Kansai Scene #152 January 2013

I’m free. Go on, pIck me up.

無料issue 152

January 2013

+ Where To Go And What To Do — Kansai listings, news, info, maps and classifieds

Say hello to the Year

of the Snake

www.kansaiscene.com

where to pray, what to eat, best winter holiday

and a whole lot more…

Happy New Year!

Find your free 2013 Kansai Scene calendar inside…

KanSai Scene magazine january 2013 kansaiscene.com 3

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

Features

Features

Kansai’s secretive snakes p08

Osechi ryori p10

Where to pray in Kyoto p12Travel

niseko, Hokkaido p14 Food and Drink

gion, Kyoto p16

Trois Dix, Osaka p25Have your say

Your hopes and dreams for 2013 p39

Listings

Events & Festivals p26

Art p30

Club p34

Classical Music p29

Live Music p32

Business Finder p37

Classifieds p40

Maps p44

Publisher/creative Director ...........Daniel Leeeditor ............................................ Carla avolioSub-editor ..............................Donna SheffieldSales manager ............ nicholas DespopoulosProduction manager.................. rie Okamotographic Designer .................naomi Mochizukiaccounts manager ......................Michiko Lee

art ................................................ Tomoko Ishiievent & Festival ......................... yuki uchiboriFilm .........................................Donna Sheffieldclassical .................................Michael VezuttoLive ........................................... Phillip jacksonclub ................................................Terumi Tsuji

COVER ARTIST: Ayako Motonaga

See more of Ayako’s beautiful work at her exhibition at DMO Arts in Isetan Umeda this month (Jan 16–Feb 5).

enquiriesgeneral [email protected] [email protected]. 06-6539-1717 Fax. 06-7635-4791address Osaka-shi, nishi-ku, Shinmachi 3-5-7, Eiko Bldg. 2FWebsite www.kansaiscene.com

a biT OF HiSTORY Kansai Scene was founded by Peter Horvath and nishikawa Keiko in 2000 and published by jatin Banker between 2003 – 2011. now in its 12th year, the magazine provides articles, information and listings for the Kansai area.

Kansai Scene is published monthly by mojoprint

Contents

© A

yako

Mot

onag

a /

DM

OA

RTS

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M

08

10

14

16

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12

kansaiscene @kansaiscene

KanSai Scene magazine january 2013 kansaiscene.com4

artwork down to a TeeKS — Thanks to everyone that entered the KS T-shirt design competition. The challenge was to create a design on the theme ‘Kansai’. We had a wonderful selection of submissions, featuring everything from giant robots and takoyaki to Kuidaore and Glicoman.

The entries were posted to our Facebook page and readers were invited to vote for their favourites. A big thank you to everyone that voted.

We are pleased to announce that minikiki’s (aka Kirsten Bürisch: www.minikiki.com) weird and wonderful monster jam design was the unanimous winner, with its stylish depiction of a Kyoto pagoda surrounded by a band of quirky characters.

Kirsten told KS: “This design shows my typical illustration style – a collage of characters, doodled with markers. I have an imagination filled with odd monsters, cute bunnies and other crazy characters that I like to doodle whenever I get a chance. I am very much inspired by the works of Jon Burgerman, and the cartoon Adventure Time.”

As the winner, Minikiki will have her design printed up by the T-shirt gurus at Sweatshop Union and we’ll be giving them away to lucky readers

throughout the year.

News & Openings

city remembers earthquakeKobe — January 17 marks the an-niversary of the great Hanshin-awaji earthquake, which took thousands of lives in 1995. An event called Kibo no akari is taking place at Higashi Yuenchi Park in Sannomiya, where people will share experiences of the earthquake, focussing on the impor-tance of kindness, charity and helping each other. For more information contact Kobe City Hall on 078-331-8181. If you want to learn more about the earthquake, head to the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation institution, which is an interactive museum at HAT Kobe. This mu-seum provides a wealth of English information and is also currently displaying photographs relating to the Tohoku disaster.

make a date with KSKS — Happy New Year of the Snake from all the Kansai Scene staff and contributors. As a token of our appreciation for you, our avid readers, we present to you the Kansai Scene 2013 calendar! Yay.

The images on this year’s calendar were entered into Kam-eraoke, an annual amateur photography competition covered in previous issues of KS. This year’s theme was ‘The seven wonders of Kansai’. For more information visit www.kameraoke.com.

What, no calendar? Every issue of KS will have a calendar inserted into it, but if someone has swiped yours, not to worry. Just send an email to [email protected] with your postal address and we’ll ship one off to you. All that we ask is that you pay for the postage upon receipt.

Got some news?

KS is always on the lookout for

newsworthy events and new

openings around town.

Email your suggestions to

[email protected]

Winner

Top 3 entries as voted for on Facebook

Left: Kirsten Burisch (Minikiki)

Bottom left: Jeremy Veitch

Bottom right: Nick Rees

printing & design services

050-5805-6312www.mojoprint.jp

www.arthurmurray.co.jp 06-6245-1731www.arthurmurray.co.jp 06-6245-1731

and have fun doing it!

[email protected] Follow us on Facebook

REAL ESTATE • INVESTMENTS TAX & LEGAL • BUSINESS CONSULTING

2013 Calendar

Human Wonder: People heading home from Kyoto station after a long day’s work.Photo: Rafael Roman

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20

Spring Equinox 春分の日21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

KS issue #154/Marhits the streets

Mar

chA

pril

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 1415 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 2829Showa Day 昭和の日

30

KS issue #155/Aprhits the streets

Arthur Murray Swing into Spring Party

03

04

printing & design services

050-5805-6312www.mojoprint.jp

www.arthurmurray.co.jp 06-6245-1731www.arthurmurray.co.jp 06-6245-1731

and have fun doing it!

[email protected] Follow us on Facebook

REAL ESTATE • INVESTMENTS TAX & LEGAL • BUSINESS CONSULTING

2013 Calendar

Fashion Wonder: Excited fans gather around a female cosplay fanatic at the Nipponbashi Street Festa, held every spring in Den Den Town, Osaka. Photo: Jules Fulton

Janu

ary

Feb

ruar

y


1New Year’s Day元日

2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14Coming of Age Day 成人の日

15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31


1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11National Foundation Day建国記念の日

12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28

KS issue #153/Febhits the streets

Arthur Murray Anniversary Party

01

02

2013 Calendar: Wonders of Kansai

Wonders

of Kansai

The staff, writers and

advertisers of Kansai Scene

would like to wish all our

readers a happy and prosperous

2013, Year of the Snake.

For our 2013 calendar we have

teamed up with the organisers

of the unique Kameraoke

photography competition,

whose theme for 2012 was

Wonders of Kansai.

We have combined some

of the winning images and

photographers, as well as few

of our own favourites, into a

handy wall-calendar.

Hang it from your office or

bedroom wall, communal

fridge or other prime position

of your choosing and then get

out and explore the wonders of

Kansai yourselves.

Published and produced by Mojoworks KK

550-0013 Osaka, Nishi-ku, Shinmachi 3-5-7 2F

Tel: 06-6539-1717 • Email: [email protected]

Photographs courtesy of Kameraoke • www.kameraoke.com

Natural Wonder: A deer pauses for respite on

Wakakusayama mountain in Nara.

Photo: Emi Morimoto

Design Wonder: Early morning sun and blue

sky reveal Osaka castle at its finest.

Photo: David Froelich

Design Wonder: The Umeda Sky Building,

designed by Hiroshi Hara. A night view

looking up to the observatory.

Photo: Stirling Elmendorf

Human Wonder: People heading home from

Kyoto station after a long day’s work.

Photo: Rafael Roman

Design Wonder: Looking up

in Osaka’s Dotonbori district

reveals eye-catching neon signs.

Photo: Yuka MatsuoHuman Wonder: Neighbourly gossip in old-

town Kyoto, where backstreets still have the

charm of a bygone era.

Photo: Nina G

Fashion Wonder: Excited fans gather around

a female cosplay fanatic at the Nipponbashi

Street Festa.

Photo: Jules Fulton

www.kansaiscene.com


international festival returnsOsaka — The One World Festi-val, an event dedicated to promot-ing international cooperation, will be held over two days next month, on February 2 and 3. It’s the 20th year for the festival, which provides information on issues such as peace, human rights and the environment.Time: 10am–5pm

Venue: Osaka International House, 8-2-

6, Uehonmachi,Tennouji-ku,Osaka

www.interpeople.or.jp/owf/english

Ramen recruit for a dayOsaka — Anyone can learn how to make ramen, and feed some hungry university students in a special one-day course now being offered in Nagase.

The course takes you step by step through the cooking process, and there’s some time out in the schedule to grab a beer and learn about ramen history and culture. There’s a translator on hand all day to help if you don’t speak Japanese.

Once you’ve finished making about 30 servings of two ramen dishes, you get to serve it up to locals in the shop. Oh, and eat some yourself of course. For more information email [email protected].

www.ramenadventures.com/p/osaka-

ramen-school

mayor is a tweet rebel Osaka — Mayor Toru Hashimoto caused a stir on twitter last month by refusing to stick to national laws about party promotions. The law, first enacted in 1950, states that in the 12 days before an election, candidates can’t display or mass-distribute campaign information other than via pre-approved posters and campaigns. It was first created to ensure fairness across parties, regardless of their campaign budget.

Because he was not running directly for the election, Hashimoto decided to opt out of the Japan Restoration Party’s request to members to stop updating their internet sites. He not only defied the rule, but also told his 907,000 followers that he thought the rule was absurd, unreasonable and stupid.

“It’s been said that the established parties spent ¥35 billion on advertisements during the last election. In spite of this fact, my petty election campaign tweets are banned? What’s wrong with this Japan? This is something that the government should fix. But the government has been unable to lift this ban so far,” he tweeted angrily.@t_ishin

Fancy a dance?Kyoto — Don’t let those 1am dance laws stop you making some moves. A community dance program is being held in Kyoto right now, and no dance experience is needed to take part. Dance 4 All intends to bring people of all ages and abilities together for a stage show in March 2013. There are two-hour workshops being held, on Sunday Jan 20 and Sunday Feb 3, at Kyoto Art Center. Participants must complete an application form before the workshops. Contact Kyoto Art Center on 075-213-1000 for more information.http://en.kac.or.jp/

Keep on dancingShinsaibashi — arthur murray’s Shinsaibashi studio, has been providing dance classes in Osaka for nearly 4 years and celebrates its anniversary in February. With over 280 studios world wide, Arthur Murray celebrated its 100 year birthday last year. To commemorate these milestones, the studio is opening it’s doors and inviting everyone to come and experience the fun and enjoyment of dance for themselves. Try such classic genres as Salsa, Ballroom, Latin, Argentine Tango and Swing — all for free. Get your dancing shoes on!Time: 5pm • Place: Arthur Murray Osaka Dance Center

Address: 3-5-28, Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0081

Fee: Complimentary, open house for guests

Tel: 06-6245-1731 • Email: [email protected] • www.arthurmurray.co.jp


Business matters

make your next move a global oneThinking about your next career move? Open up more global business opportunities with an English-taught MBA programme right on your doorstep.Text: KS Images: Doshisha University

Many people come to Japan on a teach-ing contract, be it JET or otherwise. The job can be fun, and give you lots of new skills, but are there other things you could be doing here to help inch up the career ladder? For those interested in developing their business and management skills, the answer is a definite yes.

The global mba is a two-year pro-gramme taught completely in English at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. It currently has around 38 stu-dents from 19 countries, and Doshisha itself has an impressive alumni that work for global firms such as P&G, as well as leading Japanese firms includ-ing Daikin, Konica Minolta, Kyocera and Panasonic.

The curriculum features core busi-ness subjects as a starter, but then students can choose what they are most interested in studying to create a tailored MBA. There are three main focus areas: business in asia, green business, and culture and creativity. Business in Asia is designed to help students understand and navigate the Asian business world, with all its di-verse practices and people. Green Busi-ness looks at the theory and practice of managing businesses in an eco-friendly and sustainable way. Culture and Creativity focuses on management in the fast-growing areas of pop culture, manga, video games and more.

Because it caters for students who are often new to Japan, Doshisha offers all MBA students free Japanese les-sons. If students already have a strong command of Japanese, they can take Japanese MBA modules and interact with Japanese business managers.

Angela Troianos is currently taking the MBA programme. Originally from Chicago, USA, she joined the course after teaching with the JET pro-gramme. “To tell the truth, although graduate school was always my goal, I never really considered an MBA be-fore,” she told KS. “I had a very specific vision for the type of graduate experi-ence I wanted, as well as the skills I wanted to gain. Before discovering Doshisha, I was uncertain if there was an MBA program that could satisfy all my conditions.”

After attending an open day, and speaking with students and professors, Angela found the Global MBA course actually ticked all the right boxes. Aside from an interest in learning more about Business in Asia, she says: “Doshisha’s commitment to sustainable business was the main reason I chose to come here. I’m very interested in CSR (corporate social responsibility), which is still a relatively new field for some Asian companies.”

While the workload can be demand-ing, Angela thinks it’s a great learning curve in time and resource manage-

ment. “One of the most valuable things about my program is my classmates. I find that I greatly benefit from the time I spend with them, both in and out of the classroom. I feel like I am part of a truly international community and the diversity of our backgrounds is reflected in the richness of our class discussions.”

When she graduates, Angela hopes to join some of the alumni by working at a top Japanese company. She hopes to stay in Kansai too, but with Dosh-isha’s global connections, her options certainly aren’t limited to Japan.

