-8600. www. momat.go.jp

HARAJUKU/AOYAMA Nezu Museum

Colorful: Chinese Ming and Qing Dynasty Decorative Arts.

Decorative tea ceremony utensils and Chinese lacquerware. May 31-Jul 13, ¥800-1,000. Tue-Sun, 10am-4:30pm. 6-5-1 MinamiAoyama, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.nezu-muse.or.jp/en

Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art

Sumo Wrestlers in Ukiyo-e. Classic wood prints of big guys who grapple. Jun 1-26, ¥500-700.

Specters, Ghosts and Sorcerers in Ukiyo-e. Traditional prints of ghastly ghouls and creepy critters. Jul 1-Sep 25, ¥600-900.

Open Tue-Sun 10:30am-5:30pm, closed Mon. 1-10-10 Jingumae.

Nearest stn: Harajuku. www. ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp

KAYABACHO/KIBA Base Gallery

Testing. Mixed media by Jaq Chartier. Until Jul 19, free.

Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, closed Sun & hols. 1-1-6 Nihombashi-Kayabacho.

Nearest stn: Kayabacho.

Tel: 03-5623-6655. www.basegallery.com

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Mission: Space X Art—Beyond Cosmologies. Space-related illustrations, photos and installations. Jun 7-Aug 31, ¥800-1,300. Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm, closed Mon. 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku. Nearest stn: Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. www.mot-art-museum.jp/eng

SHIBUYA/EBISU Bunkamura: The Museum Retrospective: Raoul Dufy.

Colorful and decorative paintings by French Fauvist arist. Jun 7-Jul 27, ¥700-1,500.

Open Mon-Thu & Sun 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-9pm.

2- 24-1 Dogenzaka. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.bunkamura.co.jp

Meguro Museum of Art

George Nelson—Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher. Mixed media works by one of the founders of American Modernism. Jul 15-Sep 18, ¥800-1,000. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, closed Mon. 2-4-36 Meguro. Nearest stn: Meguro. Tel: 03-3714-1201. www.mmat.jp

The Watari-Um Museum of Contemporary Art

Rudolf Steiner: Das Reich der Angeloi. Mixed media works by an Austrian philosopher and social reformer. Until Jul 13, ¥700-1,000. Open Tue & Thu-Sun 11am-7pm, Wed 11am-9pm, closed Mon. 3-7-6 Jingumae.

Nearest stn: Gaienmae. www.watarium.co.jp

Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography

Spiritual World. Shrines, temples and festivals. Until Jul 13, ¥250-500. Presence or Absence.

Sato Tokihiro explores time, space and light. Until Jul 13, ¥500-700. Open Tue-Wed & Sat-Sun 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 10am-8pm, closed Mon. 1-13-3 Mita, Meguro-ku. Nearest stn: Ebisu. http://syabi.com

Yamatane Museum of Art

Chic Gentlemen and Elegant Ladies: Fashion in Japanese Painting. Paintings and woodblock prints. Well-dressed men and women from Edo to Showa periods. Until Jul 13, ¥800-1,000. Open Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, closed Mon & hols.

3-12-36 Hiroo. Nearest stn: Ebisu. Tel: 03-5777-8600. www. yamatane-museum.or.jp

SHINJUKU/IKEBUKURO Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum

Beads of the World. Bead embroidery jewelry and trinkets from all over the world.

Jun 18-Sep 13, ¥200-500.

Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm, closed Sun and hols. Shinjuku Bunka Quint Bldg. 3-22-7 Yoyogi.

Nearest stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 03-3299-2387. www.bunka.ac.jp/museum

Hiromart Gallery

Diary. Solo show by photographer Sebastian Piras.

Until Jun 22, free. Open Wed-Sun 1-7pm, closed Mon-Tue. 1-30-7 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku.

Nearest stn: Edogawabashi. www.hiromartgallery.com

Sompo Japan Museum of Art

Reflections of Holland: The Hague School and Barbizon. Oil paintings by Dutch masters.

Until Jun 29, ¥600-1,000.

Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm, closed Mon. 42F Sompo Japan Bldg.

1-26-1 Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 03-54058686. www.sompo-japan.co.jp/ museum

Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery

Will Happiness Find Me? 10 artists from the Ishikawa collection. Until Jun 29, ¥800-1,000. The Way of Painting.

Works by new artists from 2000 onwards. Jul 12-Sep 21, ¥800-1,000. Open Tue-Thu 11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8pm.

3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku.

Nearest stn: Hatsudai. www.operacity.jp/en/ag

UENO National Museum of Nature and Science

I wa Jinjutsu. A look into Edo period medicine. Until Jun 15, ¥600-1,500. Open Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-8pm, closed Mon. 7-20 Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno.

Tel: 03-3822-0111. www.kahaku.go.jp

The National Museum of Western Art Jacques Callot—Theater of Realism and Fantasy. 17th century prints. Until Jun

FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS GO TO WWW.METURL.COM/LISTINGS FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS 15, ¥300-600. Voices Calling from the Unusual: Hirano Keiichiro's Selection of Western Art Masterpieces. A writer's selection of art works depicting unusual worlds. Until Jun 15, ¥300-600. Open daily 9:30am5:30pm. 7-7 Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. www.nmwa.go.jp

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Balthus: A Retrospective.

Paintings by controversial 20th century artist. Until Jun 22, ¥600-1,600. 8-36 Ueno Park.

Nearest stn: Ueno. www.tobikan.jp

Tokyo National Museum

Treasured Masterpieces from the National Palance Museum, Taipei. Traditional paintings, ceramics, documents and more. Jun 24-Jul 7, ¥700-1,600.

Open Tue-Sun 9:30am-5pm.

13-9 Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. www.tnm.jp

Ueno Royal Museum

Tel: 03-3415-6011. www. setagayaartmuseum.or.jp

Tokyo Art Museum

Neighbors Photographs from Israel. Exploration of identity and location through the relations between Jewish and Arab residents. Until Jun 15, ¥300-500. Open Thu-Sun 11am-6pm, closed Mon-Wed. 1-25-1 Sengawacho. Nearest stn: Sengawa.

Tel: 03-3305-8686. www.tokyoartmuseum.com

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

Y es-tu? Video and cinematic art by Christian Rizzo. Jun 20-29, free. 1-1, Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa.

Nearest stn: Minatomirai. www.yokohama-akarenga.jp

Sports BADMINTON

Inspiration—The Curiosity of the Moment. Mixed media by TV show talent-cum-painter.

Until Jun 8, ¥700-1,300. Captain Tsubasa. Original sketches and more from famous soccer-themed manga. Jun 14-Jul 6, ¥400-1,600. Hokusai: From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. One of Japan's most famous ukiyo-e artists of the Edo period. Sep 13-Nov 9, ¥400-1,500. Open Sat-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm. 1-2 Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. www.ueno-mori.org

Yonex Open: Preliminary Round

OTHER AREAS

Saitama Seibu Lions vs.

Chunichi Dragons. May 31, 1pm, ¥600-22,000. Seibu Dome.

Nearest stn: Seibukyujomae.

Tel: 04-2925-1141.

Saitama Seibu Lions vs.

Yokohama DeNA Baystars.

Jun 3, 6pm, ¥600-22,000.

Seibu Dome. Nearest stn: Seibukyujomae.

Tel: 04-2925-1141.

Tokyo

Yakult Swallows vs. Chiba Lotte Marines. Jun 6, 6pm, ¥500-4,600. Meiji Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn: Shinanomachi or Gaienmae.

Tel: 03-3401-0312.

Tokyo

Yakult Swallows vs. Saitama Seibu Lions. Jun 8, 2pm, ¥500-4,600. Meiji Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn: Shinanomachi or Gaienmae.

Tel: 03-3401-0312.

Saitama

Seibu Lions vs.

Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Jun 12, 6pm, ¥600-22,000. Seibu Dome.

Nearest stn: Seibukyujomae.

Tel: 04-2925-1141.

Saitama

Seibu Lions vs.

Hanshin Tigers. Jun 14, 2pm, ¥600-22,000. Seibu Dome.

Nearest stn: Seibukyujomae.

Tel: 04-2925-1141.

Hakone Museum of Photography

Oyako. Portraits of parents and their children by Bruce Osborn.

Until Jun 2, ¥300-500. Mt. Fuji.

Katsura Endo's portrayal of the ever-changing symbol of Japan.

Permanent exhibition. Until Nov 4, ¥300-500. 10am-5pm, closed Tue (9am-9pm Sat from May to August). 1300-432 Goura Hakonemachi, Ashigarashimogun, Kanagawa.

Nearest stn: Gora. Tel: 046-022717. www.hmop.com

Hoki Museum

Hito Omoi, Hito Omou.

Painting. Lifelike portraits by contemporary artists. Until Nov 16, ¥900-1,800. Open Mon & Wed-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Tue. 3-15 Asumigaokahigashi, Midori-ku.

Nearest stn: Toke. www.hoki-museum.jp

Japan Folk Crafts Museum Kyushu Ceramics. Traditional pottery from western Kyushu.

Until Jun 8, ¥200-1,000.

10am-5pm, closed Mon. 4-3-33 Komaba.

Nearest stn: Komabatodai. www.mingeikan.or.jp

Okada Museum of Art

Rediscovery of Kitagawa Utamaro: Fukagawa in the Snow.

An array of works by a master artist, including a massive 2 by 3.5 meter painting. Until Jun 6, ¥1,800-2,800. Open daily, 9am-5pm. 493-1 Kowakudani, Hakone-machi. Nearest stn: Kowakidani.

Tel: 0460-87-3931. www.okada-museum.com/en/

Pola Museum of Art

Finding Modigliani: From Parisian Avant-garde to Classicism. Oil paintings and sculptures by the Italian artist. Until Sep 15, ¥700-1,800. 9am-4:30pm. 1285 Kozukayama, Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi. Nearest stn: Gora. www.polamuseum.or.jp

Setagaya Art Museum

Kineo Kuwabara's Photographs: Tokyo Sketches of 60 Years.

A look into everyday Tokyo.

Until Jun 8, ¥500-1,000.

Open Tue-Sun10am-6pm, closed Mon. 1-2 Kinutakoen, Setagaya-ku. Nearest stn: Seijogakuenmae.

Jun 10, 10am, ¥500. Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Nearest stn: Sendagaya.

Tel: 03-5474-2112.

Yonex Open

Jun 11-Jun 15, 10am, ¥500-3,000. Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Nearest stn: Sendagaya.

Tel: 03-5474-2112.

BASEBALL Interleague

FIGURE SKATING Fantasy on Ice

Jun 7-Jun 8, 1pm, ¥7,00022,000. Makuhari Messe.

Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari.

GOLF Nichirei Ladies

Jun 20-22, 8am, ¥2,000-5,000.

Sodegaura Country Club Shinsode Course. Nearest stn: Honda. Tel: 03-228-2221.

PRO WRESTLING New Japan

Jun 3, 6:30pm, ¥4,120-8,240.

Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800-9999.

Michinoku

Jun 8, 12pm, ¥3,200-7,000.

Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800-9999.

Wrestling New Classic

Jun 26, 7pm, ¥3,000-7,000.

Shinjuku Face. Nearest stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 03-3419-0536.

ROLLER DERBY Roller Derby All-Star Doubleheader

Tokyo Roller Girls and others.

Jun 14. 9:30am. Donations appreciated. Purdy Fitness

Center, Yokosuka, Kanagawa.

Nearest stn: Yokosuka-chuo.

Tel: 046-816-5389. www. facebook.com/tokyorollergirls; www.zamakillerkatanas.com

RUGBY Japan vs. Italy

Jun 21, 2pm, ¥300-4,600.

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. Nearest stn: Gaienmae. Tel: 03-3401-3881.

SOCCER Nabisco Cup

FC Tokyo vs. Sagan Tosu.

Jun 1, 3pm, ¥600-6,200.

Ajinomoto Stadium. Nearest stn: Tobitakyu.

Tel: 04-2440-0555.

Kashima

Antlers vs.

Shimizu S-Pulse. Jun 1, 3pm, ¥1,400-8,000. Kashima Soccer Stadium. Nearest stn: Kashima Sports Stadium.

Omiya

Ardija vs. Albirex Niigata. Jun 1, 3pm, ¥1,0005,500. NACK5 Stadium.

Nearest stn: Kitaomiya.

Tel: 048-644-7950.

Urawa

Reds vs. Nagoya Grampus. Jun 1, 3pm, ¥1,0004,500. Saitama Stadium.

Nearest stn: Urawamisono.

Tel: 048-812-1001.

Festivals Tennosai

A celebration of past emperors.

Until Jun 8, various times, free.

Susanoo Shrine. Nearest stn: Minami-Senju. www.susanoo.or.jp/tennosai

Sanno Matsuri

One of the biggest festivals in Japan. Until Jun 17, all day, free. Hie Shrine. Nearest stn: Tameikesanno. Tel: 03-35812471. www.hiejinja.net

Torigoe Matsuri

Shinjuku. Tel: 03-5353-9999. www.tokyooperacity.co.jp/ handmade Rare treasures and cheap knick knacks between the Zelkova trees. ; Jun 28, 8am-4pm, free. Yoyogi Park.

Nearest stn: Harajuku. Tel: 03-6407-6011. www.antiquemarket.jp/yoyogi-park

Earth Day Market

Etsy Craft Party

Organic produce, recycling projects etc. Jun 29, 10am-4pm, free. Yoyogi Park.

Nearest stn: Harajuku.

Tel: 03-3469-6081. www.earthdaymarket.com

Iidabashi Ramla Market

Every first and third Sun, 10am-4pm, Iidabashi Ramla.

Nearest stn: Iidabashi.

Best Flea Market

New Material Night

Every second Sun, 10am-4pm, Tokyo International Forum Hall C. Nearest stn: Yurakucho.

Tel: 03-3226-6800.

Hanazono Shrine Market

Every Sun, 8am-4pm, Hanazono Shrine. Nearest stn: Shinjuku-sanchome.

Tel: 03-3200-3093.

