GEt youR caFFEinE Fix in thE city - Metropolis

Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine 

GEt youR 

caFFEinE Fix 

in thE city 

#948 May 25~Jun 7, 2012 

FREE! 

Speci a l 

pr o m o t i o n 

yokohama & 

kamakura 

bayside life 

suckER japan beat moja GEt thEiR sonic punchbaG REady FoR metropolis saiko vol. 10 

the last word thE cost oF japan’s Gaijin–nihonjin dividE star struck dEpp and buRton do thE blood

The Small Print 

“ 

thAnks for coMing 

bAck, buddY” 

—Miyagi Prefecture resident Ikuo yokoyama after 

his harley-davidson motorcycle washed up in West 

canada one year after the 3/11 tsunami. harleydavidson 

plans to clean up the machine and reunite 

it with its owner 

soME booZE With Your bird? 

ć a new Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in 

Tokyo comes complete with a fully stocked 

bar called KFC Route 25, in honor of the highway 

that runs past the original Sanders Café in 

Kentucky. Whisky, tequila, vodka, rum all available... 

name your poison. 

ć The advanced Telecommunications Research 

Institute International in Kyoto Prefecture— 

along with some help from a nutty professor 

from Osaka university—has come up with a 600gram 

human-shaped pillow called a “Hugvie” 

that allows cellphone users to “feel closer” to 

the people they are talking to. you insert your 

phone in the pillow’s head and conversations 

will cause the Hugvie’s heart to beat. Really. 

ć a government survey has revealed that one out 

of every four Japanese adults has thought of 

offing him/herself, “with young people more 

prone to such thoughts than others.” a round of 

Hugvies, please. 

ć Researchers at the Shibaura Institute of Tech- 

nology (we don’t even want to speculate on the 

acronym for this one) figure that some 40 or 

so dams in Japan sit above confirmed active 

fault lines. 

ć Meanwhile, a network of more than 150 earthquake 

and water pressure detectors is in the 

plans for the sea off Japan’s east coast. The 

national Research Institute for Earth Science and 

Disaster Prevention says the devices will help “to 

more quickly and accurately predict tsunami.” 

ć a Mainichi survey found that more than 2,000 

bridges in at least 107 local municipalities in 

Japan have never been inspected, mostly due 

to “financial difficulties.” 

APArtMEnts of dooM 

ć a 23-year-old nurse was found stabbed to death 

in a friend’s apartment in urayasu, Chiba Prefecture. 

The friend said he was out with work 

buddies at the time. 

ć The skeleton of a 45-year-old man who died 

more than two years ago was found in a 

Saitama apartment when the owner of the unit 

went to check on him... Probably wondering why 

the rent was so late. 

ć With up to 14,000 people dying annually in the 

bathtub—more than three times the number 

stats 

killed in traffic accidents in 2011—the Ministry 

of Health, Labor and Welfare will conduct 

research on bathtub fatalities. at least they left 

nice, clean corpses... 

ć Two men in their 60s were arrested for murder 

after the dead body of another sexagenarian was 

found dumped in the mountains near Kobe. a 

financial dispute was apparently the root of the 

problem, as it so often is in these cases. 

ć Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko played 

a little tennis at the Imperial Palace on april 30. 

It marked the first time the 78-year-old Emperor 

played the sport since having heart bypass surgery 

in February. 

ć a bus accident in Gunma Prefecture that 

claimed the lives of seven people and left 

another 39 injured was being attributed to “cutthroat 

competition in the bus industry and the 

resulting overwork among drivers.” The driver 

apparently dozed off on the overnight trip to 

Tokyo Disneyland. 

brAnching out 

ć The uS is giving Japan 3,000 dogwood trees to 

mark the 100th anniversary since this nation 

gave Washington 3,000 cherry trees in 1912. 

ć In a rare move, the Finance Ministry posted on 

its website protest letters sent to The Asahi Shimbun 

over a report detailing “relations between 

key figures of the ruling Democratic Party of 

Japan and senior ministry bureaucrats.” The 

ministry said the story contained several 

“misinterpretations of facts.” 

ć around 800,000 new job recruits joined companies 

on the first day of Japan’s fiscal year. 

ć according to the stats, 80.5 percent of college 

students found jobs ahead of their March 

graduation, a 3.1 percent increase over the previous 

year, which was the lowest since 2000, says 

the labor ministry. 

ć about 60 percent of the people polled in a Mainichi 

Shimbun survey said they were opposed to 

the government plan to raise the consumption 

tax while 37 percent were in favor of the move. 

ć The same survey found that 79 percent were in 

favor of introducing “a low tax rate on daily 

necessities in case the consumption tax is 

raised in the future.” 

AniMAL instincts 

ć a mutt who failed miserably as a hunting dog got 

a new lease on life when it was enlisted to keep 

pesky monkeys and crows off a citrus farm in 

Wakayama. 

ć Meanwhile, Kotora the cat was given a few days 

off during Golden Week from his job as a “station 

master” in Okayama Prefecture to take 

up the same position at two railway stations 

in aomori Prefecture. Can a karoshi lawsuit be 

far off? 

ć Two small kids died and nine other family mem- 

bers were hospitalized in the Philippines after 

chowing down on some poisonous puffer fish, a 

Japanese delicacy, for lunch. 

ć a counter-terrorist drill was conducted at the 

634-meter-high Tokyo Sky Tree, in which security 

guards led about 1,000 people to “safety” 

from the facility’s observation deck at 350 

meters. The poor sods taking part in the drill 

had to descend some 2,000 emergency stairs. 

ć a Japanese film crew is making a movie about a 

1959 incident in which a uS fighter jet taking off 

from the Kadena air Base in Okinawa crashed 

into an elementary school, killing 17 and injuring 

over 200. 

ć a landslide in Hokkaido left a set of railroad 

tracks on the JR Sekisho Line hanging—literally—in 

the air. 

soMEbodY cALL guinnEss 

ć Plumbing new depths, the Japan agency for 

Marine-Earth Science and Technology said its 

deep-sea scientific drilling vessel, the Chikyu, 

managed to bore some 7,740 meters below the 

ocean surface, a new world record for this type 

of drilling. 

ć actor Koji yakusho, star of such Hollywood films 

as Memoirs of a Geisha and babel, was among 674 

individuals and 20 groups who received spring 

decorations from the Japanese government. 

The 56-year-old was one of 25 people to get the 

Medal with Purple Ribbon, given for contributions 

to the arts, academia and sport. 

compiled from reports by Ap, Japan 

Today, The Japan Times, The Tokyo 

Reporter, The Asahi Shimbun, The 

Mainichi Daily News, Daily Yomiuri, 

AFp, Reuters, Kyodo, ABc News and 

cBc News. 

� 25 Percent of Tokyo's foreigners who left japan temporarily following 3/11, according to a Tokyo 

Metropolitan government survey � 56 Percent who did not leave Tokyo � 5 Percent who moved to 

other places in japan � 75 Percent of foreigners who relied on Tv broadcasts for their post-March 11 

info � 37 Percent who got their information from the internet � 7 Percent who used newspapers to 

keep up-to-date after the disasters 

04 • download our podcast at • podcast.metropolis.co.jp 

ThIS Week’S requIred readIng, by reg dunlaP 

MIWa kaneoya

Upfront 

PeoPle, TrendS & MIScellany 

start struck 

BLooD Brothers 

burton and depp team up for their 

first vampire flick 

By Kevin McGue 

For moviegoers, the mere 

mention of Tim Burton summons 

up frightful scenes of 

grimacing jack-o-lanterns, 

corpse brides and headless horsemen. 

yet the director whose very 

name is synonymous with gothic 

imagery had never tackled a vampire 

movie. nor, for that matter, had 

his frequent collaborator, Johnny 

Depp. That has all changed with dark 

Shadows, a fresh, comedic take on the 

bloodsucking genre that the dark duo 

recently flew into Tokyo to promote. 

Based on the cult TV show of the 

same name that ran from 1966-1971, 

dark Shadows tells the century-spanning 

saga of Barnabas Collins (Depp), 

a wealthy playboy in 18th century 

new England who falls victim to a 

curse cast by a jealous witch (Eva 

Green). He awakens 200 years later 

to find himself in the year 1972, dismayed 

that everyone is driving VW 

buses, wearing polyester and gazing 

into lava lamps. as he struggles 

to adjust to the disco age, he must 

also come to terms that his beloved 

Collinwood Manor is a shambles, 

and that the dysfunctional family 

there (Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloë Grace 

Moretz, et al) are his descendants. 

Barnabas was a late addition to 

the original television gothic soap 

opera, but quickly became the show’s 

breakaway character. Today, Burton 

and Depp both recall that Barnabas 

and the oddball family featured on 

the show provided solace during their 

awkward adolescent years. Depp 

admits he was “rather obsessed” 

with the TV vamp and decorated his 

childhood bedroom with posters of 

star Jonathan Frid, who passed away 

last month. During his visit to Tokyo, 

Depp said, “It was a dream come 

true to recreate the character.” 

For director Burton, just as 

important as the central character 

is the way he interacts with the 

troubled Collins/Stoppard clan, 

which is rounded out on screen by 

Burton’s partner and frequent star 

Helena Bonham Carter as the family’s 

live-in psychiatrist, and Jackie 

Earl Haley as their boozing groundskeeper. 

at the Tokyo premiere, the 

director pulled a lucky Japanese 

fan’s question out of a box containing 

hundreds of submissions and 

found it asked what message he 

wanted to express through the film. 

He immediately blurted out, “Families 

are weird.” He then elaborated, 

“Families are weird and beautiful 

and that makes life weird and beautiful, 

and that’s why we love them.” 

dark Shadows marks the eightth 

film in Burton and Depp’s long partnership, 

which began with Edward 

Scissorhands in 1990. For Depp, the 

attraction of the role was not only 

the opportunity to recreate a favorite 

character from his childhood, 

but “to do so with my friend and my 

favorite filmmaker of all time.” The 

two appeared slightly overwhelmed 

by the sheer number of fans gathered 

at Roppongi Hills on a windy 

evening for the premiere, but chuckled 

with each other as they pointed 

out Japanese cosplayers in the 

crowd dressed as characters from 

the film, as well as a few Mad Hatters 

and Sweeney Todds. The pair 

were obviously delighted to be able 

to welcome so many visitors into the 

fantasy world they have created. 

Dark Shadows is currently on 

nationwide release. 

#948 • www.metropolis.co.jp • 05

Global Village ThE InTERnATIonAl CommunITY’s bullETIn boARD 

village voices 

Not Just Victims 

Workshops help 

Tohoku kids help 

their community 

By Jessica Ocheltree 

it’s tough to be a sixth-grader 

in a disaster-stuck town like 

Minamisoma. Not just because 

they are dealing with grief and 

the ongoing danger of radiation 

exposure, but also because children 

at that age still want to play and be 

carefree. On the cusp of adulthood, 

they are also old enough to worry 

about the future of their community 

and whether they can play a role in 

rebuilding it. 

“I think the kids are really 

st rong,” says Nad ia Lomba rdo, 

organizer of a recent event to help 

children from Minamisoma realize 

their potential to heal and to contribute 

through art. “It shouldn’t be 

all about victimization. They want 

to be active; responsible for their 

own place.” 

As a representative of EastEdge 

Resorts—a hospitality brand that 

promotes several hotels and ryokan 

in Nagano and champions slow 

food, com mu n it y-bu i ld ing a nd 

cultural experiences—Lombardo 

invited sixth graders to stay at their 

Azumaya Resort near Karuizawa as 

a graduation present. 

The weekend event was realized 

through collaboration w ith 

the Save Minamisoma Project, 

which arranges bimonthly deliveries 

of food and daily necessities to 

Minamisoma, and the Tokyo-based 

art space Traumaris. Held March 

31-April 1, it included the usual 

tourist activities like playing in the 

snow and visiting the hot springs, 

plus performances by a magician 

and live painter Julie Blanchin. 

■ After a long, cold winter, warmer weather is finally here, inviting us 

all to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Even nonprofit fundraising 

is going al fresco. Australian yoga teacher Dylan Robertson is going to 

be offering his classes in Yoyogi Park again this year, with proceeds 

raised going to the Tyler Foundation, a charity helping kids with 

cancer and their families. All levels are welcome, from complete 

beginners to life-long yogis and yoginis. Classes are conducted in 

both English and Japanese and will be automatically canceled in 

case of rain. Don't forget your own yoga mat and some water! 

11am-noon, every Sat-Sun, May 12-Jun 24. See http://www. 

facebook.com/events/248616201852575/ for more information. 

Jessica Ocheltree 


According to Lombardo, since they 

have to ration their outdoor playtime 

at home, just the freedom to 

stay outside as long as they wanted 

was exciting for the 39 participants 

and their parents. 

The main events, though, were 

the workshops. In one, the children 

constructed a “rocket stove” with 

sculpture artist Hitoshi Nishiyama. 

The stoves are constructed out of 

common, readily available materials 

like cinderblocks and metal cans 

and can cook food, bake bread or be 

used for heating. Once completed, 

kids had the option of bringing the 

ovens home or donating them to 

shelters in Tohoku. 

In the “Life Stripe Workshop,” 

kids created an artwork of colorful 

stripes meant to represent one day 

in their life, using different colors to 

represent a variety of activities, like 

studying, hanging out, exercising 

or using digital media. “It’s a tool to 

see into other people’s lives,” says 

Lombardo. By comparing their work 

to others, they can see similarities 

and differences and it opens up an 

avenue of communication. 

A f ter f inishing, t he children 

were given the choice of taking their 

artwork home or allowing it to be 

exhibited to raise money for the Save 

Minamisoma Project. Every child 

agreed to have their works displayed. 

Some pieces were already included 

in a Life Stripe exhibition in Milan, 

and the complete set will soon be on 

display in Tokyo. 

Lombardo says the universal 

participation is a sign that the kids 

have understood the message they 

wanted to convey: that they can be 

active and creative members of the 

community. “We wanted the children 

to experience life through art. 

We wanted to use art as an educational 

tool. They can create, they can 

change, or even just make life more 

beautiful with their creativity and 

imagination.” 

Jun 12-17, 11am-8pm, free. Spiral 

Garden, Spiral Bldg, Minami 

A o y a m a 5 - 6 -2 3 , M i n a t o - k u . 

Nearest stn: Omotesando. 

www.spiral.co.jp. 

DYlAn RobERTson 

PhoTos CouRTEsY oF EAsTEDgE REsoRTs

he Most 

sOaKs 

Veggie latte? 

Located by the river in Nakameguro, Soaks serves 

up great coffee, and, for the braver punter, the 

more wholesome variety of a veggie latte—in 

pumpkin, spinach and carrot flavor (¥600). Who 

said coffee couldn’t be nutritious? Soaks also 

specializes in fresh vegetarian foods to balance 

the surging caffeine rush, and sells exceptional 

homemade veggie donuts (from ¥150) to enjoy on 

the go after grabbing one at a booth right next to 

the entrance. 

1-5-10 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-5794- 

3451. Open daily 10:30am-11pm. www.soaks.jp 

KOsOan 

Zen caffeine 

PhoTo by Julio shiiki 

For a caffeinated sip in the context of a traditional 

Japanese teahouse, Kosoan is a tatami-lined, 

mindhealing space reminiscent of a Kyoto sabo. 

The coffee (¥500) comes in all the usual forms, 

and can be enjoyed in the Zen wash of the gorgeous 

garden, or while you gaze upon t he 

traditional Japanese folk art on display in the 

gallery space. If you are bored of the black beverage, 

go green with some matcha and wagashi 

(Japanese sweets) for ¥800, red with a strawberry 

milk (¥500), or scoff other summer desserts like 

anmitsu (agar jelly; ¥800). 

1 - 2 4 - 2 3 J i y u g a o k a , M e g u r o - k u . T e l : 

03-3718-4203. Open Thu-Tue 11am-6:30pm. 

Nearest stn: Jiyugaoka. www.kosoan.co.jp 

craYOn HOuse restaurant 

Feeling wholesome 

Get in on the natural vibe at Crayon House with 

their organic coffee (¥550), or their caffeine-free 

cereals coffee, made from cereal and chestnuts 

(¥525). Choose from a rich selection of wholesome 

desserts, such as sesame and maple tart, 

carrot pudding, and butter cookies (¥525). Also try 

their—mainly veggie—lunch buffet (11am-2pm) 

which costs ¥1,260 for adults and ¥630 for kids 

aged 2-6. 

B1, 3-8-15 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03 

3406 6409. Open daily 11am-11pm. www. 

crayonhouse.co.jp 

cOffee On tHe GO 

If you don’t have the time for a sit-down 

coffee session, and don’t fancy heading 

into one of the holy trinity of stock standards 

in the chain market, try the Little 

Nap Coffee Stand located opposite Yoyogi 

Park (5-65-4 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku; www.littlenap.jp), 

which serves good, quick drip 

coffees (from ¥300). If you happen to be 

in Ebisu, Sarutahiko Coffee (1-6-6 Ebisu, 

Shibuya-ku; http://sarutahiko.co) has a 

long list to choose from (from ¥380). 

Double-A 

Cups 

Get the best from 

your barista 

With all the new-fangled coffee lingo 

out there (venti soy non-fat caramel 

macch iato no-foa m st irred 

extra-cream extra-hot extra-caramel runthrough-twice 

anyone?), things could get mixed 

up. What’s a coffee junkie to do? 

H i roy u k i Ta k ag i made t he cof fee on 

this issue’s cover at Café Celi (1-13-6 Ebisu, 

Shibuya-ku; http://cafeceli.com). A specialist 

barista trainer for Kyoto roaster Ogawa Coffee, 

we asked him for some tips. 

First off, all cafés are different. Some don’t 

have espresso machines, for example. Takagi 

suggests ordering off-menu. Baristas take 

pride in serving up their best, so don’t get too 

complex. While the “latte art” might be beautiful—it’s 

not the barista’s main focus. Their 

focus is on pulling the perfect shot of espresso 

every time: from the micro-millimeter of the 

grind to the pressure of the tamping so the hot 

water flows just right. 

Takagi compares coffee to wine: conditions 

have to be perfect. Depending on the day, the 

temperature, or the humidity, the same coffee 

bean will produce a very different espresso. 

“We try really hard every time to make that Holy 

Grail of perfect coffee,” he proclaims. 

Barista otaku are so obsessed, says Takagi, 

that some even carry their own milk containers 

and use them exclusively. They know by feel 

when their personal stainless-steel jug’s contents 

are ready for frothing and tamping for your 

latte, cappuccino or macchiato. 

A good barista will get to know the customers. 

Some like their coffee strong, some mild; 

some like aromatic, while others prefer coffee 

oil. Takagi’s best tip in a new place? “Just ask 

your barista, ‘What do you recommend?’” 

PhoTo by Jeff w. riChards 

PhoTos by Julio shiiki 


Arts & Entertainment all tHe best in arts & culture across tHe MetroPolis 

japan beat 

Moja 

Masumi and Haru issue 

a sonic punch to the gut 

By Dan Grunebaum 

You might not guess it now with 

all the powerful Japanese riot 

grrrl rock groups about these 

days, but drummer Masumi 

Sakurai of Tokyo noise rock duo 

Moja is something of a pioneer. 

When she went to famed music 

college Berklee in Boston, she was the only woman 

drummer among dozens of Japanese. 

“In the past, there wasn’t as much of an underground 

and a higher level of performance was 

expected from professional recording artists,” 

she says at a Shibuya café. “The explosion of the 

underground has opened up the field to anyone, 

including women who may have been put off by 

the image of drums as a man’s instrument. People 

feel freer to express themselves even if they’re not 

experts.” 


“Women are stronger in general, and Japanese 

women musicians are popular overseas,” 

shagg y bassist/vocalist Haru Higuchi chips 

in, pointing to tours by women-led indie rock 

bands like Bo-Peep and Detroit7. “Men don’t 

want to go abroad anymore,” he says. 

Created in 2005 when their previous band 

Gorilla disintegrated leaving only Masumi and 

Haru, Moja have—beneath the radar of Japan’s 

conservative mainstream music industry— 

become one of t he countr y’s more popular 

musical exports. 

When Metropolis meets them they’ve just 

returned from their fourth tour of England. A 

quick junket to South Korea is to follow. “This tour 

was really good,” Haru says with an audible sense 

of contentment. “We rented a car and toured Wales 

and England, not just London. It was the first time 

we were really able to mix it up with local bands.” 

“We got to experience the underground scene 

and get a sense of what is going on there at the 

moment,” Masumi adds. “Experiencing different 

ways of thinking prevents us from becoming set 

in our ways. Going abroad frequently keeps our 

music from going stale.” 

To play and tour in such intimate circumstances, 

Haru and Masumi must be a couple, right? 

“If we were involved it would be difficult for us to 

get along as musicians,” Haru says, giving a practiced 

response. “We both have strong personalities 

and butt heads as a band—if we were a couple it 

would intrude onto our personal life. Since we’re 

not involved we can leave it at the studio.” 

PHoto by tetsuya sugiyaMa 

Listening to their new album Super Ultra Gold 

79, you get the sense that all the stress that builds 

up in their busy Tokyo lives gets released in their 

music. From the chaotic opener “Introduction” 

through to the foreboding, machine-gun drum 

riffs of the closer “100 °C,” the album is a maelstrom 

of start-stop rhythms and scorching blasts 

of guitar, bass, synths and screamy vocals. 

“More than the lyrics, the sound itself is 

the main point,” Masumi says, her well-coiffed 

appearance and mild manner belying Moja’s wild, 

visceral music. “That’s why we like to set up our 

instruments on the floor—so our audience can 

feel the vibrations in their guts.” 

For Super Ultra Gold 79 Moja (the name has no 

particular significance they say) took the unusual 

strategy of issuing the album in mp3 and vinyl 

forms, but without a CD release. 

“The mp3s are for the bulk of people who don’t 

have turntables,” explains Haru. “People don’t 

buy CDs anymore, and we want as many people 

as possible to hear our music, hence the free 

downloads. The vinyl is because we love analog. 

If people take different approaches to releasing 

music it will hopefully stimulate the imagination 

of buyers, and the market.” 

Moja’s unorthodox approach to music seems to 

reflect a general nonconformist approach to life. 

And death. In his day job, Haru arranges flowers 

for funerals. 

“I see death every day, so I understand the 

finality of life,” he concludes. “When people die 

they become simply material objects, so that gives 

me an appreciation of life. It makes me feel like I 

could die anytime so I want to do all I can while 

I’m alive. I don’t want to leave any regrets.” 

Moja play Metropolis’ next Saiko live music 

showcase. Shibuya Milkyway, Jun 24. See concert 

listings (popular) for details.

clubbing 

Marco Latrach 

the chilean house honcho helms 

this year’s Patagonica fundraiser 

By Don Crispy 

In addition to producing some of the planet’s most noted DJs, Chile is 

home to the threatened peaks of Patagonia. A few years back, American 

Emilie McGlone of Japanese NGO Peace Boat had the idea to 

combine her twin loves of dance music and Patagonia in a fundraising 

DJ contest. 

