Metropolis-1043

Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine 

www.metropolis.co.jp 

#1043 Mar 21~Apr 3, 2014 

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INSIDE#1043 

MAR 21-APR 3, 2014 

Free entry, 

¥500 

drinks & 

foods 

Fri 28th 

of March 

from 7pm 

to late 

06 FEATURE 

A YEN FOR 

BLOGGING 

Photo of the week 

Submit your snaps at http://metropolis.co.jp/photo 

GORDON’S 

SPRING PARTY 

03 THE SMALL PRINT 

04 UPFRONT 

05 INTERVIEW 

09 AGENDA 

10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

12 LISTINGS 

18 MOVIES 

21 DINING OUT 

23 CLASSIFIEDS & JOBS 

29 HOROSCOPE & MEDIA BOX 

30 LAST WORD 

COVER DESIGN: KOHJI SHIIKI, ILLUSTRATION: AYA FRANCISCO, 

COURTESY OF TOFUGU 

Commuters assume the position with their smartphones at 

Nakano station, by Martin Irwin. 

Pub Cardinal Marunouchi, TOKIA 1F Tokyo Bldg. 

2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku 

More info: metropolis.co.jp/events 

Search over 25 million photos 

✓ 10 free starter credits with registration 

✓ 25% credits bonus on purchase 

Promo Code: Metropolis 

www.123rf.com/metropolis 

The Small Print 

By Steve Trautlein 

“ 

WE WILL NOT BE 

SATISFIED UNTIL ALL 

THOSE CHILDREN ARE HOME 

WHERE THEY BELONG” 

—US State Department official Susan Jacobs, calling for 

the return to American parents of children wrongfully 

taken to Japan by their Japanese partners 

OH, SO NOW YOU TELL US 

ćć 

Following the crash of the Tokyo-based Bitcoin 

exchange Mt. Gox, Finance Minister Taro 

Aso said that “he had been thinking that the 

digital currency would collapse sooner or later.” 

ćć 

On the occasion of his 54th birthday last month, 

Crown Prince Naruhito vowed to “to continue 

respecting the Constitution.” 

ćć 

Researchers at Fukuoka National Hospital have 

determined what every hay fever sufferer already 

knows: that inflammation in the nose can 

worsen sleep quality. 

ćć 

Headline of the Week: “Military Police Officer’s 

Confidential Journal on 1936 Failed Coup Discovered 

in Liquor Shop” (via Mainichi Japan) 

PRIORITIES 

ćć 

A former prison official testifying at a murder 

trial in Osaka said death-row prisoners are kept 

in solitary confinement “except when they are 

allowed to exercise or take a bath.” 

ćć 

The tobacco-friendly LDP has proposed a 

change to the Industrial Safety and Health 

Act that would dump the requirement on 

businesses to “keep secondhand smoke out of 

smoke-free spaces.” 

ćć 

In response to the vandalization of hundreds 

of copies of The Diaries of Anne Frank in Tokyo, 

officials at the Israeli Embassy announced that 

they will donate 300 copies of the book to local 

libraries. 

ćć 

The Cabinet Office says fewer Japanese school 

kids used content filtering functions on their 

keitai last year—the first drop since officials began 

keeping records in 2009. 

WHITE, POWDERY STUFF 

CAMILLE PERRY 

ćć 

Customs officials at Narita Airport say they confiscated 

270kg of stimulants last year. That’s a 60 

percent rise from the amount seized in 2012 and 

the most since the airport opened in 1978. 

ćć 

Officials in Yamanashi say 115 hectares of agricultural 

facilities were damaged or destroyed by 

the heavy snow last month. 

ćć 

Meanwhile, the blizzards are being blamed 

for crushing a total of 406 carports in seven 

prefectures. 

ćć 

Officials at JAXA announced the successful 

launch of a rocket carrying a weather observatory 

that’s intended “to prevent disasters caused 

by heavy rain and snow.” 

FOREIGN RELATIONS 

ćć 

A pair of maiko apprentice geisha from Kyoto 

gave dance performances in New Delhi and 

Chennai as part of a tour organized by the Japan 

Foundation. 

ćć 

A museum in Shiga has put on display documents 

related to the so-called Otsu incident—the 

attempted assassination of the future Emperor 

Nicholas II of Russia in central Japan in 1891. 

ćć 

About 270 GSDF troops traveled to California to 

take part in a drill with US Marines that simulated 

the “recapture of an uninhabited island 

occupied by enemy forces.” 

ćć 

Officials in charge of the torch relay for the 2020 

Tokyo Olympics are mulling a plan to have the 

route pass through disaster-hit Fukushima. 

AND FINALLY… 

ćć 

Police in Osaka arrested a 32-year-old salaryman 

for “creating fake websites promoting luxury 

express train services.” 

ćć 

The government says it will enlist volunteer spotters 

to alert local meteorological observation 

centers of abnormal weather conditions. 

ćć 

It was reported that 46 out of Japan’s 47 prefectures 

are expected to post tax revenue growth in fiscal 

2014, the only exception being the slackers in 

Yamanashi. 

ćć 

Bottom Story of the Week: “Hula Dancers Seek to 

Cheer Evacuees of Disaster“ (via The Japan News). 

340 

Number of wristwatch models on display at the Japan 

Watch Collection, a twice-yearly trade show held last 

month at the Royal Park Hotel in Tokyo 

10 

Prefectures in Japan that issued pollution warnings 

in February because of high levels of the PM 2.5 

microparticle 

$1.5 billion 

Amount transferred by Japan to the Central Bank of 

Iran for oil payments that had previously been halted 

by sanctions 

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

#1043 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 03

Upfront 

hanami photo contest 

FREE DOWNLOAD 

123RF 

Metropolis is collaborating with our stock image supplier, 

123RF, to find and reward the best shot of hanami 

revelry captured on a smartphone using the free 123RF 

On-The-Go mobile app. Register as a 123rf member then 

upload your best photo of the annual sakura celebrations 

with the keyword “MetropolisTokyo”. Photo must 

include both cherry blossoms and people. We’re looking 

for creative shots that combine the two elements—not 

just close-ups of flowers or trees. The top photo chosen 

will receive USD $300 from 123RF and be printed as 

the Metropolis “Photo of the Week” in our April 18 issue. 

Second prize will receive a traditional kitchen knife 

from Kamata Hakensha while third place will receive 

a dinner voucher for a romantic dinner for two at 148 

Azabu Jyuban courtesy of Metropolis. 

Deadline for submission: noon on Fri, Apr11. 

SPONSORS 

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Remember throwing 

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pillow (¥3,150), especially 

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The company even held 

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the pillow easier to throw further and the softness also prevents hurting your target 

too much. Zippers, tags and other embellishments have been left off alongwith decorations 

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remember the first rule of pillow fight club is to talk about it a lot, so others will join 

in the fun. -Ai Hosokawa 

Finding new ways to match garments to each 

other can help you get more mileage out of your 

wardrobe. The Wear App helps you do just that. 

Users share photos of full outfits—as well as 

individual items—so others can discover new 

coordination ideas. Fashion brands also use the 

service to show off the best combos of their items 

together and models use it to get extra exposure. 

Unlike many apps that are limited to brand and 

item choices, you can search using certain terms 

such as “men’s”, “women’s”, “kids’”, particular colors 

or patterns, and so on. Normal users are called 

“wearistas” and official accounts are called “shop 

staff.” Once new coordinates are made, they can be 

shared and commented on. It also saves you from 

having to say to random strangers, “I love your 

skirt, where did you get it?” 

Free for Android and iPhone. 

http://wear.jp/first/ 

honto? 

Anyone learning a foreign language is bound 

to make mistakes, and Japanese is especially 

tricky. But sometimes language mistakes 

can be endearing to native speakers. Here’s 

what some Japanese women found kawaii 

coming from the lips of foreigners. 

“An American guy would always use sou ne 

when actively listening. I guess his teacher 

must have been a woman.” 

- 20-year-old student 

”During an English to Japanese translation 

test, “doctor” became ika-san (Mr. Squid) 

instead of oisshasan. It was cute, even though 

he was an old guy.” 

- 24-year-old finance worker 

“There were two middle-aged foreign gentlemen sitting in the seats next to me at a soba 

restaurant. Without looking at the menu, they ordered stiffly, but perfectly morisoba, 

ichimai. This was followed by tempura no momowawase and the waiter responded with 

a giggle. Apparently moriawase (large helping) was too difficult.” 

- 28-year-old office worker 

Source: http://trendnews.yahoo.co.jp -Taiichi Izawa 

statshot 

Come April, fresh-faced 

college grads will be be 

joining the Japanese 

work force. They will 

have a lot to learn, especially 

how not to tick off 

people already in the 

company. Office workers 

were asked what comments 

by kohai (juniors) 

annoy them the most. 

1. But that’s not my job.................................................................................................................... 738 responses 

2. Is there any point to this task?............................................................................................ 409 

3. No one told me to do it (so I didn’t)................................................................................... 386 

4. I don’t want to do that................................................................................................................ 293 

5. It’s not my fault................................................................................................................................ 284 

6. (In the morning) Ahh, I’m tired!......................................................................................... 253 

7. Why do I have to............................................................................................................................. 251 

8. I didn’t think you meant to do it now............................................................................. 218 

9. (In the morning) I want to go home................................................................................ 183 

10. I didn’t hear anything about that.................................................................................. 153 

Source: http://ranking.goo.ne.jp 

04 • WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP

interview 

PURPLE 

HEARTS 

A former Navy SEAL 

brings his tale 

of survival full circle 

By Kevin Mcgue 

Abox office hit grossing over $100 million in the 

US, Lone Survivor has been hailed by critics as 

the best war film since Saving Private Ryan. It 

tells the harrowing story of a Navy SEAL who is part of 

a recon team sent into a remote region of Afghanistan 

that is ambushed by insurgents. After a fierce battle 

claims all of his comrades, he drags himself off the 

mountain. A villager takes great risks to hide him, saving 

him from beheading at the hands of the Taliban. 

The tale would be nearly impossible to believe if 

it were not the true story of Marcus Luttrell, a Texas 

native who returned home and wrote a memoir that 

became a New York Times bestseller and the basis of 

the film. “The first thing you have got to know is that this 

is not my story,” he tells Metropolis during his first visit 

to Japan. With an imposing physical presence, but a 

sweet, down-home demeanor, Luttrell leans in to make 

his point. “That’s our story.” 

He is referring to the three other members of the 

team who did not make it off the mountain alive, as 

well as eight other SEALs and eight Army commandos 

who died when rescue helicopters were shot down. He 

is quick to dispel doubts viewers may have about the 

onscreen characters carrying on after sustaining shrapnel, 

AK-47 fire and broken bones. “The special effects 

PHOTO: JULIO SHIIKI 

were based directly on the 

actual autopsy reports,” he says. 

“They kept fighting and simply 

succumbed to their injures.” 

If anything, the film tones 

down their remarkable perseverance. 

Mark Wahlberg, 

who plays Luttrell in the film, is 

shown waking up in the Afghan 

wilderness before limping off 

to the nearest village. In reality, 

Luttrell was paralyzed from 

the chest down and crawled all 

night, drawing lines in the dirt 

with a rock to give himself new 

goals to reach. “I have always 

loved the challenge of playing 

regular guys who have had to go 

through extraordinary things,” 

Wahlberg said at a Los Angeles 

screening of the film. “Marcus 

is not ordinary. He is an extraordinary 

guy who survived the 

impossible.” 

Wahlberg, who is known for 

beefing up for action roles, went 

through gruelling training in 

order to do justice to Luttrell’s 

story. The first 80 pages of 

Luttrell’s book are devoted to 

the rigors of SEAL training, which in the film are compressed 

into an opening credit sequence using actual 

Navy footage. “They call it the Hollywood class,” Luttrell 

says with a laugh. “They do a full day of training and 

after the cameras leave, they really put the smackdown 

on them.” Wahlberg had to replicate the training in a 

month, but had the best trainer possible—Luttrell himself. 

“SEALs don’t really get starstuck,” Luttrell says. “I 

said 'there is your gear and meet me in the range in five 

minutes. We were on them hard, in their face.” 

Luttrell was on the set during filming to ensure the 

actors acted like SEALs but says he didn’t “want to step 

on anyone’s toes.” The town of Chilili, New Mexico was 

transformed into an Afghan village. “It was just like 

walking into Afghanistan,” Luttrell recalls. The realism 

also impressed another visitor—Mohammad Gulab, the 

Pashtun tribal leader who refused bribes and threats 

from the Taliban to save the American. Although a 

language barrier prevented him from knowing it at the 

time, Luttrell later learned Gulab acted out of a code of 

honor called Pashtunwali. 

That honor code reminded Luttrell of the bushido 

he learned as part of martial arts study at age seven, 

leading him to join the Navy. “I carried all that knowledge 

I had learned from the Japanese and Okinawans 

into the SEALs, and I was a better man for it.” Coming to 

Japan to promote the film gave him the opportunity to 

see some of the origins and bring his story full circle. 

Since writing his bestseller, Luttrell was medically 

discharged from the Navy and founded the Lone Survivor 

Foundation to renew hope for wounded soldiers 

and their families. He welcomes the attention the film 

has brought his foundation, allowing him to move on 

while helping other soldiers do the same. 

Lone Survivor is now playing. 

Marcus Luttrell's memoir is 

available from Amazon.co.jp in 

book and audiobook formats, and 

has been published in Japanese as 

Afghan, Tatta Hitori no Seikan. 

Dear AMA, 

Upfront 

A M 

A 

ASK METROPOLIS ANYTHING 

I’m really worried about my friend, who I think has picked 

up a drinking problem. It started from going out with him 

after work for some drinks, to watching him get super 

drunk every night. It’s gotten so bad that he’s late for work, 

he’s forgetting what day it is, waking up in random places, 

and so on. I hate seeing him like this. I know he’s having 

some family issues, something about his wife being too 

controlling, but his drinking is getting so out of hand that 

he’s close to getting fired from work. I’ve had a heart-toheart 

with him numerous times but he won’t stop—he 

can’t. What can I do for him? — A friend 

Dear A friend, 

Alcohol is often the way many men and women worldwide 

try to manage problems in their lives. While 

having a drink now and then in moderation can be a 

good way to reduce stress in our lives, too much or too 

often only exacerbates the problem physically, socially 

and emotionally. You sound right to be worried about 

your friend—his drinking has escalated. Talking to him 

and letting him know you are worried and are there for 

him is good first step. It is important to avoid sermons 

or lectures, but to tell him know how worried you are 

about him, how you care about him and how important 

your friendship is. Choose a place that is private and 

when he is sober, make sure you distinguish between 

him as a person and his drinking behaviors. Also make 

sure not to get into any arguments. Based upon what 

you described, your friend's alcohol abuse may require 

medical intervention and we would strongly encourage 

him to get help. Have a list of different supports 

available in Japan from AA, the TELL Lifeline and professional 

face-to-face counseling. He is lucky to have a 

friend looking out for him. 

This answer comes courtesy of TELL Life Line. If you need 

to talk, they're here to listen. Call TELL at 03 5774-0992 or 

visit their website at www.telljp.com. 

If you want to “Ask Metropolis Anything” about life 

in Tokyo, send your questions to askanything@ 

metropolis.co.jp and we’ll find the most appropriate 

people to answer your queries. 


Feature 

It's raining man —Tofugu's (www.tofugu.com) 

Koichi rakes in his blogging profits. 

WHY J-BLOG? 

Besides blogging about finances, self-development 

or straight-up blogging about blogging, 

J-blogging (that’s blogging about Japan-related 

things) is actually one of the more lucrative blogging 

categories out there. That may be surprising 

news to most of you, though. But I assure you, the 

money is out there. A lot of it, in fact. 

Despite Japan’s shrinking economy, dwindling 

population, environmental issues and decreasing 

relevance on the Asian stage, there is a disproportionately 

large number of people on this earth who 

just plain love Japan. 

Here’s what I think happened: Millions upon 

millions of people grew up with Japanese anime. 

During my own childhood, in fact, I have memories 

of my friends and I running home to watch the 

next exciting installment of Dragonball-Z. There 

was nothing like it on American TV, and the cliffhanger 

that ended every episode had me hooked. 

Back then there were only a few anime shows on 

TV. Fast forward to 2014 and it feels like you ought 

to rename any cartoon channel to “The Anime 

Channel.” Japan has owned our childhoods for 

twenty-plus years and there’s no slowing in sight. 

Animation is just the seed, though. And for 

some, the seed lays dormant. For others, the seed 

spreads its roots and a person’s interest in Japan 

grows: Do you like this anime? The manga version 

is two chapters ahead! Want more of this Pokémon 

thing? There’s a card game and video game to go 

along with it! Did you just watch an episode in Japanese? 

Hmm, maybe you should learn Japanese. 

Just think of how many more shows you could 

watch! 

A YEN FOR 

BLOGGING 

Tofugu founder offers 

practical advice 

for bloggers in 

Japan 

As you can see, it’s not just about cartoons. 

That’s where it might have started for millions of 

people, but eventually it grew into something else. 

For some it’s language, for others it’s travel and 

for yet others it’s food. The list goes on. This is the 

group of people who grew up on Japan, and from 

here on out I’ll be referring to them as the “J-Generation.” 

This also happens to be the group from 

which J-bloggers make their livings. 

GETTING STARTED 

So you want to make some money off your site? 

Maybe part-time, maybe full-time, maybe just a 

handful of extra income to go out drinking. I can 

tell you one thing right away: Your current Wordpress 

acount about your “day-to-day experiences 

teaching English in Japan” probably will not help 

you to do this. The J-Generation just doesn’t care. 

So what do they care about? At the core, we 

know they care about anime. Many have moved 

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOFUGU 

on to other Japan-interests, but this is where it all 

originated. From there we can branch out to other 

Japan-related topics. Some are bigger than others, 

but they all connect back to anime in one way or 

another. Personally, I see it as something like this: 

The center (anime) happens to be a very lucrative 

topic. Even the bad anime blogs seem to do 

pretty well, at least in terms of popularity. There is 

plenty of audience to go around. Then we branch 

out to manga, which is really just a sub-category 

of anime, so the same holds true here. Basically, 

we’ll learn, the closer you are to “anime” in terms 

of connections, the more likely you are to be able 

to profit off your J-Generation audience. 

The biggest self-contained section is “language.” 

There are several reasons for this. First, 

they’ll eventually see some anime that’s in Japanese, 

which will plant the seed: “Hmm, maybe I 

want to learn Japanese.” Second, learning the language 

just feels like a natural progression. If you 

like Japan, why not learn the language? 

From here the chart branches out further. 

If you’re interested in language, there’s a good 

chance you want to travel to Japan. If you want to 

travel to Japan, you are probably interested in Japanese 

food. These topics can potentially branch 

out an infinite number of times, though from 

my own observation the more steps away from 

“anime” you are the smaller your audience gets. 

So now I want you to consider your own interests 

and the things you could blog about. While 

doing so, answer the following questions: 

How many steps away from the core (anime) is it? 

Will the J-Generation care about this? Will I 

care about this? 


Q&A 

MARKY STAR 

Passion project goes viral 

By Kevin McGue 

While some start blogs in order to win a large 

audience and eventual profits, Marky Star 

started his Japan This! (http://markystar. 

wordpress.com/) as a means of exploring his interest 

in the obscure side of Japanese history. What started 

as a personal project has developed into a valuable and 

widely-read resource for Japan buffs around the world. 

Why did you decide to start “Japan This!”? 

When I’d make references to Japanese holidays on 

Facebook or in emails to my friends and family living 

outside of Japan, I found myself re-explaining them 

again and again to each person. Instead of repeating 

myself, I thought it would be a good idea to write a few 

articles like “Japanese New Year” or “Coming of Age 

Day” and keep them all in one place where I could refer 

people. Then I ran out of topics and just got bored with 

the whole thing. 

The reason I relaunched it and continue is that 

for the past nine years I’ve been obsessed with Japanese 

history. I also have a background in historical 

linguistics. In my free time, I’d research historical or 

linguistic topics. Since most of the information I was 

looking for was only available in Japanese, it seemed a 

shame to just keep all the cool stuff I was finding locked 

in my head. I wanted to make a place where I could have 

a permanent record of the stuff in English and share it 

with anyone else who had the same questions. I figured 

there might be one or two people out there who would 

be curious. 

You address such seldom asked questions as “What 

does Setagaya mean?” What drives you to explore 

such obscure topics? 

I think these are very natural questions to ask. I mean, 

if you look at the kanji for any given place name you’re 

bombarded with a frothy mixture of meaning, imagery 

and history. When I first came to Japan, I’d look at a 

simple place name like 谷中 (Yanaka, “valley in the middle”) 

or 東京 (Tokyo, eastern capital) and think, “Wow, 

how simple and descriptive.” Then I’d see another place 

name like 渋谷 (Shibuya, literally “bitter valley”) and 

think “WTF is that?” I know I’m not the only person— 

foreign or Japanese—to have experienced this. The 

internet is littered with articles on the topic in Japanese, 

but there doesn’t seem to be anyone else writing about 

it in English. 

I’m frustrated that there isn’t any good information 

in English on certain topics of Japanese history—and if 

there is, it’s often not very good or just plain wrong. I just 

want to find out the truth —or as close as we can get to 

the truth—and share it with whomever is interested. 

You have several posts on execution grounds. 

What interests you about the darker side of Japan’s 

history? 

I get asked this a lot. But if people don’t know about Japanese 

history, the image of “Old Japan” is cherry blossoms, 

geisha and a reverent people in harmony with nature 

dressed in beautiful kimono practicing calligraphy and 

tea ceremony. But the truth is the bulk of Japanese history 

was spent in violent power grabs and brutal wars. If 

you want to understand Japanese history, you can’t just 

whitewash it with sakura and wabi sabi, you have to look 

at the whole picture, even the dark side. 

What is the most surprising thing you have uncovered 

while doing research for “Japan This?” 

That other people actually want to read it! That’s crazy 

to me. 

The interconnectivity of Japan-blogging 

Will I get bored with this topic? 

Do I know more about this topic than 99% of 

the world? 

Is there a lot worth saying about this topic? 

If you find yourself uneasy about any of 

your answers you should go back to the drawing 

board. All of these are important for not 

only your sanity, but also your success. Another 

problem that I see a lot has to do with how broad 

your topic is. I’d recommend narrowing your 

ideas down to something fairly niche. For 

example, I started by writing about the 

Japanese language, but I narrowed it down 

to “self-teaching Japanese” because I was 

more interested in that. I found there was a 

large group of people who were interested 

in this topic specifically and it worked out 

very well. If you try to write something for 

everyone you just end up writing something 

for nobody. 

THE WAY OF TOFUGU 

The year was 2008. I had just graduated from 

university in the US with a bachelor’s degree 

in Japanese studies (what was I thinking?). I 

remember the evening before graduation my compatriots 

and I got together one last time at the local 

“Japanese” restaurant. The professors were there 

too, and while we were waiting for the food they 

went around the table and asked everyone their 

post-graduation plans. It went like this: “JET.” “ALT.” 

“JET.” Every answer went like this until the very last 

person—me. 

“Blogger,” I said without a doubt in my mind. “I’m 

going to blog about Japan and its language.” I was a 

smug fool. 

It only took three months to burn through my 

savings. I was so broke I got a “real” job, ditching the 

J-blogger dream in exchange for rent money. I only 

occasionally wrote, and my little pot of J-blog soup 

was put on the back burner. At the end of 2009 my 

“real” job ran out of money and fired everyone. I had 

opportunities to start another job (including at You- 

Tube) but I rejected them all. I really wanted this 

blog thing to work, so one Rocky-esque montage 

later I was back in the ring, ready for Round 2. 

In my first month back I made less than ¥300,000. 

My second month was a bit more than ¥400,000. I 

remained suspicious of this success until a year had 

gone by and over ¥1 million a month was rolling in. 

Today, Tofugu (www.tofugu.com) is profitable, with 

nearly thirty people working for it. 

Is this story just about me? No. 

Can it be you? Sure, why not? 


Feature 

THE METROPOLIS BLOGROLL 

SITES WE LIKE 

BUILDING AN AUDIENCE 

Once you’ve chosen a topic, you have to build 

an audience of people interested in your topic. 

While I can’t do much for bad writing, I can help 

in non-content related ways. Looking around the 

online community I see a lot of easily-correctable 

mistakes. 

1 

Get Rid Of Advertising 

Unless you’re a Top 10,000 website, the 

advertising money isn’t worth it, and those 

banner ads are taking up valuable space. 

2 

Gather Emails 

You know that big space in your sidebar 

that used to have ads? Put up a newsletter 

signup form. Don’t use pop-ups, bullying tactics 

(“Get this free guide by signing up for my newsletter!”) 

or mention it every other sentence. Make 

it easy to find and let people choose to sign up. In 

your first month, try to get 100 subscribers. 

3 

Be “Useful” 

Consider this: Useless things are temporary 

and they go out of style. Useful things are 

forever. When you write to be useful, people will be 

more grateful to you. They’ll repay you by becoming 

a loyal follower and maybe even subscribe to 

your newsletter. They will probably read your next 

article, too. Every time you write something ask: “Is 

it useful?” If it’s not useful, then it’s just porn. 

4 

Create A Beautiful Experience 

While content is king, a beautiful reading 

experience is queen. Get rid of any 

pop-ups, don’t spam your social share links and 

learn about typography and readability. This is 

the internet and attention is fleeting. When I land 

on a page that is barely legible, I think twice about 

reading it. Plus, when you do put something up 

(i.e. something you’re selling) it will have that 

much more impact. Start with simple and readable, 

you can build up from there. 

5Make Videos 

Videos drive a surprising amount of traffic. 

And, there’s less competition on YouTube, 

so more people will find your videos. People love 

“How to” videos, too (remember “be useful”?) and 

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOFUGU 

you can take advantage of this. When I first started 

out, making videos was how I got almost all of my 

traffic. You can do the same. 

BRINGING HOME THE 

FUKUZAWAS 

As a Metropolis reader, you have the distinct 

advantage of being in Japan. Sites created by 

people who are living here start out with more 

credibility and more sources for interesting content. 

Growing your audience to a profitable level 

should be easier for you, overall. 

When you have built up your audience, you 

have to figure out something that is both useful to 

your readers as well as profitable for you. Personally, 

I prefer the “make something and sell it” route. 

This can be anything from an e-book to a membership 

site, to an experience, or something physical 

you sell. For example, if you wrote about ramen and 

had a following of J-Generation people who were 

interested in ramen, you could do several things. 

Here’s a few ideas: 

• You could create a ramen of the month club 

which sends a different instant ramen to members 

every month. 

• You could write and sell a guide to the best 

ramen in Tokyo for travelers/visitors. 

• You could offer private tours to tourists, taking 

them to the best ramen places. This last one 

sounds particularly fun and lucrative, feel free 

to use this idea. 

I’d like to end this by saying that the ways to make 

money off of your site are basically endless. But, they 

all start from one thing: The “J-Generation” and your 

ability to find a segment of them to call your own. 

Once you’ve zeroed in on this you should be getting 

positive feedback immediately. More comments, 

followers, readers, etc. Although building up your 

audience to money-making levels will take a long 

time (expect 1-2 years), you should see constant 

growth as long as you’re doing the right things. 

Good luck to you all out there! 

If you have questions about turning your J-blog into 

a money-making machine, send them to ama@ 

metropolis.co.jp. We’ll answer them in a follow up 

sometime in the future. 

ART & CULTURE 

• Alternative takes on Japan's culture 

www.altjapan.typepad.com 

• Translated Japanese ghost stories 

www.hyakumonogatari.com 

• Bilingual manga diary 

www.iucorin.com 

FASHION 

• Fashion event reviews 

www.tokyotelephone.com 

• Coordination info 

www.style-arena.jp/en 

• Street snaps and designer profiles 

www.tokyofashion.com 

• More street snaps 

www.japanesestreets.com 

• Even more street snaps 

www.stylefromtokyo.blogspot.jp 

FILM & ANIME 

• Erudite essays on J-films 

www.midnighteye.com 

• Anime-centric film reviews 

www.genkinahito.wordpress.com 

FOOD & DRINK 

• Hard drinkin’ nightlife guide 

www.gaijintonic.com 

• Exhaustive Japanese whisky guide 

www.nonjatta.blogspot.jp 

• Mouth-watering photos and noodle shop info 

www.ramenadventures.com 

• Beer drinking in Tokyo 

www.tokyobeerdrinker.blogspot.jp 

LANGUAGE 

• Living the Japanese language 

www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog 

• Useful thoughts for those learning nihongo 

www.guidetojapanese.org/blog 

• All your kana and kanji needs 

www.nihongoichiban.com 

TRAVEL 

• Off the beaten Japan path 

www.ojisanjake.blogspot.jp 

• Seasoned traveler’s guide to Japan 

www.muza-chan.net 

• Guide to historic ruins 

www.japanese-castle-explorer.com 

• Haikyo (industrial ruins) explorations 

www.gakuran.com 

For a more comprehensive list of J-blogs, visit 

metropolis.co.jp/blogroll 


AGENDA 

PHOTO: MASAHIRO TANIGUCHI 

dance 

TORIFUNE BUTOH-SHA 

One of the most acclaimed practitioners of Japan’s 

avant-garde dance form butoh is Kayo Mikami. 

Among the few remaining disciples of butoh founder 

Tatsumi Hijikata, Mikami has been exploring the 

limits of the genre for the last two decades as leader 

of dance troupe Torifune Butoh-sha. For an upcoming 

residency in Yokohama, Mikami presents Kenka, 

or “Consecration of the Flowers," which was first 

performed in 1992 and Sai, which celebrates the 

company’s founding one year earlier. Both works 

were created and choreographed by Mikami and her 

husband Yukio, with whom she runs Torifune, and 

feature the sometimes disturbing but always fascinating 

music of Japanese experimental composer 

J.A. Caesar. Dan Grunebaum 

Kanagawa Arts Theater, Apr 2-6. See dance listings 

for details. 

show 

UHNELLYS 

Metropolis hosted Uhnellys at our Saiko showcase, 

so it's no secret we're fans of the Saitama duo. 

And yet, Uhnellys have outdone themselves with 

their new CD, Chord, raising expectations for their 

upcoming show at SuperDeluxe. Having forged a 

new rock/rap/jazz/digital hybrid, frontman Kim 

and his beauty-on-the-backbeat Midi now squeeze 

it in new directions. Uhnellys' tracks typically take 

their cue from Kim's funk guitar loops, irrepressible 

rap-storytelling and jazzy trumpet riffs, with 

Midi gluing it all together with beats and choruses. 

On the new album, songs like the film noir tinged 

"Black Out" don't mess with this formula, but they 

do perfect it. The pair have learned how to ratchet up 

the tension until you're crying out for the full-blown 

funk denouement they never fail to deliver. DG 

SuperDeluxe, Mar 22. See concert listings. 

theater 

HAROLD PINTER NIGHT 

Black Stripe Theater presents a pair of Nobel 

Prize-winner Harold Pinter’s greatest and most 

challenging plays: Ashes to Ashes and One for the 

Road. In Ashes to Ashes, a revenant from a terrible 

past is called up as a married couple quarrel 

over the wife’s one-time lover. In One for the Road, 

Nicolas, the head of the state security apparatus, 

interrogates a family who are suspected of seeking 

political change. Both plays, says Tokyo director 

Timothy Harris, are “relevant to a time in which the 

‘surveillance state’ has become a dangerous reality, 

in which torture has come to be regarded as acceptable 

in states that previously eschewed it, and in 

which civil freedoms are being lost.”There will be a 

brief talk by and discussion with director and cast 

after each performance. DG 

Trance Mission, Mar 28-30. See stage listings. 

gig 

MOTHERCOAT 

The Tokyo indie quintet is back with a typically 

odd EP and two slots at SXSW 2014, including headlining 

the renowned Japan Nite. The album title 

5-1+1= refers to guitarist So's departure and replacement 

by Fukunosuke Abe. Leaving out the result 

of the sum implies they aren’t sure what this new 

Mothercoat has become. Fittingly, their new tracks 

are highly experimental and mark a transition for 

the band. “Trickster” is the most "Coaty," restless guitar 

shifts and kaleidoscopic drums. “Nipple Cider” is 

a hypnotic electronic Catherine wheel in constant 

danger of spinning out of control. "Misync" features 

a Kate Bush-esque vocal display from bassist Toki 

Rock over a haunting minimalist loop. Whatever 

5-1+1 turns out to equal, Mothercoat haven’t stopped 

pushing their music in new directions. Iain Maloney 

Shimokitazawa Three, Mar 25 and Shinjuku 

Marz, Apr 18. See concert listings. 

festival 

YOSHINO BAIGO 

The “plum village” of Yoshino Baigo in Ome 

will be holding what will sadly be its last plum 

festival for the foreseeable future. The park, on 

the south bank of the Tama River, was hit by the 

plum pox virus in 2009. Over 10,000 trees were 

felled to prevent the disease from spreading, but 

it wasn’t enough and the Ome tourism board has 

finally made the difficult decision to cut down all 

remaining 1,266 trees after its plum festival—the 

biggest in Kanto—ends this year. The blossoms 

will be in their peak in mid-March, so catch the 

beauty while you still can. The tourism board 

plans to plant new trees to restore the garden, but 

is not sure how long the rejuvenation will take, or 

if they will be able to replicate the extensive variety 

of blossoms they have now. Ai Hosokawa 

Ome-shi. Nearest stn: Hinatawada. www. 

omekanko.gr.jp/ume 

expo 

ANIME JAPAN 2014 

Although billed as a brand new event, this expo 

is actually a result of the merging of two long running 

conventions: the Tokyo International Anime 

Fair and the Anime Contents Expo. The two days' 

of events include renowned director Mamoru 

Oshii leading a press conference on the upcoming 

Patlabor film and a Q&A with voice actor Daisuke 

Ono of the Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) franchise. 