She adds: “There are interesting opportunities to study abroad in the second year. The school also brings in a number of specialists from around the world to teach short-term, week-long intensive classes on a wide range of topics. In addition to normal classes, we really benefit from Doshisha’s extensive business network as guest lecturers drop by regularly.”

There’s a world of opportunity out there, and for many ex-JETs like Ange-la, Doshisha is providing another step-ping stone to an international career.

For more information on the Global MBa,

contact Doshisha Business School

Website: http://gmba.doshisha.ac.jp

Email: [email protected]


蛇

Feature

Snake-spotting in KansaiSnakes! Where? Everywhere! But don’t panic, because they’re mostly harmless. As 2013 is the year of the snake, KS slithers a little closer to the truth about our reptile friends.Text: Tom Fay

Of all the wildlife in the world, snakes are by no means the cutest or cuddliest. Indeed these scaly, legless animals of-ten invoke sheer terror into the hearts of otherwise nature-loving folk. But snakes are a unique, fascinating, and dare I say beautiful group of animals, of which a great variety of species can be found right here in Kansai.

Snakes are cold-blooded limbless reptiles, lacking eyelids or external ears, with incredible multi-jointed jaws enabling them to swallow prey

many times larger than their head. They can range in size from the 10 centimetre long thread snake to the nearly seven-metre giant reticulated python of Southeast Asia. All snakes are predators, but most species are in fact non-venomous. Having been around for more than 100 million years, they’ve adapted to live in a whole range of environments from deserts and jungles, to the highest mountains and even the oceans.

There are over 40 species of snakes in Japan, and a good number of these can be found almost on your doorstep. But don’t panic! Snakes are shy animals that avoid people whenever they can, and contrary to popular belief, most are completely harmless (to humans) and reluctant to bite unless as a last resort. Due to their secretive nature, spotting snakes out in the wild can be a challenge, and often involves a bit of luck more than anything else.

Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake (Elaphe quadrivirgata)


mamushi (Gloydius blomhoffii)

Perhaps the most well-known, although still often misunderstood species, is the mamushi, a small greyish brown pit-viper. Adults are typically between 45 to 65 cm long, with a series of dark brown blotches running down the back, and have the triangular head shape typical of all pit vipers. Because they mainly feed on frogs, they are usually found on forested hillsides close to a water source or around rice paddies. The mamushi is not aggres-sive, and when approached by humans it tends to stay still, relying on its camouflage to hide. Unfortunately this means that it is sometimes inadvert-ently stepped on, and this is when bites occur. Along with the habu of Okinawa, the mamushi is considered to be one of the most venomous snakes in Japan, and a number of fatalities are recorded every year. But a good anti-venin is available, so medical assistance should always be sought if you’re the unlucky victim.

Japanese Rat Snake(Elaphe climacophora)

One of the largest snakes in Japan, the Japanese green rat snake (aodaisho) can grow to two metres long. It is dark olive green with small dark blotches, and sometimes has dark rudimentary stripes running down its back. It lives in forest clearings, fields, rice paddies, and can often be found close to human settlements. It is not venomous, but is a strong constrictor, wrapping its body around its prey and squeezing until the unfortunate creature is subdued. This snake eats mostly rodents (hence the name ‘rat snake’), but can also climb trees to take birds and their eggs.

Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake (Elaphe quadrivirgata)

A little shorter than the Japanese green rat snake, but often confused due to their similar appearance, the Japanese four-lined rat snake (shima-hebi) has four much more distinct dark stripes running along its body. This very fast-moving species prefers sunny locations often close to water, where it hunts a variety of prey including frogs, small mammals, birds and eggs. This snake is also completely harmless to humans.

Yamakagashi (Rhabdophis tigrinus)

The red-sided water snake (yam-akagashi) is a medium-sized serpent, although females can sometimes grow as long as 150 cm. It is usually black-ish or green with a pattern of dark blotches on its back, but this can vary tremendously, and in the Kansai area most individuals are light brown, with pink or red blotches on their sides.

This snake is common in rice paddies, feeding mainly on frogs, tadpoles and fish. Due to its very peaceful nature and reluctance to bite, this species was once considered non-venomous, but we now know it has fairly potent venom, although fortunately accidents are very rare.

asian keelback (Amphiesma vibakari)

The hibakari or ‘one-day snake’ is a small and slender brown coloured reptile, with almost no pattern on its scales. It is often found on the edges of rice paddies, where it slithers with its head held above the ground, seem-ingly scanning its surrounds. Its prey includes frogs, tadpoles and earth-worms, and it is usually active in the cooler parts of the day, such as the early morning and at dusk. The name ‘one-day snake’ seems to come from the old belief that if bitten, the victim has only one day to live. In fact, this snake has no venom and is completely harmless to humans, but perhaps was sometimes mistaken for the previously mentioned red-sided water snake, which in Kansai can also be uniformly brown in appearance.

Of course being cold-blooded, all these snakes are currently sleeping through the long, cold winter. But come early spring they will emerge to eat and breed. So when the weather gets warmer in a few months’ time, and you’re out on a secluded mountain trail or passing by an old rice paddy, stop for a moment, tread lightly, and you may get a glimpse of one of our secre-tive serpentine friends.


nishiki Tamago/錦卵need to sort out the finances this new year? Then eat up this egg roll. The yolk and egg white are separated before being cooked, resulting in yellow yolk that symbolizes gold and white for silver, which is sure to help keep your finances in eggcellent shape. (Sorry for the awful yolk…I mean joke)

Datemaki/伊達巻きThis sweet omelet-like food, often mixed with fish paste or prawns, is said to bring on more days of prosperity and good luck in the coming year.

Tai/鯛Better known as red sea bream, this tasty little treat guarantees a prosperous year as the “tai” could be taken from omede tai (おめでたい) or congratulations.

Kombumaki/昆布巻きIf you want a really happy new year, this often slimy seaweed wrap is worth forcing down, as the japanese word for joy, yorokobu (喜ぶ), is said to sound like the word for seaweed, konbu (昆布).

Kamaboko/蒲鉾a ground fish paste that, while not tasting too bad, has a texture some may find revolting.

new year’s food: a field guideOne of Japan’s annual food traditions, osechi ryori, is a multi-layered box of potential treats. Find out what’s what and eat your way to a year of health and prosperity.Text: Adam Miller

For many expats, the festive season means turkey, tinsel and Christmas cheer. But in Japan, these holidays are all about the new year. From December 29 to January 3, most Japa-nese people will be enjoying a few days off work, lots of sake and a few traditional seasonal foods. Although warm mochi may be the most comforting food to eat over the winter break, osechi ryori is the most highly regarded. This elaborate bento box is filled with a variety of foods, each with their own unique story to tell. In the past, these pickled and salted morsels would see families through the national holidays when stores would close.

The three-tiered boxes themselves are known as Jubako (重箱), and are similar to your standard bento box as they stack together neatly. They range in size and price from a mere ¥1,000 at your local convenience store to speciality sets coming in at over ¥500,000 (for example, those sold in the Kaga or Noto regions of Japan). Each tier holds a different assortment of foods, separated into compartments to keep flavors from mixing. This tradition of packaging food in par-cels has its roots in the Heian Period, over a thousand years ago, when it was forbidden to cook during the three-day new year’s celebrations.


Kazunoko/数の子If you’re eating osechi with the in-laws, they may try and force a little of this herring roe on you, as it promises a bounty of healthy children in the new year.

Tazukuri/田作り *not picturedThese dried sardines may not be to everyone’s taste, but if you have to work in a rice field in the coming year, they might just be your best friend. The kanji translates as “to make a rice paddy” and it is said these little tykes helped fertilize the soggy fields way back when.

Kuromame/黒豆Directly translated as “black beans” the word mame can also mean “health” in japanese, so eating a few of these magic beans is advisable for anyone wanting a fighting fit year.

Kurikinton/栗きんとんChestnuts may be popular in the west around Christmas, but these would go unrecognized by many an untrained eye. The glazed, yellow spheres have a bitter aftertaste to them.

Satoimo/里芋These tiny peeled potatoes are as sticky as the nagai-imo root that makes tororo noodles. although said to be extremely healthy, they can be a little hard to swallow (literally).

Feature

Kyoto’s famous fiveYou don’t have to go far to take part in hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year. But the extra legwork for these five top spots will make it a memorable start to 2013.Text: Jeff Lo Image: KS

Shimogamo Shrine The buildings of Kyoto’s sprawling, venerated Shimogamo Shrine have been designated as national treasures. The shrine’s leafy, covered approach – a cluster of ancient trees known as Tadasu no Mori (“The Forest of Truth”, for reasons indiscernible) – will take your breath away. As will the massive new year hatsumode crowds, who down warm amazake as they fight for space around the shrine’s conspicuous torii entrance gate. Access: A 10-minute walk from

Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan

Line; if you get lost, just follow the crowd.

For information:

www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp

byodo-in TempleArguably the most photogenic temple in Kyoto (the impressive Phoenix Hall was held in high enough regard to put on the back of Japan’s ¥10 coins), Byodo-in is surrounded by pond-accentuated grounds that offer a relatively quiet way to enjoy hatsu-mode. Relatively, we say; even though Phoenix Hall is undergoing renova-tion until March 2014, the crowds that flock to the shrine’s mountain-framed garden setting are still quite heavy.Access: A 15-minute walk from Uji Station

on the JR or Keihan Line. Again, let the

crowds guide you.

For information: www.japan-guide.com/e/

e3923.html

Kiyomizu TempleAnd speaking of crowds! While the locals, visiting school groups, and international tourists that descend on

this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage spot keep the place plenty busy all year round, hatsumode brings things to an entirely new level. Though slightly frenetic, the atmosphere of Kiyomizu is also extremely pleasant. Standing in the crisp winter air watching scores of kimono-clad bodies on Kiyomizu Stage is a fine way to start the year. Access: A 25-minute walk from Kiyomizu

Goju Station on the Keihan Line.

For information:

www.kiyomizudera.or.jp

Kurama-dera TempleAlthough you’re about six months early for this mountain temple’s famed “snake-cutting” event (the “snake” is bamboo but the swords are plenty real), a January visit to Kurama-dera is another lovely way to start the year. The air atop Mount Kurama is chilly, though, so wear plenty of layers – or bring plenty of warmed sake – to fend off the cold. Access: A 5-minute walk from Kurama

Station on the Eizan Line; however, the

2-hour hike from Kibune-guchi Station is

well worth it for the solitude and greenery.

For information: www.jnto.go.jp/eng/

location/regional/kyoto/kurama.html

chion-in Temple An embarrassment of sightseeing riches, as far as temples go. In addition to hosting Japan’s largest main temple entrance gate (standing 24 meters tall) and the country’s largest bell (67 tonnes; the story of how it was finally suspended makes for very interesting reading), Chion-in features an array of lovely garden areas that look spec-

tacular wreathed in fall leaves, cherry blossoms, or – if you’re very lucky this month – a light dusting of freshly fallen snow. Access: A 20-minute walk from Gion Shijo

Station on the Keihan Line.

For information:

www.chion-in.or.jp



Travel

go north, life is powdery thereHitting Niseko’s perfect slopes and resorts is the best way to embrace winter, writes powder professional Kristian Lund.Text: Kristian Lund Images: Niseko Photography

There’s a long-running argument among those who have skied and snowboarded in Japan about where the country’s best ski experience is to be found. Google “Niseko or Hakuba?” and you’ll find hundreds of forum posts on dozens of websites dedicated to thrashing out the subject. But you probably won’t find an answer to your question because, well, there isn’t one. Honshu’s Hakuba has bigger moun-tains and steeper slopes; Hokkaido’s Niseko has more powder and mellower terrain. And each has dozens of vari-ables offering something for everyone in between – on and off the slopes.

So I’m not here to try and crack that old chestnut, but I am here to tell you all the good bits about Niseko. And of those, there are plenty.

First, let me set the scene: Niseko consists of four very different resorts – Hirafu, Hanazono, niseko Village and annupuri – all with terrain to suit beginners to advanced skiers. The four resorts, which run down wide strips on different sides of mount Yotei, are interlinked at the top and can be skied between with ease on an all mountain Pass, or bussed between if the lifts are closed.

The villages at the base of each resort also offer very different experi-ences. Make sure you choose the one that suits you and your travel party. Hirafu is basically the hub of Niseko. It’s packed with restaurants, bars, ski schools, tour operators, shops and ac-commodation. If you ask me, this is the place you want to stay unless you’ve got a good reason to go elsewhere.

At latitude 42° degrees north of the equator, Niseko is a lot colder than its southern Japanese counterparts, which means one thing – powder! When moisture-laden storms cross the Sea of Japan from Siberia, conditions are ripe for any precipitation to fall as super light, incredibly dry powder snow. Yippee!

This cold climate also makes for a long season. Generally the lifts start spinning in late November and shut down almost six months later after Golden Week at the start of May. January and February is “peak season”, when you might have to put up with a few other powder-seeking holidaymak-ers, but also when you’re very likely to get weeks on end where it will dump snow EVERY - SINGLE - DAY. And that’s no exaggeration.


However, one little local secret I’ll let you in on is this: if you’re into fair-weather skiing and want to avoid the crowds, March can offer the best conditions of the season for all types of skiers. In March it doesn’t snow as much but when it does, the hills come alive with the sound of locals hooting with delight as they plough through fields of untouched powder that stay fresh all day, often with blue spring skies to boot. The warmer weather is great for families, it’s easier to get bookings in all the restaurants, and there are always great accommoda-tion deals for the last major month of the season.