“Since Patagonica was founded in 2008, we have adapted to new challenges,” 

she tells Metropolis. “Our first year, we fundraised to support the 

international campaign by Peace Boat and the National Committee to protect 

the flora and fauna of Chile. During our second tour, we found ourselves 

in the country during one of the largest earthquakes in Chile’s history, and 

quickly refocused to support the affected people.” 

McGlone recently formed the Patagonica Collective, which brings artists 

and activists together to campaign for the UNESCO listing of Patagonia. 

“In Chile, our Patagonica DJ Contest has spread to various regions,” she 

explains, “holding local DJ contests in three major cities before deciding 

the final artist at the National Contest held in the capital, Santiago.” 

Contacted in Chile before he heads to Japan to help choose the local 

champion, the winner of last year’s contest Marcos Latrach says it’s natural 

for him to combine music and environmental work. 

“Between 1990 and 1994 I had a radio program called Mundo Ecológico,” 

he relates. “We promoted environmental awareness, accompanied by literature 

and good music. Patagonica in a way continues the work we did, 

because we can reach more people to say, ‘Hey, listen, this is our world and 

we have to take care of it.’” 

Latrach was exposed to music at a very early age by his cousin—who 

sang with some of Latin America’s top bands. Electronic sounds came later 

in the ’90s, but Latrach has been DJing since his teens. “My first parties were 

at friends’ houses in the small city where I lived in the sixth region of Chile,” 

he recalls, “and at one disco where they let me play until midnight. I was 

only 14 years old and didn’t have permission to be out late.” 

A course in DJing introduced Latrach to the technical side of the craft, 

and by 17 he had his first residency at a club called Ad-hoc. Moving to Santiago 

to study production, he turned on to techno at the capital’s clubs and 

hasn’t looked back. 

“The common denominator is the music and a natural inspiration—I 

wonder if it’s a product of the political processes we lived through in Chile,” 

he says about the Santiago’s experience of repression. “A great amount of 

artistic expressions were generated, and by necessity the expressions were 

slanted. I also believe that our music is enriched by our origins in the native 

cultures that once lived here and unfortunately were devastated.” 

In Tokyo, where Latrach will guest DJ at the event to decide the Japanese 

Patagonica contest winner, punters can look forward to a hypnotic blend of 

minimal and tech-house, juiced with Latin percussion and melodies. 

“This opportunity touches me in a special way, because music has given 

me this experience,” Latrach concludes. “I hope to be with special people 

and a culture unknown to me—to show what I do and feel. I want to share 

magical days filled with dancing, positive energy and musical journeys.” 

M Event Space, Jun 8. See club listings for details. www.parties4peace.com 

courtesy of Patagonica 

artifacts 

Sato Sakura 

MuSeuM tokyo 

By C. B. Liddell 

Tok y o’s ne w e s t mu s e u m , 

open in Nakameguro since 

March, is the Tokyo branch 

of a well-known Nihonga museum in 

Fukushima Prefecture, and worth a 

visit for fans of the genre. 

The building has a distinctive 

black patterned façade, giving it a 

somewhat Arabic look. Once inside, 

however, the collection is unmistakably 

Japanese, with some 100 

paintings executed using the count 

r y ’s t i me-honored met hods of 

mineral pigments on panel, silk, and 

washi scroll paper, occasionally augmented 

with gold-leaf decoration. 

Despite the traditional st yle, 

many painters represented here, like 

Chinami Nakajima and Yuji Tezuka, 

gameplan 

kruSh.19 

By Bruce Gherbetti 

Formerly of the K-1 family of 

premier k ickbox ing events 

in Japan, the Krush series is 

now coming into its own. The last 

event, Krush.18, which took place 

earlier this month at Korakuen Hall 

in Tokyo, was a take-no-prisoners 

affair, with seven of the eleven contests 

resulting in knockouts. The 

headline match saw 63kg champion 

Ryuji Kajiwara defend his belt with 

a unanimous decision over 2008 K-1 

Koshien champion Hiroya. 

The series returns next month 

with Krush.19. It, too, promises to 

be another big night of action with 

some heavy kickers upping the ante. 

The main event will be a 65kg super 

fight featuring Yuta Kubo (Fighting 

Kairos) squaring off with Abdellah 

Ezbiri (Morocco). Meanwhile, the 

are contemporary, as the museum 

specializes in Nihonga painters 

born in the Showa era (1926-1989). 

Their themes are the usual ones of 

delicately painted natural scenes— 

f lowers, cherr y t rees in bloom, 

autumn leaves, moonlit nights and 

misty views of Mt. Fuji. 

Impressive works include Nakajima’s 

Shunya Miharu no Takizakura 

(1998), with an abundance of cherry 

blossoms cascading like a waterfall. 

Then there is Tezuka’s Sekishun 

(1995), which uses the moon as a 

spotlight to pick out the subtly sexual 

“action” of sakura shedding their 

blossoms to a stiff but gentle breeze. 

Here, you realize the close affinities 

Nihonga has with haiku poetry. 

Like haiku, there is the focus on the 

seasons and an attempt to evoke a 

very specific sensual impression of 

an aspect of nature or experience. 

Sato Sakura Museum Tokyo. See 

exhibition listings (other areas) 

for details. 

60kg super fight pits former AJKF 

Super Featherweight champ Naoki 

Ishikawa against former RISE Super 

Featherweight champ, the Shibuyabased 

Kan Itabashi. 

Also on the bill is a 63kg Wildrush 

league contest between TaCa 

(Triple-Y) and Yukimitsu Takahashi 

(Hamakko Muay Thai). A KO win by 

TaCa would mean a tie for first place 

with current league number one, 

Hideaki Yamazaki. Several more 

regular fights round out the card, 

including one 70kg match, and two 

60kg slug fests, plus a 60kg title 

elimination round fight. 

Each Krush fight goes at least 

three rounds, with each round lasting 

a frantic three minutes. 

Krush.19. Jun 8, Korakuen Hall. 

See sports listings for details. 

#948 • www.metropolis.co.jp • 11 

courtesy of sato saKura MuseuM 

courtesy of KrusH

JapanTourist.jp 

12 • special advertising section 

Yokohama & Kamakura Special 

KamaKura Trail 

The ancient city from a samurai’s-eye view 

Surrounded by mountains and sea, Kamakura 

offers a wealth of rambles that are 

outside the typical temple tours, and 

rarely crowded with tourists. To feel 

like a medieval samurai—without the 

encumbering clothing —try the Daibutsu 

Kuzuharagaoka hiking course. The road was reportedly 

used by samurai 650 years ago, and it looks like it 

hasn’t changed much since then. This relatively easy 

trek is perfect for those who would like to check out 

Kamakura from a different angle. 

The walk takes about an hour and a half and goes 

past such locations as the Daibutsu (Giant Buddha), 

and Jochi-ji and Tokei-ji temples. Genjiyama Park is the 

halfway point, and good for a break. Compared with 

other hiking routes, this one is well maintained, and its 

steep slopes are equipped with steps. Nevertheless, you 

should avoid sandals and high heels if you want your 

feet to go the distance. 

Take a bus from the No. 1 terminal in front of Kamakura 

station east exit 1 . After around ten minutes, 

traffic allowing, get off at Daibutsu-mae 2 . Keep walking 

in the same direction towards the road tunnel in 

front, and on the right side (you’ll have to cross), you 

will spot some steep steps. This is the starting point. But 

before you begin, you might want to pop into Daibutsu. 

The famous Giant Buddha is definitely worth a peek. 

First off, you’ll see an old building next to the steps 

before the hike begins. It used to be a Kamakura city 

gymnasium, where Kendo and Aikido were practiced. 

Built in 1935, it currently stands unused owing to earthquake 

risk. 

The course travels ridges with views of the shore. 

You can see inlets and the shore sometimes through 

the groves of trees. These stunning views will clear your 

mind, and the fresh air will restore your lungs. Keep an 

eye out for flowers blooming in season. A recent walk was 

lined with a beautiful hedge of camellia and daffodils. 

You won’t meet many other folk along the way, but 

you should hear plenty of other life. Taiwanese squirrels, 

black kites and cats are numerous. It’s said that the 

squirrel population descended from locally kept pets 

that escaped. 

2 

Wadazuka stn 

3 

4 

Kamakura stn 

Pacific Ocean 

7 

Kita-Kamakura stn 

East exit 

1 

After 30 minutes, you’ll hit Genjiyama Park 3 . There 

are some picnic tables and benches scattered around the 

park, along with restrooms and the obligatory vending 

machines. If you go down a little bit in the direction of 

Kewaizaka, you'll see a statue of Minamoto no Yoritomo, 

the samurai founder of the Kamakura Shogunate (1185). 

Quaff a cup of Joe next to Yoritomo and he might divulge 

some of the local samurai secrets. 

Back on the main path, continue straight to Kuzuharagaoka 

shrine 4 . Near the gate, you’ll see two big 

stones tied to each other with fancy red string. These 

represent the gods of matchmaking. If you throw coins 

into a box and pray, you're guaranteed to be hitched 

within the week. 

Near the end of the course, old-style Japanese houses 

are scattered about. With nicely maintained bamboo 

fences, thatched roofs covered with moss and lichen, 

you'll probably be unable to avoid some photo snapping. 

Finally, head down the slope towards Jochi-ji 

temple 5 , and beyond to the main road. Turn left and 

walk straight for seven minutes. Along the way, drop by 

Tokei-ji temple 6 if you still have it in you. This road will 

take you to JR Kita-Kamakura station 7 which will take 

you home, or back into the ancient town. 

5 

6

KaburaKi KiyoKata 

MeMorial art MuseuM 

This peaceful trove of Japanese art is based in 

the home of modern master Kiyokata Kaburaki, 

famous for his moving portraits of touching subjects 

that captured an era. Born in 1878 in Tokyo, 

Kaburaki lived and worked at here from 1954 until 

his death in 1972 at age 93. The museum (entry 

¥200 for children, and ¥300 for adults) can be 

found at 1-5-25 Yukinoshita. 

� 0467-23-6405 

☛ www.kamakura-arts.or.jp/kaburaki 

KaMaKura city KawaKita 

filM MuseuM 

This heaven for cinephiles was built in 2010 as 

the legacy of the Kawakita couple, known by 

enthusiasts as legends in Japanese movie history. 

The museum (entry from ¥200) serves the 

film and art community by organizing special 

ex h ibit ions, Japa ne se a nd inter nationa l film 

screenings (from ¥800), workshops, and by offering 

a library filled with film books and magazines. 

� 0467-23-2500 

☛ www.kamakura-kawakita.org 

Built in 1936, this antique shop is immediately recognizable 

as a place of cultural heritage—which is 

why it has been designated as one. The stunning 

pinewood hall is a good introduction to the artisanal 

work of this space, where you can obtain real 

handmade wooden articles, chiseled with the 

expertise collected from lifetimes of experience, 

and carefully lacquered with black and vermilion. 

Stop by for a wooden slice of local culture. 

� 0467-22-0708 

1 

2 


Some must-visit shops 

and sights in Kamakura 

3 

Genjiyama Park 

The Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine 

complex contains The Wakamiya 

Shirahata Museum. The park is an oasis of 

lotus ponds, lush greenery, with a scenic 

bridge and a mountain view. 

The Wakamiya Oji walkway is lined with 

cherry blossoms, this path comes alive 

in spring. The rest of the year it’s lined 

by brightly lit lanterns leading the way 

from Yuigahama Beach to Tsurugaoka 

Hachimangu shrine. The walkway was 

commissioned by first Kamakura Shogun 

Minamoto no Yoritomo (reign 1192-1199), to 

pray for the easy delivery of his baby. 

Wadazuka stn 

Suwa Jinja 

Kamakura 

City Chuo 

Library 

Church 

Kamakura 

City hall 

Onari 

Elementary 

School 

Jufuku-ji 

Dai-ichi 

Elementary 

School 

sunshoudo 3 haKKodo 4 KaMaKura Mizue 

5 

�To beach 

The artisans of Hakkodo—the oldest store in Kamakura—are 

descendants of sculptors of Buddhist 

images, and use the technique of Kamakura-bori to 

produce quality crafts. Typically, a pattern is chiseled 

into katsura wood, then lacquered, in a month-long 

process. Hakkodo’s skills have been passed through 

through generations, but they’re not afraid of adding 

modern methods to make beautiful objects of art. 

� 0467-22-2429 

☛ www.kamakurabori.org 

Eisho-ji 

Yasaka 

Daijin 

Tatsumi Jinja 

FamilyMart 

Kamakura stn 

West exit 

Enoshima line 

Kamakura 

Jogakuin HS 

Jokomyo-ji 

Yokosuka & Shonan-Shinjuku lines 

5 

Bank 

1 

2 

East exit 

Kamakura 

Post office 

FamilyMart 

Lawson 

Wakamiya Oji 

Police stn 

Hongaku-ji 

Tsurugaoka 

Hachimangu 

Shrine complex 

Bank 

Kiyokawa 

Hospital 

Stop in at Kamakura Mizue to have personalized 

wooden seals or chopsticks made for a truly Japanese 

souvenir of Kamakura or a thoughtful gift for 

someone special. Order any combination of letters, 

numbers, or images you like, and your personalized 

design will be made in three minutes while you wait. 

The English-speaking staff will help you get the best 

from this unique local shop. 

� 0467-25-3812 

☛ Email: kamakuramizue@live.jp 

4 

Jyouei-ji 

(Botamochi-ji) 

Jyogyo-ji 

Yukinoshita 

Post office 

Temple 

#948 • www.Metropolis.co.Jp • 13 

JulIO SHIIKI

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Dermatologist 

Cosmetic Surgery 

Laser Treatment Skin Care 

Omotesando 

KNK Bldg. 3F 3-5-17, 

Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, 

Tokyo. 1 min. walk from 

Omotesando stn, A3 exit. 

Tel: 03-5771-4114 

Clinic hours: 

11AM~8PM (Mon~Sun) 

DR. HIDEMI AKAI 

Is a board-certified plastic surgeon and an 

associate professor of the Plastic and 

Reconstructive department of Showa University 

in Tokyo. Trained at Harvard Medical School, 

Akai has over twenty years of experience. 

Yokohama 

Katsukou Bldg. 4F 1-2-8, 

Houraicho, Naka-ku, 

Yokohama-shi. 3 mins. 

walk from JR Kannai stn. 

Tel: 045-252-9455 

Clinic hours: 

11AM~7PM (Tue~Fri) & 

11AM~5PM (Sat) 

DR. KEIKO AKAI 

Is also a board-certified plastic surgeon and 

skin care specialist, and the Akai Medical 

Clinic offers a range of cosmetic surgery and 

laser treatments, including the latest 

techniques and state-of-the-art technology. 

Other cosmetic procedures available. For fees and detailed information services, please refer to our homepage. 

It’s time to sort out 

the problems you 

have with your 

appearance 

Eyelid surgery (technically called blepharoplasty) AccuSculpt (laser-assisted lypolysis) 

Is a procedure to remove mostly fat 

from the upper and lower eyelids to 

correct drooping upper lids and 

puffy bags below your eyes - 

features that make you look older 

or even interfere with your vision. 

While it can add an upper eyelid 

crease to Asian eyes, it will not 

erase evidence of your ethnic or racial heritage. 

Blepharoplasty can enhance your appearance and your 

self-confidence, but it won't necessarily meet your ideal. 

As with all surgery, think carefully about your expectations 

and discuss them with me. 

A detached retina or glaucoma gives reason for caution; 

check with your ophthalmologist before you have surgery. 

Breast Procedures 

The AccuSculpt is a state-ofthe-art 

piece of equipment that 

can help you secure a trim, sexy 

body without putting in hours at 

the gym. The new kind of 

laser-assisted lypolysis it effects, 

known as Laser-Lipo, removes 

excess fat deposits in typical 

areas such as chest, jowls and 

hips. This innovation uses a 

specific wavelength to eliminate 

fat with a minimum of collateral tissue damage. Stop 

in at AMC to be one of the first in this country to try 

the AccuSculpt, already a hit AccuSculpt, already a 

hit in the US market. 

Take care of your breasts with a range of procedures at AMC. Augmentation can increase bustline by 

one or more cup size, at a cost of ¥700,000-900,000. Reduction can reduce back and neck pain, skin 

irritation and bra strap grooving. And the breast lift can raise them or firm them up nicely. Get in touch 

for more info. 

www.akaiclinic.com 

NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT 

→ FOR SKIN REJUVENATION: SAG, DROOP, 

WRINKLES, SUN DAMAGED SKIN, FRECKLES, PORES 

• INFINI (Hybrid Fractional RF) NEW! 

• Portrait Plasma (Plasma Skin Regeneration) 

• Affirm / Affirm Multiplex 

• eMax (Aurora Pro, Refirm, Polaris WRA) 

• eCO2 (Fractional CO2 Laser) 

• SOLARI (Square Pulse IPL) 

→ ACNE & ACNE SCAR 

• INFINI (Hybrid fractional RF) NEW! 

• eCO2 (Fractional CO2 Laser) 

• Portrait Plasma (Plasma Skin Regeneration) 

• Photo Dynamic Therapy 

• Chemical Peeling, Microdermabrasion 

→ CELLULITE & BODY CONTOURING 

• AccuSculpt (laser-assisted lypolysis) NEW! 

• Vela Smooth, MesoTherapy 

→ LASER HAIR REMOVAL Under Arms 

→ BOTOX (ALLERGAN) 

• Glabeller Lines, Crow’s Feet, Hyperhydrosis, etc. 

→ COLLAGEN & HYARULONIC ACID for Tear Trough, 

• Laugh Line, Lip Augmentation, Nasal Reshaping 

→ TATTOO REMOVAL with Q-YAG Laser 

→ PRFM(GROWTH FACTOR) & STEM CELL THERAPY 

for Skin Rejuvenation and Breast Reconstruction 

→ LEG VEINS 

SURGICAL TREATMENT 

→ EYELID SURGERY 

• Upper Eyelid, Lower Eyelid, Baggy Eye 

→ NASAL RESHAPING 

→ FACE LIFT 

→ SILHOUETTE SUTURE FOR THREAD’S LIFT 

• Minimal Invasive Lifting Surgery with 

Special Thread 

→ BREAST SURGERY 

• Breast Augmentation, Lift, Reduction, 

Nipple Reduction 

→ FAT & STEM CELL INJECTION THERAPY 

for Breast Augmentation or Facial Contouring 

→ LIPOSUCTION with the Latest Ultrasonic Device 

→ TUMMY TUCK 

→ HAIR TRANSPLANTATION 

→ SKIN SURGERY 

• Mole / Cyst / Wart / Skin Cancer 

• Biopsy, Excision, Laser Surgery 

→ FEMALE / MALE GENITAL SURGERY 

We welcome email and phone inquiries | amc@akaiclinic.com www.akaiclinic.com

AKAi MedicAl clinic 

For all your cosmetic surgery 

needs in the bayside 

cit y of Yokohama, A kai 

Medical Clinic has a fine 

outpost t here to add to 

their trendy Omotesando 

location. The Yokohama 

clinic not only boasts the 

same range of up-to-theminute 

equipment as the 

Tokyo one, but it also offers 

specialized treatment in the areas of acne, acne scars, and sun damage. 

Passengers on the road to beauty should feel comfortable with the man in 

the driving seat, Dr. Hidemi Akai, who earned his stripes in Harvard Medical 

School and at Massachusetts General Hospital. While he has been a leader 

in the Tokyo and Yokohama industry for some years now, he is not content 

to rest on his laurels; constantly travelling around the world to try the latest 

innovations. 

The new, state-of-the-art contraption AccuSculpt, for example, can help 

you secure a trim, sexy body, without putting in hours at the gym. The new 

kind of laser-assisted lypolysis it effects, known as Laser-Lipo, removes 

excess fat deposits in typical areas such as chest, jowls and hips. This innovation 

uses a specific wavelength to eliminate fat with a minimum of collateral 

tissue damage. Stop in at AMC to be one of the first in this country to try the 

AccuSculpt, already a hit in the US market. 

Another piece of high-grade equipment at the Yokohama clinic is the 

Solari, a device for enhancing the skin, removing pores and blemishes, lines, 

wrinkles and anything in the way to a great complexion. It uses intense 

pulsed light (IPL) treatment, which produces high-intensity light during a 

short period of time. More than any other IPL machine on the market, the 

Solari is renowned for targeting tissue with precision and no side effects, producing 

effective energy good for you—and your tissue. 

Men worried about thinning pates can have recourse to AMC’s Hair 

Stimulating Complex (HSC) service. Based on newborn cells operating in 

embryonic conditions, this groundbreaking solution is offered alongside 

topical use of lotions, intra-oral treatment, injections and—for complete 

baldness—a transplant. 

Botox can be had for ¥20,000 per area, while hyarulonic acid treatment 

costs ¥40,000 for laugh lines, ¥30,000 for lip augmentation and ¥52,500 for tear 

troughs. Remove sun-damaged skin, acne scars and blotches with a course of 

full-facial chemical peeling and micro-dermabrasion therapy, currently just 

¥15,750 for one full-facial session including vitamin treatment, and package 

prices for three or six sessions, at ¥42,000 or ¥84,000. 

Other services on offer, as the summer fast approaches, include removal 

of unwanted hair for those times on the beach or in the pool. Back laser hair 

removal costs around ¥40,000-¥90,000 per session (depending on the area), 

with approximately five to seven sessions needed. Liposuction is offered at 

¥250,000 per area, for a one-off procedure. 

For treatment such as removal of bags under the eyes or tear troughs, take 

the course of non-surgical growth factor injections. Taken from your blood, 

the growth factor comes from your own platelets and tells the skin to repair 

itself. This is definitely the biggest craze in cosmetic surgery of recent years, 

as it uses the body’s own natural elements to reverse the processes of aging. 

If you want to feel as powerful and strong as a US President, take the same 

thing they do—growth hormone treatment. This course of self-applied injections 

costs about ¥200,000-¥500,000 per month, and is touted to return the 

energy and enthusiasm you might have felt lacking. 

Get in touch to book a consultation with AMC’s friendly, English-speaking 

staff. Let AMC help you feel and look good—both in Tokyo and Yokohama. 

☛ Omotesando: 3F KNK Bldg, 3-5-17 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 

03-5771-4114. Email: amc@akaiclinic.com. Open daily 11am-8pm. 

Nearest stn: Omotesando. 

☛ Yokohama: 4F Katsukou Bldg, 1-2-8 Horai- cho, Naka-ku . Tel: 

045-252-9455. Email: amc-skincare@akaiclinic.com. Open Tue-Fri 

11am-7pm, Sat 11am-5pm, closed Sun-Mon. Nearest stn: Kannai. 

☛ www.akaiclinic.com/en 


AfrOdiTA HAir SAlOn 

“It’s really interesting to 

meet so many kinds of people 

w it h different hair, 

different tastes and different 

lifestyles,” says Yoshiko 

Morimoto, the director of 

A f rod it a ha i r sa lon i n 

Yokohama. 