Hitting the high notes, will be the Anisong Ichiban 

concert that features a chorus of female voice 

actors. Production houses will be previewing 

upcoming work and there will be cosplay areas 

and a full-size Patlabor truck like the one used in 

the new live action film. Another highlight will be 

the Anime Half Century Theater, featuring anime 

masterpieces from the 1960s until today—including 

classics Astro Boy and Sailor Moon. Tokyo Big 

Sight, March 22-23. See expo listings. 

#1043• WWW.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 09

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

pop life 

ANISAVA 

DLE’s new English web 

anime looks to shift the 

paradigm 

By Dan Grunebaum 

IMAGES COURTESY OF DLE 

art 

TRACES OF DISAPPEARANCE 

A fashionable 

look at the 

ephemeral in 

Omotesando 

By C.B.Liddell 

Founded by a former Sony 

Pictures man, Dream Link 

Entertainment (DLE) is 

Japan’s most influential Flash 

animation studio, known for its Secret 

Society Eagle Talon about a blundering 

but well-meaning shadow organization 

that wants to conquer the world. Which, 

in some way, says a lot about DLE. The 

studio has long looked overseas, and 

with its new adult, all-English web series, 

Anisava, is making its boldest play yet. 

We spoke with director Benpi Neko 

(“Constipated Cat”) about the mechanics 

of international anime collaboration and 

the challenge of writing comedy for a 

worldwide audience. 

How was Anisava conceived? The show’s 

characters were originally designed by a 

Spanish company called Kukuxumusu. 

The team’s first thoughts about the 

characters were that—despite being 

animals which are usually associated 

with kids’ shows—these designs were 

very adult. That got us thinking maybe 

we should do a show for an adult 

audience. I took the characters out of the 

traditional forest setting and put them in 

a big city, so we could play with the idea 

of these animal characters doing very 

human things: living and loving in the 

metropolis. 

Was it originally created as an 

international production? If so, why? The 

idea was always to have it be a production 

that crosses borders. Having animal 

characters really makes that a lot easier. 

If you’ve got human characters, no matter 

what, people can see that character’s 

nationality at a glance. And that might 

alienate some watchers, especially if they 

feel their culture is being misrepresented. 

Situated atop Louis Vuitton’s 

handbag shop 

in Omotesando and 

financed by the sales 

going on below, the Espace Louis 

Vuitton art venue can never be 

entirely divorced from broader 

commercial interests. The free 

shows put on are designed to 

reflect further glory on the famous 

brand, while also sending out 

subtle signals that may or may 

not help you to make a purchase 

downstairs. 

This is the case with the present 

exhibition “Traces of Disappearance,” 

which has a central message 

of “evanescence”—no, not the 

Goth metal band that has been on 

hiatus for several years, but rather 

the process of things disappearing 

and fading away. 

In short, the subliminal message 

is: “Nothing lasts forever, 

especially you, sweetheart, so, go 

on, splash out on that tasty little 

Chain Louise calfskin evening bag 

you spied on the way in.” 

But commercial spin-offs aside, 

evanescence is a worthy subject 

for an art show, as beauty is at its 

most poignant when it is about to 

fade—at least that’s always been 

the appeal of the short-lived cherry 

blossom season in these parts. 

So we’ve got characters with no particular 

nationality, no particular culture and 

we’ve got them in a big city—it could 

be New York, Tokyo or somewhere in 

Europe or Asia. It’s deliberately vague 

so viewers everywhere can project 

their own cultural templates onto the 

show. Finally, regardless of gender 

or nationality, everyone can relate to 

romantic comedy. 

Tell us about the main characters. The 

main character, Jake, can’t do anything 

right, but he’s a good guy. Then there’s 

Jenny, a strong female lead with big 

career ambitions, and for some reason, 

she’s been dating Jake for two years. The 

rest of the cast are co-workers and they’ve 

got their own personalities. Much of their 

The Sheer Size of It, 2013 

Featuring art by Anne and 

Patrick Poirier, Kasper Kovitz, 

Goang-Ming Yuan and Naoya 

Hatakeyama—much of it designed 

for the site—the show invites visitors 

personalities are based at least in part on 

what animal they are. So, we’ve got Fred 

the rabbit, who is a total sex machine. 

We’ve got David the lion, who is the 

company manager and a born leader. 

We’ve got all these diverse characters, 

and everyone is going to have a character 

they can relate to, or a character that 

reminds them exactly of that one friend— 

or that one ex. 

Why did you turn to Kukuxumusu for 

character design and what flavor do 

they bring? Kukuxumusu has a very 

distinctive style and they also do great 

animals. They have a way of getting 

these details that are both anatomically 

accurate to a specific animal and 

also very expressive and human. It’s 

©LOUIS VUITTON / JÉRÉMIE SOUTEYRAT 

“to reflect upon the current condition 

of a fragile world” and feel the 

ephemeral nature of things. 

Naoya Hatakeyama, a Japanese 

photographer and winner of the 

pretty obvious at a glance that this 

is a very non-anime style, so in that 

sense Kukuxumusu helped provide an 

international flavor to the production. 

The storylines are quite adult. Tell 

us about some of the main themes in 

Anisava. Originally, the idea was that 

we’d do a South Park-style show with 

animals, but it evolved into a romantic 

comedy sort of thing. The main themes 

then became about love, the everyday 

stresses of work, relationships, city life 

and how we all “go wild” once in a while. 

What are some of the challenges in 

creating anime for the international 

market? It was very difficult. Comedy 

doesn’t cross borders as well as other 

genres. So, I had to make sure we didn’t 


much coveted Kimura Ihei Prize for Photography 

contributes some photographic works 

(i.e. big photographs in fancy frames) showing 

beautifully bleak landscapes from Mont 

Ventoux in France. 

Although in some cases the “beauty” 

may be debatable, the bleakness never is. 

Hatakeyama seems to be seeking after a 

sense of spiritual “alpinism” of the kind that 

would have appealed to the Italian philosopher 

and esotericist Julius Evola, but there is 

an unfortunate emphasis on the horizontal 

that deadens the works. 

For this reason these photographs are 

easily overshadowed by some of the other 

larger works in the show, such as Kasper 

Kovitz’s The Sheer Size of It (2013), a vast, 

translucent mosaic that has some of the 

qualities of stained glass. The actual scene 

depicted is attractive in a banal way, but 

the real payoff—or not—is realizing that the 

piece is made from thousands of jelly babies 

stuck on plexiglass. 

Anne and Patrick Poirier’s The Soul of 

the World (2013/2014) dominates the centre 

of the high-ceilinged space. In essence this 

is a large and very stylish birdcage with a 

few disembodied tree branches reaching 

into it. 

I couldn’t help being reminded of 

another female musical reference at this 

point, namely the lyrics to Joni Mitchell’s 

“Big Yellow Taxi”: They took all the trees/ Put 

’em in a tree museum/ And they charged the 

people/ A dollar and a half just to see ’em.” 

This is what this work points towards, 

the reduction of nature to a decorative feature 

of urban modernity. This installation 

will appeal to the frustrated urbanite with 

a green chip on his shoulder, but the Poiriers’ 

work is also concerned with the concept 

of memory in a broader cultural and social 

context, as the essence of civilization and 

the ways that this can be erased – another 

compelling reason to nip downstairs for 

that tasty handbag. 

Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo, until Apr 

13. See exhibition listings (Harajuku/ 

Aoyama) for details. 

games 

COMMUTER GAMER 

Three new titles to challenge your daily commute 

By Adam Bolton 

CLUMSY NINJA 

NaturalMotion (free; iOS) 

Turning something 

as dumb as a sack 

of bricks into something 

as hard as nails. 

Taking on the 

role of a martial arts 

master, your mission, 

should you have the 

patience for it, is to train the most awkward of apprentices. 

You see, the apprentice has a mission: to save his 

fellow ninja warrior from an unseen and nefarious evildoer-type. 

The little ninja in question, though, is more 

likely to kick back—rather than kick butt—as he’s too 

untrained and undisciplined to dutifully save the girl. 

But persevere you must, as the young ninja will slowly 

gather the skills he needs to win the day. 

While not necessarily a game with any specific 

goals or actions, Clumsy Ninja offers a fun and often 

addictive distraction from daily life. Akin to something 

along the lines of Tamagochi or other pet simulators, 

Clumsy Ninja makes more use of the iOS devices touch 

screens than most games in the App Store, while also 

offering some of the best character animation and A.I.. 

It also retains a high level of visual charm. 

Suitable for all ages, Clumsy Ninja offers a decent 

investment of free time and all in all is a joy to play. The 

charm and personality of the character as well as the 

app's overall presentation makes it a must-have to add 

to the mobile collection. 

TINY THIEF 

5 Ants (¥ 300; iOS, Android) 

Thievery has never 

been so kawaii. 

Developed by 5 

Ants and published 

by the makers of 

Angry Birds comes 

perhaps one of the 

cutest acts of kleptomania 

ever seen on a gaming platform. Reminiscent of 

the tales of Robin Hood, take on the blond bangs of the 

sneakiest thief in all the kingdom as you slink, distract 

and outwit guards and pirates in order to steal from the 

rich and give to the poor. 

Accompanied by your trusty ferret companion, 

travel across six stages consisting of five parts each as 

you hide in barrels, set off Rube Goldberg-like distractions 

and pilfer every last scrap of loot to be had—all the 

while being the hero of the common man. 

With their own clean-cut, vectored visual style, 

5 Ants has done a great job at standing out from the 

crowd. Each level is rich in color, artistry and design 

where not everything is simply part of the background. 

The additional quest of finding three unique treasures 

for each level will have the completionist in some 

wanting to make the most of each stage's design and 

interactive aesthetics. 

With warm humor, simple and intuitive game play 

and an overall appeal that many will find charming, this 

game will steal your heart without picking your pocket 

at the same time. 

THREES 

Sirvo LLC (¥200; iOS) 

Math—this game just made it fun 

for me, 'nuff said. 

The concept for this game is a 

simple one: slide numbered tiles 

together to make multiples of 

three. As each combination comes 

together, each complete number 

becomes a new personification, 

with their own character. When 

there are no further moves to make 

on the 4X4 grid, your final score 

is tallied. This game is truly one of 

those that is simple to pickup, yet difficult to master. 

Though simple math in itself isn't taxing, the way 

in which you move the numbered tiles around the 

board is. Swipe one tile up, and any other tiles that 

can move in the same direction will too. This offers 

a level of strategy and forward thinking that moves 

this past the basic idea of 3+3. While getting a reasonable 

score can at times come down to blind luck, 

the greater challenge comes from making the much 

higher multiples of three. 

Sirvo LLC has come up with an instant classic for the 

App Store, one that many people have recognized as 

their own favorite. Expect to find other, paling, multiplication-type 

games out there, but accept no substitute. 

have humor that was too specific to 

one country or other. Our American 

scriptwriter, Sean and I worked very 

closely together, but we’d frequently 

disagree. We had a rule that the humor 

can’t be restricted to just one region’s 

audience. That proved a tall order for 

a while, but we had him come to Japan 

so we could work in person and things 

became a lot easier. Other Japanese 

animation companies might just localize 

their products by handing off a script and 

having it read without interacting much 

with the voice talent. I really felt like that 

is not the way to go. No matter where you 

go in the world, there are certain jokes 

and certain funny things that everybody 

will laugh at. If somebody suddenly 

takes off his shoe and starts talking into 

it like it’s a phone, that’s the kind of thing 

everybody will laugh about. I think it’s 

really possible to make a comedy show 

that people all over the world can laugh 

with. Animation is a perfect platform for 

this, because you can do things you just 

can’t with live action. 

What have the responses been like so 

far? Right now the show is, unfortunately, 

only playing in Japan, but our Japanese 

audience seems to really like it based on 

social network activity and viewership. 

I’m really anxious to see what people in 

other parts of the world think. 

Tell us how Anisava points to the future 

of anime. I think Anisava will open the 

door for studios to experiment with 

anime that doesn't look and feel like 

Japanese animation. We hope it will 

encourage other studios to incorporate 

more diverse influences, like American 

sitcoms and things like that. 

www.anisava.net/en/ 


Listings 

GO TO WWW.METURL.COM/LISTINGS FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS 

Concerts 

POPULAR 

Minna no Senkan 

Uhnellys, Doit Science and 

others. Mar 21-23, 1pm, 

¥3,000 (1 day, adv)/ ¥7,000 (3 

days, adv) +1d. SuperDeluxe. 

Nearest stn: Roppongi. 

minnanosenkan.com. www. 

minnanosenkan.com 

Homecoming 

With A Ghost of Flare, Minor 

League and others. Mar 

21, 6:30pm, ¥2,000 (adv)/ 

¥2,500 (door) +1d. Cyclone. 

Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 

03-3463-0069. www. 

survivesaidtheprophet.com 

L'Arc en Ciel 

Visual-kei veterans. Mar 

21-22, 5pm, ¥10,000 (adv). 

National Olympic Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Gaienmae. Tel: 

03-3403-1151. l-tike.com 

Rottengraffty 

With Man with a Mission. 

Mar 21, 6:30pm, ¥3,000 (adv) 

+1d. Shibuya-AX. Nearest 

stn: Harajuku. Tel: 050-5533- 

0888. www.diskgarage.com 

Survive Said the Prophet 

Tokyo-based emo-rock 

with an international flare. 

Mar 21, 6:30pm, ¥2,000 

(adv)/¥2,500 (door). Cyclone. 


03-3463-0069. www. 

survivesaidtheprophet.com 

Floppy 

Electro-pop duo. Mar 21, 

6pm, ¥3,500 (adv)/ ¥4,000 

(door) +1d. Loft. Nearest stn: 

Shinjuku. www.loft-prj.co.jp 

Ska Ska Club 

Third wave ska from the 

Big Mikan. Mar 22, 6pm, 

¥3,300 (adv) +1d. Zepp Diver 

City. Nearest stn: Daiba. 

050-5533-0888. http://hall. 

zepp.co.jp/divercity 

The Twisted Harbor 

Town 

Classical and metal fusion. 

With New Breed and 

others. Mar 22, 6:30am, 

¥2,300 (adv)/ ¥2,600 

(door) +1d. Cyclone. 


03-3463-0069. www. 

thetwistedharbortown.com 

Blindside 

Post-hardcore from Sweden 

with Loyal to the Grave, 

Midgardsorm and others. 

Mar 22, 6pm, ¥2,000 (adv)/ 

¥2,500 (door) +1d. Garret 

Udagawa. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3463-0069. 

www.cyclone1997.com/ 

garret 

SA X Radiots 

Old school punk rock. Mar 

22, 6:30pm, ¥3,000 (adv)/ 

¥3,500 (door) +1d. Loft. 

Nearest stn: Shinjuku. www. 

loft-prj.co.jp 

Timid 

Socially conscious rapper 

from New York. Mar 23, 

7pm, ¥1,500 (adv). Yotsuya 

Lotus. Nearest stn: Yotsuya 

Sanchome. Tel: 03-5315- 

4781. http://yotsuyalotus. 

com 

Molice 

New wave indie rockers 

with Electric Eel Shock 

and others. Mar 23, 6pm, 

¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000 (door). 

Shibuya Burrow. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-5428-8750. 

http://shibuya-o.com 

G5 Clinic 

Godspeed, Takaji and 

more. Mar 23, 5:30pm, 

¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥2,800 (door) 

+1d. Marz. Nearest stn: 

Seibushinjuku. Tel: 03-3202- 

8248. www.marz.jp 

Neck Rock 

Chameleon, Oz, Astral and 

others. Mar 23, 12:30am, 

¥3,000-4,000. Yokohama 

Cultural Gymnasium. 

Nearest stn: Kannai. Tel: 

045-241-0777. http://www. 

neckrock.net 

The Beethoven 

Visual-kei. Mar 23, 6pm, ¥3,800 

(adv)/ ¥4,300 (door) +1d. Loft. 



Man with a Mission 

Wolf-headed rockers and 

Coldrain. Mar 24, 7pm, ¥3,885 

(adv). Zepp Tokyo. Nearest stn: 

Aomi. www.diskgarage.com 

Voiceland 

J-pop youngsters. Mar 

24, 5:30pm, ¥1,000 (adv) 

+1d. Marz. Nearest stn: 



Macklemore and Ryan 

Lewis 

Hip hop duo pops some tags. 

Mar 25, 7pm, ¥6,500-7,000 

(adv) +1d. Akasaka Blitz. 

Nearest stn: Akasaka. Tel: 

03-3499-6669. www.tbs. 

co.jp/blitz 

Maia Hirasawa 

Half-Swedish singersongwriter 

with sweet 

and deep lyrics. Mar 25, 

6:30pm, ¥4,000 (adv) +1d. 

Moonromantic. Nearest 

stn: Gaien-mae. www. 

moonromantic.com 

Calabash no Sasoku 

Mothercoat, People Jam, 

Windowz and others. Mar 25, 

7pm, ¥2,000 (adv)/ ¥2,500 (door) 

+1d. Three. Tel: 03-5486-8804. 

www.toos.co.jp/3 

Rockin' Students & 

Vegetable Bar Music Vol.1 

BeePallet, Slow Light and 

more. Mar 25, 4:30pm, ¥1,000 

(adv) +1d. Marz. Nearest stn: 



Semth 

J-rock bands The Quiet Room 

and The Hedgehog. Mar 25, 

6:30pm, ¥2,000/ ¥2,500 (adv) 

+1d. Eggman. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3496-1561. 

http://eggman.jp 

Octpass 

Progressive rock band I Can't 

Smile at Me, In the Sun and 

others. Mar 26, 6:30pm, ¥1,500 

(adv)/ ¥1,800 (door). Kichijoji 

Warp. Nearest stn: Kichijoji. 

Tel: 0422-22-3514. http://warp. 

rinky.info 

SolarCoaster 

Rock and roots featuring 

Nature Airliner, Kaku-Uchi 

and DJ Solar. Mar 27, 7pm, free. 

Gamuso. Nearest stn: Asagaya. 

Tel: 03-5364-9096. www. 

gamuso.com 

The Hives 

Extra show ahead of 

Punkspring. Mar 27, 7pm, 

¥6,000 (adv) +1d. Akasaka 

Blitz. Nearest stn: Akasaka. 

Tel: 03-3499-6669. www.tbs. 

co.jp/blitz 

Bakudan Johnny 

Crazy kids from Sapporo. Mar 

28, 7pm, ¥2,000 (adv)/ ¥3,000 

(door) +1d. Redcloth. Nearest 

stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 03-3202- 

5320. www.bakudanjohnny. 

com 

Residents of Showcase 

Mrs. Scottie Pippin, Anvis, 

Hunch and others. Mar 28, 

6pm, ¥2,000 (adv)/ ¥2,500 

(door) +1d. Eggman. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. http://eggman.jp 

Punkspring 

Bad Religion,The Hives, SiM 

and others . Mar 29, noon, 

¥8,800-12,000 (adv). Makuhari 

Messe. Nearest stn: Kaihin- 

Makuhari. Tel: 06-7732-8888. 

www.punkspring.com 

Moumoon 

J-pop duo. Mar 29, 6pm, ¥5,250 

(adv) +1d. Shibuya-AX. Nearest 


9999. www.shibuya-ax.com 

Koga Records Night 

Rocket K, Switch Trout and 

others. Mar 29, 6:30pm, 

¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000 (door) 

+1d. Shelter. Nearest stn: 

Shimokitazawa. Tel: 03-3466- 

7430. www.loft-prj.co.jp 

Girl's Scream 

The Leaps and Mutant 

Monster. Mar 29, 6pm, ¥2,000 

(adv)/ ¥2,500 (door) +1d. Loft. 



Sell Out Vol.2 

J-rockers Alternative Medicine 

and We Are From You. Mar 

29, 7pm, ¥1,500 (adv)/ ¥2,000 

(door) +1d. Kichijoji Warp. 

Nearest stn: Kichijoji. Tel: 

0422-22-3514. http://warp. 

rinky.info 

Nouvelle Vague 

Punk and post-punk cover 

band from France. Mar 

29, 7pm, free. The French 

Institute Tokyo. Nearest 

stn: Iidabashi. Tel: 03-5206- 

2500. www.frecho.com Mar 

30, 7pm, ¥6,000 (adv) +1d. 

O-Nest. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

Tel: 03-3462-4420. www. 

shibuya-o.com. 

Swanky Dank 

With Rizing 2 End, T.C. Speaker 

and others. Mar 30, 4:30pm, 

¥2,300 (adv)/ ¥2,800 (door) 

+1d. Eggman. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. http://l-tike.com 

This is Not a Business 

Tengu-faced electro-rock. Mar 

30, 6pm, ¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000 

(door) +1d. Shelter. Nearest stn: 

Shimokitazawa. Tel: 03-3466- 

7430. www.loft-prj.co.jp 

Pace Tour 

Girlie rockers Who the Bitch, 

Ecosystem and Charisma. 

com. Mar 30, 6:30pm, ¥2,800 

(adv)/ ¥3,300 (door) +1d. Garret 

Udagawa. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

Tel: 03-3463-0069. www. 

cyclone1997.com/garret 

Lionel Richie 

"Hello" and "All Night Long" 

hitmaker. Mar 27, 7pm, 

¥12,000-15,000 (adv). 

Pacifico Yokohama. Nearest 

stn: Minatomirai. Mar 31, 

7pm, ¥12,000-15,000 (adv). 

Nippon Budokan. Nearest stn: 

Kudanshita. Tel: 03-3499-6669. 

www.creativeman.co.jp 

Travis 

Find out why it always rains 

on them. Mar 29-30, 6pm, 

¥8,000 (adv) +1d. Roppongi 

Ex-Theater. Nearest stn; 

Nogizaka or Roppongi. 

Tel: 03-3444-6751. www. 

ex-theater.com 

Bob Dylan 

Legendary singer-songwriter 

Mar 31-Apr 10. 7pm, ¥13,000- 

22,000 (adv) +1d. Zepp Diver 

City. Nearest stn: Daiba. Tel: 

03-3402-5999. www.udo.jp/ 

Artists/BobDylan 

Girugamesh 

Visual-kei veterans with 

metalcore band Make My Day. 

Apr 1, 7pm, ¥3,800 (adv) +1d. 

Club Quattro. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 050-5533-0888. 

www.club-quattro.com 

Tonari no Bandman 

Good Morning America, The 

Band Apart and 8tto. Apr 2, 

6:30pm, ¥3,500-6,000 (adv) 

+1d. Club Quattro. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-8750. 

www.diskgarage.com 

Thirty Seconds to Mars 

Rock band with love, lust, 

faith and dreams (and Jared 

Leto). Apr 3, 7pm, ¥6,500 (adv) 

+1d. Shibuya-AX. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. Tel: 03-3499-6669. 

http://meturl.com/30sec2014 

Maximo Park 

UK indies band that likes to 

apply some pressure. Apr 3, 

7pm, ¥5,000 (adv) +1d. Unit. 

Nearest stn: Daikanyama. 


The Oral Cigarettes 

With Asobius and others. Apr 4, 

6:30pm, ¥3,000 (adv) +1d. Loft. 



Music Expand 

Alice 9, Tesla Doesn't Know 

How to Cry and others. Apr 4, 

6:30pm, ¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥2,800 

(door) +1d. Eggman. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. http://eggman.jp 

Guruguru Toiro 

Asparagus, Charisma.com, 

Spooky and more. Apr 5-6, 

1pm, ¥3,500 (1 day, adv)/ 

¥6,000 (2 days, adv). Saitama 

Super Arena. Nearest stn: 

Saitama-Shintoshin. Tel: 

050-5533-0888. www.saitamaarena.co.jp 

Practical Lovers 

UK-based electro-pop and The 

Watanabes. Apr 5, 8pm, free. 

What the Dickens. Nearest stn: 

Ebisu. Tel: 03-3780-2099. www. 

whatthedickens.jp 

Ken Yokoyama 

Old school punk rock. Apr 6, 

7pm, ¥3,000 (adv) +1d. Studio 

Coast. Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba. 

Tel: 03-3444-6751. www. 

smash-jpn.com 

Killswitch Engage 

Metalcore from Massachusetts. 

Apr 7, 7pm, ¥6,800 (adv) +1d. 

Akasaka Blitz. Nearest stn: 

Akasaka. Tel: 03-3444-6751. 

www.smash-jpn.com 

Jeff Beck 

Talented but underrated 

guitarist of exceptional skill. 

Apr 7-9, 7pm, ¥9,500-10,500 

(adv). Tokyo Dome City Hall. 

Nearest stn: Suidobashi. Tel: 

03-3402-5999. www.udo.jp/ 

Artists/JeffBeck 

Suzanne Vega 

Famed singer of "Luka" and 

other international hits. Apr 

7, 7:30pm, ¥7,500 (adv) +1d. 

Roppongi Ex-Theater. Nearest 

stn; Nogizaka or Roppongi. 

Tel: 03-3444-6751. www. 

ex-theater.com 

Spiritual Beggars 

Psychedelic metal band from 

Sweden. Apr 8, 7pm, ¥6,800 

(adv) +1d. Liquidroom. Nearest 

stn: Ebisu. Tel: 03-464-0800. 


Burt Bacharach 

Pop hitmaker with orchestra. 

Apr 10, 7pm, ¥8,400-12,960. 

NHK Hall. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

info@promax.co.jp. www. 

promax.co.jp/burtbacharach 

Matenrou Opera 

Operatic metal. Apr 10, 7pm, 

¥4,200 (adv) +1d. Shibuya-AX. 

Nearest stn: Harajuku. Tel: 

050-5533-0888. www. 

shibuya-ax.com 

Deep Purple 

Pioneers of heavy metal. Apr 

12, 5pm, ¥9,000-10,000 (adv). 

Nippon Budokan. Nearest stn: 


www.udo,jp 

Under the Dead Vol.4 

Featuring Angry Frog Rebirth 

and others. Apr 12, 5pm, 

¥2,500 (adv) +1d. Cyclone. 


03-3463-0069. www. 

creativeman.co.jp 

Bruno Mars 

Apr 12, 5pm; Apr 13, 4pm, 

¥8,000-15,000 (adv). Makuhari 

Messe. Nearest stn: Kaihin- 

Makuhari. Tel: 03-3499-6669. 

http://meturl.com/bruno2014 

The Bonez 

J-rock that's easy to sing along 

to. Apr 12, 6pm, ¥3,000 (adv) 

+1d. Shimokitazawa Garden. 

Nearest stn: Shimokitazawa. 

Tel: 03-3795-1069. www. 

creativeman.co.jp 

Kodaline 

Irish indies quartet. Apr 14, 

7pm, ¥5,500 (adv) +1d. Duo 

Music Exchange. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.creativeman. 

co.jp 

Noid Vol.4 

J-rock bands Everlong, Mrs. 

Wiener, Mellowship and 

others. Apr 14, 5:30pm, ¥2,000 

(adv)/ ¥2,500 (door) +1d. 

Eggman. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

http://eggman.jp 

Sid 

Visual-kei. Apr 16, 6:30pm; Apr 

17, 6:30pm, ¥6,800 (adv) +2d. 

Shibuya Public Hall. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-3463- 

3022. www.shibuko.com/ 

english 

i-Rabbits 

Female-fronted J-rock band. 

Apr 16, 7pm, ¥3,000 (adv)/ 

¥3,500 (door) +1d. Eggman. 

Nearest stn: Shibuya. eggman. 

jp 

Grass Code Vol. 50 

Mothercoat, The Twenties and 

others. Apr 18, 9pm, ¥2,500 

(adv)/ ¥3,000 (door) +1d. Marz. 

Nearest stn: Seibushinjuku. 

Tel: 03-3202-8248. www. 

mothercoat.com 

Vivid 

A burst of colors and melodic 

rock. Apr 19, 5:30pm, ¥4,800 

(adv) +1d. Shibuya-AX. 

Nearest stn: Harajuku. www. 

diskgarage.com 

Uplift Spice 

Girl-vocalist fronted emo band. 

Apr 19, 6pm, ¥2,800 (adv) +1d. 

O-West. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.smash-jpn.com 

Angelo 

Visual-kei rock band featuring 

3 ex-Pierrot members. Apr 

20, 6pm, ¥6,000 (adv) +1d. 

Shibuya-AX. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. Tel: 050-5533-0888. 

www.shibuya-ax.com 

Asking Alexandria 

Metalcore from the UK. Apr 22, 

7pm, ¥6,000 (adv) +1d. Club 

Quattro. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

Tel: 03-3444-6751. www. 

smash-jpn.com 

Dregen 

Swedish rocker famed for 

Backyard Babies and The 

Hellacopters goes solo. Apr 22, 

7pm, ¥5,500 (adv) +1d. Duo 

Music Exchange. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.creativeman. 

co.jp 

JAZZ/WORLD 

Nicola Conte Jazz Combo 

featuring Melanie Charles 

New generation European jazz. 

Mar 21, 3:45 & 7pm; Mar 22, 

3:45 & 7pm, ¥7,500. Blue Note. 

Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel: 

03-5485-0088. www.bluenote. 

co.jp 

Yoshio Suzuki Bass Talk: 

Birthday Special Live 

Celebrating Mr. Suzuki's 

birthday with beautiful sounds 

and warm melody. Mar 21, 

5:30 & 7:30pm, ¥5,500. Motion 

Blue. Nearest stn: Bashamichi. 

Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 

motionblue.co.jp 

Gideon Juckes All-Star 

Quintet 

Salon music for the 21st 

century. Mar 22, 7pm, 

free (donations welcome). 

Cafe Muriwui. Nearest stn: 

Soshigayaokura. Tel: 03-5429- 

2033. http://gideonjuckes. 

blogspot.jp/2014/02/ 

news-nerima-tea-clubreturn_14.html 

John McLaughlin and The 

4th Dimension 

Japan's first live of "The 4th 

Dimension". Mar 23-Mar 26. 

various times, ¥8,400. Blue 

Note. Nearest stn: Omotesando. 

Tel: 03-5485-0088. www. 

bluenote.co.jp 

Nicola Conte Jazz Combo 

New generation European 

jazz. Mar 23, 5 & 8pm, ¥6,000. 

Motion Blue. Nearest stn: 

Bashamichi. Tel: 045-226-1919. 

www.motionblue.co.jp 

Jill-Decoy Association 

Jill-Decoy lounge at Billboard 

Live Tokyo 2014. Mar 23, 

4:30 & 7:30pm, ¥4,800-6,800. 

Billboard Live. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-1133. 

www.billboard-live.com 

Gray Zone 

Trio sound navigating from 

ethnical to the latest sounds 

of New York. Mar 25, 7 & 9pm, 

¥3,600. Motion Blue. Nearest 

stn: Bashamichi. Tel: 045-226- 

1919. www.motionblue.co.jp 

Senzoku Get Jazz 

Orchestra 

Stage by current students of 

Senzoku College of Music. Mar 

26, 7 & 9pm, ¥3,000. Motion 


Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


XO Presents Lip Service 

Vol.5 

A charming stage by 4 

trumpeters. Mar 27, 7 & 9pm, 




Lee Ritenour and Friends 

Dream session of America's 

star guitarist and top players. 

Mar 28, 5:30 & 8:45pm; Mar 29, 

3:45 & 7pm, ¥8,400. Blue Note. 

Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel: 

03-5485-0088. www.bluenote. 

co.jp 

Mexican Music Festival: 

Chamber Music Evening 

Latin-style guitar and more. 