Ibaraki-ichi

Farm-fresh veg from the north. Every Sat, 7-9am, Roppongi Hills East Court.

Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-6406-5285.

Nogi Shrine Market

Every second Sun, 5:30am3pm, Nogi Shrine. Nearest stn: Nogizaka. Tel: 03-3478-3001.

Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival

Aoyama Marché

Unique mikoshi parade featuring a female lion float, shouldered only by women.

Until Jun 12, all day, free.

Namiyoke Inari Shrine.

Nearest stn: Tsukijishijo. www.namiyoke.or.jp

Forums & Expos Lupicia Grand Marche

Tea as far as the eye can see.

Tastings, discounts and more.

May 31, 9am-6pm; Jun 1, 9am-5pm, free, reservation required. Pacifico Yokohama.

Nearest stn: Minatomirai.

Tel: 0120-93-7799. www.lupicia.com/gm

Randoseru Exhibition

Peruse the 2015 Japanese backpack selection. Jun 1, 10am-4pm, free. Makuhari Messe. Nearest stn: KaihinMakuhari. www.caruchan.co.jp

International Tokyo Toy Show

Toys from all over the world.

Jun 14, 9am-5pm; Jun 15, 9am-4pm, free. Tokyo Big Sight. Nearest stn: KokusaiTenjijo-Seimon. Tel: 03-38292513. www.toys.or.jp

Bazaars & Markets Mottainai

Crafts and handmade goods on sale, workshops and more.

Jun 14, 10am-4pm, free.

Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. Nearest stn: Hatsudai or

ARK Adoption Event

Every third Sun, 10am-4pm, Umi no Koen. Nearest stn: Uminokoen-Shibaguchi. rinpodan@umino-kouen.net

Umi no Koen Flea Market

Oedo Antique Fair

Tsukiji Shishi Matsuri

Global one-day event where people meet, greet and make.

This year's theme is "recapture".

Jun 6, 6pm, free. Studio and Space IVVA. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae or Harajuku. http://meturl.com/etsyparty Get to know the cute and friendly animals up for adoption, or support the group by buying ARK goods. Jun 14, 1-4pm, free. Thistle Dog School.

2-14-3 Nozawa, Setagaya-ku.

Nearest stn: Komazawa Daigaku. www.arkbark.net

Features the largest mikoshi in Tokyo, a beast of almost 4 metric tons. Jun 7-8, all day, free. Torigoe Shrine. Nearest stn: Kuramae or Asakusabashi.

Tel: 03-3851-5033. http://meturl.com/torigae14

One of Bunkyo's five major flower festivals. Until Jun 15, all day, free. Hakusan Shrine.

Nearest stn: Hakusan. Tel: 03-3811-6568. http://meturl. com/bunkyoajisai

Wheels and Deals: F1 and Casino Night

Try out casino tables and race simulators and dine on top-notch cuisine while raising funds for Refugees International Japan. Jun 6, 7pm, ¥23,000 (individual)/ ¥200,000 (table). Ritz-Carlton Tokyo. 9-7-1 Akasaka.

Nearest stn: Roppongi. http://meturl.com/refintjp

Oedo Antique Market

Japan’s largest outdoor antique market. Every first and third Sun, 8am-4:30pm, Tokyo International Forum Hall C. Nearest stn: Yurakucho.

Tel: 03-5805-1093.

Organic farmers’ market.

Every weekend, United Nations University. Nearest stn: Omotesando.

Tel: 03-3456-0960.

Yasukuni Shrine Antique Market

Every Sun, sunrise-sunset, Yasukuni Shrine. Nearest stn: Kudanshita. Tel: 03-3261-8326.

Fudaten Jinja Market

Every second Sun, 10am-4pm, Fudaten Jinja. Nearest stn: Chofu. Tel: 04-2489-0022.

Shinjuku Central Park Market

Local produce stalls, workshops and live performances. Every Saturday, 10am-4pm, Shinjuku Central Park. Nearest stn: Tocho-mae. Tel: 03-25042128. http://meturl.com/ shinjukuparkmarket

Yebisu Marché

Organic fruits and vegetables.

Every first and third Sun, 11am-5pm, Ebisu Garden Place. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.facebook.com/ YEBISUMarche

Community Pause Talk

Open forum where creatives can get together and discuss projects, ideas and cultural currents. Every first Mon, Cafe Pause. Nearest stn: Ikebukuro.

Tel: 03-6912-7711. www. pausetalk.org

Poetry & Music: Open Mic Try out your latest material in front of a live audience.

Jun 1, 5:30pm, free. What the Dickens. Nearest stn: Ebisu.

Tel: 03-3780-2099. www.whatthedickens.jp

Listings

A chance to try out new standup and improv sketches.

Jun 17, 8pm, free +1d. Double Tall Cafe. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.tokyocomedy.com/ new_material_night

Tokyo Yamathon 2014

Team-based fundraising challenge. Jun 21, 6:15am, free (spectator)/ ¥10,000 (per team).

Tokyo International Forum.

Nearest stn: Yurakucho. www.tokyo-yamathon.com

Dog and Cat Adoption Fair

Opportunity to adopt either a friendly feline or cuddly canine. Jun 22, 3pm, free.

Welcome Center Hara. 2-5-21 Shinagawa Nishioi. Nearest stn: Nishioi. shinagawa. chibawan@gmail.com www.chibawan.net

SWAQ Tokyo Swap Party

Someone's unneeded clothes is someone else's treasure.

Jun 28, 2 & 5pm, ¥500. Flower Kitchen of Porters. Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-6721-1871. http://meturl.com/swaqtokyo

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School

World-renowned conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy hosts a master class at The British School in Tokyo on Sunday.

At Hitomi Hall, Showa Women's University; ¥2,000 for adults & ¥1,000 for students and juniors.

Tickets can be purchased through E-plus (http:// eplus.jp/sys/main.jsp).

Contact comms@bst.ac.jp for more information. style painting techniques.

All classes in English and Japanese. Every Wed and Sat, 11am, 3pm and 7pm, 4B Maruoka Building, 5-49-7 Jingumae. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae. www.mariatanikawa.com

TCS Improv Workshop

The weekly Tokyo Comedy Store In the Moment improv workshop, all levels welcome.

Beginner intensives on weekends throughout the year.

See website for more details.

Every Wednesday, 7-9pm, Our Space Studio. Nearest stn: Hatagaya. Tel: 03-5770-7401. www.tokyocomedy.com

Other Events EU Film Days 2014

Films from from Sweden, Portugal, Latvia and more.

Until Jun 22, ¥100-520.

National Film Center. Nearest stn: Takebashi. Tel: 03-57778600. www.eufilmdays.jp

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2014 Annual short film event. Until Jun 15, various times, free.

Various venues across Tokyo and Yokohama. www.shortshorts.org/2014

Mekong Dance Festival

Burlesque models pose for artstars and sketching newbies alike with arty socializing. Every third Wed, 7pm, ¥2,000 w/1d.

Studio and Space IVVA. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae or Harajuku. www.drsketchytokyo. wordpress.com

Learning French Cooking Class

Learn how to cook 3 French dishes with a native chef. May 30, 6-10pm, ¥10,800 (adv).

Asagaya Cooking Studio.

201, 2-21-28 Asagaya-kita, Suginami-ku. Nearest stn: Asagaya. http:// meturl.com/ frenchcook1

Feldenkrais Method

Learn how to reduce chronic pain and fatigue, or enhance physical performance. Until Jun 28, 7pm Thu, 10:30am weekends, ¥2,000 (drop-in)/ ¥13,000 (8 classes). Hongo Koryu Kan. Hongo 2-21-7, Bunkyo-ku. Nearest stn: Hongo Sanchome. http:// meturl.com/ feldenkraisjune

SCBWI Japan Creative Exchange: Miura Sketch and Word Crawl

Illustrators, writers and translators share work in progress for constructive feedback. Jun 22, 10:15am-5pm, ¥500 (SCBWI members)/ ¥800 (non-members) +transportation.

Sakurai Temple House and surroundings, Akiya. Meeting point at Zushi stn. http:// meturl.com/38

Nihonga Class

JUNE 15, FROM 1:30PM

Regular classes and one-day workshops on basic Japanese-

Southeast Asian-themed event with participants from Laos, Thailand and more. May 31-Jun 1, 10am-8pm, free.

Yoyogi Park.

Nearest stn: Harajuku. www.bmi-music.com

The Caribbean Latin America Street

Food, booze and music with a Latin beat. May 31, 10am-8pm; Jun 1, 10am-7pm, free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn: Harajuku. www.yoyogipark.info

Manpaku

Annual food fest with local delicacies from all over Japan.

Until Jun 2, 10:30am-9pm, ¥400-700 (adv)/ ¥500-800 (door). Showa Kinen Park.

Nearest stn: Tachikawa.

Tel: 042-528-1751. http://manpaku.jp

Eco Life Fair

Live performances, organic food booths and more. Jun 7-8, all day, free. Yoyogi Park.

Nearest stn: Harajuku.

Tel: 03-3469-6081. www.yoyogipark.info

ASEAN Festival

About 70 booths with food, handcrafted goods and more from ASEAN nations. Jun 14-15, 10am-8pm, free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn: Harajuku.

Tel: 03-3469-6081. www.aseanfestival.jp

Sake Tasting Event

Excellent opportunity to taste more than 50 types of sake brewed in Tokyo. Jun 24, 4 & 6pm, ¥1,000 (registration required). Syuzo Kaikan.

1-1-23 Nishikicho.

Nearest stn: Tachikawa. www.tokyosake.or.jp

#1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 17

Agenda Movies BY DON MORTON

More reviews and theater details: metropolis.co.jp/movies

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

I

think it’s safe to say that the Coen Brothers are the only filmmakers working today who could put together a wobbly, quasi-surrealistic character study of a not-terribly-likable person, a film that goes pretty much nowhere and then back again, and make it not only watchable, but totally engaging. Their loving recreation of the 1961 pre-Dylan Greenwich Village folk scene is so spot-on that it’s almost a character.

Llewyn Davis is a genuinely talented, down-on-his-luck troubadour whose quest for stardom, or at least recognition, is continually stymied by every cretin in the music business and, it must be said, his own purist self.

Character actor Oscar Isaac makes good on his big break with a nuanced, suitably understated performance.

He does his own singing, as do supporters Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake. Coen standard John

THE BAY

NEW

THE MACHINE

NEW

I ’m as tired as you of the old found-footage horror subgenre.

But this little barnburner has the welcome difference of being made by veteran director Barry Levinson ( Rain Man, Wag the Dog) and presented as a government-suppressed eco-doc cobbled together from handy-cam, security-cam and Skype footage. In a timehonored Jaws scenario, a pollution-spawned, water-borne parasite infests a bucolic Maryland resort. The nasty thingies burrow inside their victims, grow to fist size and eat their way out. Kewl. Scary because it stays within the realm of possibility. Think Contagion. It’ll get under your skin. (84 min)

I n a k i nd of m a r r ia ge of Her and Blade Runner (lite), a gifted artificial intelligence scientist (Toby Stephens) is reluctantly work i n g for Br ita i n’s ev i l Ministry of Defense to develop a kick-ass cyborg soldier. But his ulterior motive is the possibility that the technology will be able to repair his brain-damaged daughter. Enter, briefly, brilliant babe AI programmer (Caity Lotz) whose own AI creation is used after her likely murder to create said cyberkiller (also Lotz), and the fight is on for her “soul.” Not a lot of depth to the characters, but an entirely watchable, stylish scifi entry. (91 min)

DISCONNECT

NEW

This aptly named issue-drama offers a trio of interwoven cautionary tales for the digital a ge . T he f i rst ha s to do w it h cyberbullying, as a pair of class w i t s m a ke s u p a c h a t- r o o m girlfriend for a sensitive loner.

In the second, an ambitious TV reporter delves, perhaps too deeply, into underage porn websites. In the third, a struggling couple decides to deal personally with the identity thief who has emptied their bank accounts. It’s well acted and directed with passion. Melodramatic at times, but non-judgmental and never less than engrossing. Quibble: we could have used these cautionary tales a decade ago. (115 min)

18 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

Goodman drops in as a comically sneering junkie jazz cat.

The music is more than mere enhancement. The 10-song soundtrack album, recorded live during filming, will be worth a listen. This soulful, lyrical and melancholy film is

MORE THAN HONEY

NEW

Marcus Imhoof interviews bee people around the world about “colony collapse disorder.” The film is as much a celebration of t he b e ne f it s of t he honey b e e to m a n k i nd a s it i s a wa r n i n g that they (and mankind) could disappear. The scariest bit comes from China, where misguided Maoism ended up killing all the bees. Now fruit trees there are pollinated by hand. Warnings aside, it’s terrifically filmed, using micro-cameras designed for medical procedures to capture breathtaking images inside the hives. This mix of essay and nature doc avoids preachiness and offers a swarm of information. Japanese title: Mitsubachi no Daichi. (95 min)

NEW

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

This adaptation of Nelson Mandela’s 1994 autobiography features an absolutely brilliant Idris Elba in the title role, conveying his noble subject f ro m t h e h i s f i re b r a n d ye a r s , through to his long incarceration and later wisdom. Alas, nobility rarely makes for riveting storytelling , and this e nd s up a s t ra i g ht for wa rd , dut i f u l , rat he r u n i n s pi re d film on an inspirational subject. It falls victim to its own comprehensiveness. This man’s life journey was so amazing that even at 2:21 it has to fast forward a lot. Well worth seeing, if solely for Elba’s performance, but would have made a better mini-series. Mandela: Jiyuu e no Nagai Michi. (141 min)

WINTER’S TALE

In 1916, a NYC burglar with a heart of gold and an unexplained Irish accent (Colin Farrell) finds love instead of loot when he breaks into a mansion. According to the movie’s convoluted cosmology, everyone has a miracle inside.

When we die we become stars. Flying horses can whisk you away from trouble. Everyone is connected, and true Love can defeat Death itself. Russell Crowe is a demon/gangster, and Will Smith in big earrings and a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt is Lucifer (that one put me on the floor). I kept expecting Doctor Who to pop up. Cloyingly sincere, comically earnest and completely awful.