Unlike so many Japanese resorts, in Niseko there’s still plenty to do when the sun goes down. There’s no donning a yukata and strolling around the hotel lobby; here, you’d better bring some decent threads to mix it with the après ski set. The resort boasts a thriving dining scene with everything from tiny izakayas to Irish pubs and Michelin-

starred restaurants. And when it comes to the bar scene – choose your own adventure! From umbrella bars to whiskey bars and Japanese reggae bars, you’ll find a party to suit your mood.

One thing that makes Niseko unique among Japanese ski resorts – and indeed Japan – is the foreign influence. It would have to be one of the most culturally diverse concentrations of people in Japan. Not to mention an eclectic crew of creative Japanese ski-ers, snowboarders, chefs and artisans who have been drawn to the area’s magnificent Mt Yotei and started their own unique restaurants, bars and busi-nesses. Places like the gentem café inside a Mongolian yurt tent, gyu+ bar with its fridge door entrance, and rainbow-themed snowboard school Teru’s Happy Vibrations, are some of the most interesting places to be found anywhere in Japan.

Put it all together and you have some of the quirkiest, coolest, snowiest little ski resorts in Japan… if not the world. With several new low-cost domestic airlines starting direct flights to Hok-kaido this year, there’s never been a better time to cross Niseko off your Japan to-do list.

Kristian Lund is a journalist, powder snow aficionado and publisher of Powderlife Niseko magazine and www.powderlife.com

Tips for getting the most out of niseko

Ski passes

True beginners can save with a “point

ticket” (pay for how many lifts you use)

or a five-hour ticket (all you can ride).

Those keen to explore every resort

can upgrade to an all Mountain Pass

(¥1,000 extra). you can buy passes at

the base of the mountains.

niseko’s semi-secret resorts

Moiwa, a few minutes past annupuri,

offers some of the best relatively

secret off-piste skiing in the area.

rusutsu, about 30 minutes drive away,

is Hokkaido’s biggest resort and will

serve up fresh powder all day after it

has snowed. ask local tour operators.

Yumeguri Onsen bus

By far the best way to try the many

hot springs dotted throughout

niskeo’s volcanic landscape. The

bus (¥500) passes the most popular

onsens, and the yumeguri Onsen

Pass (¥1,400) gives you entry to three

participating onsen. Inquire at your

hotel or local onsen.

eat & DrinkTsubara Tusbara

Local specialties loaded with local

produce. Izumikyo, just outside

Hirafu, on the free shuttle bus route.

Bookings usually not required.

Tel: 0136-23-1116.

izakaya Rin

Be sure to order their shime saba and

sun dried squid tempura. Hirafu Lower

Village. Bookings essential in winter.

Tel: 0136-22-1444.

Kamimura

Enjoy a 10-course degustation at a

Michelin-starred restaurant. Central

Hirafu. Bookings essential.

Tel: 0136-21-2288.

StayShizenkan backpacker

For those on a shoestring budget.

Izumikyo (www.niseko-backpacker.

com).

The Vale

Splash out at niseko’s premier ski-in/

ski-out location. Hirafu upper Village

(www.thevaleniseko.com).

annupuri Village

In a remote location, true alpine ski

chalets sleeping up to 10 people.

annupuri (www.annupurivillage.com).

Book these powder pads and more

at www.powderlife.com.


Language

One point Japanese

Want to know what the year ahead has in store for you? Duck into a shinto shrine and pick up a traditional omikuji paper fortune to find out. Your fortune is decided by some form of lottery, depending on the shrine. You may have to draw a numbered stick from a wooden box or simply select a folded paper at random. Either way, you will end up with a small piece of white paper

revealing your fortune.Your luck, or lack of it, is commonly divided into seven categories, so look out for the kanji below. Whether you hit the daikichi jackpot or end up a daikyo loser, you can tie your paper to

a tree, or other specially designated area, and wish for something good to happen.

大吉 daikichi Big luck! You’re a winner.中吉 chukichi Medium luck. Not bad.小吉 shoukichi Small luck. Nice try.吉 kichi Kind of lucky. Could do better.末吉 suekichi Uncertain. The future is unknown.凶 kyo Bad luck. That’s unfortunate.大凶 daikyo Certain disaster. Watch your back.

海外生活日記What is it like living in…

Thailand?Mayuko Walmsley moved to Koh Samui, Thailand, to help

realize her husband’s dream. She tells KS all about it.

タイで何をしていますか？主人の仕事を手伝っています。彼は昔からサムイ島の美しさに魅かれており、将来サムイ島に住み、ディベロパーとしてヴィラ経営をすることが夢でした。これがきっかけとなり今は、夢を実現して外国人向けにヴィラの販売や観光客向けにヴィラのレンタルを行っています。他にもジャングルサファリツアーやボートの手配など旅行代理店業務も行っています。人生って不思議なものですね！

普段何語を話していますか？どんな学習方法で？日本語、英語そしてタイ語を話します。話す相手によって変わりますね。タイ語を学ぶために４～５か月間タイ語の学校に通いました。サムイ島は小さな島ですが、世界中の方々が住んでいます。共通語は英語になっているので、英語もタイ語も日々勉強しています。

タイに行って想定外に良かったことは？日本の素晴らしさを改めて実感できたこと。そして、毎日違った様子をみせてくれる夕日を見ながら生活できること。微笑みの国タイで、現地の方々の笑顔にも癒されています。あとは物価が安いこと、食べ物がすごく口に合うこと、ちゃんとした治療を受けられる病院があること。いろいろな意味で、投資などのビジネスチャンスが山ほどあることだと思います。

サムイ島でお気に入りの食べ物をひとつ挙げてください。たくさん有り過ぎて…（笑）新鮮な果物のシェークと美味しいタイ料理を、ビーチで食べると、さらに美味しさが増します。たまに恋しくなるのは日本料理。来年早々に開店される居酒屋さんを楽しみにしています。関西人なので、どこの国に行っても、～クイダオレ～ですね！！

将来、サムイ島に長期滞在/移住を考えている人に向けてアドバイスをお願いします。まず、タイ国は日本と非常に親密な関係にあるので、日本人が一般的に受け入れられ易いですね。少しだけでもタイ語を覚えたら、タイ人の方達が喜んでくれるから、より生活しやすくなります。気候に恵まれており、ちゃんとした病院もあるので、定年退職者やビジネスをやりたいと考えている方にぴったりだと思います。タイでは、自分はあくまでもお客さんだという意識を持つことが大切です。現地の方々に敬意を示す最良の方法は、少しでも言葉を覚えようとする努力をすることだと思います。後は、肩の力を抜いてリラックスして今を生きること。

www.samuifever.com

www.invillaluxuries.com

Kansai ben 関西弁Kansai has its own colorful regional dialect. Each month we

look at a new set of phrases to get you mixing it with the locals.

Saying thank you:

おおきに (ookini)

おおきにすんません (ookini sunmasen)

えらいおおきに* (erai ookini)

*えらい: has three meanings in the Kansai dialect;

1) splendid, 2) tired and 3) very much.

おおきに: comes from おおきい+に “very much”. Often used by

the older generation and by local tradesmen.

For more lessons see: www.kansaiben.com

Kansai Scene is looking forfreelance writers, illustratorsand photographers.

Send samples of your work to:

[email protected]

• Any nationality but a good command of English essential• All work on a freelance basis • Japanese ability an advantage


Food & drink

ancient setting, modern pleasuresForget Times Square. For some unique new year celebrations, try Gion in Kyoto, which has been partying since the 7th century.Text: JJ O’ Donoghue

Gion, one of Japan’s original pleasure quarters, mixes the refined with the bawdy. Its narrow streets bustle with teahouses, cafés, gal-leries, theatres, restaurants, hostess clubs, shrines and temples. On any day, a visit to this compact area that straddles the Kamo River to the west and maruyama Park to the east will bring you shoulder-to-shoulder with students on school trips, tourists from around the world, and the occasional (authentic) Maiko and Geiko dashing daintily between appointments.Like the famous festival in July, New Year’s Eve in Gion is claustro-phobic, especially on the streets directly in front of Yasaka Shrine. The main thoroughfare is closed to traffic for a few hours around midnight. If you are coming to Gion during the break between December 29 to January 3, the best plan is to have no plan; in Gion it’s best to release the tourist in you. A wander along Hanamikoji or Shirakawa streets will be as close as you’ll get to classical Japan next to walking on to a movie set. But if wandering aimlessly isn’t for you, here are four destinations in Gion that offer a warm respite from the new year’s crowds.

Where to Hatsumode in gion

The first week of the new year in japan is all

about getting in the first visit to the shrine, called

hatsumode. In Gion, this tradition draws phenomenal

crowds that tend to converge on Yasaka Shrine.

But of course, yasaka isn’t the only shrine in Gion;

you can head for the much less crowded ebisu Shrine, where the god of good business resides. Or

at chionin, near Maruyama Park, where 17 monks

ring in the new year on japan’s heaviest bell. and

if you want to skip the shrine experience entirely,

venture down streets directly behind yasaka to find

Maruyama Park where you can celebrate the new year

with food, drink and music.

GionSHIJO-DORI

GIONKAIKAN

KYOTOGIONHOTEL

KYOTO MUSEUM OFCONTEMPORARY ART

MINAMIZATHEATRE

JOKO-IN

MARUI

YAM

ATOJ

I-DOR

I

KEIH

AN L

INEPO

NTOC

HO

HANA

MIK

OJI-D

ORI SHINBASHI-DORI

KIYA

MAC

HI-D

ORI

KAW

ARAM

ACHI

-DOR

I

HANKYU LINEOPA

GION

SHI

JOSA

NJO

KAWARAMACHI

FUGETSU

MATSUBA

CHOU-RAKUKAN

YASAKA JINJA MARUYAMA

PARK

EBISU SHRINE

CHION-IN

JAM

SHIRAKAWASHIRAKAWA-DORI

JamJam is the best of both worlds; a café and sake bar combined with a hostel, so when you’ve had your fill you can stumble up-stairs to slumber. The one-year-old venue is run by Michinori and Aiko Ikeda, and is a great spot to mix with Kyotoites, Jap-anese and foreign visitors. Ask the affable and knowledgeable Michinori to guide you through the extensive sake menu.

Address: Kyoto-shi, Tokiwacho 170,

Higashiyama 605-7009

Open: Mon-Fri from 5pm; weekends and

holidays from 2pm

www.jamhostel.com

21KanSai Scene magazine january 2013 kansaiscene.com

GionSHIJO-DORI

GIONKAIKAN

KYOTOGIONHOTEL

KYOTO MUSEUM OFCONTEMPORARY ART

MINAMIZATHEATRE

JOKO-IN

MARUI

YAM

ATOJ

I-DOR

I

KEIH

AN L

INEPO

NTOC

HO

HANA

MIK

OJI-D

ORI SHINBASHI-DORI

KIYA

MAC

HI-D

ORI

KAW

ARAM

ACHI

-DOR

I

HANKYU LINEOPA

GION

SHI

JOSA

NJO

KAWARAMACHI

FUGETSU

MATSUBA

CHOU-RAKUKAN

YASAKA JINJA MARUYAMA

PARK

EBISU SHRINE

CHION-IN

JAM

SHIRAKAWASHIRAKAWA-DORI

chourakukan 長楽館Chouraukan literally means an establish-ment where you can unwind at length. The building dates back over a hundred years and looks more like it belongs in Victorian Britain than Maruyama Park. It serves reassuringly expensive teas, coffees and lunches. This is a place to pamper yourself or impress your date.

Address: Kyoto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Yasaka

Torii-mae Higashi-iru, Maruyama-cho 604.

Open: 10am–10pm; afternoon tea 1pm–5pm

daily.

matsuba 松葉As much an institution as the kabuki theater next door, Matsuba has been dishing up noodles since 1861. Occupy-ing four floors on the corner of Shijo Av-enue with views of Gion and the Kamo River, Matsuba does the best nishin soba (pickled herring) in town.

Address: Kyoto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Shijo

ohashi, Higashi-iru Kawabata cho 192

Open: Every day from 10:30am except Tues

(open New Year’s Day)

Fugetsu 冨月From the outside, Fugetsu is just another beautifully appointed ochaya or tea-house; step inside and it’s like entering a friend’s house. Head for the communal back room with a view of the interior garden where you can lounge for hours over tea, coffee, and Japanese and west-ern deserts. Be sure to leave a message in the guest book; they have a collection of more than 50.

Address: Kyoto-shi, Higashiyama, Gion-cho,

Minamigawa Yasakacho, 570-8

Open: 11am–5pm and 7–11pm. Closed

Sundays


Food and drink

The perfect anti-excess menuShooting for a healthy new year doesn’t mean you have to give up delicious food. Consider eating macrobiotic at Trois Dix. Text: Carla Avolio images: KS

Ah, January. A time when our bodies are reeling from a conga line of end-of-year parties that all seemed to involve insane quantities of meat, sweets and beer (and why did we think it would be wise to finish things off with a round of absinthe shots?). If you’ve just indulged in too much Christmas food and New Year’s Eve booze, you’re probably in need of a detox. Enter Trois Dix, a macrobiotic restaurant with a philoso-phy of serving seasonal food in its most natural state. And in a city where salty, greasy b-kyu food rules, this restaurant is proving to be a winner with the health conscious. “The place is very popular with ladies, who come with their children or girl-friends for a delicious and nutritious meal,” says owner Hayashi, who left the hotel and event industry to open

Trois Dix in 2011. The 54-seater restaurant,

which has an industrial-chic interior feel, has a trained Italian chef at its helm so the food doesn’t compromise on taste. Hayashi hopes this winning combination will put macrobiotic food on the local radar. “Unlike in Tokyo, where macrobiotic restaurants are pop-ular, Trois Dix is one of the few places in Osaka that serves this type of food,” he says. “It’s my dream to introduce this city to the amazing taste and benefits of macrobiotic eating.”