Mar 28, 7pm, ¥4,000. Tokyo 

Opera City Recital Hall. Nearest 

stn: Shinjuku or Hatsudai. 

Tel: 0570-02-9999. www. 

operacity.jp 

Junko Yagami with 

Tsugutoshi Goto: The Night 

Flight 

A night that will be 

remembered in Japan's music 

history. Mar 30, 4 & 6:30pm; 

Mar 31, 5 & 8pm, ¥8,500- 

10,000. Cotton Club. Nearest 

stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. 

www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp 

Junko Makiyama Quartet 

Quartet jazz stage by the 

versatile violinist Junko 

Makiyama. Mar 30, 5:30 & 

7:30pm, 4,200. Motion Blue. 

Nearest stn: Bashamichi. 

Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


Mexican Music Festival: 

Orchestra Concert 

Full orchestra with a latin 

twist. Mar 30, 2pm, ¥3,000- 

5,000. Tokyo Opera City 

Concert Hall. Nearest stn: 

Hatsudai or Shinjuku. 

Tel: 03-5353-9999. www. 

operacity.jp 

Pat Martino Trio 

Phenomenal guitarist and 

organ trio. Mar 30, 5 & 8pm, 

¥8,400. Blue Note. Nearest stn: 

Omotesando. Tel: 03-5485- 

0088. www.bluenote.co.jp 

Evening of Argentina 

Tango 

Collection of melancholy 

tango songs. Apr 1, 7pm, 

¥3,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. 

Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 

03-3828-2111. www.t-bunka. 

jp/en/ 

Katsunori Fukai The Trio 

Latin jazz. Apr 1, 7 & 9pm, 




George Nagata and Mio 

Mellow night of jazz and pops. 

Apr 2, 7 & 9pm, free. Motion 


Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


Gas Law 

Alternative music. Apr 4, 

7:30pm, ¥3,800. Motion Blue. 

Nearest stn: Bashamichi. 

Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


Fred Hersch Trio 

American jazz pianist. Until 

Apr 8, various times, ¥7,800- 

10,000. Cotton Club. Nearest 

stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. 

www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp/ 

jp/sp/artists/fred-hersch/ 

Goo Punch 

New album release live. Apr 6, 

5:30 & 7:30pm, ¥3,600. Motion 



Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


Lisa Marie Presley 

Country music by Elvis's 

daughter. Apr 8, 7 & 9:30pm; 

Apr 9, 7 & 9:30pm; Apr 10, 

7 & 9:30pm, ¥8,500 (adv). 

Blue Note. Nearest stn: 



Yoshihiro Harada Trio 

Plus One 

Original world music. Apr 

9, 7 & 9pm, ¥3,600. Motion 


Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


Josei Solo Piano 

Pianist from "Soil & Pimp 

Sessions". Apr 10, 7 & 9pm, 




Mika Beyond Jazz 

Latin jazz. Apr 11, 7 & 9pm, 

5,500. Motion Blue. Nearest 



Hex 

Electronica meets acoustic 

jazz. Apr 11, 8pm, ¥4,000 

(adv)/ ¥4,500 (door). 

Moonromantic. Nearest stn: 

Gaien-mae. Tel: 03-5474-8137. 

www.moonromantic.com 

10th Asia Music Festival 

Asian folk music and live 

concerts by street musicians 

around Kawasaki station. 

Apr 12-13, noon-5pm, free. 

Kawasaki station area. Nearest 

stn: Kawasaki. Tel: 045-663- 

9999 . www.tvk-yokohama. 

com 

104: Iwashi 

1st album launch live. Apr 

14, 7 & 9pm, 3,600. Motion 


Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


Johnny Winter 

Blues guitarist. Apr 18, 7pm; 

Apr 19, 6pm; Apr 20, 4pm, 

¥9,800. Roppongi Ex-Theater. 

Nearest stn; Nogizaka or 

Roppongi. Tel: 03-5453-9999. 

www.ex-theater.com 

Solo-Duo 

Geila Zilkha and Ayumu 

Yahaba. Apr 18, 7 & 9pm, 




Tres-Men 

Next generation club jazz. Apr 

20, 7:30pm, ¥4,000. Motion 


Tel: 045-226-1919. www. 


Fuse 

The leading unit of Japan's 

jazz scene. Apr 22, 7 & 9pm, 




Robben Ford 

Jam session of popular 

singers and guitarists. Apr 

23-24. various times, ¥8,000. 

Blue Note. Nearest stn: 



Kaho Shimada 

40th anniversary project. Apr 

28, 5 & 8pm, ¥6,500-8,500. 

Cotton Club. Nearest stn: 

Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. 


Eric Alexander Quartet 

Modern jazz. Apr 29-30. 

various times, ¥7,500-9,000. 

Cotton Club. Nearest stn: 

Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. 


CLASSICAL 

Tokyo Harusai Chamber 

Orchestra 

The music of Mozart 

performed by top musicians. 

Mar 21, 3pm, ¥1,500-7,000. 

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Nearest 

stn: Ueno. www.tokyo-harusai. 

com 

Chamber Music Concert 

Classic Players Tokyo perform 

baroque pieces by Mozart and 

others. Mar 21, 6pm, ¥2,000. 

Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. 

Nearest stn: Ikebukuro. Tel: 

0570-010-296. www.geigeki.jp 

Tokyo Spring Music 

Festival Chamber 

Orchestra 

Mozart played by top 

musicians. Mar 21, 3pm, 

¥1,500-7,000. Tokyo Bunka 

Kaikan. Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 

03-3828-2111. www.t-bunka. 

jp/en/ 

String Quartet by NHK 

Symphony Orchestra 

All Beethoven program. Mar 

21, 2pm, ¥3,500. National 

Museum of Nature and 

Science. Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 

03-3822-0111. www.kahaku. 

go.jp 

Japanese Songs : Tokyo 

Opera Singers 

Beautiful choral arrangements 

of Japanese songs. Mar 22, 

2pm, ¥3,000. Tokyo Bunka 

Kaikan. Nearest stn: Ueno. 

www.tokyo-harusai.com 

Goldberg Variations 

With Julien Szulman and 

Nobuko Imai. Mar 22, 6pm, 

¥1,500-6,000. Tokyo Bunka 



Hiroshi Kato 

Music Travelogue on the Piano: 

Vienna. Mar 22, 2pm, ¥3,000. 

Tokyo Metropolitan Art 

Museum. Nearest stn: Ueno. 


The 164th Tokyo 

Metropolitan Theatre 

Kristjan Jarvi conducts 

Pritsker and others. Mar 22, 

2pm, ¥1,500-7,000. Tokyo 

Metropolitan Theatre. Nearest 

stn: Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-3562- 

1550. www.yomikyo.or.jp/e 

New Japan Philharmonic 

Orchestra Nice to Meet You 

The Orchestra Once Again 

Orchestra plays Beethoven 

and others. Mar 22, 11am & 

2pm, Free. Sumida Triphony 

Hall. Nearest stn: Kinshicho. 

Tel: 03-5608-1212. www. 

triphony.com 

Tokyo Opera Singers 

Japan's songs volume 4. Mar 

22, 2pm, ¥3,000. Tokyo Bunka 


03-3828-2111. www.t-bunka. 

jp/en/ 

Goldberg Variationen 

Sadao Harada cello series 

volume 5. Mar 22, 6pm, ¥1,500- 

6,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. 

Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 03-3828- 

2111. www.t-bunka.jp/en/ 

Journey of Piano Music: 

Vienna 

Performed by the concert 

master, Hiroshi Kato. Mar 

22, 2pm, ¥3,000. Tokyo 

Metropolitan Art Museum. 


6921. www.tobikan.jp 

The Life of Richard Strauss 

Celebrating the 150th 

anniversary of the composer's 

birth. Mar 23, various times, 

¥2,000-7,500. Tokyo Bunka 



The 70th Yokohama 

Minato Mirai Holiday 

Kristjan Jarvi conducts 

Korngold and others. Mar 23, 

2pm, ¥1,500-7,000. Yokohama 

Minato Mirai Hall. Nearest stn: 

Minatomirai. Tel: 03-3562- 

1550. www.yomikyo.or.jp/e 

Gunma Symphony 

Orchestra Performance in 

Tokyo 

Orchestra plays Berlioz and 

others. Mar 23, 3pm, ¥2,500- 

5,500. Sumida Triphony Hall. 

Nearest stn: Kinshicho. Tel: 

03-5608-1212. www.triphony. 

com 

Triphony Hall Jr. Orchestra 

Young musicians demonstrate 

their talent. Mar 24, 7pm, 

¥1,500. Sumida Triphony Hall. 

Nearest stn: Kinshicho. www. 

triphony.com 

Subscription Concert 

No.767 A Series 

Kazuhiro Koizumi conducts 

Beethoven and other. Mar 24, 

7pm, ¥1,800-6,500. Tokyo 

Bunka Kaikan. Nearest stn: 

Ueno. Tel: 03-3822-0727. www. 

tmso.or.jp/e 

A Journey Through the 

History of the Piano 

Walter, Pleyel and Steinway. 

Mar 25, 11am, ¥2,500. Tokyo 


Ueno. www.tokyo-harusai. 

com 

An Evening with Schubert 

Piano Quintet "Die Forelle" and 

other splendid chamber music. 

Mar 25, 7pm, ¥1,500-6,500. 



com 

Searching the History of 

Piano: Kikuko Ogura 

Concert volume 4: Walter, 

Pleyel, Steinway. Mar 25, 11am, 

¥2,500. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. 



Evening of Schubert 

Piano quintet station of classic 

songs. Mar 25, 7pm, ¥1,000- 




J.S.Bach vol.19 

Violoncellist Nobuko 

Yamazaki and Cembalist 

Michio Kobayashi. Mar 26, 

7pm, ¥3,500. Tokyo National 



Bach vol.19 

Cellist Nobuko Yamazaki 

and cembalo musician 

Michio Kobayashi. Mar 26, 


Museum. Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 

03-5777-8600. www.tnm.jp 

Yutaka Sado and Super 

Kids Orchestra 

Super Kids Orchestra with 

conductor Yutaka Sado with 

special guest Niu Niu. Mar 27, 

6:30pm, ¥5,000-6,000. Suntory 

Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. 

Tel: 03-3234-9999. 

www.suntory.co.jp/suntoryhall 

Daichi Fujiki 

Feat. Yasuji Ohagi. Mar 28, 

6:30pm, ¥3,500. National 

Museum of Nature and Science. 


0111. www.tokyo-harusai.com 

New Japan Philharmonic 

Orchestra 2013/2014 

Season of Classic Concert 

34 orchestral introduction to 

work for Britain and others. Mar 

28, 2pm; Mar 29, 2pm, ¥1,000- 

4,000. Sumida Triphony Hall. 

Nearest stn: Kinshicho. Tel: 

03-5608-1212. www.triphony. 

com 

Festival Orchestra 

The College of Music Orchestra 

conducted by Radomil Eliska. 

Mar 28, 7pm, ¥1,500-2,000. 

Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. 

Nearest stn: Ikebukuro. Tel: 

0570-010-296. www.geigeki.jp 

Daichi Fujiki and Rasuji 

Oohagi 

Museum concert by 

countertenor and guitarist. Mar 

28, 6:30pm, ¥3,500. National 

Museum of Nature and Science. 


0111. www.kahaku.go.jp 

The 66th Promenade 

Concert 

Akiko Kuwagata plays the 

organ. Mar 29, 2pm, free. 

Saitama Arts Theater. Nearest 

stn: Yonohonmachi. http:// 

saf.or.jp 

Tokyo Harusai Lieder 

Series vol.13 

Soprano singer Marlis 

Petersen. Mar 29, 6pm, ¥1,500- 


Nearest stn: Ueno. www. 

tokyo-harusai.com 

Takehiko Yamada 

Music travelogue on piano. 

Mar 29, 2pm, ¥3,000. Tokyo 




Akiko Kuwagata: Old 

Songs of the World 

Short program of organ playing 

old songs. Mar 29, 2pm, free. 

Saitama Arts Theater. Nearest 

stn: Yonohonmachi. Tel: 

048-858-5500. www.saf.or.jp 

Marlis Petersen 

Tokyo Spring Festival song 

series volume 12. Mar 29, 6pm, 

¥1,500-5,000. Tokyo Bunka 


03-3828-2111. www.t-bunka. 

jp/en/ 


Paris 

Concert by the talented 

Takehiko Yamada. Mar 

29, 2pm, ¥3,000. Tokyo 




In Memory of a Great Artist 

Keiko Urushihara, Kaeko 

Mukoyama and Ichiro 

Nodaira. Mar 30, 3pm, ¥1,500- 

5,500. Ishibashi Memorial 

Hall. Nearest stn: Ueno. 

Tel: 03-3843-3043. www. 

ishibashimemorial.com 

Bro Cart Philharmonic 

Orchestra 

Brahms and others. Mar 30, 

2pm, ¥700-1,000. Sumida 

Triphony Hall. Nearest stn: 

Kinshicho. Tel: 03-3608-1212. 

www.triphony.com 


New York 

Dynamic travelogue on 

the piano by Akira Eguchi. 

Mar 30, 2pm, ¥3,000. Tokyo 




E.W. Korngold: Between 

Two Worlds 

The last prodigy of the 

20th century. Mar 31, 7pm, 

¥2,000. Ishibashi Memorial 

Hall. Nearest stn: Ueno. 

Tel: 03-3843-3043. www. 

ishibashimemorial.com/ 

english/ 

The Argentine Tango 

An evening of nostalgic tango 

music. Apr 1, 7pm, ¥3,000. 



com 

Bach vol.20 

Violinist Yosuke Yamazaki. 

Apr 1, 7pm, ¥3,500. Tokyo 

National Museum. Nearest 

stn: Ueno. Tel: 03-5777-8600. 

www.tnm.jp 

Daisuke Suzuki 

Guitar recital. Apr 2, 7pm, 

¥1,500-4,000. Ishibashi 

Memorial Hall. Nearest stn: 

Ueno. Tel: 03-3843-3043. www. 

ishibashimemorial.com 

Memories of Florence 

Performance by upcoming 

young musicians. Apr 3, 7pm, 

¥1,500-4,000. Tokyo Bunka 


03-3828-2111. www.t-bunka. 

jp/en/ 

Sadao Harada 

Violin and cello recital. Apr 

4, 7pm, ¥1,500-4,000. Tokyo 



com 

Der Ring des Nibelungen 

With projected images and 

subtitles onscreen. Apr 5, 3pm; 

Apr 7, 7pm, ¥2,000-20,000. 



com 

Attacca Quartet 

Plaing works by Haydn, Bartók 

and Dvořák. Apr 5, 2pm, 

¥3,500. National Museum of 

Nature and Science. Nearest 

stn: Ueno. Tel: 03-3822-0111. 


Angelika Kirchschlager 

Mezzo Soprano Singer. Apr 

6, 3pm, ¥1,500-8,000. Tokyo 



com 

Kyoko Tabe 

Music Travelogue on piano: 

Nordic countries. Apr 6, 2pm, 

¥3,000. Tokyo Metropolitan 

Art Museum. Nearest stn: 


com 

Blossoming Melodies 

vol.1 

Concert inspired by Jacques 

Callot: Theater of Realism and 

Fantasy. Apr 8, 11am & 2pm, 

¥1,400. The National Museum 

of Western Art. Nearest stn: 

Ueno. Tel: 03-5777-8600. 

www.nmwa.go.jp 

Maximilian Hornung and 

Hisako Kawamura 

Duo of former Bayern 

Orchestra musician and top 

pianist. Apr 8, 7pm, ¥1,500- 




Wiener Kammerensemble 

All Beethoven Program. Apr 

10, 7pm, ¥1,500-8,000. Tokyo 



com 

Bach vol.21 

Cellist Wen-Sinn Yang. Apr 10, 



Tel: 03-5777-8600. www. 

tnm.jp 

The 10th Anniversary Gala 

Concert 

A selection of glorious choral 

music. Apr 13, 3pm, ¥2,000- 




Hayley Westenra 

UNICEF ambassador and 

classical crossover singer. Apr 

14, 7pm; Apr 15, 7pm, ¥7,000- 

8,000. Tokyo International 

Forum. Nearest stn: 

Yurakucho. Tel: 03-3402-5999. 

www.udo.jp 

Stage 

Die Tote Stadt 

The story of a young man 

struggling to get over the death 

of his wife. Mar 21 & 24, 2pm, 

¥5,250-26,250. New National 

Theatre Tokyo. Nearest stn: 

Hatsudai. Tel: 0120-489-459. 

www.nntt.jac.go.jp 

Canary English Rakugo 

Recital 

Traditional Japanese narrative 

performed in English. Mar 

21-23, noon, free. Oedo 

Ryogokutei. Nearest stn: 

Ryogoku. kanariya.eiraku@ 

gmail.com. http://canary. 

justhpbs.jp 

Harold Pinter Double-Bill 

Blackstripe Theater presents 

challenging plays Ashes to 

Ashes and One for the Road. 

Mar 28, 7:30pm; Mar 29, 2 

& 7pm; Mar 30, 2 & 7pm, 

¥2,000 (students)/ ¥3,000 

(adv)/ ¥3,500 (door). Trance 

Mission Theatre. Nearest 

stn: Sangubashi. tickets@ 

blackstripetheater.com. www. 

blackstripetheater.com 

In the Heights 

Broadway musical with an 

all-star Japanese cast. Until Apr 

20, Various times. Bunkamura 

Theater Cocoon. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-9999. 

www.bunkamura.co.jp/ 

cocoon 

Wozzeck 

Story of hardship and 

exploitation of the poor. Apr 

5, 2pm; Apr 8, 7pm; Apr 11 

& 13, 2pm, ¥4,200-23,100. 

New National Theatre Tokyo. 

Nearest stn: Hatsudai. Tel: 

0120-489-459. www.nntt. 

jac.go.jp 

Thriller Live 

Musical featuring some of 

Michael Jackson's greatest 

hits. Until Jun 8, various 

times, ¥5,500-8,500. Blue 

Theater. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. Tel: 03-5414-3255. 

www.thrillerlive.jp 

Annie 

Musical about a redhead who 

loves tomorrow. Until May 11, 

Various times, ¥6,800-8,500. 

Aoyama Round Theater. 

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www. 

aoyama.org/english 

Ovo - Cirque du Soleil 

Revolutionary troupe that 

blends circus arts and street 

entertainment. Until May 

11, various times, ¥4,500- 

12,000. Odaiba Big Top, 

Odaiba. Nearest stn: Tokyo 

Teleport. www.fujitv.co.jp/ 

events/ovo 

Cavalleria Rusticana 

Story of love, adultery and 

revenge in Sicily. May 14, 

7pm; May 17, 2pm; May 21, 

7pm; May 24, 27 & 30, 2pm, 

¥5,250-26,250. New National 


Hatsudai. Tel: 0120-489-459. 

www.nntt.jac.go.jp 

Dance 

La Dame aux Camelias 

Alexandre Dumas's novel 

adapted for the stage. 

Performed by Ballet de 

l'Opéra National de Paris. Mar 

21, 1:30pm; Mar 22, 1:30 & 

6:30pm; Mar 23, 3pm, ¥7,000- 


Nearest stn: Ueno. www.nbs. 

org/english 

Symphony in Three 

Movements 

A triple bill of ballet 

performances including 

new work by Jessica Lang 

and others. Mar 21-23, 2pm, 

¥3,150-10,500. New National 


Hatsudai. Tel: 03-5352-9999. 

www.nntt.jac.go.jp/ballet 

La Bayadère 

Story of love and betrayal 

performed by K-Ballet 

Company. Until Mar 26, 

Various times, ¥6,000-13,000. 

Bunkamura Orchard Hall. 


03-3477-9999. www.k-ballet. 

co.jp 

Kigurui Rondo 

Haikara dance troupe puts on 

a one-of-a-kind performance. 

Mar 28, 7:30pm; Mar 29, 1 & 

7:30pm; Mar 30, 3pm, ¥3,000 

(adv)/ ¥3,500 (door). Nippori 

D-Soko, Arakawa. Nearest 

Station: Nippori. Tel: 03-5811- 

5399. http://haikara2001. 

com 

Kenka 

Butoh dance. Apr 2, 7pm; 

Apr 3, 7pm, ¥3,500-6,000. 

Kanagawa Arts Theater. 

Nearest stn: Motomachi- 

Chukagai. Tel: 0463-60-1008. 

torifunebutohsha21.web. 

fc2.com 

Sai 

Butoh dance. Apr 5-6, 4pm, 

¥3,500-6,000. Kanagawa 

Arts Theater. Nearest stn: 

Motomachi-Chukagai. 

Tel: 0570-015-415. 

torifunebutohsha21.web. 

fc2.com 

Carmina Burara and 

Faster 

Dance inspired by music 

from Carl Orff and Matthew 

Hindson. Apr 19, 6pm; Apr 

25, 7pm; Apr 27, 2pm, ¥3,150- 

10,800. New National Theatre 

Tokyo. Nearest stn: Hatsudai. 

Tel: 03-5352-9999. www.nntt. 

jac.go.jp/ballet 

Burn the Floor: Dance 

with You 

High-voltage dance 

experience. May 2-7, Various 

times, ¥7,500-12,000. 

Theatre Orb. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 0570-00-3337. 

www.ktv.jp/btf 


Listings 

GO TO WWW.METURL.COM/LISTINGS 

Clubbing 

FRIDAY 21 

Ageha 

Big Party. All mix. From 

midnight, 11pm. Nearest stn: 

Shinkiba. www.ageha.com 

Air 

Time Trap. Techno, house: 

DJs Sunahara, Ono, etc. From 

10pm, ¥3,000. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.com 

Module 

Entropy Loco. Techno: DJs 

Baz le Rock, Mus, etc. From 


Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com 

Sound Museum Vision 

Red Spider. Reggae: DJs Red 

Spider, The Bk Sound, etc. 

From 11pm, ¥3,500. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. www.visiontokyo.com 

The New Matrix Bar 

Matrix Friday. Old school 

hip-hop, west side, south 

side, all mix: DJ Ykk and 

more. From 6pm, ¥1,000 

(after 11:30pm). Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp 

The Room 

Wah Wah. Rare groove: 

DJs Kuroda, Ryuhei, etc. 

From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d. 


theroom.jp 

Village 

International Village. Hip-hop: 

DJs Kekke, Ram, etc. From 

10pm, (m)¥3,000 w/1d, 

(f)¥1,000 w/2d. Nearest stn: 

Azabu-Juban or Roppongi. 

Tel: 03-6230-0343. www. 

villagetokyo.com 

Womb 

Rhythmholic. Techno, house: 

DJs Ryan O Gorman, Knock, 

etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500. 


03-5459-0039. www.womb. 

co.jp 

SATURDAY 22 

Ageha 

Magnificent. Trance, edm: 

DJs Ferry Corsten, Yoda, 

etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500. 

Nearest stn: Shinkiba. www. 

ageha.com 

MONDAY 24 

Air 

Connect. House, hip-hop: DJs 

Zeebra, Hokuto, etc. From 

10pm, ¥3,000 w/1d. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. www.air-tokyo. 

com 

Womb 

Cycle. Edm, house: DJs Yuria, 

April, etc. From 10pm, ¥1,500 

w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 

03-5459-0039. www.womb. 

co.jp 

TUESDAY 25 

Air 

Unite. Techno, house: DJs 

Inoue, Wada, etc. From 10pm, 

¥2,500 w/1d. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.com 

Module 

Substance. Techno: DJs Hid, 

Rosso, etc. From 10pm, ¥1,500 

w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.module-tokyo.com 

WEDNESDAY 26 

The Room 

Disco Viking. Bar style: DJs 

Yoko, Silver Child, etc. From 

midnight, free. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.theroom.jp 

THURSDAY 27 

Module 

Apple Mint. Techno, house: 

DJs Tai, Nakape, etc. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com 

The Room 

Talk Enough. Talk session: DJs 

& talk Ogawa, Kuroda, etc. 

From midnight, ¥1,000 w/1d. 


theroom.jp 

Village 

Lady Marmalade. Hip-hop: 

DJs Kekke, Manami, etc. 

From 10pm, (m)¥2,000 w/1d, 

(f)¥1,000 w/2d. Nearest stn: 

Azabu-Juban or Roppongi. 

Tel: 03-6230-0343. www. 

villagetokyo.com 

Womb 

Sensual. Deep tech house, 

tech house: DJs Fumi, Toya, 

etc. From 10pm, (m)¥1,500, (f) 

free. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 

03-5459-0039. www.womb. 

co.jp 

FRIDAY 28 

UPCOMING 

Ageha 

Bikini Night. Electro, house: DJs 

Mitomi, Taku, etc. Mar 29, from 


Shinkiba. www.ageha.com 

Air 

Round House. House, 

downtempo: DJs Mark Farina, 

Remi, etc. Mar 29, from 10pm, 

¥3,500. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.air-tokyo.com 

Module 

Prototype. Techno, minimal: 

DJs Lyoma, Haruka, etc. Mar 

29, from 9pm, ¥2,000. Nearest 



Power. Electro, edm: DJs 

80kidz, Kyoko, etc. Mar 

29, from 10pm, (m)¥3,500, 

(f)¥3,000. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.vision-tokyo.com 

The Room 

Jazzbrothers on the Corner. 

Jazz: DJs Yama, Takehana, etc. 

Mar 29, from 10pm, ¥2,500 

w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.theroom.jp 

Womb 

Tresvibes. House, techno 

DJs Otsuki, Pi-Ge, etc: Live: 

Bruno Pronsato. Mar 29, from 


Shibuya. Tel: 03-5459-0039. 

www.womb.co.jp 

Exhibitions 

AKASAKA/ROPPONGI 

Fujifilm Square 

A Fascination with Light. 

Photography by Wynn Bullock. 

Until Mar 31, free. Open daily 

10am-7pm. 9-7-3 Akasaka, 

Roppongi. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. Tel: 03-6271-3350. 

http://fujifilmsquare.jp/en 

Mori Art Museum 

Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes 

Eternal. Almost 700 works by 

the standard-bearer of Pop Art. 

Until May 6, ¥500-1,500. MAM 

Project 020: Gabriel Acevedo 

Velarde. Mixed media. Until 

May 6, ¥500-1,500. Open Mon 

& Wed-Sun 10am-10pm, Tue 

10am-5pm. 6-10-1 Roppongi. 

Nearest stn: Roppongi. www. 

mori.art.museum 

メトロポリスは創刊 20 周年を迎えました! 

下記の外国人集客サービスを提供しています。 

✿ 雑誌 ( 純広告・記事広告・文字広告 ) 

✿ ウェブサイト( 記事広告・バナー広告 ) 

✿ ダイレクトメール(3 万人以上の外国人へDMが可能 ) 

✿ SNSマーケティング(4 万人以上の外国人へリーチ) 

✿ 制作物 ( 印刷制作・ウェブ制作・画像 / 映像制作 ) 

✿ 翻訳 ( 英語・中国語・韓国語・タイ語 ) 

✿ 外国人調査 ( 英語・中国語・韓国語・タイ語 ) 

5 月発行号でペット特集と健康生活特集を発行します。 

ご予算に応じた幅広いプロモーション案をご提案いたします。 

営業部までお問い合わせください。 

TEL: 03-4588-2277 • sales@metropolis.co.jp 

Air 

Beat Freak. Hip-hop 

DJs Muro, Sarasa, etc: Live: 

Onra. From 10pm, ¥3,000. 


air-tokyo.com 

Module 

Veta. Techno, minimal: DJs 

Pete, Okuda, etc. From 11pm, 


www.module-tokyo.com 


Brodinski and Sam Tiba. 

From 11pm, ¥3,500. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. www.visiontokyo.com 

The Room 

Jazztronica. Jazz, house: DJs 

Nozaki, Shuya Okino(Kyoto 

Jazz Massive) , etc. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.theroom. 

jp 

Womb 

Endless Flight. House, 

techno: DJs Henrik Schwarz, 

Kawasaki, etc. From 11pm, 


Tel: 03-5459-0039. www. 

womb.co.jp 

SUNDAY 23 

Module 

Friction. Techno, house: DJs 

L-Eye, Pyrovers, etc. From 



The Room 

Yuragi. House: DJs Kiichiro, 

Gara, etc. From midnight, 


Shibuya. www.theroom.jp 

Ageha 

Prom Night. Edm, top40: DJs 

Kato, Kawabata, etc. From 

11pm, (m)¥3,000, (f)¥2,000. 

Nearest stn: Shinkiba. www. 

ageha.com 

Air 

Eden. House: DJs Monkey 

Timers, Bryan Burton-Lewis, 

etc. From 11pm, ¥3,000. 


air-tokyo.com 

Module 

Soi. Drumnbass, jungle: DJs 

Digital, Dx, etc. From 10pm, 


Shibuya. www.module-tokyo. 

com 

Ruby Room 

Dai Tonbo. DJs Hata, Yosuke, 

etc: Live: Goro and more. 

From 9pm, ¥2,000 w/2d. 


rubyroomtokyo.com 


Kitsune Club Night. Electro: 

DJs Gildas, Two Door Cinema 

Club, etc. From 11pm, ¥3,500. 


vision-tokyo.com 

The Room 

Champ. Funk, jazz: DJs 

Tominaga, Oibon, etc. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.theroom.jp 

Womb 

Dj Mag. Edm: DJs Dantz, Aki, 

etc. From 10pm, ¥3,500. 


03-5459-0039. www.womb. 

co.jp 

Mori Arts Center Gallery 

Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian 

Avant-Garde. Masterpieces 

by English painters. Until Apr 

6, ¥500-1,500. 52F Roppongi 

Hills Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi. 


roppongihills.com/art/macg/ 

Suntory Museum of Art 

A Visual Revolution in 

Edo. Illustration. Import 

of microscopes and other 

optical devices overturned 

conventional illustration 

methods. Mar 29-May 11, 

¥800-1,300. The Scientific Eye 

and Visual Wonders in Edo. 

The birth of intriguing visual 

effects in Japanese art. Mar 

29-May 11, ¥1,000-1,300. Open 

Wed-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun-Mon 

& hols 10am-6pm, closed Tue. 

9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku. 


suntory.jp/sma 

The National Art Center, 

Tokyo 

Kazumi Nakamura. Acrylic 

and oil paintings. Until May 

19, ¥500-1,000. The Power of 

Images: The National Museum of 

Ethnology Collection. Symbols 

and totems from around the 

world. Until Jun 9, ¥500-1,000. 

Open Wed-Thu, Sat-Mon 

10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm, 

closed Tue. 7-22-2 Roppongi. 

Nearest stn: Nogizaka. www. 

nact.jp 

GINZA/KYOBASHI/ 

TOKYO 

Bridgestone Museum of 

Art 

The Painters' Eyes, the 

Sculptors' Hands. Paintings 


FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS 

and sculptures by various 

artists. Until Apr 13, ¥500-800. 

Chinese-Style Dresses from 

Fujishima Takeii to Umehara 

Ryuzaburo. Oil paintings by 

Japanese artists in the earl 

20th century. Apr 26-Jul 21, 

¥500-800. Open Tue-Sun 

& hols 10am-8pm, closed 

Mon. 1-10-1 Kyobashi, 

Chuo-ku. Nearest stn: Tokyo. 

Tel: 03-5777-8600. www. 

bridgestone-museum.gr.jp 

Idemitsu Museum of Arts 

The Dreams of Itaya Hazan: 

The Bliss of Japanese 

Modern Ceramics. Ceramics. 

Retrospective featuring some 

of the artist's greatest works. 

Until Mar 23, ¥700-1,000. 

Discover the Beauty of Japan 

IX: Fascination with Japanese 

Painting. Masterpieces from 

various eras. Apr 5-Jun 8, 

¥700-1,000. Open Tue-Thu 

10am-5pm, Fri 10am-7pm, 

closed Mon. 9F Teigeki Bldg, 

3-1-1 Marunouchi. Nearest stn: 

Tokyo. www.tokyo.mae.lu/jp/ 

node_19876/hana-hito-tokyo 

Megumi Ogita Gallery 

Shoko Kanazawa. Calligraphy. 

Until Mar 29, ¥500. Toshimasa 

Kikuchi. Wood carvings and 

sculptures. Apr 8-26, ¥500. 

Tue-Sat 11am-7pm, Closed 

Mon & Sun. 4F, 5-4-14 Ginza. 

Nearest stn: Ginza. www. 

megumiogita.com 

Megumi Ogita Gallery 

Showcase 

Ceramics and Watercolor 

Paintings. Mixed media by 

Ayumu Fushiguro. Until Mar 

29, free. Landscape. Mixed 

media. Works by Holly Farrell, 

Daisuke Takeya and others. 

