KS #167 April 2014

KANSAI’S ENGLISH MAGAZINEKANSAI’S ENGLISH MAGAZINE

無料issue 167 April 2014

www.kansaiscene.com

Kansai Scene is proudly published and printed by Mojoprint

Listings: Where to go & what to do Events / Art / Film / Live / Club / Maps & Classifieds

Plus+DIY Easter egg activitiesCheat sheet to hoikuens

極めつけの生食As fresh as it gets

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE | ISSUE #167 APRIL 2014 | kansaiscene.com 3

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

Features

Features

Extreme washoku p08

Recomended samurai sites p18

HOPE at the Hilton p21Business Matters

Blackan internet radio p07Kids & Family

Easter activities for children p12

Childcare in Japan p14Event

KYOTOGRAPHIE p25

Listings

Film p22

Events p26

Art p30

Live Music p32

Club p36

Classifieds p40

Maps p44

Publisher/Creative Director ..............Daniel LeeEditors ..........Carla Avolio / Celia PolkinghorneSub-editors ..... Donna Sheffield / Jason HaidarDesigner ..................Carolina Sandoval DurazoSales Manager ..........................Ryuichi Fukuda Accounts Manager ........................Michiko Lee

Art ...................................................Colin SmithEvent & Festival ........................... Yuki UchiboriFilm ................................................ Adam MillerLive music ................................ Phillip JacksonClub ................................................Terumi Tsuji

Interested in writing for Kansai Scene? Please contact [email protected] after reviewing our writers guidelines: kansaiscene.com/write-for-us

COVER PHOTO:

Dine outside your comfort zone on this month’s cover story: the freshest facets of traditional Japanese cuisine. See page 08 for our bilingual special.

Contact Kansai SceneGeneral [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]. 06-6539-1717 Fax. 06-7635-4791Address Osaka-shi, Nishi-ku, Shinmachi 3-5-7, Eiko Bldg. 2FWebsite kansaiscene.com

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

Kansai Scene is published monthly by Mojoprint

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kansaiscene @kansaiscene

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All that JazzOsaka — Osaka was selected as the host city for the UNESCO sponsored International Jazz Day event on April 30. The day features workshops from top international musicians and culminates in a star-studded live per-formance in Osaka Castle Park. Tickets for the finale are sadly no longer avail-able, but as part of the celebrations, the day before on Apr 29, a 1km stretch of Midosuji, from Shinsaibashi to Namba, will be transformed into the Midosuji Jazz Street. Expect live music, work-shops, food and drink stalls, parades, and special Jazz boats along the Doton-bori that you can board to cruise along Osaka’s waterways. They will even be putting turf down in front of the main stage to add to the ambience. Grab a hamper and make a day of it.International Jazz Day, Apr 30.

jazzday.com

Midosuji Jazz Street, Apr 29 (public

holiday) from 1pm–5pm

Mascots revealedOsaka — Remember there was a competition to design the new Osaka City mascot characters as part of the Osaka Pop International Cool Japan Awards? Well, here they are. The win-ner, Yamamoto Miwa (19) was chosen from 678 entries by a panel of judges. Expect to see a lot more of Mio and Tsukushi in the coming months as they will be put to work promoting Osaka to pop culture fans the world over. To see all the entries and learn more

about Osaka Pop see: osaka-pop.com

Five of the best... Hanami spots for active types

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Yoshino, NaraThough the World Heritage-listed Yoshino is awash with some 30,000 sakura trees, people flock to the four groves leading up Mount Yoshino, as the trees there blossom at different times throughout spring. The highest grove, Oku-senbon, lies 800m up the mountain trail. yoshinoyama-sakura.jp/english

Philosopher’s Walk, KyotoFollow in the footsteps of influential 20th century philosopher Nishido Kitaro as you walk the path he used for daily meditation. The stone thoroughfare follows a weaving canal for 1.7 miles through Kyoto’s Higashiyama district and is lined with hundreds of sakura trees that explode with colour every April.everytrail.com/guide/the-philosopher-s-walk-in-kyoto

Enryakuji Temple, ShigaFounded in 788 and now the headquarters of the Tendai sect of bud-dhism, this monastery has an enthrallingly gory past. Take the pleasant walk through the hilly, pink forests of its three areas: Todo, Saito and Yokawa to see the historical buildings and find out for yourself.visitkansai.com/sightseeing/hieizan-enryakuji

Satsuskiyama Park, IkedaSprawling up the side of Mount Satsuki, Satsukiyama Park boasts five hiking trails with stunning views of the Osaka Plain. However, if you prefer to take a more relaxed approach to cherry blossom viewing, the park also houses a free botanical garden, zoo and petting zoo that are open for the bulk of the day. osaka-info.jp/en/search/detail/sightseeing_1804

Sakurai, NaraAbundant with sakura trees and miles into the countryside, this less-known location really is a treat for the senses. The river that snakes through the town has steps leading down to it at some points, making it ideal for gathering. city.sakurai.nara.jp/english/sakurai01

Each month, KS brings you five of the hottest tips


Business Matters

The muso’s new best friendPromoting yourself as a musician can be challenging, which is why many artists are turning to internet radio stations like Blackan. KS investigates how in only three years, this webcast station has become one of Kansai’s most important resources for promoting and branding music.Text: Matthew Coslett • Images: Blackan Radio

To make it in today’s market, musicians have become multitalented media manipulators, spending as much time maintaining twitter accounts and online profiles as actually recording. In this new style of promoting, internet radio is becoming increasingly impor-tant. As the dominant internet station in the Kansai-area, Blackan has shown that there is a big audience for digital radio. In a world where internet hits can make or break an artist, the station commands the level of attention that can build a career. Their recent inter-view with the artist Elliot already has over 120,000 hits on YouTube and the top 15 most popular broadcasts have a minimum of 100,000 views each.

This level of success is the result of nearly 10 years of hard work. Blackan is the latest incarnation of the company KCC which specializes in promotion and music. Starting off designing flyers and name cards, the company then ex-panded into creating magazines. Their popular magazine, Kansai Events Pock-et Guide featured articles on upcoming events, industry issues and clubbing. After years of writing about music and making connections, KCC expanded into radio shows in 2011. The show was named Blackan as a compilation of the words for their inspirations, BLACK music and KANsai. Although Blackan started with predominately

black sounds, the station represents all genres of music, including drummers, pianists and a monthly Latin night.

“We always try to make the show about the artists and their music,” Louis ‘Jaja’ Boston, the CEO of KCC explains. “The shows are 30 minutes of discussion; 30 minutes of live music. We talk about all kinds of things: how they got into making music, who influenced them and how their style has evolved.” Boston is also keen to stress that the company is interested in the unique issues that affect music created by foreigners in Japan. “We are interested in how artists can uplift themselves and get through barri-ers… We also ask how foreign music is changing the music scene in Japan.”

As a company like Blackan grows, the most important concern has become attracting a higher calibre of celebrity without losing the core values that define the brand. This has resulted in a unique situation where interviews with local legends like Shingo Nishi-nari, Joseph Nkosi and Alicia Saldenha are transmitted alongside international celebrities such as Black Uhuru, Baby Chris and Obama’s favourite artist Warrior King. “My aim is to get all these artists ‘out there’,” Boston says.

Exposure is one of the key things that attracts artists and as a result KCC is always keen to use technology to

increase its brand awareness. Recently, an official Blackan Radio app was launched, so listeners can access the show anywhere. “When we do a live show it all goes to Ustream so you can watch it live. We also use YouTube, tunein radio and facebook, so you can listen to a show anywhere,” Boston says. He is keen to point out that digital media offers chances for promotion that are unique to the medium. “Lots of musicians don’t know how to pro-mote themselves. If you are a musician, there’s always something going on here that will help you gain exposure. So any musicians and promoters out there should contact me.”

Blackan shows are available through:

• The app: Blackan Radio • The website: blackan.com• Soundcloud: blackanradio• Youtube: blackanchannel • Tunein radio• Facebook

Anyone interested in collaborating

with Blackan Radio should contact:

[email protected]


Stage oneMaki zushi - rolled sushi. Easy-to-swallow raw food cunningly concealed in seaweed.巻き寿司。海苔で周到に生ものを隠してあるから食べやすい。

Stage two

Nigiri zushi - chunky raw flesh on rice. Tip: head to a genuine sushi bar and get off the sushi train.握り寿司。生魚の切り身が米に乗っている。クリアするコツは、回転レールのない昔ながらの寿司屋に行くこと。

Feature

As fresh as it gets極めつけの生食Fresh, raw ingredients are a key part of washoku. All very well when it’s simply veg, but how about the fleshy, beady-eyed, wriggly kind of raw? Foreign stomachs might need some extra training to prepare for this extreme washoku experience.

火を通さない新鮮な食材は、和食の基本である。その生食される素材が、植物ならばまず問題はない。だがあまりに生々しく、皿の上から睨み返し、まだ生き生きと動いているような動物はどうだろう。究極の和食体験を志す外国人は、あらかじめ心の準備が必要である。Text: Perrin Lindelauf

文：ペリン・リンデラウフ

Images: KS 写真： KS

Eight steps to extreme washoku enlightenment!究極の和食体験へと通じる８つのステップ


Washoku, Japan’s contribution to world cuisine, has been all over the news since its UNESCO Cultural Heritage inscrip-tion and its praises have been spread as thick as miso paste. Delicious it may be, some Japanese food is anything but easy for foreigners to swallow. Lacking dishes that are particularly spicy, sweet or sour, some washoku dishes make their mark with rawness.

“But I like sushi!” you protest. Indeed, I did too. I ate plenty of cucumber rolls and the occasional sliver of salmon back home. Upon arriving in Japan I found that I had to pass several stages of rawness that I had never considered even edible, descending like Dante through rings of hell and just hoping that I’d pop out into culinary heaven in the end.

Stage One: rolled sushi. Rawness is concealed. Stage Two: nigiri-zushi. A big piece of raw fish sits on a lump of rice. Stage Three: sashimi. A big piece of raw sea-creature without the pretense of rice. Most foreign visitors are aware of these levels, even if they aren’t able to conquer them.

When dining back home, something one rarely sees is a head. Not so in washoku. I was served shrimp with their heads still attached and fish grilled whole on a skewer. Their glassy eyes bored into my soul and it took a lot of effort to clear Stage Four: food with faces.

Close behind this tête-à-tête was Stage Five: eating those faces. Crunching up brains, eyes and various organs got easier when I started head-first and then moved on to the meatier tail. But eating whole creatures in single bites? There was something monstrous about swallowing hundreds of chirimen-jako (baby sardines) in one mouthful, like I was a creature of the depths in some Lovecraftian horror. But at least those little fish are dried.

Stage three

Sashimi. No hiding behind the rice here, just swallow the slab of naked fish.刺し身。生魚を隠す米はなし。丸裸の切り身を飲み込むしかない。

Stage four Food with faces. Unsurprisingly, fish eyes start popping out after a good grilling. Look your prey in the eye and chow down.動物の顔付き料理。魚を焼くと、目玉はもちろん飛び出してくる。獲物と視線を交わしながら食べよう。

和食がユネスコ無形文化遺産に登録されたことをきっかけに、日本の食文化への賞賛は世界中で広まっている。だが味の良さはさておき、和食には口に入れるのさえ憚られる料理もある。味覚の問題ではない。この国には、ナマナマしすぎる料理が存在するのだ。「でも寿司はみんな好きだよ」と、あなたは反論するだろう。私自身もそうだった。母国ではかっぱ巻きがお気に入りだったし、サーモンの刺し身も食べた。それでも日本にやってきて、乗り越えなければならない幾つものステージがあることを知った。これまで食べ物だとさえ思わなかったものを、覚悟を決めて食べるのだ。地獄へ降りるダンテのように、最後には食の天国へと到達できることをただ祈りながら。ステージ１は、巻き寿司だ。生の食材はまだ隠されている。ステージ２は、握り寿司。ごはんの上に、生魚が一切れ乗っている。ステージ３は刺し身。海の生物をそのまま切り身にして、米の台座なしで食べる。クリアできるかどうかは別にして、ここまでのステージは大抵の外国人旅行者もご存じのはずだ。西洋風の食事で、動物の頭部を目にすることは稀である。でも和食は違う。エビは頭付きで出てくるし、全身を串刺しにされた魚も見た。生気を失った彼らの目は、心に深く突き刺さる。ということでステージ４は、動物の顔付き料理。ここをクリアするのに、私はかなり難儀した。食材とのにらめっこが終わると、すぐ次の段階がある。ステージ５では、その動物の顔を食べる。脳みそや目玉などを噛み砕くには、まず頭からかぶりつき、身の詰まった尾の方に向かうと食べやすい。しかし一口でたくさんの動物を食べる感覚は別次元だ。何百匹ものちりめんじゃこを口に入れたとき、自分がSFホラー映画の奇怪な生物になったみたいでゾッとした。この小魚たちが乾燥してあったのは、せめてもの救いである。


Stage fiveEat the faces too. Dive head first, literally!動物の顔も食べる。口の中へ、魚が頭から飛び込むように。

Stage six

Whole cooked creatures. Doesn’t sound so bad? Try the little sparrows suzume they serve on sticks in yakitori restaurants.動物の丸焼き。大したことないって？焼鳥屋で、スズメの串刺しをご体験あれ。

Fast-forward several years. I walked into a Kanazawa restaurant with my hotel’s assurance that it served local spe-cialties. The menu’s calligraphy was exquisite but completely impenetrable. Unable to order anything sensibly I uttered those four syllables of doom: o ma ka se. “It’s up to you.”