Based on a belief in balancing the qualities of food, a macrobiotic diet is built around whole grains, in particular brown rice, as well as vegetables, pickles and legumes. Processed foods and most animal products are avoided, and sea-soning is used with restraint. At Trois Dix, this philosophy translates into a menu that reinvents the classics with a twist: wholewheat pizza can be ordered with tofu cheese instead of mozzarella, and the omurice is served with brown rice in a wrapping of yuba tofu instead of egg. But despite the restaurant’s focus

on the plant kingdom, Trois Dix also caters for meat-lovers,

with dishes of seafood, fowl, pork and beef.

Interestingly, there’s also a selection of imitation meat dishes including tofu Bolognese pasta, and a fillet of “fish” made of barnyard millet and mountain potato. These golden, crumbed slabs won’t trick anybody into believing they’re actually consuming fish, but the dish is still a darn tasty way of adding whole grains and root vegetables to the diet.

The limited use of animal products means that vegans can also rejoice, especially in the dessert section. The homemade egg- and dairy-free cakes are divine, and the considered (read: dainty) portions will leave you feeling satisfied yet refreshingly guilt-free. So keep the instant ramen in the cupboard and try a macrobiotic meal. Your body, and taste buds, will thank you.

Trois Dix•Where: Osaka, nishi-ku, Kitahorie

1-22-4

•Open: Lunch 11:30am-5pm; Cafe

time 11:30am-midnight; Dinner

5:30pm-midnight; Closed on

Wednesday

•Tel: 06-6648 8336


This month in Kansai

011EVENT

World Snake Fair, Osaka Details p.26

2CLUB

emeralda Tablet @ compufunk Records backroom Details p.34

3ART

The Treasure of edo Painting - Rimpa and Jakuchu Details p.30

4FESTIVAL

Kemari Hajime, KyotoDetails p.18

5CLASSICAL

Kirov ballet performs Tchaikovsky ballets (Swan Lake)Details p.39

6EVENT

The Himeji Fire brigade new Year ceremonyDetails p.6

7eVenT

Hatsumode at The Osaka museum of Housing & LivingDetails p.26

8ART

commemorating 800 Years of Hojoki (an account of my Hut)Details p.31

9LIVE MUSIC

Sparks @ club Quattro, OsakaDetails p.32

10FESTIVAL

Toka ebisuDetails p.18

11EVENT

Tetsudo mokei Festival, WakayamaDetails p.26

12FESTIVAL Katsube Hi-matsuri Details p.18

13EVENT gafu-Ten exhibition Details p.27

14LIVE MUSIC

gran Rodeo @ zepp, OsakaDetails p.32

15ART

Hirokazu Hashimoto: 4 1/2Details p.31

16CLUB

Future Soul @ circus, OsakaDetails p.34

17EVENT

midosuji Talkin’ about, OsakaDetails p.26

18CLASSICAL

Lang Lang piano recitalDetails p.29

19LIVE MUSIC

Lisa Loeb @ billboard Live, OsakaDetails p.32

20CLUB

nWS Presents 80 Kidz Sunset @ Owl Osaka Details p.34

21ART

Pilot Plant exhibition - Japanese identityDetails p.31

22LIVE MUSIC

Yuzu @ Osaka Jo HallDetails p.32

23FESTIVAL

Konin-e Sasazake matsuri Details p.18

24ART

Ferdi Trihadi and andrzej zamoyski: Hungry Oni Details p.30

25ART

Tsuneo Tachibana exhibitionDetails p.31

26EVENT

inoshishi boar matsuri, HyogoDetails p.27

27EVENT

The Osaka international Women’s marathon, OsakaDetails p.27

28LIVE MUSIC

Patti Smith @ namba Hatch, Osaka Details p.33

29ART

The essence of Finnish Design and cultureDetails p.31

30LIVE MUSIC

gotye @ big cat, OsakaDetails p.33

31EVENT

Orchid exhibition 2013, HyogoDetails p.27


This month in Kansai

011EVENT

World Snake Fair, Osaka Details p.26

2CLUB

emeralda Tablet @ compufunk Records backroom Details p.34

3ART

The Treasure of edo Painting - Rimpa and Jakuchu Details p.30

4FESTIVAL

Kemari Hajime, KyotoDetails p.18

5CLASSICAL

Kirov ballet performs Tchaikovsky ballets (Swan Lake)Details p.39

6EVENT

The Himeji Fire brigade new Year ceremonyDetails p.6

7eVenT

Hatsumode at The Osaka museum of Housing & LivingDetails p.26

8ART

commemorating 800 Years of Hojoki (an account of my Hut)Details p.31

9LIVE MUSIC

Sparks @ club Quattro, OsakaDetails p.32

10FESTIVAL

Toka ebisuDetails p.18

11EVENT

Tetsudo mokei Festival, WakayamaDetails p.26

12FESTIVAL Katsube Hi-matsuri Details p.18

13EVENT gafu-Ten exhibition Details p.27

14LIVE MUSIC

gran Rodeo @ zepp, OsakaDetails p.32

15ART

Hirokazu Hashimoto: 4 1/2Details p.31

16CLUB

Future Soul @ circus, OsakaDetails p.34

17EVENT

midosuji Talkin’ about, OsakaDetails p.26

18CLASSICAL

Lang Lang piano recitalDetails p.29

19LIVE MUSIC

Lisa Loeb @ billboard Live, OsakaDetails p.32

20CLUB

nWS Presents 80 Kidz Sunset @ Owl Osaka Details p.34

21ART

Pilot Plant exhibition - Japanese identityDetails p.31

22LIVE MUSIC

Yuzu @ Osaka Jo HallDetails p.32

23FESTIVAL

Konin-e Sasazake matsuri Details p.18

24ART

Ferdi Trihadi and andrzej zamoyski: Hungry Oni Details p.30

25ART

Tsuneo Tachibana exhibitionDetails p.31

26EVENT

inoshishi boar matsuri, HyogoDetails p.27

27EVENT

The Osaka international Women’s marathon, OsakaDetails p.27

28LIVE MUSIC

Patti Smith @ namba Hatch, Osaka Details p.33

29ART

The essence of Finnish Design and cultureDetails p.31

30LIVE MUSIC

gotye @ big cat, OsakaDetails p.33

31EVENT

Orchid exhibition 2013, HyogoDetails p.27


World Snake Fair, OsakaUntil Jan 14This is a great opportunity for snake lovers. A large variety of snakes from home and abroad will be on display. As 2013 is the year of the snake, there’s never been a better time to learn about these reptiles.Time: 10am–5pm • Admission: ¥1,000 adults, concessions • Where: Osaka Business Park Enkei Hall • Access: JR Loop line Kyobashi stn/ Osakajokoen stn; 5min walk/Subway Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi line Osaka Business Park stn • Tel: 06-6947-1912

Tetsudo mokei Festival, WakayamaUntil Jan 20 For all train enthusiasts, this is a golden opportunity to see some model train railways. See N-gauge models of bullet trains, and manipulate HO-gauge models. Train models and collector’s items will be available to purchase.

Time: 10am–5pm (Closed Jan 8 & 15) • Admission: ¥500 (separate entry fee to Wakayama Marina City Porto Europe needed) • Where: Wakayama Marina City Porto Europe • Access: JR Wakayama stn/ Nankai Railway Wakayamashi stn bus to Wakayama Marina City• Tel: 0570-064-358• www.marinacity.com/eng/

Hatsumode at The Osaka museum of Housing & Living, OsakaJan 3–7 Come and join Japanese traditional games in a town modelled on the olden days. Refreshments (a warm drink made with rice called amazake) will be served to the first 200 visitors on Jan 3.Time: 10am–5pm • Admission: ¥600 adults, concessions • Where: The Osaka Museum of Housing & Living • Access: Subway Tanimachi line/ Sakaisuji line Tenjinbashisuji6-chome stn • Tel: 06-6242-1170

Sakagura-biraki, KyotoJan 13 FRee

Spend the day enjoying the very best of Japanese sake in Fushimi, a traditional sake brewer district. Sample the delightful new sake and try dumplings and soup cooked with sake. Kyoto vegetables will also be on sale.Time: 11am–3pm • Admission: free • Where: Fushimi Meishu Kyodokumiai • Access: Keihan Railway Fushimi Momoyama stn, 5min walk • Tel: 075-612-6006

nengajo–Ten exhibition, naraJan 16–Feb 17Come and see beautiful nengajo New Year’s cards filled with pictures and calligraphy. Enjoy browsing 300 cards collected from all over the country – every one of them is unique. Time: 10am–5pm • Admission: ¥300 adults, concessions • Where: Inukai Manyo Kinen-kan • Access: Kintetsu Railway Kashiharajingu-mae stn, bus to Okadera • Tel:0744-54-9300

midosuji Talkin’ about, OsakaJan 17 FRee

Network and exchange information with new people at this international cultural salon, Midosuji Talkin’ About. This month’s speaker is improvisational artist Jerry Gordon, who makes people more aware of their own hearing experience and the sounds of Osaka.Time: 7–9pm • Admission: free• Where: Osaka Gas Building• Access: Subway Midosuji line Yodoyabashi stn exit 13, 3min walk • Tel: 06-6205-4545 (English / Japanese) • www.facebook.com/MidosujiTalkinAbout

chikusa Kogen Snow Festival, HyogoJan 18 FRee

Here’s a place where all the family can frolic in the snow. Take part in a snowman contest and an eating competition. Children can join sleigh races too.

Events

The Himeji Fire brigade new Year ceremonyJan 6 FRee

Shirotopia Kinen Park, Hyogo

This is an annual ceremony called dezome-shiki, where the emergency services parade and demonstrate rescue drills. Come and give the Himeji municipal firefighting team a round of applause for their majestic performances. Keep a lookout for firefighters in traditional uniform. Their acrobatic stunts and balancing on high bamboo ladders are a must-see. There will also be a thrilling rescue drill from a tower block and live fire displays. Enjoy a breathtaking water hosing show and a remarkable parade of fire engines.

Time: 9:30am–noon (performances will be cancelled if it rains)

• Admission: free • Access: JR Kobe line Himeji stn, 20min walk

• Tel: 079-223-9503

Jan 6

event Listings


Hoe-Kago gyoretsu Parade Jan 10 FRee

Soemon-Cho, Osaka

Things really heat up in this traditional festival as brightly-decorated palanquins, called hoe-kago, parade through the streets to Imamiya Ebisu-jinja shrine. Look out for national celebrities, gorgeous geisha and puppets from bunraku theatre inside these hoe-kago. With bearers cheering loudly, the dazzling parade starts at Tonbori Riverwalk and troupes through the commercial districts of Minami. Don’t miss the hoe-kago, illuminated romantically with paper lanterns, moving along the Dotonbori River in the evening. With constant applause and vigorous chanting, along with lots of ladies wearing beautiful kimono in the streets, the town will be full of festive atmosphere all day.

Time: 10am (plan is subject to change if needed) • Admission:

free • Access: Subway Midosuji/Sennichimae/Yotsubashi/Nankai

Railway/ Kintetsu Railway Namba stn • Tel: 06-6214-5925

event Listings

Time: 10am–3pm • Admission: free • Where Chikusa Kogen Ski-jo Ski Resort • Access: one hour drive from Yamazaki IC on Chugoku Expressway • Tel: 0790-76-3555• Fax: 0790-76-3399 • www.chikusakogen.com

Orchid exhibition 2013, HyogoJan 19–Mar 10With a riot of colour and heady fragrance, this orchid exhibition is an exotic feast for your senses. Enjoy orchids displayed as seen in nature, and in the way of the samurai period.Time: 10am–6pm Admission: ¥1,200 adults, concessions • Where: Awaji Yumebutai Kiseki no Hoshi Greenhouse • Access: JR Kobe line Maiko stn bus (intercity bus) to Awaji Yumebutai-mae • Tel: 0799-74-1200• www.kisekinohoshi.jp

Rokko ice Sculpture Festival, HyogoJan 24–29

Get ready for stunning artworks of ice sculptures at the Kori no Saiten. See giant ice works and be enchanted by shining, illuminated sculptures in the evening. There will be a giant ice slide for children, a workshop and booths for gourmets.Time: 10am–9pm (3–9pm on Jan 24) • Admission: ¥500 adults, concessions • Where: Rokko Garden Terrace • Access: Rokko Maya Railway Rokko Cable line Rokkosanjo stn bus to Rokko Garden Terrace • Tel: 078-894-2090

inoshishi boar matsuri, HyogoJan 26 FRee

Spend the day enjoying the very best of Tanba Sasayama’s local food: boar meat! Try mouth-watering boar steaks, stews and even hamburgers at this family event. Enjoy hilarious but exciting uribo baby boar races!Time: 10am–3:30pm • Admission: free • Where: Sasayama Castle Park • Access: JR Fukuchiyama line Sasayamaguchi stn bus to Nikaimachi; 5min walk

• Tel: 079-552-0758

boro no Shibayaki (Field burning), WakayamaJan 26Witness this dramatic field-burning festival. The spectacle started originally as an agricultural activity. Be excited as flaming arrows ignite the grassland and enjoy various performances and tasty local dishes.Time: 4:30pm–6:30pm • Admission: free • Where: Shionomisaki Boro no Shibafu in Kushimoto-cho • Access: JR Kinokuni line Kushimoto stn bus to Tower-mae • Tel: 0735-62-3171

The Osaka international Women’s marathon, OsakaJan 27 FRee

Top runners from home and abroad will race to qualify for the World Championships in Moscow. The runners will start at Nagai stadium, pass through Osaka Castle Park, run past Osaka Municipal Hall and Midosuji Street, and then

back through the park to finish at the stadium.Time: 12:10pm • Admission: free• Where: Nagai Stadium • Access: For Nagai Stadium, Subway Midosuji line Nagai stn• Tel: 06-6633-9632

makino Winter Festival, ShigaFeb 2 FRee

Make the most of the season at Makino Winter Festival, held in a hillside park blanketed with snow. Various activities are planned for children, including music shows, TV characters’ performances, a snowman contest and much more.Time: 10am–4pm • Admission: most events are free • Where: Makino Highland • Access: JR Kosei line Makino stn bus to Makino Kogen Onsen Sarasa-mae• Tel: 0740-27-0936 • Email: [email protected]

gafu-Ten exhibitionJan 10–13

Miyako Messe, Kyoto

A large display of the fascinating art of Bonsai will be held at the grand venue of Miyako Messe. Appreciate fantastic artworks of miniature trees that are no taller than 20 centi-metres. Be amazed by a demonstration of how bonsai trees are shaped by an expert. There will also be seminars on how to create an exhibition-quality bonsai. Workshops, a question and answer corner, and shops selling bonsai items and pot trees are also planned. In addition, an exhibition of beautiful kimono called kyo yuzen will take place alongside this event.