Apr 11-26, free. Tue-Sat 

11am-7pm, Closed Mon & Sun. 

4F, 5-4-14 Ginza. Nearest stn: 

Ginza. Tel: Tue-Sat 11am-7pm. 

www.megumiogita.com 

Mitsubishi Ichigokan 

Museum 

The Beautiful-Art for Art's 

Sake: The Aesthetic Movement 

1860-1900. Mixed media. 

Organized by the Victoria and 

Albert Museum, London. Until 

May 6, ¥500-1,600. Wed-Fri 

10am-8pm, Tue, Sat & Sun/ 

hols 10am-6pm, closed Mon. 

2-6-2 Marunouchi. Nearest 

stn: Tokyo. Tel: 03-5405-8686. 

www.mimt.jp 

Mitsui Memorial Museum 

Hina Dolls of the Mitsui Family. 

Display of rare dolls. Until 

Apr 6, ¥500-1,000. 7F Mitsui 

Main Bldg, 2-1-1 Nihombashi- 

Muromachi, Chuo-ku. Nearest 

stn: Mitsukoshimae. Tel: 

03-5777-8600. www.mitsuimuseum.jp 

National Film Center 

Japanese Film Heritage. 

Permanent collection of 

works from the National Film 

Center. Until Apr 3, ¥40-200. 

Iconography of Yasujiro Ozu 

Films. A collection of paintings, 

design and lettering that sheds 

light on Mr. Ozu's unique 

aesthetic sensibility. Until Mar 

30, ¥40-200. Directed by Kazuki 

Omori-His Own Selection. 

Lineup of films mostly from the 

1980s. Until Mar 30, ¥100-500. 

Open Tue-Sun 11am-6:30pm, 

closed Mon. 3-7-6 Kyobashi. 

Nearest stn: Kyobashi. Tel: 

03-5777-8600. www.momat. 

go.jp 

The National Museum of 

Modern Art, Tokyo 

Your Portrait: A Tetsumi 

Kudo Retrospective. Mixed 

media. Abstract expression 

of ordinary objects by one of 

Japan's most innovative artists 

of the 20th century. Until Mar 

30, ¥250-850. Open Tue-Thu 

& Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri 

10am-8pm. 3-1 Kitanomarukoen. 

Nearest stn: Takebashi. 

Tel: 03-5777-8600. www. 

momat.go.jp 

HARAJUKU/AOYAMA 

Nezu Museum 

Kiyomaro: Master Swordsmith 

to the Last Samurai. Celebrating 

the 200th anniversary of 

the artist's birth. Until Apr 

6, ¥900-1,200. Tue-Sun, 

10am-4:30pm. 6-5-1 Minami- 

Aoyama, Minato-ku. Nearest 

stn: Omotesando. www. 

nezu-muse.or.jp/en 

Espace Louis Vuitton 

Traces of Disappearance. 

Mixed media. Questions and 

possible answers regarding 

our fragile world. Until Apr 13, 

free. Open daily noon-8pm 

during exhibition period. 

7F 5-7-5 Jingumae. Nearest 

stn: Omotesando. www. 

espacelouisvuitton.com 

Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial 

Museum of Art 

Reminiscence of Hiroshige: 

Ukiyo-e History Walk. 

Comparing real locations in 

old Oedo and modern Tokyo. 

Until Mar 23, ¥500-700. 

Hiroshige Blue: Blue Attracted 

the World. Color-themed Edo 

art. Apr 1-May 28, ¥500-700. 

Open Tue-Sun 10:30am- 

5:30pm, closed Mon. 1-10-10 

Jingumae. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. www.ukiyoe-otamuse.jp 

KAYABACHO/KIBA 

Base Gallery 

The Places Nobody Knows. 

Works by Toshio Miyaoka. 

Until Mar 29, free. Open 

Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, closed Sun 

and Hols. 1-1-6 Nihombashi- 

Kayabacho, Chuo-ku. Nearest 

stn: Kayabacho. www. 

basegallery.com 

Museum of Contemporary 

Art Tokyo 

Fragments: Incomplete 

Beginnings. Mixed media. 

Until May 11, ¥700-1,600. The 

Marvelous Real. Contemporary 

Spanish and Latin American 

art from the Musac collection. 

Until May 11, ¥600-1,100. 

Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm, closed 

Mon. 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku. 

Nearest stn: Kiyosumi- 

Shirakawa. www.mot-artmuseum.jp/eng 

SHIBUYA/EBISU 

Bunkamura: The Museum 

Collection of Museo Poldi 

Pezzoli: The Aristocratic 

Palace and its Beauty — Milano 

the Magnificent Collection 

of the Nobleman. Exquisite 

paintings originally part of a 

private collection in Italy. Apr 

4-May 25, ¥700-1,500. Open 

Mon-Thu & Sun 10am-7pm, 

Fri-Sat 10am-9pm. 2- 24-1 

Dogenzaka. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-5777-8600. 

www.bunkamura.co.jp 

Konno Hachimangu Shrine 

Horse. Photography by the 

illustrious Antoine Poupel. 

Until Mar 25, free. 3-5-12 

Shibuya. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.geocities.jp/ynycr674/ 

English/englishindex.html 

Logos Gallery 

100 People's Book Covers. 

Book covers abound. Until 

Mar 26, free. Open daily 

10am-9pm. B1F Parco Part1, 

15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku. 


parco-art.com/web/logos 

Tokyo Metropolitan 

Museum of Photography 

Robert Capa, the 101st 

Year: They All Adored Bob. 

Photography. Daily life in 

Spain during World War II. 

Mar 22-May 11, ¥700-1,100. 

Open Tue-Wed & Sat-Sun 

10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 

10am-8pm, closed Mon. 1-13-3 

Mita, Meguro-ku. Nearest stn: 

Ebisu. syabi.com 

Yamatane Museum of Art 

My. Fuji, Cherry Blossoms, and 

Flowers in Spring. Mixed media. 

Commemorating Mt. Fuji's 

registration as a World Cultural 

Heritage site. Until May 11, 

¥900-1,200. Open Tue-Fri 

11am-5pm, closed Mon & hols. 

3-12-36 Hiroo. Nearest stn: 

Ebisu. Tel: 03-5777-8600. www. 

yamatane-museum.or.jp 

SHINJUKU/ 

IKEBUKURO 

Bunka Gakuen Costume 

Museum 

European Fashion. Rococo 

for men and children. Until 

May 24, ¥200-500. Mon-Sat 

10am-4:30pm, Closed Sun 

and hols. Shinjuku Bunka 

Quint Bldg. 3-22-7 Yoyogi. 

Nearest stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 

03-3299-2387. www.bunka. 

ac.jp/museum/text/english. 

html 

Hiromart Gallery 

Hideaway. Paintings on 

wooden panels by Moki. Mar 

21-Apr 27, free. Open Wed-Sun 

1-7pm, closed Mon-Tue. 

1-30-7 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku. 

Nearest stn: Edogawabashi. 

www.hiromartgallery.com 

Sompo Japan Museum 

of Art 

Face. Mixed media. Until Mar 

30, ¥300-500. Face 2014. 

Mixed media. Grand-prix 

winners of an annual 

competition aimed at young 

artists. Until Mar 30, ¥300-500. 

Reflections of Holland: The 

Hague School and Barbizon. Oil 

paintings by Dutch masters. 

Apr 19-Jun 29, ¥600-1,000. 

Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm, closed 

Mon. 42F Sompo Japan Bldg, 

1-26-1 Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest 

stn: Shinjuku. Tel: 03-5405- 

8686. www.sompo-japan. 

co.jp/museum 

Tokyo Opera City Art 

Gallery 

Sawa Hiraki: Under the 

Box, Beyond the Bounds. 

Photography. Until Mar 30, 

¥600-1,000. Will Happiness 

Find Me? 10 artists from 

the Ishikawa collection. 

Apr 19-Jun 29, ¥800-1,000. 

Open Tue-Thu 11am-7pm, 

Fri-Sat 11am-8pm. 3-20-2 

Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest stn: 

Hatsudai. www.operacity. 

jp/en/ag 

UENO 

National Museum of 

Nature and Science 

I wa Jinjutsu. A look into 

Edo period medicine. Apr 

15-Jun 15, ¥600-1,500. Open 

Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 9am-5pm, 

Fri 9am-8pm, closed Mon. 

7-20 Ueno Park. Nearest stn: 

Ueno. Tel: 03-3822-0111. 

www.kahaku.go.jp 

Tokyo Metropolitan Art 

Museum 

The Centennial Exhibition 

of the Japan Art Institute's 

Revival: The Masterpieces 

of Nihonga. Traditional 

Japanese paintings by Hogai 

Kano and others. Until Apr 1, 

¥800-1,400. 8-36 Ueno Park. 


tobikan.jp 

Tokyo National Museum 

The 800th Memorial of Yosai 

Roots of Zen: Yosai and the 

Treasures of Kenninji. Mixed 

media. Religious artifacts and 

paintings. Mar 25-May 18, 

¥700-1,600. Mural Paintings of 

the Kitora Tumulus. Pictures 

from an eighth century grave. 

Apr 22-May 18, ¥400-900. 

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


Ueno. www.tnm.jp 

Ueno Royal Museum 

VOCA: The Vision of 

Contemporary Art 2014. 

Mixed media. Until Mar 

30, ¥500. Open Sat-Thur 

10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm. 


Ueno. www.ueno-mori.org 

OTHER AREAS 

Hoki Museum 

Hoki Museum Award 

Exhibition Vol. 1. 

Painting. Until May 18, 

¥900-1,800. Open Mon 

& Wed-Thu 10am-6pm, 

Fri, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 

10am-5pm, closed Tue. 3-15 

Asumigaokahigashi, Midoriku. 

Nearest stn: Toke. www. 

hoki-museum.jp 

Kashiwaba Junior 

High School 

Iriya Station 

NEW OPENING! 

Showa Dori 

Minowa Station 

¥1,980 a Night 

Capsule Hotel 

Safe Locker 

storage 

Fully equipped 

with bath, shower 

and coin laundry on 1F 

Quality amenities 

24-hour online or phone booking 

English, Chinese, Korean OK! 

Check-in from 3pm / Check-out by noon 

*Tax included separately 

Tel: 03-6240-6027 

Fax: 03-6240-6028 

3 minutes on foot from Iriya station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / Tokyo, Taito-ku, Shitaya 3-10-10 

Since 1949 

今年は"にほんごをもの"にする 

EVERGREEN LANGUAGE SCHOOL 

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VIP Membership means massive discounts on Massage and 

Personal Training. For Club 360's schedule see 

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Just 3 min walk from Roppongi Hills 

No membership or joining fees 

Pristine showering facilities 

Large modern facility with spacious studio & 5-star 

resistance zone 

Address: B1 CMA3 Bldg, 3-1-35 Moto Azabu, Minato-ku • Nearest stn: Roppongi 

Hours: Open Mon-Sat 6:30am-9:30pm, closed Sun • Tel: 03-6434-9667 

Listings 

Japan Folk Crafts 

Museum 

Tea and Beauty: Soetsu 

Yanagi and the Way of Tea. 

Tea utensils and other 

accessories. Until Mar 23, 

¥500-1,000. 10am-5pm, 

closed Mon. 4-3-33 Komaba. 

Nearest stn: Komabatodai. 

www.mingeikan.or.jp 

Miraikan 

The Sekai-Ichi. Assortment 

of surprising and inspiring 

objects made in Japan. Until 

May 6, ¥300-1,000. 2-3-6, 

Aomi, Koto-ku. Nearest stn: 

Telecom Center station. 

Tel: 03-3570-9151. www. 

miraikan.jst.go.jp/en 

Museum of 

Contemporary Art Tokyo 

Fragments: Incomplete 

Beginnings. Mixed media. 

Until May 11, ¥700-1,600. 

The Marvelous Real. 

Contemporary Spanish and 

Latin American art from the 

Musac collection. Until May 

11, ¥600-1,100. Tue-Sun, 

10am-6pm, closed Mon. 4-1-1 

Miyoshi, Koto-ku. Nearest 

stn: Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. 

www.mot-art-museum. 

jp/eng 

National Museum of 

Japanese History 

Various Seasonal Festivals. 

Traditional ornaments and 

accessories. Until May 6, 

¥250-420. Earthquakes in 

Japanese History. Mixed 

media. A closer look into 

individual experiences 

and social impacts of these 

natural disasters. Until May 

6, ¥450-830. Open Tue-Sun 

9:30am-4:30pm, closed Mon. 

117 Jonai-cho, Sakura-shi. 

Nearest stn: Keisei-Sakura. 

www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english 

Pola Museum of Art 

Homage to Renoir: Renoir 

and Painters of the Twentieth 

Century. Impressionist 

oil paintings. Until Apr 

6, ¥1,000-1,800. Color, 

Line, Form: Matisse, Degas, 

Chagall. Oil, watercolor 

and pastel painting. Until 

Apr 6, ¥1,000-1,800. 

Japanese-Style Paintings 

and Japanese Western- 

Style Paintings. Works by 

Léonard Foujita and others. 

Until Apr 6, ¥1,000-1,800. 

Glasswork Selections. 120 

of the museum's finest 

pieces. Until Apr 6, ¥1,000- 

1,800. 9am-4:30pm. 1285 

Kozukayama, Sengokuhara, 

Hakone-machi. Nearest stn: 

Gora. www.polamuseum. 

or.jp 

Setagaya Art Museum 

Ginko, Ryusei and Reiko 

Kishida—Genealogy of 

Innovative Spirit. Painting. 

Until Apr 6, ¥500-1,200. 

Open Tue-Sun10am-6pm, 

closed Mon. 1-2 Kinutakoen, 

Setagaya-ku. Nearest 

stn: Seijogakuenmae. 

Tel: 03-3415-6011. www. 

setagayaartmuseum.or.jp/ 

index_e.html 

The French Institute 

Tokyo 

Digital Choc 2014. Machinery 

on the walls, robots of 

dreams and more. Until Mar 

23, various times, free. 15 

Ichigaya Funagawara-cho. 

Nearest stn: Iidabashi. 

Tel: 03-5206-2500. www. 

institutfrancais.jp/tokyo 

The Museum of Modern 

Art, Hayama 

Masamu Yanase 1900-1945: 

A Retrospective. Mixed 

media. Until Mar 23, 

¥100-1,000. Open Tue-Sun 

9:30am-5pm, closed Mon. 

2208-1 Isshiki, Hayama, 

Miura-gun. Nearest stn: 

Zushi. 

The Museum of Modern 

Art, Kamakura 

From the Collection: Where is 

the Light. Mixed media. Until 

Mar 23, ¥100-700. 2-1-53 

Yukinoshita, Kamakura, 

Kanagawa. Nearest stn: 

GO TO WWW.METURL.COM/LISTINGS 

Kamakura. Tel: 03-3402-5999. 

www.udo.jp 

Tokyo Gallery + BTAP 

Shinohara: Ushio and Noriko. 

Works by the artists featured 

in the documentary Cutie 

and the Boxer. Until Mar 29, 

free. Tue–Fri 11am–7pm & Sat 

11am–5pm, closed Sun, Mon & 

Hols. 7F, 8-10-5 Ginza. Nearest 

stn: Shinbashi. Tel: 03-3571- 

1808. www.tokyo-gallery.com 

Sports 

BASEBALL 

Central League 

Yomiuri Giants vs. 

Yokohama DeNA Baystars. 

Mar 21, 2pm, ¥500-4,500. 

Tokyo Dome. Nearest stn: 

Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800- 

9999. 

Central League Fan Meeting. 

Mar 24, 10am, ¥1,500-2,500. 

Tokyo Big Sight. Nearest stn: 

Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon. 

Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs. 

Yokohama DeNA Baystars. 

Mar 28-30, 6pm, ¥500-4,600. 

Meiji Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. 


Hanshin Tigers. Apr 4-6, 6pm, 

¥500-4,600. Meiji Jingu Gaien. 

Nearest stn: Harajuku. 

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 

vs. Yomiuri Giants. Apr 16, 

6:15pm, ¥500-4,600. Meiji 

Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. 


Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Apr 

22-24, 6pm, ¥500-4,600. Meiji 

Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. 

Interleague 

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 

vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham 

Fighters. Mar 21, 1pm, 

¥300-2,100. Meiji Jingu Gaien. 

Nearest stn: Harajuku. 


Chiba Lotte Marines. Mar 22, 

1pm, ¥300-2,100. Meiji Jingu 

Gaien. Nearest stn: Harajuku. 

Yomiuri Giants vs. Hokkaido 

Nippon-Ham Fighters. Mar 

22, 2pm, ¥500-4,500. Tokyo 

Dome. Nearest stn: Suidobashi. 

Tel: 03-5800-9999. 

Saitama Seibu Lions vs. 

Yomiuri Giants. May 20, 6pm, 

¥600-22,000. Seibu Dome. 

Nearest stn: Seibukyujomae. 

Tel: 04-2925-1141. 

Pacific League 


Tohoku Rakuten Golden 

Eagles. Mar 28-30, 6pm, 

¥600-22,000. Seibu Dome. 


Tel: 04-2925-1141. 


Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. 

Apr 8-10, 6pm, ¥600-22,000. 

Seibu Dome. Nearest stn: 

Seibukyujomae. Tel: 04-2925- 

1141. 


Chiba Lotte Marines. Apr 

16, 6pm, ¥600-22,000. 

Seibu Dome. Nearest stn: 

Seibukyujomae. Tel: 04-2925- 

1141. 


Orix Buffaloes. Apr 18, 6pm, 

¥600-22,000. Seibu Dome. 


Tel: 04-2925-1141. 

Tohoku Rakuten Golden 

Eagles vs. Saitama Seibu Lions. 

Apr 24, 6pm, ¥500-7,000. 

Tokyo Dome. Nearest stn: 

Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800-9999. 

BASKETBALL 

Basketball Japan League 

Yokohama B-Corsairs vs. 

Saitama Broncos. Apr 12, 6pm, 

¥1,000-12,000. Yokosuka 

Arena. Nearest stn: Yokosuka 

Chuo or Kenritsudaigaku. Tel: 

046-826-2800. 

Saitama Broncos vs. Niigata 

Albirex BB. Apr 26, 6pm, 

¥900-7,000. Tokorozawa City 

Gymnasium. Nearest stn: 

Shintokorozawa. Tel: 04-2991- 

1181. 

Yokohama B-Corsairs vs. 

Akita Northern Happinets. 

Apr 26, 6pm, ¥1,000-12,000. 

Hiratsuka Gymnasium. 

Nearest stn: Hiratsuka. Tel: 

0463-35-2255. 

National Basketball 

League 

Hitachi Sunrockers vs. 

Toshiba Brave Thunders. Apr 

4-5, 7:15pm, ¥1,000-3,500. 

Yoyogi National Gymnasium. 

Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae. 

Hitachi Sunrockers vs. 

Levanga Hokkaido. Apr 26-27, 

6pm, ¥1,000-3,500. Ota City 

General Gymnasium. Nearest 

stn: Umeyashiki. Tel: 03-5480- 

6688. 

BOXING 

Hidenori Ohtake vs. 

Takafumi Nakajima 

Mar 24, 5:50pm, ¥4,000- 

15,000. Korakuen Hall. 

Nearest stn: Suidobashi. Tel: 

03-5800-9999. 

The 523rd Dynamic Glove 

Mar 25, 5:45pm, ¥5,000-12,000. 

Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn: 


Dangan97 

Mar 31, 6pm, ¥4,000-6,000. 



Untouchable Fight. 21 

Apr 1, 6pm, ¥4,000-10,000. 



Dangan98 

Apr 4, 5:50pm, ¥4,000-6,000. 



The 524th Dynamic Glove 

Apr 5, 6pm, ¥3,000-10,000. 



WBC World Double Title 

Match 

Apr 6, 4pm, ¥6,000-50,000. 

Ota City General Gymnasium. 

Nearest stn: Umeyashiki. Tel: 

03-5480-6688. 

FIGURE SKATING 

ISU World Championships 

Mar 26-Mar 30, various times, 

¥3,000-25,000. Saitama Super 

Arena. Nearest stn: Saitama- 

Shintoshin. 

MMA 

Pancrase 257 

Mar 30, 3pm, ¥7,000- 

15,000. Yokohama Cultural 


Kannai. Tel: 045 641 5741. 

Rise 98 

Mar 30, 5:30pm, ¥4,000-10,000. 



Overheat Boxers Night 

Apr 10, 6pm, ¥4,000-10,000. 



Mega Fight vol.50 

Apr 11, 6pm, ¥5,000. Korakuen 

Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi. 

Tel: 03-5800-9999. 

Champion Carnival 

Apr 14, 5:50pm, ¥4,000-10,000. 



Ichimonkai 

Apr 16, 5:45pm, ¥3,000-10,000. 



PRO WRESTLING 

Noah: Spring Navig. 

Mar 21, 6:30pm, ¥4,000-7,000. 



Deep 65 Impact 

Mar 22, 2:30pm, ¥6,000-15,000. 

Differ Ariake. Nearest stn: 

Ariake-tennis-no-mori. 

Big Japan 

Nov 22, 7pm, ¥3,150-6,300. 



Zero 1 

Mar 30, 1pm, ¥3,000-6,000. 

Yasukuni Shrine. Nearest stn: 



FOR COMPLETE LISTINGS 

APRIL 15, 17 & 19 

Yoga for the Mind 

The state of your mind is the 

state of your world. 

By cultivating positive 

thoughts with an awareness 

of the present, we can 

eliminate the negative 

feelings that hold our 

happiness back. 

Workshop details at 

www.mysticallifellc.com 

Inoki Genome Fight 1 

Apr 5, 6pm, ¥5,000-50,000. 

Ryogoku Kokugikan. Nearest 

stn: Ryogoku. Tel: 03-3623- 

5111. 

Wrestling New Classic 

Apr 25, 6:30pm, ¥3,000-10,000. 



SOCCER 

J. League, Division 1 

FC Tokyo vs. Kawasaki 

Frontale. Mar 23, 7pm, 

¥600-6,200. Ajinomoto 

Stadium. Nearest stn: 

Tobitakyu. Tel: 04-2440-0555. 

Kashima Antlers vs. 

Cerezo Osaka. Mar 23, 3pm, 

¥1,400-8,000. Kashima Soccer 

Stadium. Nearest stn: Kashima 

Sports Stadium. 

Omiya Ardija vs. Vegalta 

Sendai. Mar 23, 3pm, ¥1,000- 

5,500. NACK5 Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Kitaomiya. Tel: 

048-644-7950. 

Urawa Reds vs. Shimizu 

S-Pulse. Mar 23, 3pm, ¥1,000- 

10,000. Saitama Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Urawamisono. Tel: 

048-812-1001. 

Kawasaki Frontale vs. 

Nagoya Grampus. Mar 28, 7pm, 

¥800-4,500. Todoroki Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Musashikosugi. 

Tel: 044-722-0303. 

Yokohama F. Marinos vs. 

Kashima Antlers. Mar 29, 2pm, 

¥1,000-5,300. Nissan Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Kozuke. Tel: 

04-5477-5000. 

FC Tokyo vs. Sagan Tosu. 

Apr 6, 4pm, ¥600-6,200. 

Ajinomoto Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Tobitakyu. Tel: 04-2440- 

0555. 

Omiya Ardija vs. Vissel Kobe. 

Apr 6, 3pm, ¥1,000-5,500. 

NACK5 Stadium. Nearest stn: 

Kitaomiya. Tel: 048-644-7950. 

Urawa Reds vs. Vegalta 

Sendai. Apr 6, 7pm, ¥1,000- 



048-812-1001. 


Kashiwa Reysol. Apr 11, 7pm, 



Tel: 044-722-0303. 

Kashima Antlers vs. 

Albirex Niigata. Apr 12, 3pm, 

¥1,400-8,000. Kashima Soccer 



Yokohama F. Marinos vs. 

Vegalta Sendai. Apr 12, 2pm, 

¥1,000-5,300. Nissan Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Kozuke. Tel: 

04-5477-5000. 

FC Tokyo vs. Cerezo Osaka. 

Apr 19, 4pm, ¥600-6,200. 

Ajinomoto Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Tobitakyu. Tel: 04-2440- 

0555. 

Kashima Antlers vs. Vissel 

Kobe. Apr 19, 3pm, ¥1,400- 

8,000. Kashima Soccer 



Urawa Reds vs. Kawasaki 

Frontale. Apr 19, 5pm, ¥1,000- 



048-812-1001. 


Gamba Osaka. Apr 26, 4pm, 



Tel: 044-722-0303. 

Omiya Ardija vs. Ventforet 

Kofu. Apr 26, 5pm, ¥1,000- 



048-644-7950. 

Yokohama F. Marinos vs. FC 

Tokyo. Apr 26, 2pm, ¥1,000- 

5,300. Nissan Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Kozuke. Tel: 04-5477-5000 

Nabisco Cup 

Kashima Antlers vs. Sagan 

Tosu. Apr 2, 7pm, ¥1,400-8,000. 

Kashima Soccer Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Kashima Sports 

Stadium. 

Urawa Reds vs. Omiya 

Ardija. Apr 2, 7:30pm, ¥1,000- 



048-812-1001. 

Omiya Ardija vs. Kashiwa 

Reysol. Apr 16, 7pm, ¥1,000- 



048-644-7950. 

Urawa Reds vs. Tokushima 

Vortis. Apr 16, 7:30pm, ¥1,000- 



048-812-1001. 

SWIMMING 

Japan Championships: 

Preliminary 

Apr 10-Apr 13, 9:30am, 

¥2,000. Tatsumi International 

Swimming Center. Nearest stn: 

Shin-Kiba. Tel: 03-5569-5061. 

www.tatsumi-swim.net 

Japan Championships: 

Final 

Apr 10-Apr 13, 4pm, ¥3,000- 

4,000. Tatsumi International 

Swimming Center. Nearest stn: 

Shin-Kiba. Tel: 03-5569-5061. 

www.tatsumi-swim.net 

TABLE TENNIS 

World Team Table Tennis 

Championships 

Apr 28-May 5, various times, 

¥1,000-8,000. Yoyogi National 


Meiji-Jingumae. www.ittf.com 

TENNIS 

Davis Cup: Japan vs. Czech 

Republic 

Apr 4-Apr 6, 1pm, ¥1,500- 

10,000. Ariake Colosseum. 

Nearest stn: Ariake. Tel: 

03-3529-3301. 

Festivals 

Ueno Sakura Matsuri 

About 1,000 cherry blossom 

trees, illuminated at 

night. Movies and musical 

performances on certain 

days. Until Apr 13, various, 

free. Ueno Park. Nearest stn: 

Ueno. Tel: 03-3828-5644. 

www.ueno.or.jp/tourist 

Toshimaen Cherry 

Blossom Festival 

Ride attractions at half 

price from 3pm by having 

a "Yozakura Night Pass". 

Until Apr 6, all day, ¥1,000. 

Toshimaen. Nearest stn: 

Toshimaen. Tel: 03-3990- 

8800. www.toshimaen.co.jp 

Sakura Tsutsumi Street 

Flower Festival 

Illuminated at night and flee 

markets, attractions, and 

others on weekends. Until Apr 

15, all day, free. Along Sumida 

river. http://visit-sumida.jp 

Yoshino Baigo 

Last chance for plum blossoms 

in Ome. Until Mar 30, all day, 

free. Yoshino Baigo, Ome. 

Nearest stn: Hinatawada. www. 

omekanko.gr.jp/ume 

Cherry Blossom Festival 

900m cherry blossom 

street. Until Apr 15, all day, 

free. Sendaiborigawa and 

Minamisuna Park. Nearest 

stn: Toyocho. http://hanami. 

walkerplus.com 

Cherry Blossom at 

Sankeien 

Enjoy sightseeing 300 cherry 

blossom trees and historical 

architectures. UntilApr 15, 

9am-9pm, ¥500. Sankeien 

Garden Museum. Nearest stn: 

Negishi. Tel: 045-621-0634. 

http://hanami.walkerplus. 

com 

Cherry Blossom Night 

Viewing 

Tomyoji pagoda and cherry 

blossom trees lit up by lanterns 

and floodlights. Mar 23-Apr 7, 

until 9pm, ¥200-500. Sankeien 

Garden Museum. Nearest stn: 

Negishi. Tel: 045-621-0634. 

www.sankeien.or.jp/en-about 

Funado Cherry Blossom 

Festival 

180m cherry blossom street. 

Until Mar 31, 10am-3:30pm, 

free. Ukima Park. Nearest 

stn: Ukima Funado. Tel: 

03-3969-9168. http://hanami. 

walkerplus.com 

Nakameguro Cherry 


Enjoy cherry blossom sake 

and shops along the river. 

Illuminations at night. Until Apr 

10, all day, free. Along Meguro 

river. Nearest stn: Nakameguro. 

www.nakamegu.com 

Hana Matsuri 

Celebration of Buddha's 

birthday with buddhist 

service and a white elephant 

procession. Apr 8, all day, free. 

Sensoji. Nearest stn: Asakusa. 

Tel: 03-3842-0181. www. 

senso-ji.jp 

Sumida Park Cherry 


Famous since Edo period, over 

1,000 cherry blossom trees. 

Illuminated at night. Until Apr 

10, all day, free. Sumida Park. 

Nearest stn: Asakusa. www. 

gotokyo.org/en/ 

Chiyoda Cherry Blossom 

Festival 

Enjoy cherry blossoms from 

a boat. Illuminated at night. 

Until Apr 10, all day, free. 

Yasukuni Shrine and environs. 

Nearest stn: Ichigaya. www. 

kanko-chiyoda.jp 

Cherry Blossom Festival at 

Jindai Botanical Garden 

Illuminated at night only on 

weekends and concerts on 

Sundays. Until Apr 10, all 

day, ¥500. Jindai Botanical 

Garden. Nearest stn: Chofu. 

Tel: 042-485-1210. www. 

tokyo-park.or.jp 

Kawasaki Asian Festival 

Asian festival at Kawasaki area. 

Apr 12-13, all day, free. Around 

Kawasaki station. Nearest stn: 

Kawasaki. Tel: 045-663-9999. 

www.tvk-yokohama.com 

White Heron Dance 

Parade and dance to pray for 

peace. Apr 13, all day, free. 

Sensoji. Nearest stn: Asakusa. 

Tel: 03-3842-0181. www. 

senso-ji.jp 

Asakusa Yabusame 

Archers demonstrate their 

skills on horseback. Apr 20, all 

day, free. Sumida Park. Nearest 

stn: Asakusa. Tel: 03-5246- 

1151. www.taitonavi.jp 

Spring Grand Festival 

Several Shinto ceremonies 

held to pay respects to 

enshrined kami. Until May 3, 

all day, free. Meiji Jingu Shrine. 

Nearest stn: Harajuku. www. 

meijijingu.or.jp/english 

Forums & Expos 

Anime Japan 2014 

Anime-focused business fair 

and cosplay festival. Mar 

22-23, 9am-5pm, ¥1,500. 


Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon. www. 

anime-japan.jp 

The 28th JITAC European 

Textile Fair 

Trendsetting European 

fabric showcase. Mar 25-27, 

9:30am-6pm, ¥3,000. Tokyo 

International Forum. Nearest 

stn: Yurakucho. 

Tokyo Fashion Wear Expo: 

Spring 

International clothing trade 

show. Apr 2-4, 10am-6pm, 

free (registration required). 


Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon. fwt@ 

reedexpo.co.jp. www.apparelexpo.jp/en/ 

Flower Dream 

Flower design contests, 

exhibitions and workshops. Apr 

12, 1-7pm; Apr 13, 10am-6pm, 

¥1,000 (adv)/ ¥1,500 (door). 


Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon. 

Tel: 03-5496-0369. www. 

flowerdream-tokyo.net 

The 40th Jumbo Fair 

New and innovative 

technology. Apr 18, 10am-6pm; 

Apr 19, 10am-5pm, free. Tokyo 

Big Sight. Nearest stn: Kokusai- 

Tenjijo-Seimon. Tel: 03-5472- 

1660. www.jumbo-fair.jp 

The 38th Japan Hobby 

Show 

Doll-making, knitting, 

scrapbooking accessories and 

more. Apr 24-26, 10am-5pm, 

¥1,000 (1 day, adv)/ ¥1,500 (3 

days, adv). Tokyo Big Sight. 

Nearest stn: Kokusai-Tenjijo- 

Seimon. www.hobby.or.jp/ 

hobbyshow/2014 

Bazaars & Markets 

Earth Day Market 

Organic produce, recycling 

projects and more. Mar 30 & 

Apr 27, 10am-4pm, free. Yoyogi 

Park. Nearest stn: Harajuku. 