The chef nodded, smiling. I ordered some sake, feeling confident. I’d been in Japan a while and had cleared some stages of extreme washoku. My confidence began to flag at the first dish of fried whole shrimp. Stage Six was still frontier territory and not so easy. Shrimp are normal enough, I told myself and ate them without complaint. As if to taunt me, the following sashimi dish had a whole prawn, the bright blue color of its organs exposed. Gulping sake, it began to occur to me that the specialties of a seaside town probably

wouldn’t include really great biscuits or a new take on the peanut butter sandwich.

Then the real trouble arrived. “Hotaru-ika,” said my chef, serving up a plate of small, purple, formerly fluorescent firefly squid. Whole raw creatures were a heretofore avoided Stage Seven. I dunked the limp squid-

lettes in soy sauce and crunched up the hard beak inside their heads, wiping the sweat from my brow when that was done.

It was at that moment that the old man down the counter was served

a large metallic bowl. He picked up a sieve and began scooping little wrig-gling fish into a dish of dipping sauce. I stared as one of them flipped off the sieve and made a break for it.

What was that!?! I asked myself in horror. I managed to choke down those little squid, but eating minnows? I’m glad I didn’t order that.

You can imagine my despair when I spotted a smiling waitress carrying a

それから数年後。金沢で宿泊先のホテルに訊ね、地元の名物が食べられるという店に入った。筆書きのメニューは見事だが、読解は不可能。自分で選ぶことは諦め、私は運命の言葉を口にした。「おまかせで」。笑顔でうなずく店主。自信を取り戻した私は日本酒を注文した。思えば日本に来てしばらく経つし、困難なステージを幾つか乗り越えてきた。だがそんな自信も、最初に出てきたエビの丸揚げを見て揺らぎはじめる。ステージ６、動物の丸焼き。ハードルは高いが、「エビなんてまだノーマルな方じゃないか」と自分に言い聞かせ、文句を言わずに食べた。するとまるで私をからかうように、次の皿ではクルマエビの活造りが青い内蔵をさらけ出している。酒をごくりと飲み干しながら、私はようやく気付き始めた。海沿いの街の名物なのだから、洒落たビスケットやサンドイッチというわけにはいかないのだぞと。そして大きな難関がやってきた。「ホタルイカです」と店長。小さな、紫色の、キラキラとしたイカたちが皿に盛られている。できれば避けたかったステージ７、それは動物を丸ごと生で食べる料理だ。ぐったりとしたイカの全身を醤油に浸し、頭部の硬いくちばしを噛み砕き、何とか飲み下して額の汗をぬぐった。そのとき、カウンター席の老紳士に、大きな銀色のボウルが運ばれてきた。彼はザルを手に取り、逃げ惑う小魚たちをすくって醤油皿に入れる。その１匹がぴょんと跳ね上がり、脱出を企てる様子を私は見つめていた。「なんだありゃ！？」。恐れおののきながら自問する。「さっきの小イカは何とか飲み込んだが、生きた魚を食べるのは勘弁だ。注文しなくてよかった」。笑顔の女性店員が、銀色のボウルを持ってこちらに歩いてくる

Desperate to get them to stop moving, I doused them in soy sauce and waited while they suffocated in the salty brine.


Stage eight Live creatures. Complete this stage and you’ve earned a black belt in extreme washoku.まだ生きている動物。このステージを完了した外国人は、和食体験における有段者と認めよう。

Stage sevenWhole raw creatures. Tentacles, fins, innards and all. 動物をまるごとナマで。触手も、ヒレも、内蔵もすべて丸呑み。

metallic bowl my way. She placed before me Stage Eight: live creatures. Within were four-centimetre-long clear fish. “Iwa-na-no-ko,” said my waitress. Baby char. They swam about the bowl vigorously, looking for a way out. I looked for a way out too, but my pride had me trapped. You can’t say omakase and then turn your nose up at what comes to your table, even if you think the staff is placing bets on your reactions.

I caught the fish with some difficulty and dumped them into the small bowl of ponzu sauce. Unsurprisingly, they didn’t appreciate moving from fresh water to citrus juice and thrashed wildly. Desperate to get them to stop moving, I doused them in soy sauce and waited while they suffocated in the salty brine. Steeling myself, I picked them up and chewed as fast as I could then chased each one with sake.

I was panting when the chef came out with one last plate. “A gift for our special guest, funazushi.” He placed a plate of fermented fish before me and I thanked him, even though intentionally rotten fish ranked high on my list of inedible foods. I was drunk and nothing could top those little fish, not even a rotten one.

Perrin Lindelauf (@perrinl) is the author of National Geographic

Traveler: Japan, 4th Edition.

ペリン・リンデラウフ（@perrinl）は、「National Geographic Traveler:

Japan」第4版の執筆者です。

のが見えたときの絶望感は、ご想像いただけることと思う。眼前に現れたのはステージ８、すなわちまだ生きている動物だ。「イワナの子です」と店員。ボウルの中では、体長４センチほどの魚たちが、元気に泳ぎまわりながら逃げ道を探している。私もこの場から逃げ出したかったが、プライドが許さなかった。「おまかせ」と言ったあとで、出てきた料理にケチをつけるのは無作法だ。たとえ店の人が、私の反応を面白がって賭けの対象にしているとしか思えないときでも。大苦戦しながらも魚を捕らえ、ポン酢の器に放流する。もちろん彼らとて、真水から酢の中へ移動してのたうち回るのは本意ではない。やけくそな気分でポン酢の底に沈め、塩気に窒息して成仏するのを待つ。感情を押し殺しながら箸で取り出し、猛スピードで噛み、１匹ごとに酒で流し込んだ。店長が最後の皿を持ってきたとき、私はほとんど虫の息だった。「特別メニューの鮒寿司でございます」。私は礼を言った。むろん、わざわざ腐らせた生魚だって「食べられないものリスト」の上位にある。だが私はもう酔っ払っていたし、あの生きた小魚の衝撃に比べたら、腐った魚など恐れるに足りない。


Easter is almost upon us! This year Easter is in the 3rd week of April and Easter Sunday is April 20. For some of us, especially those with kids, this holiday represents the day the Easter Bunny comes and delivers chocolate eggs. Traditions vary across the world, but one of the most fun activities to do over Easter is to decorate boiled eggs, hide them, then set the kids off on an Egg Hunt. Here are my tips for doing this in Kansai.

Egg ColoringWhere this tradition came from is unknown but it’s such a fun thing to do with the whole family. You can buy egg coloring kits (as well as Chocolate Easter Bunnies) on the Foreign Buyer’s Club (fbcusa.com) website for under ¥600. These kits usually include five coloring tablets; one wire spoon to hold your egg while dipping into the colors; a magic crayon (you can write on the eggs before you color them and because of the wax the colors don’t adhere); some stickers; and the box, which turns into a very useful egg drying tray.

After you have boiled your eggs and let them cool, you can get started on preparing your dyes. According to the package, you can dissolve your dye

tablets in water, lemon juice or vinegar. All of these work fine. Just make sure you have lots of newspaper down and smocks on the kids. This will be messy and there will be spills.

If you want more exotic eggs try buying some colored glitter and draw-ing patterns on the eggs with glue and pouring some glitter on top to give the eggs a bit of extra sparkle. Messy but fun.

If you want something simpler and less messy why don’t you make your hard boiled eggs into bunnies. All you need is: pink pompoms to use as the nose, construction paper for the ears, glue and a permanent marker to draw on the eyes and whiskers.

Egg HuntOn Easter Sunday morning at our house we have an Easter Egg Hunt. We hide the eggs we have colored and candy from the Easter Bunny. As our kids are still young we print out Easter Bunny footprints and place them near the hidden eggs and candy to give clues. The kids love it! (Just don’t forget where you hid everything! You don’t want to smell out the lost eggs in the heat of August!) If you’d like to join an outdoor Easter Egg Hunt you have your chance this year at Utsubo Park.

Happy Easter!

Easter Event this year at Utsubo ParkThere will be an Easter Egg Hunt, Easter games, prizes and you can meet the Easter Bunny!Sign up and register your child on Facebook (Utsubo Park Easter Egg Hunt 2014).Or email Melissa at: [email protected]• Date: Sunday April 27

(Rain Date: Tuesday April 29)• Time: Check-in 9:30• Fee: ¥2,000 per child

Downloadable Easter Bunny Footprints: blog.lovemae.com.au/2012/03/follow-bunny-printable.html

Kids & Family

Eggcelent family funDevouring chocolate bunnies is a tasty way to celebrate Easter, but there’s plenty more parents can do with kids.Text and images: Melissa Dunstan


Kids & Family

Taking care of the kids Organising childcare in Japan is no child’s play. Here’s an intro guide to hoikuen for working parents-to-be.Text: FMS

Gaining admission to a Japanese-ap-proved public nursery (ninka hoikuen or just hoikuen) can be daunting for Japanese and non-Japanese parents alike, with mammoth waiting lists and lengthy application procedures. For Kansai mums and dads who landed their little ones spots to start this month, earning a place was likely no mean feat. Admission is competitive but for very good reason. Japanese hoi-kuen are safe (adhering to very strict national guidelines regarding building structure, staff-to-child ratio, nutrition

and general health and safety) well staffed, and affordable. They cater to primarily working parents, who need longer childcare hours than available at yochien (kindergarten), and who don’t have time to make lunch boxes every day.

New admissions are taken each April at the start of the academic year, but application deadlines are usually around the end of October of the pre-vious year. It can take several months of research and preparation before parents hand in their applications.

But how do you find ahoikuen?Who can apply?When do you apply?Here we help you navigate the process.

The first stepFor information regarding public nurseries, look to your local ward office or childcare administration office. They can give you a list of all the hoikuen

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE | ISSUE #167 APRIL 2014 | kansaiscene.com 15in your city, along with application forms (hoikusho nyusho moshikomisho) and guidelines.

Many popular hoikuen will host group observations, usually once or twice a month leading up to the ap-plication deadline, while others can arrange private visits.

Although all hoikuen adhere to national guidelines, they each have a very individual philosophy. Some are very play-orientated, some more geared towards learning and study, music, sport, etc. Some have almost no paren-tal involvement (other than showing up at events like sports day), while others expect parent participation as often as once a month.

Therefore at the initial visit, be sure to ask lots of questions to try to find the hoikuen that will be the best match for your child’s personality, your employ-ment style, and personal preferences as to what your child does at daycare.

The applicationA hoikuen may or may not have an English speaker, so if you are not a confident Japanese speaker it is wise to bring a native speaker along with you.

After making your visits, it is time to fill in the application. One page is for you to fill out basic information about your child. The other pages are for the Human Resources department at your workplace. Your employer will need to provide an official seal or hanko stating that you are an employee, verifying your working hours, what kind of work you perform, and what your salary is. If any other adults, such as grandparents, are registered as living at your address, you will need to provide similar docu-mentation for them too.

On the application, you will be asked to list your preferred hoikuen. Parents in rural areas often get their first choice, but those in urban areas face stiffer competition. Along with your applica-tion form, you will also need a copy of your end of year income and withhold-ing tax certificate (Gensenchoshuhyo) which is issued in December each year. If you are accepted, your proof of income will be used to calculate your basic monthly fee (Hoikuryo).

Securing a spotThe application deadline is usually around the end of October or start of November (although applications are accepted any time, they need to be updated every six months) and you will be informed of whether your applica-tion has been successful in February or March for admission in April, which is the start of the Japanese academic year.

Classes are grouped for children by age and children can generally enter public nursery at either four or six months old, depending on the indi-vidual hoikuen’s policy. If entering the baby class (under age one at entry) you hold the best chance at getting a spot, for the sole reason that there is a full class of spaces available.

After age one it becomes more dif-ficult. Basically your only chance of se-curing a space is if someone else leaves, you receive a temporary or emergency placement, or the city hall allocates more spaces to a certain age group.

Parents will sometimes find that after being declined at age one or two, they are accepted when their child is three at which time the teacher-to-child ratio steeply declines. So stay positive. Even if you receive bad news, you will remain on their waiting list unless you ask to be removed, and you may receive a nice surprise in a few months’ time, or the following year.

Who can apply for public hoikuen?Anyone can apply for a public hoikuen but priority will be given to those deemed to need the service most. Unlike kindergartens and private hoikuen, which grant access on a first-come-first-serve basis, public hoikuen admissions are assessed and decided by a panel on an individual case-by-case basis, usually at the local ward office. Children of single, separated, or divorced parents are given high admis-sion priority, as are children of parents who are currently unemployed and receiving welfare, but unable to search for a job because of a lack of child-care. Families without grandparents nearby will often be given priority also. Children with older siblings attending the same nursery will usually be given

priority over those who don’t have a brother or sister there, and often a generous sibling discount is given.

Can I apply on a temporary basis if I am pregnant or get sick?Temporary hoikuen places are available and these are most commonly utilised by pregnant women with an older child. This is generally available from their final two months of pregnancy until the baby is four months old. The application process is slightly different, and you will need to visit your applica-tion centre along with your Mother and Child Handbook (Boshi techo) to apply. Parents who are unable to look after their children due to disability, a hospital stay, or an ongoing medical condition are also eligible for tempo-rary or part-time hoikuen admission. This varies greatly among individual cities and according to the condition, so contact your local ward office for more information.