(118 min)

being called “lesser Coen Brothers,” and, true, it lacks the broad appeal of, say, No Country for Old Men. But it is also being called one of their best. Japanese title: Inside Llewyn Davis: Namonaki Otoko no Uta. (115 min)

TWO MOTHERS

NEW

LAST VEGAS

NEW

A couple of h a rd-b o dy Au s sie women of a certain age (Naomi Watts and Robin Wright) begin d i d d l i n g e a c h o t h e r ’s h u n k y 19-year- old sons. A n alternate title to this ludicrous melodrama is Adore. I suggest Honey I Screwed the Kids. It would be the height of hypocrisy for me to criticize inter-generational lust. Nor would I dream of denying middleaged women their soft-core wish-fulfillment porn. It was not the subject matter that I found offensive; it was the sheer, joyless banality of the thing, leavened only by the unintentional hilarity of the colossally self-serious dialogue. Japanese title: Utsukushii E no Hokai. (110 min)

You gotta hand it to crap director Jon T u r teltaub (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, National Treasure).

It takes some kind of talent to ge t O s c a r w i n ne r s M ic h ae l Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Mary Steenburgen together for a comedy and then give them nothing entertaining to do. Four aging pals go to Vegas to celebrate the last single guy finally getting married—to someone half his age.

It’s one contrived, surprise-free, stupefyingly unfunny sit-com bit after another. For what it’s worth, these veterans looked like they were having fun. The audience looked like it was not. (103 min)

NEXT GOAL WINS

As sports movies go, the dogs don’t get any more under than this. The national soccer squad of American S a mo a wa s f i g ht i n g a 17-ye a r winless streak, including a record 31-0 loss to Australia, when savvy Dutch coach Thomas Rongen took the reins. They do a little better. But winning is not what this is about. Evident throughout is the gentle interconnectedness of Samoan society, and how the territory’s openheartedness is exhibited on the playing field. Jaiyah Saelua, a member of Samoa’s fa’afafine, or third gender, becomes the first transsexual ever to compete in a World Cup qualifier. Japanese title: Next Goal: Sekai Saijyaku no Soccer Daihyo Team 0 tai 31 kara no Chosen.

(90 min)

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS: PHOTO BY ALISON ROSA ©2012 LONG STRANGE TRIP LLC; THE BAY: © 2012 ALLIANCE FILMS (UK) LIMITED; MORE THAN HONEY: © 2012 ZERO ONE FILM / ALLEGRO FILM / THELMA FILM & ORMENIS FILM; TWO MOTHERS: © 2012 HOPSCOTCH FEATURES PTY LTD, THE GRANDMOTHERS PTY LTD, SCREEN AUSTRALIA, SCREEN NSW, CINÉ-@, MON VOISIN PRODUCTIONS, GAUMONT, FRANCE 2 CINÉMA.; THE MACHINE: © RED AND BLACK FILMS 2013 PRISONERS : ©2013 ALCON ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; LABOR DAY: © 2012 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED;WITHNAIL AND I: © 1986 HANDMADE FILMS (1985) PARTNERSHIP; SECRET CHILDREN: ©2014 FOX INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS (JAPAN) / HIKARI-TV; BLUE JASMINE: PHOTOGRAPH BY JESSICA MIGLIO © 2013 GRAVIER PRODUCTIONS, INC.; WE ARE WHAT WE ARE: © WE ARE WHAT WE ARE, LLC.; WINTER’S TALE: ©2013 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND VILLAGE ROADSHOW FILMS (BVI) LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ; NEXT GOAL WINS : ©NEXT GOAL WINS LIMITED; LAST VEGAS : © COPYRIGHT 2013 CBS FILMS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; DISCONNECT: ©, LLC 2013; MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM: © 2014 LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (PTY) LTD.

WE ARE WHAT WE ARE

While not specifically a horror fan , I like a good scary movie, a nd appre ciate t hose t hat u se a t m o s p h e r e a n d s u s p e n s e to get the job done instead of “boo” moments, ultraviolence and copious gore. The eccentricities of the tightly knit Parker clan are attributed to their religious fundamentalism and accepted. But heavy rains and floods cause the death of the mother, and the family’s less-acceptable, diet-based secrets begin to emerge. Jim Mickle’s polished shocker is lurid but never campy, well acted (by Bill Sage, Ambyr Childers, Julia Garner and Michael Parks), elegantly shot and cleverly assembled. Japanese title: Niku. (105 min)

THE SECRET CHILDREN

Note to Jap a n e s e f i l m m a ke r s chasing the Holy Grail of becoming the Great Crossover Director: It’s one thing to make a film in English.

It’s quite another to make one that isn’t as pretentious a piece of kuso as this. Fails on every level. The fourth-rate cast is so bereft of direction that each blows his/her “big scene” with comical overacting. The premise positing a sterile “race of clones” being hunted and exterminated doesn’t make any sense. Note to Hiroshi Nakajima: sorry to be so blunt, but if you listen only to the gratifying but empty praise you may be getting, you will never be a filmmaker. (103 min)

BLUE JASMINE

They took everything from Ja s m i n e , t h e o n c e -p a m p e re d wife of a Ponzi-scheming Wall Street crook. She’s now reduced to sponging off her sister in San F ra nci sco. T he on ly t h i n g she hasn’t lost is her inflated sense of self worth. Through sheer arrogance, she leaves a trail of emotional destruction wherever she goes. It’s the best work Cate Blanchett has ever done. Earned her an Oscar this year.

She’s full-on, all the time. It’s also the sharpest writing and smartest directing Woody Allen’s done since Match Point. This is serious Woody, but still delights throughout with a sprinkling of uneasy chuckles. (99 min)

PRISONERS

When two six-year-old girls are abducted and the police release the obvious suspect for lack of evidence, the hothead father of one of the kids (Hugh Jackman) kidnaps the guy and tries to torture the girls’ whereabouts out of him.

Meanwhile, the police detective who caught the case (Jake Gyllenhaal) methodically tries to disentangle a web of vague clues, alternate suspects and false leads. Smartly written, brilliantly directed and flawlessly photographed, this is a prestige whodunnit for grownups. It’s compelling, exhilarating, worrisome and scary, with a complex moral core. (155 min)

LABOR DAY

An escaped murderer (Josh Brolin) gently “persuades” a da ma ge d , a goraphobic w idow (Kate Winslet) and her 13-year-old son (Gattlin Griffith) to shelter him from his pursuers. The threat level nosedives when it turns out he’s an accomplished chef, an adept mechanic, and a fair baseball coach. Just the guy to make them all whole again. Okay, you’re thinking “Nicholas Sparks” calculated contrivances, right? Well, no, but the truth is worse. While this weepy is not uniformly awful, it’s a disappointment coming from Jason Reitman, who has delighted us with such groundbreaking films as Juno and Up in the Air. (111 min)

eiga

OH! FATHER

By Rob Schwartz

I

t ’s not often in film that you come across a premise that hasn’t been tried before—or at least, not in the same vein.

Michihito Fujii’s latest feature centers around handsome high-schooler Yukio (Masaki Okada), who’s also been blessed with brains and a heart. Yet he hides a secret that makes him different: He has four fathers. In a nod to Mama Mia!, Yukio doesn’t know which one is his biological dad—and neither do they, as they were all dating his mom when she conceived. But all four guys wanted to, stick around, so (and here the Mama Mia! similarity ends) they’ve lived together as a happy family ever since. Each might-be-dad has his own specialty: the university professor, the gym teacher, the gambler. Things get complicated when Yukio finds a wannabe girlfriend (Shiori Kutsuna) following him around, forcing him to explain his familial situation. Ever the multi-tasker, he also works to save a childhood chum (Kento Kaku) from local hoods, puzzles out why a different friend is constantly missing school and investigates a robbery involving underworld crime boss Tondabayashi (Akira Emoto). Could all these things be related to an impending local election? The pic remains fairly amusing as it morphs from friendly family drama to whodunnit, even if all the pieces don’t quite fit. (102 min.)

movie news

W

hen Steven Spielberg finished production on Jaws in 1975, he said that if he had known how hard it would be to film on the open seas he never would have tried it. After nearly 40 years of technical innovations, it still isn’t easy, as Christophe Offenstein found while making the French buddy flick Turning Tide. “I think it will join the ranks of the most difficult film shoots in the world,” Offenstein tells Metropolis by phone from Paris. François Cluzet, who played a quadriplegic millionaire in the surprise hit Intouchables, trained for three months to play a yachtsman who discovers an Algerian teenage stowaway during a round-the-world race the rules say he must do solo. During filming, 18 crew members had to squeeze into a yacht made for one, maintaining absolute silence and keeping in mind exactly where to stand so they wouldn’t accidentally appear in a shot. Offenstein’s background is as a cinematographer, but he left the camera work to Guillaume Schiffman (The Artist) who constantly struggled to protect his gear from salt water and sand. “It was a great adventure, but I wouldn’t want to do it again,” Offenstein reminisces. “But I also don’t have feelings of regret like Spielberg, just good memories.” Turning Tide will open at Cinema Qualite and other theaters on May 31. Kevin Mcgue

cinematic underground

D

elv i n g i nto a wel l-k now n but undocumented subculture, Doin’ It In The Park explores the roots and current scene of pick-up basketball in New York, considered the mecca of the sport that launched players such as Dr. J from the playground to the NBA court.

Starts dunkin’ June 7 at Human Trust Cinema Shibuya (7-8F Cocoti Bldg, 1-23-16 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku; www.ht-cinema. com)... The genre-defying Spanish film Cannibal is screening at Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho (2-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku; www.ht-cinema.com). The thriller becomes a horror flick when an accomplished tailor is revealed to be a remorseless murderer, then becomes a love story when he meets a woman who awakens emotions in him… A François Truffaut double feature plays at Waseda Shochiku (1-5-16 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku; www.wasedashochiku.co.jp) May 31-June 6. The French auteur plays a fictionalized version of himself struggling to complete a Hollywood film in Day For Night (1973) and directs national icons Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Deneuve in Mississippi Mermaid (1969). KM Unless noted, Japanese films screen without English subtitles. Non-English-language films are shown with Japanese subtitles only. #1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 19

N.Y.DINING & BAR

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Nearest stations: Tokyo or Yurakucho. Open: Lunch 11am-2:30pm, Tea 2:30-5pm, Dinner (Mon-Fri) 5pm-4am LO 3:30am, (Weekends and hols.) 5pm-11pm LO 10pm

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20 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Why watch here?

On the screen

Roppongi

BAR QUEST Casual international Australian bar with five TV screens, open until morning.

All World Cup games will be broadcast live.

Guinness pints only ¥700 during matches.

Guess the result of a live game and win a free pint!

Mention Metropolis and get a free shot with your first drink (valid any time Sun-Thu, only before midnight Fri-Sat).

AFL (Aussie rules), NRL (National Rugby League). Other sport requests accepted when possible.

Special World Cup discounts or prizes

Discounts for Metropolis readers

Akasaka, Ginza, Shibuya

HOOTERS

Dining Out Other than World Cup?

Shop info

Roppongi

LEGENDS SPORTS BAR

Casual American-style restaurant and sports bar with plenty of TV monitors to catch the action. Friendly Hooters girls help you cheer for the home team.

Special late-night menu offered with an all-new burger menu.

All World Cup games will be broadcast live with nightly replays.

Select World Cup games will be broadcast.

Budweiser 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil bottles and cocktail campaign giving customers the chance to win official 2014 World Cup goods (see website for details).

Mention Metropolis and get a basket of fresh popcorn for free.

Rugby, American football, baseball, auto racing.

1F Aoba Roppongi Bldg, 3-16-33 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3589-3304. Open Mon-Fri 5pm-late, Sat-Sun & hols 2pm-late. www.legendsports.jp

Rugby, American football, baseball, auto racing.

4F Shibuya Prime, 2-29-5 Dogenzaka, Shibuyaku. Tel: 03-6416-3917. Nearest stn: Shibuya. For other branches, check the website: www.hooters.co.jp/index_eng.php

3F No.2 Rene Roppongi Bldg, 5-3-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5414-2225. Open Sun-Wed 7pm-7am, Thu 7pm-8am, Fri-Sat 7pm-10am.

Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.facebook.com/barquestroppongi

Itabashi

Shinjuku

Shibuya

MEAL BOXX

PADDY'S JUNCTION

VENTUNO TOKYO

3-hour all-you-can-drink plan weekdays (ladies in groups of four or more get a ¥500 discount), downstairs waiting lounge and a party changing room. Reservations necessary.

One big-screen TV and three smaller screens.

More than 40 seats inside the pub and 15 seats outside, plus a standing bar. Vegetarianfriendly fare.

Special World Cup menu includes caipirinha (Brazil’s national cocktail), pão de queijo cheese bread and sparkling wine with organic herbs from Brazil.

Select World Cup games will be broadcast.

All of Japan’s games will be broadcast live, other games recorded and replayed nightly.

World Cup games will be broadcast live if on during open hours.

Special plans for for four people: ¥3,480 for food and all-you-can drink for 2 hours (ladies in groups of four or more get a ¥500 discount).

Reservations necessary.

¥3,000 all-you-can-drink during Japan games (seat reservations required).

Carlsberg draft and house wine are ¥399 each in the bar area. No seating charge in the bar area, raised chairs available.

J.League soccer, UFC, champions league, MLB. Other sport requests accepted when possible.

2F Shimo Akatsuka Bldg, 1-22-6 Akatsukashin-cho, Itabashi-ku. Tel: 03-39778255. Open Mon-Fri & Sun 6pm-5am, Sat & hols 6pm-6am. Nearest stn: Shimoakatsuka. http://mealboxx.com/

2014 State of Origin Series (rugby), NBA finals, NFL finals, baseball.

1F Sensho Bldg, 2-13-16 Shinjuku, Shinjukuku. Tel: 03-6273-1755. Open Mon-Thu 5pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5pm-3am, closed Sun. Nearest stn: Shinjuku 3-chome. www.paddys-junction.com

CATCH WORLD CUP FEVER AT THESE TOKYO SPORTS CAFÉS

J.League soccer, UFC, champions league, MLB. Requests accepted when possible.