Tel: 03-3469-6081. www. 

earthdaymarket.com 

Shinagawa Intercity Flea 

Market 

More than 120 vendors. 

Sun & hols, 9am-3pm, free. 

Shinagawa Intercity. Nearest 

stn: Shinagawa. http://meturl. 

com/shinflea 

Iidabashi Ramla Market 

Every first and third Sun, 

10am-4pm, Iidabashi Ramla. 

Nearest stn: Iidabashi. 

Umi no Koen Flea Market 

Every 3rd Sun, 10am-4pm, 

Umi no Koen. Nearest stn: 

Uminokoen-Shibaguchi. 

rinpodan@umino-kouen.net 

Tel: 03-3226-6800. 

Best Flea Market 

Every second Sun, 10am-4pm, 

Tokyo International Forum 

Hall C. Nearest stn: Yurakucho. 

Tel: 03-3226-6800. 

Hanazono Shrine Market 

Every Sun, 8am-4pm, 

Hanazono Shrine. Nearest 

stn: Shinjuku-sanchome. Tel: 

03-3200-3093. 

Ibaraki-ichi 

Farm-fresh veg from the north. 

Every Sat, 7-9am, Roppongi 

Hills East Court. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. Tel: 03-6406-5285. 

Nogi Shrine Market 

Every second Sun, 5:30am- 

3pm, Nogi Shrine. Nearest stn: 

Nogizaka. Tel: 03-3478-3001. 

Oedo Antique Fair 

Japan’s largest outdoor antique 

market. Every first and third 

Sun, 8am-4:30pm, Tokyo 

International Forum Hall C. 

Nearest stn: Yurakucho. Tel: 

03-5805-1093. 

Aoyama Marché 

Organic farmers’ market. 

Every weekend, United 

Nations University. Nearest stn: 

Omotesando. Tel: 03-3456-0960. 

Yasukuni Shrine Antique 

Market 

Every Sun, sunrise-sunset, 

Yasukuni Shrine. Nearest stn: 


Fudaten Jinja Market 

Every second Sun, 10am-4pm, 

Fudaten Jinja. Nearest stn: 

Chofu. Tel: 04-2489-0022. 

Shinjuku Central Park 

Market 

Local produce stalls, 

workshops and live 

performances. Every Saturday, 

10am-4pm, Shinjuku Central 

Park. Nearest stn: Tocho-mae. 

Tel: 03-2504-2128. meturl. 

com/shinjukuparkmarket 

Yebisu Marché 

Organic fruits and vegetables. 

Every first and third Sun, 

11am-5pm, Ebisu Garden 

Place. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www. 

facebook.com/YEBISUMarche 

Community 

Roppongi Tenmon Club 

Star gazing with other 

astronomy enthusiasts. Mar 28, 

7pm, ¥500-1,500 (entrance fee) 

+ ¥2,000 (seminar, optional). 

Tokyo City View. Tel: 03-6406- 

6652. meturl.com/tenmon 

Earth Hour 

Businesses across the city will 

turn off their lights for an hour. 

Why don't you, too? Mar 29, 

8pm, free. Venues across Tokyo. 

http://meturl.com/earthjp 

Writers' Bloc, Tokyo 

Evening Musings 24: 

March Movements 

Members and guest poets offer 

words of Spring in a relaxed 

and welcoming atmosphere. 

Mar 30, 7:30pm, free. Jamrock 

Cafe. Nearest stn: Harajuku. 

www.facebook.com/ 

writersbloctokyo 

CWAJ April Luncheon 

Fine dining and talk by guest 

speaker from Peace Boat. Apr 

9, 11:30am, ¥4,500. Tokyo 

American Club. Nearest stn: 

Kamiyacho. info@cwaj.org. 

www.cwaj.org 

Enchanted Lights 

Exclusive night of 

entertainment and 

inspiration for a good cause. 

Apr 25, 6:30pm, ¥20,000. 

Conrad Tokyo. 1-9-1 Higashi 

Shinbashi, Minato-ku. Nearest 

stn: Shiodome. ogaforaid. 

enchantedlights425@gmail. 

com www.ogaforaid.org 

Family Festival Olympics 

Book vendors, games and 

prizes, international food and 

music. Apr 26, 10am-4pm, 

free. International School of 

the Sacred Heart. Nearest stn: 

Hiroo. Tel: 03-3400-3951. www. 

issh.ac.jp 

Stitch-n-Bitch 

Meet fellow knitters, crocheters 

and sewers to talk, share ideas, 

eat, drink and create. Every 

first and third Tue, 7pm, free, 

Cafe Respekt. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.meetup.com/ 

TokyoStitchandBitch 

Half-Fast Cyclists 

Bicyclists of all treads meet 

for slide shows, lectures, 

ride-planning, etc. Every 

second Wed, 7pm, free, 

The Pink Cow. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. Tel: 03-6434-5773. 

cowmail@thepinkcow.com 

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art 

School 

Burlesque models pose for 

artstars and sketching newbies 

alike with arty socializing. 

Every third Wed, 7pm, ¥2,000 

1d incl. Studio and Space 

IVVA. Nearest stn: Harajuku 

or Meiji-jingumae. www. 

drsketchytokyo.wordpress. 

com 

Learning 

Fascism Banzai! 

Screening of the film "Good" 

and discussion about the 

state secrecy law in Japan. 

Mar 23, 3pm, ¥500 +1d. Cafe 

Lavanderia. Nearest stn: 

Shinjuku Sanchome. Tel: 

080-3271-1871. tokyospring. 

blogspot.jp 

Californian Wine vs. 

French Wine 

Wine seminar with a US-style 

gourmet dinner in an 

international atmosphere. Mar 

28, 7pm, ¥10,980 (adv). Legato. 

Nearest stn: Shibuya. meturl. 

com/monthlywine 

Bordeaux Wine Seminar 

An exclusive wine event with 

a French gourmet dinner. Apr 

18, 7:30pm, ¥15,980 (adv). 

Legato. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

meturl.com/monthlywine 

Nihonga Class 

Regular classes and one 

day workshops on basic 

Japanese-style painting 

techniques. All classes in 

English and Japanese. Every 

Wed and Sat, 11am, 3pm 

and 7pm. 4B Maruoka Bldg., 

5-49-7 Jingumae. Nearest 

stn: Mejijingu-mae. www. 

mariatanikawa.com 

TCS Improv Workshop 

The weekly Tokyo Comedy 

Store In the Moment improv 

workshop, all levels welcome. 

Beginner intensives on 

weekends throughout the year. 

See website for more details. 

Every Wednesday, 7-9pm, 

Our Space Studio. Nearest stn: 

Hatagaya. Tel: 03-5770-7401. 

www.tokyocomedy.com/ 

improv_comedy_workshop 

Other Events 

Latin Beats & Havana Heat 

Escape to the tropics with 

salsa dancing, free flow 

mojito plans and more. ; Mar 

21, 28 & Apr 3, from 7, free. 

Mixx Bar & Lounge. Nearest 

stn: Roppongi-Itchome. 

Tel: 03-3505-1111. www. 

anaintercontinental-tokyo. 

jp/mixx 

Tokyo Outdoor Weekend 

Frisbee booths, yoga 

workshops, slacklines and live 

shows. Mar 22, 11am-7pm; 

Mar 23, 11am-6pm, free. 

Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. Tel: 03-3469-6081. 

www.tokyooutdoorshow.jp 

Haru Kaze 

Art and music show with an 

eco-friendly twist. Mar 29-30, 

11am-8pm, free. Yoyogi 

Park. Nearest stn: Harajuku. 

Tel: 03-3469-6081. http:// 

harukaze.asia/2014 

100 Flower Festival 

Painstakingly put-together 

flower arrangements, vocal 

performances and more . 

Until Mar 31, 10am-9pm, free. 

Tamagawa Takashimaya 

SC. Nearest stn: Futago 

Tamagawa. Tel: 03-3709-2222. 

www.tamagawa-sc.com 

Winter Fantasy 

Illumination. Until Apr 9, from 

sunset, free. Cosmo Clock 21, 

Cosmo World. Nearest stn: 

Minato Mirai. www.senyo. 

co.jp/cosmo 

Wanwan Carnival 

Dog training advice, 

agility runs and obedience 

competitions. Apr 12-13, all 

day, free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest 


1420. http://wanwancarnival. 

com 

Lake Sagami Illumillion 

Illumination. Until Apr 

13, from 5pm, ¥300-500. 

Sagamiko Resort Pleasure 

Forest. Nearest stn: Sagamiko. 

www.sagamiko-resort.jp/ 

illumillion 

Spring Festival in Tokyo: 

Tokyo no Mori 2014 

Series of classical concerts 

held annually. For more 

details on specific 

performances, see concerts 

listings. Until Apr 13, various 

times, various prices. Various 

locations in Ueno. www. 


Roppongi Art Night 

All-night annual art 

extravaganza. From Apr 

19, 10am until Apr 20, 6pm, 

various prices. Multiple 

venues in Roppongi area. 

Nearest stn: Roppongi 

or Nogizaka. www. 

roppongiartnight.com 

Tokyo Rainbow Pride 

Parade, performances and 

plenty of pride. Apr 27, all day, 

free. Yoyogi Park. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. Tel: 03-3469-6081. 

www.tokyorainbowpride.com 


Agenda Movies BY DON MORTON 

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

SAVI NG 

MR. BANKS 

At its most basic, this is the story of how 

Walt Disney (Tom Hanks), after 20 years 

of finagling, convinced crusty Mary 

Poppins author P.L. Travers (a magical 

Emma Thompson) to let him make a movie from 

her popular books. The first of two interleaved plots 

takes place in 1961, when Uncle Walt flew the very 

British and highly reluctant Travers to Los Angeles 

(culture clash!) in a last desperate attempt to get 

her on board. The second flashes back to her childhood 

in Australia and very movingly explains her 

attachment to her characters, her stubbornness and, 

incidentally, this movie’s title. Colin Farrell plays her 

dad. The problem was that Travers didn’t want her 

story and characters, well, Disnified. Didn’t want any 

animated penguins—or for that matter any songs. 

And she hated Dick Van Dyke. I enjoyed this sweet 

movie despite my innate and well grounded mistrust 

of the Mouse House, but not for a minute did I 

believe this sentimentalized, sanitized and “imagineered” 

bit of historical revisionism was how things 

really went down. Truth be told, she capitulated 

because she was nearly broke. She didn’t like the finished 

film, and probably wouldn’t like this one either. 

Japanese title: Walt Disney no Yakusoku. (125 min) 

NEW 

FRUITVALE STATION 

In the wee hours of New Year’s 

Day, 2009, 22-year-old Oscar 

Grant was shot dead while 

in transit police custody at 

Oakland’s Fruitvale BART station. 

Actual cell-phone footage of the 

outrage takes up the film’s first 15 

minutes. First-time filmmaker Ryan Coogler (26) could have 

made a rabble-rousing documentary, but instead opted for a 

quasi-existential, purposely unpolished and rarely predictable 

reconstruction of Oscar’s last day alive that lends poignancy to 

everything he does. The Wire’s Michael B. Jordan nails the main 

role, and he’s superbly backed up by Melonie Diaz and Octavia 

Spencer. (90 min) 

NEW 

THE SECRET LIFE OF 

WALTER MITTY 

In a sporadically amusing remake 

of the 1947 classic from the story 

by James Thurber, Ben Stiller is a 

dull Life magazine photo librarian 

who wishes he were more exciting 

so he could woo and win a pretty 

colleague (Kristen Wiig). While he engages in action-packed, deskbound 

fantasies, the film is kind of fun. Paradoxically, it’s when he 

gets all carpe diem and starts having actual, globetrotting adventures 

that the (admittedly very scenic) film loses traction. As Stiller 

movies go, this uneven, uninvolving bomb is closer to Night at the 

Museum than it is to Tropic Thunder. Japanese title: Life! (114 min) 

NEW 

LONE SURVIVOR 

A war movie for those who like 

them visceral and real, this is the 

true story of a Navy SEALs team 

(Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, 

Emile Hirsch & Ben Foster) tasked 

in 2005 with killing or capturing 

a high-value Taliban bad guy in 

the Hindu Kush. A freak occurrence involves them in a firefight 

against vastly larger numbers, and the hunters become the 

hunted, resulting in the title situation. Reminded me at times of 

Black Hawk Down. This is a competent, modest movie that appreciates 

what these guys do. It has no politics or moral message, just 

battlefield realism presented with frightening intensity. (120 min) 

NEW 

ONE CHANCE 

It’s unabashedly schmaltzy, 

formulaic to a fault, the story’s 

been Hollywooded up, life details 

have been changed and it fairly 

stumbles over itself in its quest for 

that British quaintness that made 

The Full Monty and Billy Elliot so 

endearing. But it’s got enough heart to make all this not matter a 

whit. This true(-ish) story of Britain’s Got Talent opera sensation 

Paul Potts works anyway, thanks to the appeal of its cast. James 

Corden fairly shines as Potts, the excellent Alexandra Roach 

plays his future wife, and Julie Waters and Colm Meany are his 

folks. The only sour notes are in the script. (103 min) 

NEW 

ALL IS LOST 

In what has been called an “existential 

action movie,” a man sailing 

solo across the Indian Ocean gets 

his schooner holed by a derelict 

shipping container, knocking out 

his navi and radio. The unnamed 

protagonist is experienced, well 

equipped and resourceful. He patches the hole, but as each 

new emergency befalls his crippled craft, it becomes clear that 

his main battle is going to be against despair. This is minimalist 

movie making to the max. There’s almost no dialogue, only 

one character (Robert Redford, great at 77) and, get this, zero 

backstory. Reminded me of Gravity, actually. (106 min) 

NEW 

DON JON 

Triple threat Joseph Gordon-Levitt 

writes, directs and stars in this 

Gen-X romp about (social) obsession 

and addiction. It’s a serious 

message, but delivered lightly, 

without moralizing. Jon’s a studly 

New Joisy mook, easily scoring 

with the babes, but his real turn-on is internet porn (a boot-up 

tone is Pavlovian). When he finally meets a woman worth pursuing 

(a spot-on Scarlett Johansson), it turns out her own addiction 

is romantic comedies, which rarely mirror real life, and he doesn’t 

measure up. Enter older woman Julianne Moore, with a few life 

lessons. Fast-paced, fun and thought-provoking. (90 min) 

NEW 

THE LEGO MOVIE 

Borrowing its plot from The Matrix, 

the story centers on Emmet 

Brickowski, a kind of clueless 

everyman Lego humanoid who 

stumbles upon the “Piece of 

Resistance” and is recruited (as 

“The Special”) to save his brightly 

colored Lego-world from unimaginative corporate villains. His 

newfound allies include Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, 

Gandalf, Dumbledore, Shaquille O’Neal and a Star Wars quartet. 

Excellent voice talent. It’s fast, fresh, funny, endlessly inventive 

and absurdly enjoyable, and all the while encouraging creativity 

in children. NOTE: Shown in English only at Shinjuku Piccadilly. 

(92 min) 

NEW 

FROZEN 

The Mouse House take on Hans 

Christian Andersen’s The Snow 

Queen is about a queen who, unable 

to control her magical powers over 

ice and show, banishes herself to a 

distant ice castle lest she harm her 

younger sister. Okay, this was not 

made for me. But I found this nicely animated, pro-girl animation 

diverting, despite featuring no less than eight pedestrian songs. 

It also adds not one but two new princesses to Disney’s royal 

arsenal. Disney ain’t dumb. The cute factor is served by a clever 

reindeer and a magical snowman who pines for the tropical life. 

“Minimally cloying” is hardly a rave, but there you are. Japanese 

title: Anna to Yuki no Jyou. (108 min) 

NEW 

GALLOWWALKERS 

In your basic supernatural western 

rape-revenge demonic horror splatter 

movie, Wesley Snipes plays a 

strong-and-silent gunfighter of 

mystical repute who’s understandably 

frustrated because the bad 

guys he shoots keep coming back to 

life and stuff. Revenge is sooo much harder when that happens. 

The alleged plot is impossibly convoluted. There’s severed heads; 

a lot of tension-free, quick-draw gunfights; and several of the 

characters, um, don’t have any skin. Children, this is a gruesome, 

almost unwatchable example of the kind of thing actors who 

don’t pay their taxes have to do. (90 min) 


SAVING MR. BANKS: ©2014 DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.; FRUTVALE STATION: © 2013 OG PROJECT, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY: © 2014 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX.; LONE SURVIVOR: © 2013 UNIVERSAL PICTURES.; ONE CHANCE: © 2013 ONE CHANCE, 

LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; THE LEGO MOVIE: © 2014 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.; ALL IS LOST: © 2013 ALL IS LOST LLC.; DON JON: © 2013 DON JON NEVADA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; FROZEN: ©2014 DISNEY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; GALLOWWALKERS: © 2013. BLAKEDEW 730 

LIMITED.; THE MOTEL LIFE: © 2012 MOTEL LIFE LLC.; PHILOMENA: © 2013 PHILOMENA LEE LIMITED, PATHÉ PRODUCTIONS LIMITED, BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE AND BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; 12 YEARS A SLAVE: © 2013 BASS FILMS, LLC AND MONARCHY 

ENTERPRISES S.A.R.L. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; GRAND PIANO: © NOSTROMO PICTURES SL / NOSTROMO CANARIAS 1 AIE / TELEFONICA PRODUCCIONES SLU / ANTENA3 FILMS SLU 2013.; 

RIDDICK (2013/ 3): © 2013 RIDDICK PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; EIGA: ©2014 映画「愛の渦」製作委員会 .; MOVIE NEWS: KEVIN MCGUE.; CINEMATIC UNDERGROUND: RKO RADIO PICTURES 

NEW 

THE MOTEL LIFE 

Brothers Frank and Jerry Lee 

(Emile Hirsch & Stephen Dorff, both 

excellent) have had a hard life. Their 

father split, their mother died and 

Jerry lee lost a leg jumping a freight. 

Frank, a drinker, makes up stories 

to complement the other’s gift for 

drawing (sometimes wonderfully animated by Mike Smith). We 

pick them up just after Jerry Lee has hit and killed a boy on a bike, 

and their hardscrabble lives take on a tone of desperation as they 

try to get out of Reno, vaguely making for Elko, where Frank once 

knew love (Dakota Fanning). It’s a heartbreaking tale but never 

hopeless, and consistently honest. Japanese title: Runaway Blues. 

(85 min) 

NEW 

PHILOMENA 

A tough but guileless Irish woman 

(Judi Dench) who is making 

unheeded inquiries of the Catholic 

Church about the infant son they 

took from her decades ago and sold 

for profit, and a spin-doctor journalist 

and cynic (Steve Coogan) join 

forces to create this low-key, mismatched-buddies story, a character-based 

road-trip detective tale. Hard to make a movie on such 

a tragic subject, but Stephen Frears manages, with a minimum of 

emotional manipulation (and with the help of co-writer Coogan’s 

dry humor), to come up with a movie that’s affecting, edifying and 

endearing. Japanese title: Anata wo Dakishimeru Hi Made. 

(98 min) 

eiga 

AI NO UZU 

By Rob Schwartz 

In a country that has one of the biggest porn 

and sex service industries in the world, it 

may seem odd that mainstream film in Japan 

rarely has much nooky in it. Conventional taste 

here tends to tilt towards prudishness, and 

not many sex-themed movies appear in major 

cinemas. But Ai no Uzu, however, has an R18 rating—the 

strictest—and is all about sex. Based on 

Daisuke Miura’s Kishida Drama Award-winning 

play and novel of the same name, it revolves 

around a club in Roppongi that charges men, 

women and couples for the opportunity to chase their desires. The high-end duplex apartment has a sitting 

area and a futon-filled bedroom. None of the characters have names, but are simply identified by their job (or 

lack thereof). In the group of men are a freelancer, a salaryman, a factory worker and a layabout (or NEET as the 

term has been coined). The women include an office lady, a kindergarten teacher, a college student and a heavily 

pierced regular. The night starts off with innocuous small talk but does progress to the action stage. Naturally, 

anonymous sex cannot stay that way and we see a relationship develop between the slacker and the college 

student—will they be able to move beyond this sordid beginning? The participants generally descend into postcoital 

depression, proving that carnal indulgence does not cure emotional ills. Shot with a cool detachment and 

employing subtle character development, Ai no Uzu effectively uses the backdrop of a sex club to elucidate the 

human experience. English title: Love’s Whirlpool. (123 min.) 

NEW 

ROBOCOP 

A reboot of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 

pop-nihilistic robo-romp, this is 

competently made, moderately 

entertaining, suitably violent and 

well acted. Joel Kinnaman is a hunk 

to watch, and Gary Oldman shines. 

But though it tries to add updated 

social commentary (in the form of Samuel L. Jackson as a Fox 

News-type fear-monger), it lacks the corrosive wit and sense of 

mischief of the original, and offers little that’s new or thoughtprovoking. 

At times it resembles an arcade game. It doesn’t 

embarrass itself, but neither does it convince us that a remake 

was at all necessary. (118 min) 

12 YEARS A SLAVE 

Hollywood has touched, gingerly 

and obliquely, on this dark period 

of American history. But the true, 

banal evil of the practice of human 

bondage had yet to be depicted 

cinematically. Until Steve McQueen 

came along and made this movie 

from the writings of Solomon Northrup, a free New Yorker who 

was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. Demolishes several 

cherished movie fabrications about the era. Don’t be expecting 

“Zip-a-dee-doo-dah.” This horror-film history lesson is visceral, 

vital, unsettling and not a little existential. Yet it’s so compelling 

that you are pulled in from the first scene. Japanese title: 

Soredemo Yoru wa Akeru. (133 min) 

RIDDICK 

The second sequel to 2000’s spare, 

surprisingly effective Pitch Black 

wisely ignores 2004’s disappointing 

The Chronicles of Riddick and 

goes back to its dark roots (though 

it works as a stand-alone). This 

time our see-in-the-dark, wanteddead-or-alive 

anti-hero (Vin Diesel, never better), finds himself 

stranded on a hostile planet. So he activates a distress beacon at 

an abandoned mercenary outpost, which summons two competing 

groups of bounty hunters. Riddick views this as “calling a taxi.” 

Plenty of gallows humor, especially one “comeuppance” scene 

involving a head in a box. I had fun. Japanese title: Riddick: Galaxy 

Battle. (119 min) 

movie news 

When Frozen took home the Oscar 

for best animated feature, many 

watching the ceremony were surprised 

to learn that it was the first time the 

award went to a film by Walt Disney Animation 

Studios. It is also surprising that the story 

of two sisters in a frozen kingdom was created 

inside offices (and over 4,000 computers) in 

sunny Burbank, California. “[Disney head] 

John Lasseter is a big proponent of research. 

He is always saying, ‘Go, go, do your research,’” 

co-director Chris Buck told Metropolis during 

his first visit to Japan. Buck visited Kenneth 

Libbrecht, a professor at Caltech. “He goes by 

the name Dr. Snow and he taught us exactly 

how snowflakes are formed in his big freezer,” 

Buck explained. Other research included 

bringing a live reindeer into the studio and sending an art team to Norway to study fjords and architecture. 

“There is a folk art called rosemaling and we used that throughout in the background. Details like that help 

ground the story.” Frozen is now playing nationwide. Kevin Mcgue 

cinematic underground 

The new films The Book Thief and Monuments 

Men proves WWII is still still 

yielding new stories. Cinema Vera (1-5 

Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku; www.cinemavera.com) 

looks back at classics of the war 

film genre with a program starting March 29. 

The lineup includes Hitchcock’s Notorious 

(1946; pictured), Saboteur (1942) and Foreign 

Correspondent (1940) and Bogart in Passage to 

Marseille (1944) and Action in the North Atlantic 

(1943)... The 10am Film Festival is continuing its 

series of morning screenings of remastered 

classics at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills (6-10-2 

Roppongi Minato-ku; www.tohotheater.jp). The 

Wizard of Oz (1939) is on from April 5, The Sound of Music hits screens May 3 and Stand By Me (1986) invokes nostalgia 

from June 28. http://asa10.eiga.com/... If you missed the acclaimed action-drama flicks Zero Dark Thirty 

and Captain Phillips, you have a second chance from March 29 at Waseda Shochiku (1-5-16 Takadanobaba, 

Shinjuku-ku; www.wasedashochiku.co.jp). KM 

Unless noted, Japanese films screen without English subtitles. Non-English language films are shown with Japanese subtitles only. 


Enjoy our great selections 

of Irish and European brews. 

Happy Hour All ¥500!! 

Mon-Fri (except Public holidays) 

Open-7pm. Heineken 1 PINT, 

The Premium Malt’s 1 PINT, 

Glasses of wine, Cocktails 

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3/26 (WED) 1st 7:30pm~ 2nd 9pm~ 

More details 

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Spacious 5F terrace 

over looking 

central Shibuya! 

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Plaza 

5F, Sede Bldg. 1-5-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya 

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3-11pm (Sunday & hols) 

tel: 03-3476-7776 

GORGEOUS BAR &LOUNGE 

CONVENIENT STANDING CASH-BAR AREA 

SELECTED ALCOHOL & FOOD FROM ¥500 

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DJ:TADAHISA SHINKAWA, Guest DJ CASH 

Gordon’s Gin Cocktails & food from ¥500 

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4/4 (Fri) 8pm 

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Craft Beer 

from ¥500 

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Marunochi 

1F Tokia Tokyo Bldg, 2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku. 

Nearest stations: Tokyo or Yurakucho. Open: Lunch 11am-2:30pm, Tea 2:30-5pm, 

Dinner (Mon-Fri) 5pm-4am LO 3:30am, (Weekends and hols.) 5pm-11pm LO 10pm 

☎ 03-5222-1251www.miyoshi-grp.com/cardinal/pcm 

Roppongi's famous 

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Post a photo of the 

restaurant on Facebook, 

and get 1 free beer. 

Open 24 hours • 180 people max for parties 

Roppongi: 

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3-2-13 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku. 

Akasaka: 

B1F Floral Plaza 

Bldg, 3-8-8 Akasaka,Minato-ku. 

03-5414-5708 03-6234-9788 

Visit our website for info on other Chinese Cafe Eight locations 

welcome@cceight.com | www.cceight.com 


ar review 

BEER HORN 

Pure German ales in 

Akasaka 

By Stefan Van Eycken 

Beer Horn is the Tokyo taproom of Hokkaido-based 

Otaru Beer, the finest maker of 

German-style beers in Japan. They follow 

age-old Bavarian brewing practices and abide by the 

“Reinheitsgebot,” the beer purity law that has been in 

place for centuries and only allows for the use of four 

ingredients (barley, hops, water and yeast) and no 

chemicals in any part of the process. Just like German 

breweries would only sell locally, the Otaru beers were 

only available within a 100km radius of the brewery. 

Then, in 2011, they opened a bar in the heart of the Akasaka 

business district. Finally, beer fans in Tokyo had a 

place to go for authentic German-style brews. 

You won’t see the label Otaru Beer anywhere at the 

Beer Horn and people often wonder whether what’s 

on tap is really the same as what is sold up north. 

The answer is yes and no. It is almost the same, but it 

is transformed a bit because in order to ship it such a 

distance, some of the yeast has to be removed. This 

makes the beers on tap in Tokyo a bit drier than they 

would be in Hokkaido. 

The number of taps is purposely limited to six to 

keep the selection as fresh as possible, and the beer is 

served in 400ml glass horns or 700ml in genuine cow 

horns. With the exception of the two non-alcohol beers 

(a black and a Pilsner-type), all other offerings are draft. 

The standards are The Horn (a Pilsner), Dark Horn (a 

Neapolitan pizzerias, with their 

signature charred and chewy 

crusts, abound in Tokyo. What’s 

harder to find is a crispy Roma-style pizza. 

The recently opened Pizza Bar on 38th at 

the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo is dishing 

up a unique pizza alla pala worthy of a 

trip to the historic Nihonbashi district. A 

“pala” is the wooden board used to bring 

the pizza out of the oven. 

Located inside the Italian restaurant 

K’shiki, the Pizza Bar is comprised of 

eight counter seats overlooking an open 

kitchen and a gas-heated brick oven. 

There is a flurry of activity as servers 

come and go from the main kitchen, but it isn’t a bother 

as the chef is friendly and easy to chat with. Italian Executive 

Sous Chef Daniele Cason, half-Italian and half-Somali, 

is very enthusiastic about pizza. He went back to his 

hometown of Rome to study with some of the best pizzaioli 

and has brought his own recipe back to Tokyo. 

Pizza is a very simple dish, and Cason has searched 

for the best of ingredients to make his unique. The flour 

is organic and from a small producer in Piemonte. Pelati 

tomatoes from Puglia “il Tavoliere” are used for the 

sauce, and the chef will dress the pie with fresh Japanese 

tomatoes—after the pizza is baked—to ensure the crust 

stays crispy. The Fior di Latte mozzarella cheese he has 

selected does not release a lot of liquid when it is baked. 

THE LATEST DISH ON FOOD & DRINK IN THE BIG CITY 

Dunkel-type), White Horn (a Bavarian weissbier), Yellow 

Horn (a mix of weiss and lemonade) and Red Horn 

(a weiss with raspberry extract put in at tapping—a 

cocktail, really). 

The special seasonal beers are a major attraction 

at the Beer Horn, and when a new one is put on tap, 

the place can be packed. General manager Brian Dishman 

tries to overlap the seasonal treats. When we were 

there, a stunning mead—the kind that would have 

been brewed in Germany before the Reinheitsgebot of 

1560—made with Okinawa honey, had just arrived. The 

previous special—a rauchbier (smoke beer)—was still 

available, so at any given time, you have a choice of two 

seasonal brews. 

There is also a wide selection of food, most of 

which is prepared in a stone oven. You’ve got the 

restaurant review 

THE PIZZA BAR ON 38TH 

An Italian twist on the chef’s table in Nihonbashi 

By Yukari Sakamoto 

PHOTO COURTESY OF K'SHIKI 

The pizza dough is made with a high proportion 

of water (80 percent) to flour, which is the secret to the 

crispy crust. While the mixture contains only one gram 

of yeast, it is fermented for 48 hours, making it light and 

full of bubbles. It is evident how delicate the dough is by 

watching Cason as he stretches and flattens it out on the 

marble counter. 

We start off with a Campari-based cocktail like the 

classic Negroni (¥1,500) and then move on to an Italian 

craft beer. The Collessi Imper Ale Bionda (¥3,000), with 

its citrusy notes, is a nice partner to the pizza. Among 

the starters to choose are a colorful five-tomato salad 

(¥1,900), and sliced meats (¥900) such as mortadella, 

speck, and prosciutto. 

classics—baked pretzels, sausages, sauerkraut—but 

don’t leave without trying the made in-house, fresh 

every day, northern-Italian-style pizzas. There are 

always a few specials that aren’t on the menu, so be sure 

to ask the staff. When we visited, they had a pizza with 

an almond-honey-weissbier base, topped with blue 

cheese and walnuts then drizzled with honey, the perfect 

companion to the Honey Horn—or any other beer, 

for that matter. 

Many things make this place the perfect contender 

for a second living-room, but what really seals the deal 

are the prices: 400ml beer horns are only ¥580, the 

most expensive food item is ¥1,300 (the sausage plate) 

and a two-hour nomihodai is a mere ¥2,200. Akasaka 

may not be your area of choice for an evening of bibulous 

excitement, but one session at the Beer Horn will 

change all of that. Guaranteed. 

J/E 

The pizza selections include a Quattro Formaggi 

(¥2,300), which is actually made with five cheeses 

(provolone, Gorgonzola, smoked scamorza, taleggio 

and mozzarella fior di latte) then drizzled with a 

truffle-infused honey, and the luxurious Porcini (¥2,500) 

topped with generous slices of the famous Italian mushroom. 

The dough of the Trapizzino (¥2,500) is baked 

into what looks like a thin focaccia bread, then sliced, 

filled with creamy mascarpone cheese, black olives and 

truffle essence before baking in the oven. We found it so 

delicious, we were back within the week to have it again. 

Tokyoites are truly spoiled with some of the world’s 

best pizza at their fingertips, and The Pizza Bar on 38th 

has added yet another great spot for true aficionados to 

discover. Reservations are suggested as there are only 

eight seats at the counter—the only location this classic 

‘za is served. 