Temporary care is also available to families who have been the victims of a natural disaster, a fire, or women who have fled their homes to escape domestic violence. Those attending college, university, or even driving school, are also eligible to apply for a temporary spot.

My child has been declined entry to hoikuen this year. What can I do?There are a number of other options available, such as kindergartens, or other private nurseries (Muninka hoikuen), which may or may not, be licensed. The standards of care vary enormously between facilities, and they are usually charged per hour or per day, making them significantly more expensive than public facilities. Private facilities only need one licensed teacher (Hoiku shi) to open, meaning it is pos-sible that your child may be cared for by someone without certified experi-ence or training in childcare. However, many parents attest to these facilities being excellent.


Feature

Must-see samurai sitesTheir swords are now behind museum glass, but the samurai spirit lives on in movies, books, and sites dotted around Kyoto. Meiji Restoration author Romulous Hillsborough shares his Kyoto must-see spots.Text and images: Phil Jackson

Free Stuff!One lucky KS reader

can win a copy of Samurai Revolution.

To enter the draw email your name to:

[email protected]

by April 17.

Mark the subject

‘Samurai Revolution’.

The turbulent times of Japan’s Meiji res-toration have been the focus of Romu-lous Hillsborough’s work for many years. His 1999 book Ryoma – Life of a Renaissance Samurai was hailed by former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi as “A magnificent book and painstaking achievement”. Last month, the US writer released a new book on the subject called Samurai Revolu-tion – The Dawn of Modern Japan Seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun’s Last Samurai. KS asked Hillsborough which sites in Kyoto he personally recom-mends as must-see places for anyone interested in the era of Sakamoto Ryoma, Katsu Kaishu, Shogun Yosh-inobu and the feared Wolves of Mibu Shinsengumi! Here are his choices.

Nijo Castle (二条城)A castle of the shogun during the Edo Period. On the 13th day of the Tenth Month of Keio 3 (1867), the last sho-gun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, summoned senior officials of 40 feudal domains to the Grand Hall of Nijo Castle, where he announced his intent to abdicate and restore political power to the Imperial Court.

One of the 17 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, Nijo Castle is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. A must-see part of the castle is Ninomaru Palace. city.kyoto.jp/bunshi/nijojo/english

Hamaguri-gomon (蛤御門)One of the so-called Nine Forbidden Gates of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, this was the site of the heaviest fighting between the Choshu-led rebels and forces of Tokugawa allies, most notably Satsuma and Aizu, during the so-called

Gate at Kyoto Imperial Palace

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE | ISSUE #167 APRIL 2014 | kansaiscene.com 17Incident at Hamaguri-gomon, on 7/19 of Genji 1 (1864). Choshu’s defeat marked the end of the Sonno-Joi (Revere the Emperor and Expel the Barbarians) movement, which thus far had divided the country for approxi-mately 10 years.

Evidence of what appear to be bullet marks can be seen on the beams of the gate.sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english

Bullet marks on the beams of the gate.

Excerpt from Samurai Revolution:“As I Katsu Kaishu, commissioner of the shogun’s navy followed the Yodogawa river connecting Ōsaka and Kyōto . . . , a boat with three samurai approached from upstream. They went to the bank to land. I was very frightened. Unable to advance or retreat, I stood still and waited to see what they would do. Upon landing, two of them suddenly drew their swords and stabbed one another. The other man, who was behind them, stabbed himself through the throat while standing. I was very startled; gooseflesh covered my body—and for a moment I was unable to walk...After a while I calmed down and, realizing that Chōshū had lost, I headed back to Kōbé.”

Teradaya Inn (寺田屋)A so-called “boat inn” along the river in Fushimi that was the site of two famous incidents: the fratricidal battle among samurai of the powerful Satsuma domain on the night of 4/23 in Bunkyu 2 (1862); and the near-fatal attack on Sakamoto Ryoma by samurai under the Fushimi Magistrate (Bakufu samurai) on 1/23 of Keio 2 (1866), on the night after Ryoma had brokered the all-important Satsuma-Choshu Alliance at Kyoto.

Look out for katana blade marks in the wooden beams of the upstairs rooms.Tereda-ya, Miniami hama-cho, Fushimi-ku,

Kyoto City, 612-8045

Tel:075-622-0243

Excerpt from Samurai Revolution:“Just then the woman I’ve told you about (her name is Ryō, and now she’s my wife), came running up to us from the kitchen and warned, ‘Look out! The enemy has suddenly attacked. Men with spears are coming up the stairs.’ I jumped up and, meaning to put on my hakama trousers, realized that I had left it in the next room. So I put on my swords, grabbed my six-shooter, and crouched down toward the back of the room. My companion Miyoshi Shinzō put on his hakama and swords—and with spear in hand, he also crouched down.” from a letter written by Ryoma to his fam-ily, reporting the event; translated by Romulus Hillsborough.

The Gravesite of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka ShintaroThe graves of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro lay side by side in the cemetery at Ryozen Gokokuji Shrine, in Higashiyama on the east side of Kyoto. The cemetery contains the graves of nu-merous heroes of the Meiji Restoration, including men killed by the Shinsen-gumi* at Ikedaya and in the fighting at Hamaguri-gomon. It is apt that Ryoma and Nakaoka share the same gravesite—they were assassinated one month and one day after their efforts had forced the shogun to announce his intention to step down.gokoku.or.jp/en* The Shinsengumi (新選組 or 新撰組) (meaning

the new squad) was a special police force organ-

ized by the Bakufu (military government).

Excerpt from Samurai Revolution:Shortly before his death, Ryōma had renewed the plan he had previously shared with Kaishū to send rōnin to Ezo in the far north of Japan to settle and exploit that mineral-rich wilder-ness, train them in the naval sci-ences, and save them from dying in the revolution. He was working on the plan with Hayashi Kenzō, a Hiroshima samurai in the employ of Satsuma. In the eerily prophetic closing to a letter to Hayashi, dated 11/11, Ryōma advised him to be very careful for his life, then wrote, “Now is the time for us to act. Soon we must decide on our direction, whether it lead to pandemonium or par-adise.” Early in the morning five days later, Hayashi, summoned by Ryōma from Ōsaka for “an urgent discussion” in Kyōto, encountered the aftermath of that pandemonium, with Ryōma, Hayashi wrote, “his sword drawn, lying in a pool of blood.”

Terayada Inn Terayada Inn


和食 Washoku, traditional Japanese cuisine, commands apprecia-tion of the “fruit of the mountains” 山の幸 yama no sachi as well as the “fruit of the sea” 海の幸 umi no sachi. Below are some bounties of the mountains and the sea that you can ask for on your road to washoku appreciation.

FISH 魚さかな sakana

tuna 鮪マグロ maguro

tuna belly 大トロおおトロ o-toro

yellowtail 鰤ブリ buri

mackerel 鯖サバ saba

salmon 鮭シャケ sake

eel 鰻ウナギ unagi

scallop ホタテホタテ hotate

oyster 蠣カキ kaki

shrimp 蛯エビ ebi

grilled fish 焼魚やきざかな yakizakana

VEGETABLES 野菜やさい yasai

bamboo shoot 筍たけのこ takenoko

lotus root 蓮根れんこん renkon

radish 大根だいこん daikon

mushroom 茸きのこ kinoko

potato じゃが芋じゃがいも jagaimo (imo)

sweet potato さつま芋さつまいも satsumaimo

asparagus アスパラガスアスパラガス asuparagasu

onion 玉葱たまねぎ tamanegi

eggplant 茄子なす nasu

pickled plum 梅干しうめぼし umeboshi

pickles 漬物つけもの tsukemono

What do you recommend?

おすすめはなんですか。

Osusume wa nan desu ka?

It’s up to you. おまかせ。 Omakase.

What’s a local specialty?

じもとりょうりはなんですか。

Jimoto ryouri wa nan desu ka?

I want to try something new.

あたらしいものをたべて　みたいです。

Atarashii mono o tabete mitai desu.

I’m feeling adventurous!

ぼうけんしてみたい　きぶんです。

Bouken shite mitai kibun desu.

This is deli-cious!

おいしいです。 Oishii desu!

I’ve never had something like this before.

いままでこんなもの　をたべたことが　ありません。

Ima made con na mono o tabeta koto ga arimasen.

Is that still alive!?

まだいきていますか。

Mada ikite imasu ka?

I don’t want anything with eye balls, please.

めだまがついているものはたべたくありません。

Medama ga tsuite iru mono wa tabe taku arimasen.

Can I have some water, please?

おみずをください。

O mizu o kudasai.

More sake, please!

もっとさけをください。

Motto sake o kudasai.

Language

It’s up to you!Are you up for a culinary adventure? Feel like taking the pilgrimage down the path to washoku enlightenment? A far cry from your favorite kura sushi dishes, the eight stages of washoku (see feature on page 08) will challenge the bravest of culinary explorers. Whether you just want to get your feet wet with some local or more traditional dishes, or roll the dice and leave it up the chef, we have you covered. If you find yourself staring down at a dish that is staring right back at you, here are some phrases that could come in handy...

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE | ISSUE #167 APRIL 2014 | kansaiscene.com20 20KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE | ISSUE #167 APRIL 2014 | kansaiscene.com

If you’re feeling the stresses and strains of modern life, there are many ways available to improve your mood. For example, a simple massage or a haircut can make you feel good.

At HOPE at the Hilton, you can increase that feel-good feeling times a thousand, as the money you spend on these things will go to help poor people around the world.

The week-long HOPE at the Hilton event is held annually in Nagoya and Osaka to raise money and awareness for the HOPE International Develop-ment Agency in Japan.

So where does that feel-good cash actually go? HOPE’s mission is “to ex-tend compassion to the neglected poor and help them become self-reliant.”

Who exactly are ‘the neglected poor’? Millions of people across the globe, living in extreme poverty in remote areas with little access to development agencies. Countries that HOPE works in include Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, and the Philip-pines. HOPE also provides assistance in Japan, to tsunami affected areas.

But HOPE doesn’t just throw cash donations to these needy communities and leave them to it. The money is used to help them become self-reliant.

For example, there’s the Cow Bank program in Cambodia. Farmers here depend heavily on cows to plow and fertilise their land, but many can’t afford one. HOPE loans a female cow to a family for 18 months to help with their farming and give birth to a calf. The family are trained to care for the livestock so when mother cow is returned to the bank, they can keep and raise the calf to become a self-sufficient farm.

In the 13 years HOPE has existed, it has helped transform the lives of more than 13 million people around the world. From Cow Banks to well-dig-ging, there will be lots more informa-tion available on HOPE projects at the Hilton; look out for the display in the lobby and as places are limited, arrive early to make sure you don’t miss out on a little relaxing me time.

Knowing the money you just spent might bring HOPE to a person who needs it; well, won’t that massage or haircut today feel even better?

hope.or.jp/en

HOPE at the Hilton week14th-20th April

Hilton Hotel, Osaka

Charity Cut (10am-4:45pm, 14 April)Some of Osaka’s leading stylists will be donating their time and skills. Get a 45-minute hair cut for just ¥2,000.

Relax for Charity (10am-6pm, 15th April)The Hilton Spa are opening their doors to support HOPE projects. A 30-minute massage will cost just ¥2,000.

Eat for charity (all week)Dine at the Hilton Hotel’s Checker’s Restaurant and 5% of your bill will go directly towards supporting HOPE projects!

Family Day (20th April)This will be a fun occasion for kids to learn more about HOPE projects. Activities for kids will include colouring in their own cows and taking home cow balloons.

Feature

Bringing HOPE to those in needMore than 13 million people have been helped by HOPE, and this month you can help even more, by pampering yourself in the name of charity.Text: KS

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

© 2013 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. © 2014 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.

This month sees the release of two iconic Marvel characters who may have fought side by side in the comics, but now that rights have been split between studios, these heavy hitters are battling against each other to secure your hard-earned cash. Both are sequels and both have trailers that make them look absolutely fantastic, but which film is the smarter choice?

Being a long-standing Spiderman fan, I was extremely excited by the 2012 reboot, even if it did come just 5 years after Sam Raimi’s trilogy. The trailer eluded to a deep mythology tied to Peter’s parents, a beefy role for Dr. Connors, plus it actually seemed that the young Peter enjoyed being a hero… unfortunately the film was lackluster, en-joyable but all but forgettable. A bad guy with no motivation, and an athletic, cool, witty and confident pre-bite Peter, who was a bit of a dick in the Spidey suit, along with a love story that failed to ring true all made the movie seem a little rushed or thrown together, as if Sony had a three year time limit to get the movie made before their claims to the character expired…which would just be crazy!

Captain America on the other hand was seen by many (including myself) as an outdated and boring character; the ultimate Boy Scout who embodied old-fashioned ideals of patriotism and always fighting the good fight. What a stroke of genius it then was to make a 1940s period piece, tying in the Stark legacy and laying the foundations for the Marvel universe all but effortlessly. The movie was far better than any had hoped for and Cap’s fish-out-of-water act in The Avengers also made him a sympathetic and likeable leader.

Winter Soldier is introducing an awesome villain, and throwing up a questionable debate in regards to protection/aggression. In modern times of civil wars, privacy arguments and drone strikes, a blockbuster asking who the good guys really are seems rather topical. Over at Sony, Amazing Spiderman 2 may well be suffering from what left a bitter taste in our mouths back in 2007, too many villains; an evil necessity as the studio gears up for their Sinister 6 franchise. The mech-Rhino suit may look awesome, and Jamie Foxx may have brought a nice spin to the Electro character (and ditched his stupid costume), but his main motivation is weak to say the least, and is a mere excuse for CGI brawls.

