Movie Listening!
July 9-10 OSAKA
REMO, (record, expression and medium organization)
is an alternative space focusing on moving images from different
angles. Kyota Takahashi, Dai SOMA and PAAP come together to give
several performances in this experimental media. Takahashi who picked
up the grand prix of the Kirin Art Award for his large scale light
installations will use his original visual equipment called Vision
Scroller, to create an audiovisual performance of improvised images.
The three piece band PAAP, also known as Radar will add the music
and Dai SOMA from Tokyo, also known as Yudaya Jazz will present
a technique using moving images.
REMO, 4F Festival Gate
Getting there: Midosuji, Dobutsuen-mae subway stn, Exit 5
Time: 20:00 • Entry: ¥1,500
Tel: 06-6634-7737
http://www.remo.or.jp
Suma Beach Party
July 16-17 KOBE
Suma Beach, the Kansai regions summer hotspot,
is once again the host for the event of the summer. The fifth annual
party at Suma Beach will be held on Saturday and Sunday July 16th
and 17th. Fun in the Sun, Dan-cing, Singing, Mingling, Beaching,
Bathing, Eating and Culturing! No-charge.
What began as an international cultural festival has blossomed into
"The Event" of the summer beach season. Started by a group
of Kobe City small business owners, the philosophy behind the party
was to showcase the different talents and strengths of the multicultural
community in our beloved city and have a lot of fun.
With the help of sponsors Smirnoff, Brastel, Alex salons, and several
others including a collaborative effort from more Kobe small business
owners last year, was a huge success and this year the venue is
sure to double in attendance. The main attractions will be live
music on both days from several bands, there will also be other
ecclectic and intruiging acts as well that will be performed on
a large outdoor stage located on the beach in front of the tranquil
water. A large variety of international cuisine will help keep appetites
under control. Throughout the day there are a host of DJs playing
a mix of House, Latin, and Hip Hop, a crowd of over 2,000 each day
is expected to dance the day and night away at Suma Beach!
The PARTY is a full service event, located outside
Bar Rainbow on the Suma Boardwalk, Wakamiya-cho, 1-chome-on the
beach, 078-732-9974.
Getting there: 15 minutes away from JR Sannomiya, west of
the Suma Aquarium.
Tel: 078-393-3132
www.sumabeachparty.com
Queer Film Festival
July 23 - 24 OSAKA
The word queer, is being used here to describe
people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and transsexual.
In other words anyone who is not one hundred percent heterosexual.
Having said that, the festival, a showcase of international films
related to sexuality and gender is open to everyone. The aim of
the festival is to bring awareness and understanding of the diversity
of sexual identity and lifestyle and it is also about people coming
together, speaking up and enjoying themselves.
July 23
11:00 Opening
12:00 Touch of Pink (England/Canada) by Ian Iqbal Rashid
14:30 A selection of Japanese gay-themed short films selected by
the Kansai staff. Followed by a discussion with a guest speaker
17:30 Butterfly (Hong Kong) by Yan Yan Mak
20:00 Slutty Summer (America) By Caspar Andreas
July 24
11:30 Being Normal (South Korea) by Choi Hyun-jung
13:00 Southern Comfort (America) by Kate Davis
15:00 Tying the Knot (America) by Jim deSève. Followed by
a discussion
17:00 A selection of Japanese gay-themed short films selected by
the Kansai staff.
19:30 Arisan! (Indonesia) by Nia Di Nata
*Non Japanese films will have Japanese subtitles, but only some
films will have English subtitles.
HEP HALL, Hep Five 8F (Landmark is the red Ferris
wheel)
Getting there: 3mins walk from Hankyu Umeda
station
Entry: One film ¥1,400, ¥1,600 at the door • Three
session pass ¥3,800 and Kansai Free Pass ¥8,000-¥10,000
(can only be bought in advanced)
Tel: 090-1156-3039
http://www.kansai-qff.org/
Alegría 2 — Cirque Du Soliel
Thru Sept. 25 OSAKA
Be dazzled by the astonishing acrobatics. Be amazed
by the awe-inspiring aerial acts, the spectacular sets and eccentric
characters dressed in flamboyant costumes. The circus has rolled
into town, but this is no ordinary circus, this is Cirque Du Soliel,
the brainchild of Canadian Guy Laliberté who had the vision
back in 1984 to create an internationally renowned circus. A circus
that over the years has thrilled, enchanted and entertained millions
worldwide.
Cirque Du Soliel's Alegría, which means
jubilation in Spanish, is a mood, a state of mind. The themes of
the show are many — it is hymn to life and youth, power and
the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies. Against
this backdrop many interesting characters play out their stories.
Fleur, is our guide. Tamir is the magical fairy who appears when
needed. Nostalgic old birds, nymphs and clowns all play an integral
part in this world of fantasy and magic.
Main circus acts include, Power Track, a lively
gymnastic routine reaching astounding height and speed, trapeze,
the slack wire, the flying man whose virtuosity defies gravity and
explanation and the Russian Bars, where acrobatic flyers are thrust
into the air from single, double or triple bar. The musical score
is by René Dupéré. Super Big Top entertainment.
Not to be missed!
Nanko, New Big Top
Getting there: New Tram, Cosmo Square station
Entry: Adults ¥5,500, ¥9,000 & ¥11,500
• Children ¥3,500, ¥5,500 & ¥7,500 (12 years
and under)
Tel: 06-6233-8890
http://ktv.jp/alegria2
Events compiled by Mylene Oishi
Kansai Event Listings June
| Thru
October 31
Light-up Promenade Nara
Click. Click. Click-click. Hoards of amateur photographers
blend in with the pros to take pictures of the historically
importa-nt structures, specially lit up in the eve-nings through
the summer. World Heritage Sites, including Todaiji, Kofukuji
temples and Kasuga shrine. A fantastic experi-ence to see
Nara shining at night.