Having trained at Vidal 

Sassoon in London, and 

w it h st i nt s work i ng at 

salons in New York and Los Angeles—where clientele included Hollywood 

entertainers and models—she opened Afrodita in 2001. Her idea was to offer 

the same Beverly Hills style in English to foreigners in Japan, but without the 

huge fees charged in the most exclusive parts of Tokyo. 

Her reputation for great style and effortless communication gets around— 

as evidenced by the multitude of positive comments on her website. While 

Afrodita is located in Yokohama (close to Yokohama station), many of her clients 

make the trip from Saitama, Chiba, Yokosuka and the Shonan areas to 

get styled with her English-speaking staff. 

“It can be hard to get the style you want when communication is difficult, 

and many foreigners have a lot of trouble at hair salons in Japan where staff 

don’t usually speak much English.” Obtaining that style also means she carries 

exclusive Western hair care products like Redken so foreign customers 

can use products more suited to their hair type. 

“Producing great results isn’t just about my skill level or what I think looks 

good,” she says. “It’s about finding out what the client is really looking for, 

and creating a style they feel confident with, that suits their personality and 

lifestyle.” Morimoto’s specialty? Color. Her hair colors are not only stunning 

and sexy, but also perfectly suited to complement your skin type. 

“It’s all about communication,” Morimoto says. “People have different 

types of hair, facial features, coloring, lifestyles, and needs; a really good style 

takes all those things into consideration.” 

☛ 1F, 2-108-1 Sengencho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama. Tel: 045-311-0139. Open 

Wed-Mon 10am-7pm, closed Tue. www.yokohamahairsalon.com 

AlpHA lAnguAge inSTiTuTe You couldn’t find a wider 

and more diverse group of 

students than those busy 

studying Japanese at Alpha 

Language Institute. This 

language school obviously 

has plenty to attract everyb 

o d y — f r o m b u s i n e s s 

people to parents, and university 

students to language 

enthusiasts. The international 

vibe is pulsating with the influence of people from 23 countries 

studying at Alpha’s headquarters in Tokyo. But now you can experience the 

same dynamic learning environment, since January this year, in the fresh 

and breezy city of Yokohama—just five minutes’ walk from the main station. 

There are various types of courses to suit your needs. Students are free 

to build a lesson plan that is just right for their level, and their objectives. 

The main courses are Group Intensive and One-on-One. Group Intensive is 

available for beginners to advanced students, and with preparation for the 

Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), too. One-on-One is custommade. 

You will be able to learn useful conversation for real-life situations in 

Japan, including business meetings and others. 

Japanese is famous as a language that is difficult to master. But you can 

certainly make a good start by choosing the right institute with the right style 

and educational quality. But don’t take Alpha’s word for it—get in touch by 

phone or email, and head on down for a free trial lesson. 

☛ 4F Yasda-1 Bldg., 2-21-8 Tsuruyacho, Yokohama. Tel: 045-316-8282. 

Email: yokohama@alpha.ac.jp 

☛ 22F Toranomon Kotohira Tower, 1-2-8 Toranomon, Minato-ku. Tel: 

03-3504-8080. Email: alpha@alpha.ac.jp 

☛ www.alpha.ac.jp/english 

#948 • www.Metropolis.co.Jp • 15


yOKOHAMA dAiSeKAi 

At the center of Yokohama’s 

Chinatown, in front of the 

Tencho-mon gate, stands 

the eight-story entertainm 

e n t u n i t Yo k o h a m a 

Daisekai. Based on Shanghai 

Daska, it was created as 

part of the 30th anniversary 

of friendship between 

the two cities, recreating 

the entertainment zone of 

China’s pulsating metropolis in the bayside city of Yokohama. 

Filled with souvenirs from Chinatown and the wider city of Yokohama, 

Daska Market hosts a bunch of thrilling goodies on the first and second floors, 

including a Hello Kitty store. On the third floor is a food court at which to feast 

on an array of delicious Chinese dishes, while a section of beauty and health 

services is found on the fourth. To enter a mysterious world of mirrors, roll up 

for the Trick Art Museum, which costs ¥1,000 for adults, ¥800 for high-school 

or junior-high students, ¥500 for children, and is free for under-threes. What’s 

more, flash your well-thumbed copy of Metropolis magazine at the entrance 

and nab yourself a 10% discount (per group only). Please note that the discount 

is not valid with other coupons or discount deals. 

For families or groups of friends, as well as for tourists and travelers passing 

through, Yokohama Daisekai is a taste of the real China in the middle of 

Chinatown, and its eight fun-packed floors have something for everyone to 

get excited about. 

☛ 97 Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama. Tel : 045-681-5588. Email: 

info@daska.jp. Open daily 10am-10pm (shop times vary). Nearest stn: 

Motomachi-Chukagai. www.daska.jp 

yOKOHAMA dOll MuSeuM 

Get your fill of doll-related activity at the 

Yokohama Doll Museum. From Saturday, 

June 9 to Monday, July 16 (a national holiday), 

there will be an event entitled 

“Dolls of Puppet Plays,” in coordination 

with June’s Fairy Tale Puppet Play Festival. 

It will be a feast of moving dolls in 

action, with puppets—variously operated 

by st ring, one hand, wheel or 

stick—wind-up dolls, and other example 

s f rom t he mu s eu m’s m a s s i ve 

collection of figures from around the 

world. You will also have a chance to see 

a traditional Japanese ballad-drama with 

puppets, accompanied by a live shamisen 

and song performance. Look out also for the Japanese wind-up doll developed 

at the end of the Edo period, based on the Western watch. It has a 

complex system of gears and springs, and a surprising range of functions. 

Another doll on display will be the Western-style wind-up doll. Based on a 

spring watch, these dolls developed as new techniques were invented through 

the late eighteenth to the start of the nineteenth centuries. This was characteristic 

of a period when watchmakers were keen to show off their skills to the 

upper classes so they could sell their wares. 

These are just a selection of the fascinating range of dolls on display at the 

Yokohama Doll Museum. Take this opportunity to see the rest. 

☛ 18 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama. Tel: 045-671-9361. Museum 

open daily 9:30am-5pm (last admission 4:30pm). Closed Mon except 

hols. Café open Tue-Sun 11am-7pm, closed Mon. Museum shop open 

Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, closed Mon. Entry: ¥300 (adults), ¥150 (children), 

¥200/¥100 (groups). Nearest stn: Motomachi-Chukagai. www.yokohama-doll-museum.com 

Take your time 

to enjoy the vibrant 

city of Yokohama! 

Regular sightseeing bus 

YOKOHAMA BAYSIDE LINE 

Tel: 045-465-2077 

Mon- Sat 8am–7pm, Sun&Holidays 8am–6pm 

www.yokohama-bus.jp/baysideline/ 

Our English-speaking stylists 

will effortlessly make your 

booking, consult with you about 

your hair, give you a great cut 

and ensure you leave looking 

and feeling stylish! 

Close to Yokohama station 

2-108-1 1F Sengen-cho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama 

Adults: ¥300 

(high school students & over) 

Children: ¥150 (elementary/junior 

high school student) 

Hours: 9:30am-5pm (last admission 

4:30pm) 

Closed: Monday (except national 

holidays) 

Tel: 045-671-9361 

Fax: 045-671-9022 

HP: www.yokohama-dollmuseum.com 

Email: yokohama-dollmuseum@yokohama-dollmuseum.com 

18 Yamashita-cho, 

Naka-ku,Yokohama-shi 231-0023 

30% OFF 

FIRST VISIT 

WITH THIS AD 

Beverly Hills style without the Tokyo price 

www.yokohamahairsalon.com 

Tel: 045-311-0139 

Experience Japanese and world culture through dolls! 

* Increased dolls from 1400 to 3500! 

* English explanations 

Japanese Lesson 

Enjoy Espresso 

& latte art 

made by the 

top barista 

of Japan! 

Café Elliot Avenue 

facebook 

Group Intensive 

Weekday 10am~12pm or 1pm~3pm 

Course Fee: ¥29,400 (4 weeks) 

One on One Fixed (Private Lesson) 

Weekday 10am~9pm, Sat 10am~6pm 

1 lesson / 90 min 

Course Fee: ¥42,000 / 10 lessons 

Call to ask about our full range of courses 

ALPHA Japanese Institute www.alpha.ac.jp 

Toranomon 

Yokohama 

Tel: 03-3504-8080 Tel: 045-316-8282 

1min from Toranomon stn • 5min from Yokohama stn 

#948 #946 • www.Metropolis.co.Jp • 17

Metropolis provides for your dining, traveling, 

shopping—and living—needs in Japan 

JapanTourist.jp 

• Japan’s first user-based 

English travel website 

• Articles growing by 

500+ a month 

• Locals write about 

favorite places 

• Post your experiences 

and earn points 

• Top contributors 

compete in TourSumo 

Banzuke 

YOKOHAMA MUSEUM OF ART 

www.yaf.or.jp/yma 

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yOKOHAMA inTernATiOnAl 

educATiOn AcAdeMy 

The Yokohama International 

Education Academy 

makes the most of its location 

in the thriving area of 

Minato Mirai. Close to such 

attractions as the Yokoh 

a m a Mu seu m of A r t, 

L a n d m a r k To w e r a n d 

National Convention Hall, 

and w ith the Kanagawa 

Prefectural Youth Center 

and several libraries and music halls in the vicinity, the academy provides a 

fantastic environment for study. And thanks to all its dormitories being 

located within walking distance of the campus, there’s an appealing community 

vibe. 

Courses at Yokohama International Education Academy do more than 

simply teach the language: one of the academy’s main objectives is also to 

turn out well-rounded students. As such, it provides counseling, guidance 

and general subjects such as math, and keeps students primed with regular 

short essays and interview training. 

EJU and JLPT exams are compulsory at the academy, and the school’s 

high pass rates speak for themselves about the quality of the education on 

offer. There’s plenty of incentive to get your head down—students who hit the 

highest marks get recommended to the best universities—but speech contests 

and sport events keep the competition friendly. And when you’re ready 

for a study break, Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and even Mt. Fuji are just a short 

train ride away. Get in touch to arrange a tour of the facilities. 

☛ 43 Miyazaki-cho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama. Tel: 045-250-3656. Nearest 

stn: Sakuragicho or Minatomirai. http://yiea.com/english 

yOKOHAMA MuSeuM Of ArT Opened in 1989, the Yokohama 

Museum of Art is one 

of the largest art institutions 

in Japan. With its 

iconic architecture, featuring 

the expansive space of 

t he Gra nd Ga l ler y, t he 

museum is made up of a 

t ot a l of s e v en g a l ler y 

spaces, as well as an Art 

Information and Media 

Center that holds over 90,000 art-related books, ateliers hosting a wide range 

of workshops for children and adults, a shop, and a café. 

Surrounded by the history and the new spirit of Japan’s second largest city, 

the museum focuses on collecting and showing modern and contemporary 

art created since the late 19th century, when the port of Yokohama opened, 

alongside many special exhibitions. 

The museum has a large collection of art from the late 19th century 

through to the present day, including works by Dalí, Magritte, Cézanne, Picasso, 

as well as works by Yokohama-related artists since the Edo and Meiji eras. 

As Yokohama is one of the birthplaces of photography in Japan, the museum 

is also proud to have a significant photo collection. These works are shown in 

the exhibition “Yokohama Museum of Art Collection.” Please note that fees 

vary per exhibition, and that café and shop opening times vary slightly from 

the museum. The museum is closed for year end holidays and certain other 

days, so check their site for details. 

☛ Minatomirai 3-4-1 Nishi-ku, Yokohama. Tel: 045-221-0300. Open 

Fri-Wed 10am-6pm, closed Thu except hols. Fees vary per exhibition. 

Nearest stn: Minatomirai. www.yaf.or.jp/yma

Metpod 

AGENDABy 

Dan GruneBaum 

nightlife 

maDchesTer niGhT 2012 

� In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s Japan’s year of 

Madchester. The Stone Roses are headlining Fuji 

Rock, and Peter Hook just performed Joy Division 

songs at the Hacienda Oiso festival. But Japan also 

responded to England’s late ’80s ecstasy-fueled, 

rock-meets-dance-music revolution with its own 

Second Summer of Love. For one night, nostalgic 

fans and the merely curious can witness two of 

those bands, Venus Peter [pictured] and Secret 

Goldfish, on stage together for the first time in 15 

years. DJ Yoda and co. will be on hand to spin classic 

tunes of the era. 

Unit, May 26. See club listings for details. 

exhibition 

Goya anD spanish 

painTinG in The louvre 

� Imagine if you could enjoy a famous artwork 

in solitude. Entered only w ith reser vations, 

Gotanda’s Louvre DNP Museum Lab is a collaboration 

between the landmark Paris museum and 

Dai Nippon Printing that brings this dream to 

fruition. For its current show visitors get to examine 

at close reach one of Spanish master painter 

Goya’s finest works, The Boy in Blue. Viewers not 

only get to enjoy the painting in peace and quiet, 

they can also take in advanced multimedia 

materials explaining the canvas’s significance— 

including a life-size video introduction by Louvre 

curator Guillaume Kientz. 

Louvre DNP Museum Lab, until Oct 28. See 

exhibition listings (other areas) for details. 

© photo Dnp / philippe fuzeau 

Courtesy of unit 

Francisco de Goya y 

Lucientes Luis María de 

Cistué y Martínez 1791 

Musée du Louvre, Paris 

(RF 2009-5) 

art 

Thomas DemanD 

� Is it real or fake? Should we care? At first glance, 

German artist Thomas Demand’s photographs 

of nuclear control rooms and presidential offices 

look real. On closer examination they yield small 

clues that they are in fact cardboard constructions 

of Demand’s making. In the conceptual artist’s 

first major exhibition in Japan, viewers are asked 

to question their perceptions of key places and 

events in recent history. Says New York Times art 

critic Michael Kimmelman: “The reconstructions 

were meant to be close to, but never perfectly, 

realistic so that the gap between truth and fiction 

would always subtly show.” 

Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, until 

Jul 8. See exhibition listings (other areas) for 

details. 

festival 

Taicoclub ’12 

© thomas DemanD, VG BilD-kunst, Bonn / apG-Jaa, tokyo 

Control Room, 2011 

photo By taka imamura 

� The outdoor festival season gets into high gear 

with Taicoclub. Each year since 2006 the event has 

“curated” a connoisseur’s selection of electronic 

and post-rock acts at a mountainside setting in 

Nagano. This year’s lineup is by far the most ambitious 

yet. With a new album rumored to be in the 

offing, New York’s Animal Collective [pictured] 

make their first Japan visit in three years. Japan’s 

own Boredoms and Sakanaction offer their own 

takes on post-rock, while Africa Hitech, Ricardo 

Villalobos and Josh Wink hold things down on the 

dance floor. Advance tickets are selling quickly 

and door tickets will not be available. 

Kodama no Mori, Nagano Pref, Jun 2-3. See concert 

listings (popular) for details. 

dance 

sTanD alone Zone 

� French multimedia performance troupe 

Systeme Castafiore makes its debut in Japan to 

perform Stand Alone Zone, a fantastical mélange 

of computer graphics, dance and music. Garbed in 

bizarre alien costumes, dancers simultaneously 

on stage and screen enter an “unknown zone,” a 

kind of futuristic universe that leads the viewer 

befuddled as to where the stage ends and a digitally 

conjured cyberworld begins. Formed in 1990, 

Systeme Castafiore takes its inspiration from the 

music and stage direction of Karl Biscuit and choreography 

of Marcia Barcellos. 

Saitama Art Theater, Jun 23. See dance listings 

for details. 

gig 

booTsy collins 

© karl BisCuit 

� “Bootzilla” used to steal the show when he was 

the bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic, and proved 

he’s still a show stealer at last year’s Summer 

Sonic. Now those with a yen for funk can experience 

Collins up close when he settles into Tokyo’s 

poshest dinner club for a three-night engagement. 

Born in 1951, William Earl “Bootsy” Collins cut his 

teeth with James Brown before hooking up with 

George Clinton’s P-Funk in 1972. The bassist has 

had a storied solo career since parting ways with 

Clinton in 1980, and at Summer Sonic was one of 

three bassists on stage along with a pair of psychedelic 

soul go-go dancers. 

Billboard Live, May 31-Jun 2. See concert listings 

(popular) for details. 

photo By miChael weintroB 

#948 • www.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 19

Agenda Listings Go to www.meturl.com/listinGs 

Submit your event at metropolis.co.jp/listings/submit Go to www.meturl.com/listinGs 

hot list 

20 Concerts 

20 Stage 

21 Dance 

21 Clubbing 

22 Exhibitions 

23 Sports 

24 Festivals 

24 Forums & Expos 

24 Bazaars & 

Markets 

24 Learning 

24 Other Events 

Concerts 

PoPular 

Hokuo Music Night 

Nordic alt. pop/electronica 

artists-Lo-Fi-Fnk from 

Sweden, Kira Kira from 

Iceland, Lars and the Hands 

of Light from Denmark and 

Husky Rescue from Finland. 

May 25, 6pm, ¥4,800. Unit. 

Nearest stn: Daikanyama. Tel: 

03-5459-8630. 

Soulive with Karl 

Densen 

Jazz funk masters Soulive 

team up with Lenny Kravitz 

sax man Karl Densen. May 

25-26. 7 & 9pm, ¥5,500- 

7,500. Billboard Live. Nearest 

stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405- 

1133. 

Tokumaru Shugo 

Japanese indie 

multi-instrumentalist. 

May 25, 7pm, ¥3,500 +1d. 

Liquidroom. Nearest stn: 

Ebisu. Tel: 03-3444-6751. 

Outlook Festival 

Reggae, dub, jungle, DnB, 

etc. May 26, 9pm; May 

27, 2pm, ¥4,800. Tabloid. 

Nearest stn: Hinode. www. 

outlookfestival.jp 

Rocks Tokyo 2012 

Third year of festival, with 

One Ok Rock, Big Mama, 

Totalfat and more. May 

26-27, noon, ¥8,500 (one 

day)/¥15,000 (two days) +1d. 

Wakasu Park. Nearest stn: 

Shin-kiba. www.rockstokyo. 

jp/2012 

Japan Blues & Soul 

Carnival 

Feat. Johnny Winter and 

others. May 26, 5pm, ¥9,000- 

10,000. Zepp Diver City. 

Nearest stn: Daiba. www. 

mandicompany.co.jp. May 

27, 4pm, ¥9,000. Hibiya 

Outdoor Theater. Nearest stn: 

Hibiya. Tel: 03-3591-6388. 

Metal Attack 

Finnish metal bands Swallow 

The Sun, Profane Omen, 

etc, with veteran Japanese 

metallers Anthem. May 26, 

5pm, ¥5,800. Liquidroom. 

Nearest stn: Ebisu. Tel: 

03-5464-0800. www. 

creativeman.co.jp 

Man With a Mission 

Japanese rockers in wolves' 

clothing. May 27, 6pm, 

¥3,000. Shibuya-AX. Nearest 

stn: Harajuku. Tel: 03-5738- 

2020. 

The Cherry Coke$ 

Irish music-influenced 

J-punk rock. May 27, 4pm, 

¥3,200. Liquidroom. Nearest 

stn: Ebisu. Tel: 03-3462-6969. 

Kat Deluna 

Dominican-American R&B 

sensation. May 27, 6pm, 

¥5,500. Yokohama Bay Hall. 

Nearest stn: Motomachi- 

Chukagai. www.2rlive.com 

Teachers For Tohoku 

A charity event feat. various 

Kanto international schools' 

faculty bands. May 27, 4-11pm, 

free, donations requested. 

What the Dickens. Nearest stn: 

Ebisu. Tel: 03-3780-2099. http:// 

meturl.com/teachergig 

Girugamesh 

Visual-kei band. May 

30, 6:30pm, ¥4,200+1d. 

Liquidroom. Nearest stn: Ebisu. 

Tel: 050-5533-0888. 

Quattro Mirage Vol. 4 

“Shibuya Comes Alive!” feat. 

virtuoso guitarist Miyavi and 

Rize. May 31, 7pm, ¥3,800 

+1d. Club Quattro. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-8750. 

Humbert Humbert 

J-pop duo named after the 

Lolita protagonist. May 

31, 7:30pm, ¥3,800+1d. 

Liquidroom. Nearest stn: Ebisu. 

Tel: 03-3405-9999. 

Ziyoou-vachi 

Chaos of music with the queen 

bees of fashion. Jun 1, 7pm, 

¥3,500 +1d. Shibuya-AX. 

Nearest stn: Harajuku. www. 

ziyoou-vachi.com 

Left Behind Parents 

Benefit 

Feat. The Diplomats (Tokyo), 

Jimmy Binks & the Shakehorns 

and Dennis Gunn. Raising 

money and awareness in the 

fight against sole custody and 

child abduction in Japan. Jun 1, 

7pm, ¥2,000. Crawfish. Nearest 

stn: Akasaka. www.crawfish.jp 

Big Beach Festival 

Feat. Chemical Brothers, 

Sven Vath, John Digweed, 

etc. Jun 2, 10am, ¥10,500. 

Makuhari Kaihin Park. Nearest 

stn: Kaihinmakuhari. www. 

bigbeach-fes.com/12 

Yuzu 

J-pop duo. Jun 2-3. 5pm, 

¥13,600. Tokyo Dome. Nearest 

stn: Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800- 

9999. 

Fear and Loathing in Las 

Vegas 

Emo metalcore band from 

Kobe. Jun 3, 6pm, ¥3,000 +1d. 

O-East. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

Tel: 03-3462-6969. 

Party Boat 

Merpeoples, Anamin, Day and 

Buffalo. Jun 3, 7pm, ¥2,000 +1d. 

Redcloth. Nearest stn: Shinjuku. 

Tel: 03-3202-5320. 

Miki Imai with Nobuo 

Kurata 

Vocals and piano. Jun 3-5. 

Various times, ¥9,000-11,000. 

Billboard Live. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. www.billboard-live. 

com 

Monkey Majik 

J pop-rock band. Jun 8, 7pm, 

¥5,800. Shibuya Kokaido. 

Nearest stn: Shibuya. www. 

shibuko.com 

Soulja Boy 

US hip-hop star and 

producer. Jun 8, 6:30pm, 

¥10,000 (adv)/¥11,000 

(door). Yokohama 

Bayside Hall. Nearest stn: 

Motomachi-Chukagai. www. 

swagfamilylegacy.jp 

Flumpool 

J-rock band from Osaka. Jun 

9-10. 5:30pm, ¥5,800. Tokyo 

Dome City Hall. Nearest stn: 

Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800-9999. 

Anna Tsuchiya 

J-pop singer, actress and model. 

Jun 9, 6pm, ¥5,000. Shibuya 

Kokaido. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

Tel: 03-3463-3022. 

MUCC Day 

J-rock band celebrates their 

15th anniversary. Jun 9, 

4:09pm, ¥5,569 (adv)/¥6,600 

(door). Makuhari Messe. 

Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. 

Tel: 050-5533-0888. 

Rega 

Funky progressive quartet 

from Ehime. Jun 9, 7pm, ¥3,000 

20 • DoWNLoAD ouR PoDCAST AT • PoDCAST.MeTRoPoLiS.Co.JP 

(adv) +1d. Club Quattro. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-8750. 