B1F 24-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku.

Tel: 03-3477-1199. Open Mon-Thu 11:30am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-midnight, Sun & hols 11:30am-11pm. Nearest stn: Shibuya.

21 ● ADVERTISING SECTION

ALL YOU CAN EAT and DRINK for two hours ￥2,700 in downtown Shinjuku!

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Includes: okonomiyaki, monjayaki, yakisoba, udon, and desserts with drinks (draft beer, sake, plum wine, soft drinks, etc

Reserve our comfortable window-side booth seats looking down on the beautiful night scene of Shinjuku!

Tel. 050-5815-3882 2F Shinjuku Picpek Building, 1-17-13, Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku

OPEN: Everyday from 3PM

For the cost of postage get Metropolis on your doorstep—and have ransom note material for decades.

http://metropolis.co.jp/subscription

22 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

THE LATEST DISH ON FOOD & DRINK IN THE BIG CITY

Dining Out

local flavors

COURTESY OF SUMIDA MODERN, 2013

MORE THAN TOFU

Vegetarian eateries on the rise in Tokyo

By Laurier Tiernan

Sasaya Café - Tempeh cutlet rice

G&V

IT’S VEGETABLE Fanglynn Wang immigrated to Japan looking forward to promoting Taiwanese vegetarianism. She teamed up with manager Koichi Kubota to create It’s Vegetable—though the restaurant is better known to its customers as “Rin Rin Saikan” after Fanglynn’s nickname. This 28-seat eatery mixes many varieties of Asian tastes, offering a preponderance of vegan cuisine. At lunchtime, customers are free to fill their bento trays (choose from S/M/L) from selections offered on a heated buffet table. Options change daily, and may include fried Chinese dumplings, fresh salad, spicy mabo tofu and sweet and sour vegeterian “pork.”

Make your choice of three different rice options, with ginger soup available as a complimentary side dish.

Vegetarian ramen is available as an alternative to the bento. Dinner sees a selection of à la carte options and full-course meals. Lunch prices average ¥580¥1,500, while dinner runs ¥2,000-¥3,000 per person.

4 -1- 9 K i n s h i c h o , S u m i d a - k u . O p e n T u e - S u n 11:45am-2pm (lunch) & 5:30-10pm (dinner). Nearest stn: Kinshicho. www.itsvegetable.com

SASAYA CAFÉ Created out of a former warehouse, Sasaya Café boasts high ceilings, ample personal space and main doors opening onto Oyokokawa Water Park, a sanctuary

PHOTO: E.H. TIERNAN

T

he principles of vegetarianism have existed in Japan since the arrival of Buddhism in the sixth century. As early as the seventh century, Emperor Temmu declared a ban on eating cattle, horses, dogs, mon keys a nd ch ic ke n s , wh i le decrees from subsequent rulers eventually eliminated consumption of all but a few land animals.

Even today, many temples still retain the culture of vegetarian shojin ryori—literally, “fasting food.”

However, the Meiji Restoration steered the Japanese palate toward more meat-based meals, and postwar Americanization only accelerated the trend. But a growing population of financially independent young women has created an increasing demand for culinary options that are healthier and friendlier to the waistline. Once in decline, urban Japan is now abloom with eateries offering a stunning array of vegetarian options—with something for every preference and every budget.

Chien-Fu of silence and greenery in Sumida-ku. Separated from the rest by a glass wall, the front fifth of the restaurant even allows patrons to have their dogs sit by their tables. Manager Hisako Shinohara shares her motivation for opening this vegan establishment: “I enjoy vegetarian food, but I often find that vegetarian restaurants are either unwelcoming or their food sacrifices flavor under the pretext of healthy eating.”

Taking matters into her own hands, she created a place where people walking in off the street could feel welcome—be they young people, adults with families, the elderly or people with disabilities. Sasaya Café offers time-appropriate dishes from breakfast until early evening, including muffins, curry sets, sandwiches and salad plates. Desserts include animalfree takes on classics like ice cream, puddings, pies and cobblers. All items on the menu are vegan, with meal prices typically ranging from ¥1,000-¥1,500.

1-1-10 Yokokawa, Sumida-ku. Open daily 8:30am6pm, closed second Mon monthly. Nearest stn: Kinshicho. www.sasaya-cafe.com

CHIEN-FU When Chien-Fu Lee came to Japan as a foreign student in 1986, he found it so difficult to find vegetarian restaurants that he decided to open his own, ChienFu, in Kunitachi after graduation. In 2012, he opened a sister restaurant in Roppongi. The ambiance of Chien-Fu’s Roppongi branch is slightly elegant, with antique-style door frames and ceiling mouldings, as well as a vintage chandelier. Hisatoshi Otsuka, the manager at this location, estimates that 70 percent of patrons are women, and 40 percent are foreigners.

“Customers find that as they live following this type of diet, it’s not only their bodies that change for the better, but their spirits as well,” he says. Chien-Fu offers vegan

versions of popular Chinese dishes (like hot-and-sour ramen) as well as vegan “fish” and “meat” dishes—their meatballs being especially popular. A la carte options and full-course meals are available for both lunch and dinner, with prices ranging from ¥980-¥3,000.

Kunitachi: Naka Ichi Bldg, 1-19-8 Naka , Kunitachi. Nearest stn: Kunitachi. Roppongi: 3-1-22 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Roppongi.

Open daily 11:20am-2:30pm (lunch) & 5-9:30pm (dinner). www.nakaichifu.jp

G&V Yoshiko Harimaya started G&V in Ginza because, in her words, “Ginza is to Japan what New York is to America.” The walls are plastered with diatomite, the flooring is dark hardwood and the chairs are finished in fine red upholstery. In terms of seating, customers may choose between a regular table, or one of nine individual spaces at G&V’s exclusive marble counter. Lunch options include sets and full-course meals, while dinners include à la carte selections and full-course meals.

The popular “Plate Lunch” consists of brown rice with olive oil, tandoori soy meat, three salads and chick-pea tempeh. A full-course dinner option includes vegetable steak with onion sauce, fresh asparagus ribbon sauté, and fennel-and-ruccola salad. Lunch will set you back ¥1,300-¥3,100 per person, while the dinner menu ranges from ¥900-¥5,400 per person. G&V recently hired new English-speaking staff, and foreign customers will have no difficulty.

Open Tue-Sun, 11:30am-3pm (lunch) & 6-10pm (dinner). http://g-veggie.com/gandv/

OTHER OPTIONS NAGI SHOKUDO (SHIBUYA) In semi-Japanese aesthetic style, this spacious restaurant offers vegetarian takes on many traditional Japanese dishes. http://nagishokudo.com SKY HIGH (SHIBUYA) More a juice bar than a restaurant, Sky High offers a stunning variety of pick-me-ups and cleansing beverages. Also salad, sweets and a sandwich set. http://skyhigh-tokyo.jp DOROBUSHI KITCHEN (GINZA) In the basement of FANCL in Ginza, the naturethemed decor includes a life-size waterfall. What the menu may lack in terms of choices, it makes up in quality. http://www.fancl.jp/ginza-square/ food/dorobushi-kitchen.html DEVA DEVA CAFÉ (KICHIJOJI) Touted by many as the purveyor of the best veggie burger in town, this small but stylish café offers many substitutes for traditionally meat-based dishes. http://www.devadevacafe.com ALISHAN ORGANIC CENTER (HIDAKA-SHI, SAITAMA) Well worth a day trip, Alishan Organic Center offers a vegetarian food store, an event space and a scrumptious café (flowing out onto a spacious riverside deck). http://alishan-organics.com #1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 23

The majority of classified ads have moved online!

The Blog

NE W !

Think the Classifieds is just ads? Think again! Visit the blog for saucy ads of yore, ideas to make your ads pop, updated prices (hello, free Vehicles ads!), and plenty more Classifieds goodness. http://metropolis.co.jp/classifiedblog

CLASSIFIEDS Metropolis and its subsequent Classifieds section are printed every other week. The upcoming publication dates and corresponding deadlines for print are as follows. This does not affect the online Classifieds, where ads are visible immediately after they are approved.

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1.3 MOVING

M OV E OV E R S E A S W ITH SEKINE! Are you planning to move overseas? Call Sekine’s experienced staff who can assist you i n r e m ov i n g a ny t h i n g , anywhere at a reasonable price (from cardboard boxes to shipping containers). Call or email. 070-1317-5407 (Mr. Honda) info@sekine-move. com www.sekine-move.com

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Issue 1055 - FRI, JUNE 13 Deadline: June 5, 3pm Issue 1057 - FRI, JUNE 27 Deadline: June 19, 3pm drinks, copy machine, TV, projector, meeting rooms.

Please call 03-4455-7594. www.tokyoapartments.jp/ serviced-offices/

SERVICED APARTMENTS in a quiet residential area of Hiroo. Studios and suites.

4min from Hiroo stn. Rates: Daily ¥7800. Weekly ¥6850-/ day. Monthly ¥5700-/day.

Over three months ¥5130-/ day. Tax, utilities included. fr o n td e s k@ a z a b u c o u r t . com www. azab ucour t . com/ 03-3446-8610

S H I B UYA C RO S S I N G -/J R S H I B U YA - A R E A A PA R T M E N T. Less than 500m from JR Shibuya stn, airport buses at Cerulean next door, sunny, 24sqm/260sqft, balcony, Wi-Fi, all utilities, WM, deep bath, shower, cable, brand-new interior ¥133,000. No deposit/key. blairthomson@gmail.com

2.3 RENT OVER ¥200,000

0 TO K YO APARTM E NT S .

Yo u r o n e - s t o p h o u s i n g solution throughout Tokyo. Providing s e r vi c e d , fu rn i s h e d a n d unfurnished apartments, for both long and short-term stays. Also providing relocation services, furniture rental, property management and sales.

Please call 0120-957-920. w w w. t o k yo a p a r t m e n t s . jp

2.4 HOUSE SHARE PRIVATE ROOM IN 3LDK HOUSE, first floor, six-tatami (98sqft) semi-furnished, built-in cupboard, cot, double bed (w/mattress), in Nishi-Kasai, internet available ¥55,000. nkasaihome@gmail.com http://meturl.com/nkasaihome

2.7 OFFICE SPACE

P R I VAT E F U R N I S H E D A P A R T M E N T S .

Odakyu line: MukogaokaYuen/Yomiuri-Land-Mae, 20/30min from Shinjuku.

Keikyu line: Hatcho-Nawate, 1 5 m i n fro m S h i n a g awa .

1K~2LDK ¥58,000/ m~¥120,000/m. Tel: 0449 3 3 -70 0 0 E m a i l : m h @ m inowa group. jp www. minowagroup.jp/ minowahomes

MONDEWORK TOKYO: serviced offices and s h a r e o f f i c e s ava i l a b l e from one month located i n I c h i g a y a ( Yo t s u y a , Kojimachi), 24/7 access, company registration, bilingual reception service.

Fa c i l i t i e s i n c l u d e f r e e

3 EDUCATION 3.1 JAPANESE SCHOOLS

N I H O N - G O C AFÉ . Once/ month group conversation class ¥1500-/50 min. Private or small Japanese lessons, curriculum tailored to your needs ¥2500~/50min. ¥3300 ~/80min . Located next to Yoyogi-Uehara stn. info@lsmaru.co.jp www. lsmaru.co.jp/

3.5 LANGUAGE EXCHANGE Danish, German, Japanese. Hej and ‘N Tag! JF, 30s, seeks Danes and Germans to help her with languages in Tokyo/ Kanagawa through fun conversations over cups of coffee or just hanging out.

Please be nonsmokers, 30s preferred. codename107113@live.com English and Japanese. JF, mid-30s, is seeking a language exchange with native English speakers in Tokyo. My English level is intermediate. I like reading, traveling and eating. Serious only. mik_to106@yahoo.co.jp English and Japanese. Hello, Japanese seriously seeks English language exchange partner in the Ikebukuro area.

I would be glad to help your Japanese improve. mauvette24@hotmail.com English and Japanese. JM, 37, seeking a language exchange partner. Native English speaker who is a professional English teacher preferred. I need to improve my English writing. If needed, I can pay. nakapon@mti.biglobe.ne.jp English and Japanese. American male seeks Japanese for exchange over coffee near Shinjuku. My Japanese is quite basic. rnameriochicag@gmail.com English and Japanese. Hi. I just moved to Tokyo from California. Hoping to meet a fun person to exchange J and E. I’m 35, Asian-American and very genki.

Let’s meet at a cafe or bar and have fun. tokyoguy01@gmail.com English and Japanese. Do you want to improve your English and translation skills? Canadian, 40-ish, seeking a language partner. Let’s help each other with our language skills over tea. Let’s meet in Ikebukuro, Shinjuku or Nerima. tarry2@hotmail.com English and Japanese. Hi there, thank you for stopping by my ad. I’m a JF, 40s, living in Tokyo, seriously seeking a language exchange partner. If you need to practice your Japanese, please let me help you. himitsu@cosmos. ocn.ne.jp English and Japanese. I’m a Japanese female, early 30s, living and working in Tokyo. I’m seeking a language exchange friend to meet over coffee in central Tokyo. Feel free to contact me. thelimitsofcontrol@yahoo.co.jp English and Japanese. Group language exchange every Wed, 7:309:30pm, at coffee shops around Ginza.

Most members are 20s and 30s. We switch languages every 30min. Fun events on weekends. Free to join. ando. andy@gmail.com

Metropolis reserves the right to refuse, cancel or edit any ad without notice. Metropolis takes no responsibility for the quality of items or services advertised. Please carefully examine vendors or items offered before commitment. Please be careful when contacting and arranging to meet people.

Visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp for complete listings.