Nara city
Time: 19:00-22:00
Getting there: Nara Kintetsu station
Tel: 0742-22-1101 (Nara Tourism Division)
July 2
Dancing Tango Argentino
Maestro Jose Colangelo returns to Japan with his Dancing Tango
Argentino. The tango is a sensual dance of passion and seduction.
Watch the dancers burn the floor as they display split-second
timing where legs dart in and around each other to the music
of Colangelo.
Sayaka Hall, Osaka
Time: 14:00
Getting there: Osaka Sayama-shi station on the Nankai Koya
line
Entry: ¥4,500, ¥5,000 at the door
Tel: 072-365-9590
July 3-28
Grand Kabuki
Day performances comprise of Greeting Kojo, Wisteria Maiden
Fuji Musume and The Vendetta at Iga, Igagoe Dochu Sugo-roku.
The evening performance is the Noda version of The Tragedy
of Togitatsu Togitatsu no Utare, one of the three most famous
vendetta stories of feudal Japan.
Osaka Shochikuza Theater
Getting there: Midosuji line, Namba station, exit 14
Time: 11:00 & 16:30
Entry: ¥6,300 ¥10,500 ¥21,000
Tel: 06-6214-2211
July 6
Ballet
The Shiki Theatre Company presents the ballet, Ondine. The
story of Prince Pale-mon, who falls in love with a mysterious
girl who emerges from the fountain in his palace. Smitten,
he elopes with her, but Ondine is a water sprite and the Lord
of the Mediterranean Sea calls up a storm to part her and
her new husband. But it doesn't end there ... if you want
to know the ending, go and see the performance.
Osaka Koseinenkin Kaikan Gejitsu Hall
Time: 18:30
Getting there: Yotsubashi stn, exit 2
Entry: ¥3,150 ¥5,250 ¥8,400
Tel: 06-4796-6600
July 18
YUKATA Parade
Young women dressed in summer kimono (Yukata) will parade
through this famous Osaka shopping street. A winner will be
chosen and will receive the grand prize of a trip for two
to Hawaii, in front of Daimaru department store. Street entertainment
is also planned.
Start from Parco on Shinsaibaishi
Time: From 16:30 (about 45mins)
Getting there: Midosuji, Shinsaibashi stn
http://www.shinsaibashi.or.jp/
July 18
Summer Wine Festival
A chance for serious and amateur wine lovers to sample hundreds
of wines from around the world. Admission price includes a
chance to win some wonderful prizes and a special discounted
room rate for those who want to stay the night.
Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers Hotel
Time: 12pm-8pm
Getting there: Island Center station, Kobe
Entry: ¥2,000, ¥2,500 at the door.
Tel: 078-857-7000
[email protected]
July 23
Noism 05
A bill of threes. Three dancers. Three choreographers. Italian
born ballet dancer Alessio Silvestrin who has been a free-lance
artist resident in Japan since 2003. Ryohei Kondo, founder
of the contem-porary dance company, Condors and Ikuyo Kuroda
who started learning ballet at the age of 6 make up this triple
bill.
Theater BRAVA!
Time: 7pm
Getting there: Nagahori Tsurumi-Ryokuchi line, Osaka Business
Park subway station
Entry: ¥6,800
Tel: 06-6233-8888
July 23-24
Summer Festival 2005
This center of performing arts presents interesting shows
over two days. Free entertainment takes place in the lobby.
D'avant with Sasaha Waltz & Guests
July 23 at 7pm. July 24 at 2pm
Adults ¥4,000, Child ¥3,000
Live Painting & Talk Show by Koji Suzuki
July 23 & 24
. From afternoon to evening
"Mass, Slide & ." — Solo Dance Performance
by Tsuyoshi Shirai
July 23 at 3pm. July 24 at 6pm. ¥2,500
Dance Picnic with various artists
July 23 at 5pm. July 24 at 4:30pm
Biwako Hall, Shiga
5mins from JR Otsu station
Tel: 077-523-7136
http://www.biwako-hall.or.jp
July 26 & 31
Meet The Promising Artists, 2005
Osaka Asian Art Festival presents two volumes of classical
music concerts to introduce future promising stars to the
world. Volume one, Masahiko Ohkochi, Kazuhiro Takagi and Hideomi
Matsumura — July 26 at 7pm
Volume two, Keiko Kobayashi, Chikako Nakajima and Atsuko
Kakioka — July 31 at 2pm
Izumi Hall, Osaka
Getting there: JR Osaka-jo Koen station
Entry: One concert ¥2,500
Both concers ¥4,000
Tel: 06-6944-1188
July 30
Canzone da Kobe VII
Derived from the Italian cantio, meaning singing, a canzone
is an Italian or Pro-vençal song or ballad. Ten male
singers will sing songs about love with titles such as, Passione,
O paese do sole, Chitarra romana, accompanied by the piano
and the mandolin.
Kobe Shinbun Matsukata Hall
Time: 19:00
Getting there: JR Kobe Station
Entry: ¥3,000
Tel: 078-362-7111
July 31
Summer Pops Concert
Conductor Sachio Fujioka conducts the Kansai Philpops Orchestra.
Divided into two parts, the first part of the concert titled,
Beautiful Bygone Days has music composed by Augusto D. Algureo
and others. The second part comprises of movie scores such
as, Star Wars, Mission Impossible, Back to the Future.
The Symphony Hall, Osaka
Time: 2pm
Getting there: JR Fukushima station
Entry: ¥3,000 ¥4,000 & ¥5,000
Tel: 06-6453-6000
http://asahi.co.jp/symphony/
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