J/E 

Menu in Japanese and English 

Beer from ¥580, two-hour all-you-can-drink ¥2,200 

Smoking permitted 

Main hall for privacy, counter to learn more about 

the beer 

All draft top-quality German-style beer made in 

Japan; stone oven food 

A bit hard to find 

B1, 3-17-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku 

Daily 5–11pm 

Dining Out 

http://otarubeer.com/beerhorn 

Menu in Japanese and English 

¥3,500-5,000 per person without drinks plus 13% 

service charge 

Entirely non-smoking 

Eight counter seats at the pizza bar 

Crispy “pizza alla pala” 

A bit on the expensive side 

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, 38F 2-1-1 Nihonbashi 

Muromachi, Chuo-ku 

Lunch 11:30am– 2:30pm, dinner 5:30–11pm 

www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo/fine-dining/ 

the-pizza-bar-on-38 


BITES 

Dining 

Out 

cinematic spirits 

Want to nurse a White Russian like the Dude in 

The Big Lebowski or down a Manhattan like Marilyn 

Monroe in Some Like it Hot? How about a steak 

served with exactly 12 peas, the favorite meal of 

the obsessive Howard Hughes in The Aviator? You 

can do that and more as Nishi-Azabu restaurant 

Veranda transforms into Cinema Lounge 100 (20- 

24-3 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku. http://cl-100.com) 

for 100 days until June 5. The project is designed 

to expose customers to the pleasures of foreign 

cinema and encourage young people to go out to 

the movies more. The cocktails (all ¥900), food and 

desserts are all based on films—both recent and 

classic. Each drink comes on a coaster designed by 

illustrator Keiji Takamatsu, who is also displaying 

movie star portraits constructed out of craft paper. 

Ai Hosokawa 

stand-up steaks 

Steak houses in Japan are known for their elegant 

atmosphere, fussy service and prices that can 

break the bank. Ikinari Steak, with two shops in 

Ginza (4-10-14 Ginza and 6-4-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku. 

http://meturl.com/ikinaristeak), turns the tables 

on the whole concept—an affordable standing 

restaurant for meat eaters. The ikinari in the name 

means “suddenly” because you can forget all the 

fuss about appetizers and salads and get straight 

to the good stuff. Start by choosing the cut (rib loin 

is ¥5 per gram, sirloin is ¥7 and fillet is ¥8) and the 

weight (300g minimum), pinch your fingers to indicate 

the thickness you want and tell them how well 

you would like it cooked. The simple formula has 

proven a hit and there are often lines running down 

the sidewalk. Once inside, though, grilled goodness 

will soon be yours. Taiichi Izawa 

caviar dreams 

The firm of Caviar House & Prunier has been 

selling the fishy delicacy in Geneva for 145 years 

and served the royal family in London for generations. 

Now its ultra-premium offerings are 

available in Japan with the opening of the Seafood 

Bar in the Fresh Market section of Shinjuku 

Isetan (3-14-1 Shinjuku. Tel: 03-3352-1111). Fine 

sturgeon eggs are usually associated with deep 

pockets, but you can initiate yourself to the elite 

with a single spoonful (¥1,200). Another eat-in 

option, the introductory Balik classic (¥3,500), 

lets you taste slivers of salmon served with toast, 

chives and sour cream. If you would like to take 

something home, be sure to stop at the ATM first: 

a 30g tin of Punier St. James caviar will set you 

back ¥19,719 and a 450g Balik Tsar Nikolai filet of 

salmon is ¥38,850. 

posh picnics 

Don’t want to spend this year's hanami celebration 

sitting on a thin sheet of blue plastic drinking 

cans of chu-hai? The Martini Blossom Lounge 

at the Tokyo Midtown Garden (until Apr 20, noon- 

8pm; www.tokyo-midtown.com), named after the 

Italian sparkling wine brand (not the cocktail), 

features seating for 100 near an indoor sakura tree 

where you can order pink-hued drinks and snacks, 

such as a glass of Martini rosé or the sakura sweets 

set (¥1,500), and enjoy illuminated blossoms after 

5pm. Chandon is sponsoring Ohanami Chandon 

Megurogawa (www.mhdkk.com/ohanami) in 

Nakameguro and Daikanyama to promote its brut 

rosé. Over 30 bars and restaurants will be serving 

the pink bubbly, affording the perfect opportunity 

to relax after hanami in the park, or if you’re lucky 

enough to get a window seat—do both at once. 

in bruges 

With so many Belgian beer halls opening 

around Tokyo, the bar is set pretty high for 

inclusion in these pages. Beer Bar Brugse Zot, 

which opened March 20 in the Nihonbashi 

Coredo 2 building (2-3-1 Muromachi Nihonbashi, 

Chuo-ku), makes the grade with its classy, 

art deco-inspired interior and as the first place 

in the city to serve only beer actually brewed 

and lagered in the Belgian city of Bruges. With 

up to seven brews on tap, like the prize-winning 

Brugse Zot Blond, the bar will also stock 100 

varieties of Belgian beer in bottles. Management 

plans to independently import drafts, 

meaning most of them will not be available 

anywhere else in Japan. Food selections include 

mussels steamed in Belgian beer (¥1,280) and, of 

course, pommes frites (¥780). 

sweet greens 

Long-established Japanese confectionery 

Taneya (http://taneya.jp/home/) has produced 

an innovative new sweet to enjoy this spring: 

Olive Daifuku (¥945). Six delicate and bitesized 

daifukumochi (rice cake with sweet bean 

paste) sit inside a fragile little package alongside 

a mini-bottle of non-filtered extra virgin 

olive oil. Drizzle the emerald green liquid over 

the stark white daifuku to produce a beautiful, 

jewel-like treat. Pop one in your mouth 

and the slightly fruity olive oil, faint saltiness 

of the mochi and sugary azuki filling combine 

to create a unique and understated taste 

sensation—a mixture of classic Japanese and 

Western flavors. Available online or on sale in 

depachika—the B1 floor of major department 

stores. AH 


NEW! 

Think the Classifieds 

is just ads? Think 

again! Visit the Tokyo 

Classifieds blog for 

saucy ads of yore, ideas 

to make your ads pop, 

tutorials to pimp your 

stuff and plenty more 

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http://metropolis.co.jp/ 

classifiedblog/ 

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NAKAMARU 

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LOCATED IN 

YOKOHAMA, 

provides 

g e n e r a l 

dentistry, esthetic 

dentistry, dental implants 

and orthodontics by a 

UCLA-trained and certified 

dentist. 30min from 

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or.jp www.nakamarudental.jp/english/ 

045-681- 

3359 

SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY 

(physical therapy) 

c a r e i n H i r o o . 

Native English-speaking 

therapists specializing 

in sports injuries, 

p o s t - o p e r a t i v e 

rehabilitation, back/neck 

pain, running related, 

headaches, orthotics, 

ergonomic consultations 

and women’s health. 

www.tokyophysio.com 

03-3443-6769 

1.2 HAIR & BEAUTY 

ONLY CUT ZONE salon 

provides a hair cut 

service for only ¥1000. 

5 m i n w a l k f r o m 

Kita-Senju stn. Friendly 

English-speaking staff 

is available. Contact 

us at 03-3882-1550. 

Open from 10am until 

7pm, seven days a week. 

http://meturl.com/ 

onlycutzone 

1.3 MOVING 

CHEAPEST, QUICKEST AND 

SAFEST! Transporter Tokyo 

supports your moving and 

delivers your stuff. Moving 

for singles or couples 

from ¥12,000. Delivery 

(furniture, motorbikes, etc.) 

from ¥7000. English-, Frenchand 

Japanese-speaking 

staff available. Inquiries: 

info@transporter-tokyo. 

com www.transportertokyo.com/english/contact 

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MOVING OVERSEAS? 

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Ask how you can 

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0120-222-111 info@ 

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1.4 TRAVEL 

The majority of classified ads have moved online! classifieds.metropolis.co.jp 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Metropolis and its subsequent Classifieds section are printed every other 

week. The upcoming publication dates and corresponding deadlines for 

print are as follows. This does not affect the online Classifieds, where ads 

are visible immediately after they are approved. 

NARITA AIRPORT CAR/ 

MINIVAN TRANSFER 

SERVICE. Cheaper than 

a taxi. English-speaking 

driver. Meet and greet. 

Free baby seat. Luggage 

assistance. Dependable- 

Safe-Easy-Quick Airport 

Transfer Service. BOOK 

NOW! Email Reservation@ 

TokyoAirporter.com. 

www.tokyoairporter.com 

1.7 BUSINESS SERVICES 

US AND JAPANESE TAX 

SERVICES. Planning a 

job switch? Best time to 

leave Japan? Tax impact 

on a potential investment? 

We can comment on 

both sides. No charge 

for initial consultation. 

ExpatTax Japan. www. 

expattaxjapan.com. 

info@expattaxjapan.com. 

AFFORDABLE, HIGH- 

QUALITY, EXPRESS OFFSET 

PRINTING NOW AVAILABLE 

IN ENGLISH! Shop/business 

cards: 1000 copies, 4c/4c 

220kg ¥5500. A6 flyers: 3000 

copies, 4c/4c 110kg ¥6300. 

A5 flyers: 5000 copies, 

4c/1c 90kg ¥11,800. Contact 

wendy@flyerinsatsu. 

co.jp or visit http://english. 

flyerinsatsu.co.jp. 

AUTHORIZED IRS E-FILE 

PROVIDER prepares 

U.S. citizens’ tax 

returns and files them 

electronically. Worldwide 

income? Foreign Earned 

Income Exclusion? Japanese 

financial accounts? Ask Mr. 

Nishimura. nishimura@ 

newyork-kaikei.com kny_ 

nishimura@yahoo.co.jp K.N.Y. 

Service Inc. 西村勝也税理士事務所 

LAW OFFICE IN KAWASAKI 

(next to Tokyo), member 

of the Yokohama Bar 

Association. Legal service in 

English for traffic accidents, 

divorce, inheritance, 

bankruptcy, business cases 

(contracts, establishing a 

company, trademarks, etc.) 

and other legal problems. 

Email: web@smkw.biz www. 

sumikawa.net/ 

SEKIYAMA U.S. TAX 

CONSULTING LLC. USCPA 

OFFICE IN TOKYO. Double 

taxation relief? Delinquent 

FBAR? Foreign Tax Credit 

or Foreign Earned Income 

Exclusion? Filing with a 

Japanese Spouse? Ten 

percent discount available 

with 1040 preparations. 

English and Japanese ok. 

www.sekiyamatax.com 

info@sekiyamatax.com 

03-5403-4639 

VISA COUNSELING: 

female immigration lawyer 

handles your visa case. 

Permanent residency, 

naturalization, eligibility 

(inviting your spouse/ 

children/workers from 

your country), extension/ 

change of visa status. 

Consultation ¥5000. OFFICE 

LIFE (Miho Fujibayashi). 

Tel: 090-8330-0670 

Email: mailto@officelife.jp 

Website: http://officelife. 

jp/en/ 

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. Specialists 

in branding, web design, photo/ 

video production. Drawing A Crowd: 

a new approach in design. Get in 

touch. info@drawingacrowd.co 

1.8 GENERAL SERVICES 

SMILE STAND: Japan’s first 

and only stylish rental photo 

booth. An exciting addition 

to any party, event, etc., and 

the best way to get crazy, 

fabulous, professional photos. 

With this ad ¥55,000~. info@ 

highland-tokyo.com https:// 

vimeo.com/44976943 www. 

smile-stand.com 

THINKING ABOUT 

ADVERTISING WITH 

METROPOLIS? Platinum 

¥28,928. Gold ¥23,940. 

Silver ¥18,953. Bronze 

¥2000. Printed photos 

+¥2000/photo. Prices are for 

one print issue, two weeks 

online. For details, contact 

commercial@metropolis. 

co.jp. 

TEAM OF TWO WOMEN OFFERING 

CLEANING SERVICES. House and 

garage cleaning, gardening, moving 

in and out; cleaning weekly or once 

or twice/month. Name it and we'll do 

it! English and Nihongo ok. Call Ellen 

at 090-6536-0914. satoelena@ 

yahoo.com 

2 FIND A PLACE 

2.1 GUESTHOUSE 

GREAT LOCATION & SUPER 

CLEAN. Private furnished 

rooms in Roppongi, 

Akasaka, Azabu-Juban and 

Minami-Shinagawa, all 2min 

from stn, ladies-only floor 

available, weekly cleaning 

service, free internet, aircon, 

fridge. From ¥49,000/m. 

No key money/guarantor/ 

agent fee. 090-2405-0022 

mail@bauhousetokyo.com 

2.2 RENT UNDER ¥200,000 

SAKURA HOUSE. Leading 

multilingual real estate 

agency in Tokyo since 

1992. Over 1600 furnished 

apartments and guest/ 

share house rooms, from 

¥52,000/m, utilities included. 

Issue 1045 

FRI, APR 4 

Deadline: 

Mar 27, 3pm 

No key money/guarantor/ 

agent fee. Contact 

us: 03-5330-5250 

info@sakura-house.com 

www.sakura-house.com 

ICHIGAYA GREEN CORP. 

Two apartments available 

in furnished, three-story 

apartment building, 

sunny and quiet, south/ 

north facing, many trees, 

small Japanese garden, 

5min walk from subway 

station, 13min by bicycle 

to JR Shinjuku/Yotsuya 

stn. Rent: ¥100,000/m 

(2K). ¥120,000~/m (3K). 

Tel/fax: 03-3341-7875 

Mail: itto@itto-jinnai.com 

www.itto-jinnai.com/ 

green/greencorp.html 

ICHII CORPORATION. 

Over 600 affordable, 

quality-furnished 

apartments in central 

Tokyo locations. No 

key money/guarantor/ 

agent fee required. 

New, clean apartments, 

simple contract system, 

full English support. Call 

us today! 03-5437-5233 

www.japt.co.jp 

PRIVATE FURNISHED 

A P A R T M E N T S . 

Odakyu line: Mukogaoka- 

Yuen/Yomiuri-Land-Mae, 

20/30min from Shinjuku. 

Keikyu line: Hatcho-Nawate, 

15min from Shinagawa. 

1K~2LDK ¥58,000/ 

m~¥120,000/m. Tel: 044- 

933-7000 Email:mh@ 

minowagroup.jp www. 

m i n o w a g r o u p . j p / 

minowahomes 

TO ADVERTISE IN 

METROPOLIS, JAPAN’S 

NO.1 ENGLISH MAGAZINE, 

log on at www.metropolis. 

co.jp/classifieds or email 

your commercial ads to 

commercial@metropolis. 

co.jp. 

. 

SERVICED APARTMENTS 

in a quiet residential area 

of Hiroo. Studios and 

suites. 4min from Hiroo 

Issue 1047 

FRI, APR 18 

Deadline: 

Apr 10, 3pm 

stn. Rates: Daily ¥7800. 

Weekly ¥6850-/day. 

Monthly ¥5900-/day. Over 

three months ¥4950-/ 

day. Tax, utilities included. 

frontdesk@azabucourt. 

com www.azabucourt. 

com/ 03-3446-8610 

SMALL TRADITIONAL JAPANESE 

HOUSE in Tsukishima, Chuo-ku. 

2LDK, 56sqm, cute, access to 

Ginza and fish market, 4min 

from Oedo and Yurakucho lines, 

Australian owner, fully renovated, 

earthquake-proofed ¥150,000/m. 

Furnished ¥200,000/m. 

tsukishima.house@gmail.com 

http://tinyurl.com/kqgp3zg 

+61416205443 

YOKOHAMA APARTMENT - ONE 

MONTH FREE RENT! Private 

apartment, w/loft, new aircon/ 

heater, kitchen and bathroom; 

washer and fridge can be added 

¥39,000/month. Private rental, 

no agent fee, no key money. One 

month free. Yokohama area. 

cluboneseven@i.softbank.jp 

2.3 RENT OVER ¥200,000 

TOKYO APARTMENTS. 

Your one-stop housing 

solution throughout 

Tokyo. Providing 

serviced, furnished and 

unfurnished apartments, 

for both long and shortterm 

stays. Also providing 

relocation services, 

furniture rental, property 

management and sales. 

Please call 0120-957-920. 

www.tokyoapartments.jp 

3LDK IN YOYOGI available 

from Apr, 10min from Yoyogi 

stn, 4min from Sangubashi 

stn, one-month key money, no 

agency fee, no renewal fee, no 

guarantor necessary, w/three 

aircon ¥210,000. Water included. 

kokoro30.pl@gmail.com 

2.4 HOUSE SHARE 

ONE PRIVATE ROOM in a Japanese 

family house in Nerima-ku, near 

Shakujii Park ¥70,000/m. Discount 

of ¥10,000 for 4h/m of English 

lessons. Nonsmoking, Englishspeaking 

women only. Call Hitomi at 

090-5305-9142. hitomijin@hotmail. 

com 

Metropolis reserves the right to refuse, cancel or edit any ad without notice. Metropolis takes no responsibility for the quality of items or services advertised. Please carefully examine vendors or 

items offered before commitment. Please be careful when contacting and arranging to meet people. 

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


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

For the cost of postage get Metropolis 

on your doorstep—and have ransom 

note material for decades. 

http://metropolis.co.jp/subscription 

2.6 BUY/SELL PREMISES 

T I R E D O F 

P A Y I N G 

R E N T ? 

Minato Asset 

Management 

Co., Ltd. can 

help you find 

properties, get a mortgage, 

permanent visa, etc. 

Diversified income 

properties also available. 

mukai@minato-am.com 

090-4123-1025 03-55798- 

2779 www.realestateminato.com 

2.7 OFFICE SPACE 

MONDEWORK T O K Y O : 

serviced offices and share 

offices available from one 

month located in Ichigaya 

(Yotsuya, Kojimachi), 24/7 

access, company registration, 

bilingual reception service. 

Facilities include free 

drinks, copy machine, TV, 

projector, meeting rooms. 

Please call 03-4455-7594. 

www.tokyoapartments.jp/ 

serviced-offices/ 

MODERN, STYLISH SPACE 

IN AOYAMA. Conduct focus 

groups, interviews, training 

or meetings in well-equipped, 

comfortable setting. Host 

seven at-table, eight in 

viewing room. Break lounge 

included, FocusVisionequipped. 

Contact studio@ 

the-carter-group.com or call 

03-6438-9481 for pricing. 

3 EDUCATION 

3.5 LANGUAGE EXCHANGE 

Chinese and Japanese. 初級より少しレ 

ベル上の方音読練習しませんか?レベルアップ 

中国語もそれなりにok. elsalvadorjapan@ 

yahoo.es 

Chinese, English, Japanese. I am 

a JF, 30s, seeking a J/E language 

exchange partner in Kanagawa or 

Tokyo. If interested, please send 

me a message. I also study Chinese 

and would love to improve it as well. 

chako0606@gmail.com 

Danish, German, Japanese. Hej 

and 'N Tag! JF, 30s, seeks Danes 

and Germans to help her with 

languages in Tokyo/Kanagawa 

through fun conversations over 

cups of coffee or just hanging out. 

Please be nonsmokers, 30s preferred. 

codename107113@live.com 

English and Japanese. Japanese 

female, 34, seeks E/J language 

exchange in the Tokyo/Yokohama area. 

I really need to speak E! Help me! I'm 

seeking friends. hana213@hotmail.com 

English and Japanese. JF living and 

working in Yokohama seeking a native 

English speaker for language exchange 

and long-lasting friendship. I can teach 

you J in return. Let's learn each other's 

languages at a cafe! from.kaori0113@ 

gmail.com 

English and Japanese. JF, 40, seeking 

a native English speaker for language 

exchange. I need to improve my English 

for work. Hope to meet at a cafe on 

weeknights around Minato-ku/Shibuya. 

I'm happy to help with your Japanese. 

sunshine-246@excite.co.jp 

English and Japanese. Hi! I am a 

native English speaker, 27, living in 

Tokyo, seeking a Japanese person 

to help me with my Japanese in the 

Shibuya, Jiyugaoka, Nakameguro or 

Futako-Tamagawa area. r_andom@ 

hotmail.com 

English and Japanese. I 'm a 

Caucasian American guy, 30s, and I 

want to improve my Japanese near 

Shibuya stn with a good language 

exchange partner. Please let me know 

your name, age and sex when you 

email me. Thanks. silverninja888@ 

yahoo.com 


casually studying English alone seeks 

someone interesting from abroad 

to talk about English questions, 

expressions and movies for a short 

time at a coffee shop between Soka 

and Takenozuka. Friendship. No sexual 

mails, please. language_exchange3@ 

hotmail.com 

English and Japanese. Hi, I'm a JF, 30, 

seeking a language exchange partner. 

Let's meet at a cafe somewhere in 

Ikebukuro. cha30000@heart.ocn.ne.jp 


female, 34, is seeking a language 

exchange partner to meet regularly 

on weekdays. I like exercising, trekking 

and cooking. Let's study together over 

coffee. Chiba and Tokyo preferred. 

mnryh107@yahoo.co.jp 

English and Japanese. I'm a Japanese 

male, 20, seeking an English speaker. 

I want to do a podcast with you. 

The podcast will be about news or 

something. It'll be like bilingual news. 

ootoyadaisuki@gmail.com 


professional woman, around 40, 

seeking native English speaker to 

exchange language and culture. I'm 

educated and can offer you proper 

Japanese lessons. Women preferred. 

Serious only, please. naoko.hz55@ 

tbz.t-com.ne.jp 


seeking native speakers on the Tobu 

Isesaki line, Saitama, for language 

exchange. This is NOT the seeking 

romance section, so please don’t get 

the wrong idea. peaceful_world8@ 

hotmail.com 

English and Japanese. Do you 

want to improve your translation or 

interpretation skills? 40-ish Canadian 

seeking a language partner. Let's 

improve our translation skills over tea. 

Study never stops. Ikebukuro, Shinjuku 

or Koenji stations. tarry2@hotmail.com 

English and Japanese. I study E, but I 

don't have foreign friends. Let's talk in E 

and J over lunch or coffee. I live in Tama 

City in Tokyo and and am Japanese, 36. 

hkyoko2012@yahoo.co.jp 

English and Japanese. SJF, 40s, 

living and working in Tokyo, seeking 

E/J language and culture exchange 

partner in Tokyo. Also seeking good 

friends. Around 30s-40s, M/F ok. Please 

feel free to contact me. mari46@yahoo. 

co.jp 

English and Japanese. Group 

language exchange every Wed, 7:30- 

9:30pm, at coffee shops around Ginza. 

Most members are 20s and 30s. We 

switch languages every 30min. Fun 

events on weekends. Free to join. ando. 

andy@gmail.com 

English and Japanese. English male, 

34, seeks language partner around 

Tokyo. My Japanese level is low, so 

any help you can give me would be 

great. I will of course help you with E. 

happylamp@hotmail.co.uk 

English and Japanese. Hi! I am from 

London living in Tokyo. I am seeking a 

Japanese person to help me with my 

Japanese. Hope to hear from you soon. 

bg6543711@gmail.com 

French, English, Japanese. 

Frenchman seeking a language 

exchange partner to improve his 

Japanese. I can teach you Fr or E in 

return. Beginners/advanced welcome. 

Let's enjoy sharing our cultures and 

interests. dhalexisfr@gmail.com 

German and Japanese. JF seeks Ger/J 

language exchange partner. Seit Sechs 

Monaten lerne ich Deutsch aber ich 

spreche Englisch. F/M ok. If interested, 

drop me a line. gardenstate2005@ 

hotmail.com 

Korean and Japanese. Japanese 

male, 40, seeks a native Korean 

speaker for Kor/J exchange. I like music, 

reading, cooking. I hope we can learn 

from each other and have some fun. 

astralsky@excite.co.jp 

Thai, Japanese, English. Looking 

forward to meeting anyone who lives in 

the Tokyo area for language exchange, 

cafe, hanging out and traveling 

together sometimes. I'm Thai, male, 

professional career, easygoing and 

fun. freemap49@yahoo.com 

3.9 TEACH ME! 

Private English teacher in Tokyo. 

JF professional seeking an English 

tutor to practice speaking, discussing 

topics like news, culture, etc. Shinjuku, 

Shibuya, Shinagawa area preferable. 

Can pay ¥1500. Negotiable. You must 

have business experience. graphic_ 

r3@yahoo.co.jp 

Seeking Zumba instructor for 

private lessons. Price negotiable. Very 

keen. elraydayo@i.softbank.jp 

4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS 

4.1 FURNITURE & 

FITTINGS 

Bed, Muji, queen, frame and headboard 

are solid wood, w/mattress, in excellent 

condition ¥30,000. Muji down 

comforter ¥8000. Negotiable. Pick up 

Odakyu line or pay for delivery. alexi_ 

louis@yahoo.com 090-4073-0894 

Bed, single, w/mattress. Pick up only 

near Tamagawa stn, Tokyu Toyoko line, 

Tokyu Tamagawa line, Tokyu Meguro 

line. michelechung@hotmail.com 

Cabinet, Chinese-style (approximately 

H115xW100xD45cm), black lacquer, 

design of ornate birds and branches, 

brass hinges and fittings, two doors, 

central shelf, two drawers below, in 

very good condition ¥19,000. cpitts@ 

gol.com 09049527314 

Chair, for desks, height and back 

adjustable, can dismantle for transport 

¥1000. Cash only. Koenji. ohpopshop@ 

gmail.com 

Curtains, Muji, ivory (110x110cm), 

100% cotton. alessandrolibri@gmail. 

com 

Drawers, Muji, plastic ¥1000/ 

each. Pick up 7min from Meguro stn. 

befaft03@yahoo.fr 

Furniture sale! Beige leather 

sofa, seats three, in good condition 

¥20,000. Two rocking chairs, one 

black and one white ¥4000/each. Pick 

up Takadanobaba area. sue.zahedi@ 

gmail.com 0339503140 

Lamp, Francfranc, for tables, small, in 

very good condition, in original box, 

w/bulb ¥1000. Pick up Meguro stn. 


Mattress, Ikea Sultan Favang, as new, 

clean (90x200cm) ¥5000. Pick up 

Sangenjaya. japanjohan@yahoo.co.jp 

Shelf, Muji, w/four drawers, in very 

good condition, less than one y/o 

¥15,000. Pick up near Meguro stn. 


4.2 APPLIANCES 

Air purifier, Sharp KC-Z45 

Plasmacluster, good for large rooms 

(20-mat) ¥18,000. Pick up near Tamachi, 

Tokyo. katrinaellery@hotmail.com 

Blender ¥1000. Pick up Meguro stn. 


Coffeemaker, Sanyo, electric, old, 

functional, w/tea filter and paper filters 

¥1000. Pick up Meguro stn. befaft03@ 

yahoo.fr 

Fan, electric, two speeds, automatic 

turn, up/down adjustable orientation, in 

good condition, in original box ¥1000. 

Pick up Meguro stn. befaft03@yahoo.fr 

Fridge, National NR-B12JA, 41L + 81L 

(480x1070x586mm), in good condition 

¥7500. Pick up Sangenjaya or pay for 

delivery. union-v@hotmail.co.jp 

Fridge, Sharp, 315L (156x63x60cm), 

works perfectly, in good condition 

¥20,000. Pick up Odakyu line or pay for 

Yamato or Sagawa delivery. alexi_louis@ 

yahoo.com 

Hand mixer, hardly used ¥1000. Pick 

up Meguro stn. befaft03@yahoo.fr 

Kettle, electric, Tefal, in good 

condition ¥2000. Pick up Meguro stn. 



Lights, round, ceiling, w/bulbs ¥3000. 

Pick up near Meguro stn. befaft03@ 

yahoo.fr 

Microwave/oven/grill, H a i e r, 

600W, '12 ¥2000. Pick up Nishi-Azabu. 

mlfukawa@gmail.com 

Rice cooker, Zojirushi, '08, IH type, as 

new ¥6000. mizi2005@hotmail.com 

Vacuum, AIM-R0B01, white, new 

¥5000. Pick up Shimokitazawa. 

aminimia@yahoo.com 

4.3 SAYONARA SALE 

Sayonara sale! Rice cooker ¥1000. 

Water purifier ¥1000. Rolling kitchen 

table ¥1000. Kitchen utensils, dishes, 

tableware, cleaning products: free. 

digicult@gmail.com 

Sayonara sale! Sharp 32” TV, Bluray, 

games, HDMI, cable TV ok, works 

well ¥25,000/obo. Fridge, opens 

from both sides; rice cooker; in good 

condition: free. rob_andy99@yahoo. 

com 08066490888 

Sayonara sale! NEC phone/fax 

machine, w/digital display; desk for 

computer (128x65x45). stupendociao@ 

yahoo.co.jp 

4.5 AUDIO & MP3 

Headphones, Dr. Dre, stereo, several 

m/o, as new, hardly used, w/carry case 

¥23,000/obo. mykey0422@gmail.com 

4.6 FOR KIDS 

Ski wear. Pants, size 130cm ¥300. 

Gloves and other items. Pick up 

or chakubarai. Photos available. 

housetsu@gmail.com 

Stroller, Maclaren, in very good 

condition. New ¥35,000+. Sell 

¥10,000. Free delivery possible. 

mizi2005@hotmail.com 

Various items. Safety gate, toys, 

videos, etc., smoke/pet-free home. 

Pick up Moto-Azabu, Azabu- 

Juban, Roppongi Hills or takkyubin 

chakubarai for small items. ftl4@ 

hotmail.com 

4.7 FOR FREE 

External HD, seven available, w/ 

power cords, work perfectly, 1.71TB 

total capacity, Buffalo, I-O Data, 

Maxtor, one Firewire unit. Pick up 

Otemachi. blackngold1979@hotmail. 

com 080-2064-1094 

Mosquito repellent, electric. Pick 

up near Meguro stn. befaft03@ 

yahoo.fr 

SkyPerfecTV, dish, w/tuner and 

cable, never used. Pick up Yoyogi. 

stupendociao@yahoo.co.jp 

Washer, Toshiba AW-40S5, 4kg, more 

than seven y/o. Pick up only. benoit. 

castets@gmail.com 

5 HOBBIES&INTERESTS 

5.2 SPORTS EQUIPMENT 

Bindings, snowboard, K2, for 

beginners, 4x4, cap toe strap, women's 

size 6-10/men's size 5-8 ¥1000. Pick up 

near Yokohama. sayonara_vancouver@ 

hotmail.com 

Elliptical trainer, Daikou DK-206S, 

one y/o, hardly used. Half-price. English 

speakers only. pierre.destruel@gmail. 

com 

Leg stretcher, DX, in good condition, 

some scratches, works well, no box, w/ 

leg stretcher pro ¥5000. brucebat@ 

docomo.ne.jp 

5.3 MUSICAL 

EQUIPMENT 

Electric guitar, Squier Vintage 

Modified Tele SSH, black, w/soft case, in 

great condition ¥20,000. deshayes.g@ 

gmail.com 

Monitors. Edirol MA 15D digital stereo 

micro monitors, 24-bit/192KHz digital 

¥12,000. earth_travel_joy@hotmail.com 

Sound modules. Roland XV-5080, as 

new ¥39,000. Korg TR-Rack, in good 

condition ¥20,000. Roland MKS-50 

analog synthesizer sound module, in 

very good condition ¥29,000. Pick 

up Senzoku stn, Tokyu Meguro line. 

deshayes.g@gmail.com 

Synthesizers. Roland JX-3P, vintage, 

analog, 100% functional, in nice 

cosmetic condition, w/optional PG200 

programmer ¥48,000. Roland JV-80, in 

great condition, w/case ¥22,000. Pick 

up Senzoku stn, Tokyu Meguro line. 

deshayes.g@gmail.com 

5.4 BOOKS/CD/DVD 

CDs, mostly rock (Def Leppard, 

Rush, B-52s, Cinderella, The Cars, 

Minx, Moonshots, Dirty Ts, Mootekis), 

some classical compilations, etc., in 

good condition. Pick up Otemachi. 

blackngold1979@hotmail.com 

080-2064-1094 

Chinese learning materials. 

Business Mandarin Kit by Asiapac 

Books, w/two textbooks, four CDs, 

travel tips, as new, never opened. New 

US$138. Sell ¥5500. cpitts@gol.com 

09049527314 

Japanese learning materials. 

Japanese Verbs and Essentials of 

Grammar, 13 Secrets for Speaking 

Fluent Japanese, Conversation Book 

for Everyday Japanese and English 

Level 4, Random House Japanese- 

English Dictionary, Contemporary 

Japanese Volume 1 ¥5000/all. Details 

available. earth_travel_joy@hotmail. 

com 

Kanji learning material. 

Remembering the Kanji, three-book 

complete system for remembering 

jou-yo list and over 1000 more key 

kanji, w/Nelson Kanji Dictionary 

¥8500/all. earth_travel_joy@hotmail. 

com 

5.5 GAMING 

Game CDs, Battlefield 1942, Battlefield 

Vietnam, Grand Theft Auto San 

Andreas, all in good condition. Pick up 

Otemachi. blackngold1979@hotmail. 

com 080-2064-1094 

6 VEHICLES 

6.3 BICYCLES, PARTS, & 

ACCESSORIES 

Bicycle, Belart, 27" tires, white, durable, 

light, w/front basket, slightly more than 

one y/o, from Aeon. New ¥14,000. Sell 

¥8000/obo. Can change registration. 