24 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp English and Japanese. JF seeking a language exchange partner. Prefer meeting on Sat or Sun at cafes in Chiba or Tokyo. I have experience teaching J. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. kintaro2060@yahoo.co.jp English and Japanese. Japanese male, 41, seeks native English speaker.

I like music and am interested in vegetarianism and macrobiotics. I hope we can learn from each other. blackstar777@excite.co.jp English and Japanese. Western man seeking help with J. Good education, articulate and knows how to teach E well. Machida/Sagami-Ono area. Not interested in traveling far. ms2013spk@ yahoo.com French, English, Japanese. European man seeking a language exchange partner to improve his Japanese. I can teach you Fr or E. Let’s enjoy sharing our cultures and interests. Machida area preferred. understanding_life@ hotmail.com German and Japanese. JF seeks Ger/J language exchange partner. Seit Sechs Monaten lerne ich Deutsch aber ich spreche Englisch. F/M ok. If interested, drop me a line. gardenstate2005@ hotmail.com Korean and Japanese. Japanese male, 41, seeks a native Korean speaker for Kor/J exchange. I like music, reading, cooking. I hope we can learn from each other and have some fun. astralsky@ excite.co.jp Thai, Japanese, English. Looking forward to meeting anyone who lives in the Tokyo area for language exchange, cafe, hanging out and traveling together sometimes. I’m Thai, male, professional career, easygoing and fun. freemap49@yahoo.com

3.9 TEACH ME! E N G L I S H T E AC H E R WA N T E D .

JM college student, TOEIC 860, wants to learn conversational English at a coffee shop in the Fu n a b a s h i / Ts u d a n u m a a r e a once/week ¥3000/60min. needenglishteacher@gmail.com Native English teacher wanted who can play with my 3-year-old son. He’s taking English lessons, but I’d also like him to study English in a more natural setting. Female university student preferred. I’ll prepare a reward. pianoprimostudio@yahoo.co.jp 080-5071-5723 Teach me English. I’m seeking a female native English teacher for Mon, Wed and Fri evenings for 2.5 hours.

I can pay ¥4000 + transportation.

Female teachers only and I want to start lessons ASAP. mjsenseijp@yahoo.co.jp 070-5451-1960 Web design for simple web site.

I would like to have a small, simple web site. Maybe just a few sentences and a few photos on one page. Please teach me to create and maintain it. werzuletzt@yahoo.co.jp 050-3692-7122

Vacuum, AIM-R0B01, robotic, white, new ¥5000. Pick up Shimokitazawa. aminimia@yahoo.com

4.3 SAYONARA SALE Sayonara sale! Hitachi fridge, 305L, three-door ¥10,000. Washer, 45L ¥6000. Wood and glass table, seats four, extendable ¥8000. And more.

Pick up or COD mid-June Misato city. fairmontorchid0507@gmail.com Sayonara sale! Sofabed, coat rack, Ikea shelf unit, shoe rack, Fast Track Japanese DVD set. Photos available. ciaoriccardo@mac.com 090-2302-3010 Sayonara sale! Round glass dining table, w/two chairs; National fridge, 135L ¥15,000/obo. Delivery possible. pop10eye@gmail.com

4.4 TV & HOME THEATER SkyPerfect satellite, E2 parabola, brand new, in excellent condition ¥3000. Pick up Kawasaki. mristhisapen@gmail.com

4.5 AUDIO & MP3 iPod touch 3g 32GB, iOS 5.1.1, minor scuffing, in excellent condition, w/ dock, solar charger, cases (no ear buds) ¥8000. Cash only. Koenji. ohpopshop@ gmail.com Speakers, Sanwa Supply, w/charging for 30-pin iPods (1-4) or iPhones (1-4), outputonly for stereo mini-plug output devices, output volume 4W ¥1000. Koenji. Photos available. ohpopshop@gmail.com Speakers, Altec Lansing Octiv Duo, iOS dual-dock, for iPhone, iPod models w/30pin connector, w/remote, AC adaptor plugs for overseas use ¥3000. Koenji. ohpopshop@gmail.com

4.6 FOR KIDS Bike, 20” wheels, single-speed, w/ training wheels ¥20,000. YoyogiHachiman stn. fishburncf3@gmail.com https://flic.kr/p/nsbY9y 090-5198-9921 Footwear. Boots, 21cm, brown; 21cm, red; 15cm, red; rain boots, 17cm, blue; 20cm, yellow; summer shoes ¥100¥500. Windbreaker, Puma, size 130cm, black, in good condition ¥1000. Pick up or chakubarai. Photos available. housetsu@gmail.com

4.7 FOR FREE Sofa, Ikea, w/default white cover, flower-patterned cover. Pick up only Nakano-Sakaue. pigscanfly2k@gmail. com

4.2 APPLIANCES

Rice cooker, Zojirushi, ‘08, IH, as new ¥7000/obo. mizi2005@hotmail.com

5.6 COLLECTORS Baseball Hall of Fame coins, brandnew, in case, two available, both are PROOF: 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Proof $5 gold coin; 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Proof silver dollar. chinastockwatch@gmail.com Train plates, two available, from Nagoya Railway (Meitetsu) train made in ‘56. Photos available. fmkingk@ yahoo.co.jp

5.7 PETS Nemo and friends. Saltwater fish, 200L tank, w/all supplies ¥30,000.

Yoyogi-Hachiman stn. fishburncf3@ gmail.com https://flic.kr/p/jU4L92 090-5198-9921

6 VEHICLES 6.1 CARS, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES Toyota Lite-Ace GXL 2000GK, 69311km, hi-roof, sunroof, manual transmission, a i rco n , s e at s eight, Toyotadealer maintenance, no accidents, second owner, shaken until May ‘15, a few scratches on car’s side (small garage) ¥120,000. Email:：vivian1112@ magic.odn.ne.jp 090-9153-0137 BMW X5 4.4i sports package, 80,000km, sunroof, English navigation (limited search function in English, announcements in English), petrol model, shaken until ‘16. babuts@gmail. com Mercedes CLA180, ‘13, red, w/original factory AMG upgrades, in great condition, amazing economy, turbo, almost new, 7000km ¥3,500,000. redmercedes180@hotmail.com

Honda PCX 150, black matte, Feb ‘13, barely 6000km, fully-serviced, as new, w/windshield, Givi top-box, two helmets, always kept covered, taxed and insured to Mar ‘15. boumper@ gmail.com 090-9311-7802

Washer, portable, in box; reclining chair, in excellent condition. Pick up Takadanobaba. shinjuku_altaboy@ yahoo.co.jp 08035879090

5.1 CAMERAS

Fridge, Hitachi, 302L, three-drawer, two y/o. morris1638@gmail.com 090-2219-4197

Consoles and games. Xbox 360 system, two controllers, 20 games; PlayStation 3 games, 21 available; Nintendo DS, two available, 11 games ¥40,000/obo. leroy. brown.in.town@gmail.com

Washer, mini. 7min walk from Takadanobaba. shinjuku_altaboy@ yahoo.co.jp 08035879090

4.1 FURNITURE & FITTINGS

Mattress, Span America Medical Systems Geo-Mattress Pro, brought in US, queen-sized (60x80x6”), orthopedic, intended for use without a foundation, w/special washable cover ¥30,000/obo. snoopy96815@yahoo. com 033467-9106

5.5 GAMING

6.2 MOTORBIKES, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES

5 HOBBIES&INTERESTS

Chair. Ayur octopus office chair, black, ‘12, in excellent condition.

New ¥50,000. Sell ¥15,000/obo. lee. woolgar@gmail.com

Kanji learning material. Memorizing the Kanji, three-book complete system, joyo list and over 1000 more key kanji, w/Nelson Kanji Dictionary ¥8500/ all. Ebina, though can maybe meet in Shinjuku. earth_travel_joy@hotmail. com

TV 21”, Sony, made in ‘14, no recording function, otherwise ok. Pick up only Yokosuka. elsalvadorjapan@yahoo.es

4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS

Cabinet, teak (H95xW30xL120cm) ¥20,0 0 0. Pick up Nishihara . ttanaka001@yahoo.com

5.4 BOOKS/CD/DVD

Cameras, Samsung handheld, Cybershot, no chargers ¥7000. Details available. nrsledge@gmail.com DSLR, Nikon D700, w/complete accessories, box, battery grip, timer RFS, as new ¥97,000. airconde@gmail. com Instant camera, Fujifilm, piano black, mini 50s, used one night ¥3000/obo. fairmontorchid0507@gmail.com

5.2 SPORTS EQUIPMENT Step machine, compact, hardly used, w/calorie counter, timer, handles for balance ¥8000. Can deliver around central Tokyo. robby33@hotmail.com

5.3 MUSICAL EQUIPMENT Stand, for keyboards, heightadjustable, cross-legged, in great condition ¥1000. Pick up Nakano or Ikebukuro stn. madamixx@yahoo.co.jp

6.3 BICYCLES, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES Road bike, Devinci Millennium Optimum Carbon C-T 61cm, suits rider around 187cm, w/Ultegra nine-speed shifters, derailleur, 105 cranks, brakes, XSR-2 rims, Schwalbe tires, Serfas saddle, Cateye computer, Sachs bottle holder, Shimano SPD pedals ¥70,000. cjriach@hotmail.com

or internationally with R-SIM ¥48,000.

Cash only. Meet in person. kizuki.buy@ gmail.com Smartphone, DIGNO ISW11K, locked to AU, but full amount paid, ‘11, w/original box, USB charger ¥5000. yokelena@ yahoo.co.jp

7.2 FASHION Shoes, high heels, size 10M, VS, Diana Ferrari, Guess, Nine West, various Italian brands, hardly worn ¥3000¥5000. hirooecucina@gmail.com

7.4 ITEMS WANTED Clothes for baby boy and older. Cheap or free. lelanis@hotmail.com Dining counter, w/storage shelves below for dishes, etc. cliffworks@gmail. com 090-7729-1195 Washer, bicycle, aircon, etc., sought.

Katsushika. ego_prin@yahoo.co.jp

8 COMPUTERS 8.2 HARDWARE Computer, Sony Vaio, all-in-one flatscreen, 16” widescreen display, built-in camera, Wi-Fi, 80GB, DVD-R/W, E/Win 7 Ultimate, MS Office, Skype, Messenger ¥14,000. futuredrive2@ yahoo.com Desktop, Dell Inspiron 620 ST, July ‘12, 4GB, 1TB HD, Win 7, 24” monitor, in good condition ¥15,000. lee.woolgar@gmail. com 09051530886 Laptop, Dell, Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 80GB HD, 64-bit Win 7 Pro, w/ English keyboard ¥15,000. nrad_bob@ hotmail.com Printer, Ricoh PSiO SP C320, laser, full color, as new, for office or professional home use. New ¥60,000. Sell ¥30,000/ obo. cinnamonraisin@gmail.com

10 HELP! 10.1 HELP ME Need help reading Japanese court documents so I can prepare an appeal.

No legal experience required, but must have brain. Can pay reasonable amount. cliffworks@gmail.com 090-7729-1195

10.2 SUPPORT

7 GENERAL 7.1 PHONES iPhone 5S 16GB, DoCoMo, gold, sealed in box, w/all accessories and warranty, use with DoCoMo, MVNOs (b-mobile)

WEST PAPUA: ONE SOUL , ONE PEO PLE . Fif ty- one years ago, West Papua should have been an independent country. Since 1969, West Papua has been invaded and the people robbed of their rights, culture and country. Help support West Papuans’ desire to be free. http://tapol.gn.apc.org/ markhelp2@gmail.com

FREE PROFESSIONAL C O N S U LTAT I O N F O R FO REI G N RE S I D ENT S , w/ l aw ye r s , a d m i n i s t ra t i ve procedure specialists, e d u c a to r s , e t c . E n g l i s h , Chinese, Korean and Tagalog interpreters available.

Sat, June 21, 1:30-4:30pm (reception closes at 4pm), Itaba shi Green Hall, 36 -1 S a k a e - c h o , I t a b a s h i - ku . kb-bk-kanri@city.itabashi. tokyo.jp www.itabashi-ci. org/int-en/

N E E D T O TA L K ? W e ’ r e h e r e to listen. TELL LIFELINE: free, anonymous English counseling daily from 9am-11pm by trained vo l u n te e r s : 03 - 57 74 - 0 9 92 .

TELL COUNSELING: affordable multilingual p syc hothe rapy by acc re dite d Western-trained professionals, a CIGNA International Provider: 03-4550-1146. TELL website: www. telljp.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @TokyoLifeLine.

J O I N T H E B I G G E S T, B E S T, M O S T P O P U L A R INTERNATIONAL PARTY! Great people, drinks and food!

Meet new friends and party with nice people in a friendly atmosphere. Events in Tokyo (Ginza, Azabu, Roppongi) and Osaka. ¥1500-¥2000. http://english.gaitomo.com/ info@gaitomo.com

13 CLUBS & INTERESTS 13.1 SPORTS

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TOKYO. If you have a problem with drinking, we can help. English-speaking m e e t i n g s d a i ly. 0 3 -3 97 1 -147 1 inquiries@aatokyo.org http:// aatokyo.org HIV Peer Support group and workshops. Get together with people in the same boat as you, who understand.

Held in a safe, considerate, 100% confidential setting to discuss what’s on your mind, ask questions and make new friends. info@peersupporttokyo. com www.peersupporttokyo.com Infertility support group. TTC Tokyo is an infertility support group that provides informal opportunities for women and men experiencing infertility to connect with one another. Please visit website for more info. admin@ttctokyo. org www.ttctokyo.org/

10.3 LOST FRIENDS Where are you TJ? I’m seeking a longlost American friend living in Tokyo named TJ. We met at Japan Cupid about three years ago. He is about 50s now, I guess. Any info welcome. Thank you. picture4518@gmail.com

11 MESSAGES 11.1 PERSONAL MESSAGES

Road bike, Giant TCR, size M frame, yellow/black, as new, currently disassembled, various parts available.