Both films will be fun, fast and frantic, but whereas Cap seems to be a cog in a much larger universe, Spiderman seems to be swinging solo.

© 2013 AUGUST OC FILMS, INC. All Rights Reserved.

August: Osage CountyJohn Wells, Drama, 121 mins, April 18Starring: Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Juliette Lewis, Dermot MulroneyWe can’t choose our family, and no matter how dysfunctional it may be, in times of need, there is a powerful need to come together; this drama sees disbanded siblings reunite to support their less than perfect mother.

Credits pending

Crows ExplodeToshiaki Toyoda, Action, 129 mins, April 12Starring: Yuya Yagira, Kyosuke Yabe, Ryo KatsujiA far cry from Takashii Miike’s far superior Crows Zero, this sequel with all new cast and crew may be inferior, but still has decent fights and set pieces, albeit with less weight behind the punches.

Credits pending

Thermae Romae IIHideki Takeuchi, 112 mins, April 26Starring: Hiroshi Abe, Aya Ueto, Kazuki KitamuraA sequel to the 2012 time-slip comedy. Abe is back as Lucius, a man who nabs ideas from modern Japan to give to ancient Rome, which in turn inspired modern society. This snake eating its own tail device hasn’t evolved much for the sequel.

KSPick

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

www.kansaiscene.com/cinemas/

Film previews

Captain America: Winter SoldierAnthony and Joe Russo,

Action, 136 mins, April 19

Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson,

Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford

The Amazing Spiderman 2Marc Webb, Action, April 25

Starring: Andrew Garfield,

Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx


Cinema listings (selected theaters)

Osaka

Toho Cinemas Umeda• Tel: 0663161312• tohotheater.jp• Discounts: Weds (women), 1st & 14th of the month: ¥1,100, every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: The Lego Movie, Lone Survivor, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Frozen, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Umeda Burg7• Tel: 0647957602• burg7.com• Discounts: Weds (women) 1st of the month: ¥1,100; every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Frozen, Robocop• From Apr 5: Adele: Chapters 1 & 2• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Cine Libre Umeda• Tel: 0664405930• ttcg.jp/cinelibre_umeda• Discounts: Weds (women, men), 1st and 15th of the month: ¥1,000• Now showing: Fruitvale Station, Oh Boy, Die Frau mit den 5 Elefanten, Jeune & Jolie• From Apr 5: For No Good Reason• From Apr 12: The World’s End, The Broken Circle Breakdown• From Apr 19: The Railway Man• From Apr 26: Parked

Theatre Umeda• Tel: 0663591080• ttcg.jp/theatre_umeda• Discounts: Weds (women, men), 1st of the month: ¥1,000• Now showing: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, Don Jon, Grand Piano, Dallas Buyers Club• From Apr 19: Plot for Peace

Osaka Station City Cinema• Tel: 0663463215• osakastationcitycinema.com• Discounts: Weds (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,100, every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: The Lego Movie, Saving Mr. Banks, One Chance, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Philomena, Frozen, Robocop, All is Lost, 12 Years a Slave

• From Apr 4: Grudge Match• From Apr 18: August: Osage County• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Toho Cinemas Namba• Tel: 0666331040• tohotheater.jp• Discounts: Weds (women), 1st & 14th of the month: ¥1,100, every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: The Lego Movie, Lone Survivor, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Frozen, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug• From Apr 18: August: Osage County• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Namba Parks Cinema• Tel: 0666433215• parkscinema.com• Discounts: Weds (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,100; every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: The Lego Movie, Lone Survivor, One Chance, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Frozen, Robocop• From Apr 4: Grudge Match• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Cinem@rt• Tel: 0662820815• cinemart.co.jp/theater/shinsaibashi• Discounts: Mon (men) Weds (women), 1st and 25th of the month: ¥1,000• Now showing: The Motel Life, Don Jon, Fruitvale Station, Ain't Them Bodies Saints• From Apr 5: Adele: Chapters 1 & 2• From Apr 12: The World’s End• From Apr 19: Act of Killing

Kyoto

Movix Kyoto• Tel: 0752543215• movix.co.jp• Discounts: Weds (women), 1st and 20th of the month: ¥1,100; every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: Frozen, Robocop, Philomena, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty• From Apr 19: Shadow Hunter

• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Kyoto Cinema• Tel: 0753534723• kyotocinema.jp• Discounts: Weds (women, men), 1st of the month: ¥1,100• Now showing: Gebo et L'Ombre, Dieta Mediterranea• From Apr 5: Tie pohjoiseen, Oh Boy, The Woman with the 5 Elephants, Poker House• From Apr 12: The Broken Circle Breakdown• From Apr 19: The Act of Killing

Toho Cinemas Nijo• Tel: 0758132410• tohotheater.jp• Discounts: Weds (women), 1st & 14th of the month: ¥1,100, every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: The Lego Movie, Lone Survivor, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Frozen, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Hyogo

OS Cinema Mint Kobe• Tel: 0782915330• jollios.net• Discounts: Tues (women), 1st and 16th of the month: ¥1,100; every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: Frozen, Robocop, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Lone Survivor, One Chance• From Apr 18: August: Osage County• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Kobe Kokusai Shochiku• Tel: 0782303580• shochiku-eigakan.com• Discounts: Tues (women), 1st of the month: ¥1,100; every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: Robocop, Philomena, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug• From Apr 4: Grudge Match• From Apr 11: Paranormal Activity• From Apr 19: Shadow Hunter

OS Cinema Kobe Harborland• Tel: 0783603788• jollios.net• Discounts: Tues (women), 1st and 16th of the month: ¥1,100; every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: Frozen, Robocop, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Lone Survivor, One Chance• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Cine Libre Kobe• Tel: 0783342126• ttcg.jp/cinelibre_kobe• Discounts: Weds (women, men), 1st and 15th of the month: ¥1,100• Now showing: Saving Mr. Banks, Fruitvale Station, Grand Piano, 12 Years a Slave• From Apr 5: Adele: Chapters 1 & 2• From Apr 12: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa• From Apr 26: Le Passe

Toho Cinemas Nishinomiya OS• Tel: 050-6868-5051• tohotheater.jp• Discounts: Weds (women), 1st & 14th of the month: ¥1,100, every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: The Lego Movie, Lone Survivor, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Frozen, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Nara

Movix Kashihara• Tel: 0744211700• movix.co.jp• Discounts: Weds (women) Thurs (men), 1st and 20th of the month, 3rd Tue of the month:¥1,100; every day after 8pm: ¥1,300• Now showing: Frozen, Robocop, Philomena, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Lone Survivor• From Apr 4: Grudge Match• From Apr 5: Jeune & Jolie• From Apr 12: What Maisie Knew• From Apr 19: Captain America The Winter Soldier• From Apr 25: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

NOTE: prices have changed from April due to the tax increase.


Event

World in focusThis year, Kyoto’s international photography festival is taking contemporary art into the city’s most iconic locations.Text: Lauren Hadler

The annual KYOTOGRAPHIE Interna-tional Photography Festival will open again in Kyoto this month. This event runs for three weeks and welcomes 13 exhibitions held in 15 venues across the city. The theme this year is Our Environments, which highlights the dif-ferent stages in our lives, our interac-tions and our relationships with each other and our world.

Exhibitions include Xavier Bar-ral’s astounding Mars, a Photographic Exploration, with video installation by Shiro Takatani, featuring mind-blowing, never before seen images of the red planet; the 2014 HSBC winner Akiko Takizawa with her series Where we Belong; Werner Bischof ’s contemplative post-war Japan; Stanley Greene’s Shadows of Change, showing both climate change in Greenland and a selection of the personal work; Tim Flach’s incredibly moving More than Human portraits; and the Japanese landscape of nuclear power with Taishi Hirokawa’s work Still Crazy. These

exhibitions and many more will be presented in iconic locations like The World Heritage Shimogamo Shrine, Government protected Mumeshia, The Museum of Kyoto, Shimidai Gallery, Institut français du Japon, Murin-an and Kyoto JR Station. KYOTOGRA-PHIE will be accompanied by KG+ the festival’s satellite program, which supports the growth of emerging art-ists. This year KG+ will hold around 45 exhibitions by 60 plus photographers.

Part of the festival’s appeal is its commitment to challenge the tradi-tional models of gallery space; the exhibitions and venues offer a unique opportunity to experience contempo-rary art in a variety of locations. The venues all have specialised scenogra-phy exclusively done for each exhibi-tion, allowing the architecture and art to work in harmony. This festival is a truly international event that seeks to bring a new attitude toward photogra-phy and a new paradigm for showing art in Japan.

An extensive Public Program will run in conjunction with the exhibitions, including live events with Daisuke Yokota and Satoshi Machiguchi, children’s photography workshops, live improvisational story events with Shinji Ishii, and talks with photographers like Rinko Kawauchi, Akiko Takizawa and Stanley Greene. There’ll also be events with special guests, including, Xavier Barral, Ivan Vartanian, Simon Baker the Curator of Photography and International Art at the Tate, London, and Pascal Beausse the Head of Photographic Collections at CNAP, Centre National des Arts

Plastiques, Paris. This festival creates opportunities and events that bring people together of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, uniting ancient his-tory and contemporary art.

KYOTOGRAPHIE and KG+ aim to foster an appreciation of photography and actively seek out innovation and true collaboration. This year there is something for everyone, so pick up a brochure and we’ll see you there!

- Lauren Hadler is KYOTOGRAPHIE’s Public Program Director and is a mem-ber of the Executive Committee. She also engages in curation and arts manage-ment through her consultancy HYDE.

KYOTOGRAPHIE19 Apr-11 May

Single entry tickets can be bought at each venue on the day or you can pick up a Passport for ¥2,000, which allows entry into all 13 exhibitions.For full listings and event information in English and Japanese please go to the KYOTOGRAPHIE website: kyotographie.jp and like us on Facebook for daily updates during the festival. Programs are filling up fast, so register at: [email protected]

Barkhanes in the crater zone, from Mars, a photographic exploration © NASA / JPL / The University of Arizona / Éditions Xavier Barral

Royal White Tiger © Tim Flach


Event pickups

Creatous Magazine Showcase Vol. 3Calling all fashion-forward folk of Kansai, Osaka’s iconic Central Public Hall in Nakanoshima will be the stunning location of a catwalk fashion show. Now in it’s third year, the show is the brainchild of veteran fashionista and Mode Gakuin teacher, Hanama Jisato, who hopes her event can help kickstart the fashion scene in Osaka – once considered the hub of the Japanese fashion world. Incorporating a make-up show, special guest appearances and booths offering the latest fashions to take home, this event provides a great opportunity for talented local designers to showcase their work. The post-show networking event offers the chance to rub shoulders with the designers, industry pros and models.

Time: First show: 3pm–4:30pm, Second show: 7pm–

8:30pm • Admission: ¥2,500 (adv) ¥3,000 (door) • Access:

Yodoyabashi Sta.

Apr 18

May 03 – 05

Heijokyo Tempyo Sai – Festival of Ancient Nara平城京天平祭FREE Heijokyo Palace Site, Nara

The ancient city of Nara will again host Heijokyo Tempyo Sai, a spring festival that’s been celebrated for over 1,300 years. With enormously diverse activities to participate in and spectacles to see, this festival provides an opportunity to experi-ence the ancient cultural life of the city. Enjoy re-enactments of the Imperial Guards and the nobility dining at a banquet, plus a dazzling parade of historic court people. There’ll be a playground and craft workshops for the kiddies, plus exciting street traditional performances, a bustling market and delicious food all over three days.

Time: 10am – 4:30pm • Admission: free • Access: Kintetsu Railway Yamato-Saidaiji stn; 15 min walk • tenpyosai.jp

27Kansai Scene Listings: Where to go & what to do

Tightrope Lion Dancing伊勢の森神社　梯子獅子FREE Isenomori-Jinja Shrine, Hyogo

Nestled in the heart of a mountain, the historic Isenomori shrine will be the setting for a whole day of fascinating cer-emonies, including a thrilling tightrope performance. This spectacular performing art is part of a religious ceremony with a 300-year history. Wearing heavy headdresses, lion dancers will bravely perform on a tightrope crossing a 10m valley. Set against a backdrop of beautiful cherry blossoms, their acrobatics are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Time: at Noon • Admission: free • Access: JR Kobe line Maiko stn

bus to Tsuna Ichinomiya IC; 10 min Taxi • Tel: 0799-25-5820

Apr 06

Hikiyama Float Festival長浜曳山祭りFREE Nagahama Hachimangu shrine & Surroundings, Shiga

One of the largest religious events in Japan, the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival was designated an important intangible folk cultural property in 1979. Featuring 14 sumptuous floats and a traditional kabuki play performed by children, the festival draws great number of visitors from around the world. Dazzlingly decorated with valuable tapestries and exotic wooden carvings beautifully coated with gold and lacquer, these floats are often described as “a moving museum”. One of the highlights is the sight of the kabuki plays performed aboard the floats. These mag-nificent floats parade around the town on the 14th and 15th.