Big Bang 

South Korean boy band. Jun 

16-17. various times, ¥9,500. 

Yokohama Arena. Nearest stn: 

Shin-Yokohama. Tel: 04-5474- 

4000. 

Lite 

Tokyo instrumental 

progressive rock outfit. Jun 23, 

6:30pm, ¥3,000 (adv) +1d. Super 

Deluxe. Nearest stn: Roppongi. 

Tel: 03-5412-0515. 

Hostess Club Weekender 

Feat. The Cribs, Hot Chip, 

Mystery Jets, Gaz Coombes, 

Here We Go Magic, Cloud 

Nothings, Exlovers, etc. Jun 

23-24. 2pm, ¥7,900 (one day)/ 

¥13,900 (two day). Yebisu 

Garden Hall. Nearest stn: Ebisu. 

www.ynos.tv/hostessclub 

Metropolis presents Saiko 

Vol. 10 

Africaemo, Samm Bennett, Moja, 

Mootekkis, Tokyo Pinsalocks 

& Gabez (comedy). DJs Adam3 

& Muthafunka. Jun 24, 4pm, 

¥2,000 (adv) / ¥2,500 (door) + 

¥500 drink charge. Milkyway. 

Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 

03-4550-2929. www.metropolis. 

co.jp/saiko 

Junko Ohashi 

J-pop singer. Jun 25-26. 7 

& 9:30pm, ¥6,500-8,500. 



com 

Roach 

Hardcore quartet from 

Okinawa promote new album 

release. Jun 28, 7:30pm, ¥2,800 

(adv) +1d. O-West. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3462-6969. 

Angel Witch 

British heavy metal outfit. 

Jun 29, 7pm, ¥6,500+1d(adv). 

O-East. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

Tel: 03-5774-3030. 

Orange Range 

Okinawan group blending pop, 

rock and hip-hop. Jul 3, 6:30pm; 

Jul 4, 6:30pm, ¥5,500. Shibuya 

Kokaido. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

Tel. 045-671-9911. 

Hardcore Fanclub 

Japanese hardcore. Jul 4, 

7pm, ¥2,000 (adv) +1d. O-West. 

Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 

03-3444-6751. 

Paris Match 

J-pop duo blending bossanova, 

jazz, and house. Jul 4, 7 & 

9:30pm, ¥5,000-7,000. Billboard 

Live. Nearest stn: Roppongi. 

www.billboard-live.com 

Do As Infinity 

J-pop/rock . Jul 7, 6pm, ¥6,300. 

Shibuya Kokaido. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3463-3022. 

Electric Mary 

Hard rock. Jul 10, 7pm, 

¥6,500+1d. Club Quattro. 


mandicompany.co.jp 

Fabolous 

Rapper from the US. Jul 13, 

6:30pm, ¥10,000 (adv)/¥11,000 

(door). Yokohama 

Bayside Hall. Nearest stn: 

Motomachi-Chukagai. www. 

swagfamilylegacy.jp 

Nao Matsushita 

Japanese singer and actress. Jul 

21, 6pm, ¥6,300. Bunkamura 

Orchard Hall. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.matsushita-nao. 

com 

Radical Music Network 

Feat. Mimi Maura, Che Sudaka, 

DJ Scratchy etc. Jul 25, 6pm, 

¥4,000 (adv)/¥4,500 (door). 

CAY. Nearest stn: Omotesando. 

www.japonicus.com/rmnspe7. 

html 

Fuji Rock Festival 

The Stone Roses, Radiohead, 

Buddy Guy, and more. Jul 27-29. 

¥16,800 (one-day)/¥42,800 

(three-day). Naeba Ski Resort. 

Nearest stn: Echigo Yuzawa. 

www.fujirockfestival.com 

The Beach Boys 

Veteran rock band returnes to 

Japan. Aug 16, 4:30pm, ¥8,000- 

9,000. QVC Marine Field. 

Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. 

Tel: 043-296-1227. 

Summer Sonic 

Green Day, Rihanna, Sigor 

Ros, New Order, etc. Aug 

18-19. 11am, ¥15,000(adv.1 

day), ¥27,000(adv. 2 days). 

Makuhari Messe. Nearest 

stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. www. 

summersonic.com 

Jazz/World 

Mose Allison 

Veteran jazz blues singer. 

May 25-27. Various times, 

¥7,500. Blue Note. Nearest stn: 

Omotesando. www.bluenote. 

co.jp 

Carmen Lundy Quartet 

Multi-talented American jazz 

singer. May 22-25. Various 

times, ¥6,800-9,000. Cotton 

Club. Nearest stn: Tokyo. Tel: 

03-3215-1555. 

Chris Potter Underground 

American jazz musician. May 26 

& 28-29. Various times, ¥7,000- 

9,000. Cotton Club. Nearest stn: 

Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. 

The Real Group 

Award-winning Swedish 

a cappella group. May 28, 

¥4,500-6,500. Billboard Live. 

Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 

03-3405-1133. 

Everette Harp 

R&B, smooth jazz feat. Indra 

Lesmana Quartet. May 28-29. 

Various times, ¥7,000. Blue 

Note. Nearest stn: Omotesando. 

www.bluenote.co.jp 

James Farm 

Feat. Joshua Redman, Aaron 

Parks, Matt Penman and 

Eric Harland. May 30-Jun 2. 

Various times, ¥8,400. Blue 

Note. Nearest stn: Omotesando. 

www.bluenote.co.jp/jp 

Tom Harrel Quintet 

American post-bop jazz 

trumpeter, flugelhornist. May 

30-Jun 1. Various times, ¥7,500- 


Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. 

Bootsy Collins 

Deep funk bassist. May 31-Jun 

2. ¥11,500-13,500. Billboard 

Live. Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 

03-3405-1133. 

Taicoclub ’12 

Animal Collective, DadaD, 

Jonti, Josh Wink, etc. Jun 2-3. 

3pm, ¥11,000-12,000 (adv)/ ¥ 

13,000 (door). Kodama no Mori. 

Nearest stn: Yabuhara. www. 

taicoclub.com 

Jim Hall 

Veteran jazz guitarist's solo. 

Jun 2, various times, ¥8,400- 

10,500. Cotton Club. Nearest 

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

Jim Hall Trio 

Feat. Scott Colley and Joey 

Baron. Jun 3-6. Various times, 

¥8,400. Blue Note. Nearest stn: 

Omotesando. www.bluenote. 

co.jp 

Yes 

Feat. Aaron Goldberg, Omer 

Avital and Ali Jackson Jr. Jun 

7-9. Various times, ¥6,500- 


Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555. 

Monday Michiru 

Japanese club jazz pioneer . Jun 

7, various times, ¥5,000-7,000. 



com 

Platina Jazz Orchestra 

Presented by Rasmus Faber. 

Feat. anisong singer Megumi 

Nakajima on Jun 9. Jun 8-9, 

various times, ¥4,800-6,800. 


Roppongi. www.billboardlive.com 

Very Be Careful 

Feat. Cumbia & Vallenato. 

Jun 9, 10:30pm, ¥3,500. Marz. 

Nearest stn: Seibushinjuku. 

www.japonicus.com/ 

verybecareful2012.html 

Robert Glasper 

Experiment 

Pianist who incorporates jazz, 

hip-hop, gospel, R&B, and 

alt-rock. Jun 12-14. ¥5,500- 


stn: Roppongi. www.billboardlive.com 

Chris Botti 

Critically acclaimed jazz 

trumpeter. Jun 16, 2pm, 

¥8,000-10,000. Tokyo 

Dome City Hall. Nearest stn: 

Suidobashi. Tel: 03-5800- 

9999. 

Hiromitsu Agatsuma 

Tsugaru-jamisen player. Jun 

17, 4:30 & 7:30pm, ¥5,000- 



Bernard Purdie & Friends 

Feat. Reuben Wilson and Grant 

Green Jr. Jun 18-19, various 

times, ¥6,000-8,000. Billboard 



Karyn White 

R&B diva. Jun 22-23, various 

times, ¥7,000-9,500. Billboard 



Baptiste Trotignon 

French pianist's solo. Jun 24, 

6:30pm, ¥5,000-7,000. Cotton 


03-3215-1555. 

Chihiro Yamanaka 

Jazz pianist and vocalist. Jun 

24, 4:30 & 7:30pm, ¥4,800- 



Yusa 

Cuban singer-songwriter. Jun 

25-27, various times, ¥7,500- 

9,500. Cotton Club. Nearest 

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

Wouter Hamel 

Jazz singer-songwriter from 

Holland. Jun 27, 7 & 9:30pm, 


Nearest stn: Roppongi. www. 

billboard-live.com 

Tony Monaco Trio 

Feat. Yosuke Onuma and 

Gene Jackson. Jun 28, various 

times, ¥5,500-7,500. Cotton 


03-3215-1555. 

ClassiCal 

Simpatico Chamber 

Orchestra Concert 

Eiichi Kimura conducts pieces 

by Ravel and Mozart. May 27, 

6pm, free (by application). 

Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall. 

Nearest stn: Hatsudai. Tel: 

080-6547-1791. 

Evgeni Brozhanov 

Piano recital by Bulgarian 

virtuoso. Jun 8, 7pm, ¥3,000- 

5,000. Suntory Hall. Nearest 

stn: Roppongi-itchome. 

Tel: 03-3584-9999. Jun 9, 

3pm, ¥2,500-3,500. Saitama 

Arts Theater. Nearest 

stn: Yonohonmachi. Tel: 

0570-064-939. 

Piano Etoile Vol. 18 

Piano recital. Jun 9, 3pm, 

¥2,500-3,500. Saitama 

Arts Theater. Nearest stn: 

Yonohonmachi. Tel: 048-858- 

5500. 

Russian National 

Orchestra 

Feat. Daishin Kashimoto and 

Mikhail Pletnev. Jun 13, 7pm, 

¥6,000-15,000. Green Hall. 

Nearest stn: Sagami-Oono. Tel: 

042-742-9999. 

Zerosai-mae no Concert 

Music for the soon-to-be-born 

and their mothers, performed 

by pianist Yuko Mifune and 

cellist Yoko Ara. Jun 23, 3pm, 

¥1,000 (pregnant women), 

¥2,000 (general). Philia Hall. 

Nearest stn: Aobadai. www. 

philia.com 

Michie Koyama 

Piano recital. Jun 23, 3pm, 

¥2,000-5,000. Bunkamura 


Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-3244. 

Berlin Symphony 

Orchestra 

Feat. Lior Shambadal (c) and 

Stanislav Bunin (p). Jun 24, 

5pm, ¥5,000-16,000. Suntory 

Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. 

Tel: 03-3944-9999. 

NHK Symphony 

Orchestra 

Feat. Olivier Charlier and 

Michiyoshi Inoue. Jun 24, 

4pm, ¥2,000-6,500. Saitama 


Yonohonmachi. Tel: 048-858- 

5500. 

Ikuko Kawai 

Violinist, composer, and art 

professor. Jun 28, 7 & 9:30pm, 



billboard-live.com 

Niu Niu 

Child prodigy pianist. Jun 30, 

2:30pm, ¥2,500-4,500. Suntory 

Hall. Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. 

Tel: 03-3584-9999. 

Kool Nostalgia 

Feat. soprano singer Tomoko 

Shibata. Jul 6, 6:45pm, ¥6,000 

w/1d (general). Yamaha 

Ginza Hall. Nearest stn: 

Ginza. www.yamahamusic. 

jp. Jun 24, 1 & 4pm, ¥5,000 

(general). Jiyugaoka Operaza. 

Nearest stn: Jiyugaoka. www. 

tomokoshibata.com 

Cavalleria Rusticana 

Feat. Paolo Carignani (c) and 

Tetsu Taoshita. Jul 13-16, 


Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Nearest 

stn: Ueno. Tel: 03-3828-2111. 

Arts Shower 

Zoorasian Brass and the 

rabbit-faced String Quartet of 

Tsuru-Usagi. Jul 30-31. 2pm, 

¥1,000. Tokyo Opera City. 

Nearest stn: Hatsudai. www. 

operacity.jp 

Keisuke Toyama 

Piano recital. Aug 1, 7pm, 

¥3,000-3,800. Suntory Hall. 

Nearest stn: Roppongiitchome. 

Tel: 03-3584-9999. 

Stage 

Gogatsu Hanagata Kabuki 

Classical Japanese 

dance-drama. Until May 

25, 11am & 2:30pm, ¥3,000- 

14,500. Shimbashi Enbujo. 

Nearest stn: Higashiginza. Tel: 

03-3541-2600. 

Macbeth 

Shakespeare’s tragedy put 

on by International Theatre 

Company London. May 26-Jun 

2, various times and prices. 

Various locations. www. 

stageplay.jp/en 

Rokugatsu Dai Kabuki 

Classical Japanese 

dance-drama. Jun 5-29, 

11am & 2pm, ¥3,000-21,000. 

Shimbashi Enbujo. Nearest 

stn: Higashiginza. Tel: 03-3541- 

2600. 

Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill 

Black Stripe theater presents 

this edgy play by an 

award-winning playwright. 

Jul 5-9, 7:30pm & 2:30pm, 

¥2,500-3,000. Tiny Alice. www. 

blackstripetheater.com 

Come Fly Away 

New Broadway musical 

feat. Frank Sinatra classics. 

Preschoolers not permitted. 

Jul 24-Aug 12, various times, 

¥7,000-10,500. Bunkamura 


Shibuya. www.cfa2012.jp 

Gamarjobat Silent 

Comedy 

Pantomime duo. Aug 31-Sep 2, 


Kanagawa Arts Theater. 

Nearest stn: Motomachi- 

Chukagai. www.gamarjobat. 

com

for complete listinGs 

That’s Gamaru Show 

Feat. silent comedians 

Gamarjobat. Sep 1, 1pm, 

¥4,000-4,500. Kanagawa 


Motomachi-Chukagai. Tel: 

045-633-6500. 

Million Dollar Quartet 

Broadway musical. Sep 5-17, 


Theatre Orb. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: www.theatre-orb. 

com. 

Romeo & Juliet 

Shakespeare's classic. Oct 6-21, 

¥5,000-13,000. Theatre Orb. 


theatre-orb.com 

Elizabeth 

Vienna musical . Oct 26-31, 


Theatre Orb. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-3244. 

Phantom of the Opera 

Gaston Leroux’s classic 

adaptation. Ongoing, various 

times, ¥3,000-9,800. Dentsu 

Shiki Theater Umi. Nearest stn: 

Shinbashi. www.shiki.gr.jp 

Dance 

The Taming of the Shrew 

Ballet based on Shakespeare's 

comedy. Jun 1-2, various times, 

¥5,000-18,000. Tokyo Bunka 

Kaikan. Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 

03-3791-8888. 

Swan Lake 

Performed by Stuttgart Ballet. 

Jun 5-6, 6:30pm, ¥5,000- 

¥18,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. 

Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: 03-3791- 

8888. 

Alatzki 

Butoh dance quintet. Jun 

9-10, various times, ¥3,500. 

Session House. Nearest stn: 

Kagurazaka. Tel: 03-3266-0461. 

Hikariyami 

Feat. Pearl Alexander (b), 

Toshimaru Nakamura (g) and 

Taketeru Kudo (h). Jun 9, 8pm, 

¥2,300 (adv), ¥2,800 (door). 

Super Deluxe. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. www.super-delux. 

com 

Stand Alone Zone 

Système Castafiore presents an 

adventure in a surreal world full 

of illusions, a futuristic universe 

dark and mythical creatures. Jun 

23, 3pm, ¥2,500-3,000. Saitama 


Yonohonmachi. www.institut.jp 

Nameless Voice 

Freak show-inspired dance 

by Noism. Jul 6-8, various 

times, ¥4,500 (general), 

¥3,000 (students). Saitama 


Yonohonmachi. www.saf.or.jp 

West Sid e Story 

Romeo and Juliet-inspired story 

of street gangs in ’50s US. Jul 

18-Aug 5, various times, ¥8,000- 

13,000. Theatre Orb. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-3244. 

Yokohama Bayside Ballet 

Danses Grecques, Carmen, and 

Bolero. Jul 20, 7pm, ¥7,000- 

9,000. Yokohama Red Brick 

Warehouse. Nearest stn: 

Minatomirai. Tel: 04-5211-1555. 

Ballet Matsuri 

Family-oriented ballet event. 

Jul 21, 11:30am & 3:30pm, 

¥6,000. U-Port Hall. Nearest stn: 

Osaki-Hirokoji. Tel: 03-3494- 

1840. Aug 5, 1:30pm, ¥6,000. 

Kanagawa Kenmin Hall. 

Nearest stn: Nihonodori. Tel: 

04-5662-8866. 

Chiekovsky Highlight 

Classic ballet. Jul 22, 1:30pm, 

¥6,000. U-Port Hall. Nearest stn: 

Osaki-Hirokoji. Tel: 03-3494- 

1840. Jul 21, 1:30pm, ¥5,500. 

Chiba City Civic Hall. Nearest 

stn: Higashichiba. Tel: 043-224- 

2431. 

Napua Greig & Hawaiian 

Hula Girls 

Music and dance from the isles. 

Aug 4-5, various times, ¥5,000- 

7,000. Shinjuku Bunka Center. 

Nearest stn: Higashishinjuku. 

Tel: 03-3350-1141. 

Clubbing 

Friday 25 

Air 

Catch a Groove. Soul, funk: DJs 

Norman Jay, Ovall, etc. From 

10pm, ¥3,000. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.com 

Club Asia 

Funnel. Techno, electro: DJs 

Hikaru, Bremen, etc. From 

11pm, ¥3,000 w/1d. Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. www.clubasia. 

co.jp 

Eleven 

Almadella. techno/dubstep: 

Peverelist, Keihin, Shhhhh, 

Rilla. From 10pm, ¥3,500 

(general). Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. www.go-to-eleven. 

com 

Micro Cosmos 

Kids, Young Wild & Free. 

Hip-hop: DJ K27t and more. 

From 12am, ¥2,000 w/1d. 


microcosmos-tokyo.com 

Module 

Opus. Techno, minimal: DJs 

Qhey, Kobayashi, etc. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com 

Sound Museum Vision 

Electric Buzz. Techno, house: 

DJs Namito, Tti, etc. From 


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). 


matrixbar.jp 

The Room 

Champ. Funky jazzy music: DJs 

Tominaga, Oibon, etc. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.theroom.jp 

Warehouse702 

Fire. House: DJs Tanaka, 

Fukushima, etc. From 10pm, 

¥3,500 w/1d (m), ¥2,500 w/1d 

(f). Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban. 

www.warehouse702.com 

Womb 

Teng A Night. Idol, anime: DJs 

Ram Rider, Kz, etc. From 11pm, 

¥4,000 (m), ¥3,500 (f). Nearest 

stn: Shibuya. www.womb.co.jp 

saturday 26 

Ageha 

Daishi Dance. House: DJ Daishi 

Dance. Live: Yoshida Brothers. 

From 11pm, ¥3,500. Nearest 

stn: Shin-Kiba. www.ageha. 

com 

Air 

Www. House, electro: DJs The 

Lowbrows, Riton, etc. From 

10pm, ¥3,500. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.com 

Club Asia 

Club Asia. Electro: DJs Nakata, 

Nakamura, etc. From 11pm, 

¥3,500 w/1d. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.clubasia.co.jp 

Eleven 

Dj Harvey 2012 Tour of Japan. 

Psychedelic disco: DJs Harvey, 

Takimi, etc. From 10pm, 

¥3,500. Nearest stn: Roppongi. 

www.go-to-eleven.com 

Liquidroom 

Dj Nobu New Label “Bitta” 

Launch Party “On.” Techno, 

house: DJ Nobu and more. 

From 12am, ¥2,000 (adv) / 

¥3,000 (door). Nearest stn: 

Ebisu. Tel: 03-5464-0800. 

Micro Cosmos 

Night Park. Hip-hop: DJs 

Hazime, Tama, etc. From 12am, 


Shibuya. www.microcosmostokyo.com 

Module 

Inlook Festival. Bass music: 

DJsJaqwa, Nargiz, etc. From 




Alien Radio. House, techno: 

DJs Umek, Groove Patrol, 

etc. From 10pm, ¥3,000 

w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.vision-tokyo.com 

The New Matrix Bar 

Saturday Night Fever. 

Hip-hop, R&B, reggae: DJ 

Ykk and more. From 6pm, 

¥1,000 (after 10pm). Nearest 


1066. www.matrixbar.jp 

Unit 

Madchester Night. Feat. Venus 

Peter and Secret Goldfish. 

From 11:30pm, ¥3,000 

(adv), ¥3,500 (door). Nearest 

stn: Daikanyama. www. 

unit-tokyo.com 

The Room 

Jazztronica! House, jazz: DJs 

Nozaki, Shuya Okino(Kyoto 

Jazz Massive), etc. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.theroom.jp 

Warehouse702 

The Ring. House: DJs 

Asahina, Kenji, etc. From 

11pm, JYP4,000 w/1d. 

Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban. 


Womb 

Tresvibes. House, minimal: 

DJs Roman Flugel, Otsuki, 

etc. From 11pm, ¥4,000. 


womb.co.jp 

sunday 27 

Eleven 

Smile Nihonshu. Reggae: 

DJs Big H, Tarou, etc. 2-6pm, 

¥1,500. Nearest stn: Roppongi. 


Micro Cosmos 

The Venus. All good music: DJs 

Yu-Ki, Arata, etc. From 12am, 

men ¥2,000 w/1d, women free. 



Module 

Stark. House, electro: DJs 

Yummy, Ogawa, etc. From 



The Room 

Yuragi. House: DJs Kiichiro, 

Gara, etc. 5-10pm, ¥1,500 

w/1d. Nearest stn: Shibuya. 

www.theroom.jp 

Warehouse702 

High Up. Hip-hop: DJs Taku, 

Takuya, etc. From 11pm, 

¥2,500 w/1d. Nearest 

stn: Azabu-Juban. www. 

warehouse702.com 

Womb 

Everlasting. House, techno: 

DJs Watanabe, Shingo, etc. 

4-10pm, ¥2,500. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.womb.co.jp 

Wednesday 30 

Eleven 

Sml. House, techno: DJs 

Okada, Kansugi, etc. From 


stn: Roppongi. www. 

go-to-eleven.com 

Module 

Easy Skanking. Reggae, soul: 

DJs Bana, Ucchie, etc. From 



The Room 

Disco Viking. Bar style: DJs 

33queen, Kajitsu, etc. From 

6-11pm, free. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.theroom.jp 

Warehouse702 

Majic. Hip-hop DJs Kango, 

Yu, etc: Live: Doberman Inc. 

From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d. 

Nearest stn: Azabu-Juban. 


#948 • WWW.MeTRoPoLiS.Co.JP • 21

Admission 

JR Sotobo line 

JR Keiyo Line 


Mention Metropolis 

for free admission 

Keiyo Highway 

Agenda Listings Go to www.meturl.com/l 

Womb 

How High. House, techno: 

DJs Ten, Timo, etc. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.womb. 

co.jp 

thursday 31 

Air 

Guild. House, techno: DJs 

Watanabe, Tsutsumi, etc. 