Photos available. earth_travel_joy@ 

hotmail.com 

Bike wear, new/never worn: Mavic Ergo 

3D black full-rider bib/pants, size Japan 

L/US S; Karrimor black padded pants, 

size L. New ¥16,000. Sell ¥5000/both. 

Pick up Otemachi. blackngold1979@ 

hotmail.com 080-2064-1094 

Racing bike, Panasonic Les Maillots, 

mini-velo, suits rider 170-180cm, 11kg 

alloy frame, Maxxis tires, 16-speed, 

regularly serviced, in great condition. 

New ¥95,000. Sell ¥39,000/obo. 

Meguro-ku. tokyobike2014@hotmail. 

com 

Road bike, Giant TCR, size M frame, 

yellow/black, as new, currently 

disassembled, various parts available. 

New ¥226,000. Sell ~¥60,000. Price 

depends on parts. View Shin-Nakano. 

cjriach@hotmail.com 

7 GENERAL 

7.1 PHONES 

Smartphone, Sharp Aquos, Android, 

SoftBank ¥5000. sls00@live.com 

7.2 FASHION 

Sunglasses, Ray-Ban, two m/o, 

no scratches. New ¥28,000. Sell 

¥20,000. singhprak@yahoo.com 

090-2863-9585 

Wedding celebrant gown, drycleaned, 

in good condition ¥15,000. 

gaijin46@hotmail.com 

7.3 MISCELLANEOUS 

Humidor, mahogany, w/brass 

instruments ¥5000. Can meet in 

central Tokyo. selling@csgibson.com 

090-4664-1538 

Plant holder, made from 70-yearold 

tree trunk, 23kg, has been used to 

prepare homemade omochi ¥8000. 

mmcaproni2010@yahoo.co.jp 

7.4 ITEMS WANTED 

Computer. Seeking old PC for free. 

tsuneokobayashijapan@yahoo.co.jp 

Pregnancy clothes, prefer US size 11 

for bottoms and US size M/Japan size 

L. Free or cheap. lelanis@hotmail.com 

Records. Budding musician in need 

of sample material. Give me your old 

records - the more obscure or strange, 

the better. I’ll pay for postage. mallon_ 

robert@hotmail.com 080-6497-5403 

Sofa, three-in-one. steps.od@ezweb. 

ne.jp 09061526274 

Vinyl records, LP collections. Japanpressed 

LPs, EPs and singles from the 

‘60s, ‘70s, etc., any genre considered. 

Will pay cash for quality items. brian. 

greenough@jcom.home.ne.jp 

8 COMPUTERS 

8.2 HARDWARE 

Computer, i5-4670K CPU, two gtx770 

SLI GPUs, Corsair AX860 PSU, Corsair 

350D case, 8GB Corsair Vengeance 

Pro, Corsair H100i liquid cooler, Asus 

Maximus VI Gene motherboard, 

Samsung 840 Pro 128GB SD, 

Seagate Barracuda 1TB ¥180,000. 

jimrogers0101@gmail.com 

Laptop. NEC LaVie BL350 netbook, 

white, as new, E/J Win 8.1, 10.1" display, 

CPU Intel ATOM N550 1.5GHz, 120GB 

HD, 1GB memory, Wi-Fi, ethernet, three 

USB ports, SD card reader, VGA out 

¥15,000. deshayes.g@gmail.com 

10 HELP! 

10.1 HELP ME 

Female haircut model. I need female 

haircut models to get more experience. 

It's free! English is no problem! If 

you're interested, please email me. 

o.masaki.11@gmail.com 

Seeking native English speaker to 

edit my blog posts. We can do it online 

or we can meet in person at a cafe. Can 

pay ¥2000/h. axelco14@yahoo.co.jp 

10.2 SUPPORT 

NEED TO TALK? We’re here to listen. 

TELL LIFELINE: free, anonymous 

English counseling daily from 

9am-11pm by trained volunteers: 

03-5774-0992. TELL COUNSELING: 

affordable multilingual 

psychotherapy by accredited 

Western-trained professionals, 

a CIGNA International Provider: 

03-4550-1146. TELL website: www. 

telljp.com. Follow us on Facebook 

and Twitter @TokyoLifeLine. 

THE JAPAN HELPLINE, 24 hours 

a day, from anywhere, about 

anything. From emergency 

assistance to simple questions. Visit 

www.jhelp.com/ and press “help,” 

or call 0570-000-911. To volunteer 

or support, please contact team@ 

jhelp.com. www.jhelp.com/ 

WEST PAPUA: ONE SOUL, ONE 

PEOPLE. Fifty years ago, West Papua 

should have been an independent 

country. Since 1969, West Papua has 

been invaded and the people robbed 

of their rights, culture and country. 

Help support West Papuans’ desire 

to be free. http://tapol.gn.apc.org/ 

davidhalpern@7ymail.com 

03.3405.4409 

www.sinden.com 

Strong, beautiful, flexible 

Transform your body & soul at 

BASI PILATES! 

Offering you “Authentic Pilates” 

Metropolis Campaign 

Admission Fee: ¥15,750 ¥0 

Trial Machine Private Lesson: ¥10,000 ¥8,400 

Package 3 Machine 

Private Lessons 

¥30,000 ¥18,000 

Machine Private Lessons available at our Roppongi studio 

Lessons in English available 

Studios in Roppongi, Ginza, Nakameguro and more 

03-6425-7054 • roppongi@basipilates.jp 

www.basipilates.jp/english/ 



Gonee has experience beauty therapist in London 

for 8 years. Gonee studied beauty college at 

London for CIDESCO course and she started to 

work in beauty salon at Sloane Square in London. 

Lycon Brazilian wax ¥9,000 → (30% off) ¥6,300 

Lycon Full leg waxing ¥9,800 → (30% off) ¥6,800 

Eyebrow & Upper Lip wax → ¥1,500 

Eyelash Extension full set →¥5,000 (55x55) 

Eyelash & Eyebrow tint →¥2,500 

Guinot Hydradermie Facial (60 min)→¥6,250 

Manicure ¥8,000 → (30% off) ¥5,600 

Pedicure ¥9,800 → ¥6,800 

03-6452-2503 

Address : 3F nakamura building 17-4-3 

Minami-Ebisu Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 

Tel: 03-3796-2411 

relaxtokyo.com 

COURSES 

Body care 

30 min: ¥3,150 

60 min: ¥6,300 

(Early bird 6am-2pm ¥5,250) 

120 min: ¥12,600 

Oil massage 

(daytime only) 

60 min: ¥8,400 

120 min: ¥16,800 

Kyu-Yamate Dori 

Daikanyama 

Station 

Toyoko Line 

Komazawa Dori 

Now You Can Recharge 

in Roppongi 24/7/365 

Metropolis Promo 

60 & 120min courses now ¥1,000 off 

30min course ¥500 off 

GONEE BEAUTY 

7Eleven 

Hibiya Line 

Ebisu Station 

treatment@goneebeauty.com 

www.goneebeauty.com 

www.brazilian-waxingebisu.com 

Hotel 

IBIS 

Mos 

Burger 

Almond 

Soba shop 

Takoyaki shop 

Police box 

Roppongi-dori 

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 

TOKYO. If you have a problem 

with drinking, we can help. 

English-speaking meetings daily. 

03-3971-1471 inquiries@aatokyo. 

org http://aatokyo.org 

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS. 

Eating too much? Obsessed 

with food? Maybe purging, too? 

Come join us as we recover 

together. Meetings Sat at 

10:30am and Tue at 6:30pm. 

Skype meetings five nights/week. 

Contact: oatokyo@gmail.com 

www.oaintokyo.org 

TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB 

INTERNATIONAL MEMBER’S 

ASSOCIATION. A call out to TAC 

members! Have you been bullied, 

harassed and mistreated by TAC? 

Have you been suspended and/ 

or expelled by TAC without proper 

due process? YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 

We are a group working together 

to help individuals like you and to 

make a better TAC for everyone! 

Contact us at: tacima@outlook. 

com 

TO ADVERTISE IN METROPOLIS, 

JAPAN’S NO.1 ENGLISH 

MAGAZINE, log on at www. 

metropolis.co.jp/classifieds or 

email your commercial ads to 

commercial@metropolis.co.jp. 

HIV Peer Support group a n d 

workshops. Get together with 

people in the same boat as you, 

who understand. Held in a safe, 

considerate, 100% confidential setting 

to discuss what’s on your mind, ask 

questions and make new friends. 

info@peersupporttokyo.com www. 

peersupporttokyo.com 

Infertility support group. TTC 

Tokyo is an infertility support group 

that provides informal opportunities 

for women and men experiencing 

infertility to connect with one another. 

Please visit website for more info. 

admin@ttctokyo.org www.ttctokyo. 

org/ 

11 MESSAGES 

11.1 PERSONAL MESSAGES 

WRITE A MESSAGE FOR YOUR 

SPECIAL SOMEONE! Write 

anything, from birthday 

messages to proposals, and so 

much more! Contact us through 

our website at http://classifieds. 

metropolis.co.jp. 

12 SOCIAL SCENE 

12.1 LET’S PARTY 

JAPAN INTERNATIONAL 

PARTY - Spring Special. Sat, 

Mar 22, 6:30-9pm, Devi 

Fusion (Roppongi). Japan’s 

biggest international party. 

250 people expected. Allyou-can-drink 

and free 

snacks. Japanese men: 

¥4000. Others: ¥3000. 

Mobile: http://getyourfriend. 

com/mobile/ jiparty@hotmail. 

com www.getyourfriend.com/ 

090-1735-5405 

JOIN THE BIGGEST, 

BEST, MOST POPULAR 

INTERNATIONAL PARTY! 

Great people, drinks and food! 

Meet new friends and party 

with nice people in a friendly 

atmosphere. Events in Tokyo 

(Ginza, Azabu, Roppongi) 

and Osaka. ¥1500-¥2000. 

http://english.gaitomo.com/ 

info@gaitomo.com 

13 CLUBS & INTERESTS 

13.1 SPORTS 

A MERICAN FOOTBALL. 

Nihon Unisys Bulls, X league 

Central Division, seeks fit 

players w/ US college football 

experience for all positions. 

Practice every Sat/Sun from 

10am-3pm (including meeting) 

in Tokyo/Saitama (time & venue 

subject to change). Attendance 

at practice must be over 60%. 

Please contact for tryout info and 

send your profile to team admin. 

bullsxleague@gmail.com http:// 

www.unisys.co.jp/football/ 

ALL-NATIONALITY TOUCH 

FOOTBALL. Non-contact tag 

rugby (OZ tag) and Rugby 

League players. We play every 

Sat from 10am in Tatsumi. 

M/F and beginners welcome! 

Good exercise and fun! Many 

other activities, such as BBQs 

and drinking parties! Email for 

details. tokyorugbyleague@ 

hotmail.com http://ameblo. 

jp/tokyo13warriors 

AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE 

PLAYERS. Japan ANZACS 

Rugby League team is seeking 

Rugby League players for 

Japanese Rugby League 

official games from Apr to 

Sep. Everyone welcome. 

Contact for more details. 

japananzacs@gmail.com 

AIKIDO IN ENGLISH. Seidokan 

Aikido of Tokyo invites you to 

practice a modern style of aikido in 

an international environment. Sat, 

1-3pm. Itabashi-ku, Toei Mita/Saikyo 

line. We welcome men and women, 

Japanese and non-Japanese. 

dojo@tokyoseidokan.com www. 

tokyoseidokan.com 03-5994-1185 

PLAY RUGBY. The Tokyo Crusaders 

are a friendly but keen international 

rugby club. Devoted to the game and 

its social side, the “Cru” welcomes 

all players and supporters. 

Established in 1990, the Cru plays 

in the Shuto League 1st Division. 

http://www.facebook.com/tokyo. 

crusaders www.tokyocrusaders. 

com 

TAMBOURELLI. Unique new 

sport from Scotland. Using a 

tambourine-like instrument as a 

racquet, players hit a shuttlecock. 

We play two or three times/month 

on weekends in Meguro with many 

socials. Join us! More details: www. 

tamjapan.org/en/ info@tamjapan.org 

Women’s rugby team seeks players. 

Moving to Japan? Want to keep/start 

playing rugby for a competitive team? 

The PHOENIX wants you! All levels of 

experience. We have many foreign 

players who used to live/play overseas. 

phoenixrugbyjp@gmail.com 

All-level tennis group in Tokyo. 

Serious and motivated tennis players 

sought by active tennis group to join their 

weekly sessions in central Tokyo. We 

have advanced and intermediate groups 

on weekday evenings. Beginner and lowintermediate 

also welcome. No entrance 

or membership fees. Reasonable 

participation fees. tokyo.tennis@yahoo.fr 

Baseball club in Tokyo/Yokohama 

area. Summer is around the corner - who 

wants to play some baseball? Join the 

Tokyo Eagles for our 30th season. We 

play in the Tokyo and Yokohama area 

two to three times/month. Everyone 

welcome. genni951@gmail.com 

Hiroshi Oogai, 

Patent attorney 

Immigration lawyer 

J-STAR PATENT, TRADEMARK & IMMIGRATION OFFICE 

Reasonable prices. 

Free first time consultation 

We can support you with: 

Visa and immigration 

Intellectual property rights 

(Patent, trademark, copyrights) 

Establishing a Company & 

Branch office 

Other Legal & Business matters 

www.j-star.jp 

Grand Prince 

Hotel Akasaka 

Akasaka 

Mitsuke 

stn 

Aoyama Ave 

Akasaka 

Excel 

Hotel 

Tokyu 

Exit 4, 

Nagatacho stn 

Supreme 

Court 

National 

Diet 

Library 

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

Tel: 03-5216-6890 Fax: 03-5216-6891 

Email: hiroshioogai@j-star.jp 

Imperial 

Palace 

WADA Legal & Administrative Office 

For information: 

Tel: (03) 3345-7977 

FAX: (03) 3345-5377 

We can help you with: 

• Visa & Immigration Procedures 

• Mixed Marriage, Naturalisation 

and Refugee Status 

• Establishing a Company & 

Branch Office 

• Accounting Services, Acquiring 

Business Licences 

• Preparation/Translation of 

Legal & Business Documents 

• Other Legal & Business Matters 

http://www.wada-lats.com/ 

E-mail: info@wada-lats.com 

3-5-3-1402 Nishi-Shinjuku, 

Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023 



J O B S 

To advertise: 

commercial@metropolis.co.jp 

03-4588-2277 

BEER CAFÉ BRUGSE ZOT, a new 

Belgian beer restaurant, is seeking 

part-time hall staff, European-looks 

preferred ¥1000/h~. Coredo Muromachi 

2, Nihonbashi, near Tokyo stn. Japanese 

ability required. Email CV to Kondo 

HR Manager. keiichi.kondo@zato. 

co.jp 0120-233-182 http://www. 

world-liquor-importers.co.jp 

SALES INTERN. Metropolis is seeking 

a bilingual (E/J) intern to join the most 

successful English-language advertising 

team (Restaurants & Bars) in Japan. Great 

opportunity to learn about advertising 

in an exciting environment. No pay, but 

transportation provided. Please email 

knakashima@metropolis.co.jp. 

SALES & MARKETING POSITIONS. 

Metropolis is seeking motivated 

bilingual (E/J) sales executives, support 

staff and interns to join its advertising 

and marketing team. Send your resume, 

in both English and Japanese, to jobs@ 

metropolis.co.jp. Positions available 

are posted on our website at http:// 

metropolis.co.jp/jobs. 

Basketball in the Yokohama area. 

Want to play b-ball in the Yokohama 

area? All Japanese, but good enough for 

intermediate games every Mon and Wed 

night at a local school’s gym. Feel free to 

come. It’s free. Please contact for further 

details. satoru.nicolas@gmail.com 

Diving in Izu. Get in touch to talk about 

scuba diving near Tokyo. Information 

on scuba lessons, equipment advice, 

dive trips, monthly social events, CPR 

training, etc. kowtokyo@yahoo.co.jp 

Don's Half-Fast Flash-Mob Weekend 

Urban Bicycle Rides. halffastcycling@ 

hotmail.com 

Football in Toyosu. We organize 

friendly seven/side football every Tue 

and Wed between 7 and 9pm. 1-11-26 

Edagawa, Koto-ku - Korean primary 

school on artificial grass. ramos_ 

japan2006@yahoo.co.jp 

Futsal player. Want to play futsal on 

weekends in Tokyo? Please introduce 

yourself (name, age, nationality, where 

you live, whether you belong to another 

team). futsaluk@yahoo.co.jp 

Futsal players wanted by a very 

friendly international team. Practice is 

in Tokyo and Kanagawa on Sat. Details 

available. fkkyn468@ybb.ne.jp 

Interested in tai chi? Then why not 

start now? Take a step to counter the 

stresses of daily living. Practice is in 

Toyama Park on Sun mornings, near 

Takadanobaba stn. chifact@gmail.com 

Tennis in central Tokyo. Active 

international group of tennis friends in 

central Tokyo welcomes new players. 

We play on weekday evenings and 

weekends. Different levels, fun sessions 

with coach, great people! Motivated 

players preferred. tennis.tokyo@ 

yahoo.fr 

Volleyball Club Intervoll. Japanese 

and foreign volleyball players gather in 

Takadanobaba to enjoy playing. Have 

volleyball experience and want to play 

volleyball in a friendly atmosphere? 

intervollclub@yahoo.co.jp http:// 

intervoll.sakura.ne.jp/ 

13.2 LEISURE 

M A C A R T H U R H E I G H T S . 

Take a break where General Douglas 

MacArthur did! One hour from Tokyo 

by car or direct train. Beautiful 

cabins on the ocean, w/onsen, beach, 

shopping. housinginjapan@yahoo. 

com 

Tokyo Snow Club. A ski/snowboard 

club for anyone living in, or visiting 

Tokyo. We go on big group trips 

every weekend in the winter. Powder, 

live music events, and parties in 

snow. Membership is free! info@ 

tokyosnowclub.com http://www. 

tokyosnowclub.com 050-5806-5616 

13.3 ARTS 

Love Shakespeare? A m a t e u r 

group in Tokyo, meeting once/month 

to celebrate our love of the Bard. 

Come to read, or just to listen. All 

nationalities welcome, no experience 

necessary! rchrd_schwartz@yahoo. 

com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ 

Shakespeare-sama/ 

13.4 MUSIC 

A cappella group. Miss singing? Join 

our singing group! We sing orchestral 

classical music only in human voice, 

conducted by a professional a 

cappella singer. ryusei@acappellacantabile.jp 

http://acappella-cantabile. 

jp/?page_id=202 

INTERNATIONAL 

H O S T E S S E S 

WANTED, fun and 

easygoing, with proper 

visa. Top-quality 

karaoke sound system and stage, 1min 

from Nishi-Kasai stn, Tozai line. Daily 

pay, plus drink back. No tax! Tel: 

03-5696-5397 or 080-3504-9474. 

Email: liza@stardustjapan.com 

Website: www.stardustjapan.com 

INTERNATIONAL BAR AND 

RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT 

COMPANY seeks experienced 

bartenders and hall staff who can work 

long hours for Irish pub/restaurant 

and in a lounge bar. Salary negotiable. 

Energetic, with can-do attitude, valid 

visa. Any nationality is welcome. Email 

resume to jobfinder@skymit.biz. 

FOREIGN LIAISON/CLIENT 

RELATIONS COORDINATOR. Ryuka 

IP Law Firm is seeking a foreign 

liaison/marketing assistant to assist 

with communication to and from our 

foreign clients, three + years of clientrelations 

experience required. For 

details, visit www.ryuka.com/en/ 

careers/info.shtml. Please email 

resume and cover letter (within 400 

words, including reasons for staying in 

Japan) to info@ryuka.com (Subject: 

“Foreign Liaison/Client Relations 

Coordinator”) 

Another "bass player wanted" ad. 

Forming the best blues/rock band in 

Japan to be rock legends. Making CD. 

Right bass player needed. Are you 

out there? See link for my drumming. 

dreamat@nifty.com 

Drummer and bassist wante d 

around Yokohama. We mainly play 

rock music and have rehearsals in 

Shin-Yokohama. Any kind of player is 

welcome, so feel free to contact us. 

m_a_b1998@yahoo.co.jp 

Drummer seeking band. I love 

jazz, fusion and funk. I play twin 

pedals and have my own kit. Weekly 

practices and gigs ok. Tokyo area. 

Please write me back to have a try! 

christianpelissero@yahoo.fr 

Experienced drummer sought 

for live performance in Tokyo area. 

Genre: rock/prog rock. Must be 

comfortable with odd time signature. 

philpost@hotmail.com http://www. 

arthurpentameter.net 

Female vocalist wanted. I'm a JM 

seeking female vocalists who can 

sing English and middle/northern 

European languages for recordings. 

You can listen to some of my demos 

at my website. I live in Yokohama. 

prettypopmusic@gmail.com http:// 

www.prettypop.net/demo/ 

Jam session. American male, 20s, 

seeking someone to jam with. I have 

an acoustic guitar and can play basic 

chords/songs. I like punk/alt rock. 

Let's play! williamjapan2@gmail.com 

Japanese drummer seeking 

musicians. Guitar and bass player 

sought for rock, dance, pop, blues, 

jazz, etc. Melody is important. 

Hopefully, we can have gigs so 

everybody can dance! kosuke1016@ 

hotmail.com 

Musicians wanted to play northern 

European/Scandinavian music 

together, especially violinists, guitarist, 

cellist. Rehearse a couple of times/ 

month in Nakano. unicornio@nifty.com 

Piano/keyboard player wanted for 

long-term collaboration on rock/jazz/ 

funk originals. Someone who can learn 

existing parts note-for-note and also 

add to them where it feels needed. 

Find me at http://reverbnation.com/ 

bradburgess imaginaryinvalid@ 

yahoo.com 

Progressive rock band seeks 

drummer. Band w/CD and a large body 

of originals. This year will also be spent 

developing a repertoire of covers. 

See website for music/band details. 

philpost@hotmail.com http://www. 

arthurpentameter.net 

Seeking electro rock band members. 

I'm a Japanese singer seeking an MC 

who speaks English. I did a European 

concert tour and played at a rock 

festival in Indonesia. I'm making a 

new electro-rock band like Atari and 

Prodigy. dorothydeckerludlow@ 

yahoo.co.jp 

13.5 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT 

Diamond Way Buddhism Tokyo. 

Do you want to explore your own 

mind? Guided Buddhist meditation 

every Sun, 6pm, near Azabu-Juban. 

International practitioners, beginners 

welcome, Japanese spoken. Please 

call 090-3598-3072 for more 

information. daginia@gmail.com www. 

diamondway.jp/ 

Zen meditation (Zazen). You’ve 

always thought it would be interesting 

to try it - why not now? Join us Fri 

evenings at Tokuun-in in Ueno. Make 

arrangements in advance by email, and 

check our home page. tokyozazen@ 

jcom.home.ne.jp www.wgthorpe.com 

13.9 INTERNATIONAL 

Intercultural activities. JII (Japan 

Intercultural Institute) is a nonprofit, 

member-run organization 

that sponsors activities (seminars, 

cultural events, conferences) for 

those wanting to further develop 

intercultural competencies and 

meet other interculturalists. yuko. 

bolick@japanintercultural.org www. 

japanintercultural.org 

Nihongo 倶楽部いんたぁなしょなる. 

Nihongo Club International is a 

volunteer group to help foreign people 

learn Japanese at the Tokyo Volunteer 

Action Center in Iidabashi. Every Thu, 

7-9pm. nci_tokyo@yahoo.co.jp 

14 PERSONALS 

14.1 FRIENDS 

Are you from... JF, 30s, seeking 

nonsmoking friends from Denmark, 

Germany, Canada or Australia for 

having fun times together. Let's 

meet for a cup of coffee first. Please 

be nonsmokers, 30s. Mail with selfintroduction, 

please! b2jw13@hotmail. 

co.jp 

Brazilian/Latin/jazz appreciation. I 

know many interesting Latin clubs/jazz 

bars, but have nobody to go with. If you 

are a music lover, please join me. I’ll show 

you around interesting music spots in 

Tokyo. roseroseiloveyoujp@yahoo.co.jp 

Danes wanted! JF, 30s, into Denmark 

like crazy. Er der nogen dansker i 

Tokyo eller Kanagawa at moedes til 

kaffe og hjaelpe mig at laere dansk 

lidt? Please be nonsmokers, 30s 

preferred. Glaeder mig til at hoere fra 

jer! codename107113@live.com 

Enjoy healthy meals. Japanese 

female, 30, enjoys exploring 

restaurants with healthy options. I'm 

not a vegetarian, but I enjoy organic 

food, fruit, etc. Seeking company to 

try a new restaurant with. Available 

weekends; Tokyo or Kanagawa. 

Thanks. jpn_camelia@yahoo.com 

Jazz-playing friends in Tokyo. 

Japanese male seeking jazz players for 

fun in the Tokyo area. I've been playing 

the alto sax for a couple of years. Still 

amateur, but want to play with others. 

yossynet@ra2.so-net.ne.jp 

Let's go for a walk. I am an Eastern 

European guy, 19, seeking Japanese 

friends to hang out around Tokyo. Very 

kind and polite. Andrew to moshimasu! 

Please send me a message for details. 

nai-5@mail.ru 

Lunch friends. Hi, I'm half-Caucasian 

American, half-Japanese, 29, from 

Hawaii. I speak Japanese. Living 

and working in Tokyo as an English 

instructor. I'm seeking lunch friends. 

We'll have fun. julianhoward1995@ 

gmail.com 

New friends. I am a Russian female, 27, 

living in Tokyo, married, with a young 

baby, seeking new friends who could 

meet up sometimes for tea and a chat. 

Prefer similar age and situation. Female 

only, please. positve@hotmail.com 

New friends. American male, can 

never have enough friends. If you feel 

the same way, please look me up. I 

enjoy drinking, dining, or just hanging 

out at a cafe as long as the conversation 

is interesting. mixnplay@yahoo.com 

New York Yankees fan in Tokyo area. 

Long-time Yankees fan living near 

Machida, Tokyo, seeking to meet likeminded 

people who are also fans of 

the greatest franchise in all sports over 

food and drinks. bravo_2003@hotmail. 

com 080-6554-8688 

Online friends from foreign countries. 

Japanese female seeks penpal from 

overseas to talk about culture, books 

and art online. No men who talk about 

their ex-girlfriends. Women hate that! 

peaceful_world8@hotmail.com 

Seeking friend. JF, late 30s, seeking 

foreign friend. I speak English (lived in 

the US before), and I also want to learn 

other languages. Men, women, gay - it 

doesn't matter to me, but nonsmokers, 

drug-free only. kinnnoune714@yahoo. 

co.jp 

Seeking friends in central Tokyo. 

JF, early 30s, seeks friends to hang 

out with in central Tokyo. atkm92@ 

yahoo.co.jp 

Trading anyone? Friendly American 

guy living in central Tokyo and 

trading for a living. I’m seeking E/J 

bilingual people interested in trading 

to exchange trading education for 

Japanese language help. My schedule 

is flexible. Let’s meet up! blendy1321@ 

gmail.com 

Travel partner required. Hi, I 

am a professional male, frequent 

traveler, seeking a travel partner 

who's interested in traveling together. 

hanami1915@me.com 

14.2 MEN LOOKING FOR 

WOMEN 

ADORABLE AND HANDSOME JM 

seeking long-term relationship. 

Good-looking, caring, bilingual, 

financially stable Japanese male, 

mid-30s, seeks sincere woman 

around Tokyo for a serious romantic 

relationship leading to a long-term 

relationship. Please mail me with 

details. pirlo_cucchiaio@hotmail. 

com 

NY BUSINESSMAN seeks 

cute Japanese girlfriend. NY 

businessman, 36, fit, educated, 

learning Japanese, frequently 

traveling to Tokyo and SE Asian 

countries, seeks cute girlfriend, 

24-36. I like gourmet restaurants, 

traveling, wine bars, nature, ryokan, 

museums, art galleries, Edo history. 

ny2tky@gmail.com 

AAA-rated new boyfriend! Tall, 

handsome, athletic SWM with goodguy 

status, warmhearted, honest, fun, 

adventurous, passionate, loves the 

outdoors, seeks slender, attractive 

female. I'm seeking a special lady 

with the same love of life for a longterm 

relationship. nightwatchblue@ 

gmail.com 

Affluent and excellent Japanese 

architectural engineer who works 

for one of the five biggest general 

contractors in Japan is seeking an 

attractive and steady Caucasian 

(single white American or European) 

sex partner for love. imak1_2_3@ 

yahoo.co.jp 

Attractive black girl? Handsome, 

young, very athletic, blond American 

guy seeking beautiful black girl, any 

nationality, under 40. I speak a little of 

many languages, so mail and give it a 

shot! Shallumain@yahoo.co.jp 

Attractive Japanese male for SWF. 

Seeking attractive Western female 

with a nice smile. If you are interested 

in chatting over coffee or nice food, 

please contact me and let me know. 

I am looking forward to your contact. 

juniperten2013@gmail.com 

Attractive JM seeks long-term 

relationship in Tokyo. Successful 

Japanese businessman, 35, bilingual, 

nice-looking, caring, fit, seeks longterm 

relationship, potentially leading 

to marriage. If interested, please 

feel free to drop me a line. Photo 

preferred. pirlo_cucchiaio@hotmail. 

com 

Attractive single Japanese male 

seeks a nice Western or Japanese 

female for friendship and possibly 

more. Nonsmokers preferred. I am 

confident that I can create fun times 

for you. If you are ready, email me. 

cioinjapan@gmail.com 

Big, tall woman? Guy seeks tall, 

larger-than-average woman. Age, 

nationality and looks not important. 

spk3006@i.softbank.jp 

British male, 31, friendly, tall, slim, 

seeking a nice girl to hang out with. 

Nationality/race unimportant, 

but should be 20-35 and have a 

nice personality. Interested in 

music and film: you should be, too. 

shiodomebye@gmail.com 

British man seeking JF f o r 

friendship and maybe more, 

depending on if we click. Successful, 

kind, sexy and generally fun guy to 

be with. So definitely worth getting to 

know me! Thanks. stalonelyheart@ 

gmail.com 

Can we be friends? Married man for 

housewife. Can we exchange emails 

and meet sometimes for a coffee 

together? Serious but slightly lonely 

married gentleman here. vbcfgt@ 

hotmail.com 

Caring and cute JM seeks attractive, 

hearty, nonsmoking Western female 

for friendship. I simply would like 

to share fun, interesting and great 

experiences with you. If you feel 

the same way, just drop me a line. 

jinzaixyz@yahoo.co.jp 

Daytime. I need someone to 

awaken some desire during the day. 

Frustrated, bored and seeking some 

mad passion with nothing attached. 

Slim, decent-looking, mid-30s, all 

yours... for a few hours. artoistk@ 

hotmail.com 

English and Japanese. Englishspeaking 

American man, 45, 

seeking a language exchange over 

lunch or dinner with a Japanese 

female. I am married and not 

seeking a relationship - just a friend. 

americaninjapan@hushmail.com 

English teacher seeking real 

woman. Charismatic and passionate 

English teacher seeking real woman 

over 30 (single/married) for English 

lessons and fun. crisibz1@gmail.com 

Englishman seeks adventurous 

woman. Englishman, 40s, younglooking, 

reasonably fit, active, highly 

educated, 173cm, blond hair, varied 

interests (sports, music, literature), 

seeks feminine women. I like skirts, 

heels. Age, looks not important. 

Nationality unimportant. spk3006@i. 

softbank.jp 

European gentleman, late 40s, tall, 

educated, good-looking, S, seeks M 

lady, under 30, with unusual fantasies, 

ready to explore the extraordinary. 

One mouse click can make your 

secret desires come true! aminimia@ 

yahoo.com 

Exchange with web designer. 

Foreign male seeking a female web 

designer. Single, liberal-minded 

person preferred. Must be available 

to meet in Tokyo, two-three times/ 

month. I'll teach you English. In 

return, you teach me how to create 

websites. jj08@drivehq.com 



Frenchman seeks woman. French 

gentleman, smart, funny, handsome, 

well-hung, seeks woman. I'll love you 

like no man has ever before. I live in 

Minami-Azabu. Write me - you won't be 

disappointed. dhalexisfr@gmail.com 

Handsome American man seeks 

Japanese lady. I'm an American 

gentleman, 5'9", 175lbs, dark blond 

hair, blue eyes, seeking a sincere, loving 

relationship with a special lady. I can 

speak Japanese. tommtgyi@gmail.com 

Handsome and cool SJM seeks 

well-educated, interesting, attractive, 

nonsmoking SWF to share wonderful 

times and make a good friendship. 