New ¥226,000. Sell ~¥50,000. Price depends on parts. View Shin-Nakano. cjriach@hotmail.com Road bike, Giant Escape R3, good for those 5”5’-6”1’ (165-185cm), frame size is 500mm, in excellent condition, as new, hardly used, one y/o ¥34,000. keyar2045@gmail.com

THE JAPAN HELPLINE, 24 hours a d ay, fro m a ny wh e re , a b out a ny t h i n g . Fro m e m e rg e n c y assistance to simple questions.

Visit www.jhelp.com/ and press “ he lp,” or call 0 570 - 0 0 0 -911.

To volunteer or support, please contact team@jhelp.com. www. jhelp.com/

getyourfriend.com/mobile/ jiparty@hotmail.com http:// www.getyourfriend.com/ 090-1735-5405

WRITE A MESSAGE FOR YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE! Write anything, from birthday messages to proposals, and so much more! Contact us through our website at http://classifieds. metropolis.co.jp.

12 SOCIAL SCENE 12.1 LET’S PARTY

JAPAN I NTE R NATI O NAL PART Y – Early Summe r Special. Sat, June 28, 6 : 3 0 - 9 p m , D evi Fu s i o n (Roppongi). Japan’s biggest international party. 250 people expected. All-youcan-drink and free snacks.

J a p a n e s e m e n : ¥4 0 0 0.

Others: ¥3000. Mobile: http://

AMERICAN FOOTBALL. Nihon Unisys Bulls, X league Central Division, seeks fit players w/ US college football experience for all positions. Practice every Sat/Sun from 10am-3pm (including meeting) in Tokyo/Saitama (time & venue subject to change). Attendance at practice must be over 60%.

Please contact for tryout info and send your profile to team admin. bullsxleague@gmail.com http:// www.unisys.co.jp/football/ A L L- N AT I O N A L I T Y T O U C H FOOTBALL. Non-contact tag rugby (OZ tag) and Rugby League players.

We play every Sat from 10am in Tatsumi. M/F and beginners welcome! Good exercise and fun!

Many other activities, such as BBQs and drinking parties! Email for details. tokyorugbyleague@ hotmail.com http://ameblo.jp/ tokyo13warriors AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS. Japan ANZACS Rugby League team is seeking Rugby League players for Japanese Rugby League official games from Apr to Sep. Everyone welcome. Contact for more details. japananzacs@gmail.com PLAY RUGBY. The Tokyo Crusaders are a friendly but keen international rugby club. Devoted to the game and its social side, the “Cru” welcomes all players and supporters.

Established in 1990, the Cru plays in the Shuto League 1st Division. http://www.facebook.com/tokyo. crusaders www.tokyocrusaders. com TA M B O U R E L L I . U n i q u e n e w s p o r t fro m S cotla n d . U s in g a tambourine-like instrument as a racquet, players hit a shuttlecock.

We play two or three times/month on weekends in Meguro with many socials. Join us! More details: www. tamjapan.org/en/ info@tamjapan. org All-level tennis group in Tokyo. Serious and motivated tennis players sought by active tennis group to join their weekly sessions in central Tokyo. We have advanced and intermediate groups on weekday evenings. Beginner and lowintermediate also welcome. No entrance or membership fees. Reasonable participation fees. tokyo.tennis@yahoo.fr Basketball in the Yokohama area.

Want to play b-ball in the Yokohama area? Mostly Japanese play intermediate games every Mon and Wed night at a local school’s gym. Feel free to come.

Please contact for further details. satoru. nicolas@gmail.com

#1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 25

Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp Don’s Half-Fast Flash-Mob Weekend Urban Bicycle Rides. halffastcycling@ hotmail.com Futsal players wanted by a very friendly international team. Practice is in Tokyo and Kanagawa on Sat. Details available. fkkyn468@ybb.ne.jp

Precision Cutting Brazilian Keratin Treatment Foil Highlighting / Blonde Specialists Colour Corrections Hair Extensions

Futsal team, intermediate, in Tokyo on weekends. Please tell us about yourself. 週末東京中級フットサルチーム . futsaluk@ yahoo.co.jp

PH 03-6436-0228

www.goldsalontokyo.com

for first visit from our entire service menu

4-1-9-6F Azabu Juban Minato-ku Tokyo (1min from exit 4 Azabu Juban stn)

Gracie jiu-jitsu. Seeking a partner to practice Gracie Combatives techniques. I’m a long-term foreign resident, can speak Japanese.

Interested in self-defense, not MMA or grappling for points. Prefer Yokohama area. Thanks. breathe@ world.email.ne.jp Interested in tai chi? Then why not start now? Take a step to counter the stresses of daily living. Practice is in Toyama Park on Sun mornings, near Takadanobaba stn. chifact@gmail.com International basketball club in Hachioji seeking new members.

Amateur club, M/F ok. Let’s enjoy b-ball games on Sun evenings. For more info, please contact Yoshi. ibc_yoshi@ yahoo.co.jp https://m.facebook.com/ IBCTokyo International soccer club. Five-aside, 11-a-side, on grass fields. Two or three practices/matches on Sun. All nationalities welcome. Happy and friendly club! We have many socials. djnorio0417@yahoo.co.jp Women’s soccer club. Five-a-side, 11-a-side, on grass fields. Two or three practices/matches on Sun. All nationalities, experience levels, beginners welcome. Happy and friendly club! We have many socials. djnorio@hotmail.co.jp

13.2 LEISURE MACARTHUR HEIGHTS. Take a break where General Douglas MacArthur did! One hour from Tokyo by car or direct train. Beautiful cabins on the ocean, w/onsen, beach, shopping. housinginjapan@yahoo. com

Family doctor for your dogs and cats in the heart of Tokyo!

Consultations available in English!

Let’s cook together. Why don’t you come over to my kitchen (Japanese woman in Shinagawa) to learn how to make yummy home-style Japanese dishes? Washoku, Western food, Chinese, etc. Only pay for ingredients.

Women only. cookjapon@gmail.com

Vaccinations Heartworm prevention, flea/tick control In-house blood work, X-ray, echography Spay/neuter, dental cleaning General surgery and medicine Import & export requirements

13.3 ARTS

03-6205-7753

2-5-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku www.toranomonvet.jp/en

J-STAR PATENT, TRADEMARK & IMMIGRATION OFFICE

Guitarist seeks work. Hi, I’m a guitarist from Canada seeking work performing instrumental music or in a back-up band for singers. I’m versatile and very easy to work with. Appreciate any suggestions and meeting new people. earth_travel_joy@hotmail.com 08096967773

We can support you with: Visa and immigration

Establishing a Company & Branch office Other Legal & Business matters Hiroshi Oogai,

Patent attorney Immigration lawyer

www.j-star.jp

Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka

Exit 4, Nagatacho stn Supreme Court

Aoyama Ave Akasaka Mitsuke stn

Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

National Diet Library

608 Kitano Arms 16-15, Hirakawa-cho, 2-Chome, Chiyoda-ku ,Tokyo, 102-0093

Tel: 03-5216-6890 Fax: 03-5216-6891 Email: hiroshioogai@j-star.jp 26 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

Love Shakespeare? Amateur group in Tokyo, meeting once/month to celebrate our love of the Bard.

Come to read, or just to listen. All nationalities welcome, no experience necessary! rchrd_schwartz@yahoo. com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Shakespeare-sama/

13.4 MUSIC

Reasonable prices.

Free first time consultation

Intellectual property rights (Patent, trademark, copyrights)

Free Japanese home cooking.

Japanese housewife offers free home cooking (washoku) lessons in English (females only) at her house near Kawasaki stn during the day on weekdays. You just pay the cost of ingredients. tome.haruka-soushi@ ezweb.ne.jp

Imperial Palace

Seeking drummer, bassist, female vocalist who can sing in English or Spanish. Let’s start a new project for the whole world. Any nationality, age welcome. We are professionals. dj.norio@docomo.ne.jp https://www. facebook.com/avionrecords

Mitaka, Kichijoji, Ogikubo. UK male seeking someone who can come out to play in Mitaka, Kichijoji, Ogikubo or surrounding areas. I’d like to know someone local to me, who likes to go out for an informal quick beer. etc. giveme.s.u.s.h.i@gmail.com

Singer or singer-song writer wanted.

I’m a guitarist. I play electric and acoustic guitar. Beginners welcome.

Please let me play your songs. Let’s make music together. Gigs in Tokyo.

I like pop, rock, punk. riku_hiroxx@ hotmail.com

Online friends. JF seeks penpals for music, art, cooking and such online. No guys who talk about old girlfriends or those seeking women online. This is not the Women Looking For Men section. peaceful_world8@hotmail.com

13.5 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT Diamond Way Buddhism Tokyo. Do you want to explore your own mind?

Guided Buddhist meditation every Sun, 6pm, near Azabu-Juban. International practitioners, beginners welcome, Japanese spoken. Please call 090-35983072 for more information. daginia@ gmail.com http://www.diamondway.jp/ Zen meditation (Zazen). You’ve always thought it would be interesting to try it - why not now? Join us Fri evenings at Tokuun-in in Ueno. Make arrangements in advance by email, and check our home page. tokyozazen@jcom.home. ne.jp www.wgthorpe.com

13.8 PROFESSIONAL Tokyo Traders Club. International club for traders and investors. Discuss opportunities in stocks, commodities and forex. Many regular events, including FX trading workshop. New to trading? No problem: beginners also welcome. You can also learn to trade. Join free! info@tokyotraders. com http://www.tokyotraders.com/ 080-5681-1321

13.9 INTERNATIONAL Intercultural activities. JII (Japan Intercultural Institute) is a nonprofit, member-run organization that sponsors activities (seminars, cultural events, conferences) for those wanting to further develop intercultural competencies and meet other interculturalists. yuko. bolick@japanintercultural.org www. japanintercultural.org Nihongo 倶楽部いんたぁなしょなる.

Nihongo Club International is a volunteer group to help foreign people learn Japanese at the Tokyo Volunteer Action Center in Iidabashi. Every Thu, 7-9pm. nci_tokyo@yahoo.co.jp

14 PERSONALS 14.1 FRIENDS Classical music fan. I’m a Japanese female, early 30s, living and working in Tokyo. I’m seeking a friend who can come with me to classical music concerts, theaters or art museums.

Let’s enjoy sharing our interests. thelimitsofcontrol@yahoo.co.jp Crossdresser. Feminine white guy in Tokyo seeks female friend. I also speak Japanese. k.sweetdream@ yahoo.com Email/letter exchange. JF, 38, seeks an occasional email/letter exchange.

I love Manic Street Preachers and Bauhaus architecture. katzepong@ docomo.ne.jp English-speaking kids. My 3-year-old son is seeking native English-speaking friends. He understands English a bit because he’s taking English lessons.

I’d like him to use English in a natural setting with kids, too. Similar age preferred. pianoprimostudio@yahoo. co.jp 080-5071-5723

Japanese drummer seeking band.

Hi, I’ve been playing the drums since I was in grade 2. I went overseas to play music (USA, AZ, Japan). I play basically rock, pop, funk, jazz, blues, etc. kosuke1016@hotmail.com

From Denmark or Germany? If so, drop me a line! Have been seeking Danes and Germans for friendship. Tell me what you would like to do with a JF, 30s. Let’s have fun times together!

Please be nonsmokers, 30s preferred. codename107113@live.com

Musicians wanted to play northern European/Scandinavian music together, especially violinists, accordionist, pianist, cellist. Rehearse a couple of times/month in Nakano. unicornio@nifty.com

Jazz-playing friends in Tokyo.

Japanese male seeking jazz players for fun in the Tokyo area. I’ve been playing the alto sax for a couple of years. Still amateur, but want to play with others. yossynet@ra2.so-net.ne.jp

Penpal from overseas. Japanese in Tokyo seeks native English speaker for talk about movies, daily topics, English corrections, etc. Always seeking interesting people from all over the world. Chat and friendship only. No sexual emails, please. language_ exchange3@hotmail.com Seeking friends in central Tokyo. JF, early 30s, seeks friends to hang out with in central Tokyo. atkm92@yahoo. co.jp

14.2 MEN LOOKING FOR WOMEN S U B M I S I V E S J M , 3 6 , c u te , i s seriously seeking a woman who is into, or interested in, dominating men. I am so submissive, with seven years’ experience, that I am happy to take whatever and serve you in any way. slaveintokyo@gmail.com Active, mature man, English, 40s, seeking an intelligent, feminine woman for passion and relaxing times. ms2013spk@yahoo.com Afternoon fun? Canadian MWM, 30s, attractive and respectful, seeks Japanese lady for safe afternoon fun in central Tokyo. Weekdays or weekends ok. foreignerintokyo2@yahoo.com All I need is love! Nice single French guy in central Tokyo is seeking a JF, 30s, for a serious relationship. I work in advertising and as a photographer, like to travel (Bali, Thailand, Kyoto), have two small dogs.

Email w/photo. cdgnrt@yahoo.fr American executive se eking companionship. SWM, athletic body, 182cm, 85kg, good sense of humor, seeking a one-night stand or ongoing physical relationship with a SJF or MJF, 20-45. Will show you a good time. Nice restaurants, hotels. Very respectful. skykingwilt@yahoo.com Are you short and cute? I’m seeking a short, very attractive lady living in Tokyo.

Let’s start with a drink and get to know each other. I’m an American businessman, originally from California, 40s, 186cm, 78kg. solar_confinement@yahoo.com Attractive single Japanese male seeks a nice Western or Japanese female for friendship and possibly more.

Nonsmokers preferred. I am confident that I can create fun times for you. If you are ready, email me. cioinjapan@gmail. com Big black guy for you. I want to give beautiful ladies lots of fun. Satisfaction guaranteed. Skilled, very experienced, well-muscled, no strings attached. Find what you’ve been missing. tokioitelive@ gmail.com British male, 31, friendly, tall, slim, seeking a nice girl to hang out with. Nationality/ race unimportant, but should be 20-35 and have a nice personality. Interested in music and film: you should be, too. shiodomebye@gmail.com Can you read backwards? Evenings my brighten to gal a meet to looking. Excuse an have I so, now office the at am I though - am I as bored as be must you, backwards this reading are you if. ring.ofdesire@ gmail.com Caring and cute JM seeks attractive, hearty, nonsmoking Western female for friendship. I simply would like to share fun, interesting and great experiences with you. If you feel the same way, just drop me a line. jinzaixyz@yahoo.co.jp Carpe diem. Genuine, attractive, downto-earth SJM, 40s, is seeking a serious relationship. Would love to meet a lady who is sincere, active and sophisticated.