From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d. 


air-tokyo.com 

Club Asia 

The Survivor. Reggae: DJ 

Spicy Chocolate. From 


stn: Shibuya. www.clubasia. 

co.jp 

Eleven 

Soundpost. House, disco: 

DJs Fujimoto, Ishizuka, etc. 

From 10pm, ¥2,000 w/1d. 

Nearest stn: Roppongi. 


Module 

Laguna Bass. Bass music, 

dubstep: DJs Fys, Rs, etc. 



The Room 

Spunky. Jazz, house: DJs 

Matsuoka, Kawahara, etc. 

From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d. 


theroom.jp 

Womb 

Page 7. Progressive house, 

tech house: DJs Yasuhiro, 

You, etc. From 10pm, 

¥1,500. Nearest stn: 

Shibuya. www.womb.co.jp 

Friday 1 

Air 

Music from Another Time, 

Some from Now, and from 

Different Places. House: DJ 

Joaquin "Joe" Claussell and 

more. From 10pm, ¥3,500. 


air-tokyo.com 

Club Asia 

The Block Party. House, 

electro: DJs Congorock, 

Taku, etc. From 11pm, 


Shibuya. www.clubasia. 

co.jp 

Eleven 

Chaos. Techno, house: DJs 

Ricardo Villalobos, Fumiya, 

etc. From 10pm, ¥4,500. 

Nearest stn: Roppongi. 


Micro Cosmos 

Honey Drippin’ Premium. 

Hip-hop: DJs Kashi Da 

Handsome, Ryuhei, etc. 

From 12am, ¥2,000 w/1d. 



Module 

Innocence. Techno, 

minimal: DJs Crazy Neo, 

Bgm, etc. From 10pm, 


Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com 


Epock. All mix: DJs Kza, 

Tanaka, etc: Live: Black 

Jaxx and more. From 10pm, 


Shibuya. www.vision-tokyo. 

com 

The Room 

Breakthrough. Hip-hop: 

DJs Jin, Ladi Dadi, etc. 

From 10pm, ¥2,500 w/1d. 


theroom.jp 

Womb 

Sterne. Techno: DJs 

Christian Smith, Ishino, etc. 


stn: Shibuya. www.womb. 

co.jp 

uPComing 

Ageha 

Ultra Music. House: DJs 

Emma, Force of Nature, etc. 

Jun 2, from 11pm, ¥3,500. 

Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba. www. 

ageha.com 

Ginza Roots 

Domina-Trix6. Female 

dominance: DJs Various DJs. 

Jun 2, from 10pm, ¥5,500 w/1d 

(m), ¥2,000 w/1d (f). Nearest 

stn: Ginza-Itchome. www. 

loungeroots.com 

Patagonica DJ Contest 

Fundraising event feat. Chilean DJ 

Marco Latrach. Jun 8, from 9pm, 

¥3,000 w/ free organic food. M 

(event Space & Bar). Nearest stn: 

Daikanyama. Tel: 03-6416-1739. 

Exhibitions 

akasaka/roPPongi 

21_21 Design Sight 

Tema Hima: The Art of Living in 

Tohoku. Traditional crafts from 

the northeastern region. Until 

Aug 26, ¥1,000. Open Mon & 

Wed-Sun 11am-8pm, closed 

Tue. 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minatoku. 

Nearest stn: Nogizaka. 

www.2121designsight.jp 

Mori Art Museum 

Ho Tzu Nyen. Video. Until May 

27, ¥1,500/¥1,000 (univ, HS). 

One Piece. Experience the world 

of manga and anime supervisor 

Eiichiro Oda. Original art, 

movies, etc. Until Jun 17, ¥2,000 

(general)/¥1,500 (HS, MS)/¥800 

(elem and under). Lee Bul. Asia’s 

leading female artist. Until May 

27, ¥1500. Arab Express. The 

latest art from the Arab world. 

Until Oct 28, ¥1,500 (general). 

MAM Project: Lee Changwon. 

Visual trickery, mechanism 

and dangers of the act of seeing. 

Jun 6-Oct 28, ¥1,500 (general), 

¥1,000 (Univ & HS). Open Mon 

& Wed-Sun 10am-10pm, Tue 

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


mori.art.museum 

Mori Arts Center Gallery 

Ancient Egyptian Book of the 

Dead. Journey through the 

afterlife. Jul 7-Sep 17, ¥1,500. 

52F Roppongi Hills Tower, 

6-10-1 Roppongi. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. Tel: 03-5777-8600. 

The National Art Center, 

Tokyo 

Cézanne. Paris-Provence. 

Paintings by French 

post-impressionist artist. 

Until Jun 11, ¥1500. Gutai. 

Avant-garde artist group from 

the ’50s-’70s. Jul 4-Sep 10, 

¥1,000. 400 Years of European 

Masterpieces. Collection of the 

State Hermitage museum. Until 

Jul 16, ¥1,500. Open Wed-Mon 

10am-6pm, closed Tue. 

7-22-2 Roppongi. Nearest stn: 

Roppongi. www.nact.jp 

ginza/kyobashi/ 

tokyo 

Bridgestone Museum 

You’ve Got to See These 

Paintings. Painting. Until Jun 

24, ¥800. Open Tue-Sun & hols 

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

Kyobashi, Chuo-ku. Nearest 

stn: Tokyo. www.bridgestonemuseum.gr.jp/en 

Galleria Grafica Bis 

Rock & Roll Dragon. Intricate 

dragon drawn with 0.5mm 

mechanical pencil by Hideo 

Aratani. Sep 3-8, free. Ginza S2 

Bldg, 6-13-4 Ginza. Nearest stn: 

Ginza. www.gg-bis.com 

National Film Center 

Nihon Eiga. History of Japanese 

films from the NFC collection. 

Ongoing, ¥200. Let's Go To The 

Movies. Retro movie posters, 

culture, etc. Until Jul 29, Closed 

Jun 18-25, ¥200. Open Tue-Thu 

& Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri 

10am-8pm. 3-7-6 Kyobashi. 

Nearest stn: Kyobashi. www. 

momat.go.jp 

National Museum of 

Modern Art Tokyo 

Japanese Crossing Borders: Asia 

as Dreamed by Craftspeople, 

1930s-1945. Antiques. Until 

Jul 16, ¥500. Reika Furukawa. 

Yamato-e (Japanese paintings 

inspired by the Tang Dynasty 

paintings). Until Jun 12-29, 

Photography Today 4. Feat. 

works by Shinya Arimoto, 

Shuhei Motoyama, etc. Jun 

1-29, ¥420 (general). Kikkawa 

Reika: An Explorer fro Line 

in Modern Times. Yamato-e 

painter. Jun 12-29, ¥850. Open 

Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, 

Fri 10am-8pm. 3-7-6 Kyobashi. 

Nearest stn: Takebashi. www. 

momat.go.jp 

New Otani Art Museum 

Eternal Feminine Beauty 

Reflected in European Paintings. 

35 paintings from 17th to 

19th centuries. Until May 27, 

¥800 (general). Open Tue-Sun 

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

Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku. Nearest 

stn: Yotsuya. www.newotani. 

co.jp/group/museum 

Span Art Gallery 

Akira Uno. Graphic artist, 

illustrator, and painter from 

’60s underground art scene. 

Until Jun 2, free. La Fête Blanche. 

Illustrations by Akira Uno. 

Until Jun 2, free. Jin Yamamoto. 

Painter, sculptor, and doll 

maker. Jun 4-16, free. Open 

Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, closed 

Sun. 2-2-18 Ginza. Nearest stn: 

Yurakucho. www.span-art.co.jp 

Vanilla Gallery 

Vitamin-V. Works by Tetsuo 

Koyama, Keiryu Asakura, and 

Kizimecca. Until May 26, ¥500. 

Open Mon-Fri noon-7pm, Sat 

noon-5pm, closed Sun. 4F Daini 

Kamata Bldg, 6-10-10 Ginza. 

Nearest stn: Ginza. Tel: 03-5568- 

1233. 

haraJuku/aoyama 

Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial 

Museum of Art 

View from the Sky. Ukiyo-e of 

Edo scenery from the sky. Until 

May 27, ¥7,00/¥500 (univ, HS)/ 

free (MS & under). Neko Hyakkei. 

Utagawa’s ukiyo-e of pussies. 

Until Jul 26, ¥1,000(general), 

¥700(HS&univ). Open Tue-Sun 

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

1-10-10 Jingumae. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. www.ukiyoe-otamuse.jp 

shibuya/ebisu 

Bunkamura Gallery 

Leonardo da Vinci: Bi no 

Risou. The Idea of Beauty: A 

celebration of Leonardo Da 

Vinci's painted works. Until Jun 

10, ¥1,500 (general)/¥1,000 

(univ, HS)/¥700 (MS, elem). 

Aquirax World. Akira Uno's 

works. Until May 27, free. 

Art of UK Rock. Artwork of 

British musicians. Jun 13-21, 

free. Female Times. Works of 

five female artists. Until Jun 

13-24, free. Restaurant Tanaka. 

Paintings of food by a former 

chef. Jun 27, free. The Splender 

of the Kithan Dynsasty. Various 

media from Mongolia. Jul 

12-Sep 17, free. Open daily, 

10am-7pm. 2- 24-1 Dogenzaka. 


bunkamura.co.jp 

Parco Museum 

Rune Naito: Roots of Kawaii. 

Illustrations of cute girls as 

precursors to the national 

obsession. Until Jun 4, ¥500. 

Open daily 10am-9pm. B1F 

Parco Part1, 15-1 Udagawacho, 

Shibuya-ku. www.parco-art. 

com/web 

The Watari-Um Museum 

of Contemporary Art 

Turning Around. Controversial 

works by ChimPom and 

other edgy artists. Until Jul 8, 

¥1,000. Open Tue & Thu-Sun 

11am-7pm, Wed 11am-9pm, 

closed Mon. 3-7-6 Jingumae. 

Nearest stn: Gaienmae. www. 

watarium.co.jp 

Yamatane Museum of Art 

The Modern Nihonga. Celebrate 

the 120th anniversary of the 

birth of Fukuda Heihachiro. 

May 26-Jul 22, ¥1,200 

(general). Open Tue-Fri 

11am-5pm, closed Mon & 

hols. 3-12-36 Hiroo. Nearest 

stn: Ebisu. www.yamatanemuseum.or.jp

istinGs for complete listinGs 

shinJuku/ikebukuro 

Dokkin Jikken Shitsu 

Gallery 

Mimesis. Works by drag queen 

Vivienne Sato. Opening 

reception on June 6-24. 

4-6:30pm, free. Open Tue-Sun 

4-7pm (final day 1-7pm). 

Closed Mon. 602 Gunkan 

Bldg, 1-1-10 Okubo. Nearest 

stn: Higashi-Shinjuku. Tel: 

080-4688-1091. www.dokkinjikken.com 

Fuji Photo Gallery 

Fuji Photo Gallery Shinjuku. 

One-year anniversary 

exhibition. Jun 1-7, free. 1-10-3 

Shinjuku. Nearest stn: Shinjuku 

Gyoenmae. www.prolabcreate.jp/culture/gallery/ 

shin_gallery.html 

Gallery Shuhari 

Rojin Shinpi. Photographs 

of eccentric elderly people 

by Kyoichi Tsuzuki and 

Keigo Katayama. Until May 

27, free. Yopparai Tengoku. 

Photographs of drunks by 

Kenji Kawamoto. May 29-Jun 

10, free. Tue-Sun noon-8pm, 

until 5pm on last day. Closed 

Mon. 3-13-3F Yotsuya. Nearest 

stn: Yotsuya. www.galleryshuhari.com 

Hiromart Gallery 

It’s a Wonderful Life. Painting 

show by Yuka Goto and 

Tomohiro Koizumi. Until May 

27, 1-7pm, free. My Friends. 

Acrylic and mixed media 

paintings by Ritsuko Sato. 

Jul 8-15, 1-7pm, free. Open 

Wed-Sun 1-7pm, closed 

Mon-Tue. 1-30-7 Sekiguchi. 

Nearest stn: Edogawabashi. 

www.hiromartgallery.com 

Kenji Taki Gallery 

Sakuji Yoshimoto. Mixed media. 

Until Jun 16, free. Open Tue-Sat 

noon-7pm, closed Sun-Mon 

& hols. 3-18-2 Nishi-Shinjuku. 

Nearest stn: Hatsudai. www. 

kenjitaki.com 

Roonee 247 Photography 

Nigeria Saiko no Egaotachi. 

Photos of smiling Nigerians. 

Jun 12-17, free. 5-18-11 

Shinjuku. Nearest stn: 

Yotsuya-Sanchome. www. 

roonee.com 

Sompo Japan Museum of 

Art 

Henri Le Sidaner. Painting. 

Until Jul 1, ¥1,000 (general). 

42F Sompo Japan Bldg, 1-26-1 

Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest stn: 

Shinjuku. www.sompo-japan. 

co.jp/museum 

Tokyo Opera City Art 

Gallery 

Beat Takeshi Kitano. Japanese 

comedian/director's first 

exhibition in Japan. Until 

Sep 2, ¥1,300. Open Tue-Thu 

11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 11am-8pm. 

3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku. Nearest 

stn: Shinjuku. www.operacity. 

jp/en/ag 

Tokyo Toy Museum 

Ki no Gangu-ten. Wooden 

toys. Until Sep 30, free. Open 

Fri-Wed 10am-4pm. Closed 

Thu. Yotsuya Hiroba, 4-20 

Yotsuya. Nearest stn: Yotsuya 

Sanchome. www.goodtoy.org 

ueno 

National Museum of 

Nature and Science 

Genso no Fushigi. Learn about 

chemical elements. Until 

Oct 8, free. The Inka Empire 

Revealed: A Century after the 

Machu Picchu “Discovery”. 

Feat. 3D sky-view theater. 

Until Jun 24, ¥1,400 (general). 

Open Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 

9am-5pm, Fri 9am-8pm, 

closed Mon. 7-20 Ueno Park. 

Nearest stn: Ueno. www. 

kahaku.go.jp 

The National Museum of 

Western Art 

Berlin. European art from 

Renaissance to Rococo. Jun 

13-Sep 17, ¥1,500 (general). 

Open daily 9:30am-5:30pm. 7-7 

Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. 

www.nmwa.go.jp 

The University Art 

Museum 

Yuichi Takahashi. Modern 

Japanese paintings. Until Jun 

24, ¥1,300 (general)/ ¥800 

(Univ & HS)). Open Tue-Sun 

10am-5pm, closed Mon. 12-8 

Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. 

www.geidai.ac.jp/museum 

Tokyo National Museum 

Japanese Masterpieces from the 

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 

Japanese art from the Meiji era. 

Until Jun 2, ¥1,500 (general). 

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

13-9 Ueno Park. Nearest stn: 

Ueno. www.tnm.jp 

other areas 

3331 Arts Chiyoda 

Otomo Katsuhiro Genga. 

Legendary manga artist 

Katsuhiro Otomo exhibits 

artwork from Akira and others. 

Lawson ticket L code: 39995. 

Until May 30, ¥1,500 (general). 

Open daily noon-7pm. 6-11-14 

Soto Kanda. Nearest stn: 

Suehirocho. www.3331.jp/en 

Louvre-DNP Museum Lab 

Goya and Spanish Painting in the 

Louvre. entry by appointment 

only. until oct 28, free. Fri 

6-9pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm. 

1F DNP Gotanda Bldg, 3-5-20 

Nishi-Gotanda. Nearest stn: 

Gotanda. www.museumlab.jp 

Makuhari Messe 

Dino Kingdom. Jurassic 

showcase. Jul 21-Sep 23, 

9am-5pm, ¥2,500(general), 

¥1,200 (elem&MS). Nakase 

2-1, Mihama-ku. Nearest 

stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. 

www.m-messe.co.jp 

Meguro Museum of Art 

Tokyo 

Charlotte Perriand and Japan. 

French architect and designer 

who lived in Japan during 

WWII. Until Jun 10, ¥900 

(general)/¥700 (HS, univ, 65 and 

over). Yomogaetta Kaiga. Works 

by Morisuke Komoda. Jul 

14-Sep 2, ¥500. Open Tue-Sun 

10am-6pm, closed Mon. 2-4-36 

Meguro. Nearest stn: Meguro. 

www.mmat.jp 

Museum of Contemporary 

Art Tokyo 

Bloomberg Pavilion Project. 

Akihisa Hirata’s paper 

building stages exhibitions 

and performances. ongoing, 

free. Thomas Demand. Artist 

meticulously creates sets 

and photographs them. until 

Jul 8, ¥1,000. 4-1-1 Miyoshi, 

Koto-ku. Nearest stn: Kiyosumishirakawa.www.mot-artmuseum.jp 

Sato Sakura Museum 

Tokyo 

Permanent collection. Nihonga 

from Showa era-born painters. 

1-7-13 Kamimeguro, Meguroku. 

open Mon-Fri 1-8pm, 

Sat-Sun 11am-6pm. Nearest stn: 

Nakameguro. www.satosakura. 

jp/tokyo 

The Museum of Modern 

Art, Saitama 

Ultraman Art. Design and 

figurines of Ultraman . Jul 

7-Sep 2, ¥1,100. Goto Shu. 

Paintings and installations 

by Goto Shu. Until Jul 8, ¥200. 

Open daily 10:00am-5:30pm. 

9-30-1 Tokiwa, Urawa-ku, 

Saitama-shi. Nearest stn: 

Kitaurawa. www.momas. 

jp/022eng/e_index.htm 

Sports 

baseball 

Interleague 

Saitama Seibu Lions vs. 

Tokyo Yakult Swallows. May 

25-26, 6pm, ¥600-20,000. 

Seibu Dome. Nearest stn: 

Seibukyujomae. Tel: 04-2925- 

1141. 

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 

vs. Tohoku Rakuten Eagles. 

May 27-28, 6pm, ¥500-4,500. 

Meiji Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. Tel: 03-3401-0312 

Yokohama Dena Baystars 

vs. Orix Buffaloes. May 

27-28, 3pm, ¥500-5,500. 

Yokohama Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Kannai. Tel: 04-5661- 

1251. 

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 

vs. Hokkaido Nippon 

Ham Fighters. May 30-31, 

6pm, ¥500-4,500. Meiji 

Jingu Gaien. Nearest stn: 

Harajuku. Tel: 03-3401-0312 


Yokohama Dena Baystars. 

Jun 2-3, 1pm, ¥600-20,000. 

Seibu Dome. Nearest 

stn: Seibukyujomae. Tel: 

04-2925-1141. 

Chiba Lotte Marines 

vs. Yokohama Dena 

Baystars. Jun 5-6, 6:15pm, 

¥800-4,800. QVC Marine 

Field. Nearest stn: Kaihin- 

Makuhari. Tel: 043-296- 

1227. 


Chunichi Dragons. Jun 

5-6, 6pm, ¥600-20,000. 

Seibu Dome. Nearest 

stn: Seibukyujomae. Tel: 

04-2925-1141. 

Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs. 

Chiba Lotte Marines. Jun 8-9, 

6pm, ¥500-4,500. Meiji Jingu 

Gaien. Nearest stn: Harajuku. 

Tel: 03-3401-0312 

boxing 

Shoot Boxing Act 3 

Jun 3, 5:30pm, ¥4,000- 

10,000. Korakuen Hall. 

Nearest stn: Suidobashi. Tel: 

03-5800-9999. 

WBC Superfly World 

Title Match 

Jul 8, 12:30, ¥5,000- 

30,000. Yokohama 

Cultural Gymnasium. 

Nearest stn: Kannai or 

Isezakichoujamachi. Tel: 

045-641-5741. 

golF 

JLPGA 

Nichirei Ladies Cup. Jun 

15-17, 8am, ¥2,200-5,000. 

Dai-Hakone Country Club. 

Nearest stn: Sounzan. 

Earth Mondahmin Cup. 

Jun 22-24, 8am, ¥1,500- 

5,000. Camellia Hills 

Country Club. Nearest stn: 

Kisarazu. 

kiCkboxing 

Krush.19 

Japan’s leading kickboxing 

event. For more info: krush. 

tickets@gmail.com. Jun 

8, 6-9pm, ¥4,000-12,000. 

Korakuen Hall. Nearest stn: 

Suidobashi. www.krush-gp. 

com 

Pro Wrestling 

New Japan Pro- 

Wrestling 

Best of the Super Jr XIX. Jun 

6, 6:30pm, ¥2,000-8,000. 



9999. 

Big Japan Pro Wrestling 

Death in the Dark. Jun 

7, 7pm, ¥4,000-5,500. 

Shinkiba 1stRing. Nearest 

stn: Shinkiba. Tel: 03-3521- 

1015. 

Korakuen Tournament. 

Jun 21, 7:00, ¥1,000-6,800. 



9999. 

Dramatic Dream Team 

Pro-wrestling 

What Are You Doing 

Tournament. Jun 24, Noon, 

¥1,000-6,500. Korakuen 

Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi. 

Tel: 03-5800-9999. 

DDT Road to Budokan 

Tournament. Jul 22, Noon, 

¥1,000-6,500. Korakuen 

Hall. Nearest stn: Suidobashi. 

Tel: 03-5800-9999. www. 

ddtpro.com 

rugby 

Sevens Festival 

May 27, 10am, ¥300-1,000. 

Chichibunomiya Rugby 

Stadium. Nearest stn: 

Gaienmae. Tel: 03-3401- 

3881. 

#948 • WWW.MeTRoPoLiS.Co.JP • 23

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/ 

Private Brazilian wax salon 

Opening Campaign 

Until end of May 

Brazilian wax ¥7,800 ¥5500 

Custom design + ¥500 

Roppongi Stn exit 7 

(6 min from Tokyo MidTown) 

*Pay parking available 

By appointment only 

Tel: 03-6804-2632 

http://maris-gina.com 

Agenda Listings 

Samoa vs Japan 

Jun 17, 2pm, ¥300-6,500. 

Chichibunomiya Rugby 


Gaienmae. Tel: 03-3401- 

3881. 

soCCer 

J. League, Division 1 

FC Tokyo vs Urawa Reds. 

May 26, 7pm, ¥500-6,000. 

Ajinomoto Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Tobitakyu. Tel: 04-2440- 

0555. 

Kashiwa Reysol vs 

Albirex Niigata. May 26, 

6:30pm, ¥1,000-5,000. 

Hitachi Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Kashiwa. Tel: 047-162- 

2250. 

Kawasaki Frontale vs 

Vegalta Sendai. May 26, 

2pm, ¥800-4,500. Todoroki 


Musashikosugi. Tel: 044-722- 

0303. 

Kashima Antlers vs 

Nagoya Grampus. Jun 16, 

6:30pm, ¥1,400-7,500. 

Kashima Soccer Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Kashima Sports 

Stadium. 

Yokohama Marinos vs 

FC Tokyo. Jun 16, 1pm, 

¥900-5,000. Nissan Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Kozuke. Tel: 

04-5477-5000. 

FC Tokyo vs Cereza Osaka. 

Jun 23, 6pm, ¥500-5,000. 

Ajinomoto Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Tobitakyu. Tel: 04-2440- 

0555. 