So let's meet for coffee or lunch and 

get to know each other better. If no 

experience, just try me. healsan@ 

yahoo.com 

Italian boyfriend. Open-minded lady 

sought by an Italian executive working 

in central Tokyo. I'm good-looking and 

love wine. You won't be disappointed! 

gioochan@libero.it 

Japanese male, 41, single, seeks 

sincere, warm, open-minded white 

female for friendship and romance. I am 

generous, nonsmoking, like traveling, 

reading, philosophy and enjoying my 

life. skyoverture@excite.co.jp 

JM seeking foreign girl. I'm easygoing 

and I want to speak in English so I don't 

forget. Let's do something fun! Please 

mail me and we can exchange some 

photos. Thanks. kosuke1016@hotmail. 

com 

Just human. We are just humans 

and can sometimes find ourselves in 

a situation beyond our control which 

we call loneliness. I guess there is an 

understanding JF out there who might 

understand me. Serious only, please. 

strike4me@yahoo.com 

Karaoke. Seeking female friend to 

sing karaoke with. Green Day, Nirvana, 

etc. Age, looks not important. Let’s 

have fun. friendlylatour@hotmail.com 

Large and lovely English-speaking 

woman, 30-50, sought by mature, 

single Japanese gentleman, 

nonsmoker. shingitai@apost.plala. 

or.jp 

Lazy weekends together? Seeking 

attractive and curvy girlfriend, 

160cm+, who is fun to be around and 

seeking intimacy in the Tokyo area. I’m 

a caring Afro-American male from NY, 

35, 183cm, shaved head, athletic build, 

working in IT. Interested? sbmmodel@ 

yahoo.com 

Let's get to know each other. 

Single male, early 30s, seeking a 

female who prefers to get to know a 

person over a cup of coffee or by just 

walking together. I enjoy talking to 

people face-to-face. Nihongo ok desu. 

uniman@gmail.com 

Long-haired SJM seeks nice female 

with similar hobbies. I'm a Japanese 

male, 40s, cool and honest. I like rock 

music, American TV dramas, movies, 

tattoo art, and going for walks and 

taking pictures. getloud999-hello@ 

yahoo.co.jp 

Mature and sophisticated Japanese, 

some have said charming, seeking an 

elegant, passionate, kind SWF. I dream 

about wild nights as well as sharing the 

simple pleasures of love. Is that you? 

imak1_2_3@yahoo.co.jp 

Mature friendship. Gentleman, 53, 

in very good shape physically and 

mentally, seeking a similar woman, 

45-65, for friendship and adult fun 

together. Nothing too serious. vbcfgt@ 

hotmail.com 

Mature Japanese lady. I 'm an 

Australian guy, single, tall, athletic 

build, 45, well-established in Tokyo 

with a good job. I want to meet an 

interesting, mature Japanese lady 

around my age. soleman196@hotmail. 

com 

Mature Japanese woman sought. 

I am a fun, open-minded, respectful 

and athletic person. r_andom@ 

hotmail.com 

Need company? US male from 

California, late 30s, seeking a good 

time with a SJF for dining, movies, 

sports, onsen, trips, exploring new 

places or just watching DVDs or 

cooking at home. Replies in Japanese 

ok. ilikesandiego@yahoo.co.jp 

Need love. Handsome English 

gentleman, moderate build, mid- 

30s, needs beautiful, passionate JF. I 

am handsome, fun, intelligent, wellmannered 

and empathic. Let's have 

romance together. Please send photo 

w/email. I'm looking forward to hearing 

from you. edanoki@gmail.com 

Nice gentleman seeks a mature 

Japanese woman, 50+, to enjoy special 

sweet moments together, with respect 

and good manners. vbcfgt@hotmail. 

com 

Normal relationship. W h i t e 

American businessman, 40s, 185cm, 

85kg, average appearance, seeks 

long-term relationship - dinner, drinks, 

deep conversation, occasional travel. 

Not seeking marriage, but want to 

enjoy romance and intimacy. Not 

concerned about looks, just seeking 

someone intelligent and adventurous. 

tokyojack22@gmail.com 

Pasta and wine. Fresh cooked 

pasta, a nice bottle of wine, a good 

movie - is there any better way to 

spend an evening relaxing? Oh yes - 

someone relaxed to share it with. I’m 

in Tokyo from England. Who are you? 

erolp.x.ei@gmail.com 

Private relax time. British (M)WM, 

50s. Many interests = easy chatting. 

Mail or Skype? tempteccobox@ 

hotmail.com 

Romance with an older lady. Very 

nice and sexy gentleman seeks an 

older, or much older, woman to have 

nice dates and a romance. feeltokyo@ 

yahoo.co.uk 

Seeking foreign housewife. Very 

masculine Caucasian man working 

and living in central Tokyo is seeking a 

foreign housewife, any age ok. vbcfgt@ 

hotmail.com 

Seeking girlfriend. Foreign male, 

40s, seeking Japanese females for 

friendship and possibly serious 

relationships in Tokyo, Chiba area. I am 

kind, warm, caring and nonsmoking. 

Let's have a date over a cup of 

coffee. Serious females only, please. 

serioussa@gmail.com 

Seeking JF. European guy, 40s, goodlooking, 

easygoing, kind, fun, seeks JF 

for nice times. Nihongo hanasemasu. 

ziyadi66@yahoo.com 

Seeking long-term. Cool American 

guy, 30s, just out of a long relationship, 

seeking a long-term relationship with a 

good looking JF, 18-29. I like a girl with 

a positive attitude. It will be so good! 

Contact me! coolgaijin@yahoo.com 

Seeking motorbike buddy. Hi, gals! 

I am seeking a friend who will join me 

to roam around Tokyo on my bike. I 

don't know Japanese. Looking forward 

to exploring with you. naangem@ 

gmail.com 

Seeking serious girlfriend. Nice 

guy from Europe, 40s, seeks only one 

serious girlfriend, 30s-40s, in Tokyo. 

I like movies, music, dining out, nice 

drinks at nice places. Let's share great 

times. sinohe45@yahoo.com 

Seeking serious relationship. Hi, 

I'm half-Caucasian American, half- 

Japanese, 29, from Hawaii. I speak 

Japanese. Living and working in 

Tokyo as an English instructor. I'm 

seeking a serious girl. Thank you. 

julianhoward1995@gmail.com 

Seeking some fun with a SJM? Cool, 

tall, witty Japanese male is seeking 

some fun with a single white female 

in Tokyo. We can start from friends! 

kemkekilab@gmail.com 

Serious relationship European 

man, 30, 180cm, living in Tokyo, 

loves movies, music, travel, seeks a 

serious relationship. 日本語大丈夫です. 

lafranceatokyo2013@gmail.com 

Serious, long-term. SWM, 34, welleducated 

and traveled, with a stable 

job, seeks true love. If you are 20-30s, 

warm and caring, and seeking a 

serious long-term relationship, then 

please drop me an email. Serious only, 

no games. No Roppongi girls, please. 

Lasagna5577@yahoo.com 

Serious. Single male, 37, tall, seeking 

a female, any nationality ok, for a 

long-term relationship. Please email 

me with a small introduction. Let's 

meet for a coffee and see how it goes. 

montamula@yahoo.com 

SJM for SWF, DWF or mixed. SJM, 

30s, would like to have conversation, 

coffee, drinks, lunch, dinner, your smile 

and hopefully a serious, meaningful 

relationship. My interests are music, 

art, photography, painting, movies, 

jokes and you! No playgirls, please. 

happymantarou@yahoo.com 

Someone special. Inte re sting, 

sincere, outgoing but homely romantic 

Englishman in Kanagawa seeks special 

lady, around 40, genuine, happy, 

healthy, with energy for life and time 

for her man, interested in nature and 

an international lifestyle in the future. 

travelmanuk@hotmail.com 

Sports lovers. Attractive European 

businessman, 50s, seeking an attractive 

woman, any age, for ice skating or skiing 

(day-trips from Tokyo). Please send 

message w/photo. turbo32s@yahoo.fr 

Together forever. SJM, 40s, 

professional, smart, clever, seeking a 

sweet and caring lady to be together 

forever. Into movies, the outdoors 

and much more. Together shall we 

explore? If interested, send me an email. 

toshinoris1012@yahoo.co.jp 

UK lady. SJM, 30s, tall, slim, lover 

of books, films, and music, seeks an 

attractive British lady with the same 

interests. hurryondownboy@yahoo.co.jp 

Uncomplicated daytime friendship? 

Mature English Caucasian guy, busy but 

easy to find free time, seeking a JF, maybe 

married, for happy, fun time together. 

Many interests, so easy to chat. Polite, 

considerate and respectful. Mail, Skype, 

whatever? tempteccobox@hotmail.com 

Very special, only for you. Attractive, 

youthful JM, late 40s, seeks a lovely 

woman. Tokyo is cold now; let’s do some 

things to keep warm together. I’m fun, 

kind and handsome. samuraijapan2011@ 

gmail.com 

Want girlfriend around Kanagawa, 

any nationality, status, age. I'm seeking 

a girlfriend to share my free time with. 

I like training at sports clubs, DJ-ing 

and listening to EDM, outdoor activities 

(wandervoger) and exploring Tokyo. 

Must be cheerful. moonlightomo@ 

hotmail.com 

Warmer and warmer. Foreign male 

seeking a woman for a relationship based 

on mutual need and trust. Let's warm 

each other's hearts in these cold months 

and beyond. You: under 36, nonsmoker, 

sincere, open-minded towards Asians. 

jj08@drivehq.com 

Wing girl sought to roll with me in my 

pursuit to be a master pickup artist. 

What's in it for you? Fun! Email me. 

boredmonzen@yahoo.com 

愛人を探しています. 優しくて親切な男性 

は,やさしい女性の愛人に会いたいんですけど. 

vbcfgt@hotmail.com 

既婚者の出会い. 30 代前半の白人の既婚 

者です。同様の既婚者の飲み友を探していま 

す。maroonlanding@outlook.com 

東京に住んでる英国人 . 日本語はちょっと 

だけできるけど英語分からない女の子捜してる. 

cook.oishii@gmail.com 

14.3 WOMEN LOOKING 

FOR MEN 

SINGLE? Then this is for you. 

Singles-only dating parties 

every Fri night for foreign 

men and Japanese women. 

Leave the event with a new 

date! Always more women 

than men. FREE if signing 

up in advance! Otherwise, 

¥2000. info@exeointernational.com 

LAVISH DATES AND 

INDULGENT NIGHTS - WE 

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES for 

elite foreign males to meet 

elegant Japanese females. 

Start with a luxurious dinner 

date,take the night where 

you want it to go. Fresh, 

young women join our club 

every day. Try our free onemonth 

trial offer: first date 

is on us! 0120-675-858 (E) 

international@universeclub.jp 

http://universe-club. 

jp/en 

Attractive, decent single man sought 

by SJF, around 50, young-looking, 

attractive, slim, kind, serious, sweet, 

living in Tokyo. If you are seeking a 

life partner, please mail me with your 

introduction. Serious and single only. 

Thank you. leohimawari7@yahoo.co.jp 

Blossom time. Blonde, blue-eyed, 

flexible woman seeks sweet-natured 

Japanese gentleman, over 60, for longterm 

romance and fun. No married men, 

thank you. Tokyo, please. sallysensei@ 

yahoo.com 

Casual to start. Hi, I'm a SJF, early 

30s, 5'3, in average shape, seeking a 

casual relationship to start. I enjoy good 

laughs, food and wine, yoga, football 

(playing/watching). Email if interested. 

maya_h_125@hotmail.com 

European professional. SJF seeks 

a European professional, 30s, living in 

Japan, for a serious relationship possibly 

leading to marriage. Please email if you 

are caring, cultured, happy with your 

life here and also seeking something 

serious. happyflower735@gmail.com 

Japan-loving French guy. SJF seeks 

a French guy who loves living in Japan, 

30s, for a serious relationship, possibly 

leading to marriage. I am caring, 

curious and open-minded. Serious only. 

vinrouge735@gmail.com 

Let's have a chat over drinks. Hi, I'm 

seeking someone who'd be interested 

in talking over drinks with me. I like 

wine, beer, sake, traveling. If you are 

interested in having a chat with me, send 

me a message. hacchiru@gmail.com 

Long-term relationship. Chinese 

female, early 40s, looks younger, tall and 

slim, seeking a tall SWM living in Tokyo 

for a long-term relationship. Please 

email me with a small introduction. 

Let's meet for coffee to see how it goes. 

k.adachi1904@gmail.com 

Love snowboarding? Hiking? 

I’m an athletic, fun SJF, 39, seeking a 

guy who can have a big laugh with me! 

Serious, single only, please. enohpi4s@ 

yahoo.ca 

Meow. Meow, meow. Cute Japanese 

princess seeking special prince in Tokyo, 

smart, funny, a gentleman, 25-34. I’m a 

little bit selfish because I’m a princess. 

Please attach your photo, then I’ll give 

you mine. 6pack.curocuta@gmail.com 

Naturally beautiful. SJF, 45, with 

a great figure. I believe I look good 

without makeup, in jeans/T-shirt, after 

waking up, after hard exercise. I enjoy 

dressing up for special occasions. 

Single, witty, intelligent seeks the same. 

American preferred. pinktomato214@ 

gmail.com 

Oriental beauty. Long black hair, 

silky smooth skin, exotic eyes and full 

lips - looks may be important, but my 

best assets are my head and heart. 

Intelligent, fun-loving, mid-40s, seeking 

a single/divorced native English 

speaker, fun-loving and doing well. 

sunflower7withyou@gmail.com 

See how it goes. Seeking someone 

around my age (30), single, 

independent. Let's start as friends first 

and see how it goes. Hope to have some 

common interests. Photo appreciated. 

Thanks. musicinlife@excite.co.jp 

Seeking British man. I'm 26, live 

in central Tokyo, and am seeking an 

independent British man, 30-37. If you 

want to meet a new friend, please send 

me an email with your basic info. aiko. 

tsuchida17@yahoo.com 

Seeking Frenchman for serious 

relationship. I’m a SJF, 30s, interested 

in France, seeking a relationship with 

a sincere and intelligent Frenchman, 

25-45. No language exchange or games, 

please. Serious only. framboisier@ 

inter7.jp 

Seeking long-term relationship. SJF, 

45, seeking someone special, around 

my age, living or working around Tokyo, 

athletic, fit, professional, a nonsmoker 

and a native English speaker. Only 

people with steady jobs. No travelers or 

students. Thanks! mari46@yahoo.co.jp 

Serious. Single male, 37, tall, seeking 

a female, any nationality ok, for a 

long-term relationship. Please email 

me with a small introduction. Let's 

meet for a coffee and see how it goes. 

montamula@yahoo.com 

Sexy in the kitchen. Provide 

me with a lovely kitchen 

instead of taking me out 

to dinner - spending time 

with you at a lovely table 

is such a luxury. Beautiful, 

intelligent Japanese, 45, 

seeking single professional 

mature American. 

enfant7bythesea@yahoo. 

co.jp 

Someone new. International-minded, 

early 30s, seeking new people for 

dates. I consider myself attractive 

and down-to-earth. I'm seeking an 

independent single guy. Message 

with photo appreciated. Thanks. jpn_ 

camelia@yahoo.com 

Straight to my heart. Me: natural, 

genuine, feminine, witty, attractive, 

40s. You: educated, straightforward, 

open-minded single man who 

wishes to share love and life with his 

equal. European preferred. amrita_ 

banana2014@yahoo.co.jp 

Take me away. SJF, mid-30s, enjoys 

a stylish and healthy life, is tall and 

attractive, lives in Tokyo, seeks a 

sophisticated, honest, open-minded, 

attractive SWM with a great sense of his 

lifestyle. Would appreciate discovering 

new things together. antidotes.4u@ 

gmail.com 

Ultra-feminine and gentle, but I can 

be tough and fun. Me: SJF, happy with 

my looks from head to toe, 45, educated 

and nurturing. You: easygoing single 

American, appreciates both simplicity 

and luxury, up to 50s. bluecolt_ 

liholiho@yahoo.co.jp 

14.4 GAY & LESBIAN 

Asian newhalf? European guy, 40, 

good-looking, open-minded, seeks 

newhalf or shemale in Tokyo. Let's meet 

to share nice times. santamanta2006@ 

yahoo.com 

British seeking newhalf to spend 

some time with. If you are interested, 

do get in touch. stalonelyheart@gmail. 

com 

Friends and fun. Japanese guy, 27, 

170, 65, good-looking, seeking friends 

and fun in/around Tokyo. Please reply 

w/face photo and stats. Thanks. kcv@ 

hotmail.co.jp 

Seeking top guys. Asian bottom 

guy, 41, 178, 74, seeking tops from any 

nationality for no-strings-attached fun. 

Unfortunately, I can't host, so either 

we meet at your place or go to a hotel. 

btm72japan@gmail.com 

Serious Japanese guys. GAM in 

Tokyo, 173, 70, 37, into movies, onsen, 

traveling, badminton, sign language, 

violin, aikido. Drop me a line if you 

are interested in something serious 

and long-term. Seeking good friends, 

preferably boyfriend. cynopterustay@ 

hotmail.com 

14.5 ESCORTS 

JAPAN’S COMPLETE ADULT 

NIGHTLIFE GUIDE FOR 

FOREIGNERS! Having trouble 

finding a Japanese girl for 

fun? Come to http://erolin.net 

and check all possible clubs 

and escorts for foreigners! 

When you visit, don’t forget 

to mention “Erolin Guide”! 

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A S I A N M Y S T I Q U E 

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your girlfriend experience 

in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, 

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Japanese escorts provide 

the fun, professional 

staff provide peace of 

mind. Open 24/7, same 

day orders welcome. 

asianmystiquejp@yahoo. 

co.jp www.asianmystique. 

com 080-5454-9795 

14.6 AND OTHERS 

Dominant Japanese gentleman, 

with 25 years of experience, mid-50s, 

177cm, 79kg, married, nonsmoker, 

discreet, perfectly healthy, seeks a 

hidden submissive lady of any age or 

nationality for Gorean or Histoire d’Ostyle 

relationship. tarlstefan@hotmail. 

com 

European man, handsome, tall, clean, 

seeks couple or woman for sexual fun. 

日本語も大丈夫です! srj500@gmail.com 

I want to be a slave boy. Are there 

any sadistic girls out there? I want to be 

your toy/slave. Please mail me and let's 

start talking. kosuke1016@hotmail.com 

Pleasure and discretion assured. 

Stylish American, 188cm, seeks 

encounters with females to introduce 

them to worlds of sensual pleasure. 

vinculavinculorumestshibuya@gmail. 

com 

Seeking JF for threesome fun. 

Japanese-American couple seeks a 

secure, open-minded Japanese female, 

25-45, for an occasional threesome. 

We are experienced, relaxed, fun to 

be with. Beginners welcome. Imagine 

the possibilities! simpleton2014@ 

outlook.com 

Seeking mistress. Caucasian seeking 

a domination playmate, experienced 

or inexperienced, nothing dangerous 

or extreme. Me: safe, clean, healthy, 

generous. ms2013spk@yahoo.com 

Sissy maid. I am a very submissive 

sissy maid who loves cleaning, 

punishment, housework. I hope to 

meet a woman who could make 

use of my services. Free, clean, 

obedient, extremely hardworking. 

supersissy789@yahoo.co.jp 

Soft S&M. I'm an open-minded, fun bi 

white guy, 33. I would like to play soft 

S&M. Better if you are S, but interested 

in both roles. I'm seeking a guy, girl or 

both. bluehills79@hotmail.com 

Western slave boy seeking Japanese 

woman to be my mistress. I am a fit, 

athletic British guy in Tokyo trained 

as a slave to serve a lady in any way. 

Cleaning, cooking, massage - anything 

she wishes. singaporejamie@yahoo. 

com 

15 JOBS 

15.1 JOB WANTED 

Part-time job sought. Sean from the 

UK, 42, 12+ years in Japan, seeking 

work in/around Saitama, Mon-Thu. 

Experience teaching English to all 

ages. Permanent resident, married. All 

other work offers considered gratefully. 

snt366@yahoo.co.jp www.seannt. 

weebly.com 


BY CATHRYN MOE Horoscope 

♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck 

ARIES 

Mar 20~Apr 19 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣ 

TAURUS 

Apr 20~May 20 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣ 

GEMINI 

May 21~June 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣ 

CANCER 

June 22~July 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

You’re in your Birthday Zone. Happy 

Birthday, Aries! Juno, the constant 

companion, approaches Uranus 

in your sign. You may notice the surprises are 

becoming sweeter and sweeter. You’ve got to 

choose what is really in your heart, because the 

path that is rising up for you could become very 

solid. Friends are especially unique and will be 

piquing Aries, hottest flame of the zodiac. 

Soon you'll be free from the heavy karmic 

intonations of the north node in your 

house of partnership. It’s conjunct is now 

Ceres, so you might feel at the end of your tether, but 

have some serious happening back-up. You will get 

support from someone, likely female, or an organization 

that you least expect. The full moon reflects its 

light and understanding in your romance sector. It’s 

amazing how creative you can be when you want to. 

Things are just getting exciting. With 

all those planets square to your sign in 

Pisces, you're pushed through more 

than one hoop—not comfortable, but necessary. 

Your creative powers are coming to the surface and 

it’s time to allow this balance in your life. The trick is 

finding it. Many Geminis would love to get on a jet 

and fly off to a new adventure. With the full moon, 

the light of understanding show you how to get it. 

Jupiter in your sign is doing what it’s 

supposed to do, moving direct and 

expanding your sense of self. Next 

month it will be opposite Pluto and you’ll get some 

tests you can deal at that time. Just now, the full 

moon, your ruler, expands your base of communications. 

You have a comforting way of expressing 

yourself except when you feel misunderstood. If 

feeling put upon, ask for a hug and appreciation. 

LEO 

July 23~Aug 22 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣ 

VIRGO 

Aug 23~Sep 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

You can see every tiny piece of the 

puzzle. Will you have time to back up 

and see the whole picture? I vote yes. 

You get a strong sense of your feelings and what you 

want to do with the recent events presented to you. 

Your ruler Mercury transits opposite your sign on 

Monday. Is your mind awash with the nebulous ebb 

and flow of the tides? It still works, it’s just submerged 

in an intuitive environment. 

LIBRA 

Sep 23~Oct 22 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣ 

Libra, the psychologist, the negotiator. 

Mars moves through your sign, 

removing anything that isn’t you, energizing 

you for upcoming surprises Uranus is bound 

to bring. Venus resides in your house of romance, 

giving you a level of comfort you haven’t had for a 

long time. She also has the ability to take a step back 

and analyze what is usually emotionally based. It’s 

unlikely this is a time of rest and relaxation though. 

SCORPIO 

Oct 23~Nov 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

It’s always risky to take a chance in 

romance. A lot of people just won’t. They’ll 

make excuses or find something wrong 

with the other person before they get in too deep. 

There’s a full moon this week and the light of understanding 

moves from your unconscious (moon) to 

your conscious (sun) mind. Neptune, Chiron and the 

Sun in your sector of gambling and love affairs want 

you to risk healing. 

A full moon is in your solar second house 

of finance and you may find your income 

benefits from a strong feminine influence, 

or something beautiful coming under your care. 

Then Mercury moves into your sector of psychological 

plot twists on Monday. Dive for cover and go to 

that solid, peaceful place you keep within yourself. 

Don’t have one? Oh. Maybe it’s time to create one that 

is there for you regardless of what is happening. 

SAGITTARIUS 

Nov 22~Dec 21 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣ 

Hang on to those dreams. They didn’t 

come from just anywhere. You're a part 

of everything that is, and that which best 

matches you tends to show up. You’re somewhat 

in the astrological clear this week. As long as you 

don’t get in your own way! Watch for more love in 

relationships. You may think others have changed, 

but it many ways, this is a reflection of the hard work 

you have put into yourself. Sags are coming into their 

own as the full moon brings clarity to your career. 

CAPRICORN 

Dec 22~Jan 19 ♥♥♥♥ ¥ ♣♣♣ 

Brimming to be off to your next adventure? 

It could very well be that scenario 

occurs for you this week. The full moon 

promises a long distance journey—whether it’s a trip 

to visit a loved one or a heart opening you weren’t 

expecting. Mercury moves to your sector of mystical 

connections Monday, not a moment too soon! 

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, which condenses and 

solidifies. Jupiter opposite your sign is direct, opening 

things up, especially with a significant other. 

AQUARIUS 

Jan 20~Feb 18 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣ 

Floating above the fray is an Aquarian 

specialty. But deep down inside, you’re 

really not wired all that differently. You’re 

just as likely to get caught up in things as the rest 

of the zodiac. Being a sign of logic you’re willing to 

wait for what you want, so it looks like you’re not 

involved. You like to see how everything fits into the 

bigger picture. You want the pieces to have a smooth, 

integrated finish. The full moon reflects on how you 

can inherit the best this world has to offer. 

PISCES 

Feb 19~Mar 20 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

A new path is there if you want it. You 

need to take the next step, the following, 

and so on. You don’t need an arsenal of 

gear to back you up in your civvy life. Coffee and tea 

motivate because they push past the resistance you 

hold within yourself. Resistance of course comes 

from lack of trust. And that can arrive when things 

seem a bit shaky-or a lot. Mercury helps you express 

yourself when it enters your sign on Monday. You’re 

still in your Birthday Zone. Happy Birthday, Pisces! 

Metropolis Mediabox 

facebook.com/MetropolisMagazine 

twitter.com/MetropolisTokyo 

CHRISTI ROCHIN 

LIVIN' ON A PRAYER 

Regarding "Silver Linings Prayer Book" 

(The Last Word, March 7): While I have 

great respect for Tohoku volunteers I 

have to say I found this article rather 

annoying. The main point seems to be 

that things are still very serious and 

depressing which surely hardly needs 

saying... 

It has been well documented that 

the relief efforts so far have left a lot of 

work still to do and Amya surely knows 

better than most people what really 

is required on the ground in terms of 

money, materials and effective action 

on the political front. I would love 

to have heard what that is.—Charles 

Marlowe 

This could not have been easy to write 

and it is important to know what the 

real situation is. Even when trying to be 

positive. It definitely seems like keeping 

a positive veneer on Tohoku news is 

being made a priority. Obviously the 

conversation needs to continue about 

what to do.—Patrick Ijima-Washburn 

This article was meant as an update 

on the status of life in Rikuzentakata 

(and beyond) and not as a request for 

assistance in the form of funds, goods, 

time, or expertise... The fact life in Tohoku 

is serious and depressing does need 

saying. I've heard statements, as have my 

colleagues: "You had a hard time three 

years ago, but you're okay now, right?" 

Many who do not have direct access to 

information about just how challenging 

it is to live alongside devastation daily 

do need to be reminded that life here is 

anything but normal, and life here is not 

"okay". 

If you or others would like to know 

what specific needs we have to which 

you would like to donate, please contact 

me at Rikuzentakata City Hall. I would 

be happy to provide this information.— 

Amya Miller 


SERVICE CHARGE 

Regarding "The Customer is God 

Delusion" (The Last Word, February 6): 

I appreciate the effort of the customer 

service but the lack of flexibility ("No you 

cannot get an extra sauce packet despite 

offering to pay for it") and knowledge is 

annoying at times.—shen 

Oh dear. Another lonely Western 

English teacher full of misconceptions 

about Japanese society. They are all 

robots! They do not banter! They do not 

banter! 

One can only assume that the 

writers attempts at jokes fall flat simply 

because they are not funny. Those of 

us with real jobs in Japan know that 

most Japanese people rarely shut up 

once they get going, this idea that the 

Japanese don't communicate with 

each other is so far off the mark as to be 

absurd!—Steve Novosel 

One of the pleasures of living in Japan 

is the great customer service. Become a 

regular customer and it's personalized, 

respectful and friendly. At convenience 

stores it's systematic but quick, a 

formula that seems to succeed.—Amy 

Wong 

Metropolis wants to hear from you. Send your comments to letters@metropolis.co.jp. Note that letters may be edited for length and clarity. 

Metropolis Members Club 

Register for prizes & discounts 

www.metropolis.co.jp/club 

THIS WEEK’S WINNER! 

Raju Mankani 

won a 50-minute golf 

lesson Courtesy of 

Cool Clubs 

UPCOMING PRIZE! 

One lucky MMC member will 

win a romantic dinner for two 

Courtesy of 148@Azabu Juban 


The Last Word 

WHEN IN JAPAN... 

Following the Golden Rule would 

save expats a lot of heartache 

By Scott Gordon 

Want to have The Last Word? Send your article 

to: editor@metropolis.co.jp 


Scott Gordon is a long-term expat, 

freelance writer and consultant living 

with his better half in Chiba 

To put it mildly, certain 

members of Japan’s 

expatriate community 

seem to have a 

beef with their adoptive 

country. Their discontent 

is hashed out in expat bars and 

splashed across social media—not 

to mention the pages of this very 

magazine. The complaints are 

varied and colorful—being treated 

differently due to their “gaijinness,” 

robotic service (or is it just 

“too good”?) and lack of chances 

to practice Japanese. Other targets 

are the poor education system, limited 

availability of shoe sizes and, 

unbelievably, even a lack of Christian 

morals. In my 12 years here I’ve 

heard it all, but what really bothers 

me is who I hear it from. 

I would expect this sort of spewing 

from just-off-the-boat people 

who are dipping after a plateau on 

the culture shock graph. I didn’t 

think I would hear it from longterm 

residents who count on Japan 

for their bread and butter and have 

started families here. How can people 

who should be more integrated, 

still be so unhappy after all this 

time? I think part of it comes from a 

failure to climb into Japanese skin, 

to try to understand how the Japanese 

view their own country. In short, 

thinking how the Japanese think. 

By this I don’t mean “going 

native,” eschewing your own values 

while wandering around Tokyo 

in a yukata and talking about how 

(insert your country) sucks big time. 

I want expats to consider this: if you 

were Japanese, would you think 

things were that bad here? You may 

find the answer is “no.” You would 

cry about your failed job interview, 

laugh with your friends about that 

awesome movie you just saw, fall 

in love, fall out of love, get a cat and 

so on. In other words, you would 

do all the stuff people do everywhere. 

How would you feel if some 

foreigner were to suddenly hit you 

with: “You know, your education 

system/fashion/food really bites, 

and here’s why…” Most of us are not 

rude enough to directly voice these 

things, but they definitely come 

through in our negative attitudes. 

If I were in that situation, I might 

try to share some positive insights 

about Japan. For example, how 

utterly safe and sparkly clean it 

is, or how the service—whether at 

McDonald’s or Chez Cool—is flawless. 

I would mention that the trains 

are always on time, how delicious 

and healthy the food is, how gorgeous 

the scenery can be and how 

my Japanese friends and family 

are some of the warmest and most 

genuine people I have ever known. 

Now how do you feel? Kind of puts 

things in perspective, doesn’t it? 

As expats, we have an outsider’s 

view, which is both a gift and a curse. 

It allows us to see many things that 

AS EXPATS, 

WE HAVE AN 

OUTSIDER’S 

VIEW, WHICH IS 

BOTH A GIFT AND A 

CURSE. IT ALLOWS 

US TO SEE MANY 

THINGS THAT MAY 

RUN CONTRARY TO 

OUR VALUES AND 

WAY OF THINKING.” 

may run contrary to our values and 

way of thinking. Many can set our 

blood boiling and we are certainly 

entitled to let off a little steam once 

in a while. What we shouldn’t do is 

point the finger at our country of 

residence, one that is furnishing our 

lives whether it be in the short, long 

or indefinite term. We should never 

label it somehow deficient or “worse” 

than our own. Constant nay-saying 

not only makes us sad and limits our 

world view, it also sets a bad example 

for other expats and distances us 

from Japanese people, from whom 

we have much to learn. 

If you are unhappy here, blaming 

Japan is pointless. That’s likely 

just your problem. Feeling isolated 

by your English-only life? Get on the 

proverbial horse and learn some Japanese. 

Hate working in the English 

education system? Find another job 

or work to fix the system. “Trapped 

here” by a Japanese spouse? Move 

somewhere else together, or head 

to court. However you got here, it’s 

your choice to stay or go. Whatever 

you decide, just don’t complain to 

me about it. 

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