Let’s have coffee to see if there’s good chemistry between us, shall we? toshinoris1012@yahoo.co.jp

JOBS METROPOLIS is seeking motivated bi l i n g ua l ( E /J ) s a le s exe cut ive s , support staff and interns to join its advertising and marketing team . Send E /J re sume to jobs@ metropolis.co.jp.

European gentleman, 40s, tall, educated, good-looking, S, seeks M lady, under 30, with unusual fantasies, ready to explore the extraordinary.

One mouse click can make your secret desires come true! aminimia@yahoo. com Every time I’m a Japanese. Seeking new relationship with a nice female who is open-minded and likes to communicate. I’m a SJM, 40s, cool and honest. I enjoy movies, rock music, taking pictures, relaxing walks, etc.

Yoroshiku. getloud999-hello@yahoo. co.jp Female friend, please. UK male, 36, seeks female friends for drinking, chatting, maybe more. I want a friend with benefits, but just a normal friend would be nice, too. In a relationship, but not happy. Let’s meet for a chat. zzztopsandfingers@hotmail.co.uk Food, wine and romance. Attractive, healthy, romantic, passionate SWM, 40s, seeking romantic, elegant, attractive Japanese woman, 30s, for a serious relationship. Warmer weather is here; let’s explore restaurants, weekend getaways and great times together. herbsandspices1712@gmail. com Forever single virgin guy. I have never experienced a woman in my life, but now I want to explore it.

I’d appreciate if any woman could help me. Any nationality, any age ok. I am in good health, slightly shy. akashjp3000@yahoo.com Friend with secret loving benefits.

Attractive half-Caucasian/Japanese man, 180cm, 86kg, fun and gentle, seeking adventurous and sexy woman for lots of dating, kissing and romantic love-making times together. Around Tokyo or Kanagawa. sp777saw@ hotmail.com Great opportunity for SWF in Tokyo.

Attractive SJM seeks attractive, spiritually mature, thoughtful SWF for a meaningful relationship. Shall we begin to talk? I won’t disappoint you. followupforme14@gmail.com Humorous and good-looking SJM, 30s, seeks an attractive foreign lady with the same interests, like movies, books, music and going to cafes. Let’s meet up for coffee and maybe more.

Reply w/photo. lovehotellover@ yahoo.co.jp Interested in an intelligent, funny black American? Read on! Educated black male from USA, 178cm, 85kg, healthy and disease-free, with extensive experience in Japan, seeking a nice, fit JF for friendship, maybe 恋愛. hiyellafella@hotmail.com Irregular friendship? English WM, early 50s, living in Japan and England, seeking a MJF who would like an undemanding private boyfriend.

Friendly, polite, easygoing. Evenings ok, but daytime better. Check out by mail or Skype? tempteccobox@ hotmail.com Japanese male, 42, single, seeks sincere, warm, open-minded white female for friendship and romance. I’m generous, nonsmoking, like traveling, reading, philosophy and enjoying my life. skyoverture@excite.co.jp

To advertise: commercial@metropolis.co.jp

03-4588-2277 SALES INTERN. Metropolis is seeking a bilingual (E/J) intern to join the most successful English-language advertising team (Restaurants & Bars) in Japan. Great opportunity to learn in an exciting environment. No pay, but transportation provided. Please email knakashima@metropolis.co.jp.

JM seeking foreign girl. Hi, I’d like to make friends with a foreign girl.

I’m easygoing and I want to do fun things. I play music and work in real estate in Tokyo. I like to shop, drink, etc. kosuke1016@hotmail.com JM seeking girlfriend. Hi, I’m from Japan.

I live in Tokyo. I listen to and play music for fun. My favorite sport is soccer. I like anime and reading comics. If you are interested, please send me a message. riku_hiroxx@ hotmail.com JM seeks steady relationship with a nice, honest person for fun, happiness. Friends first and let’s see how it works. Tokyo or Kanagawa preferred. If you’re interested, mail me. keinstoner@yahoo.com Just human. We are all just human and can sometimes find ourselves in a situation beyond our control which we call loneliness. I guess there is an understanding JF out there who might understand me. Serious only, please. strike4me@yahoo.com Lazy weekends together? Seeking attractive and curvy girlfriend, 160cm+, who is fun to be around and seeking intimacy in the Tokyo area. I’m a caring Afro-American male from NY, 35, 183cm, shaved head, athletic build, working in IT. Interested? goldfinger726@gmail.com Lovely single French guy for serious relationship. Seeking JF, 30s, for possible long-term relationship.

I’m working in advertising and as a photographer. I like to travel (Bali, Thailand), go to onsen, watch movies. I jog and go to the gym. cdgnrt@yahoo.fr Marriage-minded relationship. Single guy, 30, seeking someone 20s or early 30s for a serious relationship leading to marriage someday. I am educated and have the necessary financial ability to support a family. Can speak Japanese. uniman@gmail.com Marriage. Warm, wealthy, generous, faithful, open-minded SJM, 39, in Tokyo, seeks marriage with a white woman. seven8877@hotmail.com Mature and sophisticated Japanese, some have said charming, seeking an elegant, passionate, kind SWF. I dream about wild nights as well as sharing the simple pleasures of love. Is that you? imak1_2_3@yahoo.co.jp Nice gentleman seeks a mature Japanese woman, 50+, to enjoy special sweet moments together, with respect and good manners. vbcfgt@hotmail. com

Reignite the passion. Canadian MWM living in Tokyo seeking sincere, discreet MJF or SJF seeking to reignite passion. Free on weekday evenings and occasionally weekends. Let’s get to know each other and take it from there. theroyaljoker@yahoo.com Romance with an older lady. Very nice and sexy gentleman seeks an older, or much older, woman to have nice dates and a romance. feeltokyo@yahoo.co.uk Seeking big, tall woman. Caucasian guy, prefers big tall ladies. Me: intelligent, friendly, down-to-earth, active, good sense of humor. ms2013spk@yahoo.com Seeking dominant Japanese woman.

Submissive European male, 29, seeking dominant JF around my age. If you are curious or interested, please contact me for more details. markram333@ gmail.com Seeking girlfriend. Cool guy, 40, kind, seeks mature JF, 40s-50s, for romance in Tokyo. Let’s meet up for coffee and talk. Serious only, please. munesan50@ yahoo.com Seeking large Japanese girlfriend.

Canadian guy, 40s, open-minded, gentle, romantic, positive, seeks fat girlfriend for long-term relationship in Tokyo. Serious only, please. bbalajan@yahoo.com

Recruiting Careers in Tokyo Pacific Associates Limited is a recruiting company focused on helping our foreign-capital clients find bilingual talent in Japan. We specialize in a number of industries including Pharmacuetical, Medical Device, Finance, Information Technology, Digital Media and Industrial/Manufacturing.

We are seeking potential team-members with good character, strong work-ethic and the desire to build a career in recruiting.

We offer training, support, teamwork and the platform for prosperity.

In addition to the normal pay and benefits, we provide a weekly cash-bonus, frequent team-building events and quarterly reward-travel.

We are hiring at all levels: Admin, Researchers, Associates, Consultants and Partners. PAL is a partner-owned business with equity opportunity.

careers@pacific-associates.jp Pacific Associates Limited

Houmei Bldg.6F, 1-3-19 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 http://www.pacific-associates.jp Phone: 03-6680-8888

Seeking married JF. Nice guy, 40s, gentle, romantic, open-minded, seeks to share great time with a married JF in Tokyo. First, let’s meet up over coffee and talk. benjaminbenjamin12@yahoo.com Seeking married アラフォー. American gentleman, romantic type, seeks a married アラフォー lady for good conversation, friendship and more. Not seeking a one-time encounter. I want a discreet relationship with real feelings. togethertokyo@yahoo.com Seeking mature JF. Cool guy, 40s, positive, romantic, gentleman, honest, seeks JF, 40s-50s, for long-term relationship. nnazila73@yahoo.com Seeking Parisienne. Affluent and excellent Japanese architectural engineer is seeking an attractive Parisienne who can speak English. I visited Paris last Dec and would like to know more about the city. Give me the hot info on Paris now. imak1_2_3@ yahoo.co.jp Seeking romantic love. Down-toearth seeking romantic love leading to marriage. Email w/photo if interested. smartguy@i.softbank.jp Serious, long-term. SWM, 34, welleducated and traveled, with a stable job, seeks true love. If you are 20-30s, warm and caring, and seeking a serious longterm relationship, then please drop me an email. Serious only, no games. No Roppongi girls, please. Lasagna5577@ yahoo.com

No supermodels, please! Did that shock you? Englishman seeking someone “normal” looking with a great p e r s o n a l i t y. I f y o u ’ r e interested in England and can meet in the evenings for a beer, then get in touch!

Nonsmokers only, please. areyouon.yourown@gmail. com

Sincere Australian SWM, 30s, 180cm, fit and attractive, seeking girlfriend.

Drop me a line and tell me about your interests and passions. brad57685911@ hotmail.com Single mother sought by father with 6-year-old boy for meeting, having fun and speaking English on weekends with the kids. Let’s enjoy the cool days of spring together. Boy or girl ok. understanding_life@hotmail.com #1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 27

Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp

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SWM for a chat. SWM, 37, seeking a lady for casual dating. Let’s meet for a chat over coffee or beer and see if we like each other. No pressure. zzztopsandfingers@ hotmail.co.uk Tokyo cafe journey. Seeking a Western female for enjoying various cafes together in Tokyo, discovering and sharing good wine, sake, cuisine, etc. I’m a Tokyo-born JM, 30s, 6’, sincere, intelligent, fit. tenderlovers@ hotmail.com UK lady. SJM, 30s, tall, slim, lover of books, films and music, seeks an attractive British lady with the same interests. First chat, then meet up for coffee and maybe more. hurryondownboy@yahoo.co.jp Want to meet married Japanese lady. Married but sabishii Caucasian male, 30s, seeks like-minded female friend (older or younger) for discreet dating. Let’s meet for coffee first. meetforcoffee3@gmail.com White guy, tall, with blue eyes, seeking a girfriend in the Tokyo area. I’m single, kind, honest, warm. I also would love to share some of my hobbies. I speak some Japanese. alexinjapan1@hotmail.com

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Will you hold me? I want to hold you in my arms and feel it back. I want to feel connected and not think of anything else. artoistk@hotmail.com WM in Tokyo seeking a pretty girl, 18-35. I am tall, white, with blue eyes. I speak Japanese. chrischrisjapan34@ yahoo.com WM seeking two Japanese ladies.

WM seeking two Japanese ladies, 20s30s, slim, educated, open-minded, for conversation, drinks, dinner and fun.

Am slim, fit, in good shape, early 40s, nonsmoking, educated, professional. jmadd01@y7mail.com ヨーロッパの女性と友達になりたいです。 東京目黒区に住む３４歳の男です。友達になり ませんか？ tamura.01@ozzio.jp

14.3 WOMEN LOOKING FOR MEN

S I N G L E S - O N LY D AT I N G EVENTS EVERY FRI NIGHT for foreign men and Japane se women . Leave the event with a new date!

Always more women than men . FREE if signing up in advance! Otherwise, ¥2000. info@exeoi nte rn atio n a l .co m w w w. exeo-international.com

L AV I S H D AT E S A N D INDULGENT NIGHTS - WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES for elite foreign males to m e et e l e g a nt J a p a n e s e females. Start with a luxurious dinner date,take the night where you want it to go. Fresh, young women join our club every day. Try our free one-month trial offer: first date is on us! 0120675-858 (E) international@ u n ive r s e - c lu b . j p ht t p : // universe-club.jp/en

JapanTravel www.japantravel.com 28 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

Alluring lady for you? Tall gentleman (180cm+) sought for long-term relationship, professional living in Tokyo preferred. SW, around 40s?

Lovely. You should know how to treat a lady. Believe me - I am quite alluring. poissonauchocolat3@yahoo.fr American military man. Seeking single military man in Kanagawa or

Tokyo. Hopefully long-term. I have always been attracted to men in the military. I am tall, classy and feminine. yukkii90210@gmail.com Black American sought for longterm relationship. Pretty, active, open-minded, nonsmoking Japanese woman, around 40, working in Tokyo, seeking a sincere black American company worker for a serious relationship leading to marriage.

Single, no kids only. No players. pinklina18@yahoo.co.jp Bonjour! SJF seeking single white European to enjoy the cool summer season together. Prefer French or British, 25-35, easygoing, lover of music, the arts, travel. tokyomiffy@ gmail.com Elegant yet natural. Woman who loves and values private time with a lover and real friend seeks a longterm relationship. Educated, healthy, charming European man preferred.

We all want a bit more warmth in life.

I’m mid-40s. nikitaeleon@yahoo.co.jp European man for serious relationship.

I’m a SJF, 30s, seeking a European gentleman as I’m interested in culture.

Email me for more info. Serious and genuine people who know how to introduce themselves only. framboisier@inter7.jp Hello. Seeking my new best friend. sweetlife95@yahoo.co.uk Hi, guys! I am a Japanese female, 42, seeking a tall SWM, 35-42. Please tell me about yourself and send photos of yourself. I am not seeking a sexual relationship. japanisawesome@ hotmail.co.jp International-minded Japanese female, early 30s, seeking new people for dates. I consider myself attractive and down-to-earth. I’m seeking an independent single guy. Message with photo appreciated. Thanks. jpn_ camelia@yahoo.com Japanese female seeks friends. Hi there, I am a JF, 23, chubby, sensitive, caring (I hope), and I like traveling, Disney, taking photos, sweets. Hope to hear from you! haruharuharuru0416@ gmail.com Japanese woman seeks man with the potential to become a serious partner.