Kashiwa Reysol vs 

Kashima Antlers. Jun 23, 

6:30pm, ¥1,000-5,000. 

Hitachi Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Kashiwa. Tel: 047-162- 

2250. 

Kawasaki Frontale vs 

Yokohama Marinos. Jun 

23, 7pm, ¥800-4,500. 

Todoroki Stadium. Nearest 

stn: Musashikosugi. Tel: 

044-722-0303. 

Urawa Reds vs Vegalta 

Sendai. Jun 23, 7pm, ¥1,000- 

4,500. Saitama Stadium. 

Nearest stn: Urawamisono. 

Tel: 048-812-2002. 

Nabisco Cup 

Yokohama Marinos vs 

Jubilo Iwata. Jun 6, 4pm, 

¥800-4,500. Todoroki 


Musashikosugi. Tel: 044-722- 

0303. 

sWimming 

Japan Open (50 meters) 

May 25-27, 9:00, ¥1,500. 

Tatsumi International 

Swimming Center. Nearest 

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

5061. 

tennis 

Toray Pan Pacific 

Women's Tournament 

Sep 21-29, various, ¥1,000- 

20,000. Ariake Colosseum. 

Nearest stn: Ariake. Tel: 

03-3529-3301. 

Festivals 

Hanazono Jinja Rei 

Taisai 

Shinto shrine festival. 

May 25-28, all day, free. 

Hanazono Shrine. Nearest 

stn: Shinjuku-sanchome. Tel: 

03-3209-5265. 

Tennosai 

Shinto-style summer 

festival. Jun 2-5, all day, 

free. Susanoo Jinja. 6-60-1 

Minsmi-Senju, Arakawa-ku. 

Tel: 03-3891-8281. 

Sanno Matsuri 

A parade of children in 

formal attire, traditional 

court dancing, taiko and 

dance competitions. Jun 

7-17, all day, free. Hie Shrine. 

Nearest stn: Tameikesanno. 

www.hiejinja.net 

Torikoe Jinja Taisai 

Summer matsuri with 

mikoshi floats. Jun 9-12, all 

day, free. Torikoe Shrine, 

2-4-1 Torikoe, Koto-ku. 

Nearest stn: Kuramae. 

Sumidagawa River 

Fireworks 

Tokyo’s most popular hanabi 

with 20,000 fireworks. Jul 

28, 7:05pm, free. Nearest stn: 

Asakusa. 

Koenji Awaodori 

Tokushima-style parade 

through the streets with 

hundreds of dancers. Aug 

25-26, 5-8pm, free. Nearest 

stn: Koenji. 

Forums & Expos 

Moe Culture Festival 

Otaku-culture bonanza feat. 

anime, figurines and cosplay. 

Until Jun 3, 10am-5pm, 

¥1,500. Ota-ku Sangyo Plaza 

PiO. 1-20-20 Minami-Kamata, 

Ota-ku. Nearest stn: Keikyu 

Kamata. www.moecul.com 

International Tokyo Toy 

Show 

Reservation-only trade fair. 

Until Jun 17, various times, 

free. Tokyo Big Sight. Nearest 

stn: Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon. 

www.toys.or.jp. 

Comic City Tokyo 

Doujinshi and other 

self-published manga. Jun 

24,11am-3pm. Tokyo Big Sight. 

Nearest stn: Kokusai-Tenjijo- 

Seimon. www.akaboo.jp/ 

event/0624tokyo129.html 

Tokyo Career Forum 

Job fair for English speakers 

and bilinguals. Jun 30-Jul 1, 

10am, free. Tokyo Big Sight. 

Nearest stn: Kokusai-Tenjijo- 

Seimon. www.careerforum. 

net 

Flower Dream 

Japan’s largest flower festival 

with displays and a florist 

contest. Jun 30-Jul 1, various 

times. Tokyo Big Sight. Nearest 

stn: Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon. 

www.flowerdream-tokyo.net 

Bazaars & Markets 

Hanazono Shrine Market 

Every Sun, 8am-4pm, 

Hanazono Shrine. Nearest 

stn: Shinjuku-sanchome. Tel: 

03-3200-3093. 

Ibaraki-ichi 

Fresh vegetables from farms 

in Ibaraki. 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 Marche Farmer's 

Market 

Farmers from around the 

nation gather to sell their 

organic fruits and vegetables. 

Every weekend. United 

Nations University. Nearest 

stn: Omotesando. Tel: 03-3456- 

0960. 

Learning 

The English Craft Club 

Practice English with the Saké 

Puppets. Materials, snacks, 

and notes included. May 

27, 1-3pm, ¥5,000. Shinjuku 

Gyoen. Nearest stn: Shinjuku 

Gyoenmae. www.sakepuppets. 

wordpress.com 

SCBWI Translation Day 

“Bringing Japanese Teen 

Literature to the World.” 

Presentations and discussion 

for JP-EN children’s lit 

translators. Jun 16, 8:30am- 

5pm, ¥3,000 (adv), ¥4,000- 

5,000 (door). Yokohama Int. 

School. Nearest stn: Motomachi 

Chukagai. www.scbwi.jp 

Other Events 

Japan on Foot 

Mary King presents her book 

on her 7,500km trek. May 

25, 6-9pm, ¥1,500 (general). 

Wesley Centre, 6-10-7 Minami 

Aoyama, Minato-ku. www. 

swet.jp. May 27, 12:30-3:30pm, 

¥3,200. Le Mont St Michel. 

Nearest stn: Mejiro. www. 

finelinepress.co.nz 

WFP Walk The World 

Charity walk (5/10km) for 

starving children. May 27, 

9am, ¥1,500 (adv), ¥2,000 

(door). Rinko Park. Nearest stn: 

Minato Mirai. Tel: 0120-711- 

951. 

PechaKucha 

Show-and-tell of innovative 

and inspiring projects 

by artists, designers, and 

architects. May 30, 8:20pm, 

¥1,000. Super Deluxe. Nearest 


0515. 

Manpaku Food Fair 

Regional food at 80 stalls, plus 

beer garden and picnic area. 

May 26-Jun 2, 11am-9pm; Jun 

3, 11am-6pm, ¥500 (door), 

¥400 (adv), free (elem & under). 

Showa Kinen Park. Nearest stn: 

Tachikawa. www.manpaku.jp 

World Journey Festa 

World festival with live 

performances, dancing, 

painting and more. Jun 3, 

10am-8pm, ¥4,000 (adv)/5,000 

(door). Harumi Port Terminal. 

Nearest stn: Kachidoki. Tel: 

03-6805-3518. 

Asagaya Star Road 

Festival 

Feat. a host of street performers 

and dancers, food stalls of 54 

small izakaya and bars that offer 

cheap nibbles, booze, and ¥100 

curry. Jun 3, 5:30pm, free. Star 

Road. Nearest stn: Asagaya. 

French Wine & Tapas 

Sip wine from the south of 

France, with tasty dishes. 

Jun 9, 6-8:30pm, ¥2,980. Yagi 

Ni Kiku Restaurant. Nearest 

stn: Daikanyama. www 

news.laferrandiere.com/ 

winetasting/Site/The_event. 

html 

Ohana Festival 

Hawaiian music, ukulele 

workshop, market. Jun 9-10, 

11am-6pm, ¥6,300 (adult), 

¥3.150 (elem). Stellar Ball. 

Nearest stn: Shinagawa. Tel: 

03-5421-1111. 

Legoland Discovery 

Center 

Lego amusement park 

grand opening. Jun 15, all 

day, ¥1,300 (adv). Legoland 

Discovery Center. Nearest stn: 

Odaiba Kaihin Koen. www. 

legolanddiscoverycenter.jp 

Onan Spelmermaid 

Poetic drag queen’s solo show. 

Jun 23, 6pm, ¥1,000. G Luv. 

Nearest stn: Nakano. www. 

onan.nobody.jp 

Tokyo Bay Noryosen 

Maritime nomihodai action. 

Wear your yukata and get 

¥1,000 off (Mon-Thu). Free for 

kimono-wearing ladies on Jul 

2. Until Sep 23, 7:15pm, ¥2,500 

(general), ¥1,000 (HS & MS), 

¥500 (elemen). Takeshiba 

Passenger Ship Terminal. 

Nearest stn: Takeshiba. www. 

tokaikisen.co.jp 

Department-H 

Underground party hosted 

by drag queens. BYOB. Jun 

2, from 12am, ¥3,000 (dress 

code)/¥4,500 (w/flyer)/ ¥5,000 

(door). Tokyo Kinema Club. 

Nearest stn: Uguisudani. Tel: 

03-3874-7988. 

MoVie ReVieWS 

& CiNeMAS P. 26

MetrohoMes selected listings 

All english-lAnguAge services! 

Just a few examples from Japan’s biggest 

English-language real estate database... 

Sendagaya House 

Shibuya-ku • Nearest stn: 

Sendagaya (4 min) • 155m 2 

• 3LDK • ¥550,000 

• No key money 

Yoyogi Terrace Apartment 


Yoyogi Koen (6 min) 

• 56–266m 2 

• 1–4 Bedrooms 

• ¥260,000–1,000,000 

Pair Palais Sangenjaya 

Setagaya-ku • Nearest stn: 

Sangenjaya (12 min) • 16m 2 

• 1R • ¥75,000 

• No agency fee/key money 

La Tour Mita 

Minato-ku • Nearest stn: Mita 

(4 min) • 55–224m 2 • 1R–4LDK 

• ¥300,000–1,400,000 • No 

agency fee/key money 

JAPT. Yoyogi 


Yoyogi (6 min) 

• 23m 2 • 1K • ¥130,000 

• No deposit/agency fee/ 

key money 

No.2 Fujitomo Bldg. 

Edogawa-ku • Nearest stn: 

Kasai (5 min) • 64m 2 • 2LDK 

• ¥130,000 • No agency fee/ 

key money 

Enplus Inc. 

Villa Shoto #2F 


Shibuya (10 min) 

• 346m 2 • 4LDK 

• ¥1,500,000 

Kamiyama Ambassador 

Apartment 


Yoyogi Koen (8 min) 

• 136m 2 • 3LDK • ¥500,000 


House Modest 

Nakano-ku • Nearest stn: Shin- 

Nakano (4 min) • 20m 2 

• 1K • ¥90,000 • No agency fee/ 

key money 

Park Habio Shinjuku East 

Side Tower 

Shinjuku-ku • Nearest stn: 

Higashi-Shinjuku (3 min) 

• 43m 2 • 1LDK • ¥177,000 


JAPT. Hiroo 

Minato-ku • Nearest stn: Hiroo 

(12 min) • 18m 2 • 1R • ¥120,000 

• No deposit/agency fee/key 

money 

The Tokyo Towers Sea Tower 

Chuo-ku • Nearest stn: 

Kachidoki (5 min) • 75m 2 

• 3LDK • ¥200,000 • No key 

money 

MetroHomes.jp 

Residia Tower Azabujuban 

Minato-ku • Nearest stn: Azabu- 

Juban (4 min) • 50–123m 2 

• Studio–1 Bedroom 

• ¥210,000–480,000 

Moto Azabu Forrest Plaza IV 

Minato-ku • Nearest stn: 

Roppongi (8 min) • 52m 2 • 

1LDK • ¥235,000 


Central Park Tower LaTour Shinjuku 

Shinjuku-ku • Nearest stn: Tochomae 

(5 min) • 49–289m 2 • 1R-5LDK, 

¥248,000–1,580,000 • No agency fee/ 

key money 

Enplus Inc. 

Residia Nishi-Azabu 

Minato-ku • Nearest stn: Hiroo (11 

min) • 49m 2 • 1LDK 

• ¥215,000 • No key money 

Yutenji (ID: 3672) 

Meguro-ku • Nearest stn: 

Yutenji (11 min) • 21m 2 • 1R • 

¥70,000 

• No agency fee/key money 

Sangenjaya Casa Alegre A 

Setagaya-ku • Nearest stn: 

Sangenjaya (10min) • 20m 2 • 

1K • ¥110,000 • No agency fee/ 

key money 

Property information accurate at time of printing. Please check MetroHomes.jp for up-to-date listings 

metrohomes key features: ● Over 10,000 rental properties to search through ● Add favorites to a basket to keep an eye on them ● “What’s New” column updated daily 

by participating realtors ● “Property Spotlight” features a home of the day ● Guesthouse, service apartments and houses for sale to be added ● Intuitive search filters 

#948 ● www.METROPOLIS.CO.JP ● 25

Agenda Movies By Don Morton 

Metpod 

Midnight in PAris 

Nostalgia, they say, just isn’t what it 

used to be. But that corny gag about 

our most wistful of emotions, its 

allure and its dangers, is what’s at the 

heart of Woody Allen’s witty and wise 41st film. A 

successful but dissatisfied Hollywood screenwriter 

(a spot-on owen Wilson) on a pre-honeymoon 

visit to Paris sees the city as a second shot at his 

youthful dream of becoming a novelist. His fiancée 

(rachel McAdams) likes to shop. He longs for the 

days between the wars, when Paris was a hotbed of 

not-yet-famous creative geniuses. one night, while 

new 

Vidal sassoon 

tHe MoVie 

this cheerful hagiography on the 

20th century’s most influential 

hairstylist offers glimpses into his 

compelling life, from a Dickensian 

childhood in a Jewish orphanage, 

through wartime London, 

a sojourn in Israel, then swinging London, to finally being in 

the right place at the right time with the right entrepreneurial 

attitude and, most importantly, the right, Bauhaus-inspired, 

geometrical haircuts. I learned stuff, but the upbeat, infomercial 

approach, superficial even for a fashion flick, made me wish for 

something deeper about this undeniably inspirational man. 

Sassoon died on May 9 at 84. (94 min) 

Showing from may 26 

new 

Men in Black 3 

It’s always a pleasant surprise 

when a movie turns out to be 

better than you expected. And 

frankly, after the flaccid MIB 

II back in 2002, I didn’t expect 

much of t h is second sequel . 

But it ’s wonderful! trouble is, 

everything’s a surprise, and I can’t tell you much. not even 

what the hell Josh Brolin’s doing in there. you’ll have to get 

your spoilers elsewhere. Steven Spielberg exec-produced it, 

Ethan Coen co-wrote it, and Barry Sonnenfeld directed it. It’s 

got a good story; some fresh and funny creatures; a cool, Back 

to the Future kind of vibe; and it’s even quite moving at the end. 

Must-see. (105 min) 

Also showing 

faces in tHe cRowd 

Profoundly ridiculous horror-suspense drama 

about a woman suffering from a neural ailment 

rendering her unable to recognize faces. (100 

min) 


sitting alone in a deserted square, a vintage Peugeot 

sputters up and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald invite him 

to a party. Each midnight thereafter, he finds himself 

rubbing shoulders with the likes of Hemmingway, 

Picasso, Dalí, Buñuel, Eliot, and Gertrude Stein a 

special nod to Kathy Bates. Allen wisely doesn’t 

bother explaining how this happens, or even if the 

guy’s just imagining it, because it really doesn’t 

matter. those with a modicum of cultural literacy 

will enjoy this film the most. So is nostalgia what it 

used to be? no. It’s better. And funnier. (94 min) 

Showing from may 26 

daRk sHadows 

the Gothic tV cult fave of the early 

’70s was pretty out there for its 

day. now tim Burton and Johnny 

Depp turn it up to 11. Barnabas 

Collins was, in 1772, the scion of a 

successful Maine fisheries family 

in colonial America who spurned 

the love of a witch. She retaliated by turning him into a vampire 

and burying him in a coffin. two hundred years later he emerges 

to a world of lava lamps and the Carpenters, and vows to return 

his humorously dysfunctional family to its former glory. It’s as 

delightfully twisted as any Burton film, and though it sags in a 

few places, Depp makes the material shine. (113 min) 

BRake 

Secret Service guy wakes up in 

a transparent box in the trunk of 

a car, put there by terrorists who 

want to know where the President 

is. they first try psyching him out, 

then torture, but this is one tough 

agent. As claustrophobic guy-in-abox 

movies go, this one, starring Stephen Dorff and his nostrils, 

is a bit like 2010’s Buried, starring ryan reynolds and his, except 

for the part about being remotely believable. Dorff is solid, but 

the film’s credibility erodes with each new contrivance, until not 

one but two preposterous third-act plot U-turns leave you with a 

definite jerked-around feeling. (92 min) 

last nigHt 

Examination of marital fidelity ping-pongs 

between two couples and generates some 

sexual tension, but few true insights. (93 min) 

BRidesMaids 

The Hangover meets the chick flick in a comedy 

offering heart, mischief and great hilarity. (128 

min) 

For theater details: metropolis.co.jp/movies 

House of tHe Rising sun 

An ex-con working as a strip-club 

bouncer in Grand rapids (Grand 

rapids?) finds himself between 

a rock (the mob) and a hard place 

(the cops) when the place is robbed 

and he is blamed, and he must clear 

his name, etc. Pro: Dave Bautista, 

another freight train of a pro wrestler turning to the movies, 

delivers his lines competently and has a certain presence. And 

the filmmakers are, refreshingly, going for a noir vibe rather than 

slam-bang action. Con: those filmmakers don’t have the chops to 

do noir, the story is shopworn, and it gets boring fast. Just kind of 

peters out at the end. Japanese title: Rising Sun Uragirino Daisho. 

(90 min) 

Bad teacHeR 

Cameron Diaz plays a lazy, golddigging, 

drug-abusing skank who 

works as a teacher despite having 

not a trace of talent or interest in the 

education field. She’s trying to get 

her hands on an extra $10,000 for 

the boob job she thinks will attract 

a wonky-but-rich fellow educator (Justin timberlake). Laughing 

yet? It’s puzzling how a “comedy” starring Diaz, who can do funny, 

manages to be so mean-spirited, obvious and flaccid. It’s like it’s 

going through the raunch-flick motions and hoping someone 

will laugh. Someone will, but not many. Don’t be expecting Young 

Adult. or even Bad Santa. (92 min) 

tHe Muppets 

A longtime fan is dismayed to find 

his felt-and-fuzz idols disbanded 

and the historic Muppet Studios 

abandoned and threatened by 

a developer. He vows to get the 

band back together and “put on a 

show” to raise money to restore the 

gleefully insane troupe to its former glory. this, in time-honored 

tradition, involves a lot of clever singing (incl. “the rainbow 

Connection”) and dancing, the telling of self-aware jokes and 

several high-profile cameos. though this fun flick might appeal 

more to nostalgic adults than to kids, it will put a smile on everyone’s 

face, and what’s better than that? Mah na mah na! (98 min) 

opeRation: endgaMe 

W he n t he le a d e r o f t wo r iva l 

te a m s o f s e r i o u s ly u n h i n g e d 

covert assassins is murdered in 

their deep-underground bunker 

and a self-destruct mechanism 

activated, the teams, instead of 

working together on an exit strategy, 

elect to start killing each other using office supplies. While 

this unforgivably violent, mean-spirited misfire is aiming for 

Dr. Strangelove satire, all it achieves is the most unpleasant 82 

minutes of blunt trauma you will ever witness in a movie theater 

and a colossal waste of the talents of rob Corddry, Ellen Barkin, 

Maggie Q, Adam Scott, Ving rhames, Jeffrey tambor and Zach 

Galifianakis. Japanese title: Gokuhi Shirei Dog x Dog. (82 min) 

find Me guilty 

When mobster Jackie Dinorscio, 

a lready ser v i n g 30 years , was 

named a co-defendant in a massive 

’80s rICo trial, he decided, to the 

hor ror of t he prosecut ion a nd 

defense alike, to act as his own 

lawyer, thus providing his poorly 

suppressed inner standup comic with a captive audience and the 

opportunity to point out the absurdities of the US justice system. 

Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men, Serpico, Network, The Verdict) brings 

his formidable courtroom experience to the enterprise, but 

what makes this one stand out is his casting of Vin Diesel in the 

lead. With hair! And hey! Vinny D does pretty good. Who knew? 

Japanese title: Connection Mafiatachi no Hotei. (125 min) 

Joyful noise 

I could have ignored the many contrivances 

in this marriage in hell of Sister Act and Glee if 

it had delivered even a little real gospel music. 

(117 min)

28 • download our podcast at • podcast.metropolis.co.jp

B i t e sopening 

smoke 

Once confined to expat-heavy districts like 

Roppongi, shisha bars are now cropping 

up all over, in various guises, from Persian 

fast-food bars to hipster hangouts. Here 

are three of the best: Aladdin in Kichijoji (http:// 

aladdinshishabar.com), housed in a wooden shack as 

narrow as its menu of ¥600 cocktails is wide; Galata 

in Jiyugaoka (http://shop.jiyugaoka.net/galata), a 

cosy Turkish-run kebab joint with outdoor seating 

and good Turkish wine; and Shisha Cafés 1 & 2 in 

Shimokitazawa (http://shisha-tokyo.com), with a 

winning combo of good value, trendy appeal and 

shisha accessories on sale. 

closing 

ABRAHAM PUTHOOR 

Zest Cantinas purport to bring the “rugged US 

Southwest” to Tokyo punters, via Southwest 

and Tex-Mex cuisine, and plenty of frozen 

margaritas. Regarding this chain of resto-bars 

spread over several central Tokyo locations, there is 

some good news and some bad news. The bad is that 

the Ebisu branch is closing down—but the good is that 

it’s marking the occasion with Ebisu Zest Last Night on 

June 1. From 7pm-midnight you can pay an incredible 

¥2,000 for all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink, and 

even if you slosh up after midnight, you can still nab 

yourself two drinks for one crisp ¥1,000 bill. So tip your 

stetson in farewell. 

THE LATEST dISH ON FOOd & dRINK IN THE BIG CITY Dining Out 

gyaru 

For those of you who feel unfairly excluded 

from the gyaru community, specialists Galt 

Pop have opened the themed bar 10sion 

(7F KN Shibuya 2 Bldg, 13-9 Udagawacho, 

Shibuya-ku; http://galtpop.jp/10sion) on Center-gai, to 

initiate you. Men and women are welcomed alike, and 

the entirely female staff do away with polite speech 

in order to create an unpretentious atmosphere. 

Cocktails and soba, including the hopefully dogmeatless 

“Hachiko soba,” accompany a cosmetics service 

for those craving fake lashes and doe eyes. There’s 

a fee of ¥1,000 per hour—but who said going gyaru 

wouldn’t cost you? 

fare 

Way out west along the Chuo line in 

Tachikawa, the massive annual food 

fair Manpaku (Tachikawa-shi; http:// 

manpaku.jp) will be setting up from 

May 26-June 3 in Showa Kinen Park, after around 

100,000 people successfully stuffed their faces there 

last year. Pay your ¥500 entry fee (free for elementary 

kids and under) and gain access to no fewer than 80 

stalls serving up ramen, gyoza, curry, various sweets, 

and plenty of local specialties from all over Japan. The 

beer garden will keep you frothing up to the gills with 

craft and local beers, and from June 1-3 there will be a 

Tokoshima market to explore, too. 