Time: 9:30am–4:30pm (9:30am–3pm on the 13th)

• Admission: ¥800 adults, concessions • Access: Subway Tozai

line Higashiyama stn; 8min walk/Keihan Railway Sanjo stn bus to

Kyotokaikan Bijutsukan-mae • Tel: 072-754-0481

Jan 10 Jan 10–13


Katsube Hi-matsuri Katsube Jinja, Shiga FRee

Brave the winter cold to catch one of the biggest religious events in Shiga. The Katsube Hi-Matsuri has been designated a significant intangible folk cultural asset. This annual festival has its roots in a local legend telling how a thousand-year old evil serpent caused an emperor to become seriously ill. After being discovered by a wizard, the serpent was killed and thrown into a fire, which led to the emperor’s recovery. Although the snake doesn’t make an appearance at the festi-val, the fire is represented by 12 blazing torches and a roaring fire, beside which scantily-clad local men will perform a mad dance.

Time: 7:30pm (fires are set alight) • Admission: free • Access: JR

Biwako line Moriyama, 5min walk • Tel: 077-583-4085

Kemari Hajime, KyotoJan 4 FRee

Fancy seeing how the Japanese royal family once spent their free time? Head to one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto to see a re-enactment of a ball game popular in the Imperial Court during the Heian period. Enjoy the sight of kemari players, wearing bright kimono, gracefully kicking and passing the ball in this elegant game.Time: 1:30pm–3pm • Admission: free• Where: Shimogamo-jinja • Access: Subway Karasuma line Kitaoji stn bus to Shimogamojinja-mae/Keihan Railway Demachiyanagi stn, 10min walk •Tel: 075-781-0010

Toka ebisu, OsakaJan 9–11 FRee

Over these three days, a staggering one million people descend on Imamiya Ebisu-jinja to receive good luck for the year. Buying lucky bamboo branches and ritual goods, visitors pray for their prosperity to Ebisu, the god of business.Time: all day • Admission: free• Where: Imamiya Ebisu-jinja• Access: Nankai Railway Imamiya Ebisu stn/Subway Midosuji line Daikoku-cho stn exit 3, 5min walk• Tel: 06-6643-0150

Onda matsuri, WakayamaJan 13 FRee

Enjoy a performance of classical Japanese comedy, held to ensure a bumper harvest in the coming months. The play, depicting ancient

farming, is easy to follow and will have you in stitches.Time: 2pm–3pm • Admission: free• Where: Niutsuhime-jinja • Access: JR Wakayama line Kasada stn bus to Niutsuhimejinja-mae• Tel: 0736-26-0102

Tsunahiki Shinji – Tug of War Ritual, OsakaJan 20 FRee

Head to Namba’s Yasaka-jinja to see a historical clash of the titans. This annual event is based on a Japanese myth about a god, Susano, defeating an eight-headed serpent. See locals weaving straw into a rope, which represents the serpent, and then battling it out in a tug-of-war.Time: 8am (11am tug-of-war)

• Admission: free • Where Namba Yasaka-jinja • Access: Subway Yotsubashi line Namba stn• Tel: 06-6641-1149

Konin-e Sasazake matsuri, naraJan 23Drink to your health at Daianji Temple in Nara, where ceremonial sake will be served from a heated bamboo container. This rice-based wine is said to have kept Emperor Konin healthy during his 8th century reign, and is today considered to have anti-cancerous properties.Time: 8am–4pm • Admission: ¥500 • Where: Daianji Temple • Access: JR/Kintesu Railway Nara stn bus to Daianji •Tel: 0742-61-6312 • Tel: 075-561-6155

Festival Listings

Wakakusayama-yaki Mt. Wakakusa in Nara Park, Nara FRee

You can’t miss this magnificent spectacle in which 33 hec-tares of grassland will become a sea of flames. After a spec-tacular display of fireworks, you’ll see Mt Wakakusa burning bright red against the night sky. Although this annual activity can be traced back to the 18th century, its true origin is still unknown. Some say it started when villagers would set the mountain on fire to scare away ghosts. Nowadays, thousands of people come to enjoy this spectacular fire event, which sees Nara Park bustling with live performances and a variety of stalls.

Time: 6pm • Admission: free • Access: JR/Kintetsu Railway Nara

stn bus to Daibutsuden Kasugataisha-mae, 20min walk

• Tel: 0742-27-8677

Jan 12 Jan 26

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Classical music

classical musingsText: Michael Vezzuto

Happy New Year, fans of classical music! While all the big halls in the Kansai area feature the usual Viennese waltz programs, there are considerably fewer of these this year. But, you can look forward to some creative programming in 2013.

Hyogo Performing arts center starts the year in grand style with the Kirov ballet and the national Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine performing two Tchaikovsky Ballets on successive afternoons: Swan Lake on January 5, and The Sleeping Beauty on January 6. Now, if you’re looking at that second title and thinking, “Ah! I’d love to see this rarely performed masterwork,” plenty of concertgoers had this thought before you: there are at press time (the beginning of December) fewer than 50 seats left. However, there are plenty of tickets still available for the oft-programmed Swan Lake, all in the higher price range. If you’ve never seen Swan Lake, this is one of the better opportunities you’ll have.

If you’re looking for something on a smaller scale, The Phoenix Hall holds its New Year’s concert on January 10. Titled Roman Spring Story, it features the Quartetto avos (a piano quartet formed at the St. Cecilia Academy featuring pianist and director Mario Montore, violinist Mirei Yamada, violist Diana Bonatesta, and cellist Luca Magariello) in instrumental chamber performances and accompanying so-prano Rosaria Buscemi and tenor Alessandro D’Acrissa. The program features the obligatory Radetzky March and Voices of Spring waltzes by members of the Vienna Strauss family, then goes Italian with the Ave Maria from Verdi’s Otello and fantasias on tunes from Verdi’s La Traviata and Puccini’s Tosca. Though little-known outside of Italy, these performers have big talent, and the program they’ve put together sounds like fun. There’s also wine service! A hall this small can easily

sell out (in fact, seats on the first floor are already gone), so act fast if this sounds like your kind of evening.

Chinese “superpianist” (that’s what it says on the poster!) Lang Lang appears at The Symphony Hall on January 18 (he’s also at Hyogo Performing Arts a few days later, but that’s already close to being sold out). Lang Lang is a phenomenon and one of the world’s most famous pianists, having been seen by over 5 billion viewers when he appeared in the over-whelming opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Part Rubinstein, part Liberace, Lang Lang knows how to entertain as well as inspire. The program on offer here consists of three Mozart sonatas (K. 283, 282, and 310: rather unusual choices for such a flamboyant performer) and the four Chopin Ballades (what we expect from him). Admired and despised in equal measure, a performance by Lang Lang is guaranteed to stir the emotions.

Finally, I’d like to look ahead to the beginning of Febru-ary and recommend a concert of music by contemporary Osaka-born composer akira nishimura, who turns 60 later this year. The concert is held on February 2 at izumi Hall and features four works performed by the izumi Sinfonietta conducted by Norichika Iimori.

The works in question are: KO (“Light”) for orchestra, Chamber Symphony No. 3 Metamorphosis, Concerto for clarinet and strings Bardo I (featuring Karl Leister as the soloist), and Chamber Symphony No. 4 Voice of Silence. Nishimura’s music uses a tonal idiom (i.e. it doesn’t sound like Schoenberg) and aggressive rhythm punctuated by haunting interludes, at least in the Chamber Symphonies. It was enough to make me want to hear more, so please join me and increase your awareness of what’s happening today in Japanese classical music.

Jan 5 (Swan Lake), Jan 6 (The Sleeping beauty)

Kirov ballet performs Tchaikovsky balletsHyogo Performing Arts Center Dai HallTime: 3pm• Admission: A = ¥12,000, B = ¥10,000, C = ¥8,000• Tel: 0798-68-0255• Access: Hankyu Nishinomiya-kitaguchi www1.gcenter-hyogo.jp

Jan 10

“Roman Spring Story” new Year’s concertThe Phoenix HallTime: 7pm• Admission: S/1F = sold out, A/2F = ¥5,000• Tel: 0570-00-8255• Access: 9min walk from JR Umeda Station. There’s a map on their website.http://phoenixhall.jp/calender/2013/1#con10

Jan 18

Lang Lang piano recitalThe Symphony Hall, OsakaTime: 7pm• Admission: A = ¥12,000, B = ¥10,000, C = ¥8,000,D = ¥6,000• Tel: 06-6453-5000• Access: JR loop line Fukushima Station or Oyodo-minami-1-chome bus stophttp://asahi.co.jp/symphony

Feb 2

music by akira nishimuraIzumi HallTime: 4pm• Admission: ¥5,000• Tel: 06-6944-1188• Access: Keihan Kyobashi Station, JR loop line Osakajo-Koen station, subway Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokichi line Osaka Business Park station exit 1www.izumihall.co.jp

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ArtThe Treasure of edo Painting – Rimpa and JakuchuKYOTO Hosomi Museum

If one were to talk about the his-tory of Japanese painting, it would be hard to leave out the presence of Ito Jakuchu. He was part of Rimpa, a school of Japanese painting that was established in Kyoto during the 17th century. Other artists associated with this school include Tawaraya Sotatsu, notable for his Fujin and Raijin (Wind God and Thunder God) screens. Jaku-chu was born to a family of wholesale grocers, and grew up working in the family business at Nishiki Market. At the age of 40, he left the store to his younger brother and spent the rest of his life as a painter. His paintings, filled with energy and strong sensibility, shocked many other painters during the period. He was especially fond of roosters and has left many paintings depicting them. While his vibrant

colored paintings such as the Doshoku Saie (Painting of Animals and Plants) are renowned, Jakuchu also created paintings using solely black ink, which will be on display in this exhibition. Commemorating the 15th anniversary since Hosomi Museum's opening, this special exhibition will allow viewers to immerse themselves in the world of Jakuchu. Please note that during the exhibition period, the items on display will be changed once.

Paintings • Open: 10am–6pm; closed

Jan 15 and every Mon (except Jan 14)

• Admission: ¥1,000, ¥800 students •

Access: Subway Higashiyama stn • www.

emuseum.or.jp

Kyoto

Ferdi Trihadi and andrzej zamoyski: Hungry Oni3F project room • Jan 24–29 • Video Games FRee

Open: 1pm–7:30pm; closed on Wed• Admission: Free • Access: Subway Shiyakushomae stn, Subway Karasuma Oike stn • www.3-gai.com

Hiroshi naito: 18800 pieces 2012.6.13Entrance Lounge, Kyoto university of Art and Design • Jan 6–14 • Installation FRee

Open: 9am–5pm • Admission: Free• Access: Eizan Chayama stn• www.kuad-entrance.com

Soluble Fish: The Reality of continuity (Part 1)Gallery Fleur • Jan 10–26 • Various Media FRee

Open: 10:30am–6:30pm; closed on Sun and holidays • Reception: Jan 12, 3–4:30pm • Admission: Free• Access: Eizan Kyoto Seikadaimae• www.kyoto-seika.ac.jp/fleur

Soluble Fish: The Reality of continuity (Part 2)Gallery PARC • Jan 10–20• Various Media FRee

Open: 11am–7pm (until 6pm on Jan 20); closed on Mon • Reception: Jan 12, 5:30–7pm • Admission: Free• Access: Keihan Sanjo stn• www.galleryparc.com

cRia exhibitionKyoto Art Center • Jan 9–29 • Various media FRee

Open: 10am–8pm • Admission: Free• Access: Subway Shijo stn, Hankyu Karasuma stn • www.kac.or.jp

Suda Kunitaro exhibitionKyoto Municipal Museum of Art• Until Feb 3 • PaintingsOpen: 9am–5pm; closed until Jan 2, and every Mon (except Jan 14)• Admission: ¥1,000, ¥800 university and high school students, ¥500 junior high and elementary school students • Access: Tozai Line Higashiyama stn • www.city.kyoto.jp/bunshi/kmma

The national Treasure Twelve Devas and the World of esoteric buddhist RitualsKyoto National Museum • Jan 8–Feb 11 • Various MediaOpen: 9:30am–6pm (until 8pm on Fri); closed on Jan 15 and every Mon (except Jan 14 and Feb 11)

• Admission: ¥1,000, ¥700 university and high school students (Admission included for Hojoki Exhibition)• Access: Keihan Shichijo Stn or bus from JR Kyoto Stn• www.kyohaku.go.jp

Yuki Kimura: interior 6L01–107TTaka Ishii Gallery Kyoto • Jan 8–19 • InstallationOpen: 11am–7pm; closed on Sun, Mon and holidays • Admission: Free• Access: Subway Gojo stn• www.takaishiigallery.com/en

Osaka

Pilot Plant exhibition – Japanese identityCAS • Jan 12–Feb 2 • Various media FRee

Open: 2pm–7pm; closed on Wed and Thu • Admission: Free • Access: Namba stn • www.cas.or.jp

art Listings

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Hirokazu Hashimoto: 4½OSAKA Nadar/Osaka FRee

4½ is a photographic series about a group of people who live in a 4½ tatami mat space in the backstreets of Osaka. The photographs capture the people who come and go in this house, which functions as a hub for people who enjoy socializing and living the present at its fullest. The house was built a hundred years ago, and inside is a small tea table and a naked light hanging from the ceiling. It is like a mysterious place hidden in the urban forest. As people come and go, there are those who will meet again and those who won’t. As time passes, the photographs document what happens. The exhibition title refers to a quote from Federico Fellini's movie 8½: "Life is a party. Let's live it together."