Admission: free • Access: JR Biwako line Nagahama stn

• nagahama-hikiyama.or.jp

Apr 13 – 16

Puppet Show Festival第18回なにわ人形芝居フェスティバルIsshinji Temple and Surroundings, Osaka

Heralding the arrival of spring, this festival is a large col-lection of puppet shows put on by various puppet theatre companies from across the country. The performances will be staged at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines around the area of Shimoderamachi. While the puppets are the main stars, there’ll also be a whole range of other exciting activi-ties like a children’s art exhibition, buskers, a ninja experi-ence, craft workshops and more. Food stalls ranging from Italian cuisine to takoyaki dumplings will take care of any grumbling tummies.

Time: 10am – 3:30pm • Admission: ¥700 (one-time payment)

provides entrance to every theatre • Access: Subway Tanimachi

line Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka stn •terateratera.sakuraweb.com/

ningyoufes/18/index.html

Apr 06


April

Japanese Garden Open Public 法華寺　国史跡名勝庭園公開Hokkeji Temple, NaraApr 01 – Jun 10A beautiful Japanese garden in the Buddhist convent of Hokkeji temple, which is an officially designated historic site, is open to the public.Admission: ¥1,000 adults, concessions • hokkeji-nara.jp

Cherry Blossoms and Tea Ceremony 観桜茶会Heianjingu Shurine, KyotoApr 01 - 15A casual tea ceremony takes place in an authentic, officially-designated Japanese garden.Admission: ¥600 adults, concessions (to enter the garden) •heianjingu.or.jp

Tatsuno Cherry Blossoms Festival 龍野さくら祭Tatsuno Park and Surroundings, HyogoApr 01–20Celebration the end of winter at one of the finest cherry blossoms spots. A parade of samurai warriors, a tea ceremony, a beauty contest and more will take place on the 6th.Admission: free • tatsuno-kanko.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=28

Yagyu Cherry Blossom Festival 柳生さくら祭りFREE Yagyu no Sato, Nara

Apr 05 & 06A spring festival around Yagyu-han Jinya Ruins where traditional Japanese martial arts and varieties of other entertainments will take place.Admission: free • Access: Kintetsu Railway Nara stn 50min bus to Yagyu Ojicho

Japan Girls Expo 日本女子博覧会Intex Osaka, Osaka • Apr 12Featuring beauty salons, a fashion show, fortune telling booths, live performances and gourmet food.Admission: ¥3,000 (¥3,500 at door) • japan-girls-expo.com/hall

Kemari – Ancient Japanese Football 春季例大祭　蹴鞠奉納FREE Shiramine Jingu Shrine, Kyoto

Apr 14Traditional style of football held to celebrate the annual festival of Shiramine Jingu. Performers in colourful kimonos elegantly juggle and pass the ball.Admission: free • www10.ocn.ne.jp/~siramine

Chinka Festival 鎮花祭FREE Izumo Daijingu Shrine, Kyoto

Apr 18A centuries-old religious festival where male performers, adorned with pretty flowers, dance for the prevention of epidemics and the falling of blessed rain.Admission: free • izumo-d.org/top.htm

Biwako Jazz Festival in Higashi Omi 第６回びわこJazzフェスティバルin東近江2014FREE The Centre of Higashi Omi

City, Shiga • Apr 19 & 20Around 140 bands will play a range of music at 36 stages scattered around the peaceful and scenic town of Shiga.Admission: free • biwako-jazzfes.com

The Mermaid on Display 春期マーメイド号探検隊Nishinomiya Shell Museum, HyogoApr 19 & 20Kenichi Horie was the first person to sail solo across the Pacific Ocean. His yacht, Mermaid will be open to the public.Admission: ¥200 adults, concessions • shellmuseum.jp/shell_db

Midosuji Cycle Picnic 第６回御堂筋サイクルピクニックNakanoshima Park, Osaka • Apr 20A cycling event to support safe riding and appeal for cycle ways on the Midosuji Street. There’ll be a riding tour, a cycling wear fashion

show, and stalls selling food and cyclists’ gear.Admission: most events are free • cyclepicnic.wordpress.com/event

Hachikenya Cherry Blossom Festa はちけんやお花見フェスタFREE Hachikenyahama, Osaka

Until Apr 20Cherry blossoms are in full bloom along the promenade at Nakanoshima Park; there will be food trucks, stalls, and street performances on weekends.Admission: free • nigiwai-xing.net/21.html

Syoryoe – Court Dance 聖霊会舞楽大法要FREE Shitennoji Temple, Osaka

Apr 22This is a thousand-year-old ritual celebrated with a wonderfully elegant court dance bugaku.Admission: free • shitennoji.or.jp

Twilight Beauty Yuasa Lantern Art Exhibition 第８回ゆあさ行灯アート展FREE Yuasa-cho The important

traditional building preservation area, Wakayama • Apr 25–29Artistic lanterns will be exhibited in the streets in Yuasa Town.Admission: free • Access: JR Kinokuni line Yuasa stn; 10 min walk • Tel: 0737-63-0401

Snake Dance ジャンジャカ踊りFREE Dojoji Temple, Wakayama •

Apr 27Called Janjaka odori in Japanese, this is a religious dance featuring a 25m paper-mache serpent.Admission: free • Access: JR Kinokuni line Dojoji stn; 5 min walk

Kusatsu History Festival 草津宿場まつりFREE Kusatsu city Hall and

Surroundings, Shiga • Apr 27This annual carnival of the historic city, Kusatu, features a grand parade of people from the samurai period ranging from the aristocracy to peasants.Admission: free • 932matsuri.com

Showa Era Day どっぷり昭和町Momogaike Park and Surroundings, Osaka • Apr 29

An annual celebration featuring culture from the Showa era (from 1926 to 1989) with various live music performances, stalls, tea ceremonies, a parade, children games, a wrestling show and much more.Admission: most of events are free • showacho.jp

Mibudera Kyogen Pantomimes 壬生狂言Mibudera Temple, KyotoApr 29 – May 05One of THE Japanese classical performing arts of kyogen whereby masked actors play silent comedies teaching people about the Buddhist faith.Admission: ¥800 adults, concessions • mibudera.com/eng/index.html

Infiorata Kobe 2014 インフォラータこうべFREE Sannomiya Ajisaidori &

Surroundings, HyogoApr 26 – 27 & May 03 – 06Pavements blanketed with colourful tulip petals is just one of the many ways this flower festival will brighten up the streets of Kobe.Admission: free • infiorata.jp

Kenpyo Festival – Ice Festival 献氷祭FREE Himuro-Jinja Shrine, Nara

May 01An annual celebration for the deity of ice where art works made from ice pillars will be offered to the god and performance art of bugaku will take place in the afternoon.Admission: free • himurojinja.jp/index.html

Shigaraki Ware Market 第８回しがらき作家市FREE The Shigaraki Ceramic

Cultural Park, Shiga • May 02 – 05A fair of Shigaraki ware where over 100 artists display and sell their works in a beautiful hillside park.Admission: free • sccp.jp

Event listings

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


Czech Posters for Films - From the Collection of Terry PostersThe National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Known for children’s books, puppet shows, and animation, the Czech Republic has also produced many great movie poster designs, including posters for Hollywood movies that radically differed from the originals. This exhibition pre-sents 82 posters, from the 1950s to 1980s, from the collec-tion of Prague gallery Terry Posters. Posters for Czech New Wave films of the 1960s and for European, US and Japanese films showcase the tension, humor and beauty generated when films and graphic design intersect.

Mar 21- May 11 • An introduction to the fascinating and little-

known world of Czech film posters • Open: 9:30am-5pm, Fridays

until 7:30pm • Closed: Mon • Admission: ¥430 • Access: Subway

Tozai line Higashiyama Stn • www.momak.go.jp

Osaka

‘Neutral Palm Square’ 2014

Koike Kazuma: Neutral Palm SquareFREE Tezukayama Gallery

Mar 28–Apr 26Cheerfully colorful, darkly hallucinatory and crisply executed paintings by a Japanese artist who spent his early life in Argentina and Spain.Open: 11am–7pm • Closed: Sun and Mon • Admission: Free • Access: Namba Stn • tezukayama-g.com

星型の刺繍を背守りにした百徳着物／写真：石内都／所蔵：真成寺

SemamoriFREE LIXIL Gallery - Osaka

Mar 7–May 20Semamori are charms that until the 1930s were often stitched into the backs of children’s kimonos by their mothers to ward off evil that crept in from behind.Open: 10am–5pm • Closed: Wed • Admission: Free • Access: JR Osaka Stn • www1.lixil.co.jp/gallery

Hyogo

Bird 2013-01 / 撮影：加藤健

Atsuhiko Misawa: ANIMALS in ASAGOAsago Art Village Gallery SpaceMar 15–May 11Life-size and lifelike wooden animal sculpture series combining traces of the chisel with delicately painted features.Open: 10am–5pm • Closed: Wed • Admission: ¥800 • Access: 10 minutes by taxi from Nii Station on the JR Bantan line • www.city.asago.hyogo.jp/category/2-7-1-0-0.html

Kyoto

©RMN-Grand Palais (musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski / distributed by AMF

Impressionists at Waterside: Depicting Urban Resorts – Paris, the Seine, and NormandyThe Museum of KyotoMar 11–May 11

Art Listings

Une femme douce Film: 1969 / France / Robert BressonPoster: 1970 / Olga Poláčková-Vyleťalová

Until May 11 KSPick


“Putting Finger” Masahiko Sato + Tatsuya SaitoFREE ddd gallery

At perhaps Osaka’s greatest gallery dedicated to graphic design, two designers exhibit a variety of interactive works that are complete as images only when a visitor to the gallery places a finger somewhere on the picture. These are the result of a multi-year investigation into the relationship between the finger (and by extension the body) and graphic design, and present the viewer with an entirely new mode of expres-sion and exciting new range of possibilities.

Mar 12-Apr 26 • Graphic design works that are catalyzed by

the viewer’s placement of a finger in a designated place on the

picture • Open: 11am-7pm (until 6pm on Sat) • Closed: Sun, Mon,

and hols • Admission: Free • Access: Yotsubashi line Namba Stn •

dnp.co.jp/gallery/ddd/

Sadaharu Horio: A Matter of Course – NowBB Plaza Museum of Art

Born in 1939, Sadaharu Horio at age 15 decided to dedicate his life to art, but couldn’t attend art school and went to work in a shipyard. Undeterred, he worked full-time until retire-ment while making art at a superhuman pace, doing up to 100 exhibi-tions and performances every year, including live “one-minute paintings.”

A former member of avant-garde art group Gutai, Horio has been engaged since 1985 in the ongoing project “A Mat-ter of Course.” This aims to render visible what we cannot see and take for granted. One practice is applying paint to every object around him every day, a ritual manifesting the gradual accumulation of repeated actions.

This exhibition assembles 3,000 objects painted this way, and other artifacts of actions brought together in one place and at one time: Now.

Mar 21-Jun 1 • Artifacts of massive ongoing avant-garde project

by prolific local artist. Museum is right next to Hyogo Prefectural

Museum. • Open: 10am-6pm • Closed: Mon • Admission: ¥300 •

Access: Hanshin line Iwaya Stn • bbpmuseum.jp/

Art Listings

Works by the Impressionists, including Monet and Caillebotte, on one of their favorite themes: waterside landscapes and people’s activities near the water.Open: 10am–6pm, Fridays until 7:30pm (Last entry 30 minutes before closing) • Closed: Mon • Admission: ¥1,200 • Access: Subway Karasuma-Oike Stn • bunpaku.or.jp

Hiroshi Sugimoto + Kyoto Artisans: A TIDDLERS SCHOOLFREE Kyoto University of Art &

Design Entrance LoungeApr 2–Aug 28Sculptures and tea utensils from artist Hiroshi Sugimoto’s collection, done by Kyoto artisans or executed in collaboration with them.Open: 9am–5pm • Admission: Free • Access: Eizan-Dentetsu line Chayama Stn • kuad-entrance.com

Takashi Kiuchi 「I’d Rather Be a Shellfish,too」2013

Takashi Kiuchi and His Era 2: Sayonara Kiuchi-sanFREE Gallery Parc

Mar 21–Apr 6Pun-riddled, surreally humorous works by leading proponent of his own movement, Kiuchism.Open: 11am–7pm, Fri until 8pm • Closed: Mon • Admission: FREE • Access: Subway Tozai line Kyoto-Shiyakushomae Stn • galleryparc.com

Eadweard r. York: AmerWreckaFOIL GALLERYMar 21–Apr 13Street photos by punk purveyor of “infamous photography” who has also done portraits of famous people from John Lee Hooker to The Smashing Pumpkins to Allen Ginsberg.Open: 11:30am–8pm • Closed: Wed • Admission: ¥300 • Access: Subway Imadegawa Stn • foilkyoto.com

Wakayama

The Realm in MonochromeThe Museum of Modern Art, WakayamaMar 1–May 25

Exhibition focusing on the world of monochromatic art, particularly prints that are heavy on black and photographs bathed in lightOpen: 9:30am–5pm • Closed: Mon • Admission: to be announced • Access: From JR Wakayama Station to Kenchomae bus stop • momaw.jp

SATO Tokihiro, #330 Taiji, from Photo-Respiration Series, 1998

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Apr/May

Rock & Pop

Television plus support The 50 KaitenzInfluential seventies New York City rock bandVarit, KobeApr 15 • Rock • 7pm • ¥7,300 • Tel:078-392-6655

accessJapanese electro-pop duoNamba Hatch, OsakaApr 17 • Pop • 7pm • ¥6,700/¥7,200 • Tel:06-6357-4400