In the affluent triangle of Hiroo, Ebisu and Shibuya, 

Orgoglio del Casalta (1F Hiroo Bldg, 3-12-40 

Hiroo, Shibuya-ku; www.orgogliodelcasalta.com) 

is aiming to put a spin on how Italian restaurants 

set themselves up in Tokyo. For starters, the outdoors 

is a small Tuscan garden of creeping ivy and other 

pretty vegetation. Just inside the opened doors, you’ll 

see something unusual for Tokyo restaurants, which 

is a cocktail bar right up front. This is a good place for a 

pre-prandial Campari and orange, or to chill out while 

you wait for a table. Owner-chef Yoshinori Konno 

learned his trade in the Old Country and handmakes 

his delicious pasta (from ¥1,400). 

matsuri 

COURTESY ORGOGLIO 

COURTESY OF NARUMI 

On June 3 the rapidly soaring sector of 

Asagaya comes alight once more with the 

magnificent all-day Star Road Festival. 

The fourth instance of this local initiative 

will include ten different street performances 

including clowns and what not, and an Awaodori 

summer parade—a form of the bon odori dance that 

welcomes the spirits on their annual visit to the land 

of the living. For those keen on seeing how Okinawans 

shake their booty, there will also be an Eisa dance, 

the Ryukyu version. Local outlets will keep the beer 

flowing and the karaage crackling, and will be doling 

out one-coin curry—a ¥100 coin, that is. 


50% off 

16 

all 

th 

Anniversary 

(except course menu) 

Mon - tue 

jun 11-12 

reservation 

required 

We accept major 

credit cards 

(except for special 

discounts) 

30 • download our podcast at • podcast.metropolis.co.jp

izakaya review 

Panda 

A bear’s den of 

delights on the 

Chuo line 

Text & photos by David Labi 

Mu s a s h i-s a k a i m i g ht 

seem obscure for most 

Tokyoites, but this 

leafy suburb two stops 

beyond Kichijoji on JR’s top suicide 

line has some surprisingly tast y 

spots. A great start is quirky izakaya 

Panda. Other branches are Kopanda 

in Harmonica Yokocho, Kichijoji, 

and Tachinomi Futa-ku in Asagaya 

(it has a small truck sticking out)— 

but the westernmost venue has a lot 

to recommend it. 

The panda-shaped lantern outside 

is a clue, and the tiny door 

makes it seem a hobbit’s dwelling. 

Bend in, remove shoes, and behold 

the wide counter with a low bench 

fitting 12 at a push. To your right is 

a sequestered table for groups, and 

at the back another two—with one 

on a raised dais with a commanding 

aerial vista. 

What sets Panda apart from your 

standard izakaya is the manager 

Momo, who does most of the cooking 

on an oven behind the counter. 

She’s charismatic and engaging—in 

English, too—and spends the night 

bantering with her customers. If you 

are one or two, get a seat at the counter’s 

near end to watch her in action. 

The TV behind the bar is not invasive, 

and the muted sound gives way 

to an eclectic playlist ranging from 

hoarse Tom Waits to funky J-pop. On 

different occasions I’ve seen Kung- 

Fu Panda (of course) playing silently 

tastemaker 

Jamie Paquin 

Canada’s heavenly nectar in Tokyo 

By Jeff W. Richards 

“Canada’s image as a 

cold countr y works 

against people imagining 

it could be a 

serious wine producer,” says Jamie 

Paquin, founder of Heavenly Vines 

and purveyor (along with his wife 

Nozomi) of quality, terroir-minded 

Canadian vintners’ produce here in 

Tokyo. In fact, it's the only all-Canadian 

wine shop in the world—outside 

of Canada, of course. 

And while many might think of 

The Great White North, or anything 

above the 49th parallel, as a frozen 

wasteland unsuitable for viticulture—they’d 

be sadly mistaken. 

“The areas of British Columbia, 

Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia 

that are suitable are exceptional. 

People are usually surprised to learn 

that the Okanagan Valley [in BC] is a 

desert and reaches over 40ºC in the 

summer, and even parts of Niagara 

have longer growing seasons than 

the Bordeaux average.” For such a 

vast country, wine regions are very 

THE LATEST dISH ON FOOd & dRINK IN THE BIG CITY Dining Out 

small however, and produce limited 

quantities. They do so well locally 

that they have little need to export 

—something Paquin and Heavenly 

Vines would like to change. 

“Tokyo is the right place for these 

wines given the city’s appreciation of 

high-quality, hand-crafted food and 

drink from around the world,” he 

says. “The time is right, as well, since 

major international wine writers are 

taking serious interest in Canadian 

wines. Matt Kramer of US magazine 

Wine Spectator recently described 

Ontario as ‘the least-known, great 

wine region in the world.’” 

Heavenly Vines’ offerings won’t 

break the bank—not all of them, 

anyway—but this isn’t your local 

bottle shop. On the night I stopped by, 

Paquin had graciously opened a 2008 

Desert Hills Malbec from the Okanagan 

Valley for customers to taste. “We 

have no interest in flogging wines for 

their own sake—our passion lies in 

wines of distinction,” he notes, purposefully 

swirling the Malbec around 

on the screen and the Japanese women’s 

soccer team thumping Brazil to 

patrons’ and staff’s delight. 

The nama grapefruit sour (¥450) is 

a prime opener, with half of a peeled 

grapefruit placed in a large glass of 

shochu and soda for you to mash 

together with a metal cocktail stirrer. 

The menu is one of those crazy 

handwritten swirls, which Momo 

will explain if you don’t read Japanese. 

It changes regularly, especially 

the sashimi, but all dishes range 

from about ¥400-1,000 apiece. Some 

of the delicious creations have been 

Korean-style karaage with chili 

sauce; ramen salad [pictured]; sui 

in an unobtrusive glass. “We want 

the wines we import to Japan to grab 

people’s attention rather than merely 

serving as a token of Canadiana.” I 

take a big hit of the dark ruby colored 

red. A slap of oak is followed by a velvety 

cascade of dark summer fruits 

trailing over my tongue, the famous 

cherries and brambleberries of the 

region. Attention sufficiently grabbed. 

Currently in his portfolio is twotime 

Canadian Winery of the Year 

Tawse Winery from Niagara, as well 

as some of Norman Hardie’s Pinot 

Noir and Chardonnay, the latter of 

which was named by Wine Spectator 

as a “top 3 world wine” in 2011. 

And word is spreading. Heavenly 

J/E Menu available in Japanese 

Food: ¥300-1,000, drinks ¥300-800 

No nonsmoking seats 

Sit door-end of the counter to watch 

the chef in action 

Vibe, staff, décor, food! 

In the sticks 

3-1-3 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi. 

Tel: 0422-34-0704. Nearest stn: 

Musashi-sakai 

Open Mon-Sat, 5pm to 2am, closed 

Sun. Soon opening for lunch. 

gyoza, or boiled dumplings, swimming 

happily in a bowl of spicy miso 

soup; cream-cheese tofu and crackers; 

and the hearty cha-han (Chinese 

fried rice). Another recent star was the 

moist, tasty mochi gome niku dango, 

or steamed meatball with mochi rice. 

After your grapefruit sour, swig a 

bottle of their namesake Panda beer 

from Thailand (¥700). With all this 

liquid refreshment you’re bound to 

visit the little bear’s room, where a 

soft-lit panda shrine waits for your 

offerings. Really. 

Vines now supplies hotels such as the 

Four Seasons Marunouchi, Mandarin 

Oriental, Grand Hyatt Roppongi 

Hills, Kimono Wine Bar and Grill, 

and exclusive wine bars like Petit 

Paris in Kagurazaka and Bar Olivino 

in Meguro. “More recently we’ve 

partnered with Café Celi in Ebisu 

to showcase Canadian wines by the 

glass and bottle,” concludes Paquin. 

“Owners Desmond Soon, also Canadian, 

and Kazue Shu now have 

Tokyo’s most diverse Canadian wine 

list at very reasonable prices.” 

2-29-5 Ebisu-minami, Shibuyaku 

. Tel: 03-5773-5033. Nearest 

st: Ebisu. www.facebook.com/ 

heavenlyvines 

#948 • www.metropolis.co.jp • 31 

COURTESY OF HEAVENLY VINES

2.3 rent over 200,000 yen 

toKyo aPartMentS. 

Bilingual real-estate agency, 

offering furnished and 

unfurnished apartments 

throughout central tokyo. 

also providing shortstay 

serviced apartments, 

relocation service, furniture 

rental and property 

management services. 

Please call 0120-957-520 

www.tokyoapartments.jp 

p l A Z A h o m e S , l t D . 

We have been a trusted 

english-friendly real estate 

agency since 1969. We 

guarantee to cater to the 

needs of expatriates with 

o u r exp e ri e n ce a n d e n o rm o u s 

database of properties for 

sale or rent in tokyo. contact 

us at 03-3583-6941 or 

info@plazahomes.co.jp 

http://www.realestatetokyo.com 

truSt-reSiDence. 

Designer, high-rise and 

luxury apartments, no 

d e p o s i t , n o k e y m o n e y, 

no agent fee. We offer you 

perfect apartments for 

the best deals in the bay 

area, and all around tokyo. 

info@trust-residence. 

com 03-3548-0254 http:// 

trustresidence-tokyo.com/ 

2.4 HouSe SHare 

roommAte WAnteD. 

native english-speaking 

roommate wanted to share 

a 2Dk room on the toyoko/ 

tokyu line. rent up to 

¥50,000/m. nonsmoker. 

contact for more details. 

kanaemochizuki@yahoo.co.jp 

houSe ShAre. luxurious, bright, 

6.5-mat private room, plus terrace, 

in large, almost new residential 

villa, w/Wi-Fi, cable tv, extra large 

bathtub, big tv, bed, etc., in Asaka, 

14min to ikebukuro ¥42,000/m. no 

key money. villa.asaka@yahoo.com 

090-6349-1296 

2.6 Buy/Sell PreMiSeS 

bAr AnD kitchen, irish/ 

Australian, on toyoko line, 

walk-in, walk-out sale. health 

issue forces quick and 

reduced-price sale. contact 

owner by email. 12hippo13@ 

gmail.com 

3 EDUCATION 

3.1 JaPaneSe SCHoolS 

Free triAl leSSon 

available now until may 31. 

newly opened Japanese 

language school in nishi- 

A z a b u , n e a r r o p p o n g i , 

offers daily/business 

Japanese group lessons and 

private lessons. For more 

information: 03-5775-0547 

www.valiantls.com info@ 

valiantls.com 

3.2 JaPaneSe teaCHerS 

ASSociAtion oF JApAneSe 

teAcherS. highly qualified, 

experienced instructors 

offer individual/small group 

lessons at your home/office/ 

instructor’s home. business/ 

daily conversation/Jlpt 

available. lesson fees from 

¥2200/h at instructor’s home, 

from ¥2700/h + transportation 

fee at other places. Discount 

negotiable for longer/ 

frequent/group lessons. 

03-3918-0876, 044-855-5039, 

ajtkyokai@yahoo.co.jp http:// 

ajt.rakurakuhp.net/ 

JApAneSe leSSonS, 

AnyWhere, Anytime. 

We are qualified teachers. 

lessons in your area or online. 

prices from ¥1000/h, written 

in our resumes, emailed to 

you. no registration fee! www. 

sunlesson.com 090-2709- 

3736 japaneseanywhere@ 

yahoo.co.jp 

eXcellent JApAneSe teAcher 

AvAilAble. Female Japanese 

teacher available in the Saitama area. 

reasonable rates and great results. i 

have several years of experience and 

will tailor your classes to both your 

schedule and expectations. let’s 

start your new Japanese education 

soon! nihongo56@yahoo.com 

JApAneSe leSSon. i’m a qualified 

and experienced Japanese language 

teacher. i teach in the Shinjuku, 

nakano, Shibuya and roppongi 

areas. lessons at places convenient 

to you. rates: ¥2800/h. ¥3500/1.5h. 

¥4500/2h. kosumosukaede@gmail. 

com Zushi. 

3.5 language exCHange 

Chinese and German. Wo iau tu de 

wun. Native Chinese student needs to 

study Ger and would like to exchange 

Chn. mag.chokolade.17@gmail.com 

English and Japanese. Englishspeaking 

Canadian male seeks a serious 

Japanese language exchange partner 

in Saitama, near Kawaguchi stn, Tue or 

Wed from 6-8pm. Please help me with 

my Japanese. fizfiz242@yahoo.com 

English and Japanese. I’m seeking 

native English speakers for language 

exchange. Want to improve my speaking 

level through conversation. Please let me 

know how you want to study J. Kanagawa 

would be great. Tokyo might work. 

jjbeancoffee@yahoo.co.jp 

English and Japanese. Hi! Canadian 

male, late 20s, looking to learn J. Ideally 

casual study over dinner, coffee, etc. 

Hoping to get to conversation level. 

Can teach E in exchange. Maybe one 

day J, one day E, etc. themikemash@ 

yahoo.com 

English and Japanese. I am seriously 

seeking native English speakers. I can 

help your Japanese in return. Weekday 

evenings preferred. poppingblue@ 

hotmail.co.jp 

English and Japanese. American 

English teacher seeking a language 

exchange partner with some good ideas 

to help me learn J. I can help you with 

E. Shinjuku/Shibuya preferred. Please 

mail me your schedule. mjsenseijp@ 

yahoo.co.jp 

English and Japanese. Seeking a 

good language exchange partner in the 

Shinjuku or Tokyo area to help me learn J, 

weekdays daytime or weekend evenings. 

I’ll help your English. Let’s meet soon. 

sali925@yahoo.co.jp 090-1678-5644 

English and Japanese. Can you teach 

me J and learn E from me in return? I 

have free time Mon-Fri daytime/ 

weekend evenings. If you have free 

time, let’s meet and help each other. 

mixnplay@yahoo.com 

ContEnt ManaGEr 

Position availablE 

Social-media savvy? Strong writing and editing skills? Team player? 

Join the MetroHomes team as a part-time Content Manager. Eight 

hours per week to start. Flexible hours. See details at: 

http://meturl.com/metrohomescm 

Aesthetic 

Dentistry 

Ceramics 

Implants 

Orthodontics 

Closed Wed. & Hols. 

1F Osakabe Bldg, 5-46-12 

Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. 

Tel: 03-3486-4484. 

JR HARAJUKU Sta. 

2 

1 

3 

HARAJUKU 

QUEST 

ZARA 

Tokyo Metro 

MEIJI-JINGUMAE 

‘Harajuku’ Sta. 

OTA MEMORIAL 

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info@aoyama-omotesando.jp 

www.aoyama-omotesando.jp/en 

#948 • www.metroPolis.co.jP • 33

English and Japanese. Hi, I’m a JF, 20. 

I can help you with your Japanese. I seek 

a native English speaker, M/F ok, 20-29. 

mamiringorin@yahoo.co.jp 

English and Korean. Hi, I’m an 

American male, 30, seeking a Korean 

language partner to help me with my 

Korean. I’m a beginner. Saitama City or 

Tokyo. I’ll help you with E! Please contact 

me. peaceofpaper@gmail.com 

French, English, Japanese. Bonjour. 

I am seeking a French speaker for 

language exchange. I can teach you 

anything about technology (website 

making, programming, etc.). I am fluent 

in E/J. udawat@gmail.com 

4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS 

4.1 Furniture & 

FittingS 

Chairs, wooden, two available, w/ 

removable white cover ¥500/each. 

Pick up Nishi-Azabu by May 27. robert. 

furtak@i.softbank.jp 08041974433 

table, dining (W180xD110xH78cm), w/ 

four chairs, used two years, imported 

from USA, in great condition ¥50,000. 

Pick up Suginami-ku. rinmatsu@ 

hotmail.com 

table, bedside, Ikea, natural wood 

(H40xW52xD30), in good condition 

¥500. Pick up Nishi-Azabu. robert. 

furtak@i.softbank.jp 08041974433 

4.2 aPPlianCeS 

aircon, Handy Cooler, hand-held 

evaporative fan, one pink, one blue, new 

¥3500. service@progenomics.com 

appliance sale! Digital fridge, 450L+, 

w/ice maker, etc. ¥35,000. Washer/ 

dryer ¥16,000. Rice cooker ¥3000. 

Plasma TV, 42” ¥25,000. Toshiba wall 

unit aircon, all season ¥15,000. And 

more. kuma4love@gmail.com 

blender, Toshiba MX-K10GR, ‘94, in 

good condition ¥500. Pick up Nishi- 

Azabu. robert.furtak@i.softbank.jp 

08041974433 

Hairdryer, National EH5414, 1200W, 

in good condition ¥1000. Pick up Nishi- 

Azabu May 26-29. robert.furtak@i. 

softbank.jp 08041974433 

Humidifier, Vicks V165c, works 

perfectly. New ¥5000. Sell ¥1000. Pick 

up Nishi-Ogikubo. cjriach@hotmail. 

com 

Juicer, Juiceman Jr. Pro, from the US, 

easy cleaning, in excellent condition 

¥5000. Photos available. exlen@ 

hotmail.com 

Microwave, Mitsubishi RO-LE25 , ‘03, 

w/oven and defrost function, in good 

condition ¥4000. Pick up Nishi-Azabu 

May 26-29. robert.furtak@i.softbank.jp 

08041974433 

rice cooker, National SR-TG10C, ‘02, 

w/timer function and accessories, in 

good condition ¥4000. Pick up Nishi- 

Azabu. robert.furtak@i.softbank.jp 

08041974433 

toaster oven, Zojirushi ET-VT22, 1.5 

y/o, cooks 23cm pizzas ¥500. Pick up 

Myogadani. mtanhljp@yahoo.co.jp 

4.3 Sayonara Sale 

sayonara sale! Washer, fridge, 

bookshelf, dresser, heater, baby gear, 

etc. Pick up Ikebukuro. Details, photos 

available. tokyolivin@gmail.com 

sayonara sale! Sanyo SR-361RL fridge, 

‘09 model, 365L ¥30,000. Sanyo 

ASBW-60B washer, ‘09 model ¥20,000. 

Zojirushi NS-WB10 rice cooker, ‘09 

model ¥10,000. Prices negotiable. Pick 

up Takanawadai. neal_1972@hotmail. 

com 08042041624 

sayonara sale! Gas stove ¥7000. Ikea 

sofabed ¥20,000. Coffee table ¥5000. 

Dining table, w/four chairs ¥15,000. 

Dining table ¥8000. Armchairs ¥3000. 

eMachines N2380 PC ¥10,000. IO-Data 

monitor ¥8000. keyar2045@gmail. 

com 

sayonara sale! Newer large fridge 

¥18,000. Washer/dryer, 8kg ¥16,000. 

Plasma TV, 37”, digital ¥20,000. Dual 

Core desktop PC, Vista, 3GB RAM 

¥18,000. Microwave ¥3000. Rice cooker 

¥3000. tokyodomeandme@gmail.com 

sayonara sale! Sony Bravia TV, 40”, 

full HD ¥50,000. Weber charcoal 

BBQ ¥5000. Mini freezer ¥2000. 

expatsayonara@gmail.com 080- 

3706-1212 

sayonara sale! Fridge ¥17,000. 

Microwave/oven ¥17,000. Sofa ¥11,000. 

Vacuum ¥12,000. Fan, w/remote 

¥3000. Rice cooker ¥4000. Gas 

heater ¥6000. Small sofa ¥2500. Iron 

¥800. Transformer, 200-100W ¥2000. 

Low table ¥2000. Shelves ¥2000. 

camilleinjapan@yahoo.fr 

4.4 tv & HoMe tHeater 

blu-ray player, LG BD550, almost 

new, hardly used ¥8000. rankutt@ 

gmail.com 

DvD player, LG DVD-EX30, plays all 

formats, hardly used ¥2000. rankutt@ 

gmail.com 

lCD tv 32’’, Sony Bravia, HD, in excellent 

condition ¥30,000. Pick up Iidabashi 

area. zazaintokyo@gmail.com 

lCD tv 32”, Sharp Aquos LC32E5B, 

almost new, original packaging. New 

¥57,600. Sell ¥40,000. Pick up Tamachi. 

Can deliver for + ¥2000. jjxiao@gmail. 

com 

4.5 audio & MP3 

Headphones, Pioneer SE-MJ2 ¥500. 

Pick up Nishi-Azabu. robert.furtak@i. 

softbank.jp 08041974433 

speakers, Sanwa, two available, w/ 

subwoofer, in excellent condition 

¥3000. kravtsova@yahoo.com 

stereo, Yamaha TSS-15, w/five speakers, 

woofer, remote, hardly used, in good 

condition ¥4000. rankutt@gmail.com 

4.6 For KidS 

baby items. Pack and Play, Baby 

Bjorn bouncer. Pick up Moto-Azabu, 

Azabu-Juban or Roppongi Hills. ftl4@ 

hotmail.com http://www.flickr.com/ 

photos/84123638@N00/ 

baby swing, Graco, as new. New 

¥30,000. Sell ¥10,000/obo. Pick up 

Ayase or can deliver within Yamanote 

line. rentjapan@yahoo.com 090-3575- 

8536 

stroller, Dual Combi, for babies 

up to age 3, w/rain cover, in good 

condition ¥9000. Photo available. 

iamgentlefanjp@yahoo.com 090-4171- 

0103 

5 HOBBIES & INTERESTS 

5.2 SPortS equiPMent 

basketball, Official NBA, as new, game 

ball, slightly used in NBA game in Japan in 

‘03 ¥3000. exlen@hotmail.com 

belly dancing/yoga equipment. 

Hip scarf, burgundy, w/silver coins; 

two exercise VCDs; belly dancing 

CD; two yoga exercise VCDs; Iyengar 

beginner yoga book; meditation CD 

¥1000. Pick up Tamachi or Shinagawa 

stn. njeyachandran@tokyois.com 

080-4194-9922 

boots, hiking, Aku Mountain, Vibram 

soles, Gortex uppers, size UK 11/USA 11 1/2, 

used about three times, in great condition 

¥8000. Meet between Roppongi and 

Yokohama. dickiered@gmail.com 

Kayak, Malibu Mini-X, for fishing, with 

all accessories including fish finder, etc. 

¥90,000. Can arrange delivery in Tokyo/ 

Yokohama. Details available. dickiered@ 

gmail.com 

5.3 MuSiCal equiPMent 

acoustic guitar, Yamaha FV-411 GS, in 

good condition, w/soft case, guitar stand, 

Fender strap ¥5000. Meet Motomachi- 

Chukagai, Toyoko/Hibiya line, or 

Ishikawacho, JR Negishi. dickiered@ 

gmail.com 

bass, Hohner B2AV, five-string, w/ 

licensed Steinberger bridge system, in 

excellent condition, good sound and 

low weight, EMG Select active pickups, 

passive/active toggle switch, fold-down 

leg rest, natural wood finish ¥80,000/ 

obo. kvh@mac.hush.com 

bass, authentic Ibanez Soundgear, serial 

numbered, electric, made in Japan, no 

34 • download our Podcast at • Podcast.metroPolis.co.jP 

modifications ¥23,000. Soft gig bag 

¥1000. idreamfast64@softbank.ne.jp 

08048072182 

DJ equipment. Vestax VCI-100SE 

¥5000. Fostex NF-01A monitor ¥20,000. 