For more information, visit Nadar’s website.

Photography • Open: 11am–7pm; closed on Mon • Admission:

Free • Access: Subway Shinsaibashi stn • http://nadar.jp/osaka

• Storytelling by Kodomo Kyojin Jan 11, 12, 13

• The Night at the Yojo-han (Four and Half Tatami Mats) Jan 19

art ListingsHiromi Kakimoto + mai Kondo + Rina Komatsu exhibitionCASO • Jan 15–27 • Photography FRee

Open: 11am–7pm (until 5pm on Jan 27); closed on Mon • Admission: Free • Access: Subway Osakako stn• www.caso-gallery.jp

type trip to Osaka Typographics ti:#270 ddd Gallery • Jan 18–Mar 2 • TypographyOpen: 11am–7pm (until 6pm on Sat); closed on Sun, Mon and holidays• Admission: Free • Access: Subway Namba Stn/Shinsaibashi stn• www.dnp.co.jp/gallery/ddd

Taihei Sugiyama exhibition Gallery Haku • Jan 14–26 • Ceramics FRee

Open: 11am–7pm (until 5pm on Sat); closed on Sun • Admission: Free• Access: Subway Minamimorimachi stn • http://galleryhaku.com

Ryuzo Satake exhibitionYOD Gallery • Jan 19–Feb 9 • Paintings FRee

Open: 12pm–7pm; closed on Sun and Mon • Admission: Free • Access: JR Kita Shinchi Stn/Subway Umeda stn • www.yodgallery.com

Hyogo

collection: Through the Other SideItami City Museum of Art • Jan 12–Mar 3 • Various MediaOpen: 10am–6pm; closed Jan 15, Feb 12 and every Mon (except Jan 14 and Feb 11) • Admission: ¥500, ¥250 university and high school students, ¥100 junior high and elementary school students• Access: JR/Hankyu Itami stn• www.artmuseum-itami.jp

beauty and Techniques of modern ceramic masters -KenkichiThe Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo • Until Feb 24 • CeramicsOpen: 10am–6pm; closed until Jan 2 and closed on Jan 15, Feb 12, and every Mon (except Jan 14 and Feb 11) • Admission: ¥600, ¥500 university students, ¥300 high school students (Admission included for the Kayoi Tokkuri exhibition) • Access: Hyogo Togei Bijutsu Kan bus stop from JR Fukuchiyama Line Aino Stn • www.mcart.jp

inaugural exhibition 1 Yokoo Tadanori: Han-Han-PUKU-PUKU-Han-PUKUYokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art • Until Feb 17 • PaintingsOpen: 10am–6pm (-8pm on Fri, Sat); closed Jan 1, Jan 15, Feb 12

and every Mon (except Jan 14 and Feb 11) • Admission: ¥800, ¥600 university students, ¥400 high school students, age 65 and over• Access: Hankyu Oji-koen stn, JR Nada stn • www.ytmoca.jp

Shiga

KichizaemonX: Sound of Darkness, Light of SilenceSagawa Art Museum • Until Apr 7 • Ceramics, Sound and Video InstallationOpen: 9:30am–5pm; closed on Mon (except holidays) and days after the holidays • Admission: ¥800, ¥500 concessions • Access: Sagawa Art Museum bus stop from Katata stn on JR Kosei Line • www.sagawa-artmuseum.or.jp

Jan 10–mar 10

The essence of Finnish Design and cultureHYOGO Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art

Without limitations of age, or gender, Finnish design has drawn a lot of attention internationally since the early 1950s and has had a significant impact on the global design scene. This exhibition consists of about 350 artworks spanning the various fields of painting, literature, architecture and craft. It includes the products of designers and brands that heralded the golden age of modern design. The popular Moomin series is also highlighted, as a symbol of natural Finnish lifestyle. Characters from the world-famous story created by Tove Jansson will help explore keywords of Finnish lifestyle and design. In addition, the exhibition will introduce the national romanticism movement and artworks of other artists from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, such as painters Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Pekka Halonen, architect Eliel Saarinen and many more.

Open: 10am–6pm (until 8pm on Friday and Saturday); closed Jan

15, Feb 12 and every Monday (except Jan 14 and Feb 11)

• Admission: ¥1,300, ¥900 university students, ¥650 high school

students/age 65 and older • Access: Hanshin Iwaya Stn, JR Nada

stn • www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp/eng • www.finland-design.com

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


Tristan PrettymanYou can’t go far wrong if you’re being compared to the likes of Jack Johnson, which was the acclaim laid on Tristan Prettyman’s debut album Twentythree released in 2005.

The second album Hello…x released in 2008 was a long time coming, but became a success from the word go debuting at 27 on the US charts.

Her latest album Cedar+Gold was released in October of last year and peaked at 47 on the Billboard charts. Receiving a good reception from the music press, critics have said that Pret-tyman “sings with an apparent honesty that is liberating,” as well as suggesting that the album “moves away from the surfer girl aesthetic of her previous records and moves into darker, more mature territory.”

Californian Acoustic singer-songwriter

• Club Quattro, Osaka • 7:30pm

• ¥6,300 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Jan 30 Feb 2Jan 28

Jan 9

SparksClub Quattro, OsakaPop • 7pm • ¥6,500• Tel: 06-6535-5569

Jan 14

gran RodeoZepp, OsakaRock • 6pm • ¥6,300• Tel: 06-7732-8888

Jan 15

The VaccinesClub Quattro, OsakaIndie • 7:30pm • ¥5,800• Tel: 06-6311-8111

Jan 18

beach House & Dustin WongClub Quattro, OsakaPop • 7pm • ¥5,500• Tel: 06-6535-55691

Jan 19

Lisa LoebBillboard Live Osaka, OsakaPop • 4:30pm/7:30pm• ¥6,900/¥8,400 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

XYz→aShangri-La, OsakaMetal • 6pm • ¥4,500• Tel: 06-6341-3525

SeamoNamba Hatch, Osaka

Pop/Hip-Hop • 5pm • ¥5,250• Tel: 06-6341-3525

Jan 19–20

DeenZepp, OsakaPop • 6pm • ¥6,300• Tel: 06-6357-4400

Jan 20

Saint etienneBillboard Live Osaka, OsakaPop • 4:30pm/7:30pm• ¥5,000/¥6,500 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Jan 21

akio Yokota (Fried Pride)Mister Kellys, Osaka

Guitar • 7:30pm/9:15pm• ¥4,500/¥5,000 • Tel: 06-6342-5821

Jan 19–20 & 22

YuzuOsaka Jo Hall, OsakaPop Duo • 19th & 20th-4pm/22nd-6:30pm • ¥6,500/¥9,450• Tel: 06-7732-8888

Jan 23

DresscodesTaku Taku, KyotoRock • 7pm • ¥3,150/¥3,675• Tel: 075-351-1321

Jan 26

HilcrhymeChicken George, Kobe

Patti SmithIt’s pretty amazing to think that Patti Smith, the singer-songwriter, artist and poet, has been active on the music scene for over 40 years.

A pioneer of the New York City punk rock movement of the ‘70s, Smith made her debut album Horses in 1975. With a fusion of rock and poetry, the ‘Godmother of Punk’ (as some have la-belled her) was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

In recent times she has focused her creative energies into photography and last year saw the first museum exhibi-tion in the US of her work. Musically she also released the album Banga last summer, which was well received by critics, with one saying it “spits lyrics with the grace and determination of Mohammad Ali in his prime.”

New York City punk rock pioneer • Namba

Hatch, Osaka • Rock-pop • 7:30pm ·

¥7,000 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

gotyeWouter “Wally” DeBacker, better known as the Belgian-Australian multi-instrumentalist Gotye, hit the big time in 2011 in the UK and US with the single ‘Somebody That I Used to Know.’ He was only the fifth Australian and the second Belgian to make the top spot of the US charts!

Bilingual DeBacker was born in Bel-gium in 1980 and moved to Australia two years later with his family. In his teens, the budding musician took up piano and drums and formed a high school band with friends.

Gotye’s current success is down to his own hard slog, recording his own music and sending out demos to radio stations in a bid to get noticed. As the saying goes “the more you sweat, the more you get.”

Multi-instrumental Belgium-Australian

Newcomer • Big Cat, Osaka • Pop-rock

• 7pm • ¥6,300 • Tel: 06-7732-8888

Live music Listings

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Live Music

Hip-hop • 5pm • ¥5,000/¥6,000• Tel: 0570-02-9999

Jan 26–27

aikoOsaka Jo Hall, OsakaPop • 6:30pm • ¥6,500• Tel: 06-7732-8888

Jan 28

Patti SmithNamba Hatch, OsakaRock-pop • 7:30pm • ¥7,000• Tel: 06-6535-5569

Jan 29

chaboTaku Taku, KyotoGuitar • 7pm

• ¥6,000/¥6,500• Tel: 075-351-1321

Jan 30

gotyeBig Cat, OsakaPop-rock • 7pm • ¥6,300• Tel: 06-7732-8888

noonBillboard Live Osaka, OsakaFemale Voca • 6:30pm/9:30pm• ¥4,800/¥6,300 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Feb 1

monoShangri-La, OsakaPost-punk • 7:30pm • ¥4,500• Tel: 06-6535-5569

Feb 2

Level 42Billboard Live Osaka, OsakaFusion • 4:30pm/7:30pm• ¥7,400/¥8,900 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

Tristan PrettymanClub Quattro, OsakaSinger-songwriter • 7:30pm• ¥6,300 • Tel: 06-6535-5569

Feb 2–3

The bawdiesTaku Taku, KyotoRock • 2nd-6pm/3rd-5pm • ¥3,300• Tel: 075-351-1321

Feb 3

buck TickNamba Hatch, OsakaRock • 6pm • ¥6,500• Tel: 06-6882-1224

Feb 6

Shun KikutaChicken George, KobePop-rock • 5pm • ¥6,300• Tel: 06-6882-12241

Feb 14–15

Dreams come TrueOsaka Jo Hall, OsakaPop • 6:30pm •¥6,800/¥7,800•Tel: 06-6341-3525

Feb 2

Live music Listings

Level 42It’s been 26 years since the single ‘Lessons in Love’ was riding high in both the UK and US charts. Although Level 42 had already been on the music scene for six years, it was Lessons, the band’s seventh UK top thirty single, that really propelled Mark King, Mike Lindup and the Gould brothers into the league of big time.

Jump forward to the present and King and Lindup are still at the helm of the group and have of late been keeping busy, especially on the live circuit. Mike Lindup recently told Kansai Scene: “We are always delighted to

be invited to Japan, our audiences are very enthusiastic and loyal. We have just completed a successful tour of UK, Europe and Mexico, celebrating the 25th anniver-sary of the Running in The Family album. We will be putting together a special show for Billboard Live. We always have good time in Japan so February cannot come soon enough!”