Venom/Morbid Angel/

Eyehategod/Uncle AcidMetal festival headlined by ‘80’s speed metal VenomNamba Hatch, OsakaApr 19 • Metal • 3.45pm • ¥10,500 • Tel:06-6535-5569

lego big morlJapanese four piece rock band from OsakaShangri-La, OsakaApr 19 • Rock • 5.30pm • ¥3,000 • Tel:06-7732-8888

Fukuyama MasaharuPopular Japanese singer-songwriter and actorKyocera Dome, OsakaApr 19-20 • Rock-pop • 19th-6pm/20th-5pm • ¥6,500/¥12,000 • Tel:06-7732-8888

GalneryusJapanese power metal band from Osaka formed 2001Big Cat, OsakaApr 20 • Metal • 6pm • ¥5,000 • Tel:06-7732-8888

Hosono HaruomiJapanese electronic ambient musicianTaku Taku, KyotoApr 20-21 • Electronic ambient • 20th-6pm/21st-7pm • ¥5,800/¥6,800 • Tel:075-351-1321

DregenSwedish garage rock vocalist-guitaristClub Quattro, OsakaApr 21 • Rock • 7pm • ¥5,500 • Tel:06-6311-8111

Bob DylanUS folk singer-songwriterZepp, OsakaApr 21-23 • Folk-rock • 7pm • ¥13,000/¥22,000 • Tel:06-6341-4506

Asking AlexandriaEnglish metalcore outfit formed 2008Club Quattro, OsakaApr 24 • Metal • 7pm • ¥6,000 • Tel:06-6535-5569

Richard SinclairU.K. Prog.Varit KobeApr 25 • Workshop/Live • 8pm.iznt Kobe Apr 27 • Workshop/Live • 8:30pm.Shuyoucan Ohmihachiman

Live Music Listings

Live Music

Venom/Morbid Angel/Eyehategod/Uncle AcidUK’s Venom came together in 1979 and their first two albums Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Angel (1982) are seen as major influences on the thrash metal genre that followed. The band’s classic line-up and days were from 1981 to 1986 but with a number of musical chairs and reunions taking place the current line-up consists of Conrad Lant (bass/vocals), La Rage (guitar) and Danny Needham (drums).

Venom are joined by fellow US thrashers Morbid Angel who made their debut in 1987. Another band with a lot of personnel changes Morbid Angel still has two original members from the early days in Trey Azagthoth (guitar) and David Vincent (vocals/bass).

Making up the final places of the billing are sludge metallists Eyehategod and British psychedelic doom band Uncle Acid.

Kabuto Metal 2014 featuring ‘80’s speed metal and thrash •

Namba Hatch, Osaka • Metal • 3:45pm • ¥10,500

• Tel:06-6535-5569Uncle Acid

Venom

Morbid Angel

Eyehategod

KSPick


Live Music Listings

MerryJapanese visual kei rock bands usually have some quite interesting names, but in contrast, Merry is quite a bland choice. There is nothing bland, though, about the band musically. With a good mix of rock ‘n’ roll, heavy rock, punk, blues and fusion, they are led by vocal-ist, and ex-Dir En Grey roadie, Gara.

Debuting with the 2003 album Gendai Stoic (which was labelled in the genre jazz-rock) Merry’s last album was a best of compilation over a year ago, but they did release the single “Zero” last November.

Currently on a 17 date Zombie Tour, some venues are already selling out so don’t hang around getting your tickets for this one.

Japanese visual kei rock band in zombie

guise • Rock

May 10 • Varit, Kobe • 6pm

May 11 • Taku Taku, Kyoto • 5pm

May 18 • AKASO, Osaka • 5pm

• ¥4,590 • Tel:06-6357-4400

May 5

May 1 • Live • 7pm.Live ¥5,000 Workshop ¥10,000 • Tel: 090-1133-1501

Kazuyoshi SaitoJapanese singer-songwriterOsaka Jo Hall, OsakaApr 25-26 • Singer-songwriter • 25th-7pm/26th-6pm • ¥5,500/¥6,000 • Tel:075-351-1321

Christopher CrossAmerican singer-songwriterBillboard Live Osaka, OsakaApr 28-29 • AOR • 28th-6.30pm/9.30pm 29th-4.30pm/7.30pm • ¥7,900/¥9,400 • Tel:06-6342-7722

Plastic Tree90’s Japanese visual kei rock band from Chiba

Neverland, NaraApr 29 • Rock • 4pm • ¥5,300 • Tel:0742-36-2431

NoGoDJapanese visual kei rock band formed 2005Big Cat, OsakaApr 29 • Rock • 6.15pm • ¥4,000/¥4,500 • Tel:06-6258-5008

John MayerUS recording artist, producer & environmentalistOsaka Jo Hall, OsakaApr 30 • Acoustic rock • 7pm • ¥8,000/¥9,000 • Tel:06-6341-4506

Cicala-MVTAContemporary Japanese grass roots music groupTaku Taku, Kyoto

Apr 30 • Contemporary folk • 6.30pm • ¥3,500/¥4,000 • Tel:075-351-1321

Silent SirenJapanese all-girl pop bandNamba Hatch, OsakaMay 1 • J-Pop • 7pm • ¥4,500/¥5,000 • Tel:06-7732-8888

Good4nothingMelodic punk quartet from OsakaMuse, KyotoMay 2 • Rock • 6.30pm • ¥2,500/¥3,000 • Tel:075-223-0389

Adachi Kumi with special guests Tsubokura Yuiko (3rd)

& Keiko Terada (4th)Kyoto resident female rock guitarist and guestsRag, KyotoMay 4-5 • Rock • 7pm • ¥3,000/¥5,500 • Tel:075-241-0446

Larry GrahamAmerican funk bass player ex-Sly Family StoneBillboard Live Osaka, OsakaMay 7 • Funk • 6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥8,500/¥10,000 • Tel:06-6342-7722

Yo La TengoNew Jersey indie rock trio formed 1984Club Quattro, OsakaMay 7 • Rock • 7pm • ¥6,000 • Tel:06-6535-5569

TemplesPsychedelic British rock band Temples were formed in Kettering, Northamp-tonshire in 2012 by singer-guitarist James Bagshaw and bassist Thomas Warmsley and have made leaps and bounds in just two short years.

The duo had worked together previously in bands and Temples was initially to be a studio project. With the addition of Sam Toms on drums and Adam Smith on keyboards and guitar their debut album Sun Structures was released last month and ex-Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has already criticized major radio stations for not giving them the airplay that the de-serve. Temples are a band to watch out for in the future.

Up and coming English psychedelic rock

band • Club Quattro, Osaka • Rock • 7pm •

¥5,500 • Tel:06-6535-5569

May 13

Lego big morlFormed in Osaka in 2006, the four-piece indie rock outfit Lego big morl (lego for short) has had a rapid rise to fame. Coming together from the ashes of other defunct bands, they were touring after a year and by 2008 the mini album Tuesday & Thursday was released and they began appearing at the big music festivals. This mini album was followed by the single “Ray”, which was featured in the drama Akai Ito and later covered in 2010 by Japanese singer-actress Ko Shibasaki.

Musically the band cover many gen-res from the funky “Wait?” to the ambi-ent “Balance” (Baransu), the emotional “Ray” and the rockin’ “knock to me”.

Lego big morl’s eighth and new single “Rainbow” is released just a week after this gig so you might be in for a sneak preview.

Four piece rock band from Osaka • Shangri-

La, Osaka • Rock • 5:30pm • ¥3,000 • Tel:06-

7732-8888

Aprl 19


TortoiseAmerican post rock band from Chicago formed 1990Billboard Live Osaka, OsakaMay 10 • Rock • 4.30pm/7.30pm • ¥6,500/¥8,000 • Tel:06-6342-7722

MerryJapanese visual kei rock band in zombie guiseVarit Kobe May 10 • Rock • 6pm • ¥4,590 • Tel: 06-6357-4400

FlowJapanese twin vocals five piece rock bandClub Quattro, OsakaMay 10-11 • Rock • 6pm • ¥4,764 • Tel: 06-6341-3525

Alice NineJapanese visual kei rock band from Tokyo formed 2004Big Cat, OsakaMay 11 • Rock • 5.30pm • ¥5,500 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Brian Setzer OrchestraRocka-Billy-Revival US guitarist-singer-songwriterNamba Hatch, OsakaMay 12 • Rocka-Billy • 7pm • ¥8,300/¥9,300 • Tel: 06-6341-4506

TemplesEnglish psychedelic rock bandClub Quattro, OsakaMay 13 • Rock • 7pm • ¥5,500 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Acid Black CherryEx-Janna Da Arc Japanese musician now soloOsaka Jo Hall, OsakaMay 13 & 15 • Rock • 6.30pm • ¥7,800 • Tel:06-7732-8888

DisclosureBritish brothers electronic music duoBig Cat, OsakaMay 14 • Electro pop • 7pm • ¥5,800 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Mao AbeJapanese pop singer-songwriterZepp, OsakaMay 14 • Female vocal • 7pm • ¥5,555 • Tel: 03-5354-6435

People in the BoxJapanese rock trio formed 2003 in FukuokaClub Quattro, OsakaMay 15 • Rock • 7pm • ¥3,600/¥4,000 • Tel: 06-6357-4400

Jazz & Blues

Sylvie VartanBulgarian-French Ye-Ye singer

Billboard Live Osaka, OsakaApr 16 • Jazz-pop • 6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥12,500/¥14,000 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

ChaboJapanese singer guitaristTaku Taku, KyotoApr 17 • Blues • 7pm • ¥6,000 • Tel: 075-351-1321

Akimitsu Iwase QuartetJazz piano four pieceBlue Note, KyotoApr 20 • Jazz • 7pm • ¥2,500 • Tel: 075-223-0398

Hot TunaUS blues rock acoustic Japan tourTaku Taku, KyotoApr 29 • Blues • 7pm • ¥6,000 • Tel:0 75-351-1321

Manami Morita TrioNew York piano trio Manami Morita with Zak Croxall and Thomas HartmanMister Kelly’s, OsakaApr 30 • Jazz • 7.30pm/9.30pm • ¥4,500 • Tel: 06-6342-5821

Michel Camilo & TomatitoGrammy Award winning pianist and Spanish guitaristBillboard Live Osaka, OsakaMay 12-13 • Latin Jazz • 6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥11,000/¥12,500 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

World

Brieg Guerveno @ Studio Partita

2nd DEMAT! Kansai Celtic Music FestivalBands are coming especially from France, Ireland, and Japan for this unique annual event. Don’t miss it!Studio Partita, OsakaMay 18 • Folk-Electro-Rock.12pmADV ¥2,000/ DOOR ¥2,500. www.Kansaibreizh.com/demat

African PartyAuthentic African rhythm and percussion four piece groupRag, KyotoApr 26 • World • 7.30pm • ¥3,200/¥4,000 • Tel: 075-241-0446

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

African HorizonKansai based musician Olu Togun is part of the African Horizon tour featuring Pedro Kouyate. Kansai Scene caught up with Olu to ask him a little about the band and what to expect.

KS: Your music has roots in Mali rhythms and beats but you’re incorporating contemporary instruments. What kind of reaction do you get from audiences, are they com-ing along looking for ‘ethnic world’ music or do you find that they really appreciate how you’re taking the music into new realms?Olu: They have welcomed the mixture of traditional and non-traditional elements that I tend to put into each perfor-mance. The audiences here do come expecting traditional garb and more natural sounds that they may have heard via a film or program with reference to Africa. There are such sounds in the music I perform but only in part. Guests who attend my performances are sure to recognize African ethnic sounds, broader “world” sounds and potentially original ele-ments in any given composition I or we perform.

KS: Can you tell us a little about the band?Olu: Pedro Kouyate (strings and vocal), Florent Dupuit (tenor sax, flute), Jun Hata (blues harp), Thomas Posner (bass), Ryo Shimizu (bass) and other respective musicians come from several musical backgrounds. The griot tradition, standard jazz and other more contemporary genres.

KS: How would you describe your music to someone com-ing along to see you for the first time?Olu: Pedro Kouyate’s compositions can be described as Man-dingue ethnic and folk music that has been given continued expression in the modern urban context. The Mandingue ethnic musical tradition that he sustains in his music is ever more dynamic as he adorns it with instruments that are not particularly of the same tradition. It may be likened to mod-ern day fusion in the jazz realm.

African Horizon are playing six dates in Kansai, including:

• Route 26, Osaka, Apr 12, ¥2,500

• D & Department, Osaka, Apr 18, ¥3,000

• The Place, Osaka, Apr 19, ¥3,000

Contact and further info: www.african-horizon.com


OnziemeThe progressive house ambassador Nick Warren is coming back to Osaka. As a true pioneer of the UK and global dance scene, he has been a world-renowned DJ and producer for over two decades. He is also one half of progressive house duo Way Out West with Jody Wisternoff, head A&R for Hope Recordings and host of The Sound Garden on Frisky Radio. Nick and Jody are now working on the new Way Out West album so hopefully we can get to see the two of them together in the near future.