Please send me your basic info (age, origin, location, etc.). Hopefully, meet you on weekends or before evening on weekdays. aiko.tsuchida17@yahoo.com JF with charming smile seeking SWM. SJF, late 30s, pretty, likes classical music and art, seeking a native Englishspeaking single white man, with a professional job, early 30s-50. I hope for a serious relationship. echizen_ rose@yahoo.co.jp One best friend/lover needed.

Seeking a partner to share love and laughter in a long-term relationship, not just as lovers, but as best friends.

You: intelligent, outgoing, gentle.

Me: feminine, introverted, intriguing, mid-40s. Singles only. before_ sunrise_2009@yahoo.co.jp Seeking marriage. Hello there. I’m a single mom, 39, with two boys. I’m seeking a marriage partner. I got divorced about seven years ago. I’d like to have a wonderful family again. I’m very mature, beautiful, sweet. Thank you. nuiko4518@mail.goo.ne.jp Seeking serious relationship. Seeking SWM for long-term relationship. I like traveling, drinking, eating out and sports. hacchiru@gmail.com Seeking sincere Japanese or Korean.

I’m a SJF, around 40, can speak English and some Korean, love traveling, seeing art, nature, etc., seeking a nice Japanese or Korean guy. Serious only, please.

2014mirai@gmail.com Single Japanese female seeking someone around my age (30), single, independent. Let’s start as friends first and see how it goes. Hope to have some common interests. Photo appreciated.

Thanks. musicinlife@excite.co.jp Sweet lover. European lady, 40, bored, seeking a good lover in Tokyo who knows how to kiss, etc. Let’s start from friendship. lina.keye@mail.ru

Truly ready for a happily married life? Do you want that? Attractive Japanese woman is seeking the same.

I am a rather strong woman, still, I need to feel protected by a real man to feel life wholeheartedly. theblindside1524@ gmail.com Working professional SJF, welleducated in the UK, seeking single British or European professional in central Tokyo for a fun summer. It’s always nice to meet new people. If you reply, I’ll send photos and contact info. Guys who don’t mind smoking preferred. No cheaters/liars. If we click, I could be a little naughty for you. twinsister1@hotmail.com

14.4 GAY & LESBIAN Friends and fun. Japanese guy, 27, 170, 65, good-looking, seeking friends and fun in/around Tokyo. Please reply w/face photo and stats. Thanks. kcv@ hotmail.co.jp Serious Japanese guys. GAM in Tokyo, 173, 72, 37, into movies, onsen, traveling, badminton, sign language, violin, aikido. Drop me a line if you are interested in something serious and long-term. Seeking good friends, preferably boyfriend. cynopterustay@ hotmail.com

14.5 ESCORTS E S C O R T S H AV E G O N E O N L I N E .

To f i n d a l o v e l y l a d y com pa nion , vi s it http :// classifieds.metropolis.co.jp/ category/personals/escorts.

14.6 AND OTHERS I will father your child. Fertility trouble? Can’t find the right man?

Tall, handsome, intelligent white man will father your child. No further contact required. Email for further details. Serious only, please. babypapa88@gmail.com Mature JF seeks generous WM. SJF, 40s, seeks generous WM, late 30s-60s, interested in having dinner, dating, going to private parties, couples’ clubs. Single, married, visiting man in Tokyo ok.

Nonsmokers only. wombatbilby@ yahoo.co.jp Seeking fun woman for happening bars. Discreet gentleman, 30s, seeking fun ladies of all ages to explore happening bars in Tokyo.

I’m fun, relaxed and easygoing. Let’s start with dinner and drinks and see if we click. tokyoguy01@gmail.com S e e ki n g ta l l wo m a n . S i n g l e European gentleman, good-looking, open-minded, 35, 185cm, athletic, seeking a tall woman for fun and a hot time together. 日本語が ok. paris75tokyo@gmail.com Sensual massage. Mature couple seeks fit, good-looking mature gentleman to oil massage her while he watches. We are early 50s, happy and healthy. Serious only. mhsras@ gmail.com

15 JOBS 15.1 JOB WANTED Finn from Sweden seeking job.

WF, 30, love for drawing/creating.

As Finnish Sisu, studied Japanese in Tokyo from 2009 to 2011. Fast-learner, experience working in different jobs with various assignments. Seeking job in Tokyo. thedrago++onsa@gmail.com Italian seeks work in Japan. Hi, I’m an Italian male seeking a job in Japan. I’ve been a sous-chef for 10 years. I am serious, no drugs, a good worker. Please contact me for my CV. bakasensei2011@gmail.com Part-time job sought. Sean from the UK, 42, 12+ years in Japan, seeking work in/around Saitama, Mon/Wed/ Thu. Experience teaching English to all ages. Permanent resident, married.

All other work offers considered gratefully. chelseapensioner@ outlook.com www.seannt.weebly.com

Horoscope BY CATHRYN MOE ♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck

ARIES

TAURUS

Leaping over hurdles, skating around cracks in the sidewalk, that’s you.

Even if secretly you aren’t sure you can, the universe has taken a shine to you. Your contributions have added a few extra angels to your contract. Yes, contract. That’s because Aries is the go-to sign to get things done. You were born to lead the way. Fearless, enthusiastic, optimistic, and burning through any obstacle, you will soon be reaping benefits that match the efforts you have made.

No need to leap, as Taurus the Bull takes its time. Slow and deliberate, and not about to be pushed. Then something rises from deep within and you find yourself charging towards your goal. What’s a bull to do? You’re only acting on your true strength and interests. Being yourself has a sheen of health to it. Venus and Juno in your sign make you uber-attractive and ripe to make a commitment. To yourself or to another? How about both…

Mar 21-April 19 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣

GEMINI

Apr 20-May 20 ♥♥♥ ¥ ♣♣♣

CANCER

May 21-June 20 ♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣

June 21-July 22 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣

Ask for what you want. You may be acting on your own hesitation rather than giving changes a chance to reveal their hand. Mercury connects with the Moon over the weekend, meaning decisions are more feelingbased at this time. So is communication, since this planetary duo is in your sector of income and possessions. Even if you let go of everything you have, you still have your thoughts and feelings to tend to.

You have more comfort and choices than you think.

The ebb and flow of your choices and feelings may surprise even you. You have Jupiter, the planet that makes everything bigger, just about sussed. After all, it has been in your sign for an unprecedented amount of time. Questions about family, what it means and who gets to be part of yours, keep floating to the surface, then are pulled to secret depths as you look at your choices. Mercury has just entered your sign. It’s time to enjoy clear thinking and sailing this week.

LEO

VIRGO

Remember the word ‘nurture’ and you’ll be fine this week. Whether you’re spending your compassion on yourself or someone else, you are granted access to greater depths and rewards. Mercury connects with the Moon over the weekend, and family is a focus. Putting your feelings into words pays off. Your creative streak could take you into a new realm for making money. Romance is always big with Leos. But this week it’s your destiny to do something for love.

Far from concern, away from worry, you can create a space of joy and light that is your own. You already know it starts from within, but it’s always nice when the planets harmonize in your favor. Chiron has moved well beyond Neptune and the major shocks are receding, especially when it comes to partnerships. Your adventure at the moment is combining increased income with a more luxurious lifestyle. Enjoy yourself this week… with abandon!

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Libra loves comfort, beauty and serenity. However, with Saturn constraining your income and Mars forcing certain issues, you’re lucky to see your desires only now and then. Take heart. It will balance out. Your spirit naturally seeks what it needs and you will magnetize what matches your thoughts. So if you love nature or a quiet home in the country, spend time with photos and take jaunts to motivate your dreams to the realm of reality. And don’t spend all your time alone!

As a Scorpio, you can slice and dice with the best of them. You’re working your way through the depths so you can own them.

During this time, Jupiter in your solar ninth house brings your awareness to a pinnacle of strength in the spiritual realms. Even if you did not want this to be a part of your persona, you wear it well. The magic in the molecules is your heart in the matter.

Be as true to yourself as you can this week. Mercury conjunct the Moon says speak your needs now.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

For those of you who would rather be free than famous, think again. The parameters of paparazzi are going to change, and you may find you’re happy in the limelight. Far from photographs stealing your soul, you can find a way to be nourished by attention. That’s because the focus of what you do and the reasons you do it are changing. As long as you have examined—or at least visited—your core, remaining true to yourself brings in the opportunities that Mercury conjunct the Moon offer over the weekend.

Capricorns love to build, especially from the ground floor up. You don’t shy away from the nitty gritty, either. In fact it’s just the opposite. The more challenges that are thrown at you, the quicker you thrive. Oh sure, it may not show just yet. There is more foundation to lay before you present everything to the world. But rest assured with Mercury conjunct the Moon over the weekend, you are going to be understood and supported, particularly by a partner.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Weeks, months and years of concentrated effort hone your talents to a finely tuned note. This is sustained by your focus, which begins to turn into remuneration. There’s a layer of new beginnings settling on earth, and your sign just fell into one. Notice the Mercury-Moon connection over the weekend. It enhances everything that has to do with work, but you must speak up.

Family may pull on you for attention. With Venus in this sector it’s worth a little self-indulgence.

The constant turning of the wheel that you have had to keep going during the Pluto – Uranus squares is beginning to work in your favor. The Mercury-Moon combination over the weekend is meant especially for you.

You can let yourself be romantic, listen to love songs, share a movie. You can write texts that don’t boomerang in the wrong direction. You can cook up a storm or take care of a neighbor. Everything you do this week turns into a salted caramel brownie point.

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#1053 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 29

The Last Word

Want to have The Last Word? Send your article to: editor@metropolis.co.jp

SORRY, I’M NOT SORRY

A vegetarian in Japan refuses to apologize anymore

By Helen Marvell

CHRISTI ROCHIN

Helen Marvell is a Londoner who recently succumbed to the bright lights of Tokyo.

She likes travel, cake and ’80s music.

I

’ve been a vegetarian for over 15 years and now liv ing in Japan, the home of the vegetarian staple tofu, I’m often overwhelmed by the ignorant attitudes people express about my lifestyle—Japanese and expats alike.

I k now t hat pr i ma r i ly t hese attitudes come from a lack of understanding, but I still f ind myself frustrated when I have to explain myself time and time again. People’s curiosity takes over and I’m frequently barraged with questions such as, “But why? Sushi is so delicious!” or “Can you eat octopus?

What about bacon?” My favourite question of all, though, is: “How are you still alive? Your body needs protein! Only meat has protein.”

At lu nch t i me, people crawl over each other to see what I have in my homemade bento, and on my lazy days they assume my bento is boring because I’m a vegetarian—not because I wanted an extra 20 minutes in bed. I’ve also been to self-proclaimed “vegetarian” restaurants and often ended up with a side of fishy miso soup.

I’ve held back I’VE EVEN it’s not something from voicing my STOMACHED that I want to have reasons for being A WHOLE on my conscience. a v e g e t a r i a n BOWL OF DASHI There. I’ve said it b e c au s e m a y b e TO BE POLITE AT out loud—and it Ja p a n i s r e a l l y A DINNER PARTY feels good to have r u b b i n g o f f o n WHILST FEELING it out in the open. me: I don’t want MY SOUL SLOWLY I’m not the sort the conf lict or to MELTING AWAY of person who sta nd out l i ke a INSIDE. ” preaches about my stereotypical formorals to unintereigner with an aggressive opinion or ested ears and I’m usually as polite to be labelled “weird” or “difficult.” as I can be about them because I Over the years, I’ve found myself understand that it’s my own choice profusely apologizing for being a to be a vegetarian and it was my own vegetarian and have even concocted choice to come to Japan. I realize made-up reasons for inconvenienc- now how spoilt for choice and suping people’s food ideologies, such as port I was in the UK. allergies or health.

If I order food at a restaurant My honest issue with eating meat which comes with surprise chicken and fish is that I think it’s cruel and chunks, I’m capable of pushing the

cooked fowl aside and eating the rest of my meal without kicking up too much of a fuss. And I’ve even stomached a whole bowl of dashi (soup stock, usually with bonito) to be polite at a dinner party whilst feeling my soul slowly melting away inside.

(I have been to some great vegetarian restaurants in Japan and met people that went out of their way to accommodate me, but these people and places are few and far between.)

It’s hard to have such morals in a country where animal cruelty is ignored and most people seem oblivious to it. It’s something I witness almost daily. I’m talking about dogs wearing dresses and being pushed around in prams, blaming dolphins for overfeeding on local fish as an excuse to torture and kill them and the local zoos with shagg y longhaired Shetland ponies that have no shade from the insufferable summer heat. Japan has a long way to go to protect these animals. I understand that all countries and cultures have their downfalls when it comes to animal cruelty, but I feel that Japan often hides behind “cultural tradition” as an excuse.

I’m not naïve and I’m not expecting to turn the whole population of Japan into vegetarians overnight.

I’m just asking that next time you’re thinking of posting that Instagram video of you eating live squid to impress your friends back home or you fancy a coffee in an owl café, that you think twice about it.

If you don’t agree with the idea that fish have feelings or that dolphins have families then before dismissing me, might I suggest that you consider the other reasons people have for being vegetarian such as improving your health and sustaining the environment.

After three years in Japan I feel like it is time to stop apologizing and to start educating people. Let me be proud of my own opinion and don’t judge me for choosing to kill carrots over cows. It’s not a crime to not eat meat.

The views expressed in "The Last Word" are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Japan Partnership Inc. or its partners and sponsors.

METROPOLIS is Japan's No.1 English magazine, founded in 1994 and published for Japan’s international community.

It is the only English-language publication in Japan that distributes up to 30,000 copies per printed issue.

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Reach over 60,000 Metropolis readers. Advertise with us: sales@metropolis.co.jp; http://metropolis.co.jp/advertise 外国人集客なら６万人の読者を持つNo.1ブランド・メトロポリスをご活用ください。詳しくは：03-4588-2277 © Copyright 2014 Japan Partnership Inc. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or delete any advertisement without notice.

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