UK ’80s Jazz-pop-fusion • Billboard Live Osaka, Osaka •

Fusion • 4:30pm/7:30pm • ¥7,400/¥8,900 • Tel: 06-6342-7722

KSPick


2 (Wed)

compufunk Records backroomEmeralda Tablet (House) • DJs: Mr.Raoul K, DNT, Yama, Rie Lambdoll + more • Open: 6pm • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • www.compufunk.com

3 (Thu)

circusCircus New Year Party! (Drum & bass) • DJs: Kenz1, Hiroshi, Nari, Massive, Kom, Toyo • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,000/1D (ADV: ¥1,500/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

4 (Fri)

circusDigital Vision (Techno/Trance) • DJs: Masaki, Show-Hey, Shu, Zoa • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

UnionGloria (House) • DJs: K-Katsu, Hirame, Mizo • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥1,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

5 (Sat)

circusCircus New Year Party! (Techno) • DJs: Shinya Yoshida, Fujita • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

UnionVino (House/Techno) • DJs: Yabu, Uoshima, Kino, Toshimi • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

6 (Sun)

circusCalm - Open to Last (House) • DJ: Calm • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

UnionMode (House) • DJs: Masa + more • Open: 3pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

10 (Thu)

Onziemeseven - black party- (House) • DJs: Emma, Nao Nomura, Osakaman, send, Asaura, kojiman, Bancho • Open: 7pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • www.onzi-eme.com

11(Fri)

circus23 (Techno) • DJs: Zuyack + more • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

Union4Rapture (House) • DJs: Masaaki, Kunio Yasumatsu, Nagisa, Naoki • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

12 (Sat)

circusTightrope Dancing (Techno) • DJs: Ageishi, Tetsuo, DNT • Open: 7pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,000 (ADV: ¥1,500) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

g2Out (Techno) • DJs: Breakbot, Ypy, Shinji, Taro + more • Open: 7pm - 12am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (Before 6pm: ¥1,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6244-3177 • g2-osaka.net

OnziemeCross (Techno) • DJs: Ken Ishii + more • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥TBA• Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6243-0089 • www.onzi-eme.com

UnionExtended Mix - New Year House Music Journey (House) • DJs: Peechboy, Daisuke Ito, Yusuke, Mayu, AFR • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

13 (Sun)

circus1st Ascension Release Party (Dubstep) • DJs: Doppelgenger + more • Open: 7pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

UnionSpaced Out - New Year House Music Journey (House) • DJs: Kent, Ageishi, Akihiro, Muramatsu, Yohey Kanae • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

16 (Wed)

circusFuture Soul (Drum’nBass) • DJs: Toyo, MSK, ASO + more • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥1,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

18 (Fri)

UnionOSG (House) • DJs: Mitchy, Naoto, 244 aka 822, Shima, Shiba • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

19 (Sat)

circusTetraLogisticS 2013 (Techno) • DJs: Pige, Kunimitsu, Yasuhisa • Open: 7pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

UnionGulp! (House) • DJs: Osakaman, Mottsu, Hirouz • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

20 (Sun)

Owl OsakaNWC presents 80Kidz Sunset (Electro/Rock/House/Tecno • DJs: 80Kidz, Taku-Hero, First, Akiraxx + more • Open: 7pm–9pm • Admission: Men: ¥2,500/1D, Women: ¥2,000/1D (Before 6pm: ¥1,000/1D) • Where: Umeda • Tel: 06-6362-0822 • owl-osaka.net

21 (mon)

circusUchuu Camp (House) • DJs: Yokoyama Uchuu + more • Open: 6pm–1am • Admission: ¥1,000 • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

23 (Wed)

circusFuture Soul (Drum’nBass) • DJs: Toyo, MSK, ASO + more • Open: 8pm–1am • Admission: ¥1,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

25 (Fri)

circusAgile feat. Josh Wink (Techno) • DJs: Josh Wink, Monashee, Ryo Yoshida • Open: 7pm–1am • Admission: ¥3,000 (ADV: ¥2,500) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

UnionMad House Now (House) • DJs: Kaito, Kano • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥1,500/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

26 (Sat)

grand cafeBossanova Underground presents orange pekoe “Tribute to Elis Regina” (House/Brazilian Music) • Acts: Orange Pekoe, Yoshihiro Okino, Keisuke Taniguchi, Masaki Tamura + more • Open: 5pm - 1am • Admission: ¥3,500(ADV: ¥3,000) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6213-0031 • www.grandcafeosaka.com

UnionMasterpiece (House) • DJs: Ise, Tsubasa, Yuzo Kenji Tazaki, Nao Ikeda • Open: 9pm • Admission: ¥2,000/1D • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6251-2242 • www.club-union.jp

27 (Sun)

circusNumb “Helix of Light” Release Party (Techno) • Acts: Numb + more • Open: 9pm–1am • Admission: ¥2,500/1D (ADV: ¥2,000/1D) • Where: Shinsaibashi • Tel: 06-6241-3822 • http://circus-osaka.com

club Listings


Kansai business Finder > for maps see kansaiscene.com/business-finder

Wining & Dining

absintheMediterranean Restaurant Cafe/BarNishi-ku, Kita-horie 1-2-27 South Yotsubashi Bldg. 1F OsakaTel: 06-6534-6635 Url: www.absinthe-jp.com

asbinthe SolaarRoof Top Restaurant Cafe Bar & Beer GardenChuo-ku, Namba 5-1-18 Namba Dining Maison 8F OsakaTel: 06-6633-1445 Url: www.absinthe-jp.com/absinthe-solaar

HimalayaIndian RestaurantKita-ku, Umeda 1-2, Osaka Eki-mae, Dai-2 Bldg. B1 OsakaTel: 06-6545-6116 Url: www.meera.jp/en/himalaya

meeraIndian RestaurantKita-ku, Umeda 1-3-1, Osaka Eki-mae, Dai-1 Bldg. B2 OsakaTel: 06-6348-0134 Url: www.meera.jp/en/

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

murphy’s irish PubFirst Irish Pub in JapanChuo-ku, Higashi-shinsaibashi 1-6-31 Lead plaza 6F Osaka Tel: 06-6282-0677 Url: www.murphysosaka.com

FubarRestaurant and BarChuo-ku, Shinsaibashi-suji 1-5-2-2F Osaka Tel: 06-6245-3757 Url: www.fubarosaka.com

captain KangarooFood, Sports & Rock ‘n’ RollKita-ku, Sonezaki-shinchi 1-5-20 Okawa Bldg. 1F OsakaTel: 06-6346-0367 Url: www.roo-bar.jp

chedi Luang HorieTraditional Thai foodNishi-ku, Kita-horie 1-7-11 OsakaTel: 06-6535-1515Url: www.chedi.jp

chinese cafe eightChinese CuisineChuo-ku, Soemon-cho 7-2 Luz Shinsaibashi 5F OsakaTel: 06-6125-5338 Url: www.chinesecafe8.com

Dublin bayIrish PubChuo-ku, Dotonbori 2-1-5-B1 OsakaTel: 06-6213-1122 Url: www.irishpub-dublinbay.com

zerroThe Place to be...Chuo-ku, Shinsaibashi-suji 2-3-2, Queen’s Court Bldg 1F Osaka Tel: 06-6211-0439

The blarney Stone ShinsaibashiThe Irish Pub in the Heart of OsakaChuo-ku, Higashi-Shinsaibashi 2-5-27 Kohda Bldg B1F Osaka Tel: 06-6484-2220 Url: www.the-blarney-stone.com

The blarney Stone UmedaThe Irish Pub in the Heart of OsakaKita-ku, Sonezaki 2-10-15 Sonezaki Center Bldg. 6F Osaka Tel: 06-6364-2001 Url: www.the-blarney-stone.com

coolabahSports CafeChuo-ku, Nishi-shinsaibashi 2-16-13, Housen Bldg. 1F Osaka Tel: 06-6213-5153 Url: www.coolabah.jp

ali’s KitchenPakistani & Arabic CuisineChuo-ku, Shinsaibashi-suji 1-10-12-B1 OsakaTel: 06-6553-2292 Url: www.aliskitchen.jp

Trois DixMacrobiotic & slow food restaurantNishi-ku, Kitahorie 1-22-4 OsakaTel: 06-6648-8336 Url: http://locoplace.jp/t000094365/

education

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

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

arthur murray Dance SchoolDance StudioChuo-ku, Minami-senba 3-5-28 Osaka Tel: 06-6245-1731 Url: www.arthurmurray.co.jp

marga Language ServiceJapanese Language SchoolChuo-ku, Onoe-dori 5-1-27-8F KobeTel: 078-271-6446 Url: www.marga.jp

Online Japanese LessonsStudy Japanese from HomeSuita, Toyotsu 40-6, EBIC Suita 3F Osaka Tel: 06-6484-6021 Url: www.nihongo-lesson.jp

Doshisha business SchoolDiscover the Doshisha Global MBADoshisha UniversityKarasuma-Imadegawa, Kamigyo-ku Kyoto Tel: 075-251-4600 Url: gmba.doshisha.ac.jp

Futaba Language SchoolJapanese Classes in ShinsaibashiChuo-ku, Minamisenba 4-10-20-1101 OsakaTel: 06-6244-2528 Url: www.futaba-japanese.com

Osaka abacus associationLet’s learn Abacus!Minatoku, Yunagi 2-13-7 OsakaTel: 06-6572-6877 Url: https://sites.google.com/site/osakasoroban/

Shops & Services

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

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

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

Yoshimoto Tax ServicesTax Services for English speakersAmagasaki-shi Tsukaguchi-cho 6-8-6-203 HyogoTel: 06-6421-3318Url: http://yoshimotokaikei.tkcnf.com

Yuko Tamaki accounting OfficeAccounting & Tax ServicesChuo-ku, Tanimachi 1-7-3-8F, OsakaTel: 06-6809-1955Url: www12.plala.or.jp/ytaccounting/indexeng.html

international Solution groupInvestments, Real Estate, Taxes - US and JapaneseChuo-ku, Tanimachi 1-3-17 suite 1001 OsakaTel: 06-6949-0144email: [email protected]

Sweatshop UnionT-Shirt Print ShopNaniwa-ku, Sakuragawa 4-5-19 Osaka Tel: 06-4394-8850 Url: www.sweatshop.jp/eng

creamy KidsInternational Modeling AgencyKita-ku, Umeda 1-2-2 Osaka Eki-mae, Dai-2 Bldg. 2F Osaka Tel: 06-6347-7705Url: www.pre21.com/creamy

Pakmail amagasakiWe Ship Anything, Anywhere!Tsugiya 2-2-28 Amagasaki Tel: 06-6492-8950 Url: www.pakmail-ama.com

Pakmail esakaWe Ship Anything, Anywhere!Suita, Esaka-cho 1-23-17 Osaka Tel: 06-6330-8988 Url: www.pakmail-osaka.com

Shinmei Law OfficeBusiness Lawyer

KanSai Scene magazine january 2013 kansaiscene.com38Kita-ku, Nishi-tenma 4-11-22, Hanshin-shinmei Bldg. 501 Osaka Tel: 06-6362-8013 Url: www.shinmei-law.com/e

exeo internationalInternational Dating PartiesKita-ku, Umeda 1-1-3-3F Sky Lounge Mariage Osaka Tel: 050-5810-3977 Url: www.exeo-international.com

accJ KansaiAmerican Chamber of Commerce in JapanKita-ku, Dojima-hama 1-1-8, Dojima Park Bldg. 5F Osaka Tel: 06-6345-9880 Url: www.accj.or.jp

Real estate & accommodation

Takani co. Ltd.Total Solution for House-huntingYodogawa-ku, Nishimiyahara 2-3-35 Osaka Tel: 06-6396-6770

avior manorClean and Spacious Apartments for Rent

Higashi-Osaka, Morikawachi-nishi 1-1-12 Osaka Tel: 06-6942-5766 Url: www.aviormanor.com

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

Oriental Process Apartments for RentIkuno-ku, Tsuruhashi 1-1-36 Osaka Tel: 080-1422-4679 Url: www.orientalprocess.com

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

TOaFurnished / Non-Furnished lofts for rentNishiyodogawa-ku, Tsukuda 1-1-36 Osaka Tel: 06-6471-8136 Url: http://passage.sunnyday.jp

Travel

World expressKobe’s Popular Travel AgencyChuo-ku, Kotonoo-cho 5-3-5, Green Chapeau Bldg. 104 Kobe Tel: 078-222-5050 Url: www.wexp.co.jp

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

Across • No.1 TravelWe go the extra mile for youKita-ku, Umeda 3-4-5, Mainichi-Intecio 15F Osaka Tel: 06-6133-0273 Url: www.no1.his-west.jp

Health & beauty

ishida Women’s clinicWomen’s Health Care in OsakaAsashi-ku, Shinmori 2-1-26 Osaka Tel: 06-6951-9701 Url: www.ishida-clinic.jp/en

Hair art & make up bOYHair and Make UpChuo-ku, Higashi-Shinsaibashi 1-2-23-5F Osaka Tel: 06-6252-7630 Url: www6.ocn.ne.jp/~boy

Oriental Dental clinicEnglish Speaking Dentist Chuo-ku, Nakayamate-dori 3-4-7, Oriental Medical Dental Bldg. 4F Osaka Tel: 078-321-2717 Url: www.oriental-shika.com

K Studio new YorkEnglish Speaking Beauty Salon Kita-ku, Toyosaki 5-2-22-2F OsakaTel: 06-6371-9033 Url: www.ksny.jp

interaction HairStylish cuts to suit you and your lifestyleNishi-ku, Minami-Horie 1-14-12-201 OsakaTel: 06-7501-7313 Url: www.in-hair.jp

To list your business in the Kansai Scene Business Finder contact [email protected] for more details.


Have your say

Your hopes and dreams for 2013: Year of the SnakeCompiled by KS

Next month’s question:

What do you love about Kansai?Email your answer (in English or 日本語) to [email protected] or post to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/kansaiscene, along with your full name, age, nationality, job title and a clear photo no later than Jan 15. responses may be edited for clarity and space.

Have your say

Sometimes, our projects - job, school, even vacations!- depend on many factors beyond our control. My dream for this year is these things become easier to overcome - or get out of the way!

Danya Ramirez, 28, Chile, language instructor

I hope that 2013 will bring balance to my finances and personal life. I expect to complete my MBa and graduate in March. My dream is to start my own business with my friends and business partners sometime next year, here in japan.

Daniel Pham, 26, Canada, MBA student

My hopes and dreams for 2013? Hmm… I want to speak japanese without using Google translate. Mostly, I hope to be able to experience all the Kansai region has to offer!! It’s my home now and I want to know it like the back of my hand!

Ashlie Leon, 26, USA, language instructor

I would very much like to start working as a volunteer interpreter in hospitals in Osaka on my days off, so I could help more people in need. I wish my whole family and friends will have an even better year than 2012.

Yuko Abe, 23, Japan, business relations coordinator

My vision for 2013 is that it becomes the year when I lay the foundations for my career and further develop my focus and sense of direction about my future. I wish for peace and wisdom in the world.