Lime feat. Nick Warren (House/Techno) • DJs: Nick Warren,

Yashima, Dimitri, Freak Menu + more • Open: 9pm • Admission:

¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.

com

The Kobe Convention CenterDuring Golden Week holiday the very first EDM music festival in Kansai, Music Circus ’14 will take place at Kobe Convention Center. The festival features over 40 DJs and producers on four different stages and the lineup will include the Grammy-nominated Steve Aoki, trance superstar Ferry Corsten aka System F, Dutch DJ-brother-duo Showtek, Japa-nese tech-dance icon YOJI, UK hard house unit LAB4 and the list goes on. Even if you aren’t familiar with these names or EDM music, don’t worry. You will love this festival if you like positive uplifting pop or dance music. Just be sure to get the Gold Ticket if you want to check out the the main stage acts. Go to music-circus.jp for more information.

Music Circus ’14 (Electric Dance Music) • Acts: Steve Aoki, Ferry

Corsten, Showtek, Yoji, Lab4, Estiva, Tetsuya Komuro, Tomoyuki

Tanaka, 80Kidz + more • Open: 11am - 9pm • Admission: Gold

Ticket: ¥8,000, Silver Tickets: ¥6,000 • Where: Kobe • music-

circus.jp

Club Listings

Apr 18

April

4 (Fri)

CircusClassics (House/Techno) • DJs: Kaoru Inoue, Mangoose, Ground, Dejirumasara, Kitamu, Shin • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

JoulePryda Friends presents Fehrplay & Jeremy Olander (Progressive/Trance/Techno) • DJs: Takekiyo Ishimoto, Dmitri Absinthe, Fujimon, Tune, Hirro, Joey Parker + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 • club-joule.jp

MetroReflexion (Dubstep/Bass Music) • DJs: Karma, Horsepower Productions, Dizmo, Deejay Oshaley, Young Animal + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Tel: 075-752-2787 • metro.ne.jp

5 (Sat)

CircusSoulection Japan Tour (Electro/Techno) • DJs: Esta, Starro, Julio, Metome, Terror Fingers, DJS2, Mightwhales, Green Diesel • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥3,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

OnziemeHyper:Society x The Block Party (Houes/Electro) • DJs: Tomoyuki

Tanaka, Taku Takahashi, Taku-Hero, Urban Reserch DJs + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

Studio PartitaDaddy G (Massive Attack DJ Set) Japan Tour (Bass Music/Dub/Techno) • Acts: Daddy G, Dry&Heavy, Mighty Massa, Sak-Dub-I, Cassis Soda, Fulltono + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,500 (ADV: ¥3,000) • Where: Kitakagaya • namura.cc/partita.html

Troop CafeDistinction (Jazz/Crossover) • DJs: Kohji Matsuda, Ryo, Tatsuro Yamamoto • Open: 11pm• Admission: ¥2,100 • Where: Kobe • Tel: 078-321-3130 • troopcafe.tumblr.com

6 (Sun)

CircusMetrik Japan Tour (Drum’n’Bass) • DJs: Metrik, Toyo + more • Open: 7pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

10 (Thu)

OnziemeSeven (House) • DJs: Nao Nomura, Osakaman, Senda, Asaura, Kojiman, Bancho • Open: 9pm • Admission: TBA • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

CircusConnected Underground - Tagtraumer2 Japan Tour (Techno) • DJs: Tagtraumer2,

May 05

Club


Ryoma Sasaki, Shingo, Fulltono, Makoto Murakami • Open: 7pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

11 (Fri)

CircusSonica Dj QP (Techno) • DJs: Metrik, Toyo + more • Open: 7pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

JouleRolling Thunder in Japan feat. MatZo (EDM) • DJs: MatoZo, Blue Cosmic Monkey, Shinji , Kagula, Dr.Void, Shin + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,500 (ADV: ¥2,000) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6214-1223 • club-joule.jp

MetroUndermine (Techno) • Acts: Tagtraumer2, Les Trucs, Ryoma Sasaki, Taiki Masai, Fulltono + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Tel: 075-752-2787 • metro.ne.jp

12 (Sat)

CircusFreedom Time (Jazz/House) • DJs: Kawasaki, Yosuke Tominaga, Hiroko Otsuka, Yoshinori Okino, Yoshihisa Fujii, Takaharu Furutani + more • Open: 8pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

OnziemeElektrojunkie feat. All Out (Electro/House) • DJs: Lucan Valentine, Verbal, Ko-Matsushima, Ypy, Yuuka • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,000) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

Seven LoungeAbsolute Lounge (Techno/House/Electro) • DJs: Axel Karakasis, Q’hey, Shine, Dan Elliot, Atta, Abe-C + more • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6120-2277 • 1-16-20 Shinsaibashi Stagia 1F, Higashi Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City

13 (Sun)

CircusAgile Feat. Function (Techno) • DJs: Function, Monashee + more • Open: 7pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where:

Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

18 (Fri)

CircusLee Bannon “Alternate/Endings” Release Tour (Bass Music/Techno) • DJs: Bannon, Eyez, Ladi Citizen, Yop., Yuuna • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

19 (Sat)

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

OnziemeEleven Lights (EDM) • DJs: Benkay, Kento, Mitsuda Daisuke, Marvy, Alpha-shot • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

25 (Fri)

CircusPampa Night with DJ Koze & Lawrence & Axel Boman (Techno/House) • Live: Lawrence • DJs: Koze, Alex Boman • Open: 10pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥3,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

26 (Sat)

CircusLow End Theory Japan - Spring 2014 Tour (Bass Music) • Acts: Dibiase, Daddy Kev, Nobody, D-Styles, Nocando, Magikal Mistakes + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,500/1D (ADV: ¥3,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

OnziemeMidnight Request (Electro/House) • DJs: Dex Pistols, Juse, Yuuna, An + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com

27 (Sun)

Studio PartitaMoodymann Japan Tour Osaka (House) • DJs: Moodymann, Marter, AHB Trio, Ten, Ageishi, Banzawa, Yasuhisa, Fumi + more • Open: 3pm -11pm • Admission: ¥4,000 (ADV: ¥3,500) • Where: Kitakagaya • namura.cc/partita.html

28 (Mon/Before National Holiday)

CircusGoodweather #35 Akkord Japan Tour (Bass Music) • DJs: Akkord, Part2Style Sound, Fulltono, Sav, Nousless • Open: 11pm • Admission: ¥3,000/1D (ADV: ¥2,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • circus-osaka.com

Troop CafeBush - 8th Anniversary (Techno) • DJs: Margaret Dygas, Soichi, Yudai Tamura, Det-Chin, Tomoak,

Imazu, Shunji Nakamura, Ike • Open: 10:30pm• Admission: ¥2,500/1D (WF: ¥2,000/1D, Foreigners: ¥1,500/1D) • Where: Kobe • Tel: 078-321-3130 • troopcafe.tumblr.com

29 (Tue/National Holiday)

Maishima Sports IslandMai Asia Music Festival (All mix) • Acts: Takkyu Ishino, Shingo Nishinari, Skazi, Sonpub, Okadada, Metome, Obachan + more • Open: 10am - 9pm • Where: Maishima • my-fes.com

5/3 (Sat)

OnziemeMan From Tomorrow (Techno) • DJs: Jeff Mills, Ken Ishii, Sekitova. Loe + more • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥TBA • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • onzi-eme.com


AccommodationFor RentAPARTMENTS IN KOBE WITH NO KEY MONEY. 1 room apartments from 40,000 yen per month. 2 and 3 bedroom apartments also available from JR Kobe to Rokko Michi. Email [email protected], call 090 6777 9864 for a viewing or visit www.elliottventures.com or find us on Facebook. Contact: kevin elliott<[email protected]> Website: www.elliottventures.com

SHARE OR RENT A NEWLY-BUILT FURNISHED CONDOMINIUM. No fee/ Deposit. Unused Furnished Japanese/western 2style room of newly-built condo. South balcony. Separated bathroom/ toilet. Washer/ refrig/ oven/ are-cond. 5min Shin-Osaka stat. No fee for using internet in each room. Rent ¥40-¥60k incl. all living-fee. Woman only. Email by [email protected] Contact: Tei Shouga<[email protected]>

KOBE - KASUGANOMICHI. 2LDK 43 sqm apartment. Y89,000/month, Zero key money. 2 months refundable deposit. No agency fee. Hankyu & Hanshin Kasuganomichi, one station from Sannomiya. Very convenient location, recently renovated, furnished. [email protected] 090-9286-1216 Contact:

Ffeilden<[email protected]> Website: www.ffeilden.com/

Room/flat Share SHARED ACCOMMODATION FOR RENT IN OSAKA. Wagokoro: Rent ¥39,000~, 9.72m2~, 8min walk from JRSenrioka st. / Marche Awaza: Rent ¥46,000~, 7.29m2~, 7min walk from Awaza st. No key money, deposit/ guarantor. Furnished. Initial cost: 1st month’s rent+handling fee(15,750). Mention Classified ad = handling fee is FREE: [email protected] Contact: Entrance Japan<[email protected]> Website: www.entrance-japan.com

Shared House 5M HIGH-CELLINGED LIVING ROOM IN CENTRAL OSAKA.. Furnished 19m2room and a balcony available . Apartment is gorgeous and stylish. Convenient location near Namba and Shinsaibashi. Across the street is Kozu park and shrine, beautiful cherry blossom viewing. Montly rent is ¥65,000 or ¥80,000 for couple, +electricity, deposit is ¥50,000. no k Contact: vimaivi<[email protected]>

SHARED HOUSE IN ITAMI EASY ACCESS OSAKA AND KOBE. a-sharehouse itami-shimizu-cho just opened in Itami-city. Easy access to both Osaka and Kobe. Starting from 48,000 including utilities/internet. Interior and facilityies are new. contact [email protected] or https://www.facebook.com/a.sharehouse/ Contact: a-sharehouse <[email protected]> Website: www.a-sharehouse.com

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

JobsEducationPT ENGLISH TEACHER IN SUMINODO. Friendly and motivated teacher needed to help our Suminodo branch grow. Proper visa and native speaker required. Pay starts at 1500 Yen Hourly. Transportation and prep time paid. Tues and Wed afternoons and evenings, Sat mornings. Email Bobby at [email protected]. Thanks! Contact: Eri Aoki<[email protected]> Website: friends-suminodo.lolipop.jp

ESL TEACHERS NEEDED NOW.. Kyoto, Ashiya, Sanda KIDS academic environment. Takarazuka mostly ADULTS student base with serious student motivation. We are looking for great teachers to join our team. It’s easy to find a teacher. Our students are expecting skill and talent. Several positions open now…. All serious applicants replied Contact: Tony Sands<[email protected]>

ENG TEACHER & PT JPN ENG TEACHER / STAFF WANTED. English teacher position for kids and adults classes from Wednesday to Saturday required. Prefer teacher who lives close to Ibaraki and Suita. Positions available ASAP. Please email us [email protected] 072-637-9899 Contact: Royal English School<[email protected]>

ENGLISH TEACHERS WANTED. Venetia International is seeking a P/T native English teacher for kids and adults in Kyoto for daytime and evening classes. We are a small, friendly and professional conversation school. Motivated, qualified, reliable teachers please email resume to [email protected] Contact: Venetia International<[email protected]> Website: www.venetia-international.com

KANSAI CORPORATE CLASSES. CES is seeking professional, English/

Chinese/Korean/Indonesian corporate instructors for p/t corporate classes (2-7 Hours a day) in Shiga, Sakai, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara and Kyoto. P/t hourly rates 3,500-4,500 yen per hour. For more info, please forward C/V with availability to [email protected] Contact: Manager<[email protected]>

PT NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHER NEEDED IN MORIGUCHI. We are seeking a Native English Teacher for children. Wed, Fri & Sat. About 10 classes/week. Trans. up to ¥1,500/day. ¥2,600/hour for teaching, ¥820/hour for prep, meeting, paperwork etc. Experience preferred Proper VISA required. Please send your CV to TOMOGAKUEN [email protected] Contact: Tomogakuen<[email protected]>

NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHER NEEDED!. who is available on 1 or 2 days of weekday (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday,) in the morning or in the afternoon school term ; from April to March. The Location: YMCA Language Center 1. at Shin-KOBE, or 2.at Gakuentoshi in WEST -KOBE. Payment is based on 10-minute rate. according Contact: KOBE YMCA Language Center<[email protected]> Website: kbym.jp/language/index.html

NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHER WANTED.. English School in Takatsuki & Ibaraki (near JR and Hankyu) requires full & part time experienced teachers for kids and adult. Group and private classes. Friendly atmosphere. ¥250,000/mth or 2500/50min. Email: resume w/ photo to <[email protected]> Contact: Noriko Usuda<[email protected]> Website: www.coconut-english.com

FRIDAY KIDS TEACHER NEEDED . Sunshine Kids is looking for a Native English teacher for children. Fridays from 10am to 6pm near SenriChuo. 6 lessons. 15,000 plus transportation. Please email resume to tony@

KANSAI SCENE MAGAZINE | ISSUE #167 APRIL 2014 | kansaiscene.com4242sunshine-kids.com Contact: Tony Romani<[email protected]> Website: www.sunshine-kids.com

SEEKING A NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER IN SAKAI. We are seeking an English teacher for a teaching position. Previous experience and availability on Saturdays is preferred. One private adult lesson pays 2000 Yen plus travel expenses. Applicants who are interested, please send your resume to the address listed below [email protected] Contact: Lauren<[email protected]> Website: www.vacation-es.jp/