Negotiable. santokiya@gmail.com 090- 

6508-8606 

Piano, Yamaha P-140, digital, built-in 

loudspeakers, w/stand and pedal, 

in perfect condition, bought in ‘09 

¥55,000. Pick up Kagurazaka. cjriach@ 

hotmail.com 

6 VEHICLES 

6.1 CarS, PartS & 

aCCeSSorieS 

auto direCt is a one-stop 

shop for all your motor 

equipment and services 

in english. Buying cars in 

Japan? rent/sell/lease cars, 

import your favorite car from 

outside Japan, and insurance 

in english. Call 03-5573-8776 

or email mac@autodirect.jp 

www.autodirect.jp/ 

J ce AutoS - the 

A u t o m o b i l e 

p r o F e S S i o n A l S . 

S p e c i a l izing i n c a r s a l e s , 

buy-backs, door-to-door 

shipping, long-term car 

storage and any other carrelated 

matters. if you need 

assistance with your car, we 

are here to help. tel: 03-6868- 

3366 or 090-9362-5098 

inquiries@jce-autos.jp www. 

jce-autos.jp 

mAZDA StAtion WAgon 

AutomAtic, 1800cc, five-seat, in very 

good condition all over, mechanically 

excellent, w/etc unit, 12-stacker cD, 

shaken, insurance, all taxes paid until 

July ‘13, economical to run ¥320,000. 

can do change.nickjapan2002@ 

yahoo.com 090-1859-1378 

perFect 911S convertible, 

34,000km, perfect service record, 

first owner (may ‘05), garage car, new 

shaken, new tires, metallic blue, lh 

drive, tiptronic ¥7,250,000. Available 

early June. chris@midoriyahills.com 

090-4529-5663 

toyotA eStimA AerAS g SpeciAl 

eDition, ‘10, pearl white, 2.4l 

dual power slide doors, etc 

unit, multi-information display, 

seats seven, 9000km, June ‘10 

leather seat, navigator front 

sensors, child seat, cruise control 

¥2,600,000. rcindranil@gmail. 

com https://picasaweb.google. 

com/110079092820572986872/ 

car?authuser=0&feat=directlink 

6.2 MotorBiKeS, PartS, 

& aCCeSSorieS 

50cc honDA Zoomer Scooter, 

black, 11,800km, kept indoors, in 

excellent condition, w/new tires 

¥90,000. can view in minato-ku. 

alexanderaram@hotmail.com 

08032401456 

6.3 BiCyCleS, PartS & 

aCCeSSorieS 

bike, Cervelo R5, ‘12, brand new, w/ 

warranty. chemitsue@gmail.com 

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

Cross bike, Giant Escape R3, ‘11, size L, 

in good condition, w/two bottle cages 

and lock, suitable for around 170-180cm 

height ¥20,000. Pick up Honancho. 

naosama@yahoo.co.jp 

Mountain bike, Black Trek 3500, 

bought in US, two y/o, not heavily used, 

in good condition ¥12,000. Pick up 

Jiyugaoka. Details, photos available. 

hayneda@yahoo.com 

7 GENERAL 

7.2 FaSHion 

Clothes, women’s, Japan size M/L, for 

all seasons, 12 pieces or more ¥3000. 

euniceinjapan@gmail.com 

Jacket, leather, black, as new, hardly 

worn, size L, soft ¥5000. exlen@ 

hotmail.com 

Jacket, leather, dark brown, size M, 

French brand, worn once, as new 

¥16,000. camilleinjapan@yahoo.fr 

Jersey, Authentic Boston Red, XL, 

as new ¥12,000/obo. togoshiblue@ 

yahoo.com 

t-shirts, vintage, sports, MLB/NFL, 

Yankees, Red Sox, many teams and 

players, good/excellent condition, 

mostly size L-XL ¥500+. Buy two, get 

one free. Details, photos available. 

exlen@hotmail.com 

8 COMPUTERS 

8.1 ServiCeS 

toKyo it ServiCeS. 

We fix all kinds of computer 

problems and also offer 

a data recovery service 

in tokyo. We provide a 

range of computer services 

to corporate, small and 

medium-sized businesses, 

and individual PC and Mac 

users as well. onsite call and 

english computers for sale. 

rentals also available. 1min 

walk from Jr yamanote line, 

Hamamatsucho stn S5 exit, 

3min from daimon subway 

B4 exit. 10am-6:30pm. 

Call 03-3437-2312. 

www.tokyoit.jp/english 

8.2 HardWare 

Foot pedal, for PCs, three-pedal, made 

by Scythe ¥2000. Pick up Azabu-Juban 

stn. max_815@yahoo.com 

iPad 1 64Gb, Wi-Fi, in excellent 

condition, screen film and back 

cover since day one, w/TDK wireless 

headphones, stereo iPad dock, unused 

camera connection kit, cables, original 

package, etc. ¥35,000. rsd91750@ 

nifty.com 

Mac, iMac 10.1, 21.5”, 3.06GHz, Intel 

Core 2 Duo, L2 Cache 3MB, 4GB, w/ 

Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, Snow 

Leopard, external CD drive, 500GB 

disk, HP Officejet 6000 printer. 

502juno@gmail.com 09065196902 

tablet, Sony, 32GB, four m/o, hardly 

used, w/never-used, still-in-box 

Bluetooth keyboard, cover, adapter, 

protector sheet, in perfect condition. 

New ¥55,000+. Sell ¥35,000. 

profscott2000@yahoo.ca 

Workstation, HP xw6400, Quad 

Core 2 processor, 4GB RAM, 80GB HD, 

DVD-ROM/CD-R/W, Nvidia Quad Port, 

keyboard, mouse, Dell speakers, Win 7, 

w/two 19” Eizo monitors, HPPSC 2450 

printer ¥45,000. rankutt@gmail.com 

10 HELP! 

10.2 SuPPort 

Free proFeSSionAl 

conSultAtion For 

F o r e i g n r e S i D e n t S . 

lawyers, administrative 

specialists, educators and 

other experts will be on hand 

to a d v i s e yo u i n en g l i s h , 

Spanish, chinese, tagalog, 

k o r e a n a n d m o n g o l i a n . 

Sat, June 16, 1-4pm (cutoff 

time for reception is 

3:30pm),itabashi green 

hall. www.itabashi-ci.org/ 

int-en/299/ 03-3579-2015. 

kkouryu@city.itabashi. 

tokyo.jp 

neeD to tAlk? 

We’re here to listen. 

tell liFe line: free 

english-language 

a n o n y m o u s 

counseling, daily 

from 9am-11pm, by trained 

volunteers: 03-5774-0992. tell 

counSeling center: 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. 

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 

12 SOCIAL SCENE 

12.1 let’S Party 

all-you-Can-drinK 

HaraJuKu international 

Party, Sat , May 26, 

6:40pm~. Promotional offer! 

only ¥2000 for women 

and non-Japanese. http:// 

internationalparty.p-kit. 

com/ 

gaitoMo international 

Party. very PoPular 

Party. gaitomo Party is held 

every weekend! Fri, May 4: 

BBq. Sat, May 12: roppongi. 

Sat, May 19: roppongi. Sat, 

May 26: original. there are 

many Japanese who want to 

talk with foreigners. info@ 

gaitomo.com http://gaitomo. 

ninja-web.net/ 

JApAn internAtionAl 

pArty - Spring/Summer 

Special. Sat, may 26, 6:30- 

9pm, Devi Fusion (roppongi). 

Japan’s biggest international 

party. meet 250 new people. 

All-you-can-drink and free 

snacks. ¥3000-¥3500(Jm). 

mobile: getyourfriend. 

com/mobile/ jiparty@ 

hotmail.com 090-1735-5405 

www.getyourfriend.com/ 

ShinJuku coSmopolitAn 

pArty - eArly Summer 

SpeciAl. Sat, June 2, 6:20- 

9pm, int’l club tokyo loose. 

Shinjuku’s biggest and fullscale 

international party. 

200 people. everybody 

welcome! All-you-can-drink 

a n d fre e s n a c k s . Fe m a l e : 

¥3000. male: ¥3500. party@ 

shinjukuparty.com www. 

shinjukuparty.com 

tokyo int’l pArty. best 

int’l party in tokyo! may 

25: roppongi tgiF singles 

party. Sat, may 26: tokyo 

int’l party, all-you-can-drink 

and eat. Sun, may 27: tokyo 

speed dating. Sat, June 2: 

Quest int’l party in roppongi. 

please check website. best@ 

internationalparty.com 

http://internationalparty. 

com/index_e.html 

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/ 

zuMBa and MaSala 

BHangra SCHool. We offer a 

healthy, youthful and pleasant 

lifestyle. the classroom is a 

private and warm spot at a chic 

studio located in roppongi. 

Why don’t you join us? 

http://lasociete.exblog. 

jp/15111140/ 

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 looking 

for rugby league players for 

Japanese rugby league 

official games from Apr to 

S e p . eve r yo n e we l c o m e . 

For more details, contact 

japananzacs@gmail.com 

Fencing in tokyo. the 

ymcA Fencing team is 

looking for new members! 

Fencing is both a mental and 

physical sport that is fun and 

challenging! both Japanese 

and foreigners, beginners 

and advanced fencers 

welcome! ymzk@king.odn. 

ne.jp for more information! 

english inquiries welcome. 

http://members3.jcom. 

home.ne.jp/tokyo-ymcafencingteam/home.html 

tAmbourelli. very unique 

new sport from Scotland. using 

a tambourine-like instrument 

as a sports 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

♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck 

ARIES 

Leo rules the heart. You have intuitively 

known that’s the basis for everything. 

When a Leo loves, they are in the realm 

of the highest vibrations. That’s why you can be a 

bit more strategic right now. Venus is retrograde, 

and last week’s solar eclipse in your friendship 

sector has revealed what your needs truly are. As 

you find that you are loving your own energy, you 

attract the person who matches you exactly. 

TAURUS 

GEMINI 

Mar 21~Apr 19 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣ Apr 20~May 20 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣ 

May 21~June 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

June 22~July 22 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣ 

Charging ahead is a blast for you. Uranus 

in your Sign takes you to untold 

heights, only to bring you to the depths 

of unexplored valleys and new visions. Then the 

Part of Fortune, also in Aries, reminds you there 

is money to be made. Trusting yourself might be 

a question when you’re changing by the moment. 

Last week’s solar eclipse helps speak up with crystal 

clarity. Romance is everywhere for you. 

LEO 

July 23~Aug 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣ 

SAGITTARIUS 

Nov 22~Dec 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣ 

Sometimes Sag doesn’t want to run free. 

As the Centaur, you might prefer to stay 

in your padlocked meadow full of green 

spring grasses and flowerful blessings. Last week’s 

solar eclipse in your sector of relationships might 

have hit you hard—or at least, it’s likely to hold 

your attention for a while! Those you are attracting 

match your wavelength. You want creative 

freedom. And the comfort that stability brings. 

Metropolis Mediabox 

NOT KIDDING 

Regarding “Land of the Missing Son” 

(The Last Word, May 10): I recommend 

you to check the documentary From 

The Shadows about this topic. They 

follow a few left-behind parents. 

www.fromtheshadowsmovie.com. 

—lovenasa 

ERRATA 

Regarding “Eclipse” (Upfront, May 14): 

Just to let you know that you printed 

the wrong date for the eclipse in the 

current issue! You wrote June 20, and 

What is it that you came here for? Is this 

the planet you meant to land on? Last 

week’s solar eclipse is a preparation for 

financial shifts. Venus, your ruler, is retrograde. 

You can take time out to question or doubt. That 

doesn’t mean you won’t come out on top. Tricky 

Dark Moon Lilith in your Sign is a seductress who 

can manifest your dreams. It’s just a matter of shining 

light into any well-hidden shadows. 

VIRGO 

Aug 23~Sep 22 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣ 

Psychological transformation is what 

you’re all about now. Last week’s 

solar eclipse shed light in your career 

sector. Now, yet another veil has been lifted and 

you might be feeling brave enough to get out and 

about. Virgo is shy, but as a mutable earth sign, 

you’re stronger than you think. Love is flooding 

the planet and you’re up, down, and sideways with 

the beauty and poignancy of your contribution. 

CAPRICORN 

Dec 22~Jan 19 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣ 

Dear Capricorn, last week’s solar 

eclipse took a bite out your unconscious 

and put it up there for all to view. 

You’re now transformed in your area of work and 

health. You’ve been given the keys to take charge 

in just the places you feel called upon to build a 

connection. Love is yours for the asking. If you 

hold out your hand, you’ll find one to hold yours. 

Do you trust them to hold your heart? 

it’s on the 21st... Oops! I wonder how 

many people will get up early on the 

wrong day because of this…—JF 

[It’s actually on May 21—Eds] 

Regarding “Lee Bul” (Art, Apr 26): Lee 

is her surname, not Bul. Unless you’re 

on a first-name basis with her. Please be 

more careful when dealing with Asian 

names.—palidor 

Regarding “Battleship” (Movie 

Reviews, May 11): Really... Battleship is a 

video game? Maybe somebody should 

Gemini is the Sign with all the action 

these days. Or more precisely, you’re 

the leader of pivotal positioning right 

now. Last week’s solar eclipse in Gemini might 

have been a head-turner for you. If you didn’t 

notice a change, give it time. Of course it’s all about 

self-love and self-giving. Treat yourself to the 

gentle caring and appreciation you have always 

deserved. Romance comes from all directions. 

LIbRA 

Sep 23~Oct 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

There’s no telling what you’ll decide to 

do. Options are flying fast and furious 

with last week’s solar eclipse in your 

sector of long-distance travel. Will you start moving 

towards higher ground by investing in spiritual 

realms? Will you sign up for a course in higher education? 

Or will your time be spent managing the 

fluctuating energies in your relationship(s)? That 

might just be where the real money is. 

AQUARIUS 

CANCER 

Cancers are cuddle babies. A hug or a 

hot meal leave you glowing. The same 

goes for a bubble bath with magical 

elixirs that restore your land-weary soul. You 

know this is a time of great change. Last week’s 

solar eclipse managed to kick your collective 

unconscious into gear. There are things you can 

no longer ignore, and don’t want to. Venus is retrograde. 

Invest in yourself and those you love. 

SCORPIO 

Oct 23~Nov 21 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

Juno in your Sign has plans for you. You 

can resist her, but she keeps whispering. 

And there might just be times when she 

raises the volume, too. This goddess wants you to 

feel that you are cared for, watched over in a way 

that never makes you feel alone. She’s known as 

the consort and she might offer you a long-term 

partner. Vesta, Ceres, and Jupiter are in your relationship 

sector. How can you resist? Should you? 

PISCES 

Jan 20~Feb 18 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣ Feb 19~Mar 20 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣ 

Now that last week’s solar eclipse has 

imprinted itself on your romantic sector, 

what path are you going to choose? 

Or whom? Mercury, the Sun and Venus are all 

offering their seductive flirtations. Did anyone say 

you had to leap to a decision? Not true! Juno is your 

indicator of long-term relationships, and this goddess 

is firmly planted in your area of career. Love 

often comes from following your dreams... 

facebook.com/MetropolisMagazine 

twitter.com/MetropolisTokyo 

© DRUBIG-PHOTO - FOTOLIA.COM 

BY CATHRYN MOE Horoscope 

tell that to Hasbro, they are selling a 

board game instead...—develin 

MOOGS AWAY 

Regarding “Richard Pinhas and 

Merzbow” (CD Review, Apr 17): Been 

listening to Richard and Merzbow 

for almost 20 years. The Cuneiform 

label has the best in new innovative 

and creative soundz wild beyond 

your normal thump thump beat of the 

everlasting bass drum. Another point 

on this article, although Pinhas plays 

guitar, for his early work with French 

band Heldon in the ’90s he used A.R.P. 

electroniks, VCS3, Mellotron, and in 

the ’80s an E-Mu computer system, 

Polymoog, Moog 55, and a polyphonic 

synth.—xrcxx 

HELLO GOODBYE 

Regarding “What Are You Looking At?” 

(The Last Word, Apr 26): I come from 

a country where it’s kind of normal to 

acknowledge people you meet on the 

street, shops and wherever. Just a “hi” 

or “hello” is cool. I’m not gonna stop 

now. Even if it blows their “I’m the only 

gaijin in Japan” dream.—pauly 

Sentimental, romantic you. If you 

could spare the world from pain you 

would do it. However, that’s how 

the vast majority step up their ladder. How to 

approach your personal ascension this week? 

Change is happening so quickly you’re waking 

up a different person each morning. Chiron and 

Neptune helped you survive the eclipse last week. 

Communicate—it brings the comfort you crave! 

metropolis.co.jp/community 

metrodining.jp 

You’re walking past thousands of 

people in a place like Tokyo. If you 

were saying hello to everyone, 

Japanese and foreigners alike, it would 

still be mighty strange but at least 

it would be fair! Ignoring Japanese 

people all day and vigorously nodding 

at every foreigner you see just seems 

racist to me, although in a backhanded 

fashion.—johnnyrabbit 

BULLTWIT 

Loved the “Student Soapbox” feature 

article [May 10]. Nice inspiring stories 

by students!—@Curiousiko 

Thanks for your Burger Special 

during my trip [Apr 13]—here’s my 

little write up: http://t.co/kkQljZ2o 

—@perfecttrough 

Re: The E.A.T. diner in the new Hikarie 

building... I’m very sure its NOT Cali 

style. In n Out or FatBurger IS. 

—@StarrWulfe 

Re: Green Escapes (Upfront Extra, Apr 

24): There is a glowing “green escape” 

in Fukushima...—@ststev 

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

#948 • www.METROPOLIS.CO.JP • 37

The Last Word 

Spot the 

Difference 

The cost of 

Japan’s “Us vs. 

Them” mentality 

By glen Clancy 

When you’re riding 

the train in 

Japan, take note 

of where everyone 

sits around 

you. If there is a spare seat next to 

you and a spare seat across the way, 

Japanese people will often take the 

latter. Is this racism? I would argue 

not—at least not a sinister form of 

racism. 

There were 2.1 million foreigners 

liv ing in Japan in 2010, 1.6 

percent of its 127 million total population. 

In Japan, common attitudes 

towards foreigners (or what I’d call 

“soft racism”) are often born out of 

the ever-present focus on cultural 

difference rather than feelings of 

superiorit y (“hard racism”). The 

decision to avoid sitting next to a foreign 

person on the train most likely 

derives from a fear of the unknown, 

rather than a genuine aversion to 

foreign people. 

The word for foreigner in Japan, 

gaijin, has become synonymous 

with an “us” and “them” mentality. 

In Japan, you’re often not an Australian, 

Briton or Indonesian. You’re 

simply a gaijin. 

ComingupinmETRopoLiS 

FEATURE: ThE Metropolis gUidE To ThE ShoRT ShoRTS 

Film FESTivAl & ASiA 2012 Q&A: mEET kiwi JUp BRown 

who’S RUnning ThE lEngTh oF JApAn FoR chARiTy 

ThE lAST woRd: iT’S noT Too lATE To hElp in TohokU 


The linguistic classification of 

foreigners into a single group both 

inadvertently encourages ignorance 

of the array of different cultures 

worldwide, and prevents the realization 

of the many social and human 

similarities other cultures share 

with the Japanese. For example, I’ve 

often been asked such questions 

here as, “Do people overseas eat a 

lot of rice?” or, “Do people overseas 

drink coffee?”—as if everyone outside 

Japan is a united entity. 

But there are advantages to this 

shared national psyche. It bonds the 

Japanese people closer together and 

forms a family-like union between 

127 million people, or rather—124.9 

million people. 

This sense of family unit y is 

reflected in universal social practices 

such as removing shoes before 

entering a house or school, the custom 

of public bathing in onsen as 

well as activities such as nabe parties 

or izakaya outings. Following the 

Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of 

3/11/2011, there were numerous foreign 

reports written in admiration of 

Japanese victims and refugees lining 

up courteously in ration queues 

and remaining considerate of others 

despite the horrific conditions. 

Another example of this consideration 

lies in a story of a friend of 

Want to have The Last Word? Send your article 

to: editor@metropolis.co.jp 

mine who headed home after work 

one day carrying ¥100,000 rent in 

cash. As he reached for his wallet 

before arriving home his gut sank 

with the realization that it was gone. 

As happens in so many stories of this 

kind in Japan, the local police station 

called him to interrupt his distress. 

A stranger had found the wallet on 

the street and handed it in—along 

with its precious contents. Though 

many readers might have heard—or 

experienced—stories like this, it’s 

worth remembering that there are 

few countries in the world where 

this k ind of thing happens. The 

family-like bond in Japanese society 

breeds this kind of common respect 

and thoughtfulness for their fellow 

community members—and even a 

foreigner, in this case. But this sense 

of unity comes at a price. 

Many Japanese people struggle 

to relate to foreigners. Often when 

I order at a restaurant in Japan, for 

example, the waiter will turn to 

my Japanese friends and reply to 

them—even though I’ve just spoken 

in Japanese. This lack of familiarity 

and understanding of foreign 

cultures could be damaging to an 

aging Japan faced with increased 

immigration and intensifying globalization 

pressures. 

Some of these social issues have 

been recognized by the Japanese 

business community who lobbied 

successfully for English to become 

a compulsory subject for fifth- and 

sixth-grade elementary school students 

from 2011—albeit only one 

lesson per week. Rakuten, Japan’s 

largest internet online retailer, 

announced that English will be the 

company’s official language by 2012, 

with all internal meetings held in 

English. 

The Japanese government has 

also made some steps towards “internationalizing” 

the Japanese psyche 

over the past few decades. Way back 

in 1978, the government launched 

the Japan Exchange and Teaching 

(JET) program in communities 

across Japan. In 2011 there were 

4,330 participants from 39 countries 

acting as assistant language teachers 

(ALTs), sports education advisors 

(SEAs), and coordinators of international 

relations (CIRs). The program 

has been largely effective promoting 

cross-cultural interaction at grassroots 

level. However, there still 

remains a gap in the appreciation of 

the diversity of foreign cultures, and 

a communication gap. 

Japan needs to expand on these 

programs and policies to strengthen 

cultural awareness and, in turn, 

improve Japanese international relations. 

This will expose more Japanese 

to foreign people—hopefully without 

adversely affecting their family-like 

social bond—and allow them to 

communicate, exchange ideas and 

most importantly, relate. And perhaps 

the next time I’m travelling on 

a train in Tokyo and there are two 

empty seats, a Japanese person will 

sit next to me, not because they chose 

to sit next to a foreigner, but because 

they didn’t see a difference. 

ThiS lAck oF 

UndERSTAnding 

oF FoREign 

cUlTURES coUld 

BE dAmAging To An 

Aging JApAn FAcEd 

wiTh inTEnSiFying 

gloBAlizATion 

pRESSURES” 

■ Glen Clancy is a former resident of 

Japan who now works at Arena magazine 

in Melbourne. He can be found online at 

www.aussiebeef.wordpress.com 

check us out 

www.metropolis.co.jp 

gET yoUR 

nExT pRinTEd 

copy FRidAy, 

JUn 8

GEt youR caFFEinE Fix in thE city - Metropolis

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