Alex Michaelson, 24, USA, media manager

Given that the Mayans have predicted the end of the world on the 21 December 2012, my greatest hope is to survive the alpacalypse and see my name in Kansai Scene!

alex Jordan 32, South Africa, marine biologist

Its the year of the snake, so when I picture a snake, I always see it snatching its prey without hesitation. I want to be like that- always taking chances and opportunities when they come my way.

Joanna Slaby, 20, USA, instructor

I’m planning to make 2013 an even better version of 2012. I want more crazy adventures with the people I love… and I want more of those special edition turkish delight Tim Tams.

Samantha Ng, 25, Australia, language instructor


Kansai Scene classifiedsPlace your own ad online atkansaiscene.com/classifieds

Please note: Kansai Scene is not responsible for the content of communications made through either printed or online classified ads.

employment

> educationDiVe inTO YOUR SaTURDaYS! A dynamic & successful Saturday program for returnee students in Kyotanabe is looking for experienced & motivated teachers to join us in 2013. It's a fulfilling job, but we expect a lot from our teachers. If interested please forward a resume & cover letter to the [email protected]

naTiVe engLiSH TeacHeR WanTeD Native English teacher wanted to teach adults and kids. Full or part time positions starting right away or in March. Near Hankyu Kawanishi-Noseguchi st. Salary 250000 to 290000 based on experience and ability + transportation. Email Adam at: [email protected]

naTiVe engLiSH TeacHeR WanTeD in Osaka Native English teacher wanted to teach kids and adults ASAP as a part time job. It starts once a week. Should be able to speak Japanese, and also have a good communication skills and creative thinking. If you are interested or for more information, please contact us: [email protected]

engLiSH TeacHeR/eVaLUaTOR WanTeD gLObaL manufacturer in Mie seeks an English-speaking individual to develop an English as a Second Language (ESL) program for management-level personnel. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Some support to an English-speaking senior Executive also required. Contact Manager: [email protected]

engLiSH PaRT Time TeacHeR School in Umeda is looking for part time teacher of English from Feb 2013. Thu evenings and Sat morning. Must be native speaker, univ. degree and with proper visa. See our home page www.euro-lingual.com and send resume to [email protected], with photo and visa status and expiration specifications.

> generalWeb DeVeLOPeR. Web DeVeLOPeR required in Kansai area. Previous experience essential. Work available now. Tomas: [email protected]

For Rent2DK OSaKaKO FULLY FURniSHeD Apartment 75000yen/Month 1minute walk to Osakako subway station. Recently remodeled 2DK, 35 square meter apartment, fully furnished. Close to supermarkets and convenience stores. 1month refundable deposit, no key money, no guarantors, 3month min. contract stay required, no agency fees. 2 apartments available immediately. Alex 09037030314 [email protected] www.abhousingosaka.com

Room/Flat SharePenTHOUSe aPaRTmenT in KObe! 124-square-meter apartment with gorgeous ocean and city views has room available. Private rooms. All modern appliances and many extras (surround-sound theater system, 2-person sized bathtub, etc) 45000 yen+ bills. Non-smokers only please. See blog and/or contact Darren. (all rooms now furnished) [email protected] www.kobeliving.blogspot.jp/

eventsFRee abacUS cLaSS FOR FOREIGNERS FREE ABACUS CLASS for FOREIGNERS offered by O.C.C.I. and Osaka Abacus Assoc. to promote int'l goodwill. Individualized lessons taught in Japanese or English. Saturdays 10-12 am. Course material provided for free. Near Sakaisuji-Hommachi and Kitahama. Call: Moritomo Ken 06-6572-6877 https://sites.google.com/site/osakasoroban/

Language exchangeengLiSH LeSSOnS/cOnVeRSaTiOn PianO LeSSOnS I'm looking for beginners piano lessons in exchange for English lessons or conversation practice. Evenings and weekends are suitable for me. Thank you! [email protected]

国際交流飲み会仲間新しく英語勉強会から思わぬイベントで成功しました!外人の居酒屋やbarで一緒に楽しく飲みましょう!国際交流に興味有る人なら年齢、性別、国[email protected]

FRienDLY bRiTiSH engLiSH TeacHeR Seeks a kind lady. Please

help me to speak Japanese, I will be only too pleased to improve your English. Im interested in classical piano music. Lets enjoy chatting over coffee once a week, [email protected]

LangUage eXcHange cOmmUniTY a website where you can find a language partner from another country who wants to do a language exchange travel with you. www.languageforexchange.com

FRee LangUage eXcHange neaR Shinsaibashi! Want to speak English and Japanese? Make new friends? Visit http://languageexchangeosaka.wordpress.com/ for details. See you there!

engLiSH-JaPaneSe in UmeDa/KObe! FRienDLY English teacher in late 30s is looking for a Japanese friend for language exchange and friendship. I hope to practice my Japanese and help you with your English. Yoroshiku! Tom: [email protected]

engLiSH / JaPaneSe eXcHange Hello, I am 27 year old female looking for a Japanese female partner to practice Japanese. I came to Japan from India four months back. Please contact me in case you are interested: [email protected]

WHaT'S YOUR neW YeaR’S resolution in 2013? If it is an improvement of your Japanese, I’m able to support it for you. This is the time for challenging it. Let’s get stated it in Umeda. Arigatougozaimasu [email protected]

LOOKing FOR manY gOOD English speaking people a 40yrs Japanese Korean in Osaka seeks many good English speaking friends for language and friendship in Osaka area. I personally would like to meet Aussies and Kiwis for Strine, Kiwi slang as well. Taka: [email protected]

announcementsa SPeciaL FamiLY cHRiSTmaS Church Service at Kobe Union Church (English) Come join us Sunday Dec 9th for a celebration of Christmas, with a Family Christmas featuring choir, children, youth, Christmas songs, stories, and Christmas morning tea. Check website for details. www.kobeunionchurch.com

LeT'S gO OUT FOR drink! Hi. I would like to make an international circle for 40's. Please let me know if you are interested in this activity! Takao: [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a gUiTaR player Professional Metal band is looking for a guitar player. Nationality is not important. Preferable age - from 20 to 40. Dedicated guys

are welcomed! Gena: [email protected]

cHURcH SeRVice anD cHRiSTmaS Party Bilingual church service and Christmas party! December 23rd near Utsubo Park at 11:00am. Everyone is welcome! See website for details. See you then! http://www.mustardseedosaka.com

FRee eVenTS in OSaKa Meet Japanese people make everlasting friends.沢山新友達を作りましょう We update our events page regularly, bookmark page.. http://facebook.com/kansaifriends.fanpage/events

community ServicesneW YeaR'S meDiTaTiOn ReTReaT: Dzogchen teachings, Dec 25-Jan 5, 2013 New Year's Meditation retreat at Zofukuji Temple, Miki (Kobe) Tues. Dec 25 - Sat. Jan 5, 2013. Dzogchen teachings by Achariya Doug Duncan in English. Contact Peter Ujlaki: [email protected]

OtherLOng DiSTance RUnneR FROm Italy Ciao! I'm an italian ultra distance runner. I like running flat and trail. I'd like to find a team or club to join for training and racing with. Italian and English speaking. Thanks for your help. Emanuele: [email protected]

FRee engLiSH eDiTing bY e-mail! I'm a native English speaker, and I will edit your paper or report for free! 英語は母語です! レポの文法とスペルを訂するのは無理です! Email me your report, and I will return it within 3 days! レポをメールして、3日以下訂して返付します! 1月31日いまでしか Erin: [email protected]

aPPRenTice bicYcLe mecHanic i humbly seeking for a full/part time job for Bicycle Mechanic in Japan as a start afresh new career here. Ernest Choo: [email protected]

FriendshipHi!... SeeKing giRLFRienD OF Japan.. Hi, I am a 20yo Chilean guy. I am looking for a woman in Japan to have a serious relationship and fun. . I am kind, gentle and sweet. If you like, mail me ([email protected]). I speak spanish...

LOOKing FOR SmaRT inTnL Woman, discrete harmony relationship intlgnt Looking for LTR with intelignt F from Western culture backgrnd. Im considerate smart sweet easygoin nice M, won`t abuse or cheat U. Committed, Openminded, heart, social, sense

KanSai Scene magazine january 2013 kansaiscene.com 4343of humor, love nature. [email protected]

31 ameRican maLe LOOKing for a Japanese Female (21-36) for serious relationship Looking for a Japanese female to befriend and possibly have a serious relationship with. Must entertain the idea of possibly moving and living in the USA. I look forward to hearing from you. [email protected]

i LiKe maRRieD OR divorced women best. So, I am looking for one special one for conversations about the things married and divorced people talk about. Single people don't really understand, do they? Bill: [email protected]

be mY bOYFRienD? JF(40) has been seriously looking for a boyfriend (WM, around 40) who is fanny, tall, athletic and love to traveling. If you are interested in having a good relationship, please contact me. Thanks! Emiko: [email protected]

neW YORK ciTY bOY Seeks JF GF English teacher Living in Namba, i dont like clubs,difficult to meet someone, im not shy, and people say im funny,i just dont like japan clubs cause everyone wants to talk to me just cause im american. [email protected]

こんにちは。Hello, I am Japanese man, 27years old. I would like to make a foreign friend, and we can exchange many things. that could be nice!!! feel free to mail me. see you soon. [email protected]

LeT'S HaVe FUn in Kobe Nice gentlemen looking for a classy woman for excitement during the Christmas Holiday season. I'm 37 yrs old from California. I enjoy listening to classical and reading books. Tommy: [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a ROmanTic girl! A cool fun guy in 30s is looking for a Japanese woman to have a romantic times together. I dont mind your look or if you are married. Lets just hava a

good time and enjoy life together. [email protected]

HeLLO. i am 37 yrs old man Looking for a Japanese female to be friend and possibly have a serious relationship 興味ある女性の方お気に連絡ください。宜しくお願い致します. Al: [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a JaPaneSe woman Hello. I am a single Western man in my 40s living in Kansai. I am educated, active, healthy and fun. I can speak Japanese fluently. I would like to meet an attractive Japanese woman for dating. [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a JaPaneSe man! A gaijin man in 30s is looking for a Japanese man for dating Japanese girls together. Lets go out hunting for girls together. John: [email protected]

JaPaneSe giRLFRienD! LOYaL anD friendly man, 30s, is looking for a Japanese girlfriend. Broke up with my girlfriend due to long-distance, so I feel lonely, hope to start a new relationship and enjoy the holidays together. Jack: [email protected]

maTURe WOman WanTeD HeLLO, I am a 40yo Japanese male. I am looking for a mature woman, 40-50's. If you are lost in Japan, I would like to guide you. Mail me please. Hiroshi: [email protected]

maRRieD man FRienDSHiP, cHaT, Daytime Married foreign guy, around 40, tall, slim, friendly, seeks similar aged or older female for friendship, chats, coffee, etc. Weekdays, occasional weekends. Drop me a line, get to know each other. Jay: [email protected]

mY KanSai giRL Hi there,I am interested in meeting a good hearted woman from kansai since I was there a couple years ago for my work.I really liked it there,and now I want to meet someone from there for friendship. [email protected]

XmaS iS HeRe Hi iam seeking female to hang out Xmas new year may be can do longtime relationship if you want I man 39years old active I love japanese food if interested mail me [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a ReLaTiOnSHiP. Hi im JF, mid 30s, looking for a relationship. i like many interests including films and outdoors or just relaxing at home. i would like to meet someone like minded. please email me. thanks. [email protected]

LOOKing FOR SWeeTHeaRT! im a foreign businessman in Osaka, 39, looking for a Japanese girlfriend,20 -40, that I can care, love, give attention, hold hands while walking. Hope we can be together during winter Holidays. James: [email protected]

TWO men LOOKing FOR two Japanese women for a good time! A french and American men are looking for two fun Japanese women to go out for dinner and have a romantic time together. Dinner on us. lets have a good time together. Mike: [email protected]

HOLiDaY LOVe gReeTingS. HeLLO ! gentleman 30s seeking a nice small skinny or short japanese girl for romance. please contact me if you interested. lets enjoy the new year together. MMSA: [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a JaPaneSe lovely girl hi im a gentleman 3os looking for a japanese girl for romantic and fun times together. lets enjoy xmas and new year together. please email me asap. thanks. MMH: [email protected]

LOneLY FOR cHRiSTmaS, SeeKing company Single Japanese woman looking for someone to spend Christmas with. I'm cold and lonely. Any age or nationality ok. I work in Umeda, so can meet you for drinks and company after work

any time. Tetsuko: [email protected]

37 Wm LOOKing FOR JF single or married to spend daytime together for going out in daytime. coffe,lunch,drink and talk. I will show you the passion of WM and I will make you happy in heaven. I have a lot for you,great lover. Don't be shy. [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a FemaLe friend Australian man 40 look for a nice lady for respectful and fun relationship may end to a long relationship. I love specially travelling sports and joles. pls email me at [email protected]

ameRican man (37YRS) FROm California visiting Osaka Visiting Osaka for oshogatsu. Looking to meet a Japanese woman to hang out. If there's chemistry let's see how things develop for something serious. I'm easy-going, funny, and airplane pilot. Michael: [email protected]

LOOKing FOR a giRLFRienD Hello. 41 year American man. I am healthy and active. Looking for a non-smoker , a light drinker, or a non-drinker woman who is honest and open minded. Any nationality okay. E-mail = [email protected]

SeeKing JaPaneSe giRL FOReign guy 30s looking for a cute short slim japanese girl to hang out for good times and more.. please contact me if you interested. serious only. lets meet soon. a little bit english ok. Sam: [email protected]

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

5F

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Documents

Kansai Scene #152 January 2013