PART-TIME ENGLISH TEACHERS NEEDED FROM APRIL. Mon Mor Univ Classes: one year, Monthly payment + travel cost, High School Classes: two times a week, 8 or 9 lessons a week, CELTA or related plus experience, Kyoto or Shiga residents preferred. Send resume : Ivy International Language Academy, E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 075-255-323 Contact: ivy international<[email protected]> Website: www.ivy-intl.co.jp/

PART-TIME ENGLISH TEACHER. Work two or three days a week, Qualification; TESOL etc. Pay 3,000 yen per 45-minute lesson. Send your resume to Takimoto(Mr) Kansai International High School (5 minute-walk from Tennoji-station, Osaka-city) TEL 06-6621-8108 Email: [email protected] Contact: kihs<[email protected]> Website: www.tg-group.ac.jp/kihs/

TEACHERS WANTED. School in Ashiya/Okamoto is looking for FT/PT English, French and Korean teachers ASAP. University diploma is preferable. Must be native speaker with valid visa. Payment: 2700-3000yen per hour and transportation. Contact us by email, [email protected] Contact: Ashiya Plus<[email protected]> Website: www.comlanguageschool.com

GeneralBEACH RESORT JOBS IN OKINAWA. Work in a Ski/Summer Resort this year! Experience the natural beauty of Japan, improve your Japanese, make life-long friends, and get paid for it! Telephone Interviews are being held now. For further details and the Application Form, please visit our website at http://www.sanconjp.com/english.html Contact: SAN Consulting<[email protected]> Website: www.sanconjp.com/

INDIAN RESTAURANT SEEKS FEMALE WAITING/HALL STAFF. Indian Restaurant in Umeda seeks female waiting/Hall staff. Meal included. Train ticket will be paid. Nice and friendly atmosphere. Working Hours 17:00 to 22:00

Or 18;00 to 22:00. For more information call: 090-5966-8670. Contact: Meera<[email protected]>

BAR STAFF WANTED! OSAKA'S FAMOUS AND FUN BAR ZERRO. International, friendly and fun bar Zerro seeks PT, bartenders and kitchen staff. Hours 7pm - 5am, Sun. to Sat., negotiable. No experience is welcome but need big smiles:) Further details at interview. Contact [email protected] or call us 06-6211-0439 after 6pm. 5min from Namba stn. FB: Bar Zerro Contact: Bar Zerro<[email protected]>

ENGLISH SPEAKING BAR STAFF WANTED FOR NEWLY OPENED. bar in Umeda. Beer & Pizza Gosuke. Conversational level Japanese required. All nationalities welcome. 3hrs a night, 6pm-5am. ¥900/hr (first month ¥850/hr). Please contact the manager, Mr. Asada at 06-6312-3387 (4pm - midnight). Contact: Mr. Asada <[email protected]>

Classes & EventsClassesFREE ABACUS CLASS FOR FOREIGNERS. FREE ABACUS CLASS for FOREIGNERS offered by O.C.C.I. and Osaka Abacus Assoc. to promote int'l goodwill. Individualized lessons taught in Japanese or English. Saturdays 10-12 am. Course material provided for free. Near Sakaisuji-Hommachi and Kitahama. Call: Moritomo Ken 06-6572-6877 <[email protected]> Website: sites.google.com/site/osakasoroban/

EventsST MICHAEL’S INTL SCHOOL BAZAAR APRIL 26. Join our popular School Bazaar at St. Michael’s International School on Saturday 26 April (10:00-3:00), for a fun-filled day with lots of international food, games, fun stalls & rummage sales, music, dance and Raffle. Raffle tickets on sale until 1:00pm on the day. Everyone welcome! Contact: St. Michael’s International School<[email protected]> Website: www.smis.org

JAPAN BURLESQUE FESTIVAL. Gorgeous retro-style burlesque dancers from USA, France and Australia with the best Japanese burlesque performers. At Osaka's most stunning 30's era cabaret house, Beronica. Dinner available at the venue. 6th of April, 5:30pm -10:30pm. BERONICA, next to JR Kyobashi station. 3500 at the door. Contact: efricker<[email protected]>

PARTY HARD 4/28 (MON). PARTY HARD at Bar One, April 28 (Monday) 10PM to 6AM. Tuesday is a national holiday. Free Champagne for ladies before 12AM. 100,000yen cash throw out. Japan’s wildest party in Osaka and Tokyo. (Party Hard Tokyo to April 19) For more info, check out “Party Hard 2014” on facebook or iflyer.tv Contact: International Party Rockers <[email protected]> Website: www.facebook.com/events/800626576632748/

START YOUR WEEKEND OFF AT BAR ONE.. Every Friday start your weekend off at Bar One. Every week the DJ line-up changes to provide the party people with a range of sounds from some of the hottest DJs in Osaka including DJs from International Party Rockers and Kansai Beat Krew. Check out Bar One on facebook or www.bar-one.jp Contact: International Party Rockers <[email protected]> Website: www.bar-one.jp

Health & BeautyENGLISH SPEAKING DENTIST IN KOBE. Kitano Dental Clinic is located near Hankyu Sannomiya Station West Exit. Easy access from JR Sannomiya Station. Drop-in consultations welcome. English spoken. NHI accepted. Appts required. Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-7:00pm (Th&Sat 9:30am-1pm) All your general needs, cleaning, etc. Call 078-331-3512 Contact: Kitano

Dental Clinic<[email protected]> Website: www.kitanoshika.com

CommunityCommunity ServicesFREE JAPANESE LESSONS IN KOBE. KICC volunteers offer one-to one free Japanese lessons once a week for six months for foreign residents of Kobe. 12 min. from Sannomiya st. Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00 Tel: 078-291-8441 Contact: Kobe International Community Center (KICC) <[email protected]> Website: www.kicc.jp/kicc/index_eng.html

INFORMATION IN ENGLISH. Osaka Information Service for Foreign Residents offers information in English. Serivce is free of charge. Please feel free to contact us at 06-6941-2297 or [email protected]. Open Monday to Friday. Contact: Osaka Information Service for Foreign Residents<[email protected]> Website: www.ofix.or.jp/life/index_e.html

AnnouncementsATTENTION HIKERS! . Enjoy chatting and walking with the Kansai Ramblers on the second Sunday every month. Information in Japanese and English can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/kansairamblers Contact: Kansai Rambler<[email protected]> Website: www.facebook.com/groups/kansairamblers/

OSAKA BOOK GROUP'S APRIL MEETING. We will talk about "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce at Cafe Garb on April 6, starting at 12.30pm. Afterwards, we plan to view cherry blossoms in Osaka Castle park or s Contact: Massa<[email protected]> Website: www.facebook.com/groups/OsakaBookGroup/

Language ExchangeLANGUAGE EXCHANGE GROUP IN OSAKA ON MONDAY NIGHT!. Let's do language exchange with us. My friends are looking for their partners. We also have Japanese class at the same place. Any level is OK! Contact: Rimi Makino<[email protected]> Website: www.facebook.com/rimi.makino.3

Sorry…Due to space restrictions we are unable to print all classified ads.See kansaiscene.com for more classifieds online.

5F

KitahamaEdobori

Dojima Nishi TenmaHanshin Expressway(Loop Route)

Naniwabashi

Nakanoshima

Watanabebashi

Oebashi

Keihan Honsenline

Keihan-

Nakanoshima Line

Kita Shinchi

4F 35F

Hanshin Main Line

Route No.2

Fukushima Sta.

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Dojima River

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Hankyu Higashidori Arcade

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BlarneyStone

Tanimachi Line

Ogimachi Dori

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Loft

ARC

Kinokuniya

Umeda Piccadilly

USConsulate

Hotel Kansai

HanshinDept.

SonezakiPolice H.Q.

Beer & PizzaGO_SUKE

EntranceJapan

Shinmei Law Office

AsahiyaBookstore

Navio Toho Plex

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TheaterUmeda

HankyuDept.

NationalMuseum of Art

YodobashiCamera

MitsukoshiIsetan

Lucua

HotelGranvia

HiltonPlaza West

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New Hankyu Hotel Osaka YWCA

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Lagunaveil Premier

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Club Noon

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Westin Hotel

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DaimaruFloat Court

Umeda SkyBuilding

German Consulate

Utsubo Park

Bank of Japan

Ana CrownPlaza

Mitsui SumitomoBank

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Dojima Avanza

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Osaka Dental Clinic

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Moto-machi

Minami-senba

Nishiohashi

1F

Yotsubashi

Dotonbori river

Nan

iwa-

suji

Namba

JR N

amba

Sta

.

Namba Sta.Namba

Kintetsu Nara lineSennichimae line

Hanshin expressway (loop route)

Namba walkNipponbashi

Nipponbashi sta.

Saka

isuj

i

1F

B1Suomachi-dori (Europe street)

6F

3F

2F

Shin

saib

ashi

-suj

i (sh

oppi

ng a

rcad

e)

Nagahoribashi

5F8F

Nagahori tsurumi-ryokuchi line

Nagahori doriShinsaibashi

Mid

osuj

i

1F

4F

11F

Yots

ubas

hi li

ne

1F

2F

Tokyu Hands

HotelT’point

DaimaruDept.North

The BlarneyStone

HotelMetrothe 21

Murphy’s

GS Travel

Dublin Bay /Dublin Garden

Ghost

Coolabah

Clapper

Cinem@rt

NikkoHotel

Big step

DDD

CoventGarden

DropTriangle

Onzieme

Ali’s KitchenEl Pancho

Arthur Murray

Uniqlo

Boy

OPA

CrossHotel

Fubar

Zerro

B1 Pure Osaka

Cine Pop

MUJI/Tower Records

JunkudoVisitorsInformation

Center

JunkudoOCAT

LunarClub

AppleStore

DaimaruDept.

DaimaruDept.South

Family Mart

HoriePark

GrandCafe

Fanjtwice

Triangle Park

KitahorieHospital

Kansai SceneMojoprintOffice

CafeAbsinthe

Balabushka

Little Long Beach

TezukayamaGallery

HotelMonterey

TominagaHospital

NambaHatch

SwissôtelNankai Osaka

Nankai NambaStation

TakashimayaDept. Store

Toho CinemasNamba

Crysta Nagahori (underground shopping)

Namba Walk (underground)

Spotaka

23 mm

MizuhoBank

5

6

Shinsaib

ashi/Nam

ba

0 200m

N

Yamamoto-dori

Kitano-cho

Nankin-machi

Sannomiya

Sannomiya

Sannomiya

SannomiyaJR Sannomiya

JR Motomachi sta.

Motomachi

Tor Road

Pearl StreetKobe Mosque

Yamate kansen

1F

4F

Hun

terz

aka

Kita

noza

ka

Fudozaka

Shiei

Yam

ate

subw

ay lin

e

1F

8F

SOGODept.5F

Port liner

Kobe kosokutetsudo

Hanshin line

Subway Kainan line

Route 2

Flower road

Sanchika und.

7F

1F

7F

5F

5F

OS CinemasMint Kobe

4F

MitsuiSumitomoBank

Kobe CityHall

AoyamaMinatoBank

SannomiyaCine Phoenix

Marui

DaimaruDept.

Kobe IkutaJunior HighSchool

Hyogo-kenPrefectural Hall

Oriental Dental Clinic

St. Michael’s International School

Ikuta PoliceStation

KobeWomensJuniorCollege

Bistrot Cafe De Paris

KIC

Ikuta jinja

Hotel Monterey

Hotel Tor Road

Kobe Grocers

Tokyu Hands

Kobe Sauna

Mickey’sClub

Midnight

SorakuPark

SanPlaza

CenterPlaza EastCenter

PlazaWest Junkudo

Tower Records

SannomiyaHanadokeimae st.

KyukyoryuchiDaimarumae

Sansei Hosp.

Junkudo

KinokuniyaKobe KokusaiKaikan

Kobe Kokusai Shochiku

HSBC

World Express

Marga

Sun City

Hobgoblin

Kobe YWCA

Iznt

TomsonReal Estate

Hotel Tokyu Inn

4FKowka

2FGuild

KawaraMachi

TeramachiArea

Gion

SanjoWakamatsu-dori

Shijo-dori

Joko-in

KirakuInn

HotelOkura

Starbucks

KyotoRoyal Hotel

KyotoAsahi Kaikan

Kyoto Royal BLDG.

Junkudo

Kyoto City Hall

GionKaikan

Yasaka Jinja

GionHotelMinamiza

Theatre

JomoGas

Daimaru

FujiDaimaru Takashimaya

Marui

Yam

atoj

i-dor

i

Kei

han

Line

Pont

ocho

Han

amik

oji-d

ori

Shirakawa-dori

Shirakawa river

Kiy

amac

hi-d

ori

Kaw

aram

achi

-dor

i

Shin

kyog

oku

Shot

enga

iTe

ram

achi

Sho

teng

ai

Gok

omac

hi-d

ori

Fuya

cho-

dori

Tom

inok

oji-d

ori

Yana

gino

banb

a-do

ri

Saka

imac

hi-d

ori

Tozai Subway Line

Hankyu Line

Bal

Mina

OPAWorld

MovixKyoto

Oike-doriShiyakushomae

Kawaramachi

Sanjo

Sanj

oG

ion

shijo

7F

Sanjo-dori

Kyoto Museum ofContemporaryArt

Butterfly

The Gael


San

nom

iya

Kyo

to

0 200m

N

0 200m

N


Documents

KS #167 April 2014